This is winding down pretty quickly because I can't think of a way to extend this story after the next couple of chapters. Maybe something will come to me in my sleep though.

It was weighing on his mind and he needed to tell someone. He couldn't tell the one person he wanted to share everything with because he didn't know how she would react. Booth paced his office trying to figure out what he was going to do. He needed a friend. Someone who wouldn't reveal his secret. That's when he thought of her and took off toward the lab.

He arrived at her office and knocked lightly on the door. She turned to the sound and smiled when she saw it was him.

"I needed to talk to someone and I can't talk to Bones." Booth said, as he entered the office, leaving the door ajar.

"Is something wrong, Seeley?" Cam asked concerned.

"Yes. I broke up with Claire…" he blurted out.

"Oh, I'm sorry Booth, you two seemed like a nice couple."

"No, we weren't, at least not deep down. We weren't right for each other."

"What's wrong then? You seem to be glad that you ended the relationship." Cam questioned.

"I'm in love with her." Booth stated.

"You're in love with Claire?" Cam asked. Booth shook his head. Cam knew exactly where he was going with this. "Oh, I see. Are you going to tell her?"

"I don't know, Cam. I don't know. I don't want to scare her away. I'm just so … intoxicated by her. Every time I think I am about to tell her, I clam up. I'm afraid she will run. I don't want to risk losing her. I love her." Booth said, the memories from a year ago when he tried to tell her his feelings came flooding back.

"Love is risky, Seeley. You can't let that fear run your life though. But love is worth it."

Suddenly their was a knock on the door and Booth turned on his heel and saw it was his heart's desire standing there, sadness in her eyes. Booth panicked. She heard everything, he thought. She was going to run away from him. He couldn't let that happen, not again. "How long have you been standing there?" he asked nervously.

"Long enough." Bones said

"I never meant for this to happen, Bones. I just never wanted to …" Booth attempted to explain that he never moved on, even though he tried.

"Booth, you don't owe me an explanation." Brennan interrupted. "You should tell Claire. I've seen the way she looks at you. She loves you too."

"Bones … wait." Booth tried to correct her.

"No, it's okay, Booth. I understand." Brennan said, walking toward them and handing over a file. "Here Cam, I brought you the new developments on the case." And with that, she left the room.

Booth, in shock, turned to Cam, looking for help as to what he should do. His mouth was open, but he couldn't find the words to speak. "She doesn't know." He finally sputtered out.

"You should tell her. I am sure she is devastated by her belief that you love Claire. She's changed, Seeley. She's changed in the year you were apart. I believe her feelings for you have only grown. She should know the truth. She deserves the truth. Even if it scares her away, she should know that you haven't moved on and that you will be waiting for her until she's ready."

"I should tell her." Booth said softly, turning to look back at the door. "I should tell her." He said again, as he bolted for the door. The first person he spotted was Hodgins up on the platform. "Hodgins! Have you seen Bones?" he yelled.

"Yeah, Angela went chasing after her into her office. She looked pretty upset."

Booth headed toward Brennan's office, determination in his step. He hesitated outside her door. How was he going to tell her without scaring her away? He got up his nerve and finally knocked on the door.