Hello readers! I apologize for the delay, when I promised you it would be up sooner than my last post. I couldn't seem to find the time.

Good news? My team won our hockey grandfinal, so I can rest easy until my horse comp this weekend! Argh! Anyway, here you go guys -

Xx G

(Thank you to my wonderful reviewers - happy comments make my day :D Thank you as well to all those who favourite and alert - it's great to know you like the story!)

11. Settling Scales

Although their week had started out in a light blissful mood, it had darkened on the Friday afternoon, later that week, when Brennan had gone to Booth's apartment to compare notes with him, and Hannah had been there.

Her immediate reaction had been to turn and flee, but the anger and defensiveness had boiled so furiously in her stomach, that she found herself entering the apartment as confidently as she knew how.

"Temperance." Hannah's civil voice rested unevenly in the atmosphere.

"Hello Hannah," Brennan replied, as politely as she could manage, obvious to Booth's tension. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm about to be stationed out to a reporting site overseas again, and I just came to see Seeley before I go." The uninvited guest tucked a lock of stray blond hair behind her ear, and adjusted her satchel on her shoulder.

Brennan's eyes tightened; she hoped that Hannah's flight was scheduled earlier to leave, and then suffered difficulties mid-air, before plummeting into the ocean.

Her face flickered deviously at the notion, before moral thought overcame her, and she inwardly scolded herself for imagining such horrible things.

"Anyway...I was just going." Hannah put a hand on Booth's arm, which he, to Brennan's delight, shook off.

"Goodbye, Hannah," he said slowly, precisely.

I won, I won, I won, I won, the little persistent voice chanted victoriously in Brennan's mind, as Hannah let the rejection from them both settle in.

She got the point, nodded once in Brennan's direction, and departed.

When Brennan was sure she was out of earshot, she turned to Booth.

"How long was she here?"

"Not long, Bones."

"Truthfully?"

Booth nodded.

"What did she want?" Brennan crossed her arms and bit her lip, not sure whether she really wanted an answer.

"To make amends."

"And?"

"I told her that I would probably never forgive her. I told her to have a great life, living on the edge. Being in the thrills. Sleeping with unsuspecting men. Yadda, yadda."

Brennan heaved a sigh. "Alright. Okay. Well, I should really get back to the lab."

"But we have to compare notes...?"

"We'll do it later."

"Yeah right."

"Please don't, Booth." She sat down the files on his coffee table. "I have to go. I'll let you know if there is any progress or immediate, valid information."

She grimaced shortly, and left.

-~B&B~-

There weren't any new improvements.

Friday had passed. Saturday. A very long Sunday.

Monday morning arrived, and Brennan hadn't yet finished her Sunday night. Yet another all-nighter. She had scarcely slept all weekend.

Booth had called. Numerous times. She had resulted to texting him. Vague, short messages that screamed awkward subtext.

The majority of them were along the lines of:

Bones - we need to talk.

Please. Let me know how you are.

Is everything alright with the case?

You need to keep me in the loop. B

She would text back:

All is well. I said I would

let you know if anything came up. B

She was frustrated with herself, more than anything, for not knowing what to do in the situation. She wanted to talk to him again, but after her infantile response to Hannah's brief reappearance, she wasn't sure that her partner wanted to see her anyway.

Eyes drooping so heavily she could hardly keep them open, Brennan trudged from the Bone Room to her office, and plunked down in her office chair, cradling her throbbing head in her hands. This is what she had feared; entering some form of amorous relationship with Booth, having a disagreement, or allowing something to come between them - and then suddenly taking two pirate-sized jumps back, premature to the starting line, and leaving the treasure behind.

Lost exhaustedly in her train of thoughts, but attentive with her senses, a few minutes of contemplative silence passed before she registered a quiet knock on the door.

"Bones?"

Brennan sighed, and looked up. "Hey, Booth."

He took one look at her, and swiftly made his way over, leaning close to her, and pressing a thumb to the rings that shaded below her eyes.

"You haven't slept?" he asked her, almost angrily. More so, he was worried.

"I couldn't sleep. I had too much to think about. This case isn't progressive, and I keep on replaying Friday night in my mind," she sighed. "I keep wishing that I had just...I don't know. I can't rationalise any thought...on anything."

He could tell that she was exhausted. Her usually rational, organised sentences were distorted, and not only that, but he sensed emotional defeat, too. Stepping closer again, he rested a hand on one of her shoulders. "Let me take you home."

