Years Pass and People Change

Brennan removed her hand frantically, it had not been until Booth moved in his seat restlessly that she had noticed where it had been. She looked around the table, and no one seemed to notice anything different, until her eyes fell on Sweets'.

He smiled his biggest grin at her, and she narrowed her eyes at it briefly before turning back to her conversation with Angela.

"So, sweetie," Angela said softly, lowering her voice so the conversation remained between just the two of them, "who were you with when I called?" She smiled wickedly at her genius best friend.

"I was alone." Brennan stated, matter of factly. A lie, but she stated it as a fact regardless.

Angela frowned, "oh please, I have ears you know."

"Of course you do." Brennan responded, leaving it at that. She scanned the table again to notice that Both and Sweets were missing.

xxxxxx

Unfortunately for him, when Booth approached the bar to order some drinks for him and Bones Sweets was right behind him.

"Is there something going on, Agent Booth?" Sweets asked, leaning against the bar, focussing on Booth's jaw which instantly set, and the frown that formed on his forehead.

"What do you mean, Bambi?" Booth rapped his knuckles impatiently on the bar.

"Come on, Agent Booth. I know you view me as a child, but I am actually very good at what I do, I am very observant... there is something going on between you and Dr. Brennan."

With this Booth turned to Sweets after stealing a quick look at her. God shes beautiful. How am I going to say good bye. How are we going to make it. We hardly made it through six years of seeing each other practically everyday, what if she forgets me in Maluku, what if she falls out of love.. he pushed the thoughts out of his mind,

"Sweets. Nothings going on." He reached out to grab the drinks and paid the bartender,

"Agent Booth, why did you break up with Hannah?" Sweets continued when Booth only stood silent, staring blankly at him. "If something within your partnership has changed, then as the psychiatrist for that partnership, I need to know - the FBI will need to know."

Booth sighed, "Shes leaving in literally hours, Sweets. There is no partnership."

With that Booth left the bar, drinks in hand, and headed back to the table.

Maybe Dr. Brennan is simply behaving differently because she knows she is leaving soon, Sweets silently rationalized. Or, maybe something has changed - and im not as paranoid as Booth just led me to believe, he thought again, now staring at Booth and Brennan, side by side, sipping on their drinks, trying all too hard to avoid each other.

xxxxxx

A super short update, but I needed some filler before the next chapter,
where Brennan leaves for Maluku.

Let me know what you think should go down at the airport,
I have a couple ideas, but as always love your feedback

(and if I use your idea - you will get your credit, no worries!)

Thanks in advance!

~EHE