This story is set after Booth returns from Afghanistan and Brennan returns from her dig. Booth confessed his feelings earlier but Brennan still hasn't told Booth her true feelings.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

1 month earlier

Dr. Temperance Brennan is sitting at her desk typing the latest chapter of her new book. She is right in the middle of a heated scene between Kathy and Andy when her partner Seeley Booth walks in. Even though it was over a year ago it was still kind of awkward between them since Booth confessed his feelings and Brennan turned him down. So instead of taking his normal spot looking over her shoulder Booth decided it was safer to stay on the other side of the desk.

"Heya Bones."

"Booth," she acknowledged "do we have a case?" she asked hopeful. They hadn't had a case in the month they had been back and she was beginning to miss solving cases with Booth, not that she would admit that.

"Nope. Not today." Suddenly it seemed like Booth was nervous he was biting his lower lip slightly and was shifting his feet back in forth, even Brennan noticed the change.

"Are you okay Booth?" she asked concerned.

"Everything's fine Bones. Can you meet me tonight at the diner? I have to talk to you about some stuff."

"What do you mean Booth? What stuff?"

Booth huffed, "Just stuff ok Bones, can you come or not?" Brennan who was caught off guard by his sudden defensiveness stuttered, "Yes of course I will come."

All Booth said on his way out was a muffled "Great". Brennan turned back to her computer unable to concentrate. All she could think about was what Booth had to talk to her about. Booth's agitation had come as a shock to her. Sure they hadn't really talked or seen each other in the month they had been back. But that was normal right? Partners didn't have to spend every day together right? Who was she kidding it might be normal for other partners but not them. Neither one could stay away from each other for very long they both knew it, but why haven't they talked at all this month? She wasn't the only one who took notice of this, the rest of the lab knew something was wrong because it wasn't like Booth at all to leave Brennan alone for days let alone weeks. Brennan sighed and turned back to her computer hoping to get some work done before she had to leave.

Unfortunately for her, she couldn't keep her mind off of Booth. Sure this was nothing new she spent nearly every day thinking about Booth when she was in Maluku. She had been thinking about Booth ever since he confessed his feelings for her. Of course she wanted to confess her feelings for him as well but she couldn't. She was just getting ready to release the flood of emotions that were rushing through her when she thought back to all the arguments they had together. He believed in making love, she did not. He believed in marriage, she did not. He believed in having a family and living happy together forever, she did not. She couldn't promise any of the things Booth wanted, and that's why Dr. Temperance Brennan turned down Seeley Booth.

Brennan sighed at the memory and looked up and saw that it was already half past 6 and considering she wasn't getting any work done she might as well get ready to meet Booth. As she drove to the diner she began to get more and more nervous and by the time she finally reached the diner she was almost shaking. Almost. Dr. Temperance Brennan didn't shake.

Brennan opened the door to the diner and walked in and immediately spotted Booth in their usual spot next to the window but he wasn't alone. Sitting, rather close in her opinion, next to Booth was a blonde woman. Brennan had to admit the woman was very pretty in a petite blonde way. When Booth saw Brennan enter his smile faltered a little bit not enough for anyone to notice, except for Brennan.

"Hey Bones," he said quietly when she finally made it to the table and sat down on the opposite side as the two.

"Bones?" the blonde woman asked obviously confused.

"Oh it's nothing." Booth supplied before Brennan could speak.

Shaking off the slight pain that tore through her heart at his words Brennan said sticking out her hand, "Hello I'm Doctor Temperance Brennan I work with Booth." The blonde woman politely shook Brennan's hand.

"Well it's nice to meet you I'm Hannah Burley. Seeley and I meet over in Afghanistan," said the blonde.

Brennan's shock must have been visible on her face because Booth then replied, "Yeah we wanted to make sure this was serious before we told anyone."

Brennan's mind was racing, serious what does serious mean, she finally stuttered out, "serious?"

"Yeah," said Booth, "Hannah and I are dating. We have been for… what would you say 6 months now?" he faced Hannah and asked her. She simply nodded silently saying give or take.

"Oh," was all Brennan could say.

"Sorry to spring this on you Bones I just wanted you to be the first to know. We are telling everyone else tomorrow night at The Founding Fathers you should come."

Finally being able to get her voice back Brennan said, "Oh I'm not sure I have a lot of work to catch up on and not to mention all the remains in limbo." Booth looked slightly disappointed at her words but quickly put back up a grin.

"Aww come on Temperance it would be fun," said Hannah. Brennan bit back the automatic response of being called Dr. Brennan and turned and studied Hannah with her long blonde hair and small frame she was obviously Booth's type. She seemed nice enough even thought there was something about her that Brennan was getting a bad feeling from.

"I don't think I can, I really have been busy a lot with work recently." Ok so it wasn't a total lie, Brennan thought, she was really busy with her book and there are always limbo cases that needed to be worked on.

"Oh, Seeley has told me all about what you two do and I think it is so impressive the way you have become such an amazing scientist that has been to places I can't even pronounce and on top of all that you are a famous author. It's exhilarating."

"Thank you Miss Burley. What do you do for a living?" Brennan asked politely.

"Call me Hannah and I'm a reporter. Actually that's kinda how Seeley and I met. He had to save me out in Afghanistan once or twice." She said with a smile as she turned and looked at Booth who returned her smile. Brennan almost flinched when she said she was a reporter. I knew something was wrong with her she thought.

Brennan didn't understand what was funny about having to be rescued in a country that is being torn apart by war so she stared at the couple with a confused look on her face.

"It was a joke Bones. She was making a joke that she… oh never mind I guess you had to be there," Booth said looking at the confused look on her face.

Brennan looked down at her watch and saw that it was almost 9 o'clock if she hurried she could finish her chapter that she never finished from earlier and still have time to go for a long run. God knows she needs it after the news she has received today.

"I have to head back to the Jeffersonian and finish up some work before I go home so I had better be leaving," she said breaking the trance that the couple was in.

"What? Oh alright see you later Bones," Booth side looking up quickly from Hannah. Brennan got up leaving a few bills on the table for her coffee and left the diner. Once she reached her car she heard someone calling her name.

"Hey Bones," Booth said lightly jogging to stand next to her.

"Booth, what are you doing shouldn't you be in there with Hannah?" Brennan asked confused.

"Yeah I just wanted to make sure everything was good between us. It's good right?" Booth looked at her expectedly.

Brennan sighed, "Yeah Booth we're good."

Booth looked down at his feet and shifted slightly, "Good. Ok goodnight Bones," he said walking away.

"Hey Booth," Brennan said and Booth stopped and turned slightly, "I'm glad you're with her. You deserve to be happy." With that Booth turned and walked back into the diner leaving Brennan standing next to her car. You deserve better than what I could ever give you Booth she thought. Wiping a tear that escaped her eye she got in her car and headed back to the Jeffersonian.

To Be Continued…

A/N

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