After O'Brien left to return to FBI Headquarters, Brennan sat down at her desk and tried to take in all that had happened so far on Thursday. She was pleased at the way Angela reacted to hearing about Booth's actions because she knew she would need someone to stand beside her in the coming months as she unwound herself from Booth's orbit. She remembered when her parents disappeared how for months she would awaken each morning expecting them to be there. Leave her school building at the end of the day and expect one of them to be waiting for her. She had come to understand that it was the same feeling that people who have dealt with the death of a loved one feel. That you are going to walk into the kitchen and they will be there. That the phone will ring and you will expect to see their name on the caller ID. For some, those feelings last for months. For others, it can be years. She knew logically that this wasn't the same thing and that her recovery period would probably only span weeks instead of months. But she had already had a couple of those instances today when she looked up from her desk expecting to see him walking through her office door. She warned herself not to go there, but she couldn't help herself. She was already missing his goofy personality. But she also knew that feeling would fade. She believed that grief was real, but that it was also transitory. She vowed that every time she started to feel nostalgia, she would remember the scene in his office on Wednesday afternoon. She would run it in her mind as if she was watching a stage play. And it worked. Boy, did it work.
After her meeting with Angela and Cam, she had gone to the security office and handed in the access card she had taken from Booth with instructions to revoke his access. She also told the head of security that he was to inform his crew that even if Booth flashed his FBI badge, he was not to be granted access. And if he did attempt to enter the lab, he was to be shown the door. With force, if necessary. She walked away from the security office with a measure of satisfaction. After all that was said the previous day, she didn't really expect him to attempt to enter the lab, but she would take her satisfaction wherever she could find it.
And she thought about her conversation with O'Brien. He seemed like someone who would be good to work with and her first impression was that they could have a successful partnership. She absolutely hated having to tell this relative stranger about the issues with Booth, but it really was necessary for him to understand why she was changing the way they would work. And she knew she would need his help to avoid being anywhere in Booth's vicinity. She could tell that he appreciated her candor and would help her in that mission. But she had stretched the truth a bit by insisting that the loss of trust had gone both ways. Her goal with that misdirection was to not impugn his character with a fellow agent. This loss of trust was all her loss of trust in him and not the other way around, but it was also completely personal. Even today, she would trust him with her life if it came to it. She just wouldn't trust him with her heart, and that's not a reason to have a fellow agent think less of him. And really, stepping back and looking at the whole picture, it was her rejection of him on the steps of the Hoover Building that evening that set this whole ball rolling. So yes, technically, there was some blame to assign to each side. She felt bad that she hadn't been completely truthful in her first official meeting with her new partner. But she wasn't out to destroy Booth's reputation. She just wanted to be done with him.
Meanwhile, O'Brien had arrived back in his office at FBI Headquarters and worked to clean up lingering issues with cases still on the books so he would have the decks cleared once he and Brennan got their first case. He was really looking forward to working with her and the team. The tour of the facilities blew him away and he liked the idea of spending time working with Brennan in her spacious office instead of the cubbyhole sized office where he now sat. And the skill levels, collaboration, and spirit of her team was even more impressive. He couldn't wait to get their first case.
Just then, Booth walked into his office. This was the first time he had been in there and O'Brien's first thought was how much smaller the room looked with him inside. He had encountered him in the conference room, Booth's office, the bullpen. But he hadn't realized how solid he was close up. His first thought was how much time he must spend in the FBI gym. His second thought was, what exactly happened between those two to land him into this dream partnership? Booth wanted to know if things were settled between the new partners. O'Brien assured him that they had a productive meeting and were ready to go as soon as they received their first case. He wrestled for a moment about how much to say, but decided he had to address the elephant in the room. "I understand that things didn't end well for you and Doctor Brennan." He looked up and saw the scowl starting on Booth's face and held up his hands. "It's absolutely none of my business. But I wanted to let you know about some of the changes we decided to make in our work to avoid any issues. Doctor Brennan will be spending more time in the lab and less time in the field. If I need a backup when out questioning witnesses, I will utilize our junior agents. It will be valuable training for them. Doctor Brennan will not be meeting me here, but we will do much of our work together in her office. This means you won't have to be concerned with seeing her in the building. The only ask I have is that you inform me if you decide to visit a crime scene that we are working, because that will allow her to send one of the interns in her place." The scowl on Booth's face had softened and he started to speak. "I don't know what she told you, but…" O'Brien interrupted him. "As I said, it's none of my business. But she made it very clear that the blame for the split was shared equally between the two of you. And that after working so closely together for six years it's painful for you both. I'll help in whatever way I can." Booth nodded. "Good. Protect her O'Brien. Keep her safe." He turned on his heel and strode out of the office.
On his way back to his office, Booth looked at his phone. Another call from Cam. She had called him several times and he just couldn't face returning her call. She was one of his oldest friends and one who had no qualms about calling him out on his shit. Of course he knew why she was calling. He knew he was in the wrong and didn't need to hear it from her too. He got to his office and sat at his desk replaying the conversation with O'Brien. He was shocked that Bones had said anything to him about the breakup because she was usually so reticent around someone she had just met. But she told him that the blame had been equal on both sides? She hadn't done anything. It was all on him. Why would she protect him like that? It didn't take long for the answer to come. 'Because that's who she is. She was protecting my reputation.' But she wasn't wrong about the pain. The pain went both ways. Although it was his actions that caused her so much pain, he felt like the pain had blown back on him tenfold. He was beginning to understand her edict that she never wanted to set eyes on him again. Although hearing her say it felt like a knife going through him, he had to admit it was probably for the best. Seeing her, even at a distance, would be too painful. If only he could as easily wipe her from his mind.