He Shouldn't Have Done That

By: Lesera128

Rated: M

Disclaimer: I own nothing... Obviously. Just playing in someone else's sandbox for a bit.

Summary: Brennan ends her partnership with Booth after she considers his confession to Hannah about the truth of her feelings for him the ultimate betrayal. AU.

A/N: FYI…. this story is in no way related to any of my other Bones stories and nor will it ever… it stands all by its little lonesome…. Please consider it canon through Season 6's "the Body in the Bag"… but for one, teeny tiny detail that will become apparent soon. Also, this story assumes that less than a month takes place between that episode and "The Doctor in the Photo." As is usually the case with my writing for those unfamiliar with it, the story will be driving off into solid AU territory from that point forward. Also, just as a note… I tend to have a very soft spot for a non-Brennan romantic interest Sully and a non-Booth romantic interest Payton Perotta as supporting characters in my writing… and, Hacker amuses less than annoys me (again in his non-Brennan romantic interest persona) so yeah… I think it's only fair for people to be warned. As ever, annoying flames will be fed to my pet dragon. A good piece of advice... if you don't like the story (be it premise, writing style, plot, characterization, or INSERT RANDOM GRIPE HERE), stop reading, and hit the back button. It's that simple. :)~

Prologue – He Told Her

I can't take this… I can't believe he did that… I can't take this anymore… I can't do this anymore… and, I shouldn't have to….

I wanted to like Hannah Burley… I really, really did. She seems to be an independent, intelligent, high spirited young woman who has goals and works to actualize those goals. But… I… I can't do this anymore. I can't lie anymore. She's not someone, if I had any other connection to her than through *him*… I… wow… I can't even say his name anymore. Wow…. Anyway… as I was musing… if she were any other person, I would be lying if I said I would have naturally sought out an opportunity to cultivate any type of sustained interaction with her… because I wouldn't. Frankly… she's just… not interesting… or… useful enough for me to take the time that such an interaction would merit on my part. I… my time is just too important, so I never would have... but for him.

For him? I tried... I really, really did want to like her… and I really, really did want to try… for his sake… and I did… I did *try*.

He knows me… at least, I thought he did… and he knows how I define betrayal. How could… how could he have done this… knowing that? But, he did… she told me… and… and… I can't accept that.

He betrayed me.

For her.

He told her.

"I found out about you and Seeley, your talk… about how you feel."

"Booth told you?"

A reluctant nod.

"He shouldn't have done that."

"He had to… we're a couple."

And there it was… he told her… He betrayed me. He told her… he told her something I told him in confidence… something… something he didn't have to tell her… a woman he's only been living with for a few months… he told her… and he betrayed me. I asked him… that one night… I asked him 'will you betray me?' And, he said, 'no'… and a fool… that's what I was, a fool. I was a fool to believe him.

I won't make that mistake again.

Dr. Temperance Brennan left the Washington Mall, and the bench to which she had drifted in shock, and finally stood up. Anger and purpose lengthening her stride, she tightly clutched her purple jacket to her sides and didn't concentrate on anything but her goal. Her one goal, her singular goal of finally turning her world back from where it had hung upside down for over a week, now seemed to be clear her. Finally… *finally*, she would take back the control she had lost… and, in so doing, make her mistakes go away.

Brennan was on autopilot as she proceeded to the Hoover Building, went through security, secured her visitor's badge, rode the elevator up to the ever-familiar floor, and stepped out. Gritting her teeth, she put one foot in front of the other, forcing herself to move… to stop pretending, and do what she needed to do to end this… and make certain that her mistake, a mistake made in a moment of extreme weakness, could never ever be used against her again.

Approaching the office, Brennan saw he was in… and she knocked once… and he looked up, and obviously surprised, gestured to her.

"Heya, Bones. What's up?"

"I find that I need to speak with you about a matter of a professional nature. It will only require a few moments of your time."

"Okay-" he gestured to the door. She shut it. He leaned back in his chair, absentmindedly taking the football from where it sat and casually tossing it back and forth from one hand to the other.

"What's on your mind, Bones?"

"I have come here to formally request that you please find another FBI agent who can serve as the liaison to the Jeffersonian… unless you would prefer to continue to work with the Medico-Legal Lab yourself, in which case, it's with the clear understanding that I will not remain involved if such an occurrence transpires," Brennan said.

He stopped moving the football back and forth and stared at her slack-jawed.

Annoyed by his sudden and uncharacteristic silence, she said, "Can I please have your decision?"

Her sharp tone cutting through his shell shock, he sat up on the edge of his chair and said, "Whoa, wait a minute, Bones. What the hell? Where's this coming from?"

Brennan bit her lip. "I prefer not to discuss it since that would then negate the professional nature of this discussion which I have endeavored to maintain."

"You're serious," he said at last, comprehension dawning.

"Yes, very," Brennan said.

He looked crestfallen and glanced away. At last, his head shot back up and he said, "After six years… the least you owe me is a reason why."

