Okay, sorry about the delay I had this typed up but then decided I didn't like it and started all over again. I'm much happier with it now.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I really appreciate you taking the time to do so. And thanks for the numerous story adds and alerts, I'm glad you guys are enjoying this!

So here is the second part, let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: Neither the characters nor the dialogue is mine.

Brennan took a deep breath as she parked her car. This wasn't going to be easy, he had done nothing to make her believe that she would be received any differently this time. In fact everything pointed to another disappointment. He was always talking about his 'eventually' and telling her she just had to be ready for 'it'. Her favorite was when after the Busted by Bill case he told her she just had to be open enough to see it.

Hadn't see been open enough? Hadn't see shared more with this man, given him more, allowed him to take more than any other person in her life ever? Despite the illogic of it, she had felt the urge to grab him and shake some sense into him. To scream and shout until he understood that she wasn't looking anymore, that she had been ready, that she couldn't be more open until he reciprocated. That she was just waiting for him.

They had been standing in the shadow of a lie for so long now. Wasn't he tired? She knew he felt it, she knew he fought it. They were both aware, but they had decided wordlessly early on that they would be just partners. He had put that line in place because he could see that she was tired of fighting, two years ago. But he hadn't been ready, he wouldn't tell her of a line he'd drawn for himself. He had drawn it for her because he felt a need for it. There wouldn't need to be a line if he believed neither one wanted to cross it. He had drawn it because he'd seen her coming over, and he hadn't been ready. So she agreed to the kindness of the lie. Just Partners. They would fight the pull they both felt. But Brennan was tired. She knew she could continue to fight the pull. To hide behind a lie instead of facing the truth of what they were. She was strong, they both were. They could fight indefinably, but why should they?

Sweets' words tonight had pushed her here, outside Booth's door. She had told the truth to Sweets to protect him. Shouldn't she tell the truth to Booth? Shouldn't they be honest?

Their murderer Rossi hadn't confessed to Booth. He had looked right at her He'd confessed to her, something in him had recognized a piece of her, and allowed him to connect. Could he see that she to was just waiting to be given a chance? He'd looked right at her when he had said that he was just what the victim had asked for, and something had begun to click in her mind. But she didn't have time to explore it because of her run in with Daisy and Sweets. Sweets' words had given her the push she needed, by helping her see the truth behind her actions.

Brennan was more like her father than she knew. She needed to give Booth the choice. See whether or not he still wanted to be protected by the lie. Maybe he had moved pass it; maybe he wanted to escape to the truth of what they were.

You thought that before, Brennan reminded herself. She had believed that he was ready to live the truth of them, all those little moments in the last year of their partnership before Gormogon had made her believe that he was finally ready. They way he had told her about making love, they way he had he described a family to her after they had given Andy a new home. They way he had met her challenge on the stand during her fathers trail, having recalled the way he had challenged her once their first year working together. He hadn't flinched. With all the talk of them being the center, how could she think otherwise? The center, after all, implied a circle, a unit of sorts, not an unending line. She should have remembered that line would continue on infinitively unless declared points of desistance. He had not declared any desistance, and until he did the line would continue. He hadn't been ready. 'Eventually' couldn't be marked on a line.

Recalling this, Brennan froze for a moment on her doorstep. Was she ready for this? Was she brave enough to try? Rossi's words came back to her again. I was everything she asked for. Was that it? Did she simply need to ask for Booth? Perhaps he was ready now and unable to call a quit to the line because she was still allowing him the kindness of the lie. Maybe she simply needed to be honest about what she wanted. She had never actually told him what she was looking for, how could he know that it was him. Maybe he was just as eager for the truth as she was.

What evidence do you have for that? Brennan tempered down the taunting voice in her mind. Maybe had never been an acceptable answer. She had never allowed a maybe to move her to a decision. But for Booth, for a chance, just a chance, for them, it had to be enough.

Gathering her courage Brennan reached out her handed and knocked.

"Booth, its me Bones." Too late to turn away now.

'Hi!" Booth greeted her, opening the door for her to come in. She took in his clean attire, and felt a wave of fear crash over her. He was obviously planning on going out somewhere, unburdened by thoughts of 'maybe.'

"I should have called." Brennan said stalling.

"No, come on in. Are you kiddin' me?" Booth said, gesturing her inside.

Brennan charged in, afraid that if she waited she would just turn and run. But where should she begin? He would need a reason for her presence. She supposed it would be best to inform him of her meeting with Sweets.

