And now I give you the aftermath:*(
I know I know... I'm sad right now too...
It was still dark outside when Brennan arrived at the airport. Even if she and Booth hadn't been taken off the case only hours before, she still would have left. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours—yesterday she was engaged and now she was alone. Not since losing her parents and her brother had she felt this alone in the world; abandon really.
In her hand she read over her letter of resignation for her position at the Jeffersonian. She wasn't looking forward to giving it to Cam; but she didn't see any other options. Maybe she didn't want any other options. She couldn't continue working with Booth, and if he was fired, she didn't want to work with another agent. Leaving would be the best option for all involved and Clark Elliot would make a sufficient replacement.
What she would do now—she didn't have the slightest clue. She considered getting away for a while; if she was still on Broadsky's hit list, a vacation would be ideal. However, there was Angela's pregnancy to consider, she had promised she'd be there for the birth. It looked like she wasn't leaving DC anytime soon. Unfortunately.
Her mind ran through a list of possibly next moves; careful to avoid the subject of Booth.
She had spent the whole of last night crying in her hotel room. She'd lost the man she loved—actually—he'd left her. A confection of emotions ran through her veins; anger, betrayal, confusion, and mostly complete and utter heartbreak. Booth had sworn to her that she'd never lose him—she felt so foolish for believing him. He made it look so easy to just shut his door in her face—leaving her alone and sobbing in the hallway. He was cruel and unreasonable. Her mind kept repeating how much she hated him.
But her heart said otherwise.
In truth, she could not deny her unyielding love for him and cursed herself for driving him away. Booth had been the most amazing boyfriend. He was attentive and patient with her, while she was moody and often distant. If only she had shown him the love he'd shown her, maybe they would still be together. Now her life lay in aimless shambles. Plans were broken. Love was lost. The man she'd built her life around—he changed his mind about her.
Brennan's phone lit up. It was Caroline. Not Booth.
"Hello?" it was the first time in ages she'd answered a call without giving her last name.
"What is going on up there, Cherie? I just got a phone call telling me that you and Booth have been taken off our case—something about Booth slugging one to Agent Hacker—now you tell me what's going on!" Caroline was agitated but mostly concerned. It was certainly unexpected news.
"Booth punched Hacker last night," she said it simply, not wanting to get into any of the details.
"Well I know that, Cherie. But why did you're boyfriend do it?"
Brennan took a deep breath, "Booth and me aren't together anymore."
"Why? Because he beat up Andrew Hacker? He's an ass. You should be thanking him," Caroline knew about Hackers reputation. He'd hit on her daughter once—and before she was even of legal age.
"I didn't… he left me," Brennan said it softly, trying to cover the pain in her voice.
"Oh… Cherie. I'm so sorry," Caroline suddenly felt horrible for being so snippy with Brennan. "Are you alright?"
There was silence on the other end of the phone as tears began to form in Brennan's eye, "I'm afraid it's my fault Booth hit Hacker." She just couldn't answer the question.
"You're fault? I'm sure whatever reason Booth had for hitting Hacker—it was deserved and not your fault," Caroline tried to comfort her. Over that last few years, she'd grown to really love Temperance. Booth was like a son too her— and Temperance was the woman who deserved him. "Don't worry about this, Cherie. I'll see what I can do for the both of you. You haven't lost your jobs yet. And when Booth gets back I'll knock some sense back into that pretty head of his."
"That's not necessary, Caroline. But thank you. I've decided I'm going to leave the Jeffersonian," Her voice started to choke and she fought got regain control. "I plan on turning in my letter of resignation later today."
Caroline was shocked. This was more serious than she imagined, "Are you sure about this? I can make some calls. An investigation is already being conducted into what went on last night. Apparently Hacker was drinking—that looks good for both of you. You don't need to be making such rash decisions so early in the morning..."
"I'm sure…" Only she wasn't.
Brennan's flight was called to begin boarding.
"Dr. Brennan. I don't know what happened between you two up there. But I have to tell you, Cherie, I think you're both making huge mistakes…"
"Caroline… I've got to go. My flight is boarding…"
…
Booth awoke to a knock on his hotel room door. Initially, he thought it was Brennan—hoped it was even. He was still angry with her, but it didn't keep him from wanting to see her. Maybe it was the guilt that came with the sunlight. His behavior last night… it wasn't something he was proud of… but he didn't regret it yet. She shut him out first.
But when he found the hotel bell boy outside his door—he began to worry.
"Here are your things sir. The woman in room 14H had them sent down here when she checked out this morning," the bell boy handed the bag over too Booth.
"Checked out?" Brennan could have at least told him.
"Yes, sir. And she left this," the bell boy pulled out a small black jewelry box; the one that had held her engagement ring.
"Thank you," Booth took the box and shut the door. Any doubts he'd had about what he'd done the night before went away. Brennan had just given him a sign that she was completely done with their relationship. She had no intentions of fighting for them— it was over.
Booth threw the box against the wall, but the ring pop out and bounced back too him, landing at his feet. He picked it up—ready to dispose of it—but he could bring himself to let it go. His hand clutched it tightly as he lay back down on his bed; tears filling his eyes. He'd lost her.
Aww:*( they're both heartbroken... AND Brennan is leaving the Jeffersonian!
thoughts... review please!
