Author's Note: I'm really struggling with this. This is the last chapter in Iraq, I'm bringing them home so I have more to write about. I hope it's not too disappointing.

The Words 9

What Happens Now?

While they sat together on his bed, watching TV, they chatted. About her work here, about his work back home. About their friends, about feelings. And somehow, neither of them could tell how or why, they ended up talking about Hannah.

Brennan immediately felt the need to apologize.

'It's because of me you broke up, Booth. And I'm sorry.'

He shook his head. It still hurt, losing Hannah. But in losing her he had gained something else, an opportunity. And he liked that. 'Don't be sorry, it wasn't your fault.'

'It was because I told you not to lead her on.'

'You did but come on, Bones. I knew I was being unfair to her. I just couldn't admit it.'

'Oh.' It was all she could say without the possibility of her words hurting him. Or her.

'Yeah. So don't be sorry, it's ok, it's done and I don't regret it. She'll be fine, I'll be fine and we'll be fine. No harm done.'

Brennan nodded. 'Ok. I can see how that works for you.'

'Good.' Booth looked at her. He saw there was something she wanted to say. He was always the one to see there was something when Bones tried to hide it from him. 'Come on, it's ok. Ask.'

She met his eyes and found their proximity added to her courage.

'Ok. What.. What were your plans, with Hannah I mean? If I had not left? And if I had not written that letter? If I had done nothing?'

He wanted to answer her honestly. He wanted to tell her what he would have done. But he couldn't. Not yet.

'I don't know. I don't really plan ahead, you know.'

'But you were committed to a serious relationship. Yes?'

'Yes.'

Brennan sighed. 'Did you see this coming, breaking up with her?' She gravitated slightly away from him and he saw the difficulty she was having with the question.

'You want to know how I know that this is going to work when I didn't know that it was going to fail with Hannah. Bones.. It's just not that black and white, you know. It's not. I loved Hannah but I loved you as well. I was just so hurt by you. And that.. That just made it easier, you know? It was easier and safer. So no I didn't know we would break up, but it wasn't something I hadn't thought about. With you.. I don't think about stuff like that, Bones..'

She interrupted him. 'How can you sit here and tell me you'll never break up with me, never leave me, never hurt me when you don't – know?' she emphasized her last words, making sure he understood how important this was to her.

Booth sighed and looked down. 'I want to, and I would say it if I thought you would believe me. But you won't so I'm not going to say it. I can keep saying it to you all day long and you wouldn't believe me, Bones. You have to believe it yourself before you can believe me. Someone once said to me, you have to love yourself before you can really, unconditionally love someone else. Now, I didn't love myself when I met you, and now I believe I do and I think that it's true, Bones. It doesn't matter what you believe or even if you believe in anything. I love you no matter what and it's not going to change as long as I stay true to myself. As long as that's the case I'll stay true to you, because it's just about faith, Bones. Have some faith.'

She looked down as well, loving this man so much and loving everything he was saying, but so afraid to really do what he wanted and just believe it would work.

'I love myself too Booth, and I think it will be possible for me to express my love for you some day, but for now I just want you to know that I feel the same way. I don't need you to do anything or be anyone else than what and who you are.'

He nodded. 'I was hoping you would say that. It's hard to let go, I know that. But it's not impossible, Bones. Nothing is impossible for you. I know you need time and so do I, I mean, I did love Hannah and it's not easy to forget that and move on without it feeling wrong, but when you're ready, you find me and I promise I'll be ready as well.'

Brennan nodded. 'Ok.'

They sat in silence for a few minutes longer before Brennan moved off the bed. 'I'm going to bed, I'll see you in the morning.'

He nodded. 'Goodnight, sweet dreams.'

She shrugged. 'I don't have sweet dreams, but thanks. You too.'

He smiled at her and she left his room, he got under the covers as well and switched off the TV and the lights.

He felt less nervous, they had talked about a lot and it seemed to have gone down well with Bones. She understood him and he understood her, he knew what her ghosts were and he even felt he knew how to chase them away. He knew it wouldn't be as easy as it looked right now, and he feared doing the wrong thing or saying the wrong words but she would not run away immediately. They had talked about too much and gone through too much together for her to just take his words literal and run when they didn't suit her. She'd talk to him and it would be fine. It was a strange feeling but a good one as well. He felt like he had to thank Hannah, because she had been the one to point out to both of them to stop taking each other so literal and listen to each other before jumping to conclusions. He'd thank her later.

Brennan got under the covers as well, in her own bed. It felt like she was home, she had to remind herself that she was in Iraq, on a mission, not at home on a weekend off. To have Booth in the room next to her felt safe, she hadn't felt unsafe here but now that he was here she had started to think about everything that could have gone wrong while she was here by herself. A lot of things could have happened, but not anymore. She was safe with the man who wanted to live with her, be with her, breathe with her. Brennan liked it and she knew she shouldn't. It was so weak damsel in distress-like that she was a little bit ashamed of it, but it was the way she felt: With Booth in the house, nothing would happen. He would help her, save her and comfort her.

