Author's Note: I'm sorry, I know this should have been up about a week ago, but I have been having computer troubles like you would not believe in the past week or so. Luckily, it did give me some time to reevaluate the story outline to make sure it's still going the way I'd like it to. It's the longest chapter I've written yet, so hopefully that can make up for the delay. Thanks again to all of you who stuck with me!

The diner was empty except for a mother and her toddler and an older man sitting at the counter, which Cam found she was grateful for. While she didn't always enjoy silence, she thought it would be appropriate for such a private moment that she planned to have. Their waitress came to take their order before Brennan had even spoken; something she wasn't quite sure could be taken as a good thing.

"Not to be rude," Brennan began when the waitress brought them coffee. "I appreciate this, but when we left the lab you said your intention was to take me home. Why is it that we somehow ended up here?"

Cam nodded with a smile, because of course she would ask about the obvious. "I was hungry and figured you might be as well. It's almost three in the afternoon and the last thing I had to eat was a bagel at around eight this morning. You?" Cam asked as she watched Brennan blush slightly. "That was what I thought."

Brennan breathed in deep, inhaling the scent of her coffee. She'd been to the diner a time or two since leaving the hospital, but it had yet to bring anything back. "Thank you."

"I don't mean to pry, but curious minds do want to know; did you recover anything at the lab?" Cam asked. She watched as Brennan folded a straw wrapper, a nervous habit that she never would have pegged her for, and it was then she realized the answer. "I'm sorry. Just because nothing came yet doesn't mean it won't. You should come back, tour the rest of lab."

Brennan shrugged before remembering the envelope of pictures she took from the desk drawer. "I did notice that Zack apparently failed to make my office completely his own."

"Oh, that." Cam replied with a shrug. She remembered talks with Brennan's former student, conversations in which Zack used the same excuses as to why he couldn't take her office they all did; Brennan could wake up at any moment, and what would she think of the idea? There was no appropriate way she could think of to tell her though, so instead she nodded with a smile. "That's Zack for you, I guess. He was wonderful during your absence, though."

"I was in a coma. Calling it an absence makes it sound as if I were vacationing or perhaps attending a dig in another country." Brennan replied, not realizing how harsh she sounded until she saw the hurt look cross Cam's features. "I'm sorry, I'm just feeling very stressed as of late."

"I understand." Cam nodded. While she tried to picture herself in the other woman's shoes, she wasn't quite sure if it was possible. There wasn't anything she could offer as a comparison really, and without one it wouldn't seem the same. She watched in interest as Brennan pulled an envelope from her purse. "What's that?"

Her fingers traced over Angela's writing on the front, trying to mentally picture the moment she must have given it to her. While it didn't help, it left Brennan wishing that it had. "I found these in the desk drawer; pictures of the team together at Christmas a few years ago I suppose. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I guess I was hoping keeping them with me to look at might somehow help me recall something. It's not much, but if it can help I'm willing to try."

Cam guessed that was why Brennan had agreed to let Sweets offer his counsel, given her well-known distaste for psychology. "Can I see them?" Cam asked, holding out her hand. She pulled the photos out carefully before laying a few on the table. A smile crossed her face as she spotted one of the whole team. "Angela took these. Hodgins bought her the camera, and she couldn't wait to test it out. She put it on a timer before rushing over, wanting one of everyone together." Her eyes lit up in alarm. "Should I not have said that? I just thought-"

"Please, don't apologize. It does me good to hear details of that time, even if other people don't seem to think so." Brennan replied before sighing in defeat. It was no use she thought, because all she had left to do now was wait and hope things would return.

Cam set down the picture she had been looking at, a picture of Brennan with Booth and Parker, down on the table before staring at the woman sitting across from her. "You know he's only trying to help you, right? Telling you all of the details would only open the possibility of creating false memories. I'm pretty sure that's not what you want."

Brennan took another sip from her mug, noting the way Cam had instinctively honed in on Booth rather than mentioning everyone else. She wasn't sure how she felt about the idea, because after all she was legally married to him, but Brennan hated the feeling of expectation she got from everyone when they spoke of them together. "Kind of like how he decided to leave out the fact that we were married." She murmured just as their waitress came with their food.

