Chapter 3

"So, Sergeant Major. How was your mission?" Brennan changes the subject easily while tossing her empty cup in the bin next to the coffee cart.

Booth copies her move and stands up to stretch his legs. "Honestly? It was hard." He confesses. "And I don't just mean the rolling around in the mud and the lack of sleep and hygiene." He helps her to stand and they begin to walk around the reflecting pool. It's just that my heart really wasn't into it."

"So why did you go?", Brennan wants to know. "You didn't have to. You'd already served your country before while in the Army Rangers, and every day as an FBI-agent."

He looks away nervously, wondering if he should tell her the truth. He doesn't want to make the same mistake he did a year ago: admitting his true feelings and ending up with his heart shattered.

"We shouldn't keep secrets from each other". An echo of what seems like a lifetime ago brings him back to his senses.

He clears his throat before settling his dark eyes on her face. "I just couldn't stay behind here, alone, knowing that everything would remind me of your absence. The diner, the Jeffersonian… all the streets we've walked on." He glances uncertainly at her trying to read her expression. He hopes his honesty didn't spook her.

"I'm sorry I pushed you away", Brennan confesses. Her answer surprises him and he stops walking. "You were right." She continues. My decision to leave was a reaction spurred by my anxiety about the Gravedigger-case." She reaches over to grab his hand to make sure she has his full attention.

"Look, I haven't told you this before but when we put Taffet away, she threatened me. She told me that this wasn't over. And you know what? I believed her… and I still believe her. I could see in her eyes that she meant every word of it. She's smart and a master of manipulation. I know it's only a matter of time before she gets out and hurts people again. Especially the people I love, seen as it was my testimony that put her away.

Tears are forming in the corner of her eyes and Booth pulls her in for a hug.

"It's okay Bones", he tries to comfort her while gently stroking her dark hair.

"No it's not", Brennan pulls away still facing him. "You almost died Booth.

"So did you Bones!" Booth retorts. He gently traces the outline of her jaw with the side of his index finger to soften his words. Her eyes drop as if she wills herself not to let memories of that day break through the surface. "Hey", Booth whispers. He locks her chin between his thumb and index finger and slowly pulls her chin up to make her look up at him. His heart races at having her shiny eyes so close to his.

"Is that why you really ran away? You thought you could protect me from Taffet by breaking us apart?" Booth asks her softly.

Brennan blinks once, twice before taking a deep breath. "Yes." It's almost an inaudible whisper but he hears it.

His heart does a summersault at hearing her confession. She hadn't left because she was sick of him. It was because she cared for him. A wave of relief crashes over him.

"I'm sorry you didn't tell me about Taffet before Bones. I wouldn't have let you run off on your own!"

"I know Booth. That's exactly why I didn't tell you." She smiles and leans into him, placing a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth.

"Wh- What was that for?" Booth stammers.

"I missed you… and I realised something while I was on Maluku", Brennan laughs. "I went away to try and protect you, but you went off to risk your life in some stupid war. Trying to defend your country or your pride or whatever."

Booth chuckles as the irony of the situation hits him too.

"I'd rather we'd risk our lives for each other than for an unknown cause", Brennan admits while closing the gap between them. Her soft lips gently brush up against his, causing Booth's breath to get caught in his throat. Brennan had underestimated the effect of his warm mouth beneath her. The sensation makes her feel lightheaded and her fingers grasp the side of his shirt to steady herself. Their kiss is teasing at first… lips barely touching. Then growing deeper with mutual desire.

Both feeling like this was going somewhere.

THE END.

. * . * . *

N/B: This is it ! My first official finished Bones-story ! :D *3 cheers* I hope you liked it. Please review and let me know what you loved or hated about this story. Feel free to encourage me to write some more Bones-fic if you enjoyed this one =)

(Thanks to 206 for beta-reading this chapter !)