Chapter Three.

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"Hey, have you noticed something different between Dr. Brennan and Booth?" Cam asked Angela, offhandedly.

"Different? No." Angela shook her head, answering a bit too quickly. "There's nothing different." She chuckled nervously.

Cam gave her a skeptical look. "Alright, as long as it doesn't interfere with our work."

Angela laughed outright. "When have you ever known Brennan to let anything interfere with her work?"

Cam nodded. "Very true."

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Bones walked into the lab, Booth trailing behind her.

"Well fine." He sounded petulant to her own ears. "Stay out of the field then. You can just be a squint!"

She made it to her office and shut the door, letting Booth know he wasn't welcome inside. She watched him walk angrily away, before resting her head in her hands and forcing herself not to become emotional.

Before she could rub her temples and contemplate the last forty-eight hours, she clicked on her computer and began to type. It always helped to work, rather than become emotional, and certainly she could not let herself become emotional.

A decision was a decision, and she knew she was right. That she and Booth couldn't have a relationship. A working relationship was all she could take. Serious relationships weren't her, and of course she knew how it would end. She would leave him. That's why he was the one who needed protecting from her. She couldn't hurt him. It would change everything. And Temperance Brennan needed Booth in her life. She could not be who she was without him. If things got started between them, inevitably they would end. And work, and their relationship, it would never be the same. She couldn't condone that. It wasn't rational to start a romantic relationship with Booth. Love wasn't rational, and Brennan couldn't handle that.

"Hey sweetie," Angela knocked on the door lightly while letting herself in.

"I'm busy." Brennan didn't even bother looking away from her computer screen.

Angela hovered. "Listen, I really don't think you should ignore this."

"Ignore what?" Brennan focused on the screen.

Angela rolled her eyes. "You're kidding, right? Sweetie, this thing with Booth. You can't pass up this opportunity. You may never have this chance again."

"Angela, I don't want to talk about this. I'm working." Brennan said, in a tone that meant the end of the conversation.

"Brennan, I'm your best friend, so trust me when I say that I know how you feel about Booth, even if you're denying it." Angela stomped her foot. "Hey!"

Brennan looked up from her computer at an exasperated Angela.

"Sweetie, you're making a big mistake. I'm trying to be understanding about this, but I mean, come on."

She shook her head. "It's my decision, Ange."

"I can't let you make this decision. You're denying yourself love sweetie, true love." Angela was nearly pleading with her friend now, trying to get her to understand the severity of the mistake that she was making.

"This isn't a match-making game, Angela. It's Booth." Brennan's voice choked with emotion. She couldn't hold the dam of emotions back anymore.

"Just follow your heart." Angela advised.

Brennan shook her head, eyes welling with tears. "I don't know how. I don't have an open heart like you, or Booth."

"Sweetie." Angela's voice filled with compassion. She went to place her hand over her friend's.

"Dr. Brennan?" Daisy called. "I've figured out how Sylvia was killed." She flounced up to the door. She glanced between Angela and Brennan. "Is something wrong? If this is a bad time, I can just come back later."

"No, it's fine." Brennan stood, covertly wiping at her eyes.

Angela gave her friend a loaded glance as she left, but Brennan was Brennan. She was already back to being all about her work.

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