Time jump in this chapter, guys. 7 months, so Brennan's about 8 months pregnant and a lot has happened…
TEMPERANCE'S POV:
"Hi, Booth." I greeted him as I walked through to the kitchen
"Hey," he mirrored "what are all these, Bones?"
"They're job offers." I informed him as I leaned over the counter
"All these came while I was out of the house?" he asked
I shook my head… "I've been receiving job offers for years, as have you."
"But you've never been this serious about them," he replied "you've organised them and put post-it's on them. Are you seriously considering one of these?"
I pursed my lips together as I turned from the fridge to face him… "Yeah, I think I am."
"Why?" he questioned
"We've been through so much lately," I replied "don't you think it might be time for a change?"
"Is this because of my gambling?" he inquired "You know how hard I'm working on that, Bones. Or is it because of Hodgins and Angela moving to Paris?"
"It's everything." I informed him "It's you been shot, it's you been in prison. I just think we could do with a change. Don't you think we need a change?"
"Solving murders is what we do, Bones. It's what we're best at." he informed me
"I don't think I want to do it anymore, Booth." I admitted "We have Christine now, and this little guy too. I don't want our children to worry they're going to grow up without parents. Every day we put ourselves in danger when we go out in the field. I want our children to have the security of knowing that we're going to be coming home every night, and I know that can't be guaranteed because anything could happen, but I want to lessen the risk by lessening the risk of our jobs."
"Okay." he replied
"Okay?" I inquired
"Okay, I'll quit the FBI and you quit the Jeffersonian." he informed me
"Really?" I asked
He nodded his head… "I'll hand my notice in this morning when I get to the office."
"Okay." I replied, smiling at him warmly "Thank you, Booth."
SEELEY'S POV:
"Seeley Booth!" Caroline proclaimed as she made her way into my office
"Come on in, Caroline." I replied, exhaling a breath as I lifted my head from my paperwork
"You and that lovely wife of yours are quitting?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow at me
I nodded my head… "It's what Bones wants."
"Cherie…" she sighed "I'm not going to try and change your mind because I know what you're like once you have your mind set on something, but leaving the FBI? You're the best agent they've had in years."
"What are you trying to say, Caroline?" I asked
"Maybe consider staying with the FBI, but not being an agent anymore." she replied "God knows we could do with more agents like you."
"You're suggesting I train agents?" I inquired
She nodded her head… "The FBI could use more agents like you, Cherie. And Quantico are always looking. How many times have they tried to poach you in the past?"
TEMPERANCE'S POV:
"You and Booth are leaving too?" Angela asked as she made her way into my office
I nodded my head… "I'm about to give the board my resignation letter. How did you find out?"
"Caroline called me." she informed me "She's trying to get Booth to stay with the FBI to train agents."
"He'd be good at that…" I replied
"Yeah he would. But what are you going to do, sweetie?" she inquired "You've always told me that being here is your life?"
"It is," I informed her "or at least it was. But I have children to think about now…"
"So go back to just being a forensic anthropologist." she replied "You don't have to go out in the field and work with the FBI anymore if you don't want to."
"I would if I didn't have children, but they're my priority now." I admitted "My mind is made up. I've made my decision, just like you and Hodgins have to move to Paris."
She smiled at me weakly… "Is that what this is all about?"
"Your news did make me think about some things, yeah." I replied
"How do you think the board are going to take it?" she asked
"I don't know." I admitted "But they're not making me change my mind."
"Not making you change your mind about what?" Cam's voice inquired
"My resignation." I informed her "I'm handing in my resignation. Both Booth and I are."
"Wow…" she proclaimed "Are you sure?"
I nodded my head… "Our kids deserve the security of knowing that we're going to come home to them every night, and that risk can be lowered if we quit our high-risk jobs."
"I don't think the board are going to be happy about this…" she admitted
"Probably not," I replied "which is why I've put forward the best possible candidate I can think of for the job."
"But Dr. Hodgins is leaving. He's the best possible candidate, correct?" she asked
I shook my head… "He's brilliant and extremely intelligent, but I think the best possible person to run this lab would be you."
"Me?" she questioned
I nodded my head… "I very much hope they consider you."
"Thank you!" she replied
I nodded my head… "You're welcome. I must go, I'm meeting with them in an hour."
SEELEY'S POV:
"How did the board take the news you're leaving?" I asked Bones as we cleaned up after putting Christine to bed later that evening
"Better than I expected, actually." she replied "They were very understanding of my reasoning."
I smiled at her warmly… "Caroline thinks I should stay on at the FBI training agents."
"Angela said." she informed me "She told me Caroline had called her."
"What do you think?" I questioned
"It's your choice, Booth." she admitted "I know you're not completely okay with leaving, so if training agents will make you happy then it's what you have to do."
I smiled at her warmly… "I can take some time off first though. We could have our baby and be happy, be a family for a while."
"That sounds really good." she replied, reciprocating my warm smile as she spoke "And then?"
"And then I start my new job," I informed her "and you do what you want to do. Work on your books, whatever?"
"Don't you need to apply and be interviewed?" she asked
"Apparently not." I replied "When the news got to Cullen's boss, Cullen came to tell me there's an opening as and when I want it."
She smiled at me warmly… "That's great, Booth. It just goes to show that hard work really does pay off."
I nodded my head in agreement… "So we're agreed? We both take some time off, and then I start my new job and you work on your books?"
She nodded her head… "I guess so. I can't believe we're really doing this, Booth. This morning it was all just a dream."
"No dream anymore, baby." I replied "It's happening."
"Yeah. I'm happy." she informed me
"I am too." I admitted, wrapping my arms around her as I moved closer to her "I am too."
The end! Some of you may think it's too soon, but who knows? I could have a sequel in the works…