Sarcastic -- thanks, i totally just made that name up. But I did meet a guy named Nana the other day. No, not Nana as in your grandmother. Nana as in NahNah. "Nahna nahna boo boo stick your head in doo doo." is what I immediately thought and had to try really hard not to laugh. I felt like a jerk.

bandb - I love writing them all together, they have great chemistry. no nerdy science pun intended. thanks for the review!

Alphie - I like to think their feelings for each other go toward a more 'fate' kind of deal. They're just meant to be together and that's that.

Poty - who knows what Booth'll do without his Bones fix. Love makes you do crazy things.. this I know. ;) Thank YOU for the great review!

Thanks to everybody who reviewed, I was floored by the positive feedback. So, keep it coming!!

And now: the last chapter!!

Chapter 5
How one person can become so engrained in another's life without either of them noticing it, Booth had no idea. He hadn't asked for this. Sure, he'd wondered about what could happen between them, but he certainly didn't want the misery he was feeling now. Somehow, without trying, Bones had wiggled her way into his everyday routine. Even when they didn't have a case, they'd call each other for some made-up reason or another and end up eating Chinese takeout at her apartment.

Thinking back on it, one of them should've noticed something happening. But not until he was too far gone did Booth realize just how profoundly, irrevocably he loved her. And being a mere mile away from her would have caused him great pain, let alone thousands. He lay on his back in his big, empty bed. Wearing the suit he wore all day, he drifted into a light sleep on top of his blankets.

The phone jerked him from sleep dotted with images of her. He answered lazily without looking at the ID.

"Did I wake you? It's only…ten in D.C."

"Hello would suffice. And yes, I've had a long day." He said with a sigh and a smile, because no matter how long his day had been, it had just become his best day in three weeks.

"I'm sorry. I'll let you go."

"No, no, no! I don't think so. How are you?" Booth said quickly, wanting to get every bit of her he could out of the limited time he was allowed.

He heard her sigh. "I'm fine. The dig's picked up so there's lots of work to do every day."

"What's wrong?" Booth asked, hearing something in her voice. She paused.

"Nothing. I just…" She laughed nervously, but realized that this was Booth. She had no reason to be nervous. "I guess I miss home. I haven't been homesick since I was eleven years old. I'd almost forgotten the feeling."

Booth wanted to say something comforting, but couldn't think of anything that wouldn't give away too much of his own grief.

"I had lunch with the squint squad the other day. They all miss you terribly."

Bones laughed, "I talked to Angela yesterday. She told me about it."

"Oh yeah?" Booth hoped Angela hadn't told her just how much he missed her and how badly it was affecting every aspect of his life. But, Bones said nothing about it, so they went on to other topics and soon the conversation flowed as if she were sitting next to him. They talked for twenty minutes, until she had to go. This time, when she hung up, Booth didn't try to stay his tears. He probably wouldn't have been able to, anyway.

Her pillow was wet. She couldn't understand it. Her hands rose to her face, scrubbing the tears off briskly. Why did she feel so miserably, utterly, exponentially alone every time she hung up the phone on Booth's voice? Every time she looked at that picture, now worn from handling, fierce desperation clutched her so painfully she'd have to squeeze her eyes shut until it faded. But it took longer and longer to fade the longer she was away. Until it had become a dull ache in her chest she carried around constantly, her only release being in sleep.

Bones gulped in a deep breath and reminded herself she was here for a good reason. She was identifying the dead. Giving names to the nameless. She felt guilty for wishing she was home, but decided to throw herself into the last week of her work and hope it would make up for the fact that she wanted to be home more than anything.

She was having trouble finding sleep lately. Her thoughts were always churning, shifting, keeping her awake. The thing that most disturbed her was the object of her thoughts. He was always with her. Sometimes it felt like when she left him, she left part of herself. Now she was incomplete.

Chastising herself for harboring unprofessional thoughts about her partner didn't stop her from thinking about him all day, so eventually she gave up trying to stop it. A little perturbed at not being able to control her emotions, Bones felt as if she were losing herself. So, she searched his face in the picture she cradled at night.

Angela saw a turn in his attitude the week she was to return home. He visited the lab about once a week, and there had been a spring in his step today, as opposed to the sinking in his shoulders he'd carried for three and a half months before. He tried courageously to deny the change in attitude at all, then denied it was because of Bones' imminent return, but Angela just patted his arm with a grin. Booth knew it was futile to deny it to her.

He was no longer idle, his wits were sharpening again. He'd had a hard time with cases lately, but he was starting to feel like it was turning around. Of course, he refused to believe it had anything to do with his partner's return scheduled in five days. But that didn't stop him from waking up every morning with a smile that there were only four more days until he would see her again. Then three. Then two...

