AN: I'm so thrilled that this has gotten so much attention! As always, thank you so much for all the hits, alerts, favorites, and reviews:) I'm very very very sorry that it's taken me so long to get this up!! I've been procrastinating because to be honest, I don't know what happens after this :( I'll have to think. It's not over though! I have plans. Oh, and for all you spoiler junkies, like myself, you'll notice a teeny tiny mention of a spoiler during Sweets and Brennan's lunch. Hehe. But, don't worry for all you good, non-spoiler junkies, you will not be spoiled in any way because you won't catch it. I wouldn't do that to you.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bones or any part of Fox Broadcasting. Sadly.

Chapter4

It was a pretty world. The sky was full of white puffy clouds lined in bright gold from the setting sun. The field had lavender scattered amongst the wheat. The wind was skimming through her hair. She felt calm.

And then the calm ended with a very large bird whose chirp sounded oddly like her alarm clock.

Brennan hit the offending "bird" on its snooze button and rubbed her eyes.

She sat up and stretched all her limbs to begin her morning ritual. After her muscles were warmed up, she slid out of bed and pulled the sheet and blanket up over the pillows. She went to the bathroom, turned on the water as hot as it would go, brushed her teeth and hair, tossed her clothes into the laundry basket, and stepped into the sauna her shower had become.

She adjusted the spray so that it hit her neck and back and rested her forehead against the wall. It felt nice. The warm water temporarily loosened her always tense shoulders. After washing her hair and finishing up in the shower, she pulled on her robe and made her way to the kitchen.

She poured herself a cup of coffee and decided she was in the mood for cereal. She ate her cereal and drank her coffee while she read the latest news online.

After checking her phone and replying to a text from Booth, she sat her bowl in the sink, refilled her travel mug and walked to her room.

Next, since today would most likely be spent in her office with mounds of paperwork from their last case, is simple: Damp hair is pulled into a bun, minimal makeup applied, khaki slacks pulled on, form fitting purple sweater pulled on, jacket, mug, phone, purse, keys, done. She locks the door, and walks to her car.

Brennan arrived at the Jeffersonian twenty minutes later and her office four minutes after that. She sat her things on the couch and hung her jacket up on the rack and then sank into the comfy chair to see what she could get out of the way before lunch. Lunch that would hopefully be with Booth if he texted back. He was probably just getting up and running late for work, she thought with smile.

Two hours, a visit from Angela, two from Cam to ask if she was finished with something yet, and seven reports finished, her phone rang. Hoping it was Booth calling to invite her to lunch, she was disappointed to see Sweets' name.

"Brennan."

"Dr. Brennan, Hi, its Dr. Sweets."

"Yes, I saw that. What do you need?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch today. There are a few things I'd like to ask you about and if you'd like I thought we could discuss them over lunch."

"Sure," she said slightly disappointed, "at the diner?"

"Sounds great. What time is good?"

"I have a few reports I'd like to finish… Would around one be good?"

"Sure, I will meet you there."

"Okay."

"Bye, Dr. Brennan."

"Goodbye." She sat the phone back on the desk and sighed. She guessed she'd have to wait to see Booth. It surprised her how much time she spent with him. And surprised her even more that when she was away from him, she was thinking of the next time she'd see him. It was something she couldn't control. She didn't consciously think, "What is Booth doing right now?" but it seemed if she wasn't concentrating on something else, she found herself thinking of him.

Lunch with Sweets. Ugh. He probably wanted to talk about her email. Double ugh. Might as well get it over with as quickly as possible. She finished up the report she was working on and gathered up her things. She got there about fifteen minutes before one, but that was okay. She went ahead and ordered. It wasn't that she cared to talk about her email with Sweets; she would most certainly tell him what she thought. She just didn't particularly need all the analyzation. She was honest in that email. She didn't hide anything. Maybe he would see that.

"Dr. Brennan you're early! We did say one, right?"

"Yes, I just finished more quickly than I estimated, and decided to go ahead and come early."

"Oh, okay," the waitress gave him an inquiring look as he sat down, "Yeah, I'll take a burger, no onions, please, and a water. Thanks." The waitress gave him a nod.

"So what is it that you wanted to go over?"

"I thought it would be a good idea to look at some of the things in your email. If that's okay with you, Dr. Brennan."

"Yes, that's fine. I assumed that was what you wanted."

"Do you have any objections?" he had that, shrink-y, if-you-do-it-means-something-that-it-really-doesn't look that she now recognized.

"None at all," she looked at him, "I assume Booth did."

"Why do you ask?"

"It wasn't a question. It was an assumption."

"Right. Okay, so," he started, pulling a copy of her email out, "I find your first one interesting because, and I'm sure you don't realize it, but when you do correct Booth, it comes off very condescending."

"But I explained it, Sweets, I'm not being condescending. I just want him to have all the facts."

"I know that, Dr. Brennan. Booth doesn't."

"How can you know that?"

"I'm a therapist, Dr. Brennan; I'm trained to see these kinds of things in people."

Brennan just picked at her sandwich. What did he know anyway? Psychology. HA. Booth knows I mean no harm…

"Listen, I just think maybe you should explain your reasoning to him. I think he would appreciate it."

"I'll consider it. Can we move on?"

"Yes, the next one I want to ask you about is number two."

