Remember this story is AU.

I don't own Bones.

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As she entered Deputy Director Cullen's office, Brennan noticed that the owner of the office was standing by his desk waiting for her. "Dr. Brennan. It's been awhile, how have you been?"

Swiftly moving across the office, Brennan held out her hand and shook Cullen's proffered hand. "I'm fine thank you." Sitting down on the chair across from the Deputy Director's desk, Brennan held her purse on her lap. "I'm here about Booth."

Not sure what Brennan was up to, Cullen sat down behind his desk, clasped his hands and placed them on the desk in front of him. "What about Booth?"

"It's been fourteen weeks since Booth was shot and he's still in the process of recovery." Staring intently at the man, Brennan explained, "He is making progress in his recovery and he has been able to resume some of his duties here at the FBI which you know. I would like to know how long you will give him to recover before you make a decision about his future here at the FBI?"

Carefully, Cullen decided to be as honest as he could be. "The Director and I have had several meetings about Agent Booth in the last two weeks. Agent Booth's job is a supervisory one. It's unusual for someone in his position to actually go out into the field. Because of your relationship with Booth, he's continued to be your partner, but that isn't part of his job description. We've allowed it up until now because of the fantastic solve rate your team has."

Shifting in her seat, Brennan agreed with his statement. "Yes, he continued to go out with me because I refuse to work with less than the best and Booth is the best."

Amused, Cullen smiled at her. "Yes, I know."

The chair a little uncomfortable, Brennan stood up. "I wanted you to know that if our partnership is severed, I will no longer work for the FBI. My contract will expire next week so I would like to know what you plan to do about Booth. I cannot renew my contract if Booth is no longer my FBI partner."

Curious, Cullen asked her, "Was Booth aware that you planned to talk to me about his career today?"

Brennan shook her head slowly. "No, this meeting is about my contract not Booth's career. Our conversation about Booth is merely my gathering information so that I can make an informed decision. If your plan is to force me to work with someone other than Booth, then I must inform you that that won't happen. I have talked it over with Booth and he is aware that I may not renew my contract. It is of course my decision and only my decision."

"I see." Standing, the Deputy Director walked about his desk and pointed towards his couch. "Would you care to sit?"

Shaking her head, Brennan frowned at the man. "No thank you. I'm fine."

Standing before the anthropologist, Cullen clasped his hands in front of his hips. "I've looked over Booth's medical reports and it looks like he's improving, but his physician feels that he will always be handicapped because of his injury. He isn't going to make a complete recovery. The Director has decided that we don't really want to lose Booth's expertise so we won't give him a medical retirement, but he will be chained to his job description. He will no longer be going out in to the field."

Her fears now confirmed, Brennan bit her lower lip and studied the man facing her. In need of more information, Brennan asked him, "When do you plan to tell him this?"

Exhaling sharply, Cullen glanced at the paper work on his desk and back at Brennan. "I had planned to to tell him in a few days, but since you've forced the issue, I will inform him this afternoon."

With that said, Brennan made her decision. "I will not be renewing my contract with the FBI."

Reaching out, Cullen offered his right hand. "I want to thank you for all you've done for us, Dr. Brennan. You and Booth have gone above and beyond solving cases that I never thought were solvable. We owe you our deepest gratitude."

"I think you should seriously consider offering Dr. Clark Edison the position of consultant." Brennan knew that the FBI needed the Jeffersonian and gave him this option. "He is quite brilliant, although not as brilliant as I am and he would be of great service to the FBI. My team would work for him so you would still have those valuable resources and I would be available to Dr. Edison if he is in need of my expertise."

Cullen was glad to hear that bit of news. "I will of course consider that. Thank you Dr. Brennan.

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Entering the apartment, Booth noticed that Brennan was sitting on the couch waiting for him. After he laid his jacket across the back of the chair, he moved over to the couch and sat down next to his wife. After kissing her, Booth leaned back against the couch and stared at the coffee table. "I had a talk with Cullen this afternoon. He . . . ah . . . he told me that my job is safe and that I won't lose my position because of my injury."

