A/N: I wasn't chased with as many pitchforks or tasers as I thought. I guess that is a good thing. I continue to be floored by the response this story is getting and the following that is has. I'm grateful for every person that reads my story. It's amazing. Thank you for spending time reading!
Melissa and Lori, thanks for getting this story ready to be posted. Appreciate it ladies!
Disclaimer: They aren't mine, but of course you knew that already.
ooo
Brennan was tapping her foot anxiously against the floor of the large airplane as it made a descent to the makeshift fairway in the middle of the Afghan desert. She could see the truck waiting for her as the wheels of the plane hit the ground and Cam's dark hair was blowing in the wind right outside of it. She had suspected that Cam, who had arrived hours earlier, would be waiting for her to arrive to show support. Pasting a calm, cool, and collected look on her face Brennan stepped off the plane as soon as the stairs to the ground were lowered.
The sun was sinking in the sky and Brennan discerned that she didn't have long to get a feel for the surroundings she would be working with before it would be dark and she wondered if she would be forced to pretend to sleep.
"Dr. Brennan," the large man next to Cam greeted. "I'm Colonel Mike Hanson, thank you for coming."
"Of course," Brennan answered quickly and shook the man's hand. "When can we get started?"
"Right away if you like," Colonel Hanson assured her, "we have a tent set up for you and Dr. Saroyan for sleeping arrangements and we also have a set of larger tents set aside as a work area."
"Fantastic," she said as calmly as she could muster, "Please, Colonel, lead the way."
"Brennan," Cam whispered once they had climbed inside the truck, "when was the last time you slept?"
"I'm fine," Brennan told her automatically and she didn't miss the look in Cam's eyes. "I slept some on the plane here. I'm fine, really."
"Okay," Cam reluctantly said with a nod knowing that it was no use to fight with her. "I took a look around when I got here. Just…be prepared."
"Cam I've identified hundreds of remains from genocides all over the world, I was in New York City after the towers fell. I can handle this."
Cam only nodded this time and the remaining short car ride was rode in silence. When they reached the gates of the base the Colonel turned around to speak to Cam and Brennan.
"You two are in charge," he told them, "we've had crews here since the attack yesterday working around the clock but they are all aware that whatever either of you say, goes. Dr. Brennan, I apologize but there are already bodies waiting for your expertise. If there is anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to let me know."
"Thank you," they answered in unison and the Colonel nodded and then saluted.
When Brennan exited the truck the smell of burnt flesh invaded her nose. There were still sections of the large building in front of her that had flames emerging from it while crews attempted to put them out. Everywhere she looked it was chaos and she attempted to take in the surroundings. Taking a deep breath she followed Cam to a large green tent and when they entered it the smell of burnt flesh increased.
She nodded absentmindedly as another soldier pointed things out to her and Cam. She hoped that Cam was paying attention to the brief introduction to the work area. When the soldier left Cam turned to Brennan with an obvious concerned look on her face.
"Brennan," she started, "are you sure you are okay? I'd understand…"
"Let's get started," Brennan interrupted and donned a pair of plastic gloves after tying her pack in its signature ponytail. "Please Cam, I just need to get started."
"Fine," she agreed grudgingly and took a pair of gloves for herself. "Should I tell them to bring in the first body?"
"Yes," Brennan said trying to hide the shakiness of her voice. Masking it with a confidence she didn't feel she continued, "that would be the best place to start."
It didn't take long for Brennan to fish her laptop out of a nearby bag and she set it on a table. Within a few clicks she had a link up to the Jeffersonian where Angela was waiting anxiously.
"Oh thank god," Angela exclaimed when the face of her best friend filled her computer screen. "I've been waiting here forever!"
"It would be quite impossible for you to be waiting forever Ange, as forever is defined by never beginning and never ending and you as a person had to begin at conception…"
"It's just an expression sweetie," Angela interrupted before the conversation started getting too odd for even her liking "Just a saying. I just meant I'd been waiting for a long time. Hodgins fell back asleep on my couch."
"What time is it there?"
"It's uh," Angela stammered and looked for her clock, "about eleven am here. Which would make it what, like seven pm there?"
"Close to that I would imagine," Brennan agreed, "my body is still confused from traveling. You didn't sleep in the lab did you?"
"No, of course not. We slept at home until about five am when I couldn't sleep anymore and I knew you'd link up as soon as you set up base and I wanted to be here when you did."
"I don't know why," Brennan told her. "And you need your sleep. For the baby."
"I'll be taking care of myself," Angela assured her, "I'm just going to be taking care of you too. Well, as best as I can from thousands of miles away. Did you sleep at all last night Bren?"
"Why does everyone keep asking me that? I'm fine."
"Okay, first I didn't ask if you were fine, I know better than that. And two, you're obviously not fine if you're going to bite my head off for asking a simple question."
"It would be physically impossible for me to bite…"
"Another saying sweetie," Angela interrupted. "Now, back to my first question, did you sleep at all last night?"