"As I said, I prefer not to discuss that because it would introduce topics of a personal nature into this discussion, and I have no intention of doing that at the present time."

"Personal?" he said, ire rising in his voice. "Tell me why," he again demanded.

Her head again turned in his direction, and he realized how long it had been since he had seen her look at him like that. Cold… so cold. She nodded once and said tersely, "Very well… since you insist. You betrayed me. You promised me you never would, and you did. I can't trust you. And, since I can't trust you, I can't work with you… hence my request."

Bewildered, he said, "How did I betray you?"

"You told your girlfriend about something that was intimately private about me, because, I'm guessing the stereotypical member of the Catholic religion you are, you were unable to deal with the guilt you've felt since we had the conversation in your SUV on the night I foolishly allowed you to give me a ride home from Woodland," Brennan said bitterly.

"That's what this is about?"

"Yes."

"You honestly think that just because I told Hannah about that conversation… you think I betrayed you?"

"Yes… I do. And, it's clear to me now, as I said, I can't trust you… personally… or professionally."

"Bones—"

"Please don't," she interrupted. "Please don't call me that. It belies an affinity which is neither appropriate nor, in truth, real. I would prefer it if you would refer to me when speaking by my proper title and last name."

"You want me to call you 'Dr. Brennan'?" he asked.

She nodded. "That would be acceptable, yes… and preferable… and appropriate."

"You're serious," he repeated again.

"Yes, I am," she repeated. "I would not attempt to make light of this situation. Now, can I have your answer please?"

"Those… those are my only two choices? Either I find you a new FBI guy and you keep working at the lab with him… or I keep working with the lab… but you won't?" he asked.

"Yes," she nodded. "Those are your only two choices. Now, I really must insist that you give me your answer."

He looked up at her, something shining in his eyes that she didn't recognize for what it was, and said, "You realize… if you do this… if you make me do this… there's no going back… and everything… *everything* that we've been through… it will have been for nothing… no reason… no purpose. Do you understand that?"

"Yes," she said again, a bit more softly.

"And knowing that," he said, "Knowing *all* that… you still want to do this?"

"I have to… I… I made a mistake…."

"You told me what you felt you needed to tell me that night, Bones…."

Ignoring the use of the nickname she had asked him to stop calling her, Brennan said simply, "I'm not talking about that… that wasn't a mistake…."

"Then what?"

"Us," she repeated softly. "Us… it… it was a mistake… from the very beginning. I never should have trusted you… that was my mistake… and I'm going to do what I have to do to correct it… and make certain it never, *ever* happens again."

He was silent for a long time, but at last, he looked up at her and said, "You don't mean that."

"Yes," she nodded. "I really do."

Taking a quick in take of breath, he said, "It may take a bit of time… especially since we're in the middle of the case… but, yeah, fine. If that's what you want…."

"It is… and, until you can manage to make other arrangements, I will be limiting my presence in any circumstances that may potentially cause me to run in to you. I hope you understand… from this point on… the next time I see you, the next time it happens… you'll be a stranger to me. I won't acknowledge you, I won't talk to you… I won't have any reaction to you whatsoever. After this conversation, when I walk out this door… we're done. It will be as if you never existed in my life. Do you understand?" Brennan asked, her voice changing a bit as she asked her final question.

He looked up at her, anger burning in his eyes as he said, "That's not fair… that's not fair, and you know it. After what I was willing to do for you… put up with for you… that's not fair."

"Maybe not," she conceded. "But, that's how it's going to be... how it *has* to be."

"All because I told Hannah about how you said you feel about me?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes," Brennan nodded. "You once said what's between us is ours… and, if you're telling her that… new romantic relationship or not… it proves what you've said… everything you've ever said was a lie… and that you betrayed my confidence… and that you can't be trusted."

"You don't mean that," he whispered.

"Yes," Brennan repeated, "I do… I'm done being this person I don't even know anymore. You once said I didn't have a soul. It's true… and it's time I stopped forgetting that."

"Bones—"

"Please don't," she stopped and turned to go. Her hand on the office door handle, Brennan didn't leave, giving him a fleeting shred of hope. However, his hopes were viciously dashed when she called over her shoulder without turning around, "I lied when I said it would remain a discussion about professional matters only. I find I must impose on you in a personal way one final time. Your girlfriend is under the false impression that we will be meeting at the Founding Fathers tonight for happy hour drinks. I would consider it one final act in memory of our former partnership if you would please contact her and let her know such an assumption is erroneous… I will never talk to that woman again… or you."

And with that, she opened the door and walked out.

I left the Hoover, and after that, I went home. I couldn't go back to the lab… I couldn't be around Angela… Hodgins… Cam… everyone looking at me quizzically… asking questions. I was so tired… twenty minutes, and I felt like I had been beaten to a bloody pulp going twelve consecutive rounds in a boxing match without a break. But, I did what I needed to do… it was done… the first step is always the hardest. I… it's done… and… and I am so tired. Sleep… I'll just sleep a bit… and then… tomorrow… starting tomorrow, it gets easier from this point forward.

-TBC-