Chapter 2: Secrets unearthed in Maluka

Flashback to Maluka, archaeological site.

"Oh Dr Brennan!" an obnoxiously cheery voice echoed throughout the tent sheltering a certain Dr Temperance Brennan from the scorching Maluka sun.

"What is it Miss Wicks?"

"We've found another set of skeletal remains Dr Brennan. Do you want to examine them before we dig them out?"

"No need. I'll leave this one to you. I trust your judgement. I have enough to examine now as it is." To emphasize her point, Dr Brennan motioned with head towards a row of freshly unearthed skeletons waiting to be examined.

"Okey dokey Dr Brennan. You won't be disappointed!"

"Okey whatkey? Miss Wicks? Uh nevermind." Temperance Brennan just shook her head as her eager young associate just skipped out the tent towards the recently discovered skeleton. She looked down at the fleshless face in front of her and wondered pictured Booth doing a "here's looking at you beautiful" remark in his 'Tony' voice. She gave a small laugh and shook her head again.

It had been a month into the archaeological dig in Maluku and the results had been surprisingly fruitful. She had found herself buried in a pile of unearthed remains, waiting for her scrutiny. Oh the irony. Not that she had any problem with it. She had always loved burying herself in her work. A mandible here, a fibula there, an occipital bone here and the odd missing limb there; a weird and gruesome way to pass the day for many but not for her. She always found examining bones exciting as every bone offered a picture of the life the bone's owner must have lived. As an anthropologist, this fascinated her to no end. Yet somehow, amid all of this, something seemed amiss.

She did miss the Jeffersonian but that was to be fully expected. It had become her life after all and the people there her family, including her closest friend, Angela Montenegro. What she couldn't quite lay her finger on was why she kept thinking of Booth. Even as she worked she kept imagining Booth hovering over her as she examined the remains, or cracking one of his nonsensical jokes every now and then. She would remember the cases they worked on and the little incidents in between. She just couldn't deny it. She missed Booth.

Maybe it was totally justifiable. After all, he was her partner for over 2 years now and they had grown quite close. He was part of her 'family' so it was perfectly normal for her to miss him. But then again, why did she miss him so much more than anyone else? She had only thought of Angela, her best friend, once on the trip and yet everyday she couldn't stop thinking about Booth.

Of course, right at this moment, the voice of her said best friend came echoing into her head You're in love with Booth, sweetie. That's why you miss him so much more than anyone else.

No. That can't be right. Temperance Brennan thought to herself. I can't be in love with him. And anyway, love is just a feeling caused by mixed hormones and... why am I even arguing with a voice in my head that doesn't exist. Ugh. Temperance Brennan let out a frustrated growl just as her perky associate returned.

"I'm done examining the bones as best I can until they completely unearth them Dr Brennan. Meanwhile...are you ok? Can I get you some aspirin?"

"No Miss Wick. I'm fine. I just have a lot on my mind, that's all."

"Oh, well I'm not Lance but I've learnt quite a bit from him. Maybe we can have a little girl talk and help you sort your thoughts out?"

At that suggestion, Temperance Brennan responded with a quirked eyebrow. She never trusted psychology and as far as she was concerned, talking to the psychologist's girlfriend is as good as talking to him and that's not something she wanted to do. And yet, without Angela around, Daisy was the only girl she felt remotely comfortable talking to. Maybe...

"Ok Miss Wicks, but no psychology nonsense. I'm sure Dr Sweets has told you of my disdain for his chosen field of interest, no disrespect to him of course."

"No probs Dr B. So what's up?"

Temperance Brennan couldn't shake the feeling that this was a mistake and yet here she was telling Daisy Wicks about her memories and how they had been distracting her. When she was done, she took a large breath as Daisy spoke up.

"You know, not that I'm an expert or anything, but it sounds to me like Lance might be right. You may have feelings for Agent Booth. I'm not talking about platonic feelings. I'm talking about something more than that. What you are feeling now is exactly how I feel about Lance each day here. I keep thinking about him more than anyone else even as I work. I can even picture him chuckling at me every now and then. "

"But you're dating Dr Sweets. I'm not dating Booth."

"Technically you kind of are. From what I have heard from the others at the Jeffersonian, you're always spending time with Agent Booth, letting him drive you home, confiding in him, sharing your most intimate secrets with him. You sometimes go out for a meal or drinks together, have pet names for each other, know each other's favourite things. That's exactly what couples do when they date. The only difference is that you two won't openly admit it."

Temperance Brennan was stunned. She tried to formulate a rational response befitting the comment she just received but she couldn't. She had never thought of what she and Booth always did as dating. Yet they actually did do all the things dating couples do except officially declare themselves a couple. They shared the intimate moments and knew more about each other than anyone else. Even Angela didn't know as much about her as Booth.

"Maybe you should talk to Agent Booth and discuss this with him Dr Brennan?"

"Maybe you're right. Maybe I should do that. Then we can sort this out and I can be at peace. Let's see the time difference should be 4 hours so Booth should just be waking up now. I'll call him."

Temperance Brennan dialled Seeley Booth's number urgently and waited for him to pick up. At a time like this, she was really grateful for international GPS.

"Hello?"

"Booth is that you? This is Temperance. We need to talk."

"Slow down there miss. I'm sorry to inform you that Sergeant Booth is unable to come to the phone right now. He's currently recuperating in a local hospital after a slight mishap. I' sorry but I can't divulge anymore information."

"What? But I'm his partner. Tell me more. I'm well respected in the medical and forensics field. I can help. Please."

"Sorry I can't. Miss?"

Temperance Brennan closed her phone, took a deep breath and turned to Daisy with a look of fear. "Miss Wicks, take over. I'm going to Afghanistan."

What happened to Booth? Will Temperance ever see him again?

Find out next chapter.