The waitress, a woman in her mid-fifties, set down their plates. "The chicken club for you," She said before putting Cam's plate down. "And there's your salad." She said to Brennan before the pictures caught her eye. Smiling, she wiped her hands on her apron. "You have a beautiful family." Pointing to the picture of the three of them-Booth, Parker, and Brennan-huddled close together next to a tree decorated with bright red and gold bulbs, she gave a soft laugh. "You don't see much of that anymore these days."

Brennan opened her mouth to speak, to refute her claim because after all they technically weren't much of a family (at least in the way the woman surely pictured) at the moment, but found that her throat had nearly swelled shut. "Thank you." Brennan managed to mutter. Watching as the waitress walked away, she knew that it was an honest mistake, but found that it didn't make her reaction feel any less painful.

The look of pain and sadness that flickered through Brennan's eyes was something the waitress surely had missed, but Cam noticed as Brennan tucked into her salad that she instantly seemed to harden a little bit, forcing herself to keep cool and composed. "Can I ask you a question?" She asked once they were mostly finished with their food. "I'm just wondering…and feel free to tell me this is far too personal, but I can't help but ask." Cam took a breath, steeling herself for the stubborn refusal she was almost certain would come. "What is it about Seeley's decision in keeping everything to himself in hopes that you would remember on your own that bothers you the most?"

"You're right, that was a personal question." Brennan replied coldly before offering a slight nod. "However, it's something that I've considered. I suppose it would be the way…I'm not sure, really, but it seems like something you should tell someone. Especially given how close we were prior to the day we-" Brennan found she didn't actually know how to phrase it, because what woman would want to admit to not knowing when she had gotten married? Instead, she started tracing lines in the condensation on her water glass. Sweets had told her something, had said that she needed to be patient, but she was finding it difficult. "It doesn't matter, I just have to accept the fact I was dealt with this particular situation and live with it however I can."

Cam watched as Brennan hesitated, her mouth hanging open until apparently realizing what she would've said. The way she chose to make up an excuse that was so clearly a desperate one. The way she tried distracting herself with another activity to keep her mind off of the situation at hand; it was all Brennan's way of coping, and she knew that. It didn't make trying to help any better, though. "September 19th, 2009."

Brennan looked up in surprise, her eyes searching Cam's to figure out what she meant. "What are you talking about?"

She sent her a knowing smile, because she had seen the sense of panic cross her face, even if only for a moment. "You were saying before, about the day?" Cam gave a quick nod. She watched as recognition lit, as Brennan tried coping with what she had given her. Maybe it was a mistake, filling in the details, because after all Booth hadn't done so and neither had Angela apparently, but it was a small morsel compared to the entire span she had to regain.

Brennan's tapered fingers clasped together before she brought a hand up to pierce a shred of lettuce in her salad, but all the while her attention was focused on Cam. "Oh. That's-" She swallowed, trying hard to simply will anything forward. "I didn't know. I didn't remember that."

"I know it's not much, but it's something you deserve to know." Cam offered. There wasn't much else she could do, not knowing the complete circumstances the doctor had given her, but also realizing some things were much more private. While she certainly had never gone through something as traumatic in any sense, she knew it must have been hard. Any relationship was hard to cope with when you didn't know the parameters let alone all of them involved. It was like being handed an empty coloring page with no crayons to connect the dots; a bad comparison, but something that brought on frustration all the same. "I'm not going to pretend to know how you feel. I know it's difficult, but as someone who witnessed what everyone has gone through in the past year, knowing them all well? Every single person in the lab, including Zack who I wasn't sure even knew how to express the emotions of a normal person, they all felt the loss. When the day came to test the system and see if you'd recover on your own, it was a typical day at the lab, but something was different, and everyone felt it. I know you're not someone who believes in miracles or anything remotely called that, but when Booth got word to everyone that you'd woken up, that was it felt like to everyone there."

