Thank you for the reviews!

Yes, the first two were done in a different format, because they were meant to read as a kind of continual stream of conciousness. Also, there was not much going on physically, it was all their thoughts, so I thought it was appropriate.

~EHE

xxxx

I Can't.

Angela listened with concern to her best friend explain her reasoning.

What she heard, was alot of excuses and fear.

"I..I couldn't. I wanted too, it was just too hard."

Angela nodded, but she didnt fully understand, "Why?"

Brennan paused. She had not told anyone what happened in front of the Hoover, or her real reasons for leaving to Indonesia. Furthermore, she didnt tell anyone that she was supposed to meet Booth yesterday evening, although she counted the days down for an entire year, silently hoping that he was safe.. and happy.

"I have to protect him, from me. He, he.. deserves someone with his kind of open heart.. I don't have that." She swallowed hard, hearing her words out loud once more throwing her back emotionally to the night at the Hoover, where she could swear her heart was screaming 'YES!' but when she opened her mouth, her mind forced her instead to say 'No.'

"What are you talking about?" Was all the artist friend could respond. Guiding her friend to the couch, handing her a tissue in the process.

Brennan sighed, "Booth, as you know has a need to share his life with someone."

"Yeah.." Angela responded slowly,

"Well, he feels like that someone, is me."

Angela tried to hide her smile, "and that is a problem?"

"Yes. I, I can't make the kinds of promises he wants me too. I cannot give him thirty, or fourty, or fifty years." She said, although the artist friend didn't understand the reference.

"But sweetie, he loves you. And honestly, you love him."

With this Brennan shook her head, standing up to get a bottle of water from her desk.

"No, he has never said that." She replied, untwisting the cap and taking a long sip.

Angela sighed, standing to become eye level with her friend, one hand placed softly on Brennan's shoulder. "Does he really have to?"

She could see Brennan's mind working, but when she didnt respond, Angela decided to leave her to think, "Sweetie, just.. try. Try and take this leap of faith. He loves you, everyone seems to know it except you. Stop trying to hide your love for him."

"I can't. Love is foolish, and irrational."

"Read his letters. He took the time to write them, and deliver them. They obviously say things that he wants you to hear."

"I can't." She responded again, "I.. I am afraid of what they will say."

Angela shrugged, and gave her friend a small smile, "Well maybe what you need is a little fear. Be irrational, be foolish. Trust in him,and in yourself."

With that, Angela left the office, giving her friend some privacy.

xxxxx

Reviews will have me posting again today!

~EHE