A/N: *Blushes*- I know I'm mostly a one-shot-writer, so the number of story alerts on this thing is blush-worthy. Thanks all! :D

This is a post-Bullet in the Brain drabble. All due respect to my Twitter tweeps who thought it was an awesome lovey-dovey B&B moment at the end of the episode in the diner, I have to disagree. Yes, Booth may have looked at her in a painfully longing way, but Brennan's eyes simply said she wanted to kill that man for running off and nearly getting himself killed by Broadsky. If you doubt me, go back, and rewatch her carefully. Oh… and Emily Deschanel is a fabulous actress.

So this picks up at the end of the episode when Max's cab drives away…

The Impatience in the Agent

She gave the conch shell her father had bought her another once over, before she turned back toward the diner. Her partner, who at the moment, she applied the term loosely to given his stunt today, had quickly moved his head to stare at his hands, looking uncomfortable as he sat there alone.

She took a deep breath to maintain her composure, capping her anger and frustration as best she could and walked back inside to grab her things. Booth continued to stare at his hands as she approached.

"Do you need a ride home?" she asked, her tone devoid of inflection.

"Nah, I took a cab here, I'll grab one back."

"Fine. Goodnight," she said, swinging her back on to her shoulder as she turned to leave.

"Bones?" Booth asked after her. She paused for a moment, debating whether she had the will look at him any more tonight. "You okay?" he asked.

"Sure Booth. Just fine," she said in a tone that would have made all of the remains waiting for her thoughtful examination in limbo recoil.

"Bones?"

"What, Booth?" she asked exasperatedly.

"I'm sorry that you're upset I went without you. I really just thought… if he was there, that I could talk to him. He wasn't the same guy I was expecting, you know."

"Yes, I know what it's like to expect one personality, but be greeted by a seemingly different, and quite frankly, unpleasant personality altogether. And I'm not upset that you went without me, in the juvenile manor which I infer you intended your remark. I'm upset that you went into a situation, after having determined that there was some sort of personal connection that you have with the killer we have been looking for, by yourself. I'm upset that you put your life in danger, alone. I'm your partner Booth. Or I'm supposed to be. And I'm upset that you won't let me. It's what we've always done. You could have died today because you won't let me, your partner for the last six years, be your partner."

Booth started to speak, but Brennan held up her hand.

"Don't apologize because you think I'm irrationally upset that you went somewhere without me. I'm pretty sure in one of our session with Sweets, he said something about the importance of 'I' statements. Make some 'I' statements instead Booth. 'I apologize because I made a stupid decision to go into a dangerous situation alone.' 'I realize I could have died today because of my actions.' 'I should have asked you to come with me, because you're my partner and that's what we do and for that, I'm sorry.'"

"Somewhere along the way, our roles have gotten reversed. I used to be the one to rush into a situation without thoroughly considering the ramifications or the danger I might be in. You're the one that taught me to think things through. So why the hell didn't you?"

"Bones… I… I'm sorry. I just… I'm sorry."

"If only you could have waited for me…" she shook her head. "…maybe you wouldn't be hurt like you are now," she said dejectedly. "Feel better, Booth."

Brennan's sad expression wasn't lost on Booth in the brief moment he had to take absorb it, before she turned and briskly walked out of the diner, leaving him to contemplate her words and his actions.

Yes, she was definitely pissed at him for his life-endangering actions today.

Not that there was a dual meaning to her words or any such nonsense.

A metaphorical penny for your thoughts? (It's just not cost effective to ship pennies to everyone around the world... it's the thought that counts. Tell me yours!) :)