"Letting go doesn't mean you don't care about someone anymore. It's just realizing the the only person you have control over is yourself." Deborah Reber Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul

The internet chatter about Homo floresiensis had been fascinating. Brennan had followed several websites for months, trying to learn everything she possibly could about the find. It had been a welcome distraction from all the stress in her life. Dealing with normal murder cases was stressful enough on its own, but the Gravedigger case had exhausted her physically and emotionally. Adding to the strain was the fact that Booth had been dating Catherine Byers off and on. Dr. Byers was beautiful and had evidently entered to a social contract with Booth, especially considering the new dolphin tie he was wearing. Brennan knew she had no right to be jealous, but that didn't keep the emotion from creeping into her mind.

When Brennan read that an expedition was being mounted for research in Maluku, she was wistful. She would love to go, just to get back into field work. It had been a long time since she had participated in a anthropological project that ambitious, and she felt a little out of practice. She imagined herself out in the field again, but she soon dismissed her fantasies. It wasn't rational, given her current situation, to consider field work. She had an important job and many responsibilities.

However, Brennan couldn't deny that she was envious of Daisy being selected to participate. She considered calling the organizing committee to see if there were any positions available, but she decided against it. She had other interns at the Jeffersonian and her partner to consider. Going on an expedition just wasn't practical at this time.

When Dr. Stevenson called her about the expedition, Brennan was confused. She initially thought she was being consulted for her logistical experience since she had led so many digs in the past. When she realized she was being asked to lead the team in Maluku, Brennan was thrilled. It was a tremendous honor, considering she'd been out of field work for quite some time. However, she began to have second thoughts. So many people would be affected by her decision. Finally, she asked Angela for advice.

"Listen, you're allowed to make changes without picking a fight with your old life", Angela said.

"But I need a change from that life. I'm worried all the time….worried that Booth might get hurt on a case and I couldn't prevent it. Worried….about what our partnership means…."

"So you want to get away from Booth?" Angela was surprised.

"No...it's just...I just need to get some perspective so I can view my life with some objectivity."

Ultimately, Brennan decided she wanted to lead the expedition to Maluku. There was so much to do! She'd have to find the right time to tell Cam she was leaving and offer to find a replacement. She needed to find and order equipment and tools. Conditions would be extreme...primitive housing, tropical weather, and Daisy's inability to stop talking. There were hundreds of things to be done.

Then Brennan remembered….Booth. She needed to talk to Booth.

Booth felt sick when Sweets told him that Bones was going to lead the expedition to the Maluku Islands. She'd be gone for a year. A year! She might as well be gone forever, he thought. Once she spent a year being a field anthropologist again, she'd never want to come back to the Jeffersonian to solve murders with him.

He sat on the bench waiting for her, trying to come up with an argument that would make her stay, but he wasn't having much luck. He'd been lucky she had worked with him as long as she had. When they first started working together she'd often take time off to go to various digs all over the world. She had worked with him solving murders so long he'd almost forgotten that she was, in fact, an anthropologist who had done lots of field work. She loved ancient remains. It was natural that she would want to be a part of the team studying that Homo whatever the hell it was.

The fact that he loved her and wanted her to stay wasn't going to cut it either. She'd made it clear that she wasn't willing to have any sort of romantic relationship with him. They could be partners, nothing more. He'd tried dating….Dr. Byers was pretty and pleasant, but he just couldn't seem to get over Bones. She was always going to be his standard.

Bones didn't need his permission to leave. The only commitment they had to each other was to be partners solving crimes. He didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable because she wanted to accept a position doing something she loved. It was time to let things change. He'd go to Afghanistan to train soldiers for a year. Maybe they'd both come home with a different perspective on their partnership. He hoped so...for his sake, he really hoped so.

Booth sighed. "Sorry...I don't do really good with change, I guess."

"Well, you're better than I am."

"The pyramids are better at change than you are….it's a joke." Booth smiled. "I was being affectionate. Hey, what's a year, anyway…."

"The time it takes the Earth to make a full revolution around the sun…."

"In the grand scheme, it's not too bad…."

"We can come back...pick up where we left off...nothing really has to change…."

"No, things have to change...you taught me about evolution….things have to change…"

Their case was resolved and eventually the moment came for Booth and Brennan to leave for their different corners of the world. The airport was crowded with thousands of travelers, but they stood and looked at each other as if they were the only two people there on the concourse.

"Bones, you gotta be careful in that Indonesian jungle….."

"Booth, don't be you….don't be a hero…."

"One year from today….the coffee cart on the Mall…."

"I know...one year from today…."

They clasped hands until finally Booth pulled his hand away and they parted. One last look...and then it was time for them to learn to let each other go.