Brennan swallowed hard, a bit surprised by Cam's suddenly emotional speech. It wasn't entirely like her even if it was something she had witnessed a few times, and she wasn't quite sure how to take it. Nothing she said could make everything come back, and wishing so was completely illogical, but she could tell by what Cam told her that she wasn't the only one who had apparently been struggling with the situation.

Knowing there wasn't much else she could do, she started putting the pictures back into the envelope, but paused when she realized she still had something left to say. "She was right, you know. Even if it's not something you're completely ready to accept." Sliding the photographs across the table, she raised an eyebrow, almost as if she were daring Brennan to refute her claim.

Taking back the pictures, she wasn't quite sure what to say. The idea frustrated her. "At least let me pay for all of this." Brennan sighed, gesturing to the remnants of their meal.

Not one to turn down a free meal, she set down just enough for a tip before heading for the door.


It was late by the time they got home, but because Parker had conveniently forgotten to pack, it had taken him nearly an extra twenty minutes to get everything taken care of.

"Next time, I want you to get everything ready in the morning, okay bud?" Booth told him before setting Parker's back pack on a chair.

"Fine." Parker sighed before slipping out of his shoes, making sure to leave them near the door, because a day kicking a soccer ball around the mud at practice didn't exactly bode well on carpet.

"Okay, so why don't you hurry and take a bath before bed?" Booth suggested before catching the look of refusal in his son's eye. "I know, Parker, but last time I let you stay late you were a pain to wake up in the morning. Just go ahead, and we'll see what happens."

Booth padded into the kitchen after he made sure Parker was getting ready for bed, and he poured himself a glass of water. After taking a large gulp, he took an opportunity to study the shadows that blanketed the backyard. He got Parker every other weekend and certain nights during the week, not to mention weeks during the summer that they would spend. It meant using the backyard for things like barbequing or tossing around a ball, but even Parker had noted the difference there was without Brennan there cheering them on or telling him to take it easier on Parker. He spent as much time with his son as he could-they were a family together, after all-even if there seemed to be a piece missing. He sighed and shook his head knowing there was no use in dwelling on that particular fact. He'd turned the television on, but didn't realize he hadn't really been paying much attention until he felt Parker shaking his arm. "What is it?"

Parker sighed and plopped down next to his father, trying his best to imitate his posture. "I said I wanted to ask you a question."

Figuring it would be about why he hadn't been at soccer practice that day or why he still had to go to bed at the same time, Booth tried his best to stifle a laugh and schooled his face into a look of patience. "Sure, what do you want to ask?"

At that, Parker faltered. He'd been in the bathroom getting dressed when the thought occurred to him, and he was almost certain the question had to be asked. Now that he was sitting there ready to ask, Parker wasn't quite sure. "How come-" He began, his attention honing in on a loose thread on the couch seam. "I mean, if Bones is out of the hospital, why isn't she here?"

"Well, that's-" Booth paused, having already formed an answer in his mind to the question Parker didn't actually ask. Bones. Of course he would ask. It wasn't like he could complain, because he knew how much he loved her and liked spending time with her as well whenever he was there. "It's kind of complicated right now, bud. She's still working at getting better."

"But we can help her do that, right? When I'm sick, you and mom usually help me." Parker replied, because in his mind the idea made perfect sense. He wrinkled his nose and looked around. "Well…if she's not here, where is she?"

He wasn't sure how much he was supposed to give away, partially due to the fact he wasn't sure how much he'd understand but also because given the reaction Brennan had earlier in the day she was doing things her way, and telling someone everything could cause another outburst like the one at her office. But this was Parker, and there wasn't any harm in helping him understand. "She's with Aunt Angela right now, and she's probably gonna be there for a while. You know how we talked about how she doesn't remember everything?" He waited for a nod. "Well, Bones is getting there, but everything's still a little confusing right now. You know what else? She's got a couple of really good doctors working at trying to help her remember everything as soon as she can."

"So until she remembers, she's not gonna be here?" Parker asked, trying his best to make the idea make sense in his mind. "But what if she doesn't? What if everything comes back, but she can't remember where we live or that she loves us, or what if she doesn't remember where we live and she can't call because she doesn't know the number?"