"Yes," Brennan said sternly, "I did. It wasn't great sleep, but I did sleep some. Right now I just need to get to work."
"You should sleep more," Angela argued, "get a full nights rest and start fresh in the morning."
"That is what I tried to tell her," Cam stated as she walked back into the tent, "but she refused, so we're working."
"You'll watch her right?" Angela questioned, "make sure she is eating and sleeping and all of that."
"Of course."
"Good, I don't want to have to worry about her."
"Excuse me," Brennan interjected, "I'm right here and can hear everything you're saying. I'm an adult and fully capable to take care of myself."
"We know," Angela said, "you just usually don't. Be careful Bren, okay. I need you to be okay."
"I am fine."
The words were clipped coming out of her mouth and as much as she wanted to believe it herself, she wasn't sure if she could. To avoid the piercing gazes of both of her friends she exited the tent quickly murmuring something about finding out what was taking so long with the first body. When she stepped into the twilight a tear coursed down her cheek.
The more she looked around and became aware of the gravity of the situation the more her stomach dropped. She knew it was just a matter of time before she was confirming the identification on the one person who wasn't supposed to leave her. Ever.
The thought nearly crippled her, but she was Dr. Temperance Brennan. A woman who didn't show weakness and certainly didn't show defeat so she squared her shoulders, wiped her cheeks off, and stormed back into the tent ready to do what she did best.
ooo
The day was dragging for Sweets as he attempted to do paperwork in his office. The afternoon was free of appointments and it let his thoughts be able to wander. Tapping his fingers against his desk he toyed with the idea of heading over to the Jeffersonian for the afternoon, but he wasn't sure if that was going to help him or just make him feel worse.
"Dr. Sweets," the female voice of his security asked through his speakerphone and he picked up the hand held phone. "I have Miss Bowden on the phone for you."
"Thanks Kelly," he answered his secretary and he waited until he heard the click that told him Kelly had merged the lines together. "Hello?"
"Hey," Julie said into the phone and Sweets smiled without thinking. "What are you doing this afternoon?"
"I don't have any plans Jules," Sweets answered, "I was actually thinking about taking off early."
"You should," she told him, "and come pick me up."
"Don't you have classes you have to teach?"
Julie laughed into his ear and he smiled again. His relationship with Julie had progressed faster than he had originally anticipated but everything felt right when he was with her. It had taken Sweets out of his heartbreak and made him feel again. He was happy again. And that was a feeling he wasn't sure he was going to get back after Daisy left.
"School got out early today," Julie told him, "end of the semester teacher workshops."
"So you're going to play hooky from your workshop?"
"Nope, mine isn't until tomorrow so I have a free afternoon. Care to help me spend the time."
"I would love to," Sweets assured her. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"I have not," Julie told him, "do you want to meet somewhere?"
Sweets shook his head and then laughed at himself before saying, "no, I'll pick you up in twenty minutes."
"Sounds good. See you soon."
Sweets hung up the phone, filed the paperwork that was strewn across his desk, and let Kelly know he was leaving for the afternoon. Seventeen minutes later he was knocking on Julie's door.
"Right on time," she greeted when she threw open the door. Her long blonde hair was pulled back and tied up and the cream colored sweater brought out the pink of her cheeks. "Come on in, I just need to grab my shoes and purse."
"Okay," Sweets answered and followed her into her apartment. "So I was thinking about grabbing something from the corner store and taking it for a picnic."
"Lance," she called from her room with a laugh, "it's December and like forty degrees outside. We can't go on a picnic."
"You've never been on a winter picnic before?"
"No," she said coming around the corner, "but I'd be willing to give it a try."
"Great," Sweets answered with a grin and couldn't resist placing a gentle kiss on Julie's cheek. "Let's go."
When they stepped out into the cold December air Sweets' phone chirped and he instinctively pulled it from his pocket.
"Sorry," he told her, "its habit."
"Don't worry about it," Julie assured him, "I understand. I don't mind if you get it."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course," she said with a smile. "I understand."
He stepped away from her just long enough to find answer the Director's question, confirm he'd be back in the office first thing in the morning for a consult, and to inform him that no he hadn't heard from Cam or Brennan since they had arrived in Afghanistan but he would let him know if he did.
When he stepped back to Julie she took his hand in hers and squeezed. He squeezed back and they headed to his car.
"I don't want to ask you if you're okay if you don't want to talk about it," Julie stated after he started up the car, "but I also don't want you to think you can't talk about it with me either. I'm here for you Lance. For whatever you need."
Sweets wrapped his arms around her and she buried her face into his neck. With a gentle kiss to the top of her head he whispered, "Thank you Jules."
ooo
A/N: Once again I'm begging for reviews. I know it's probably cliché to say that your reviews help me write, but they do. When I know you guys are enjoying the story its easier to write faster. So, review and I'll write…