She was asleep in no time.

The next morning she had breakfast ready before he got up. The smell of coffee and toast woke him and he quickly got up, out of bed, dressed and in the kitchen. 'Smells great. Good morning, Bones.'

She handed him a plate and steaming cup of coffee and smiled. 'Good morning. Sleep well?'

'Yeah, great. You?'

'Fine as well. What do you want to do today? I'm going to work, you could come with me.'

He didn't really know what to do. He should give her space but he didn't know what else to do, really. 'Maybe I'll go by the embassy, see if they could use my skills and resources somewhere, I mean now that I'm here I might as well help, right?'

Brennan's eyes grew wide. 'Booth.. You're not heading into the warzone. It's very dangerous.'

'I wasn't really talking about that, but it's good to know you're concerned,' he laughed, but then grew serious. 'Maybe I can help compile documents on soldiers or missions something. I'll see. Nothing dangerous, I promise. I'm not in the mood for a fight.'

'Good.' Brennan didn't know whether he meant getting into a fight with her or in Iraq, but she didn't want either. She also wasn't sure if she should be going to work at all, with everything that had been discussed with Booth, but she wanted the space and time to find her own peace of mind again before deciding how she wanted this to progress.

So she left for work, he dropped her off and headed for the embassy himself. They discussed lunch plans and he said he'd pick her up. She agreed and left with a smile, leaving Booth in the car.

He was happy with the way things were going. He drove to the embassy to look for something to do, because if there was one thing he didn't want to do it was getting in Brennan's way. She had been gracious to accept him coming to Iraq, but he knew he had been lucky on that count. She could easily have been offended by it and it would have blown his chances of talking to her about important stuff. For now he was very happy with the way things were going. She was talking to him, he was talking to her and both of them seemed happy.

He soon found out there was nothing he could do for his country, because he was in Iraq as a civilian he wasn't allowed to carry a weapon or do anything for the US government.

He couldn't decide what to do next, so he just went back to Bones' apartment. He cleaned as much as he could and made sure everything was tidy and neatly put away, so she would most likely (hopefully) be impressed when she got home.

Then it was time to pick her up for lunch, but he didn't know if she wanted to go out somewhere or eat at her place, so he decided to make the decision for her. He prepared a salad and put it in the fridge before driving to her workplace.

Brennan had used her time alone to work, because it helped her relax and think more clearly. She had drawn some conclusions and she knew she'd have to share them with Booth over their lunch. Even though she didn't like him coming after her, she appreciated his romantic side and it proved to her he really wanted to be with her. So she had decided to run with it, see where it took them here and when they went back, see how it had progressed and decide then where she wanted it to lead. She was happy with her decisions and when Booth came to pick her up, he saw a peace of mind in her eyes he was glad to see. Although he had no idea whether it was because she had decided this was a good thing or if she'd gone with her logical mind and decided to stay friends, either way, he was happy to see her relaxed and at peace with her own thoughts.

'Hey, you ready to go?' he asked.

'Hey Booth. Yes, I just have to give this to my assistant and then I'm ready. Did you find something to do?'

He shook his head. 'Nope. I'm not allowed to do anything, it seems.'

'Why?'

'Something to do with civilians and rules, that's what I heard,' he answered, not really interested in talking about his opportunities here.

'Oh. Too bad, you would have been an asset here.'

'Thanks,' he smiled at her, but she didn't see it and didn't realize the compliment she'd given him. 'I don't really care, I mean it's a pity they can't let me do something useful now that I'm here but hey, that's the way it is. I'll find something to keep me busy.'

'Ok, you can always go back home,' Brennan said, still pre-occupied with her work.

'Can't do that without you,' he said, and she looked at him. 'Ok.'

She delivered her file and went with him. 'I prepared something at your place, I hope you don't mind,' Booth told her. She shook her head. 'You shouldn't have. But thanks.'

'You haven't seen my extraordinary cooking skills yet, you'll be surprised,' Booth laughed. Brennan laughed with him. 'Good to know you still have some surprises.'

'I'm full of 'em,' he said, and opened the car door for her. 'Just you wait and see. You'll love most of them.'

'Not all of them?' Brennan asked.

'No, not all of them. But I'm not telling because that would spoil the surprises, wouldn't it. You'll just have to find out on your own.'

'I'm looking forward to it,' Brennan admitted, and they shared a look. The look that told Booth everything would work out the way he wanted, and the look that told Brennan he believed in her and in them. The look that had brought them together and the look that had saved their lives on a number of times. It was their look, their secret moment in which they already shared their lives. They always had. But even though they were on the right track now, slowly becoming closer and starting to open up to each other, looking at other possibilities, aspects beyond friendship alone, there was something between them. The barrier of time. They had been friends for so long, who would have the courage to break that stalemate first? Who would find that inner strength to take the leap? What happens now?