Both Booth and Debbie were silent during the drive to the doctor's office. Neither knew exactly what to say. Debbie had been awake when Booth had gotten out of the shower. She gave him a quizzical look when she noticed his troubled expression. Mutely he showed her his arm. The two were in the same boat now.

At the doctor's office they were separated. The nurse checking Booth in did her routine statistical checks. He tried not to cringe so much. Sadly he wondered when, and if, he would ever feel comfortable with people once again.

"Blood pressure's high," the nurse frowned. She unclasped the cuff around his arm. Next she took his temperature. Once the thermometer beeped she studied the display. "Did you know you're running a fever?"

"No," Booth peered over her.

"It's just a low grade." She marked it down in her chart. "Doctor will be in shortly."

Her pathetic attempt at reassurance didn't ease his mind. Booth never, if ever ran fevers. It was just another sign of something deeper brewing beneath the surface.

By the time the doctor arrived Booth had fallen asleep on the exam table. Brennan had been absolutely right in her judgment of his exhaustion. Most days in order to stay awake he'd been guzzling down coffee. Once he got to Debbie's after work he almost always slept the entire night through, save for the nightmares. And of course with the lights on.

The doctor did the usual check up. He listened to Booth's heart and lungs. Another nurse came and took blood samples. Just as the doctor was fully examining Booth's arm he asked, "does it hurt?" His fingers pushed the area around it.

Booth started to say no, but felt a bright flash of pain. The noise he made was undistinguishable, but definitely one of pain. Any other time he would have been able to hold back. But the pain was a complete shock to him. The doctor's forehead creased with a frown.

The next thing Booth knew he and Debbie were both on the way back to the car with referrals for the hospital.

"What are we going to do, Booth?" Debbie tearfully wondered as they wound through traffic.

"One step at a time," he answered back breathlessly.

In the hospital they were subjected to more tests. MRIs. X-rays. More scans and tests than either one of them could keep track of. In the end they were promised a rush on the results and dismissed.

That evening passed in slow, tense intervals. Just for something to do to ease their minds Debbie left to get them take out. Booth could have cared less about eating, but let her. He had learned over time that Debbie was the kind who needed to take care of things. And people. If shoveling food in his mouth made her happy then he'd indulge.

His cell phone rang just as he was stepping out onto Debbie's balcony. While shutting the door behind him he retrieved his phone from his pocket. "Booth." Even he could hear the tired sadness in his voice.

The person on the other end paused. "Booth. Hi," Brennan said after a moment.

"Oh. Hey, Bones." Booth sat himself down on the floor. Debbie had a beautiful balcony. The walls and floor were made entirely of stucco. Wrought iron gated the edge off. She'd accented it with pale blue furniture, of which he wasn't using.

Up to his chest he drew in his knees. The sun was just beginning to set over D.C. The sky was on fire with vibrant colors. Booth loved this time of day. No matter how long he'd been living in the city he never stopped appreciating the view. The beauty.

Brennan still hadn't said anything beyond hello. "Bones? Whaddya need?" His tone was friendly.

"Just… calling to see… how you are…" It sounded more like a question than a positive sentence.

"I'm okay." Just possibly sick. You know. The usual.

"Will you be back at work tomorrow?"

This was odd. He couldn't remember the last time Brennan had called to check on him. "Probably not." As much as he loved working he had no intention of doing so until he knew for sure what was going on with him. "How's the case going?"

"They reassigned it to another agent." Another bout of uncertainty. "You… told the bureau you quite possibly could be gone for a while?"

"Yeah." He didn't feel like elaborating.

"…do you need me?"

Yeah, months ago. The thought popped into his head, startling him. Up until then he hadn't realized he was still harboring anger towards her. Anger over her and Baker. Over learning it hadn't been Brennan who had found him, but a team of agents. "No. I'm good."

The whole conversation was strained. Booth ended it there, bidding her goodnight and hanging up. Setting his phone down next to him, he rubbed his eyes before continuing his gaze out at the sunset. Why was it where she was concerned things were so hard for him? There was no chance for them. It'd taken a long time but he'd at long last accepted it. With Debbie he was happy. So why couldn't he move on?

Maybe it didn't matter then. There were more important issues to attend to.

Despite fatigue he couldn't relax enough to sleep that night. The hours passed with bad late night television and constant assurance checks on Debbie. She had fallen asleep, though it was fitful.

In the morning he was dozing lightly sitting up in a chair at her kitchen table. Behind him she lovingly wrapped her arms around his muscular chest and kissed the back of his neck. "You should lay down," she under toned into his ear.

"Can't." He replied.

