Disclimer: Bones is not mine. Fox owns it.

Thanks Melissa my beta for doing a really good job of beta-ing my chapters. I think you did a really good job helping with this chapter. And to all those who wait patiently for my chapters thanks for your support.

Brennan

It's been seven months since Booth left. For some reason, I only got to speak to him that one time through the video conference. After that I got letters from him periodically, telling me how much he misses Parker and me. His letters told me of how lonely he was without me, how he wished he was home; echoing my own sentiment. He told me not to worry, that his list was getting shorter, and he would be home soon. Soon. I've often dreamed of the day when I'd look up from examining a set of remains and there he would be. My husband Seelely Booth, home from Iraq. I've got it all rehearsed in my mind. I'd know he's there, he doesn't even need to say my name, I'd just know. I'd look up and there he would be. I'd run into his arms and he'd hold me to him. We'd kiss and he'd tell me how much he missed me and how much he loves me, and I'd tell him I love him too.

It's one of those moments in life where you feel like you're on the outside looking in. Like you're watching yourself on tv. Only not, only it's real. It's not tv or the movies, no matter how hard you will it to be.

It's a cold winter afternoon in the Jeffersonian and I sense someone there. I look up from the platform, from my set of dismembered remains. Agent Watford's ramblings about the case become nonsense as I look up. It's just like one of my dreams; only something is terribly wrong. The man in the Army uniform standing below the platform isn't Booth. This is one of those moments.

"Mrs Booth?"

I instantly know what this is about. I feel my knees threaten to give way. I feel Agent Watford's arms round me. He must know what this is about too. Everyone does. They seem to hold a collective breath.

I let out mine as I walk slowly towards the stranger in the Army uniform.

"Mrs Booth?" It's strange, nobody has referred to me as that till now.

"Yes." I croak.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news Ma'am."

Why does he have to pause? Just say it, say what we all know is coming.

"You're husband, Captain Seeley Booth was on a helicopter that was shot down somewhere over the dessert yesterday morning."

Helicopter crash. My forensic training makes my brain automatically sprout statistics. Survival rates for those crashes are close to zero.

"We've sent a search party to look for them, but…. we aren't optimistic. I'm sorry."

I hear Angela's sobs come from behind me. I choke out a soft "No."

Agent Watford is instantly at my side. "You'll call us if there's any news?"

The Army man, the bearer of bad news, nods and leaves.

"I think we should let Dr Brennan rest in her office." Cam suggests, her own tears cracking her voice.

"I'll take her there." I allow Hank Watford to guide me to my office and lower me to the couch. The very couch Booth and I used to sit on, talk and laugh. This can't be happening. There has to be some mistake. Booth's last letter said he was coming home soon.

The ache my heart is unbearable. It's getting harder to breathe, I keep wanting this to be some dream I'll wake up from. Booth's not coming back. This one thought runs circles in my brain, wrecking havoc in my tortured mind. I start crying, wishing I had told him I loved him, wishing we had more time together as a couple, wanting him to take me in his arms like he always does when I'm upset and make it better.

I feel arms around me, but they're not Booth's.

"I'm really sorry Dr Brennan." It's Hank. After six months of working with him I've started to call him by his first name. He's been a good friend but he's no Booth.

"The guy said there's a chance Agent Booth is alive, that they'll find him."

I want to scream that he never said that. Only that they were searching for the crash site. I bury my head into Hank's chest and sob.

"Temperance."

Another voice is calling me. I look up and see Jared at the door.

"I think, I'd like to take my sister-in-law home now." Jared glares meaningfully at Hank.

"Sure." Hank squeezes my shoulder. "Call me if you need anything."

"Don't worry I'll watch her." Jared replies instantly.

A voice inside me shouts that I don't need to be taken care of, I just want my husband back.

I mange a thanks to Hank as he leaves. I'm beginning to feel numb, everything is surreal now. I wordlessly let Jared lead me to his car then back home. Home to the apartment that belongs to Booth and I.

Jared hands me a cup of tea he's made, then sits on the couch with me. The fact that Booth is probably never going to walk through the door again hits me again and tears roll down my cheeks for the second or third time today. I've lost count.

"Temperance." It's the first time Jared's spoken to me since we got home. "Listen, they haven't found Seeley yet. Until we have a body…. The Army's just gonna declare him missing in action."

