A/N: Okay, I've decided to extend this story. While I didn't include the lyrics to the song, the stuff with Temperance is based off of the song, 'On My Own' from Les Miserables. Look it up. It's a beautiful piece that I thought was quite appropriate for the mood here.

"Hey, Wyatt, thanks for seeing me this late. I was hoping I wouldn't have to reschedule, but the casework went a bit long today."

"Of course. Have a seat, Seeley. You look as though something is troubling you." Booth sat down on a couch, getting comfortable as his therapist pulled out a notebook and pen.

"I'm just worried about my partner. She hasn't been herself at all today, and when I asked what was wrong, she wouldn't tell me."

"You've noted concern about her in the past. What are your feelings in regards to her?"

"She's frustrating, too smart for her own good, and she doesn't even understand the smallest of pop culture references. The woman had a television, and when it broke, never bothered to replace it. Who doesn't replace a television?"

"Do you spend a lot of time with her outside of work?"

"No. It's strictly work related with us. We'll occasionally go out for a drink, but that's more to unwind after a long day. She's not interested in the same things I am, so why bore either one of us in an outside environment?"

"So you have thought of involving her in your life outside of work?"

"What? No, not like that. Bones is interested in squinty types, you know, science backgrounds and all."

"And you're worried that she won't hold you in the same interest as her past relationships?"

"Yes, I mean no, not like that. We're just partners, that's all."

XxXxX

Temperance sighed as she stood on her balcony, looking out into the rapidly darkening sky. Ever since Booth had dropped her off at the Jeffersonian, she hadn't been able to get him off of her mind. She went home, but with no one around to talk to, she was growing antsy. What she wouldn't give to have someone to speak to about her feelings. When had she fallen in love with her partner? It seemed to have just crept up on her; one day she's fine on her own, and the next, she can't see herself without Booth in her life.

Brennan sighed and grabbed her coat. It was beginning to get chilly, and with an impending rain storm, it probably wasn't the smartest idea to go for a walk, but the emptiness of her apartment was weighing heavily on her. She grabbed her keys and left the apartment intending only to take a quick walk to clear her head.

"Seeley Booth, how do I tell you how I feel?" she spoke aloud, hoping it would help her figure out the answer.

"Is it so hard to let me know? I care a lot about you Temperance." Brennan smiled as she walked along. A light breeze blew in along with the first bits of rain, biting cold on the air.

"It can be. You know I don't know how to quantify my feelings."

"But you know you're in love with me."

"Yes, I do. Logically, we shouldn't be so compatible. We don't have similar interests. You talk about things that I have no understanding of…"

"And you do exactly the same thing to me."

"How is it that we work so well together? How is it I can't imagine my life without you in it?"

"In it's simplest form, opposites attract. Things aren't so cut and dried when attraction and emotion come into play, but for us, it works."

"You know, Cam once told me that the reason that I work so well with you is because you push me to do a better job. You make me stay at the top of my game by constantly providing opposition."

"I suppose that's true. It's also fun to get you riled up." Temperance grinned a little and shook her head. She shivered slightly and could almost feel him wrap her in his arms, trying to keep her warm in the cool of the evening. As the rain drops hit the pavement, light reflected through them, making the sidewalk appear as though it were made of silver. They glinted and shone with each tiny ripple from the falling rain.

"It's beautiful out tonight," she sighed, glancing up at the bare trees. Droplets clung to the branches, each appearing as a tiny star in a finite universe, sparkling through the wet night.

"The rain? Should I expect you to jump up on a lamp post and begin to sing?"

"Maybe if I knew you feel the same way."

"You don't think my feelings on the matter are clear?"

"Not entirely, no."

"I would have thought it obvious by now. Don't you think I feel the same?"

"Do you, Booth?"

XxXxX

"Tell me about your day today. What about her behavior today has prompted your concern?"

"Dr. Brennan was called in to look at some remains, and after examination, she gleaned the needed information from them and we left the site. She wasn't paying attention, which isn't like her, and stepped in front of a moving vehicle. I pulled her out of the way in time, but her reaction wasn't normal."

"What's normal?"

"She would have gone into some anthropological spiel about how I was asserting my alpha male tendencies by trying to save her from danger and that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself."

"So she didn't do this?"

"No. She gasped and leaned back into me. She's never done that. Ever."

