Disclaimer: I don't own Bones or anything to do with it, including any characters or places mentioned. I earn nothing for writing this. It's just for fun.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who has added alerts, favourites or reviewed this story. I am very grateful to all of you. Also thank you to my friend Leanne for agreeing to beta this.

Chapter Two

"Bones, just how long have you been standing there?" Booth asked finally. He hoped she had not heard too much. Or did he?

"Since the part when Sweets was explaining to you how he thinks I am in love with you." His partner replied simply.

"Oh. I see."

"I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just worried about you and I know that when you are worried about me you bring me food so I thought that was what people did. I also found that I wanted to make sure you were ok because you were not as talkative as usual; and bringing you food gave me an excuse to do that. I am also wondering if this is sometimes why you do the same for me." She explained in her own way.

Booth looked sheepish and glanced at his striped socks, "Yes Bones, it is."

"But you two are clearly having a private conversation which I believe is my cue to leave, even if you are discussing your feelings for me." She turned and began to walk away before turning back: "Oh, you two can keep the food. I just hope that one of you doesn't mind eating tofu." She placed the bag on the floor and carried on walking.

"Bones!"

"Dr. Brennan!" Sweets finally spoke up, "Please allow us to explain!" He called as his patient disappeared away from him and into the lift.

"I'm going after her," Booth announced, moving forward. Sweets put out his arm:

"No! Agent Booth you have to let her go. She has just had a shock which will force her to confront her own feelings. This is something that Doctor Brennan is not comfortable with and will take her a lot of time. She needs space to do this. Now come on, let's go eat and discuss what to do from here." Resigned Booth picked up the take away and followed the physiologist into the kitchen.

Once back in the safety of her flat, Brennan allowed herself to do something she never did: nothing. She sat on her sofa hugging her pillow and tried for the first time in her life not to think. If she thought now then it would have to be about what she had just heard and about her own feelings for Booth. They were changing and this sacred her. She knew how they were doing so but didn't know how she should adapt to fit them... Or if she could.

Her forgetting- the- world-existed time was interrupted by her answer machine picking up her calls. Booth's voice filled the room. She felt herself stiffen right down to the bone.

"Hey Bones, it's me. Are you there? I'm guessing not. Anyway, listen, I'm sorry you found out that I love you the way you did but it's true. I love you Bones. I wanted to tell you sooner but Sweets said that I shouldn't in case it was a symptom of my coma dream thing... but you probably knew that already. I guess you realise how I feel about you now though so I guess we should talk about it whenever you're ready. You seem to know me better than I do these days so I guess you'll know how to reach me. Speak soon. I hope."

The line went dead leaving Temperance to face the eerie quiet of her confused mind again.

When dawn broke she was still sitting in the same position but none the wiser. She decided to go into the lab early. It seemed to be the only place she knew herself these days, and the only place she could find answers.

The shriek of Brennan's mobile broke the awkward silence that had clouded over her and Angela in the Bone room. Instead of automatically answering, she checked her caller I.D, and, seeing it was Booth, hit the 'reject call' button. This did not go unnoticed.

"You not going to get that Sweetie?" her friend asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, Angela, I am not."

"Well, that's not like you. Usually you answer before the second ring."

"Well not today." She sighed, forcing herself to focus on the patella in front of her.

Angela came around the table to stand next to her best friend. "Bren, I know you and I know that something's not right, what is it?"

"Nothing to do with this case."

For a moment Angela was stunned by her friend's bluntness. Usually she would pretend that nothing was wrong but today she didn't. It was clear she wanted to talk to her but away from the pressures of work. "Hey, you've been working for hours; let's grab lunch at the Diner."

"That sounds nice Angela but I have all this work to do..."

"Sweetie, that wasn't a suggestion," the artist interrupted "it was an order. Let's go." She said, guiding the anthropologist away from the table by the elbow.

"So, spill." Angela demanded the second they sat down. "What's going on?"

Brennan stalled by taking a long sip of her coffee. "Booth told me he loves me." She said at last.

"Finally! Oh Sweetie that's great. Oh wait, judging by the look on your face that's not so great huh?"

"He didn't tell me first. I went to his flat and overheard him and Sweets arguing about if he should tell me or not. He wanted to but Sweets didn't think he should in case he should in case hearing my book in his coma induced the feelings. He thought they would most likely go soon and he didn't want to see me hurt."

"And how do you feel?"

"For the first time in my life I don't know my own mind. I am glad I am very intelligent because this feels most disturbing."

"I meant about Booth, Sweetie."

"Like I said, I don't know. I admit he is very pleasing to look at and I was beginning to feel something for him, but I don't know what that is yet. I care about him very much but I am not yet ready to devote my life to one person like he is. I don't want to discuss this with him until my mind is clear."

"Well, then you'd better hurry up and get there," replied Angela pausing for a drink "because look who just got here."

Booth and Sweets entered the diner. Brennan froze. She couldn't ignore him, nor could she leave. She was trapped.