A Partnership in Ruins...
Leaning over to inspect an abnormality on the tibia of the case from limbo, Dr. Brennan was unaware of Booth entering the lab. They had only broken up two days before and hadn't spoken since.
Booth watched his now ex-girlfriend in her element with Zack, and tried to keep his face emotionless. He shook his head, realizing the longer he stood there, the more likely he was to be bothered by the squints. Time to man up and just do what had to be done. He quickly swiped his card and joined Bones on the dais. "We've got a case." He simply stated.
She glanced up and immediately returned her attention to the remains on the table. "I'm in the middle of something, Booth." Her voice was cold and distant, much like when they first started working together.
Booth barely refrained from rolling his eyes. "Obviously. We've got human remains at a national park-shallow grave found by some kids this morning."
Brennan glared at him, clearly annoyed. "Zack, clean the bones after Hodgins retrieves particulates. Let me know if there are any unusual findings." She didn't even listen to Zack's answer before she snapped off her latex gloves and threw them away before storming into her office to retrieve her bag.
"Yeah it's gonna be a real fun day." Booth muttered to himself before sliding his sunglasses on and heading to the car.
Ten minutes later the partners were heading towards the park in silence. "I put in for a transfer." Booth quietly admitted, taking a left turn.
Brennan stared at him incredulously. "Because we've ended our romantic relationship? We're a good team, Booth."
He gripped the steering wheel tighter in frustration. "Are we? We can't even make our relationship last longer than six months."
"Yes, we're a good team. We've caught murderers, identified victims, given closure to families. We've risked our lives for each other. We've killed to protect each other. There is no one else you would trust with your life more than me, and no one I can trust my life with more than you." Brennan protested indignantly.
"I just can't trust you with my heart, right, Bones?" Booth sarcastically shot back, making a right turn.
Gaping at him, Brennan immediately responded. "You chose to end the relationship, Booth." She accused. "I've always been honest with you. You know I don't want marriage or kids and when you pushed, you just confirmed what you already knew."
Booth clenched his jaw to keep from shouting. "So what? You want to just have 'sex for recreation' the rest of your life? Never having kids and experiencing the miracles they are?"
"Yes, Booth. I don't want children. And right there, you just alluded to children being 'miracles', a religious term. I have respected your religious beliefs. I haven't compared Jesus to a zombie or pointed out the factual inaccuracies within the Bible. I haven't told you the facts surrounding your Christian holidays out of respect for you. Why do you mock my beliefs about marriage and children?" Brennan demanded hotly, challenging him to answer.
"Because you're wrong!" He shouted and punched the steering wheel for emphasis. She raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his theatrics.
"Booth, you ignore facts based on blind faith, but you insist that my beliefs based on history, experience and reality are false because they're not yours. You're being unfair." She insisted rationally.
He swerved the car to the side of the road and turned to face her. "No, you know what's unfair, Bones? Knowing that the person you literally trust your life with is your soulmate and they don't want to be with you. What's unfair is that no matter what happens, you are never going to let me or anyone else into your heart because you are just too afraid of getting hurt again. Families aren't out to get you, Bones. They're the people you come home to and feel safe with. The ones who love you unconditionally."
Brennan immediately realized something and closed her eyes for a moment. "Then you don't love me."
With a voice of hurt and shock, Booth managed to ask, "What?"
"You don't love me, Booth, because you're the one who put conditions-marriage and children-on our relationship." Brennan smiled at him sadly and moved to get out of the car. "I wish you the best with the transfer, Booth." She climbed out and headed towards the crime scene where a bunch of cops were milling around.
Inside the car, Booth punched the steering wheel again and called after her. "Bones! Bones!" He took a deep breath and climbed out of the car, vowing to himself to talk to her again later, when they were alone again.