Booth turned on the T.V. in his apartment, just for some background noise as he fixed himself breakfast. It was always too quiet. He longed to hear some technical jargon he didn't understand, or the words 'I don't know what that means'. He smiled. She'd be coming home in a few hours. She'd see him waiting at the gate for her. Would she run to him and hug him? He shook his head at the fantasy. She'd probably be anxious to get back to work, knowing her. Booth smiled pensively, and the newscast caught his attention for a moment.

"Flight 232 crashed today a half mile from a Georgia beach. Witnesses at the beach saw the plane break apart in half in the air and crash into the ocean."

Booth paled as the reporter went on to report the limited number of survivors. He rushed to the table to look at the paper he'd written Bones' return flight information on. He held his breath, not wanting to confirm his greatest fears.

Flight 232. His vision blurred for a moment and he steadied himself on the back of the kitchen chair.

His breath was stuck in his lungs. It couldn't be real. He wouldn't accept it.

Before he knew what he was doing, he was in his vehicle and on his way to the coast. He couldn't even remember if he closed the door to his apartment. He decided the moment he had the thought that it didn't matter. Nothing mattered if he didn't have Bones.

The Jeffersonian was on his way, he'd pick up Angela. She'd never forgive him if he didn't take her. He called her phone to tell her to be ready, he wouldn't tell her what had happened over the phone, she deserved to hear that in person where he could be sure she was sitting down. But she didn't answer.

He wasn't sure what he was rushing toward. Maybe all he would find at the coast was confirmation of her death. But maybe…just maybe he would find a miracle. He knew it was just the denial, but for some reason Booth didn't think God would be so cruel as to take her away from him. The man upstairs had to know his life would be over if she was gone.

Booth pressed the gas harder and turned on the sirens and lights. If ever there was an occasion to use them, this was it.

Booth was practically running down the hallway to the lab, concentrating on the rhythmic tap of his shoes on the marble when a voice drifted to his ears. He stopped dead, adrenaline making his limbs numb and his heartbeat quicken.

"Oh my God!" Angela exclaimed, leaping off the platform to envelope Bones in a hug. She was tanner, her hair longer and ponytail a little frayed from the flight. She must've just gotten back, but her luggage was not with her.

"Angela!" Her voice was thick with…tears? Angela pulled back to see her friend's eyes misty, mirroring her own. They laughed and hugged again. "I dropped my luggage off at my place and came straight here."

"Really?"

Bones laughed, "No. I went to Booth's place and his office, but he wasn't there. Then I came straight here."

Angela laughed giddily, and Hodgins and Zack arrived to greet her. She was telling them of her trip when Angela stared over Bones' shoulder, beaming, then cocked her head curiously.

Booth had rounded the corner skidding and came to a dead stop staring at her. Bones turned to see him.

Relief instantaneously flooded her, followed closely by anxiety. It was indescribably wonderful to see the face from the picture she'd looked at every night for the past four months. She thought she saw the same relief flood his eyes. A brief bolt of fear shot through her when she realized all she wanted to do was run to him and kiss him, touch his face. When he started moving, she decided not to worry right now, she'd have plenty of time for that later. At this moment, she was standing before the man she'd missed terribly for the past four months.

He walked quickly to her and she to him, arms up inviting him to embrace her. He scooped her up and held her close, so close it was hard to breathe, but she didn't mind. All that mattered was the feel of his sturdy arms encasing her. She giggled a little when she wanted to pull back to see him, but her feet were off the floor. When he set her down, she pulled back for a moment to look at his face, memorizing the details and the intensity in his eyes as he did the same to her.

"You didn't forget me." She breathed near his ear, sounding a little amazed. Her arms wrapped around his neck tighter.

He wanted to say 'Impossible.' But the lump in his throat made it impossible for him to say anything at all. He pressed his face into her hair, thanking God again for her. He felt the skin at her neck warm against his cheek, and could not suppress the urge to turn his face and press a kiss there, and surprisingly, she let him.

"I…" Don't say I love you! God, what's wrong with you?! "I…finished the dig early and decided to come back and surprise you. So, surprise!"

He still hadn't released her, and didn't plan on doing so anytime soon. His mouth worked, searching for words, but when he found none, he just took her face in his hands and kissed her lips in a way that told her just how happy he was to see her. She didn't respond at first, but after a moment, her fingers tightened in his shirt and pulled him closer. When she pushed him back to ask what the hell was going on…the unabashed adoration in his eyes stopped her words. The surprise written on her features worried him a little, but he hugged her tightly again. She put her arms around him, but didn't hold him as closely as she had done before.