"You should-" Debbie never got to finish her sentence. The fore telling ring of her cell phone cut her off. They shared a look before she rose to answer it. Her voice was quiet. So soft he couldn't hear what she was saying. Once she finished she turned back to him. "They want us at the hospital."

***

Brennan followed Angela's advice to the letter. For the next few weeks she stuck close to Booth, especially where Debbie was concerned. The jealousy never eased. It only grew in intensity. Subtly she attempted to court Booth. But of course being the attractive woman that she was Brennan had never had to chase after someone. She'd always been sought out. Needless to say her hints were too superficial to mean anything to Booth. He seemed not to be noticing much of anything, anyway.

Those around him began to see it. After so many months of moving forward he was definitely taking steps backwards. While he'd never competely returned to his sunny self, he reverted back to being distant. His features were always darkened with some sort of hidden trauma. And all of his spare time was spent with Debbie. A fact Brennan grew more frustrated with day by day.

Neither of them were prepared when her emotions rose to the surface; when at last she could no longer take keeping her feelings secret.

Once again they'd wrapped up a grueling case. Back to the bar they'd gone to celebrate with their friends gathered around. Booth listened as they gossiped but kept his distance. He'd barely downed a beer when his cell phone chirped. Without even checking it he knew what it said. Right then he needed to leave. To those around him a mumbled a goodbye. Dejectedly he let himself out.

Having had enough of his disappearing acts Brennan tore out of the bar after him. "Booth!" She hollered. "Wait!"

He hadn't gotten far. Hearing his name he turned around.

Brennan jogged up next to him. Not an easy feat considering she was wearing heels. Up close she glimpsed what she hadn't been in focus enough to see all day. Booth was sweating profusely. His eyes were hazed with fog. "Where are you going?"

"Debbie's," he said simply.

"Why?"

Defensively he pulled back. "Because she's my girlfriend. Why do you care, Bones?"

His sharp tone bit through her. Blinking rapidly, she could only stare at him. "Because…" Brennan didn't really have an answer. The only response she had would change everything between them. Was she ready to take that risk?

Booth sighed, raking a hand through his hair. He must have felt bad for taking whatever was bothering him out on her, because his voice warmed up. "Just go back inside and enjoy yourself, all right? I'll see you tomorrow." Again he started to walk away.

She was losing him. It was becoming painstakingly obvious. Rationally what she was about to do was foolish. Unlike herself. More in a manner Booth would behave than herself. But in that moment she let it go. No longer could she keep her burning love for him all to herself anymore. It was time he knew. "Booth!" She called again.

Brennan stopped Booth just before they reached the end of the street corner. "I.. I want to tell you something."

"What is it, Bones?" He examined her, suddenly curious. "Why do you look so nervous? Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

She looked nervous? Brennan took a deep breath and tried to look confident. Instead she just appeared pathetic. "I love you." Her response came out in an impulsive blurt.

"I love you, too?" He was puzzled.

"No, Booth," she grabbed his hand as he turned away. "I love you," she repeated.

Different emotions crossed his face. But it was the look of fear that made her take a step back. Had she said something wrong? Should she have waited until he and Debbie had broken up before making the confession?

"I'm engaged," he said finally in a strained voice.

She'd waited too long to tell him. Nodding, she did her best to smile as a hard lump formed in her throat. "Oh." What else could she say to that? "But I-"

"You can't love me, Bones." His voice was choked. "Not now."

Neither of them knew what to say to each other. To end the awkwardness Brennan walked away. She heard Booth call after her but she kept on going. She also couldn't help but to notice that he didn't give chase. He let her go.

***

"Brennan?"

"Hi, Angela."

"Where are you? You never came back."

"At work."

"… it's ten o'clock at night."

"…I know."

"Sweetie? Why do you sound like you've been crying?"

There was a long break. Then, in a shushed whisper, "Booth's engaged."

Angela stood up, nearly knocking hers and several other drinks over. With her phone pressed to her ear she found herself following the footsteps of her two friends outside the bar. "What?!"

"I told him, Ange. He's marrying Debbie."

Angela didn't believe it. Not for a second. In fact, she wasn't sure she believed Booth was even in love with Debbie. For years she'd seen the way he'd silently carried a torch for his partner. Love like that didn't just go away. No. She refused to believe it.

There was something just not right with that man. "Brennan-"

"I just want to work. I'll see you tomorrow."

The line went dead. Angela didn't attempt to call her back. This situation had gone off the tracks. All this time she'd been watching and waiting for her friends to get it together. Now she knew it was time to intervene. It was time to find out what really was going on with Seeley Booth.