I've been busy. Lame excuse for not updating, but it's true.

This one is basically Brennan reminiscing on the day she leaves the Jeffersonian. (The actual time frame is kind of left up to your imagination.)

I thought this would be fitting for the final story and I was going to save it, but… who knows if I will ever churn out the 99 other stories. Sooo, since I like how it turned out, I decided to put it up early. Ok, really early.

Hope you like it. Let me know your thoughts. And thanks to everyone who reviewed so far!! It means a lot. ~SAM

Under the Rain

Today, I am leaving the Jeffersonian. I never thought this time would come, figuratively speaking of course. Things have definitely changed over the years- new equipment, new paint colors, new staff members. I'm not sure if there was really one event that set it all into motion… maybe the day I decided I wanted to be more involved in the field. Booth would say it was the day we met, but I don't think that's very accurate. No matter, things have changed and they continue to.

Angela and Hodgins left about five years ago. They decided that traveling the world offered more time to spend with their three kids. According to Hodgins there's nothing like learning about history in person. The lab was never quite the same without them. We actually needed to hire three people to replace them! Brandon, or Brando as he prefers to be called, is our entomologist now. A young man named Adam works with the 'Angelator' and other computer programs, while Shelly, an art student, does the facial reconstructions and suspect drawings.

Dr. Saroyan moved back to New York two years after Angela and Jack left. Her father fell ill and, being the more responsible one between her and her sister, she decided to take care of him. I hear that he no longer mentions the fact that she is still single.

Cam's departure meant someone needed to take her place as department chair. I was given the honor. Booth thought it was fitting and said something about going full circle. I don't know what he was referring to though.

Wendell has really excelled in and out of the lab. When I took over for Cam, he started going along with Booth to crime scenes and interviews. It turns out he has the skills to scientifically formulate hypothesis and communicate well with people. Booth says he's a hybrid, part human and part squint.

Dr. Sweets finally got his book, the one mainly about me and Booth, published. He's off doing research for the next one in hopes that it will be complete and in stores before he dies. I think he was exaggerating when he told us this as he seems to be in good health.

As for Booth, like me, he is also leaving in a few short days. We aren't calling it a retirement though. He said the word retirement makes him feel old… so it's more of a sabbatical. Apparently Cullen is hoping Booth will return and take over his job so he can retire.

Just thinking about this makes me look back at our ever changing relationship. It's funny to remember that there was a time in the beginning where I really didn't like Booth. He was cocky and stubborn. Wait, actually, he still is… I guess I've just grown used to him. We've evolved from barely colleagues to trusted partners, and from friends to lovers. Crossing that invisible line was difficult, but getting to the point where we vowed to be together 'til death do us part was harder, at least for me. But we made it, we're still going strong. Booth's excited; he's been planning this huge vacation, that we're about to take, for years. All I know is that I'm finally ready to sail around the Caribbean and there's no one else I'd rather be doing it with.

Stepping outside the Jeffersonian doors for the final time, I notice that it's raining. It seems quite fitting for rain to be falling at this moment. It's been said that rain cleanses the world and allows things to begin anew. I'm happy to walk under the rain and into my new life.