aka Parallel Lines. Inspired by the 100 Themes concept. Slight Hero in the Hold spoilers, so don't read if you don't like them. Also: potential tissue alert!
Hodgins handed her paper, another sheet torn from her book. She snatched it and a pen, and barely giving it any thought, began to write.
Booth, I write this knowing it might truly be good bye. I know you believe in an afterlife and I don't--if my plan doesn't work, I may be finding out which of us is right sooner than later. If you are, then I shall hopefully take comfort in seeing my mother again, as well as you some time in the distant future. If not, well, it has been a pleasure to know you, to work with you. There are things I feel I should say, even though they might be painful. I hope you will forgive me in that.
Please tell Ange Jack loved her to the end, and she remains my dearest friend, the sister I never had. Speak kindly to Zack; he needs the encouragement. He was the best student I ever had the privilege of teaching and I hope, no, know, he will do great things. Tell him I said that, that I mean it. Russ--Polo. If he ever hears from our Dad again, have him send my regrets that I couldn't find him myself. I wanted to, to find out if we could have been a family again. Cam--well I haven't known her very long, but I do wish her the best.
Seeley. I have no words that properly explain things to you, nothing that can be summed up in a sentence or two. You have been my window on a wider world, a guide to things I no longer understand properly. Thank you for that, for restoring something I thought was long gone. Know it isn't your fault that you're reading this--you always try your best, and that is never anything to be ashamed of. I hope we have been able to provide you with enough clues to track this bastard down. I will certainly be cheering you on from that hypothetical afterlife.
I hesitate to write this, for fear of hurting you more. But you should know that among those things you showed me, you showed me that love just might exist. It seems more real than Heaven does. I wish I could have told you that, told you that my feelings and thoughts on that have changed, and seen what new path opened. Forgive me for lightening my mind and laying the burden of "what could have happened" on you. I want you to live, to love and care for Parker, catch the bad guys. Remember us fondly and try not to blame yourself. Tell the team--none of you should blame yourselves.
Always, Bones
She folded it, wrote Booth's name on it, and tucked it into her pocket before turning back to the steering wheel for the airbag explosives. Wondering if she should check the passenger side--the SUV had them, but it might make the explosion too powerful.
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Booth scowled at the pad and pen. Why he had been left with anything was a mystery; perhaps it was a subtle taunt. The Gravedigger hadn't left him with even the small number of things that he had left with Bones and Hodgins, not that he could come up with a similar solution on his own. But he had been left with pen and paper. Not even his own. With a snort, he noticed it was waterproof ink. Definitely a taunt.
Hodgins had written Angela a note, he knew--he had heard them talking about it once. Bones had never said what she did, nor had Hodgins, but the techs had noted there were at least two pages torn from her book. Logic (and he forced a smile at the term) indicated she had written a farewell note, too. Well, he would follow suit. One less thing to worry about.
Bones. This might be it for me barring a miracle. Thank you for being my partner, for putting up with all of my alpha-male ways, for teaching me the inner workings of the world around me. Not your intent, I know, but it helped me see God's creation in a whole new light. No matter my destination (Purgatory seems likely and the best I can hope for), I will miss you. I wish I had been braver and told you what you truly mean to me. I love you, Bones. I'm sorry that I can only tell you now, but I thought I had time and I didn't want to upset you by saying so too soon.
Please stay in touch with Parker--teach him what you taught me. Let him bring some sunshine in your life. Tell him that I love him and never would leave him if I didn't have to. Tell him that I tried my hardest to return to all of you. Tell the Squints that I know they tried to find me, tried to catch this bastard, but they shouldn't blame themselves that it didn't work. I know you pushed and prodded, making every clue reveal twice what anyone else would see. Your gift.
I know I said I would never betray you or leave you, Bones, but I have no choice now. Try to live wide. Remember to eat, for God's sake, and be careful in those damn digs you're always going on. God bless you.
Seeley
He hesitated over the signature--she called him Booth, always, but if there was anyone he would like to hear call him by his first name, it would be her. He folded up the paper, wrote Bones' name on it, and tucked it into an inner pocket. He then stared at the pen and paper and, deciding he couldn't afford to toss anything that might be useful, shoved them into his coat pocket. If this was it, then by God, he wasn't going to go down without a fight.