A/N - Felt like a little bit of angst, this one came into my head on a whim. I am working on another chapter to 'shackles', I just needed to get this one out - although it looks like it might be a multiple chapter. Thanks to Stef and Marie for looking this over for me 3

Hope you enjoy this. Let me know what you think - I can handle good and bad :)

I don't own Bones, just love them!

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She just didn't understand why people felt the need to wake up with a hangover after a long night of drinking and partying on New Years Eve. She could think of much better ways to spend bringing in a new year.

Like working.

Looking at the clock she realized the Jeffersonian would officially be closed for the weekend in an hour.

She looked around at the others in the lab, watching them all fast track their work to ensure they were out of the Jeffersonian in time to attend their New Years Eve parties.

No distracting music was coming from Angela's Office; it was silent, save for the clicking on the keyboard.

Shouts between Hodgins and Wendell over 'King of the Lab', had not been heard all day. Both had their heads in their work, though she did notice the odd look pass between them. She dismissed it – it wasn't pertinent.

Walking back to her Office she glanced in at Cam, entering results into her computer, not arguing on the telephone with Michelle over her latest teenage rebellion.

Stopping just inside her office door, she glanced at the pig ornament on her desk. She hadn't seen Booth in over a week. It was very unusual for him. He had rang and told her he was working on a special case and would call her when it was over.

Although she knew that feelings and emotions were ephemeral, deep down she really wanted to hear his voice. To assure herself that he was okay.

Shaking off the irrational thoughts, she sat down at her desk and, turning so the pig was not in her peripheral vision, set about typing up her notes for court next week.

"Bye Dr B…. Bye Dr. Brennan…. Bye Dr Brennan…." came the various shouts a while later. She raised her arm subconsciously, her mind engrossed on getting her work done.

She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up she saw Angela's face and sighed. Here it comes, she thought, the whole 'you can't work, come party with me' lecture.

She froze - speechless - as Angela leaned over, gave her a hug, then walked out the door with a "See you later, Sweetie." Shaking her head, she went back to her computer.

Hitting the delete button on her keyboard, she jumped again when a hand was placed on her shoulder.

"Ange--- " she froze mid-sentence when it was not Ange's face looking at her.

"Booth!"

She swept her eyes over his face, taking in the cut on the left cheek, the faint tissue bruising still evident on his cheek - fairly minor compared to the normal injuries they get.

Booth reached down and lifted his Bones up and brought her to him in a crushing hug.

"Booth…Hey!" Brennan could hardly breathe, but she didn't want Booth to let go. While he couldn't see her face, she closed her eyes. Breathing in deeply she felt herself relax – only realizing how tense she had been since he left.

Not liking the path of her thoughts, she abruptly pulled back from Booth. She stood there watching him, hoping he hadn't noticed her pre-occupation.

"Well Bones, time to go!" Booth declared, rounding her desk to walk over and pick up her bag and coat from the coffee table on the other side of her office.

Brennan shook her head as if to shake some of her thoughts away, "Go? Where are we going? Have we got a case already? Haven't you just got back?"

Booth helped Bones into her coat as she fired question after question at him. He shook his head in amusement. God he had missed her. "Bones, there is no case and I am not telling you any more. It's a surprise."

"Booth, you know I hate surprises," Brennan said, trying to maintain an annoyed demeanor, but failed, judging by Booth's grin. "Booth, I can't go. I am working on this paperwork and then I have to identify bones in Limbo."

Booth gently herded her out of her office and along the lab floor, "The bones can wait. It's New Years Eve Bones. I thought we would go somewhere and celebrate."

"Partaking in a ritual of drinking and kissing strangers at a certain time, does not endear me to celebrate." Brennan whirled on him, stalking back towards her office, "And furthermore, this is the perfect time to work." She stopped and looked at him. "It's quiet."

Booth slid in front of her and held her shoulders, "Bones. Please. I haven't seen you for 10 days. I would like to go and have a drink with you before someone rings with a case."

Brennan looked at Booth's face and found her resolve fading. Would it really hurt her to spend some time with Booth? She could forget all about the New Years Eve celebrations and just concentrate on it being a drink with her partner.

"Fine, Booth." She said whirling about again and taking off towards the sliding doors quicker than Booth could keep up. "But I am not kissing total strangers."

******************

"Well, Bones. Are you glad you came now?" Booth said, tapping the neck of his beer bottle to her wine glass. The lights were making her face glow and her eyes sparkle. It had a very heady effect, no alcohol needed.

Brennan looked around for the second time that day. It was so different to her earlier perusal.

Hodgins was paying for yet another round of drinks - having been beaten at Billiards again – Wendell crowing happily at their table. Remembering the looks earlier in the lab, she determined that they were to do with this game.

On the phone, yet again, was Cam. Booth had said this was a normal part of parenting a teenager – the constant worry and phone calls about where they are and what they are doing. She thought Cam was a very good parent – she did care for Michelle.

A smile came over her face watching Ange. She admired the two men – very good musculatory frame she noticed – that were listening to her. Sometimes she wished she were more like Ange. Outgoing, funny, likeable. Then she remembered that she had another best friend who liked her for her, faults and all.

The surprising part of the evening had been walking into the Founding Fathers establishment to find all of her 'family' there waiting for her. She had thought they were all eager to get to their parties, when in fact; they had been hurrying to get there before Booth showed up with her.

She turned back to Booth, who she found, had been watching her perusal.

"Bones, I'm sorry your dad and Russ couldn't be here." He had tried his hardest to make that happen for her.

"It's fine Booth, I had Dad for Christmas. It's Russ, Amy and the girls' turn for New Years." She was a little bit glad that her Dad had no more cause to introduce her to another one of her cousins. Margaret was better, after she informed her that Benjamin Franklin quotes were not considered conversation. They had a rather pleasant day with her the day before she went back to Minnesota.

Booth looked at his watch, "Well, Bones, almost 8pm. Not long now." He rubbed his hands together feeling like a kid at Christmas. He couldn't wait until 12o'clock. He would be able to give Bones a kiss and not have to have a reason beyond that of New Years.

She didn't need to know that he loved her. Totally. Unconditionally.

BANG!

Booth drew his gun, spinning around in the direction of the sound. At the same time he moved his body so as to shield Bones. His mind registered another shot before he saw the gunman.

He felt Bones fall to the ground behind him, her hand wrapping around his leg. Booth fired twice, adrenaline and anger propelling the bullet, hopefully, into the gunman's chest.

Booth stepped forward towards the gunman and then all went black.........