Thanks to all for your great reviews, I appreciate it! –R-

Chapter 3

Temperance stared at the empty wineglass in her hand. Did I really finish all of the wine? She wondered to herself silently. It seems like there was a lot there not that long ago, but…she was slightly dizzy, and it actually felt really nice. She couldn't even recall the last time she'd gotten drunk. Maybe I should have eaten…she thought ruefully.

She was still seated on the ledge of the building, her knees drawn up, her chin resting on the top of them, stars and constellations forgotten, she was now examining the tall wineglass in her fingertips as if it were ancient remains, and not a glass meant to be sipped from. Time seemed to be forgotten, as she sat there, mesmerized.

Regardless of the pleasant feeling and dizziness as a result of the alcohol, depression drifted over her again like a thick, heavy fog. She closed her eyes a moment, picturing Sully sailing away, her name onthe back of the boat, mocking her. It almost felt that as he drifted away, so did her chance at happiness with someone who understood her, and had actually made her happy, who could make her believe she could almost live a normal life. That someone could love her with out leaving her behind; that she had a connection with someone everyone else in her life seemed to have.

She continued to twirl the wineglass in her fingertips, spinning it round and round. The last few drops of wine had dripped out of the glass and stained the white concrete ledge she sat on. The wine looked like blood, she thought.

Her train of thoughts turned to her friends. The ones who were still in her life. Angela – so alive, so vibrant, she was a true artist, always trying to coax her to experience life. Now she had Hodgins. A connection.

And Jack Hodgins, what a great person for her friend. He seemed so enamored with her. She knew that he would always take care of Angela. She felt closer to him since the 'gravedigger' mess.

Zack. She was so proud of him. He'd come so far. He finally had his doctorate. He seemed to be thriving, and really helping out on cases. Dr. Saroyan seems to challenge him, to use his skills in the lab. And Zack was so lucky to have that huge family back in Michigan he was close to. Who loved him for who he was, who didn't try to change him, but accepted his intelligence.

A tear slipped down her cheek. Instead of wiping it away, she let it fall. Another wave of dizziness engulfed her; she swallowed hard at the nausea that followed.

She thought then of her own brother, Russ. She'd had such high hopes for him, and felt so lucky to have him back in her life, a touchstone who knew where she came from, and now he was gone too. Gone with her fugitive father, gone like she never mattered. Gone with no backward glance, no apology, nothing.

Finally, she thought of her partner, and friend, Seeley Booth. He'd helped her understand a lot of things about life, and the person she could be. She admired and respected the work he did, helping find answers for the families of murder or homicide victims. He tried to cheer her up that day that Sully left, and was there for her when her family left her again.

It must be hard having me for a friend, she thought bitterly, tears falling freely down her face, as she swallowed past the lump that had somehow lodged in her throat. Always feeling like he has to watch out for me, his son in danger because of me, all of it my fault, she scolded herself.

She lifted her head and glanced down at the street below. Her thoughts continued down the dark direction they'd been headed, she knew she would never verbalize these thoughts to anyone, they would find them so out of character for her. So irrational of her to even be thinking this way. She scoffed at her own logical thinking, but as she did she couldn't help but idly wonder what would happen if she really did jump off the edge. What would happen to her friends? Of course, they'd be upset, blame themselves, she knew that. But long term…

Angela would be devastated, but she had Jack to console her. Perhaps drawing the two of them closer? And Zack, who didn't deal with emotion well, he'd be the only Forensic Anthropologist in the lab, that would certainly boost his career, and maybe even help him experience life more, like she did when she got together with Booth on FBI cases. Russ and her Father? She had no idea how her death would effect them, if at all.

Then there was Booth. Of course he'd blame himself. She knew that as a fact. But eventually, he too would get over it, and maybe even get a partner who didn't drive him crazy, anger him, or even put his loved ones in danger. He wasn't alone; he had Parker, his family.

Suddenly, she stood, her back to the edge, and thought, thought about the direction her thoughts were headed. She swayed, dizzy, her thoughts muddled. The wind had picked up and it lifted her hair in the breeze. She closed her eyes. She glanced down at the wineglass she still held. Turning to the side, she carelessly tossed it over the edge of the building...

End this chapter

Sorry for the cliffhanger – more to come soon!