Nothing Happens Unless First A Dream
A/N: Because we all dreamed it.
My take on Season 6 built around the episodes which have aired and will air until I decide to take it completely in my own direction which I will do at some point.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bones nor its characters. All credit goes to those who own/deserve it. I'm sure you will recognise all the dialogue from this chapter as that from the show, I am not plagiarising it I'm borrowing them in homage to the writers and I want my show to weave around that which we watch on TV.
Prologue - Goodbye
Dulles Airport was a feat of modern architecture but it was also cold and gray, even with the light streaming through its hundreds of skylights and its shiny star stickers on the floor it was still not a happy place to be contrary to MasterCard's advertisements, because The Squint Squad were not in the arrivals lounge waiting for loved ones to return - they were sending two of their own away after having already sent another away only a week earlier.
The two were going to a remote island to discover a missing link in humanity whilst the other was shipping off to war.
The Jeffersonian was losing its Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan and one of her interns Ms. Daisy Wick whilst the F.B.I was losing their very own Special Agent Seeley Booth to the United States Army. They would be gone for a year.
Daisy already decked out in her finest adventuring regalia hugged her fiance knowing that when she pulled out of his -wiry but in her eyes strong- arms she would no longer be his fiance.
"Lancelot, do you hate me?" She asked Dr. Sweets.
"No, Daisy. No." He swore truthfully masking his pain and sealing his sincerity with a kiss.
"Do you think you'll wait for me? That would be really romantic." She asked hopefully knowing what he answer would be - she wouldn't wait either if the tables were turned.
"I don't think so." He said regretfully. "I don't think you should wait for me, either."
Daisy nodded and they broke apart. She turned and gathered her belongings dragging herself away from Dr. Sweets.
Only a few feet away from where Daisy waited for Dr. Brennan, her mentor and superior for the dig was in the middle of her own goodbyes.
Dr. Camille Saroyan, Cam, was the first to step up. "I've really enjoyed working for you, Dr. Brennan."
"In fact, Dr. Saroyan, I worked for you." Dr. Brennan, Bones, corrected her employer.
Cam smiled stepping up to offer Bones a brief but heartfelt embrace. "We both know better." Bones reciprocated her employers embrace, who had over the years become more than a bureaucrat or incompetent superior, who had become her friend.
The women pulled apart and Dr. Hodgins stepped up to say his goodbyes in his own way.
"Okay, I made you this chart of all the poisonous reptiles and insects, what they look like, how to avoid them, and what to do if you get stung or bitten, so..."
"Thank you, Dr. Hodgins." Bones showed a surprising but most definitely welcome moment of normalcy when she accepted Dr Hodgins' gift with a friendly, "I love you too."
"Wow." Hodgins breathed out gobsmacked by Bones' declaration.
She shrugged of his awe. "Booth informed me that proffering of overly solicitous advice is indicative of love." She said in her usual professional explanatory way but the brief smile on her face let Hodgins know she appreciated everything he had done and who he was.
They too like she and Cam had gotten off the wrong foot, she thinking he was unpleasant and he that she was patronizing. Even after what they endured when they buried alive for those twelve hours hadn't opened them up to a more than friendly co-worker relationship but Hodgins' gesture and Bones' admission would change that they were sure of it.
"Wow." He repeated stepping back as Angela stepped forward.
"Angela." The way Bones could string together the two syllables of the Angela's name had always amazed her, she would either find herself rebuked, rationalized into submission or moved practically to tears by her honorary sister and that time was no different - the tears welled.
"Hey, Sweetie." Angela's 'Sweetie's' had the same affect on Bones that her own usage of Angela's name had on the artist, they could convey so much, but at that moment it was only saying one thing, 'Goodbye. I love you.'
They hugged holding onto one another tightly.
When it came to Bones' best friend she held her tighter than the rest, grateful for everyday that she had Angela in her life to translate life's subtleties that often passed her by.
They didn't want to let go.
"I hope you find something that just changes the entire notion of what it means to be human." Angela said as they broke apart.
"I will." Bones answered determinedly.
An announcement over the intercom had Daisy sidling up to the group of exceptional people she got to work with on a regular basis, "Dr. Brennan, we really have to go." She said apologetically.
Cam, Hodgins, Angela and Sweets haphazardly surround their colleagues saying one last goodbye with their eyes. Bones smiles back at them all sadly.
"Yes." She said the one word, the only word she could force out meaning, 'Yes I know' and 'Yes I'm coming.' She cleared her throat trying to swallow the lump that had formed there then bent to scoop up her luggage, releasing the handle of her pull along suitcase. As she rolled upright the suitcase falling into position behind her she saw him across the hall.
Booth.
He made it.
She hadn't been expecting... Hoping but not expecting.
She set off across the hall, Ms. Wick's questioning "Dr. Brennan?" and Cam's amazed "Oh, my God!" falling to the wayside.
They met at the foot of the escalators.
He fingered his cap anxiously as she parked her suitcase.
"Sorry. Couldn't get a pass. I had to sneak off the base to come say good-bye." Booth didn't have anything to apologize for nor anything to explain, she hadn't expected him to see her off, he'd been in training on base for a week so his appearance was very much a surprise but one she was glad for. "Listen, Bones, you got to be really careful in that Indonesian jungle, okay?" Concern laced every word and emanated off him in waves.
It was a very touching request albeit an irrelevant one considering the woman he was asking it of - Bones may be a danger magnet but she was also highly skilled in kicking ass to get herself out of trouble.
It was also a very Booth thing for him to say, especially considering the situation he was about to find himself in. The Indonesian Jungle would be a Cakewalk compared to where he was going.
"Booth, in a week, you're going to a war zone. Please don't be a hero." She paused, taking a breath, gathering herself. "Please just... don't be you."
It was a hypocritical thing to say she knew, but if they both agreed to be careful, to not be a hero, then maybe in a year they would both come back to Washington and each other all in one piece.
He took a small step forward closing the distance between them, they were already so close, their boundaries used to the others frequent invasion. They were closer than normal, it was so intense.
Was he going to kiss her, she had to wonder. He dropped his head. Okay, no kiss. She copied his movements. They both watched as his hand enveloped hers in a tight grip
"One year from today we meet at the reflecting pool, on the mall. Right by the..." His words came out steady and resolute. Booth gave her hand an extra squeeze, pinning her in place with his serious gaze.
"...coffee cart. I know. One year from today." She repeated the vow. She was just as serious as he, returning his steady gaze, it was only when he looked to their hands once more that her smile turned watery.
He had to make himself release her hand, hers followed after him until he stepped away. They parted ways, his heart cracking, hers crushing finally breaking with every step they took.
Booth looked back, he couldn't stop himself.
Bones stopped and turned too.
They shared a look, their eyes locking then drifting shut as their mouths pulled into tight lines.
'I love you, Bones. So much.'
Booth turned away first and walked away.
Bones watched him for another moment.
'Booth, I think I love you too.'