"You don't think that she was maybe welcoming the safety you provided?"

"Look, whenever I've rushed to her aid in the past, she's always chalked it up to wanting to be dominant."

"How often do you rush off to save her?"

"Oh no, I'm no going to fall for that whole savior complex thing. That's for teenage boys with crushes."

"I wasn't going to suggest that, Seeley. I was merely going to point out that it's perfectly normal to want to protect the things we love."

"I don't…I don't know why I bother when there's no chance of her reciprocating."

"And you're so sure of that?"

"Yes. There's no way she could possibly love me."

"Do you want her to?"

"Love me?" The therapist nodded his head in response. Booth looked at him for a long moment before finally answering. "Yes."

"You want to know what I think, Seeley? I think that you need to get out of here, go to her place and talk with her about your feelings. At least that way you'll finally have an answer from her."

"I think you're right."

XxXxX

"This is ridiculous. I'm standing out in the rain, talking to myself. I don't talk to myself. It's a sign of being unbalanced."

"Everyone talks to themselves, Bones. Everyone. You certainly aren't abnormal for doing it."

"But you aren't here. You're probably at Dr. Saroyan's place, and that's why you couldn't have a drink with me."

"A little bit jealous are you, Bones?"

"Not jealous, just a little hurt."

"You've never been one to jump to conclusions. Why do it now?"

"Where else would you go? I know it's not your weekend with Parker, so that obviously isn't it."

"And you think I'm so one dimensional that Cam is the only person I might see this evening?"

"Isn't she?"

"No."

"Well then who?"

XxXxX

"Bones, it's me, I was wondering if you might still want that drink," Booth said as he knocked on her door. He was mildly surprised, but tremendously concerned when the door to her apartment swung open. He stepped in silently, drawing his gun as he stealthily moved through the apartment, checking each room. When he found no sign of foul play, he put the weapon away and noticed her cell phone and purse sitting on the floor by her front door. His heart pounding, Booth pulled out his own phone and dialed Angela, hoping the artist knew where Temperance had gotten off to.

"Hey Angela, have you heard from Bones at all?"

"Tonight? No, why?"

"I'm at her apartment and she isn't home."

"Then she's probably still at work. You would know that better than anyone."

"Normally I'd agree with you, but her car is here, so is her phone and her purse."

"She'd never go anywhere without her phone. I'll be right over to help you look for her."

"Thanks, Angela." He put away his phone and ran a hand through his hair. Please don't let anything have happened to her, he thought. I don't think I could take it.

XxXxX

As the first rays of dawn began to peek over the horizon, Brennan found herself at the Jeffersonian. In the gathering daylight, things seemed much clearer to her. First thing was first, she had to stop pretending that everything was okay in her life. She was just one of those people that didn't deserve to have someone in her life, even if Booth had told her the contrary.

Tempe stopped on her way to the staff entrance. Booth told her that she had family. He included himself in that family. Maybe there was a chance her feelings were reciprocated. Maybe he did feel the same. She reached for her phone, wanting to call him, but suddenly realized that she didn't have it with her. That was okay; she could call him from her office once she dried off and changed. The world was full of happiness and she deserved a piece of it, didn't she?

XxXxX

Temperance came out of the decontamination shower dressed in clean, dry clothes. She was always glad to have spare clothing in her office, just in case she needed them. Tempe carried her wet clothing into her office and dropped them on the floor next to the door. This was it. She would call Booth and tell him how she felt. Once it was over, she'd have a better idea of his thoughts on the subject, and could move on from there. As she picked up the receiver, a voice from behind her startled her into turning around.

"Sweetie, we've been worried sick! Where have you been?"

"I was out for a walk," Brennan responded as her best friend enveloped her into a hug.

"How could you go out for a walk all night and not take your phone at least?"

"I just forgot. I had something else on my mind, and didn't think I'd be out all night."

"What could possibly be so pressing that you forgot something?" Temperance sighed and led Angela to her couch. As the two women sat, Brennan turned to face her best friend.

"How do I tell him?"

"How do you tell who, what? Bren, you have me seriously confused."

"How do I tell Booth that I'm in love with him?" As the words came out, neither Angela nor Temperance noticed Booth standing in the doorway of the office.

A/N: Yes, I am that evil. Tell me what you think, and I'll see if I can get this puppy updated.