Chapter 2

I put a bullet through his trigger arm. It was the only way I could stop him without killing him. So now, he would face a trial and a jury who would get to decide what his fate was. Part of me wished that I had taken the opportunity and put a bullet through the bastard's heart. But that decision wasn't up to me and doing so would have made me the same as him. Something I feared enough already I didn't need to give myself proof.

And so I had Bones over and for a beer, Thai, and a movie. What better way to celebrate the end of a bitch of a case than with her in the quiet safety of my own apartment. The plates have been cleared and the move is rolling. It's some comedy that Bones pulled out of my cabinet, I'm not even sure of its name at the moment but I'm trying to focus on it and not think about today anymore and so I laugh when something strikes me as funny but for the life of me I can't remember what the movie as about let alone what it's called.

Half way through the movie, I'm aware that she's watching me, seemingly giving up on watching the characters make total fools of themselves. I didn't want to think about what was whirring through that brain of hers. It was moving so fast that I could feel it next to me, but I couldn't even begin to tell you what she was thinking about. And so I let it go for the rest of the movie hoping that something in it would catch her attention.

Nothing did. So when the ridiculously unrealisticly happy ending faded to black and the credits rolled I hit the mute button tossing the remote into the bowl of remotes on the coffee table and turning to face her. I just studied her for a moment, trying to figure out what was going on in that brilliant brain of hers. I couldn't do it though and so I quirked my eyebrow in a gesture that I know she knows is one of questioning. But she didn't say anything and so I had to ask, "Bones what's going through that pretty little head of yours?"

She doesn't answer for what seems like hours, before she finally sits up and turns her whole body to face me pulling her legs into her side. She seems to be fighting some sort of internal battle before she looks me dead in the eye and says, "Booth, I love being your partner."

I relax slightly maybe whatever is on her mind isn't half as bad and I thought it would be. So I smile and give her friendly tap on the knee, "Right back atcha Bones I love being your partner too." This didn't change her expression and I know that this is way worse than I could have possibly imagined, "What is it?"

She cocks her head to the side in that way she has when she's trying to figure out what she's suppose to do right now. And the silence seems to grow heavier as I wait for her to say something. It can't be that long before she takes a deep breath, "Our whole partnership. Our whole friendship, relationship. It's a tale from television, from a book..."

I can feel where she's going with this and so I try to stop her. I'm not sure why I just don't feel like we're ready, like it's time. So I interrupt her, "Bones where are you going with this?" Evidently, she doesn't feel the same way because she presses on. I suppose if she's the one pushing the issue maybe for once I'm the one avoiding it.

And so she continues, "The two people that don't get along well at first, in fact they hate each other but before you know it they're best friends working together relying on each other, falling in love with each other but doing nothing about it. And then something breaks, something goes wrong and they're broken."

I can feel the hurt and pain rolling off her, what this is costing her to acknowledge where we're at and what need to happened and I can't help but feel like she blames me and so I try to reason with her, "It wasn't my fault Bones."

She's quiet for a second before reaching out and intertwining her soft delicate hand with my. Her smaller, daintier hand wrapping around mine, which feel large and ill kempt next to hers. And she gives me a gentle squeeze, "I know it's not, it doesn't matter, just let me finish." I nod, she's started the conversation and now we have to finish it. The only problem is I don't know how I want this one to end.

"Slowly they get back to where they need to be. Where they're suppose to be. It's a beautiful story and everyone loves to watch it over and over again because human life is a story of relationships and trying to connect with someone despite all the obstacles that get in the way. But at some point the story has to move forward, it has to move on to what they're supposed to be otherwise the story loses its sparkle and the relationship is over no matter how much they fight for it."

She's done and she's serious, we've reached the point where we actually have to make a decision. Or at least she has which means we both have too. "What you're saying it that we've reached that stalling point?" I ask hoping that I have misread her and at the same time, I'm fully aware that she's right as she nods her head in confirmation.

Well she's the one that brought this up so she gets to go first saying what she wants. "So Bones what are we suppose to be?"

She doesn't hesitate; she just tells it to me straight in her Bones way that reminds me why I fell in love with her in the first place, "For us to be more than just friends and partners… To be in a relationship that more than all of that combined."

But that doesn't mean that I'm not thrown off guard by her bluntness. "Bones…" Her nickname shudders through me and literally don't know what to say next. I want to tell her that I'm hers and that she has nothing to worry about, but at the same time I've been hurt so many times including by her that can't form any words, I can't just leap into this. I'm not sure that I can even get into this at all.

She has that soft sweet smile she has for when she's trying to reassure me on as she gently pulls herself off the couch ,"I don't need an answer right now Booth, but I need one within the next few days. It's time for our relationship to spark or fizzle and die and if it's the latter one I need to just get on with it."

And there it was the ultimatum that this had been coming to. "Bones…" I say her name again wishing that we could turn back the clock just a few hours to when we were, standing on the rooftop watching the paramedics wrap gauze around Broadsky's wrist and everything was right with the world.

She's standing in front of me and all my gut is telling me to wrap my arms around her waist and refuse to let her to leave. But my brain is telling me that, this isn't an option anymore and the conflict leaves me paralyzed. I feel those long, careful fingers softly stroke my cheek before she leans over and her lips ever so gently graze my forehead in a gesture that is so full of meaning and emotion that I'm at a loss as to what to do, and so I remain frozen to the couch.

I hear her in the hallway gathering her coat and messenger bag, and slowly opening the door. I can feel her paused there even though I can't see her. Just when I think that maybe she's left and the door is stuck open, I hear her, barely loud enough to be heard but it makes the words ring crystal clear in their gravity. "This is our last chance, Booth." And with that she was gone, and the door clicked closed behind her.