WOW! You guys continue to impress me. The reviews to the last chapter were amazing!! I honestly wish I had time to reply to every one of you, because your comments mean SO much. And some of the comments were soo overly flattering. I didn't deserve half of them, but they're all appreciated!
I hope at least some of it was because the chapter was decent, and not just because it was my birthday. ;) But seriously, THANK YOU! geez. I hope this chapter lives up to expectations!

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"…then I want you to analyze those fractures, tell me what kind of weapon could have caused such distinct marks." She told Wendell, pointing to the skull in front of her.

"Yes, Dr. Brennan." he answered, hurrying off.

She leaned over the table, studying the marks intently.

"Bones!" The shout came from the glass doors, then Booth burst onto the platform and sprinted straight toward her.

"Booth." she said calmly, peeling off her gloves. "What is it? Do we have a case?"

"No. We need to talk." he said, stopping on the other side of the table she was working at.

"About what? I'm very busy, Booth." she told him, exasperated. She had work that needed to be done, and she was getting tired of distractions.
It had been a few weeks, and she had been studiously avoiding Booth since the night they had met at the diner and discussed the kiss. She didn't know why, exactly, but being around him was anything but easy. For some reason, she felt overwhelmingly guilty about the situation. She couldn't quite place it, but she felt as though she were deceiving him somehow.
They had had one therapy session with Dr. Sweets, and neither had mentioned the kiss or the conversation it had lead to. Although she didn't know what- psychology not being her forte- something in the relationship had shifted. Sweets sensed it and had spent the whole hour relentlessly attempting to pry it out of them. It would have been comical if it hadn't been so sad.

"It's really, really important. Just… can we go to your office?" he asked, already starting toward it.

"Booth… seriously. I have so much work to do. What's this about?" She knew she was being stubborn and difficult, but she couldn't quite bring herself to care.

"I'd rather not say until we're in your office." he answered impatiently. "Come on, Bones!"

She sighed but said nothing.

"Fine. You know what? Fine! Right here is…I don't care." he walked over, facing her. "Listen. I lied to you."

She was taken aback. Taking a step away from him, she sputtered, "Wait…what?"

"I lied to you. I'm not sorry." he said.

"You lied to me but you aren't sorry about it? Why are you here if not to apologize?" she was confused.

"No, I mean… I told you I was sorry, but that was a lie. Kissing you wasn't a mistake. Not at all. And it certainly will happen again. I'm not sorry for it." he rushed.

"Booth?" she had no idea how to respond. Her heart was beating so fast, and she couldn't seem to think of anything to say.

"Bones," he took a breath, steadying himself. "I love you. And no, not in an 'atta-girl' kind of way. That's… ridiculous. I'm in love with you."

She shook her head.

"Stop. I can't pretend anymore that I'm not, because I am."

Still, Brennan said nothing.

"I believe there's someone for everyone. I'm the guy for you, Bones. I am. I know it. I know you. I know you better than anyone else ever will. And I know you're the someone for me. You are, Bones. You're my one person, and I love you." His eyes were blazing as he enunciated every word. "I. Love. You."

Why couldn't she find words? Her throat was tight and burned painfully as tears pricked her eyes.

He stared at her. For a long, tense moment, neither of them said anything. Then, as suddenly as it came, the fire left his eyes and they dropped to the floor as though he couldn't meet her gaze. He shoved his hands quickly into his pockets, casting her a disappointed and extremely hurt look as he turned around and walked away.

She was frozen. She could hardly breathe, and she stood rooted to the spot, watching him leave without looking back. She turned slowly to see Angela, Hodgins, and Cam staring at her incredulously. Saying nothing, she looked down as Angela said, "What is wrong with you?"

Angela's unusually harsh tone seemed to startle her out of her stupor. Suddenly she found herself running across the platform after Booth. She could hear the cheers of her colleagues, but she was focused on one thing, and one thing only.

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Hanna