Not sure how to break the news, he turned to stare at her and gripped her knee. "He told me that our partnership has been terminated. I won't be able to go out into the field with you anymore. I'm sorry."

Grabbing his hand and placing it between her two hands, Brennan shook her head. "There isn't anything to be sorry for, Booth. None of this is your fault. You've been very diligent with your therapy to get to where you are now . . . I think your physician is selling you short when he tells you that you won't make a complete recovery, but that is beside the point. You are a valuable asset to the FBI and it must be gratifying to know that."

Sad at the turn of events, Booth shook his head. "No, not really. I wanted to be able to back you up. I wanted our partnership to last at least a little while longer, but that's out now. What do you plan to do?"

Surprised that Cullen hadn't talked to Booth about their meeting, Brennan pressed his hand between her hands. "I'm not going to renew my contract with the FBI . . . I wish to be honest with you and tell you that Cullen and I talked this afternoon and he'd told me your news already. My contract is up in a week and he told me that you are no longer going to be my partner."

Not surprised at all, Booth watched Brennan rub his hand. "So you're going to work for the Jeffersonian on digs again?"

She new this was all coming a little fast, but Booth needed to know what was going on. Releasing his hand, Brennan wrapped her arm around his arm and leaned against him. "I had a meeting with the Director of the Jeffersonian this afternoon and made him a proposal. I would like to make a few changes in how I do my job. I had to talk to the Director first and get his approval before I talked to you. He agreed with my suggestions and now I'm going to present my ideas to you." Squeezing his arm, Brennan earnestly pleaded with her husband. "I don't want you to feel that you are under any obligations to agree to my proposal, Booth. I came up with this idea because I enjoy working with you. You are a man of action and I don't know how long you will be satisfied working for the FBI behind a desk. I want to give you an alternative in case you no longer wish to pursue your career in the FBI. I know you love working for the FBI and it has allowed you to move up in the organization, but I just feel like you should have other options."

Curious, Booth looked at his wife's profile. "Bones, just tell me what you want to say."

Nervously, she took a deep breath and after exhaling it slowly, Brennan proceeded. "I would like to offer you a position at the Jeffersonian. As you know, I identify bones from cold cases and from old burial sites. Sometimes I am unable to identify the victim because I don't have enough information. I can recreate the physical identify . . . what the victims once looked like, but sometimes I am still unable to give them an identity. The Jeffersonian needs someone with investigative skills such as yourself. I also find that the digs I go to can be quite dangerous and in unstable areas of the world. Sometimes I'm called in to identity victims of conflict. The local governments provide us with security, but the men who are sent to protect us are not always trustworthy. I have found myself in the past, trying to identify victims of war crimes knowing that the victims were more than likely killed by the men providing my colleagues and me with protection. It makes for very tense situations. I feel that if you traveled with me as my guard, as the head of security for the digs I'm on, I'd be better able to concentrate on my job. The Director of the Jeffersonian has said that if you will agree to the new position, he would like to make you the head of Security of the Jeffersonian. You would not be a security guard for the institution. You would be an investigator as well as in charge of security of any digs I go on. All Security matters for the Jeffersonian would go through you and you would have a budget to hire two or three guards for each dig. You would also be in charge of all of the security guards that work for the Jeffersonian, keeping the institute safe and using the latest technology would be your responsibility."

Almost overwhelmed with the offer, Booth ran his hand through his hair and felt stunned by the turn of events. "Uh, Bones, would it be okay if I thought about this? This is pretty big and I don't know if I really want to leave the FBI, not if I don't have to."

Staring at Booth's profile, Brennan worried that she'd over reached herself. "Yes, of course. I want you to think about it very carefully. What ever you decide to do will be fine, Booth. I want you to be happy."

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So, a big turn in the story line. Does this sound interesting? Would you like to read a story where Booth is no longer working for the FBI? Let me know.