I hope you all didn't hate me too much for that last bit…I really couldn't help myself…but thankfully I decided not to prolong the misery…I pray every night that I will wake up and own Bones…sadly this hasn't happened yet so I will continue to pray…I also do not own Casablanca or the line I used…

Chapter 13

Ten Minutes Earlier:

Tim Sullivan was worried. He felt a nagging in his gut that he just couldn't explain. Temperance had said she was having dinner at Booth's that night but she had said she'd call when the case was closed. She hadn't called and it wasn't like her to forget something like that. OK, it was completely like her but he still felt nervous. And after trying her cell and running by the lab only to find her gone, his nervousness mounted to worry. He had tried Booth's cell as well but it went unanswered. He would've tried Booth's home phone but he remembered Booth telling him that it had been disconnected because of wiring problems in the building.

'I can see her forgetting if she was at the lab, still wrapped up in the case…but if she left…'

As Booth's apartment complex came into view he visibly relaxed at the sight of Temperance's car in the parking lot. But that only led him to question why he had been unable to reach them.

He took the elevator up to Booth's floor and proceeded down the hallway to the door. He was about to knock when he heard something inside that borderline terrified him. It was the sound of someone crying. More than one someone. He could only stand outside the door, wondering what he was about to walk in on. They could be having a personal moment or they could be in danger. He didn't know which he would prefer to face right then.

Silence filled the air around him after several moments and his courage mounted enough to try the handle. It swung open slowly, giving him an almost panoramic view of the room. And with the room came a sight that caused his heart to drop into his stomach. Standing in the kitchen was his girlfriend and her partner in what could only be described as a tender embrace. Her face was buried in the crook of his neck and his resting on her hair. Their eyes were closed and he couldn't help thinking that even if they were open they still wouldn't notice him. Their world had shrunk to the two of them. They both appeared as two people would who had been crying but, if anything, that only hurt more. She would never cry in front of him. He'd never even seen her cry. He heard Booth sigh softly.

"Thank you, Temperance."

He watched her look up at her partner and smile. It was the warmest smile he'd ever seen on her face.

"You're welcome."

He couldn't keep silent anymore, he didn't want to know what could happen if he did. So he coughed.

Both their heads swung around to see him standing there. He saw Temperance's eyes widen.

"Sully…"

They all seemed to be at a loss for words but Temperance seemed to find her voice again after a few seconds.

"What are you doing here?"

"You said you'd call. You didn't."

He said it as simply as he could but he couldn't keep the coldness from it if he'd wanted to. She looked thoughtful for a moment, as if trying to remember.

"I…forgot."

"Clearly."

They both seemed to pick up on his tone and Booth was about to step in when Temperance put a hand on his arm. Sully felt jealousy rear up in his gut as he watched her give a meaningful look to Booth. They seemed to be communicating only with their eyes and it tore him up inside. He watched Booth's brow furrow before giving shaking his head slightly. Her grip on his arm tightened a bit without the intention to hurt and he seemed to waver. She cast him one more look that even from across the room Sully could see meant 'Trust me.' Booth's eyes flickered between Sully and Brennan before he stepped away and out of the kitchen, heading down the hall, leaving the two of them alone.

"What do you want me to say, Sully? You know it's not what it looks like, so, what do you want me to say?"

"How do I know that? How do I know it's not exactly what it looks like?"

"Because you should know me at least a little and if you did you would know that I would never cheat on someone."

"I thought I did know you, Temperance but what do you honestly expect me to think when I walk in on the two of you wrapped in each others arms!?"

"Don't yell at me. I haven't done anything wrong."

"I'm angry so I'm gonna yell! The two of you keep saying you're just partners but what I just walked in on was nothing like 'just partners,' Temperance!"

"Get out of here."

"What!?"

"You heard me. You are not going to stand here and judge something you obviously don't understand. I wouldn't advise asking me to choose between the two of you either. He's my family. Booth was in my life long before you, Sully, and he'll still be here long after you're gone. And if you can't respect that or even attempt to understand that then we're done. And you're right. He and I are more than partners. We're friends. He is my best friend."

Sully had nothing left that he could say. He realized he'd lost, probably without even meaning to, so, he turned to leave. When he reached the door he turned back to her.

"I hope he's worth it, Temperance."

And he was gone.

She expected the pain of the break-up to set in but it never came. Instead her mind drifted away to the man down the hall. She had asked him earlier to give her and Sully a minute and he'd been reluctant to go. She'd assured him she'd be fine and he'd given in and left. It only occurred to her now that the entire conversation had been silent.

She walked down the hall to the spare bedroom and tapped on it. After a moment it opened to reveal Booth looking at her warily. Her eyes went past him to a sleeping Vivian, she nodded and he followed her into the living room where they both sat on his couch.

"What happened? Are you OK?"

"I'm alright. We broke up, but I'm alright."

"Bones…I'm sorry."

"It's OK…I think it would have happened anyway."

"It…had something to do with today didn't it?"

"I think today was just a catalyst. He was insecure about a lot of things. Our relationship, for one. Yours and mine, I mean."

"What do you mean?"

"He keeps saying how we're more than partners and I told him he's right."

"You…you did?"

"We are more than partners. We're friends. Best friends."

"Oh…right. Of course. Best friends. He didn't get that?"

"No…I told him you were my family and I told him that you would always be a part of my life and if he couldn't accept that then he couldn't be with me."

"You really mean that?"

She turned to look at him. His expression unreadable.

"Of course. You are my family, Booth."

His features softened into a true smile and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her into his side.

"Well, then…I'm honored, Bones."

She chuckled and relaxed, letting her head rest on his shoulder.

"You should be."

He reached for the T.V. remote and turned it on. The opening credits of a black and white movie started rolling.

"Oh…Casablanca…I love this movie."

He looked down at her in mild surprise.

"You've seen this movie?"

"My mom and I used to watch it and cry all the time. Russ and dad would laugh at us every time. Have you seen it?"

"A few times."

"How many?"

"…….14……"

"What?!"

"Vivian really likes it OK! She made me watch it a lot!"

She laughed.

"Oh, come on. Admit it. You love it when Ingrid Bergman walks into Rick's and Humphrey Bogart sees her for the first time."

"Yea, well, I'll bet you'll cry at the end when they say 'goodbye.'"

She smirked.

"Probably."

"Geez."

"Shh…it's starting."

Not long later she asked him a question.

"Hey, Booth?"

"Yea, Bones?"

"Can I stay here tonight?"

He shifted to look down at her and she looked up to see him looking at her curiously before he smiled.

"Of course, Bones."

"Good."

They both turned back to the television, smiling, in time to hear Sam start singing.

"You must remember this / A kiss is just a kiss / A sigh is just a sigh / The fundamental things apply / As time goes by…"