"I saw Sweets and Daisy, and I was wrong. She wasn't cheating on him." Brennan explained making her way into his living room, trying to prepare herself.

"Well that's a good thing right?" He asked following behind her.

'Well, I wanted to spare him pain, but all I did was cause it." Brennan sat down on his sofa, taking him in again. He was looking at her with that expression he got, the one that made her want to lose herself in the brown warmth of them. The thought made gave her an idea. She just had to be brave enough to say the words out loud, she could confess this to him. She could confess everything to him, and still allow him the choice. She could tell him what she wanted, and leave it to him whether or not he was ready to accept that she wanted it from him.

"You meant well." He said, standing in front of her, watching her, staring at her.

"I made him so jealous I almost ruined their relationship. I should have listened to you." I will listen to you, Brennan promised silently waiting for him top respond.

"Maybe next time you will."

Brennan sighed accepting that. She didn't agree that she shouldn't have told Sweets, but she should have listened when Booth had said they were dealing with a lot of emotions in that situation, and she now saw that she should have given Sweets the opportunity to decide whether or not he wanted to be protected. She knew know to give Booth that chance. Sighing heavily Brennan knew she needed to say what she came to say, more fear pooled through her, she might just need some help getting through this.

"Hey, I was just going to go out, grab a bite to eat, maybe some Chinese, maybe some-."

Brennan cut him off, pushing herself into action. "I'd rather drink. Do you want one?" Brennan grabbed a cup before he replied, ignoring his mumbling about his good scotch. She gave him a cup, and clutched the bottle to her afraid to let go, afraid to take a drink, fearing it would give her time to change her mind. She sat down. How to start? What had she just been talking about? Sweets' jealousy. That could work.

"Intellectually I know that jealousy is absurd. But I see that its real for people." Brennan said trying to make her voice stay calm, watching Booth absorb her words. Unable to look at him for the next part, she looked down. "I even experience it myself."

Silence hung as she said this. She braved a glance at Booth, who was making his way towards her. She wondered if maybe really was enough, and determined it had to be as he sat next to her.

"So, what are you jealous of?" He asked.

"Angela." She was brave enough not only to admit her emotions and needs but also to live in and through them.

"Hodgins." He had been willing to take the risk. He had embraced both the truth of science and the truth of his feelings. It had failed, he had fallen, but he was on his feet again. Willing to try again.

"Cam." She was another who had found the balance between science and emotion. She had been brave enough to walk away from a relationship that left her hurting, and instead of closing herself off, she had put herself back out there in hope.

Before she could change her mind she met his gaze. "You." She was jealous of his easy belief in true love everlasting, but he wasn't like the rest. He was like her. They were the same. They were both hiding together. Now she was ready to come out of hiding, she needed to know if he would come with her. If he would accept her coming admission for what it was.

"Why?" He asked as their gazes meet, and she took courage from the feeling his eyes evoked earlier.

"Because you all want to loose yourself in another person." Brennan met his gaze and glanced away, knowing she needed to finish, unable to get lost in him just yet. She needed him to choose first, and for him to choose he needed to know he was exactly what she wanted.

"You believe that love is transcendent and eternal." Brennan looked straight at him this time, and didn't let her gaze shy away. He needed to see she meant her next words. That she was ready for accept the ideas and beliefs he held, if he accepted her, and helped her understand them along the way.

With a deep breath, Brennan prepared herself. It was his choice and she would listen to him, to his choice, whether it brought her happiness or pain. Knowing that regardless of what he chose she would remain by him, stepping into the truth, or sinking back into the lie.

"I want to believe that too." Everything within her stilled her thoughts, her breath, even her heart skipped, waiting, hoping.

"Hey," Booth said, moving towards her, and Brennan felt everything wind tighter within her. "You will. I promise."

Everything came undone. Releasing her breath, she closed her eyes, wanting to hide the disappointment, and loss she felt. He wasn't ready. He was still hiding.

"Someday, you will."

Brennan opened her eyes, and let out half a sigh and half a dark scorn at herself. She should have known better. He was still promising "someday" to her. Unwilling, or unable, to accept that she wanted today, she wanted now with him. That he was the only one she wanted to believe in transcendent and eternal love with.

"Someday." He promised again, and raised his glass to her.

She tried to laugh to smile, sounded more to her like she was choking on the release of all the hope that had built up.

Brennan raised her bottle to his, resigning herself to the shadows as he continued to promise. There was no comfort in his words; they only brought to her the painful realization that there was no more kindness in their lie.