A/N: So this is probably going to be my last update for the next 10days-two weeks since my friend arrives tomorrow afternoon. I just wanted to thank everyone again for reading, reviewing and story altering, it means a lot to me. Enjoy!

Sweets looked around his office. He was waiting for Booth to arrive for his psychological evaluation. Sweets did not know why he was feeling nervous about it. Booth took a deep breath outside of Sweets' office before waltzing in as his usual cocky self.

"Hey Sweets." He plopped down in his usual spot.

"Hello Agent Booth." They sat in silence for a moment.

"So how are you feeling?"

"Really Sweets?" Booth scoffed in amusement.

"It's a legitimate question. You have just returned from a year in Afghanistan, obviously there will be some issues. No one comes back from a war without some type of psychological issues, however small."

"Sweets you do realize that I was in the army before this right. I've been through this before. Just sign the paper saying that I'm ready to go back to work."

"Has it been easier this time around? Readjusting to being a civilian."

"Yep."

"So you're not having any urges to gamble or anything."

"Nope."

"How are your relationships with your friends?"

"Fine."

"I would really appreciate more than one word answers Agent Booth."

"You know Sweets, you keep calling me Agent Booth. So obviously you are going to reinstate me. Can you just sign the paper so that I can get back to work?" Sweets sighed.

"How is your relationship with Dr. Brennan?"

"Its…its good."

"Really?" Sweets asked skeptically.

"Ya. We aren't going back to being work partners right away, but I understand. Bones just needs some time away from murders."

"Isn't that what the year in Indonesia was supposed to accomplish."

"No, Bones went to Mululu to look at ancient remains to see if they could link human to monkeys or something squinty like that."

"But she was away from murder."

"I don't know Sweets; maybe some of the skeletons over there got murdered."

"There is always a chance that the remains she has in Limbo will turn out to be a murder victim. And part of her job description is to identify remains from the world wars." Booth sighed.

"One thing I did not miss was how annoying you can get." Sweets looked at Booth unsure of how to take the comment.

"Bones wants to focus on Limbo right now. And no that is not also a metaphor for where we are in our relationship right now so don't get all shrinky about it."

"I need to know how to feel about not being partners with Dr. Brennan."

"It sucks Sweets. You know how I feel about Bones, but just because we aren't partners doesn't mean that I won't be seeing her anymore."

"So your feelings for Dr. Brennan have not changed in the last year."

"Did you really think they would?" Booth asked seriously. He could not believe that he was being so candid with the young doctor but it was somewhat cathartic and he really wanted Sweets to reinstate him.

"No I didn't think they would."

"Glad we understand each other, now can you sign the damn papers." Sweets sighed. He knew that he would not be getting anything else out of Booth today. Reaching into his briefcase he pulled out Booth's badge and gun.

"Here you go." He said as he handed them over and signed the papers. Booth smiled cockily, grabbed his stuff and hurried out of the room.

{}

"Guess whose back baby!" Booth said happily as he strutted into Brennan's office.

"Who?" She asked, looking up from the file she had been reading.

"Me. Bones"

"But you returned over a week ago." Brennan stated confused.

"No Bones, I am back at the FBI. Sweets reinstated me."

"Oh, that is good. Congratulations."

"Thanks." Booth smiled at her. She smiled back. "So what are you doing right now?"

"I am reviewing Dr. Edison's reports on the Limbo cases that he identified while I was absent."

"Great so you can come celebrate." Brennan tilted her head in question.

"Celebrate?"

"Ya. Me being back, you being back."

"Our partnership has not been reinstated yet Booth."

"Doesn't matter. Come on Bones." Booth flashed her his famous charm smile and Brennan decided not to be stubborn and agreed to go to the diner with him to celebrate.

{}

"So Sweets reinstated you, that means your psychological evaluation went well." Brennan inquired as she took another one of Booth's fries.

"Yep."

"What did he ask you?"

"How I was feeling, how I am readjusting to being a civilian, if I was having any urges to gamble, which I'm not." Brennan nodded.

"How are you readjusting?" Brennan asked.

"I'm fine Bones. It's been easier this time around than it was last time. I wasn't doing the same things, didn't see the same things."

"But?"

"Huh?"

"You said that you weren't doing the same things or seeing the same things that you had the first time, but that implies that you saw something different this time which also affected you."

"I didn't see anything really different. War is war, death is still death." Booth answered somberly.

"Did someone close to you die?" Brennan asked bluntly yet her concern was evident. Booth opened his mouth but no sound came out.

"I don't want to talk about Afghanistan right now Bones. We're celebrating being back here. Together." The last word made both of them freeze, eyes locked on the other. The connotations of together made them uncomfortable. Together as friends? partners? something else?

"Yes, we are." Brennan said finally with a smile.

"He asked me about our partnership." They shared another moment of silence, looking into each others eyes before Brennan responded,

"And what did you say?"

"That you are taking some time off murder." Brennan nodded again.

"There is something you aren't telling me." Booth smiled softly at her.

"You've grown a lot Bones."

"Thank you. But I would like to know what you and Sweets discussed about our partnership." Booth paid for their meal and began walking towards the door, Brennan right beside him. As they approached his new SUV Booth turned to her.

"He asked me how I felt about us not being partners."

"Oh."

"Ya."

"And what did you tell him."

"The truth."

"I know you don't like it Booth." Brennan placed her hand on his arm. Booth gave her another smile.

"Booth, do you want to come over for dinner tonight?"