COLD FEET part 2

She only got as far as the small anteroom where she and Angela had gotten ready. Too agitated to sit, she paced the confines of the room, tears pouring down her cheeks. Her makeup was a mess and she knew without looking in the mirror that her face was splotchy and her eyes were red, but it didn't matter. She wasn't getting married today.

There was a soft knock and the door opened just enough for Angela to slip in. She locked the door and stood with her arms folded and an expectant air. Brennan blew her nose and wiped her eyes, trying to buy a little time. And still Angela waited.

"I can't marry him, Ange. I know people are going to think I'm being selfish and mean, but for Sully's sake, I can't," she said, sobs threatening again.

Angela looked a little puzzled. "Sweetie, how is this good for Sully? I mean, did you see his face? Poor guy."

Brennan grabbed another tissue. "Because I don't love him like—never mind. He would know eventually that my heart isn't completely his and he would come to resent it. He's a great guy and he deserves someone who isn't going to wish she'd married the other guy."

Angela suspected a certain hunky FBI agent was the cause of Brennan's crisis, but firmly pushed down the excitement the realization brought. Just wait, Ange, this is Brennan. She still hasn't admitted it. First get her to deal with the situation here.

"Sweetie, I think you owe Sully an explanation, face to face." Brennan started to argue, but Angela grabbed her hand and squeezed. "Listen to me. If you can look him in the eye and tell him you don't love him and you don't want to marry him, I'll stand by your decision. Can I bring him in here so you can talk?"

Taking a deep breath, she nodded. Angela was right. Telling him face to face was the decent thing to do. Angela unlocked the door and slipped out.

Too soon, the door opened a bit hesitantly and Sully's head popped in. "Is it safe to come in?" he joked, eliciting a weak smile from Brennan. He closed the door behind him and put his hands in his pockets, looking around the room. "Hey, this is nicer than the room they gave us," he said with a half smile. He finally took a good look at her face and the smile died. "Tempe, what did I do?" he asked somewhat plaintively. He looked like a little boy who didn't understand why he was being put in the corner.

Brennan took a shuddering breath. "It's not you, please, don't ever think you did anything to deserve—" another tear slid down her cheek. "I'm so sorry, Sully. I should have never agreed to marry you. I just can't—"

He took a step toward her and she flinched. "Do you want to reschedule? 'Cuz I understand this is a huge step for you—hell, I was amazed you said yes in the first place."

She wiped at her nose and shook her head. "This isn't like a dental appointment that you can just postpone until next week. It wouldn't help. Sully, I can't marry you because I—I love someone else." The pain in his face was unbearable to watch and she looked away to stare blindly at a picture of the Virgin Mary. "You and I could never be happy together, not with that hanging between us."

"Who?" he asked quietly, afraid he already knew the answer. But Temperance wasn't ready to say it out loud, to admit she loved Booth.

Brennan stubbornly shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I just know it isn't you," she finished softly, her eyes begging forgiveness. The tears in his eyes told her he understood, they also told her she was breaking his heart.

Blinking furiously, trying to put a brave face on, he tried to smile and failed. "You're sure?" he asked, giving her one last chance to undo the damage. Her face was tragic as she nodded and he gave a heavy sigh of sadness. It was clear she'd made up her mind. He stepped up close to her and reached out to stroke her cheek tenderly. "You know where I'll be if you change your mind." He kissed her gently, looking at her one last time as though committing her face to memory. "Goodbye, Tempe. I love you." And then he was gone and she collapsed on a chair, sobs racking her body.