Booth watched as his eyes grew wide in concern, and he knew his concerns could be considered real ones. "It's not exactly like that, Parks. There are things that she knows, but without all of the memories there to back it up, it's a little hard to understand."

Parker furrowed his brow, much in the same way Booth did when trying to get something straight, and posed his next question. "So, it's like evidence or something? That what she knows is true?"

At that, Booth couldn't help but laugh as he pulled Parker close. "You've been talking to Grandpa Max and Hodgins, haven't you? Well, it's something like that." He kissed the top of his son's head and smiled. "I tell you what; if you go make sure everything's put away in your room I'll pick a movie for us to watch."

"You're changing the subject." Parker declared, sounding older than he actually was.

"Do you wanna watch a movie or not?" Booth asked. He watched as Parker dashed out of view down the hall to check his room, and settled his head against the back of the couch. While he'd been taken back by Parker asking about Brennan, he knew he probably shouldn't have been. It didn't stop him from wishing he could have an answer they'd both like.


The air buzzed with a certain excitement even he could feel. A few days had passed, and there was the art show in which Angela was presenting a few of her paintings. It wasn't something he'd normally be interested in, but Angela was a friend and she had asked him to come along. Booth had seen some of the work she did and had to admit she was truly talented, but he had a sneaking suspicion she had asked him to come for an entirely different reason. He spotted Angela talking with a few people he didn't know, critics or maybe fellow artists, but then he spotted the person standing with her back to him. Of course she would be here he reasoned, because she was her best friend, but somehow in the process of getting ready he'd neglected to remember that.

Would she want him there? She wouldn't want to cause a scene obviously, because the night was important to her close friend. It was best to try and keep his distance, and maybe tell Angela later how great he thought her work was.

Angela caught his eye and nodded before waving him over. "Hey," She said before pulling him in for a hug. "I'm really glad you came. What do you think of this one?"

Obviously, hiding in the corner and catching her on her way out wasn't going to happen. Art really wasn't his area of expertise, but even he could tell the painting in front of him was beautiful. "It's great, Ange." Booth spotted her signature at the bottom. "You're talented. It's very beautiful."

Beside him, Brennan was trying her best to remain composed. They were all friends of course, and there was no need to address anything that didn't need to be spoken about. She smiled cordially when he looked her way, but as he looked away and didn't say anything else it caused the thought to occur of how she'd been acting. There was still the need to figure things out on her own, but remembering the conversation she'd had with Cam a few days before, Brennan knew that she owed him something. When their group started moving forward, she reached for his arm. "Could I talk with you for a minute?"

Part of him wanted to say no, to simply let her sift through things in her own stubborn way, but as he saw her gesture to an open door nearby that led to a patio on the outside, Booth knew there was no way he could turn her down. He watched as she moved for the door and he quickly followed. If she was willing to talk, he was willing to listen, but as he caught the look on her face Booth knew there was a chance it might not be something he wanted to hear. "Bones?"

Brennan closed her eyes and took a deep breath, willing whatever strength she had to come forward. "I wanted to apologize to you for the way I've been acting lately, especially the other day at the lab. Not only was it uncalled for, but it was childish in a way that isn't flattering at all, so I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize, I already told you that. You said you wanted to work through everything on your own, and as hard as that is for me, I'm trying my best to do that. It's fine, Bones." Booth replied, realizing at the last minute that probably wasn't the best thing to say.

"That's just it, Booth, it's not fine. You keep saying that, keep telling me things about how I'll get through this and everything will work itself out, but so far it hasn't. You can't keep making promises you don't know will come true." Brennan replied before crossing her arms and turning towards the garden area that surrounded the patio. It was a beautiful area filled with roses and other flowers that made the night air fragrant and a little bit sweet. "The reason is…illogical at best, but if I'm being honest, the truth is that I'm not completely certain as to how I'm supposed to act around you, or anyone else for that matter."

