A/N: Hmm…these chapters seem to be coming to me much faster than I had intended. I probably should stockpile them, since I know I won't have much time for writing this weekend, but writing this story is just so therapeutic for me right now and I want to share it with you all. So enjoy, and keep the reviews coming! I'm trying to respond to everyone personally when I get time – right now I am just so wrapped up in getting all these story ideas down in black and white!

So, without further delay, enjoy chapter 3!


Seeley Booth was certain he knew exactly why she was avoiding him, exactly why she wouldn't take his calls or go out into the field with him. He'd pushed it too far, and she'd let him know every day since then with her silence.

After they finally recovered from the awkwardness that arose after Bones refused to sail off with Sully, they had, for the most part, settled back into their comfortable routine. Booth, though, couldn't help looking at her a little bit differently, having come so close to losing her to his friend. He noticed things he hadn't before – the way the light played on her hair as she bent over a body, for example, or the way her eyes sparkled when she had a big lead to share with him.

Then came Angela's wedding…or non-wedding, as it turned out. After several hours of dancing, he and Bones had taken glasses of champagne and gone outside to get some air. They eventually found a bench on the edge of the parking lot, a surprising perfect spot for stargazing. He'd known Bones knew her constellations, but it was still amazing to sit there and hear her rattle them off for him. For a while, he just sat there, staring at her, admiring her beauty in the soft moonlight. What he did and said next was something he'd replayed in his mind over and over since that night…

Before he could stop himself, he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. He had expected her to pull away, but instead he felt her body melt into his, as she wrapped her arms up around his neck and pulled him deeper into the kiss. He felt his whole body heat up, electricity coursing through his veins as his arms wrapped around her waist and her tongue found its way into his mouth.

After what seemed like hours, she had pulled away from him, but not before he noticed the slightest smile playing at her lips as she turned her attention back to the constellations. He knew it was now or never.

"Bones?"

"Yes, Booth?"

"I want more."

"More champagne? You can have my glass if you'd like, I'm not really that thirsty after all," she replied, offering him her untouched champagne flute.

"No Bones, I want more of us. I want us to be more than just partners. I know I said there was a line there, but I think it's worth the risk, for us to take a shot at love and cross that line."

There…he'd said it. He waited for a response, but none came. She had turned her head away, and he couldn't read anything in her body language.

"Temperance?"

When she finally turned back to him, she looked…what was that look? It wasn't really sadness, more like disappointment or even resignation. He knew then he wasn't going to like what she said next.

"Booth, you know we can't do that. It would just be too dangerous for us."

"Bones, we could handle it."

"It isn't only that, Booth. It just wouldn't work. I'm just getting over my relationship with Sully, but, even if I wasn't, I would have to say no, because I don't feel that way about you. I'm sorry, Seeley, I don't want to hurt you, but I just can't take our relationship any further."

With that, she stood up, kissed him softly on the cheek and walked away, leaving him confused and heartbroken.

Ever since that day, she'd just gotten more and more distant. At this point, Booth would have given anything to go back in time and take back what he'd said. Yes, he still wanted more…but at this point, he missed her so much, he'd settle for half of what they'd had before he'd gone and opened his big mouth.


The sound of the approaching car jolted Booth back to the present. He glanced at his watch, realizing that he had been standing in her parking space for nearly an hour. She was late again. The Temperance Brennan he knew never used to be late for anything, but especially work. In fact, she used to be there so early that sometimes he'd swear she'd stayed the whole night in the lab. Then again, she used to beg to go out in the field with him, too. Now he couldn't get her to leave the lab at all. A lot of things about his partner had changed in the last few months.

She drove straight at him, daring him to stand there and let her run him down. Instead, he stepped to the side just before she pulled in. He knew if he got to her before she got out of the car, she couldn't run away this time. He'd get his explanation. One way or another, he was determined to make her talk to him, so that they could work things out and move on.

As she opened the door, he quickly maneuvered himself so that his body blocked her exit.

"Booth, get out of my way. I'm late for work."

"Nope, no can do Bones. Not until we talk."

"Talk about what, Booth?"

"Talk about what?! Come on, Bones, our kiss…me asking for more…you saying no! I know that's why you're avoiding me. You're pushing me away. I just want us to be okay again."

"Booth, I've told you already, I've already forgotten that night. You'd been drinking, you weren't thinking properly. You said some things you regret."

But I don't! I don't regret it! He wanted to scream it at her, but he held it back.

"Really, Booth, there's nothing to talk about. I'm fine, you're fine, we're fine."

"Bones! We are not fine! Why are you avoiding me? Did I do something else wrong?"

"Booth, do you remember doing something wrong?"

"No, no I don't. But I…"

"Then it is completed irrational for you to think that you did when there is no evidence to support your conclusion."

"You and your damn logic, Bones!" His hand smacked the roof of her car so hard the whole vehicle shook. "If I didn't do anything wrong, why won't you take my calls? Why is Zack going into the field with me? Why are you shutting me out?"

As angry as he was at her, Brennan couldn't help but notice that little vein on his neck, the one that throbbed when he was really agitated. She couldn't stop herself from thinking, God, he's sexy when gets angry. It broke her heart to have to lie to him, but in her head she knew that keeping her secret from him was the only thing she could do. It would hurt him more to know the truth, she thought.

"…and then you won't even look at me in the lab! Bones, are you even listening to me?"

He hated yelling at her, but he needed to know why she was pulling away. She looks so tired, he thought to himself. Like the world is on her shoulders. Why?

"C'mon Bones, just let me in." His voice was softer tone, his angry tone brought down to a heartfelt plea.

Brennan sighed audibly. "Booth, I've told you, there's nothing going on. I've simply been busy. Look, I have a lot of work in the lab today. If you don't mind getting out of my way, I'd really like to get to it so I don't have to stay all night."

"Actually Temperance, I do mind!" His hand came down hard on the roof again, and once again, he was yelling at her. "I mind a lot! I am not moving until you tell me what is going on!"

She felt it coming the moment his fist hit the roof. She tried to stop it. She bit her lower lip so hard she could taste the blood, but if there was one thing the last five months had taught her, it was that there was no stopping this. Stupid, stupid, irrational hormones!

She quickly buried her head in the steering wheel, mortified that Booth was going to see her like this. And the tears came fast and furious, the sobs loud and gut wrenching, exactly as she knew they would.