Disclaimer: I don't own Bones. I put it on my Christmas list, but it wouldn't fit in my stocking.

A Soldier from the Past

Chapter One:

Booth trotted up the steps of the platform of the Jeffersonian to look for his partner. They were supposed to go for lunch today, a weekly dining out between friends/colleagues. He looked around for her. She wasn't standing around any bones, which was strange to him. Booth jogged over to her office and was puzzled to not find her there.

He spotted Zach Addy scrambling across the platform. "Zach, where's Bones." Booth asked him. His stomach was rumbling.

"At the Angelator." He replied, going back to what he needed to do.

"Thanks Zach."

Booth wondered over to the room. It was dark, which meant that Angela must have a reconstruction to show Brennan. He walked into the room. "Hey Bones. Hey Ange." He looked up at the screen to see what it was they were working on this time.

'Hi Booth. We will be done in one minute. Angela is helping me identify some remains the government sent me from Iraq." She informed him.

He paused looking at the man on the screen. Brennan heard him take a deep breath. Booth was getting dizzy, he couldn't breathe. The horror of war came flooding back to him. Panic over took his body, he had to get out of there and quick. His legs refused to move though.

She flipped on the lights. She ran over to her partner. "Angela, shut it off. Booth breathe!" Her eyes connected with his. "Booth!"

He took a deep breath, in, and exhaled deeply. His feet began to ache, his shoulders began to ache. He was back in the damn country and nothing right now was getting him out of his nightmare. Booth took off sprinting out of the lab, uncertain of what to do now. He was vaguely aware of his partner's voice behind him. The concern was evident in her voice, he just couldn't face it right now.

Brennan watched helplessly as she watched him regression into another time, another place. She wished she could help him, but nothing she could do would stop him from reliving the horrors that he had been through. She watched as he sprinted out of the lab.

"What was that all about?" Angela wondered aloud.

"Tell Cam I'm taking the rest of the day off." Brennan requested. She needed to figure out a way to help him. She grabbed her jacket and took off toward the door, intending on going after him.

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Brennan pulled up several hours later, not finding him at any of their usual spots. The rain had started coming down in buckets. She hoped he wouldn't have stayed out in the pouring rain. She let herself in and started making herself a cup of tea. Brennan jumped into the shower, trying to warm herself up after the cold December rain had chilled her to the bone.

She pulled a blanket out of the closet and immersed herself into watching the history channel. Nothing could seem to hold her attention, so she walked over to the window with her cell phone. She decided it was time to call him, hoping he would be okay.

She got his voicemail. "Booth, it's me. Call me as soon as you get this." She requested. She threw her cell phone back onto the couch grabbing her tea. The rain fell steadily now. God, she hoped he was okay.

She leaned into her couch, and was getting ready to let worry and sleep consume her when she heard a knock on her door.

"Bones." His voice was almost a whisper.

She opened the door letting him quickly. She noted he was soaked. "Booth you haven't been out in this weather this entire time have you?"

He nodded mutely. He seemed so lost. "Booth come back to me." She grabbed him and engulfed him in a hug, not caring she was getting her dry clothes wet.

"I need you Bones." Booth seemed to croak out. His eyes sought hers. "Please don't leave me."

This wasn't the Booth she knew. She searched his eyes for his strength, but found someone full of fear. "Come on Booth. Let's get you into some of your spare sweats you left here last week after our workout. I don't want you catching a cold."

She took his hand, leading him down the hallway and into her room. She pulled out his spare sweats and tossed them on the bed. "I'll get out of here so you can use the shower." He whispered a thanks to her and quickly stripped himself of his wet garments to hopefully wash away his past, his sins, in the saving grace of his partner's shower.

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Brennan waited in the living room for, pacing with her cup of tea in one hand, sipping occasionally from it. Something had her partner distraught, and it had to do with the remains that were brought in today. She sighed, knowing that Booth was going to have to face his inner demons, hoping that he would find the strength to let her help him.

Booth walked out of her room, feeling refreshed, but the nightmares were still plaguing his mine. He just wanted it to go away. He still heard the voices in his head, the screaming, the shouting, the anguish.

He needed to tell her. He needed to confide in someone who would just listen, who would just love him. He had attempted to talk with his father about the horrors of war, hoping he would understand . . . but that attempt was futile. His brother, the golden child, just regarded him as a screw up. He searched the room for the one person who would understand him.

Brennan was standing next to the window, staring out at the lights of DC. She saw his reflection in the window. Putting down her cup she walked over to him, and wrapped him up in her arms.

She didn't know what to do for him other than to be there for him. "Bones." His voice was barely a whisper. "I need you."

He tilted her chin up and searched her eyes for permission. His mouth found hers and she granted access. Booth had thought of this moment for about a year and a half now, when he realized his feelings for her, he just never realized how much he needed her. He drank her in hungrily, needing to savor this moment. They broke for air, and he wordlessly led her to her bedroom where she was going to chase away his nightmares.

AN: I know - yet again - another idea that was plaguing me last night, and I am now running off of two hours of sleep. Let me know what you think. Please review.