Booth smiled in sympathy, even if what she was feeling was a private pain. She was looking better, a little healthier, and the light blue halter style dress she'd chosen to wear did something for her skin tone that made her have a sort of glow. It wasn't something he'd normally notice, but this was Bones, and she'd probably been having a good time before he came along. "No one expects you to 'act' anything. Personally, I'm just glad to see you here as strong and healthy as you are. I don't expect you to do anything you don't want to do Bones, and you know that."

"Is that why you kept the truth from me; you were afraid I would react negatively to finding out we were married, Booth, and you thought I would change my mind. Since you had so much faith in me, you decided to lie instead." Brennan's tone was an icy one, something that took even her by surprise.

There it was, and he'd known somehow it was coming, because there was only so much dancing around the specific issue they could do before it all came crashing down. "You know how I feel about you, Temperance. That's never going to change, regardless of how long it takes you to remember, and even if you don't."

Brennan blinked, wishing that she had more of a grasp on her emotions. She hated seeming so vulnerable to anyone, let alone Booth who could read her so well anyway. "That's completely illogical, Booth. You can't tell me that what you feel now is the way you'll feel in six months or a year, or maybe a few years, especially if everything that I've lost doesn't return. I've seen the way you look at me when I'm talking, like you're wishing for something to just magically leave my mouth that proves everything has come back." She sighed and watched as a look of sadness flickered across his face so quickly that, had she not been staring so intently, she would have missed it. "You can't keep waiting for something that isn't a guarantee."

"What are you saying?" Booth asked. His face fell instantly, and he asked even though he was afraid of her answer, of what was waiting on the other side of the line they were toeing precariously. "Bones..."

"I'm afraid that I won't be what it is you're hoping for." Brennan confessed, tears that she had struggled so hard to hold back finally falling freely. She wiped at her cheeks and shook her head, knowing that to make this point she had to at the least look composed. "I don't think I can bring myself to believe in something you felt the need to lie about."

Booth opened his mouth to refuse, to say something so concrete it would prevent everything from slipping like sand between his fingers. "You know why I did that Bones, and if I could take it back I would. I listened to the doctors, who apparently didn't consider the fall out of what would happen. I'm sorry Bones, and I'll keep saying that." He said, not afraid for them so much as frustrated that he had to keep saying so to get his point across. "So that's it, huh? You never used to be a quitter."

Her jaw was set in a firm line. "I'm not a quitter. I'm not quitting anything. I just want to breathe, Booth; I want to look at you and not see the sadness I know I'm responsible for putting there. You're hurting too, and I know that it's my fault. You were only trying to protect me; I understand that now, but it's something I need to come to terms with on my own."

Booth stepped forward, his intention was to simply touch her, to make her realize he was there, but when she ever so slightly shook her head and turned her face he knew it would be best to not do so. "Why does it feel like all you're doing is pushing me away? All I want to do is help you, so why is that a problem?"

Brennan shook her head, everything clouding around her in a way she had never before experienced. She tried hard to keep her balance, to stay strong for the good of them both. "Because it's me, Booth, not you. It's my life, my memories. I'm the one who doesn't remember much of anything from the last few years, but you do. I know you want to help, but-"

"Then let me." Booth urged, growing desperate as he reached for her. Something wasn't right, it was off, and he could tell.

"I have to go." Brennan cried after a long moment, wanting to simply regain her composure. Nothing was working like she needed it to, and the moment she turned, everything started to spin off kilter. She turned to reach for Booth, smart enough to realize something wasn't exactly the way it was supposed to be. "Booth, I-"

"Bones?" Booth called her, alarmed to see that she had visibly paled, leaving only her cheeks tinged with a slight blush. "Bones, come on, you need to sit down."

"No, Booth." Brennan shook her head, thinking all she needed was to go get some water, or maybe just some space. "I'm fine." Seconds later, as she tried to free herself from his grasp, Brennan could feel her knees giving out from under her, and everything faded to black.

Had he not been standing at the ready, he might not have been able to catch her as quickly as he did. "Bones." Booth called her name, cradling her as best he could as his knee dug into a pebble on the ground, but that pain barely registered. He checked her pulse before craning his neck to see into the building, finally of the person he needed to contact. "Angela!"