The word "body" only makes the fact that we think Booth is dead seem all the more real.

"I'm pressuring them to do all they can. Find my brother." Right Jared Booth the all powerful brother working for the Pentagon, I mock silently inside me.

"I know this is hard for you, but after so many days, and it was a helicopter crash, chances are Seeley's gone."

I nod wordlessly.

"I'm going back to Philly. Going to tell my parents."

What he's saying surprises me. Booth has told me very little about his parents. I know of his abusive alcoholic father, and how he left home to join the Army after he graduated from college. How they hated that he had Parker out of wedlock. Booth once told me he hasn't spoken to his parents since Parker was born.

"They haven't seen him in years but they have a right to know. I'm sure they would like to meet you. I'd like you to come with me. My mom, she misses Seeley. She'd never make the first move, you know to call him cos she's afraid of my dad, but if you'd come, it'll be a great comfort to her."

This sounds ridiculous. I'm never good at situations like this, and I don't even know Booth's parents. My hand automatically fingers Booth's ring that dangles from the necklace around my neck.

Seeley promised he'd come back. He promised. He has never broken a promise to me.

"No."

"Temperance. I know this is hard, but I'd really like for you to come meet my mom."

"No Jared. Your brother's not dead. He's coming home. He promised me he would."

"Tempe -"

"I have always based my decisions on fact. Evidence. Until they bring me a body I can identify as Seeley Booth I'm not going to believe that he's dead."

"It was a helicopter crash. There may not be any body left."

"Identifying remains that are otherwise not identifiable by conventional means is my specialty." I could almost laugh at the irony of the situation. "The Army has to bring me something, something to prove to me that he's gone. Otherwise, I'm waiting here in DC for Seeley to some back."

"You're one stubborn woman Temperance. Maybe you're still in denial, but – "

"Jared, go tell your parents if you have to, but I'm not coming with you." I wipe the tears from my face.

"Fine. But I promised Seeley I'd look out for you."

"I'll be fine."

"With your new partner?"

I'm usually dense to things like this but I catch Jared's hidden meaning instantly. "What does that mean Jared?" I glare at him.

"You two looked a little too comfortable just now in your office."

"Jared Booth, if you have nothing better to do than to come here with your accusations – "

"I'm just looking out for my big brother."

"Whom you assume is dead."

"Fine." Jared meets my glare. I feel a twang of pain tug at my heart. He looks so much like his brother sometimes. He sighs, then softness his tone. "Temperance, I'm sorry ok? This is hard for the both of us."

I nod. "Booth's coming back." I state with more conviction this time, my hand closed round Booth's ring.

"I'm going to Philly to tell my parents. Then I'm coming back here after a couple of days to make sure you're ok. You'd better be ok. I don't want Seeley to accuse me of not looking after you."

"I'll be fine Jared."

After Jared leaves, I call Rebecca explaining to her what happened over the phone and ask to go over to speak to Parker.

It's late evening by the time I get to Rebecca's. It's cold and I hug myself tightly as I ring her doorbell. Rebecca greets me with a sad look. She welcomes me into the house then hugs me. Amazingly I have stopped crying, although my heart still aches for Booth. I hold on to my firm belief that he will come back. Brent offers his condolences but I merely smile politely.

Rebecca tells me Parker is in his room.

"Parker?" I call out to him as I slowly enter the room.

He had just turned seven a week ago and he's looking more and more like Booth each day. He looks up at me from his desk where he's doing his homework. His big eyes make me miss Booth even more. I take a breath to compose myself.

"Something's happened to Daddy."

"Yes Parker. How'd you know?"

"Mom said you were coming over to tell me something important."

I sit on the edge of Parker's bed. He joins me, looking up at me with a determined look on his face.

"Parker, your Dad was in a helicopter crash. They don't know where he is or how he's doing, and they're going to tell us that he's dead, that he's not coming home."

"But we know better right Bones?"

For the first time since I got the news I smile.

"Yes Parker we do."

"Cos Daddy promised he'll come home."

"Yes Parker he did."

I take Parker into my arms and hold him, my little part of Booth that he left for me.

Keep those reviews coming. They inspire me to write more. More chapters to come, hopefully soon.