"And then you kept on calling," she continued jadedly, as if he hadn't spoken. "I kept cowering behind text messages, because I don't know how to break stalemates, and now you're being towards me and-"

"Bones."

"Hmm?"

"Shh."

"Okay." She nodded tiredly, and leant back into her chair. "I'm sorry. I'm horrible at this."

"No, you're not. You're just dealing with this in your own way."

"My own way is ludicrous. How can you so sanely stand here and tell me that I am doing this correctly?"

"I can stand here and be sane because I know you. I know that, whichever way you choose to deal with our relationship, I will, as patiently as I can, respect that, and let you have your head. It has been a week, Bones. I don't expect you to have everything mapped out after such a short time, and I do not expect you to forgive me for anything in the blink of an eye, okay?"

"I find your answer to be reassuring."

"That's because it is."

She offered a small, weak smile.

"Now," he said, stepping back. "You are going to gather up your things, and I am going to take you home. This is a dead case, so I'm sure that the corpse won't mind if you leave."

She began to tell him how the remains weren't a corpse, given their state of decomp. Thought better of it.

Silently, she stowed her laptop away in its bag, gathered a few bits and pieces, and lastly, picked up her handbag and coat. They exited the building and found Booth's SUV in the lot. It was a ten minute drive back to Brennan's apartment - or longer depending on the traffic - so neither were in any real rush. The days were slow, at present. Time wasn't a perogative.

Brennan, after allowing Booth to take her things and put them in the back, took the passenger seat and laid her head back, eyes drifting to a close. She had slipped into a snooze before they had pulled out.

-~B&B~-

He flickered glances over to her inert form, thinking that, if it hadn't been for the steady rise and fall of her breast, he would have thought her to be utterly unconscious. Small, dark bruises tainted the hollows of her eyes, and her usually pinkly flushed cheeks were pale and drawn, expressing her exhaustion and vulnerability.

She looked so worn out.

He mentally kicked himself for allowing her to collapse into that.

When he pulled into the underground car park at Bones' apartment building complex, he regretted having to wake her. All it took was a soft brush against her face with his fingers, and her eyes fluttered open.

"Home," he murmured, reaching over the back seat and collecting her bags. "Let's get you inside."

She complied, opening her passenger door before he could, and stumbling out. He caught her after two staggering steps.

"I'm fine," she mumbled, straightening her shirt. "I'm sorry for falling over you."

"S'okay." He released his grasp of her form, but held her elbow as additional guiding support, knowing that although she wouldn't admit it, she probably needed it.

Upon reaching her apartment door, Bones patted around and fumbled for her keys. Booth had found them in the front flap of her handbag, and eased them into the lock while she still looked. He footed the door, and it swung open.

Bones looked up from her searching, and her eyebrows lifted simultaneously at the open entryway.

"Okay," she whispered, entering, and heading straight for her bedroom. "I'm going to have a shower," she told him over her shoulder, without turning. "Make yourself at home."

Booth closed the door, flipped the lock for her peace of mind, and settled down her bags on the armchair, before entering her kitchen. Despite not having been in her apartment at all, really, in the past twelve months, her knew where everything was. He had spent a lot of time here once. While she showered, he had no trouble sourcing two glasses, and taking out a pitcher of water from the fridge. When the two glasses were poured, he took both in each hand and settled down in her lounge area.

Bones' lounge had hardly changed since he had met her, although she occasionally had her furniture recovered every few years or so, just to keep them clean and fresh looking.

The owner of the classic, elegant furniture appeared herself, not long after. Dressed in black leggings and a cream windcheater, she already looked more comfortable than he rarely ever saw her. Padding on bare feet, she smiled weakly at him and went over to a washing basket on her table, taking out a pair of white socks. She pulled them over her full length leggings, past her ankles.

"How are you feeling?" Booth asked when she sat down on the couch and took one of the glasses.

She took a long, deep mouthful. Swallowed.

"Horrible," she answered, setting down the now one-third-full glass. "I have been better, but I feel pretty ordinary."

"You need to go to bed."

"I do."

"So...?"

"So I can't sleep. That's what is stopping me, if that is what you are asking."

"You're over-exhausted. I know you don't feel like sleeping, but when your head hits the pillow, you will."

Sighing, she shrugged. "I know. I'll go."

"Do you want me to read you a story?" he asked her, hint of a mimic in his tone.

Again, she gave him the weak smile. "Not a story...but perhaps we could talk?" she suggested hopefully.

