Chapter 5... 'Discussions'

Brennan wasn't back at work until a few days later. Thankfully, Angela had let her be, so she could sort things out. When Brennan walked into the lab that Wednesday morning, Angela let out a scream.

"Brennan!" she cried as she rushed towards Brennan.

Angela, Cam and Hodgins were all relieved to see that Brennan was alright. Almost immediately, Angela led Brennan into her office to spill the beans.

"What happened? When I left you, you were a complete mess" exclaimed Angela.

"We talked" stated Brennan.

"On the phone?"

"No, he came over to apologise. I watched him as he hesitated to knock on my door. But when he finally did, I let him in."

"How did you feel?"

Brennan thought about how she felt when she opened the door to Booth. "Numb..." Brennan hesitated before continuing. "There's still something missing, between Booth and me, I mean. We're not back to the way we used to be, not yet."

Angela was shocked by what Brennan was telling her. "Did... did you tell him how you feel?"

Brennan sat in quiet contemplation, before finally shaking her head at Angela's question.

"Sweetie," said Angela, holding Brennan's hand. "He has to know... You have to tell him..."

"He's happy, Ange, for the first time in a long time, he's genuinely happy, and it's not because of me."

"And you're okay with this? With him being with someone else, I mean?"

"For now," said Brennan, and she got up and walked out.

Angela couldn't believe what she'd just heard. Could Brennan really accept Booth being with someone else?

There was tension at lunch that day. Brennan had agreed to have lunch with Booth and Jennifer at the diner. Booth was adamant that the diner was still 'their place', but informed Brennan that she needn't be more uncomfortable by eating somewhere different.

"You two seem happy together," said Brennan as they finished their meal.

"We are" chimed Jennifer, clutching Booth's upper right arm.

The sight made Brennan feel uneasy, but when she saw Booth's half 'fake-smile', she felt much better. It was the familiar smile that Booth had made many times before, in uncomfortable situations and particularly when he had to meet her own dates.

As they stepped outside of the diner, Brennan pulled Booth to the side.

"I think... you two will be happy together."

Booth, who was still excellent at reading people, read Brennan like a children's book. He sensed her reserve, like she wanted to add something.

"Thanks, Bones" he said, and gave her a hug. Then he and Jennifer walked off to Booth's car, leaving Brennan with the alone and empty feeling she knew all too well.

Brennan came back from lunch quite saddened. She was happy for Booth, truly happy for him. But the most part of her wished it was she who was with him, not Jennifer.

When Brennan stepped into the lab, Cam immediately knew that something was wrong.

"Dr Brennan" she began. "If you need some time off to sort things out, I'm happy to give it to you."

Brennan looked at her, a blank expression covering her face. "I just took a year off, Cam; I don't think I need to take any more time."

The next few days grew even more awkward. Brennan and Booth started on their first case together since coming back. At one point during their time at the crime scene, the worst thing happened, and the topic of conversation turned to Jennifer.

"She's thinking of transferring to DC" said Booth.

To Brennan, no news could possibly be worse than this, yet she sensed a twinge in Booth's voice as he said it.

"Is everything alright between you two?" pried Brennan.

Booth tried to conceal it, but Brennan knew better. How could he tell her that he wished it was different, that he wished that the two of them together? Booth knew he'd put Brennan through a lot over the years, but he couldn't bring himself to admit his feelings, not here, not now.

"Booth, we're partners. You can tell me anything!"

Booth was hesitant. "Not here. I'd rather discuss it when there's less of an audience. Why don't we meet somewhere a little more private?"

Brennan agreed. "You'll show up this time, won't you?" she mocked, and in that moment, when they both laughed, everything felt normal between them, even if it was just for a second.

They'd agreed to meet at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, a place where Booth had always told the truth, no matter how rude or hurtful it was. Brennan smiled when she saw Booth waiting there. It was night time, and it was nice and private.

The silence was deafening, as they both sat there staring out at the Reflecting Pool for quite some time.

"Jennifer knows nearly everything about us, Bones."

There it was. He'd repeated that sentence to her several times over the last few days, and he said it nearly every time they met up. There was something reassuring about it.

"I know" she replied, as Brennan anxiously waited for what was going to come next.

Again they sat in silence, this time only for a few minutes.

"I never told her how I really felt about you, and I probably never will..."

Brennan's heart sank. Was this a good thing, or a bad thing? Did he not tell Jennifer because he was so madly in love with Brennan, or was it because he knew Jennifer would never let him move on from Brennan if she knew the truth?

Brennan couldn't help herself. "How do you feel about me?"

Booth leaned back and sighed. It was the one thing he'd never said to Brennan, not to her face anyway. He stumbled over his words as he tried to think of a way to explain it.

"Imagine, Bones; that you're madly in love with me."

Brennan nodded.

"And pretend that I was completely off limits, and there is nothing you can do to win me over..."

Brennan cut him off. She couldn't stop herself. "I don't have to..."