Hey there! Sorry about the wait…college is insane at the end of a semester. Anyway, here's chapter three!

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It was two weeks after Booth and Cam split that he was pushed into therapy and Brennan started seeing Agent Tim Sullivan. Booth couldn't help but be insanely jealous. This guy, Sully, had swept in from nowhere, stolen Booth's partner, and preceded to try and make her fall in love with him. What an ass.

Of course, Booth did originally like Sully. He was a good guy, like he told Brennan. But after finding out that Brennan and Sully were getting hot and heavy, Booth's opinion changed. He now thinks that Sully is a low-life creep who steals partners and makes them fall in love with him.

Original.

The day Sully asked for Booth's help of how to get Brennan in bed, it was the last straw – and Sully had called him out on it.

"Do you want her? You want her. You won't help me because you're in love with your partner!" Sully had yelled at Booth. Well, maybe not love…but….

Wait, was it love? Booth wasn't sure. A year ago, he would've jumped at the chance of being with Brennan. He didn't know why after only knowing her for a short time that he wanted her, but he did. He wanted her so bad back then, but now…he wasn't sure.

He became sure when he turned around and saw Sully and Brennan kissing in her office. Until then, the whole Sully/Brennan thing was like a myth. Not real. Booth could sit back and imagine that Brennan was sleeping alone at home, not in the arms of his co-worker. But after seeing that kiss, so full of passion and obviously something they both wanted, Booth was sure that he wanted Brennan for himself.

If only he hadn't made that damned speech about "the line."

Well, it was time to fix that. His opportunity came when Sully announced he was leaving. Of course, when Brennan said he wanted her to go with him, Booth was furious. How dare Sully take away his Bones? But of course, Booth had to be the good person and tell Brennan to go. A little part of him must have known she wouldn't. But seeing her on that dock and Sully sailing off on that boat, Booth couldn't help but smile.

"I want breakfast," he had told Brennan, "let's go."

So, they went to the diner, as usual. Booth ordered eggs and bacon, and Brennan ordered corn flakes. It was so typical, the waitress almost didn't even bother asking what they wanted. They sat there in silence, Brennan staring into her food, before Booth finally had to ask.

"Bones, are you okay?"

Brennan just looked up at him. Her eyes were glistening with tears that refused to fall and she smiled a sad smile before saying, "Yeah, I think I am."

Booth pushed away his coffee cup, grabbed her hands in his, and said in a low voice, "Temperance, you can tell me. It's okay. Talk to me, tell me what's going on."

A single tear fell as she whispered, "I can't." Booth sighed, said, "Come on," and threw some money on the table before leaving with his hand to the small of her back. She didn't make eye contact with anyone while they were leaving, and they just made it to where Booth's car was parked when she broke down sobbing. "Why, Booth? Why does this happen to me? I'm a good person. I give money to charity, I'm a good friend, I pay my taxes and follow the laws. Mostly. Why does everyone leave me? Am I that awful?"

Booth gathered her into his arms, running his fingers through her hair. "Shh, it's OK. You're not awful, you're anything but. Look at me," he stated, and pulled back so she could look at him. He had one hand on her shoulder, and the other he used to make pointing gestures. "You are a good person. You are. You are wonderful and amazing. You have a beautiful soul and a wonderful heart. I am so blessed to have you in my life, and I can't tell you why people leave, but they are fools. I can't imagine ever leaving someone like you."

Brennan lost herself in that moment, and the next thing she knew, her sobs had subsided, and she reached up to kiss Booth. Their warm lips met, and it was unlike anything either of them had ever experienced. It was so real and felt so right. His arms grabbed her back to pull her closer, and she cupped his face to make sure she could be that close. After a minute or two though, they pulled apart, their foreheads touching. Their breathing was labored, but their hands and arms were still wrapped around each other.

"Come on," Booth finally said, "I'll drive you home." He opened the passenger side door for her, and she got in slowly. He closed the door behind her, and sighed, running his hand down his face. It was the most amazing kiss he had ever experienced, but some part of him was telling him it wasn't right. He should not be taking advantage of her like this.

So he got in the car, and drove her home. He offered to walk her to her door, but she declined, said a quick word of thanks, and walked to the door – not looking at him once. He waited until he saw her lights turn on, then turn and drove away.

That was the day that Seeley Booth realized he was in love with his partner.