A/N: With the long hiatus, it's hard to forget that Hannah's technically "gone" now. In fact, since she threatened to come back, I expect that we haven't seen the last of her. That's "Angry Brennan's" cue…

The Promise that Wasn't

She wasn't known for her ability to trust a gut reaction or a "funny feeling." She leaves the intestinal thinking to Booth.

But merely a sip in to her second glass of scotch with her back to the door, she still knew who entered the bar as soon as the door opened.

She received the call a few hours earlier, and because she was near prying ears, she couldn't have the conversation she really wanted to with the caller. So, she agreed to a meeting tonight. A brief meeting, because she knew exactly what she planned to say.

"Hey… it's good to see you. How've you been?"

Brennan took another sip, remaining silent.

Hannah squirmed in her seat, staring at the stoic Brennan. "Thanks for meeting me. Are you in the middle of a case right now?" she tried again.

"Did you really ask me here to talk about my latest case or my partner?"

"Not much for the small talk, I get it. So… how is Seeley?" Hannah asked nervously.

"That's not information I'm willing to give you," she said, throwing back the rest of the scotch in her glass, and placing a $20 bill from her pocket on the counter. "Anything else?" she asked sardonically, standing up.

"I just… I never meant to hurt him Temperance. You need to know that."

"Trust me, I don't know that at all."

"It was never a secret that I don't want to get married."

"And it was never a secret that Booth would want to get married. And you knew that."

"I love Seeley. I really do. But we were never meant to be something that lasted forever. I'm just not that kind of woman. I don't want to settle behind a white picket fence and drive the minivan that delivers the kids to soccer practice."

"You followed him back here. You left behind a prestigious position in your field to be with him. How did you expect him to interpret that?"

"Just for what it was. That I loved him and wanted to be with him. I want to exist in the present, the time right in front of me, rather than always making plans for the future."

"I think you are selfish. And I don't know what you planned to accomplish by asking me to meet you here tonight, but whatever it was, I hope you've failed at reaching your objective."

Brennan turned and walked out the door, resisting a violent urge to throw another person who has hurt Booth off of their stool, and made toward the door.

Hannah followed on Brennan's heel as she exited the Founding Fathers. When Brennan stopped just outside of the door, Hannah collided with her, tossing her bag to the ground and spilling its contents. As the annoyed anthropologist bent down to gather her things she caught her second wind before Hannah could speak again.

"You know, the reason I've never been with Booth is because I know what he wants for his life and I never thought I could give it to him. I can't even pretend to know that I could for his sake, and wouldn't, I believe the phrase is, 'string him along' while I try to figure it out. But the reason you're not with Booth any longer is because you knew what he wanted out of life and cruelly ignored it, knowing you'd never be willing to give him what he wanted. You stayed with him anyways. You soaked up all the temporary enjoyment you could, while he became more committed to a life with you, while he was nothing but honest with his intentions. You moving here, moving in with him, becoming a part of his life and son's life, becoming friends with his friends… you were superficially making a commitment that you had no intention on following through with."

"The first conversation that you and I ever had, I told you that you needed to be sure. Because Booth would give himself to you completely. I told you how hurt he'd be if you weren't as serious about your relationship as he was. And you said you were sure, that you really loved him. Booth did just what I expected him to do. And you rejected him. You gave him every indication just by being here that you saw a future with him, but neglected to specify that that future was only for as long as you felt like sticking around."

"So, no. No, you don't get to know how he's doing, or details about our latest case or Parker or what he ordered for lunch today. You lost the right to know any of that. You want information, grow up and call Booth yourself."

Brennan walked to the end of the sidewalk, extending her arm in request for a taxi. As a yellow cab pulled up to her, she said without turning around, "And you should remove my number from your phone, because I can promise you, I won't answer a call from you again."

I had a couple of ways I considered ending this one… but thanks to ProfeJMarie for the nudge in this simpler direction. I decided since I absolutely hate the sound of Hannah's voice, the less she talks, the better. But, like I said before, I don't think we've even begun to see the last of the Blonde Bing Barbie. Thoughts?

Also, I'm totally up for angry/angsty suggestions and prompts. Tell me what you wish Brennan (or another character) would get angry about. I have some more angry Brennan coming, but there will be some love for angry squints coming soon. :D