Disclaimer-I don't own Bones…Bones characters, nada. Thanks!

CURRENT TIME

A phone rang somewhere, and I groaned aloud. It was very early, and the sun hadn't even seeped through the curtains. In fact, it was pitch black out. I struggled to open my eyes and leaned on one arm to grab my cell phone off the side table. Along with the high-pitched ring, it was vibrating, spinning around in mad circles.

I glanced at the glowing numbers on the clock. 6:15 AM. I didn't need to get up for another hour. I glanced at the caller ID. Bones. Why was she calling this early? I had planned to pick her up to interview a suspect at 9:00. Could whatever it was wait? Or…what if it couldn't? Was she hurt, unsafe? The sleepiness was affecting my mind, and I rushed to the worst conclusion. Taking a breath, I steadied myself, and flipped it open.

"Booth," I gave my typical greeting, but let it drip with irritation, and weariness. If it wasn't an absolute emergency, I'd make her feel guilty.

"Morning, its Brennan. Did I wake you? I'm sorry, I thought it was later than it was. I've been at the Jeffersonian for an hour, trying to get caught up on some paperwork…"

Her voice held the slightest tone of an apology, but that was the most that I'd get out of her. A part of me loved hearing her voice, waking up to her call. Sometimes I just wished…but no. She was my partner, a friend. Nothing more.

"Right, Bones. What do you want? Can't we talk later, I'm picking you up in three hours, about?"

Here, Bones cut me off.

"Its about that. Cam says I have to go to a meeting with someone today and I can't get out of it. So do the interview alone, I can't go."

I mentally slapped myself at the disappointment I felt that she would not be accompanying me. It shouldn't bother me, she'd most likely annoy me on the ride over, or we'd get in a stupid fight. Maybe it would be better to do the interview on a clear head today. For all my reasoning, I still felt the disappointment, creeping in a window whenever I shut a door to it.

"Right. Fine, Bones. Next time wait till the sun has thought about rising a little, okay? I'll see you later today. I'll drop by the Jeffersonian after lunch to tell you how the interview went. Good luck in your…meeting."

Bones said good-bye, and I clicked the phone off, glancing at the clock again. 7:30. I had wasted, or Bones had wasted fifteen minutes of decent sleeping time. Slumping back on my pillows, I threw my arm over my eyes, and in the darkness I imagined, just for a second, that Bones was lying next to me, and that we had just spoken face to face, instead of over the phone.

My earlier thoughts of the sun had been off track. As I slammed my car door closed to walk into the FBI building the sky was a dark gray, and rain was just starting to hit the top of my head. I walked quickly, throwing open a door just as it started to pour.

The security guard looked up and waved me through to the elevators. As the elevator ascended, I checked my watch. It was exactly the time I was supposed to arrive at work. 8:00 AM. In an hour I had to go to the interrogation room to interview a suspect in Bones' and I current case. I felt a dull pang knowing she wouldn't be watching me through the two-way mirror, wouldn't sit in the room with me when her expertise was needed.

As I arrived on my floor, the perky blonde secretary looked up. She had red manicured nails, and a thick southern accent. I saw the nails gently push a piece of paper over the magazine she had been reading, to hide it from view.

"Good mornin', Agent Booth!"

The lilt of her voice, and her cheerfulness was the way I always started my mornings. Usually, secretaries came and went, quickly, but this one had been here for a long while. I tended to like her better, as she was smart, cheerful, and good at her job, unlike some other people who had sat at that desk.

"Good morning, Natalie. Any messages for me today?"

Natalie smiled, and her teeth were gleaming white. Pretty girl, young as well. I felt as if this job was holding her back, and she had so much more potential than I secretary. I'd be sad to lose her, though. So would Cullen, probably, if he was the one keeping Natalie in her job.

"Yes, Agent Booth. Director Cullen would like to see you in his office at 8:30 AM. Its 8:15 now, so if you hurry you have time to go to your office, have some coffee," Natalie said.

I smiled at the eager young woman, and nodded. I was going to try and arrange for some sort of raise to be given to her. The last secretary had told me Cullen wanted to see me…after the scheduled time of the meeting. Natalie was an amazing improvement.

"Thanks Natalie."

"Have a good day, Agent Booth."

As I walked to my office, I stopped and filled a styrofoam cup of coffee, as Natalie suggested. It was piping hot, and I burned the roof of my mouth. Keeping it at my side, I wondered what Cullen wanted to talk to me about. The case? Most likely, I needed to gather the case folder in my office then, and I quickened my pace.

Entering my office, I opened a file folder and grabbed it, checking my watch. I had…two minutes. I walked very fast to Director Cullen's office, and before I knocked, he asked me to enter.

"Good morning, Booth."

"Hello, Director Cullen. About the case, I have to go interview a suspect in forty-five minutes, but I will be glad to answer whatever you have to talk about before then."

Cullen shook his head, and I felt my heart rate speed about. Had I done something wrong? Was I being punished? I was nervous, and needed to calm down.

"No, Booth. This meeting is not about the case, though, some other agent will be interviewing your suspect."

At this comment, I straightened up in my chair, my previous fear being turned into anger. This was MY CASE. The case Bones and I were working on together. What was Cullen doing?

"With all due respect, sir, this is my case. I would like to interview the subject."

"No, Booth, you are being taken off the case."

I felt my face pale, now my emotions being a mixture of fury and fear. What was happening? I could not remember one breach of protocol that either Bones or I had done. Cullen looked into my eyes, and leaned forward in his seat.

"Agent Booth, you will be leaving the FBI."

Author's note: WOAH! Cliffy. By the way, I forgot the name of the FBI building, and what Cullen's exact position was. Also, I think I need a beta reader, and someone to tell me what a beta reader IS. This is my first multi-chapter Bones fic. Thanks!! Please review!! As a little bribe…if you review my story, honestly, even flames are great, I will go and review yours. Also…you knooow you want to know why Booth is leaving the FBI. The more reviews, the quicker the update. Thanks!!