A/N: I feel I should point out that this story was originally only going to be a couple of chapters long cos I'm still working on the sequel to 'The Man In The Lecture Hall' so I have to admit, I'm starting to get a little frustrated that this idea just won't leave me alone! Well, I can sleep when I'm dead, right? Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. It really is much appreciated. Actually it's more than that. Try needed. Yep, I'm desperate. Deal with it...

Be prepared for slushy times ahead...

"I'll never find someone quite like you again.
I looked in to your eyes and saw that death does not exist,
I looked into your eyes and saw that I'll be missed.
I'll never find someone quite as touched as you.
I'll never love someone quite the way that I love you."

'Touched', VAST

oo00oo

His heart pounding in his chest, Agent Seeley Booth charged through the Jeffersonian Medicolegal labs, drawing strange looks from the staff staring after him. Not that he cared or even noticed all that much. His full attention was focused on finding his Temperance.

What Angela had said to him had really struck home.

I've spent way too long just wasting time. I can't do it anymore. I've got to find her.

The problem was, no matter where he looked, he couldn't see his partner anywhere. Pausing in the middle of the forensic platform, he looked around him wildly, running a frustrated hand through his hair. Deciding to do another lap around the lab in case he'd just missed her, he charged down the steps.

Rounding the corner, he ran straight in to the person walking down the corridor towards him, sending files, paper and crime scene photos flying through the air. Crouching down to help gather the information together, a gentle hand rested on his own.

He looked up, straight in to the concerned eyes of…

"Cam!"

She smiled broadly, her hand not moving from his.

"Seeley, is everything ok?"

He jerked away from her, practically throwing the files toward her as he jumped to his feet. Gathering the papers together, she slowly straightened up, a quizzical look on her face as he just attempted a casual shrug.

"Fine. Fine… Everything's just peachy."

She frowned at the sarcasm in his words, taking a step toward him.

"Seeley, seriously, what's wrong?"

Folding his arms staunchly across his chest, he tried to back away as she reached out to him again.

She paused, her hand just hanging in mid air.

"You know what, Seeley, for a people person, you can be really rude at times. What's going on?"

He relented, taking a small step towards her.

"Bones found out about you and me, and I screwed things up big style. Now, I need to find her and sort everything out before… Before I have to go."

Cam shrugged, her head cocked to one side.

"Ah, yeah, I can see how that would be a problem. Well, I haven't seen the good doctor in a few hours but what's the rush? I mean, you can always just corner her tomorrow."

Booth swallowed hard, struggling to meet her gaze.

"That's the thing. I guess… I guess I'm running out of tomorrows."

She stared at him blankly.

"What are you talking about?"

He sighed heavily as she took another step toward him. He didn't move away this time though, trying to stand his ground.

"I'm going out to Iraq in a couple of days to help train the snipers. I'll be gone for a couple of months."

Her eyes widened and she shook her head slowly.

"You're joking, right?"

He shook his head and tried to summon a smile though it died long before it reached his lips.

"No, it's true. And that's why I've got to find Bones. I've got to sort this out."

She nodded slowly and edged closer, her eyes locked with his.

"Well, good luck with that. And with everything in Iraq. Stay safe out there, Seeley. I mean it. And hurry back because we'll miss you round here."

The worry in her eyes pulled at something within him, some memory of how he once felt about her, and he reached out to her, guiding her in to a hug.

"Don't worry, Cam. I'll be fine."

She smiled in to his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, squeezing him reassuringly, as much for herself as for him.

Booth smiled in to the familiar scent of her hair, finding comfort in those same old arms. Looking over the crown of her head, the smile froze on his lips.

Oh God…

Brennan was stood at the far end of the corridor, the file forgotten in her hands as she stared at him, her eyes wide with hurt. For a moment, he could have sworn he saw tears in her eyes, right before she spun around and marched away.

Oh God, oh God, oh God…

He practically knocked Cam over as he charged after his partner, catching up with her just in time to have her slam her office door in his face. Taking a deep breath, he rested his hand on the door knob, trying to figure out just what he could possibly say to put things right.

Just do what Angela said, just tell her how you feel. Tell her that you love her.

He pushed the door open to find her sitting ram-rod straight on the sofa, the file discarded beside her. He crossed the room towards her, his heart pounding in his ears.

"Bones, I was just saying goodbye to Cam. It was just a hug. There's nothing going on there."

She snorted with laughter, a slight sneer pulling at her lips as she stared at the wall in front of her. He took another step so he was right in her line of sight but she just seemed to look straight through him.

Crouching down in front of her, he reached out to take her hand but she just jerked it away quickly, folding her arms across her chest. Booth tried to hide the disappointment in his eyes as he sighed heavily.

"I swear, me and Cam was just a one-night thing. It didn't even mean anything! What was it you said to me once? That you look for a release with the people you've previously had a sexual rapport with? That's all it was, Bones, that's it."

She glanced at him, her eyes betraying the hope she was trying to hide before she blinked rapidly and looked away, getting to her feet.

"I don't care, Booth. It's nothing to do with me."

He jumped up in front of her, grabbing the tops of her arms to force her to look at him, even though he was fully aware that she could kick his ass in to next week if she really wanted rid of him.

"Temperance…"

The name rolled off his tongue like an old friend despite his rare use of the word and he saw the emotion that flared in her eyes at the sound of it. Even so, she made a half-hearted attempt to shake him off but he just pulled her closer.

"Temperance, look at me."

Eventually, she raised her eyes to him, revealing more in one look than she could ever say.

"Seeley…"

How can just saying my name make me feel like this?

Swallowing hard, he refused to let another moment pass him by. Pulling her hard against him, Booth leaned in to finally get the first kiss he felt like he had waited his whole life to receive.

A/N: Ha ha, yes kids, I'm evil and leaving it there for now... Oh, it's fun to tease! Please please please let me know what you think cos I'm trying to avoid going too far and making them OOC (see Goldpiece, I managed it! Wohoo!) so feedback would be greatly appreciated. Should be another chapter up in the next few hours though... Hey, it's a sunday evening, I've got nothing better to do! Oh, and thanks to Ava and Mariah. You two keep me going.