"What about it? That one is very straightforward. We do not need to talk about that one."

Sweets wasn't surprised that they had similar reactions… or that the beginnings of their emails were similar. On a basic level, Booth and Brennan were wired very similarly. Brennan hides her emotions with logic, Booth with force. But they are the same. Two parts of a whole. It was fascinating, but not surprising after the years he'd spent working with them.

"Okay, we can skip that one."

"I really need to get back to the Jeffersonian soon, Dr. Sweets. I have a reconstruction to check on."

"Okay then, let's just talk about one more. The last one, Dr. Brennan, what is it that you're conflicted about?"

"I believe I spoke quite plainly, Sweets."

"Yes, but is it your feelings, or what those feelings and actions may imply?"

Her hesitation did not go unnoticed.

"You're the psychologist. You claim to be trained to read people. Read me." She was getting good at this sarcasm thing. Booth would be proud. Sadly, Sweets wasn't thrown off.

"I believe you know what you feel for him. I think it scares you, so you hide from it behind a wall of logic."

"Logic is not tangible; therefore, I cannot hide behind a wall of it."

"It's a metaphor, Dr. Brennan, you know what I mean."

"No, I do not, Dr. Sweets, and I need to be going. I'll see you at our regular meeting."

She walked out without waiting on a reply, and put that meeting in the back of her compartmentalized mind. It would not affect her. Not today.

Brennan sunk into her couch after dropping her keys, purse, and jacket on the table by the door.

What a day. A long, boring, long day. A Booth-less day. She hated those days. Other than the non-conversation she had via text messaging that morning, she hadn't heard from him. Was he mad?

She pushed that to the back of her mind too. It was too early to go to sleep, but she didn't have anything else on her mind. She felt gross, though, and sleep wouldn't come unless she felt clean. A long hot bath was exactly the thing she needed.

After filling the tub with almost too hot water, a fizzing lavender soak that made the water purple, and lighting too many candles Temperance Brennan sunk into heaven.

"Aaahhhhh… perfect."

She may have fallen asleep, but when she lifted her eyes, and found her hands had shriveled she decided it was time to get out. She quickly washed her hair under the faucet and towel dried it. She walked to her bedroom and pulled on the most comfortable and old t-shirt and sweatpants combo she owned and padded to the kitchen for a large glass of ice water.

Water in hand and en route to her bedroom to crash, she jumped when she heard the knock at her door. What time was it? Past midnight for sure. Her heart involuntarily skipped a beat as she set the water back on the counter and looked through the peep-hole.

"Booth, what's wrong?" she asked as she unbolted the door and stood aside for him to come in. He looked… haunted... resembling a shadow with the way his normally vivid eyes were dim and circled in darkness. It scared her to see him looking so not like himself.

"I'm okay, sorry, you were asleep. I'm sorry. I'll go. I just came by to say something, but go back to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." He rambled.

"I wasn't asleep, Booth, come in here, you do not look well," she pulled him in by his elbow, worried now, that he may be sick.

"Bones, I'm fine. Just tired," but she'd already shut the door behind him.

"Here, come sit down. You should drink something," she handed him her water and leaned in too close. It caught him off guard when she pulled his eyelid up to examine his eye.

"Whoa, Bones, what gives? I'm fine. Stop being Dr. Brennan."

"Booth, that makes no sense, I can't stop-"

"I just meant the doctor part, Bones. Be Bones, right now okay. My partner, Bones."

"Oh."

"Look, Bones, since you dragged me in here, I might as well say what I came to say."

"I didn't drag you in here, Booth. You looked sick and I didn't want to let you drive home."

"I look sick because I've had a lot on my mind, and I can't sleep, Bones, I'm trying to tell-"

"Insomnia could mean that your surgery had an unexpected side-effect, Booth, we should get you to the hospital to make sure it's-"

"Bones! Let me talk, okay. Please. I promise I'll do whatever you want. Just let me talk."

She stared at his flustered shadow face silently waiting for him to go on.

"I just… I want you to know something. I don't want you to take it the wrong way, though, because you do that sometimes, and I just… shit. Bones, okay. I want you to know that, in the past year, I've noticed you've grown. Emotionally I mean. You relate better to people. You show your feelings sometimes, and you pick up on what other people feel, Bones, I just wanted you to know that it makes me happy to see that side of you."

Brennan sat silently for a few moments more, considering the emotion on his face. He seemed to be still holding back, but she wouldn't push.

"Thank you, Booth. I attribute that to spending time with you. If a part of me is becoming more like you, I don't see how that's bad…or how I'd take it wrongly."

Her words spoke life into him. The shadow dissipated. His eyes filled with warmness and the smile that plastered his face reached all the way to his hair line. He enveloped her into a huge hug. Brennan smiled at the sight of his face lighting up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Their eyes closed as they settled into each other.

His whispered gratitude pressed into her ear, "Thank you, Bones. Thank you so much."

AN: Not gonna lie, I'm proud of myself with this one. Fluffy enough? Once again, sorry for the long wait. Was it worth it though? Did I do ya proud? (; I hope to have the next one up by Friday morning, but no promises! If not, it will be Monday. I'll be out of town all weekend on a shopping extravaganza!

Love you guys!

K.

Ps: Your thoughts & ideas on what should happen next would also be appreciated:) I'm all about pleasing the readers!