Chapter 2

Brennan was anxious during the rest of the case. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't seem to focus on her work. Booth joked that she wasn't helping him solve the case because she didn't believe in vacations and thought he shouldn't be leaving. She felt ill every time he said it.

"That's ridiculous Booth, this is just a very difficult case. I am perfectly fine with you taking some time off. I already spoke with Cullen about your replacement and he said that in the event a new case comes up while you're gone I'll work with Agent Sanderson."

Booth smiled but looked a little hurt at the same time. His partner always had a way of rationalizing even the most irrational situations.

However, soon Booth's taunting no longer mattered, because Wendall had discovered the tap shoe mark on the back of the ballerina's skull, and an arrest was soon made in the case.

Booth and Brennan sat at the table in the lab doing the final paperwork late into the night. Booth wanted to finish up before morning so that he could pick Parker up at daybreak and head out of town before the commuter traffic hit. They sat quietly at the table sharing the remnants of the take out Thai food they had ordered; Brennan in her lab coat and Booth in a grey t-shirt and jeans.

"Pass me the pad Thai." Brennan requested.

But instead of passing the cardboard container Booth picked up a bunch of the noodles with his chopsticks and positioned them in front of Brennan's mouth.

"Open up Bones," he joked, a perfect smile appearing on his face. Brennan gave a sly smile back, opened her mouth and slurped up all of the noodles in one bite sucking on the end of the chopsticks as the remnants of sauce dripped off the edges.

"Good?" Booth asked, sly smile still across his lips.

"Very," was Brennan's reply.

"More?"

"Of course."

Booth placed another bite of the pad Thai in Brennan's mouth as Cam appeared by the side of the table.

"Am I interrupting something?" she asked.

"No, of course not," Brennan replied as she sheepishly rolled her chair away from Booth.

"I thought everyone else had gone home," said Booth. "What are you still doing here Camille?"

"Disappointed?" Cam said as she smiled at the two partners. "I had some paperwork of my own to go over before I headed home. That's what happens when you're the boss. Well Seeley, I'm sorry you won't be around here for a while, but have a great time with Parker in the Poconos."

"Thanks Camille"

As Cam walked out of the building Booth let out a big yawn.

"I should be going. I need to get some rest if I'm going to finish packing before I pick Parker up. Do you need a ride home?"

Brennan's car was in the lot, but something in her was not quite ready to say goodbye to Booth.

"Actually yes," she fumbled the lie a little, but Booth didn't seem to notice, or maybe he just didn't want to notice. "I'm really tired and would appreciate the lift if you don't mind."

"Not at all," Booth replied, "I'm here to help…well, at least until tomorrow."

The partners piled into the car and drove silently back to Brennan's apartment. Neither one of them knew what to say. It had been so long since they'd been separated, it felt unnatural to not end the night by saying see you tomorrow. When they reached Brennan's apartment they both sat quietly in the car for a moment collecting their thoughts. Booth spoke first.

"You have my cell phone if there's an emergency."

"I'm sure Agent Sanderson can handle whatever comes up Booth."

"Of course Bones, but I just mean, well, you know, if you need me…for anything, you know you can call."

"Of course."

Neither one was sure what to do then. Brennan was still in the car staring at Booth, trying to imprint the memory of him into her mind, just in case he never came back. That happens sometimes, people drive away, and don't return. Booth sensed something more complicated than an end of the night goodbye was going through Brennan's head and he reached down to brush the hair off her face.

"I'll see you soon," he said.

Her breath quickened a bit at the contact. She raised her hand as if to touch his, but then thought better of it and quickly exited the car. As she walked into her apartment she leaned against the driver's side of Booth's car knocking on the window. Booth rolled it down. Brennan rummaged through her bag for a moment and pulled out a small package wrapped in some tissue paper.

"Here, it's for Parker. It's a child's telescope. I thought he might like to look at the stars when he's up in the woods."

"Thanks Bones," said Booth as a warm smile crossed his face. He knew she wasn't always the most thoughtful of people, so it always touched him when she did something nice for someone else, especially when that someone else was his son. "I'll see you around." Booth rolled up the window and pulled away. Brennan stood by the sidewalk watching as he drove off, wondering when she would see him next.