Chapter 3

Sometime in the future; after 2018 (Prompted by Season 4 Episode 24 The Beaver in the Otter)

Brennan and Booth had spent the last two hours watching The Darkest Hour, seated comfortably side by side, propped up in bed on numerous pillows, her head on his shoulder. Their children were out for the evening, and the couple had stopped at Founding Fathers' for a celebratory departure drink with Wendell, newly promoted to Director of the Chicago Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory.

As the credits began to roll, Booth mused, "Churchill was one of Pops' heroes. He always told me he wasn't sure the Allies would've won the war if it hadn't been for Winston's sheer force of will and bull-headed determination."

"He was certainly an impressive and influential figure in history," Brennan agreed. "I never really knew the details of his life, although Max once said he thought the man's greatest strengths was his absolute honesty with himself and others, willingness to face difficult truths, never downplaying the dangerous risks Britain faced in taking on Hitler, rather than negotiating with Germany as Halifax and Chamberlain advocated.

"I read that Churchill's decision ordering Brigadier Claude Nicholson's 30th Brigade to continue their attack at Calais without surrender made him physically ill," Booth told his wife.

She stared at him, aghast. "I'm sure it did. That was tantamount to a suicide mission."

"Indeed it was," Booth agreed. "Those men knew there would be no evacuation for them, and they were subsequently taken prisoner by the Germans. Their valor kept the port of Dunkirk open. But by 1943, Nicholson became so depressed as a POW that he jumped from a window, and died from a skull fracture."

"Facing the dire consequences for men he ordered into battle must have taken a toll on Churchill, just as some of your sniper missions did, Booth," Brennan said softly, reaching over to massage his shoulders. "But he was honest with himself and the British people."

Her husband heaved a great sigh. "I know exactly how he felt. I used to drive poor Aldo Clemens crazy trying to reconcile my actions with my conscience."

Neither spoke for a while, each lost in their own thoughts, but Brennan continued to rub Booth's tensed neck muscles. Suddenly she grinned to herself, remembering another evening at the Founding Fathers. Perhaps, she mused, it would raise Booth's spirits to recall the incident.

"Do you remember the night you met Jared at the Founding Fathers before his trip to India? And we shared drinks together after you saw him off?"

"You told me you'd never been bad, and you didn't want your frontal lobe to be a dried-up raisin," he replied, smiling slightly. "So I convinced you right then and there to be bad; to dine and dash."

"I guess I should be honest with you, Booth, after all this time. I know what you really did," she confessed, kissing his cheek.

"I met Angela there two nights later, and arrived before she did. Sam confided that he'd overheard our conversation, pouring another round for the couple next to us. He thought you were so clever convincing me to be 'bad' while leaving money on the bar without my noticing. 'God, go, go, go! No! No! Go, go!' you said, pushing me out the door in front of you!"

"Sam was so impressed that you didn't stiff him in spite of pranking me; said you were one of the most honest patrons he had."

She gazed lovingly into his warm brown eyes. "I wish I'd kissed you that night, Booth! I should have; been spontaneous like you were. I nearly did; give you a peck, wish I had."

"Well. Bones, I guess you have a debt to pay, huh?" he chuckled. "You've cheered me up a little, but I could use more help here, don't cha thin-?"

His statement was cut short as she kissed him soundly. "Enough talking, Booth. Hit the lights and the remote, and I'll help you all night!"

"Every hour you continue to exist is of the greatest help to the BEF. Government has therefore decided that you must continue to fight. Have greatest possible admiration for your splendid stand. Evacuation will not (repeat not) take place, and craft required for above purpose are to return to Dover."[4] Churchill later wrote that he felt physically sick after sending the telegram.[5]

On 26 May, the German barrage continued and in the afternoon, the Germans broke through, taking Nicholson and many soldiers prisoner.

Nicholson was given command of 30th Infantry Brigade, which was created on 20 April 1940 to serve in Norway.[4]

Nicholson's brigade left Dover and reached Calais on 23 May 1940 to keep the Calais port ope

Nicholson died in captivity in the German city of Rotenburg an der Fulda where he was kept as a POW. According to his death certificate, he threw himself out of a window after suffering from depression, suffering a skull fracture. He was taken to the city hospital, where he died in the early morning hours of 26 June and was buried at Rotenburg Civil Cemetery.

Churchill orders Brigadier Claude Nicholson in Calais to lead the 30th Infantry Brigade in a suicide attack to distract the enemy while the soldiers at Dunkirk evacuate.