Where is Brennan? What is Booth thinking? Can they weather this storm?

These questions are at the forefront of everyone's mind after a shocking Bones Season 7 finale which ended in upheaval and left everything up in the air for the dynamic duo both personally and professionally.

Stars Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz spoke with TV Fanatic at Comic-Con Friday about where their respective characters' heads are at the moment, and both made it clear that a prompt resolution is unlikely.

Asked whether Brennan and Booth will be able to survive this latest obstacle - her fleeing with their daughter and living off the grid in the wake of Pelant's frame job - Deschanel was cautiously optimistic at best.

Will they break up? It certainly could happen ...

Boreanaz, meanwhile, says that anger over Brennan high-tailing it out of down isn't the only thing Booth must come to grips with, as there's also an internal investigation by the FBI and a bad guy to catch.

The former sniper is angry, previews Boreananz, and clearly won’t take kindly to being left behind, even three months later when we resume. It remains to be seen how the couple picks up the pieces:

So will they make it? When we asked executive producer Stephen Nathan about the overarching theme of Season 8, he teased that all relationships would be challenged after the fabric of the show was altered by Pelant.

Whereas last season's watershed moments represented the culmination of the previous six years, the 2012-13 campaign will be a crucial test for Booth, Brennan, Hodgins, Angela and all the squints.

In what he calls the "is love enough" season, Nathan also promised cases that are far more challenging, Pelant's lingering presence, and "body finds" that will make Bones fans put down their food (obviously).

Follow this link for more Bones Season 8 spoilers, hints and clues!

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.