Yeah, it's short too, but it's the second chapter you get today, so that should count for something. It's getting interesting now, isn't it? So, who is the mysterious 'D'? Read and maybe you'll find out…

A pounding on the door startled Brennan out of her sleep. Her neck ached and she soon discovered that she was still lying on the kitchen floor. Groaning, she climbed to her feet, using the island to hold her weight.

The pounding on the door continued, and Brennan stretched as she walked over to open it. She passed a mirror on the way, and took some time to fix her hair and clothes so she didn't scare her guest.

When she did open the door, she was surprised to see Booth there, until the memory of what had transpired settled on her alcohol-numbed mind. Brennan struggled to keep the tears back, and instead glared at Booth.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded, and Booth sighed.

"Can I at least come in before you start harassing me?" He asked, and Brennan reluctantly moved aside. Booth walked into her living room, and took a seat on the sofa. Following his lead, Brennan walked into the room, but chose to sit on the armchair instead.

"Listen, Booth, you can't stay long, I've have to leave soon…" Brennan began, but Booth held up a hand to silence her.

"Dr Brennan, I was told this morning that you have left the Jeffersonian Institute. Why? You love your work," Booth had a right to know, and Temperance knew it. She sighed.

"I can't do it anymore, Booth. The death, the tension, the crime, it's eating away at me. I believe I stated that in my resignation letter," She said, and Booth nodded. She felt horrible for lying to him, but she really had no choice.

"So it's just time to throw in the hat, Bones?" Booth asked, and Brennan winced at the nickname. "I'm not buying it. I know you to well for that!"

"Booth, I need you to accept this, please. Let it go. Please," Brennan's eyes were filling up.

"I can't Bones! I can't just let you go!" Booth stood and crossed over to where she was sitting and bent down. He raised a hand and gently stroked her cheek " Bones, what happened?"

Brennan pulled away, her face burning from the contact. She stood, and pushed Booth backward.

"Leave. Please. I can't, Booth, I can't. Just go," She whispered as she pushed him out the door. "Let this go."

" Bones…" Booth pleaded, but she shook her head, and closed the door, hoping 'D' didn't know that Booth had visited. He would, though, and she'd be forced to give up something else.

- - -

Booth ran his hand down the panelling of the door, before turning and heading back to the elevator. A pale skinned man walked out, and smiled at him.

"Agent Booth, good to see you. Have you been to see Dr Brennan?" He said, his accent sounding slightly British. Booth nodded, not questioning how he knew the man, writing him off as one of Brennan's neighbours who had seen him around.

The metal doors slid shut and the whirring mechanics of the elevator droned out the empty ringing inside Booth's head. His Bones was gone, and he wasn't allowed to know why. He knew he would come back later and try to talk to her again.

- - -

A light tap on her door alerted Brennan to her fears. It was not the impatient knock of Booth's hand, nor the confident knock from Angela's. It reminded her almost of 'D'. That was when Brennan realised that she was doomed.

Giving in to her fate, she opened the door. A pale young man stood before her, his grin seeming sinister.

"Dr Brennan, I thought we agreed that you wouldn't see Agent Booth again? Oh well, you had it coming," He said, and in one swift movement brought a cloth over her mouth.

"I didn't see him, I swear!" She tried to say, but it was to late.

Brennan felt the darkness pulling her in, and gladly let it take her, sending out a message as she let go.

'Booth, at least I can know that I kept my promise. Parker is safe. Goodbye.'

I'll try and update again later today or early tomorrow, but for now, I have to leave.