A/N: Hello there, I'm back with a new chapter and this will probably be the last for quiete a while because I'm having tests in a few weeks and I really need to study so...No new chapters, but anyway, please review on this one!

Chapter 7: A heart-breaking decision

I've been stupid.
Stupid to fall for Patrick's charm and tricks.
Stupid to let him do those things with me.
And stupid to give Booth hope.

I can't let him in…well not only him, everybody.
I'm still scared and I hate to admit it. I still want to crawl away in a tiny corner and shield myself…but I'm making progress, even if it's a tiny step.
I've talked to Booth..on the phone.
That's something, right?!

Yeah right, it's something.
If I keep telling myself that, I'll believe it one day.
But not now, because right now, I have locked myself in my office, away from my partner and other guys, alone with the fiction world of my book, the place I can be myself without getting scared. The one place where no one can touch me.

One of Kathy's hands was trailing over her partners muscular chest as she kissed him passionately, pouring every inch of love into it.
Sighing against his soft lips as Andy buried his hands in her blonde locks, matching her enthusiasm. It had seemed ages since they'd seen each other and never had she felt so loved and fortunate with him.
Surely she would give up everything for a moment like that.And she's not the only one, I thought. Wouldn't it feel unbelievable good to have someone who cares so deeply about you? But yes, I wrote fiction…fairytales. Novels are written to lose yourself in a fantasy world, even if it's for the smallest moment… and sometimes people get stuck and believe things in the stories are real…things like true love.

Sighing I continued writing, my personal drug, and I began to lose myself in the fantasy world once again, at least until…

"Bones..."
Immediately I snapped out of my feel-good ,dream world back into the hard reality, with my partner next to me.

I quickly stood up, getting out of my chair. I turned around, shielding the computer screen from his view. As I realized that my movements had brought me closer to him, I leaned backwards on my desk, keeping my gaze fixed on anything but him.
"What the hell are you doing here, Booth?!?" My voice was unsteady and the panicky feeling that had started in my tummy had obviously reached my voice.
'How long had he been standing there? How much had he read?' None of those questions were voiced though. "How the hell did you get in here? And, WHY damn it?!?

"Bones…Hey Temperance," He soothed me. "Calm down…nothing's gonna hurt you, calm Temperance, take a deep breath."
As I tried to control my unsettled nerves again I moved slightly further in my office, away from him and, what I didn't notice, away from my fantasy world now visible on the screen.

…. Surely she would give up everything for a moment like that. Truly happy and loved, a moment in a fairy tale, a moment, which in real life always ended way to soon…or was just an optic illusion?....Booth sighed. 'If only you could know, Temperance. Love it isn't a fairytale, or a illusion, it's real, as real as the fact I would die to show you that it existed.'

"Why are you here, Booth?" I asked again when I noticed he got distracted.
Please don't let it be a case, I wasn't certain if I was ready to work with Booth again, limbo identifications had been hard enough this week and I'm really in need for some relaxation…and time ALONE!

"I'm ah.. I was going to ask if…you wanna order Thai?" He replied.
Smooth, very smooth Booth. Even I noticed you were lying, I thought.

"Actually Booth," I began forming an excuse. "I'm tired and really need to finish this chapter for my publisher, maybe another time."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Booth exhaled deeply, both indicators he was clearly getting worked up about something.
"Bones… You tell me that story every time since the day you left the hospital. You need to open up a little, live a little."

"I'm just fine!," I snapped. "Now if you will excuse me, I have work to do."
I continued typing feverishly, and a sigh of defeat was heard through my office, followed by Booth slumping away.

Ten pages , twenty , and even more. Chapter after chapter I wrote, creating the ultimate dream…well minus the serial-killer, then.
My eyes prickling as indicator that I had been staring at the screen for way to long, but who cared. Slowly I drifted off again, to my fantasy world.

…Slowly I awoke, the room I was in smelled stale and felt moist.
Every muscle in my body hurt.
Slowly I tried to open my eyes. Everything remained black.
So far no success.
I focused on my other senses to gain information on my current residence.'s when I noticed.
As the fog in my brain subsided a little it became clear I couldn't move due the bounds on my hands and feet. They where held together by a fiber robe.
Bastard! I struggled against the bounds and felt they were giving in a bit.
Maybe if I tried harder…WHAM! A sharp pain shot through my muscles again.
How could I have forgotten that?!

Smell, well like I said, stale and dirty.
Taste…nothing like that would help me.
Touch, and that

Ok, next. I tried my eyes again. This time it worked.

My vision was still blurry but I could make out some shapes.
A basement. He locked me in a basement.
Not caring how hard it hurt, I tugged the ropes again.
They gave in a little more."That's not gonna help, Temperance."
His voice startled me, and I tugged inadvertently.
"Shit." I cursed, my voice weak and hoarse.
"Here let me help you up." Patrick said as he gripped me by my throat.
Slamming my head into a wall, he grimaced at me.
"A last wish?"
The pressure on my throat became bigger and I coughed.
"B-Booth."

Breathing heavily and my hair slick form sweat, my head shot up.
I scanned my surroundings and noticed I wasn't in the basement, I was in the lab.
My house of reason.
This had been the worst since the nightmares started.
I'd been kidnapped and beaten before, in real life and dreams.
But I'd never been killed.

I let out a shuttering breath as I tried to control my nerves again.
"Brennan?"
I groaned inwardly, how did she always seem too come when I was at my worst?
"Sweetie are you ok?"
Rubbing my temples, I shook my head.
"No I'm not." I sobbed. "I keep telling people I am... but I'm not, ok?! I'm not ok!"
I was angry and out of control, two things which made a very dangerous combination with me.

"Tell me what's wrong." Angela said.
I huffed, it would be easier for me to tell what was right. Not a single thing.
"I've learned to control my nerves around guys…a little. But I don't seem to have a grip of things around me and…I hate it. I hate the feeling of not being able to control my own life, so I've decided," I took a deep breath. "I'm going on that dig I was offered a few months ago, it didn't seem the right thing then but now I think it's ideal. While there I can go back to the reason why I became an anthropologist and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to order my thoughts while there."

My friend looked at me, her mouth agape and her eyes wide.
Shaking her head, she replied.
"I can't believe you're running from this Brennan. Unbelievable."
"I'm not running," I protested. "I'm merely going on a six month dig to gather my control back."
"SIX MONTHS!" Angela squealed. "That's insane!"
"No," I replied. "I'm still very sane in my mind and if you will excuse me, I have a suitcase to pack."
Standing up, I grabbed my laptop, coat and other belongings I might need on my trip.
Angela walked after me as I headed towards the exit.
"When are you leaving?" She asked, her voice almost a whisper.
"Tomorrow noon." I replied with determination. "It's the right thing to do, Ange."

My friend looked at me, sadness filled her big, brown eye.
"I hope so." She answered, before pulling me into a hug. "Take care sweetie and please let Booth know, even if it's an email or call, he'd be heart-broken if you didn't."
Frowning I said, "Ange it's impossible for the heart to break since it's a muscle."
"Promise me." Angela demanded.
Sighing I nodded.
"I promise I'll contact Booth and you one last time before I leave."
Taking one last time to look at my beloved lab, I continued my quest.
Hoping I would find peace in the upcoming six months.

(---------------End Chapter 7---------------------)