Hi guys, i know i have already posted this before but I'm trying to rework it, maybe flesh it out a little bit. Also I'm hoping by re-posting to get some inspiration to complete this story as i have really enjoyed writing it so far and i want to see what happens myself. I am still pretty new to writing and have only wrote a few stories so i hope this is a good enough standard! So any suggestions ideas as i go along are welcome just give me a PM or something! Oh and don't worry for those of you who haven't read what i had so far before the chapters do get longer i promise! So if you enjoy the story please let me know what you think i would love to know. Oh and a warning this does become M-rated after the next couple of chapters.

I dont own Bones or any of the actors! Enjoy x

Often life can take many cruel twists and turns, perhaps to balance out the cosmic scale of highs and lows in one person's life or simply fate playing it's hand in the complex game of life. No matter the reason for these painful choices to be made, it's not just the one person who suffers the life altering jolt into pain, confusion, anger, and overwhelming fear: that things will never be the same once a life changing decision has been made.

Two paths lay before him; the decision of which path to choose made harder due to a woman who once was just a partner he was forced to work with, one who didn't want nor need his help, who made him so angry that his blood boiled, now a woman who he respected, who took his breath away, challenged him, accepted him and all the dark secrets that were hidden behind brown soulful eyes. Thoughts locked away for fear of being misunderstood, perceived the same as any other killer he struggled everyday to put behind bars. This woman he would, had risked his life for without thought or care to his own well being.

"Squints" who he once believed only belonged in the lab, had no real place in the real world, who had become a group of his closest friends, helped him balance his cosmic balance sheet of over fifty kills, without judgement, just understanding. Co-workers and friends who had been there with him through times of loss and pain, situations that people only ever heard about but were luck enough not to experience, to be brought closer by their need to bring justice.

Then there was Parker… Oh God Parker. A son who was so closely woven into his heart and life that the days not spent with him were days spent wishing they had more time together that life had dealt him a better hand to let him be the father he wanted to be to his grew so fast, months away from his son would feel like years. Would Parker even understand his need to go? How could he begin to explain his reasons for leaving, he was to young to understand the deeply buried obligations to serve his country and protect others from Rebbecca even let him see his son again if he left? Their relations were rocky at best, his job having always been an issue in many of their fights. He simply couldn't imagine a life without his son it.

This is why Seeley Booth sat with his head bowed hands tugging at the short strands of his hair, as if to get a hold of the thoughts and questions whirling like i high forced Gail, destructive and disorientating. As cool tears of despair slid down the slope of his pale, normally tanned cheeks he raised is red rimmed eyes to the ceiling in a silent question. Why him? Why now?

A clock ticked quietly on the mantle the only noise that could be heard in the room cloaked with despair, a crisp letter lay on the coffee table before him, trembling from the biting breeze whirling from a nearby window, perhaps reflecting the tremble in his heart. A decision to stay and abandon his duty to his country and beliefs, honour his duties to himself and the newly self-confessed love of his life or go and risk loosing everything he held dear in his life, breaking two hearts in a singular heartbeat.

Too many questions weighed heavily on his mind; only noticeable to the outside world in the slump of his broad shoulders. Sure of his decision, all that mattered was talking to her; he had always loved her honesty even more so when it wasn't what he needed to hear. If there was one thing he was sure of in that moment of despair was her, his confidant, and friend, his everything.

So with that one clear thought in mind, Seeley Booth abruptly rose from his seat and strode towards the door, letter in one hand and both their hearts resting in the other.

The real question was in the gamble of life and death, what hand would he play.

The irony of a retired gambler…

So that's chapter one, hope you enjoyed it as much as i enjoyed writing it x