He nodded, removing his blazer and gun. "Go snuggle down; I'll be there in a moment."

She turned and departed. He picked up the two glasses, spilled the remnants down the sink, and tipped the cups upside down, leaving them in there to deal with later. When he reached her bedroom, she was already under her covers, and propped up against the fluffy white pillows. He yearned to lean against them as she did; they looked so comfortable. His back would appreciate it. Instead though, he sat on the edge of the bed, ankles crossed.

"I am not sick, Booth," she said thickly, "you don't have to sit so far away... Not unless you want to."

Hesitating a moment, he gave her a kind smile before kicking off his shoes and scrambling up next to her.

His heart flickered sumptuously as she rested her head against his arm.

"What do you want to talk about?" he asked her, trying to keep the ecstatic emotion out of his voice.

"You won't be angry?"

"Well, you haven't asked...it depends what you want to know-" he broke off, realising.

Hannah.

"Your fight with Hannah." She sounded careful, but sure.

Air hitched in his throat.

"I know you don't want to talk about it," she said softly, "and I don't want to hurt you by bringing it up, if that it the case. But for us to make this work, we need to be on the same page." She yawned.

He looked down, to see her looking at him with wide eyes. Wide, caring, loving eyes.

His Bones.

"Okay," he whispered.

-~B&B~-

"What do you think you're doing?" Booth demanded, face tight. He knew that she saw the hurt in his eyes the moment she looked.

Ignoring her guilty, yet somehow apologetic face, he stared despairingly at his memory box, which was scattered out in front of them. It was almost as if it were his heart laying there in sprinkled pieces, bared for her to see.

The photos, the notes. Old tickets from hockey and baseball games. Past times. Memories.

"I told you to never touch that," he said coldly, glaring at her. "What gives you any right, when I told you not to? I made it pretty damn-well clear that you weren't to touch it."

"Seeley-" Hannah put a hand on her hip, and wiped her forehead with the other.

"How dare you."

"Seeley-"

"Don't defend yourself, Hannah! I don't know what you're looking for, but if it's answers, then you come to me, and ask me; don't snoop around. Especially not in my memory box. None of this obsessed reporter crap, Hannah. What the hell were you looking for?"

"What do you think, Seeley?" she exploded in reply. "That I wanted to check up on your past? No. That I wanted to learn more about you? Geez, I'm not that committed. I was 'snooping around' for something - something you would never tell me to my face. Something that, no matter how much you pledge your love, honesty and loyalty to me, you would never share. Think about it. Think about it really hard."

"Bones."

"Oh, the elephant in the room lets out a mighty roar!"

"Don't you dare use sarcasm with me. You're the one in the wrong here."

"Am I? Because you are the one who hasn't been honest."

"You are at fault, Hannah. I can understand you need to know the truth, and why you felt like you had to know. I respect that you wanted to know. What I can't respect, and what makes me sick, is that, even though we were fighting, you still abused my trust like this."

"Oh, for god's sakes, Seeley Booth. It's just a stupid box."

Booth's eyes welled. "It's not just a stupid box, Hannah. That is my life story in there. Do you think I'm stupid?"

"That's not what I meant-" she desperately tried to cover up, once her words had been bitterly spat out.

"Stop, Hannah."

"No, you stop. Stop saying my name over and over again like I'm some retarded three year old. Stop it. You have another tongue lashing left on your cards, I can tell, so spit it out."

Booth stared at her furiously. Paused. Debated. Spoke. "I can't do this. Not with you. I'm tired of playing this game with you. I'm through."

"You're breaking up with me?" She stared at him disbelievingly.

"Yeah, Hannah, I am." He ran a tensed hand through his hair. "I mean, did you really expect anything else? If I hadn't found you tonight, you would have never told me about this, and we would have been living a lie. And I'm not doing that. I don't want to be with you, and I'm angry that I was such a poor judge of your character. I'm breaking up with you."

Hannah glared. "It's because of Temperance, isn't it?"

"No, it's not because of Bones. This isn't about her. This is about us; we're not working."

"Oh, god. I'm not stupid, Booth! You wanna know what I was looking for? Proof. And I found it." She ducked down a moment, and stood up again, black memory stick in hand. "This explained everything." She tossed it at him.

He stared at the black device for a long moment. His eyes met hers, and she caught her breath.

"I think you should leave."

His simple request was heeded.

"How long will you give me to get my things and leave?"

