Booth pulled into Brennan's complex with a head spinning of thoughts. When he saw her car, his palms began to sweat and he found a spot close to her door. He wanted to go to her, but he wasn't sure if she was ready. He frowned as he thought about something that had occurred a couple weeks ago.

Forget and Remember

Booth walked into the Jeffersonian and scanned the area in front of him. No signs of her anywhere. He had to find her.

This time, he thought, he had really done it.

Brennan was asking too many questions and he couldn't answer them.

They had been out, after solving a case, and perhaps had had too much to drink. It was different from their usual after case buzz. Brennan looked out the window as Booth sat there silently. The music slowly played in the background and the lights were dim.

Closing a case was satisfying, but sad at the same time.

Brennan turned and looked at her partner. The case dealt with an alcoholic mother, who was murdered by her oldest son. Brennan knew that this case was affecting her partner more than usual. She took a sip of her beer and bit her bottom lip.

"Booth?" Brennan said barely above a whisper.

"Yeah?" He continued to stare at his cup.

"Can you tell me about it now?" Brennan leaned forward.

"Tell you what?" Booth raised one eyebrow.

"About…about your father."

Booth tapped the table and shifted in his seat. He took a while before he answered.

"No." Booth avoided his partner's eyes.

Brennan scrunched her face and sat back. "Why?" Her blue eyes pierced into the top of his head.

"I just…can't."

"But, Booth…"

"I said no." Booth finally looked up at his partner.

Brennan was not going to back down. "Booth, as your friend, I really think that you should tell some-"

"Damn it Temperance, I SAID NO!" Booth yelled and slapped one of his hands on the table. His eyes were crazy with anger as his stood up off of his stool.

Brennan sat there with her mouth opened. Her partner was unwilling to share that part of his life with her and she felt totally betrayed. Tears formed in her eyes as she stood up and grabbed her purse. She slapped some cash on the table and headed for the door.

Booth fuming turned and watched her walk out the door. He stood there for a moment and let himself cool off.

He had never been good at sharing his past with others. He had buried those memories a long time ago and made himself forget them. Remembering them would open a wound that will never heal.

Booth kicked his chair and slammed the rest of the beer in front of him. Looking at the empty bottle he opened his eyes wide.

He felt empty without her, like the bottle in front of him. He knew she was only trying to help him, trying to make a connection with him. He grabbed his keys and ran out to his truck.

Booth cursed himself the entire way to the Jeffersonian. He sighed a sigh of relief, when he saw her car parked in its usual spot.

Booth knew that his Bones would go to her house of reason. He looked around to see if he could hear where she had hidden herself.

He looked on the platform. Nothing.

He looked in her office. Nothing.

He looked in the lounge. Nothing.

Booth stopped and looked around from the lounge. He snapped his fingers and ran down the stairs. He turned the corner and looked into the bone room. His heart broke as he saw her standing there.

Brennan stood in front of the table with the bones laying out in front of her. She had attempted to work on a limbo case, but for some reason she could not focus.

Booth saying her name rang through her head louder than thunder.

So there she stood, one hand on the table, the other covering her eyes, trying to stop the tears.

Booth walked quietly across the room and up to the other side of the table. He stopped and said a little prayer for the victim in front of him.

Brennan felt someone in the room with her and she knew who it would be. She turned her back to him and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. With one sigh she picked up the file on the medical tray and opened it. Turning back around her face had completely changed. She went from Temperance Brennan, the lonely and hurt woman, to Dr. Brennan, world famous forensic anthropologist.

Booth saw this change and cursed to himself. She had been so willing to let him in and with one sentence, he pushed her back to square one.

He walked around to the other side of the table and put his hand on her shoulder.

She took two steps to be out of his reach and turned to speak. "Booth, do we have a case?" Her voice was professional and toneless.

"Bones, just, stop." Booth walked over to her. "I'm sorry." He received no response.

Brennan walked around to the other side of the table. She picked up the sternum and began examining it.

"Bones-" Booth tried again.

"Booth! Unless you have something regarding work, I have nothing to say." She put the bone down and glared into his eyes. "You have made it more than clear that you are interested in only being work associated."

Booth walked around to the other side of the table. He stopped in front of her and sighed.

"Bones, no statement could be further from the truth." Booth looked down at the floor. "It's just, my past." He paused. "You wouldn't…no one understands."

Brennan turned and walked up to Booth. "I would like to understand, but you will not let me!" She stopped and softened her voice. "You told me that, partners, share things." Brennan grabbed one of Booth's hands. "Please Booth. Help me to understand."

Booth looked up with tears in his eyes. He started very slowly.

"Bones…you are right. I am so sorry. You know that we are more than just partners. You are like, one of my best friends." He squeezed the hand that she was holding. "I never tell anyone about my past. It…it's too painful. It took me so long, you know. So long to try and forget." Booth let a tear slide down his cheek. "Remembering my past, the bad memories, makes me feel helpless. I felt the worst I have ever felt in my life and I wouldn't wish to be back in that place ever again. Talking about it will take me back there Bones. Please don't make me go back."

Booth's voice was cracking and the tears flowed freely. Without thinking he lunged forward and pulled Brennan into a hug. He held onto her like he was trying to be saved.

They stood there like that for and endless amount of time. They pulled apart and Brennan smiled. Booth sniffled and turned his head.

"What's with that smile Bones?"

Brennan bit her lip and giggled. "You hugged me."

Booth raised his eyebrow and waited for more.

"You said that, one day, when you were scared, you would hug me." Brennan wiped a tear off of his cheek. "I just, I guess I thought you would never be scared."

"Never say never, right Bones?" Booth smiled and squeezed her shoulders.

"I guess so." She smiled and stood there awkwardly not knowing what to do next. Booth grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door. "Where are we going?"

Booth smiled and then became serious. "I need to start sharing things from my past with someone. There is no one on the planet that I would trust that to, but you."

Brennan blushed and linked her arm with his. They walked out of the lab slowly arm and arm, talking about whatever life threw at them.