A/N: The reviews have been incredible. This story was… just a bit of fun… so THANK you all for been loyal and sticking with it. Enjoy the next chapter =)

Brennan was ready to question him the moment he walked into the Lab the following morning. She had gone home, and still gained no slumber. She had tossed and turned over the last few hours, and wondered what had possessed Booth to lie to Hannah about why Brennan had shown up on the doorstep. She couldn't fathom a reason good enough to consider a lie.

She had wondered into work in the early hours of the morning, working on a limbo case.

She heard Angela address Booth's name, and her ears pricked up, she was instantly alert.

"Goodmorning, Ang," he greeted.

"Hi," her tone was off, but Brennan barely noticed.

She stood from the floor in her office and came out to greet him.

"Hi Booth," she smiled standing in the door way.

He stiffened when he looked up to see her.

"Oh, hey…" he looked at Angela. "Got anything you need from me today?"

Angela frowned at his reaction to her friend. "No…" she answered.

"Alright. I got things to do, catch ya later… ring me if you need me."

"Booth?" Brennan called.

He stopped but clearly out of obligation.

"Can I have a word?" she asked. Brennan wanted to ask him about the unnecessary lie. She didn't understand his hostility.

"I'm busy," he shrugged. "Can we do it later?"

Brennan felt like someone stabbed her physically with a dagger, piercing her heart. It hurt. She rejected the feeling and met Booth's eyes, staring him down. "No, we can't wait…"

He groaned with annoyance. "Fine, what?"

Booth crossed his arms and waited.

Brennan didn't like his behavior, but she had other important issues she wanted to discuss with him. "Why did you lie to Hannah about my reason for being there last night?" she demanded.

He hesitated.

"Booth?" she pushed.

He took a deep breath. "Hannah's making it difficult, Bones, alright?" his tone came out harsher than he intended, surprising himself more than he surprised Brennan.

"Difficult how?" she questioned.

"Do we have to do this NOW?" he snapped.

"Yes," Brennan shot back. "Communicate with me, Booth… what is going on with you?"

"Nothing," he shrugged.

"You're lying!" she stated. "You taught me to read body language, Booth and-"

Booth took a deep breath and met her eyes. "Hannah asked me to choose, Bones, alright? She asked me to choose between a partnership with you and a life with her…"

The puzzle clicked on. "Oh," she nodded.

"I have to do it," he explained. "I can't spend the rest of my life waiting for something to happen… I have to keep her, Bones, because she gave up a life in New York for me. I owe her this. I'm not cutting you off, I'm just-"

"I understand," she told him. And she did. She understood that he had to move on, and this was his way of trying to do that, she had told him she couldn't give him anything more than what she had before, and now this was the outcome. She understood. It hurt like hell, and she felt both abandoned and rejected, but she knew that Booth owed himself a chance at happiness, and if Hannah was his happiness then she wouldn't stand in the way.

"Bones, I…"

"Please," she interrupted. "I don't want to talk about it anymore. I do understand. I wish you happiness, Booth. If Hannah can make that possible, I won't make things more difficult. I'll step away. I'll find a new partner…" she told him.

The devastation was evident on her face.

"Does it have to be this way?" he asked desperately running a hand through his hair. "Can't I just have you both… the way I already have?"

"Hannah doesn't seem to think so," Brennan answered. "And she's important to you. I have to get back to work."

"Bones…" he called as she walked back into the office.

Brennan didn't stop and turn around. There wasn't much else to say.

I know it's VERY angst-y… sorry about that… I'll make it better by the end. I promise. MIGHT have to put up with a little more though… for those of you who want a happy ending, it will come. =) Eventually…