"How ever long you think is strictly necessary; you don't have a lot of stuff, remember?"

"That's right," she laughed bitterly, pushing past him. "Because I'm the nomad."

Silent for a moment, he decided that, although he was furious with her, she didn't need to leave at this hour. She hadn't slept, and a small part of him was still worried for her. They had after all, been together for months until a few seconds ago.

"It's late Hannah; don't leave right now. Sleep on the couch, and leave in the morning when you have a clear head and can pack."

"I don't care what time it is. You want me gone, and I don't want to stay here another moment with you...win, win."

"What about all of your washing?"

"Done it. I suppose you could almost call it an advantage to being stranded in an apartment all day, with no stories to report. You get all of your laundry done, with time on your hands."

Again, the bitter tone.

He hated it.

She was the one that had screwed up.

Silently, he leant against his kitchen counter, taking long sips of water from a glass. She moved about with rushed, livid movements, picking up her belongings that lay across his apartment.

It took her all of thirty minutes to pack up her life. She was thorough, and he seemed to gather that she had been very careful not to leave anything behind. With so much as a grimace in his direction, and a nod, she stomped out, dragging her bags behind her.

Regardless of the hour, she slammed his door with shuddering force.

Booth knelt and picked up the pieces of his life, that lay across the floor. Eventually, sure that everything in the box, he sat it on the table, and sank down to his couch, allowing the shock to finally set in.

At a stage, not too long ago, he had actually considered spending the rest of his life with this woman. He had defended her, and pledged his love to her. He had brushed aside his friends for this woman, whom he had allowed himself to love. What had she really given in return? She hadn't wanted to be in his life, really. Not permanently, anyway.

With a cold shudder, he wondered if, all along, he had loved her...but hadn't been in love with her.

Yes.

His heart had always belonged to someone else.

As much as he tried to avoid the notion, after it had been crushed over a year ago, he couldn't shake the nagging sensation that his most valuable playing card in the situation would have been time.

He should have given her time.

Temperence Brennan. She, of all people, who was as immoveable as the Great pyramid of Giza, had been asked to consider one of the greatest changes life could offer, and he had only given her so few moments to adjust. She, who needed to be encouraged into something gently, had been asked to reassemble her life in the space of a few seconds.

He should have told her, when she told him that she couldn't change...that she didn't have to. That he accepted her for all the good and the bad. That, if it took years, he would wait for her. He should have told her those things, and then he should have kissed her again. But instead, he retreated even more quickly than she did, cowering as he licked his wounds.

Time.

Fate.

She didn't believe in it, but he did. He should have given her the former, and allowed the latter to take its place when it felt suit.

Now, striking his fist into the armrest of his couch, he rose to his feet and took his bottle of scotch. Discarding the lid, his closed his lips around it, and took a swig.

The alcohol relaxed his excitable nerves and boiling blood.

Taking a deep breath, a took another swig.

Another.

-B-

Waking the next morning, with a heavy headache, the events of the previous night, or very early morning, replayed in his mind.

Hannah leaving.

His regrets for Bones. He needed to talk to her.

Would she want to talk to him?

Staggering to his bedroom, he retrieved his phone from his beside table, and hit the number one on speed dial.

'Dialling BONES...' the small screen read, almost as if it were teasing him.

His heart skipped a beat, but after the fifth unanswered ring, he disconnected.

Did he have the right to talk to her?

He left the phone on the bed, and headed for the shower, desperate to shake of the emotional aches, present from the previous day. From the previous months. From the past year and a half.

It was a new twenty-four hours, from this moment on. New day. A new week.

Today, he would try and turn things onto a righteous path.

-~B&B~-

Drawing to the close of his recount, he stared down at the woman in his arms. She clung to the tightly wound muscles of his forearm, fingers curled like a child's, lips pouted, but curved into a peaceful smile.

He wondered how long she had been asleep for.

Knowing that he had to return to his office, he unwillingly detached himself from his sleeping partner, ever so careful when he replaced his body with one of the pillows he had leant against. She murmured a small sigh, and stirred, but she didn't wake.

After collecting his belongings, he departed her apartment silently, a small smile playing at his lips.

Does that answer any questions? Any closure? I hope so. There is more to come, so for those who are welcoming it with open arms, I will really try not to disappoint you. Please, if you have any suggestions, I really do like hearing them, because while I am the author, you are the readers, so however you would really like this to pan out, don't be shy and let me know.

I'll update as soon as I can - :)

Thank you, everyone!

Xx G