A/N: I am sorry that it took me so long to finish this last chapter—yes, this is the last chapter! As I have stated throughout, this is my first attempt at any sort of fiction and I am really happy with the results. It would be great to hear some more reviews from people so I know if I should try this again.

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Chapter 15 – Different Kinds of Love

It was a short ride to the new crime scene, and they traveled in pleasant silence. This was so familiar for them. They are partners dedicated to the same goals. Every day is filled with self-sacrifice and purpose as they embrace their roles as crime fighters. The events of the last few days are lingering in the air, but it will never deter them from their destiny.

He was now convinced that their destiny had always intertwined the personal and the professional. This was not just the obvious fact that they had to deal with crimes that touched their lives so closely, but that Agent Seeley Booth and Dr. Temperance Brennan were meant to be together in every way. This realization was stronger than just accepting his feelings for his partner, and it blanketed him with clarity and certainty—it no longer mattered to him whether or not she could access her own heart, he knew that it belonged to him and he would wait forever.

As she set about her work on the shore of the Potomac, he was filled with a sense of pride and purpose, "What have we got here, Bones?"

"Male, 25-30, with definite signs of blunt force trauma to the skull. There is still lot of flesh here Booth, and I would say that he has been dead for no more than 2 or 3 days. I'll have the intern handle transport back to the Jeffersonian and do the preliminary exam. Do you think that we can wait for identity until the morning? I hate to call everyone in at this hour. We have all been running on nothing but smoke lately"

"Smoke? Fumes! Bones, you mean that we have all been running on fumes lately, and I couldn't agree more." He looked at his watch, noting that it was already after ten o'clock. "I am sure that our newest John Doe can wait until morning."

She nodded, and turned back to the body while he called the bureau.

Heading back to the SUV, he couldn't help but wonder if they were going to finish their conversation. He had done enough pushing and prodding over the last few days and resigned himself to wait for her to initiate whatever was going to happen next. He didn't have to wait long. "Booth, stop for a minute."

"What's up Bones?"

"Let's talk."

"Here?"

"Yes, here, before another body is discovered and before …"

"Before what?"

"Can you just try not to be annoying for a few minutes?" She was smiling now. "And sit down with me."

"Sure, I can do that."

"Booth, I know that it is difficult for you, but I want us to try to be rational and logical for a few moments. Two days ago, you decided to tell me that you loved me, and then you proceeded to tell me that there are many different kinds of love. You know that I do not deal with abstract concepts very well, and love is most certainly an abstract concept—its emotional and psychological and it has never made much sense to me. Maybe there was some sort of disconnect in me, but I just never understood how people could base their connections on love when I know that most of these connections are really based on specific chemical reactions and random timing."

"Bones, are you trying to tell me that you don't love me?"

"No I am not. Remember when I told you last night that it might be a good idea to wait to hear what someone has to say before you assume? Please let me finish."

"Sorry."

"What I am trying to say is that over the last three years, I have seen many different sides of love. I attribute this to you for taking me out of the lab. Still, as an anthropologist, I can't help but constantly analyze what is going on around me. I have seen you with your son. I have watched Hodgins and Angela's relationship mature. I have reconnected with my father and brother. We have investigated so many murders and there was almost always some aspect of love attached to each and every one—mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and close friends all consumed, confused, and driven to murder because of love. I am sure that it will come to no surprise to you it has been very confounding for me. I have asked myself over and over, have I ever been in love?"

She paused, but this time he knew better than to speak. He was absorbing every word and he appreciated how difficult this was for her. More than that, he appreciated that she was opening up to him.

"You are right, you know. There are many different kinds of love. I know now that I love my brother and father. I love Angela and Hodgins, and I am certainly quite fond of Cam. I know that I love Zach. And, perhaps most important of all, I know that I love you Booth." His heart leapt, but he was still afraid that she would over-rationalize the situation. "Each of these relationships is different. Even though I am very compartmentalized, I admit that the situation with Zach hurts and I know that I would mourn the loss of any of the people that I love. The thing is that I … I don't think I can compartmentalize or process losing you." He was now holding his breath. "Sweets was wrong. Your death was not something that I could handle easily. In fact, I did not allow myself to feel anything, which was the only way that I could go on. I know that it may seem that I do not feel Zach's loss, but I do. With you, however, I just could not let myself feel for fear that I would not recover."

She paused again, and he allowed himself to breath.

"Booth, you always said that there was a line that certain people could not cross because there were too many strings and too much to lose. Well, rationally speaking, I think that we have already crossed that line. You can't tell me that anything we may or may not do or feel in the future will change what we do or feel right now. So, what I am telling you is that I love you. You are unlike any man that I have ever known—you are noble and brave and I have a deep respect for you. Booth, before you, I never knew love, and I don't want to live a life in which you are not a part."

They were looking intently at each other now, expressing everything that they were previously afraid to express. There were no more words to say. He took her face in his hands and brought his lips to hers in a gentle kiss that slowly deepened as they both finally allowed themselves to feel—to love each other.

They both knew that this didn't change anything yet it changed everything.

The end, or rather, the beginning . . .