"Come on, I'll tell you all about it." She said breathily, because "Let's go to my office" sounded a little too dirty. Still, the tone of her voice sent a jolt of electricity down his spine. He nodded and they fell in step together. Angela's squeal was muffled by her and Hodgins' hands over her mouth. Booth still heard it and though he didn't look their way, they saw his smile as he shook his head.

She turned on the lights and he closed the door behind him.

"I can still feel Angela's eyes on us." Bones said, and Booth smiled strangely as he dropped the shades. She looked around her office, inexpressibly happy to be back.

He sat on her couch, perched at the edge, eyes following her intently as she walked behind her desk and took her jacket off. She was suddenly feeling a bit nervous, as if she knew something was different. She fiddled with her computer.

Booth finally broke his strange silence. "Bones, I…your flight…it…I was afraid you. I…"

"What about my flight?"

"It crashed. Your original flight. 232. It crashed over the ocean about two hours ago. I was on my way to pick Angela up and drive over there when you…you just showed up." He laughed a little as he said it, still not quite comprehending the miracle that she was standing before him. She could've been gone.

"Oh. So you thought I…and when you saw I wasn't…" He was just relieved she was alive. Don't look too much into it, Temperance. He was just relieved you weren't dead.

"But that's not why I…why I kissed you. I mean, it kind of was. To see you standing there when I thought you could be dead. You can't imagine the relief. Bones I can't even explain it to you…I…"

"Booth you never have a hard time telling me what you think. Have I really been gone that long?" She said, trying to sound playful, but her apprehensive edge was clear. She was unsure what to think of the dangerous direction this conversation was taking.

"Long enough. Too long. Actually, you probably shouldn't go away again." He stated matter of factly.

"Oh really, and why is that?" Bones was torn between anger at him telling her what to do and happiness that he didn't want her to leave. She walked in front of him and crossed her arms.

"Because I was miserable. I didn't think I'd spill my guts to you – just an expression," he clarified due to her confused look, "but I want you to know how happy I am that you're alright, first of all." He said lightly, but his smile faded into a wisp and his deep eyes took to looking a little tender. "And secondly, how much I missed you." I need you to tell me you missed me too. He didn't want to pressure her, didn't want to scare her. All he was saying was that he missed his partner. No big deal. But his eyes gave him away.

When she was silent too long he continued. "When I saw the news today, Temperance, I thought I was going to die. If anything happened to you, I don't know…" His anguished expression made her eyes burn with tears.

She swallowed hard. Recalled the nights she'd lain awake wondering what he was doing at that moment, wishing she could speak to him and see him and touch him. Regretting, for the first time in her life, taking an opportunity to help solve murders because it took her so far away from him. It scared her. Made her feel selfish. Promised herself she wouldn't think of him that way, then the next night wondering and wishing and regretting the same exact thing.

"Bones?" He prompted. He started to panic, was about to backpedal when she sat earnestly next to him, leaned forward and took his face in her hands.

"I dreamt about you more times than I can count. I missed you, too." She said warmly. Booth's hands on her thighs inched him closer to her lips. He prayed he'd have the strength to not back down, as he'd done so many times before. Her gaze jumped to his mouth, and that was all the encouragement he needed to place a hard kiss on her lips. Her fingers worked through his hair and the taste of his kiss made her heartbeat race for all the infinite possibilities.

If this was the reception she was going to get, maybe she'd go away more often. Bones smiled into his kiss, knowing she would be hard pressed to tear herself away from him after this. She should've been terrified. Given her history, her track record with men and her tendency to shut people out, Temperance should've been petrified. But with Booth's hands pulling her close to his body, all she could feel was delight.

She'd leaned back slightly so her back was resting against the armrest. Booth leaned over her, one hand around her on her shoulder blade, the other tangled in her hair. He pressed his lips hard against hers, claiming her. Temperance wrapped her arms around neck tighter, her hands moving through his thick locks to his face. He kissed her lips, her face, her neck, all the places he'd dreamt about touching and all of a sudden had permission to do so.

Booth pulled back slightly, setting his forehead against hers. If he let himself kiss her any longer, they were going to need to lock the door. And he didn't want to rush. He wanted to savor every moment he finally got to spend with her.

Bones started to laugh quietly. A few chuckles grew into full laughter. He set his forehead in the crook of her neck, her hands rested on his neck. Her mirth infected him quickly, and soon they were both laughing until tears came to their eyes. Booth knew why she was laughing.

It had been there much longer than four months. Hiding. Waiting.

It was much more than 'absence makes the heart grow fonder.' It had always been so much more.

They both knew that, now. And for the rest of their lives they would never forget the moment they figured it out.

Austin B.