Bunker News

If you don't ponder the end of the world on a regular basis, I don't think you're really human. – Edan Lepucki

As you can see… nothing much going on.

"So why the deployment?" Genevieve looked at the screen of the laptop to study the person on the screen. "You get a call and you're doing nothing."

You know I can't tell you that, Gen. But I am on call.

Genevieve sighed as she sat back in her seat on the couch. She slouched to relieve pressure on her back and placed a hand on her baby bump. She knew that her brother-in-law couldn't say much about his official job. Some things she just didn't get but she knew there was always a purpose. "I know but… Can you tell Sarai?"

I told her enough and… I know it won't stop her from worrying. She may be used to it since she spent time with me in country before I became a little domesticated, but… I know. So how are things since I left?

Genevieve sighed at that and leaned to look over the couch towards the bedroom. She was surprised that her husband hadn't woken up to talk to his practically older brother. She replied, "Spencer misses you. He has been more somber."

I'm guessing everyone feels like that. Even my Penny Rose.

"Penelope," Genevieve began as she tried to search for the right words before giving up and saying, "She was upset but I think some well-timed emails helped. She is looking for a new place. Something about her vision being ruined by naked kung fu." She frowned a little at that as she tried to recall how she heard it. She looked at the screen when she heard chuckling.

I think I get the picture. I just… I just wanted to spare a lot of…

"I know," Genevieve replied with a knowing smile. She watched the look that came across Michael's face and she added, "You aren't too different from Spencer. You use reason and logic but the heart is in there. Just not the way that most people expect."

You're not the first to say that to me. That goes to my sister Sophia when she first met Spence and she called him my twin.

Genevieve chuckled at that. She put a hand on her abdomen as she adjusted her seat. She gave a slight sigh of contentment as she sobered slightly. "I guess that things are tame here compared to over there."

More likely since when you put me and Spence together…

"I remember Halloween," Genevieve replied with another knowing look. She shook her head as she looked at the smiling face. "It was funny. Especially that mustache you grew for one day and one day only."

One of Spencer's best.

"I'm glad you kept your tradition up. It's been helping him. Even now with this first case since you deployed."

What happened?

"Well…" Genevieve looked over towards the room. She held her breath as she listened for any signs of movement. She turned back towards the screen. "The case had to do with four professional women being kidnapped but they also tied to kidnappings of young girls that were pregnant. They were kept in a bunker."

Oh. The preppers and the survivalists.

"You know?"

Know the type. Once someone asked me to construct plans for a bunker. I said no since I think it's a lot of nonsense and the whole doomsday clock is just one more thing to make people afraid of the world.

"It is scary," Genevieve pointed out gently. "You and I know it pretty well and Spencer… he's bene through a lot. The whole team has." She rubbed her abdomen. She thought about what she wanted to say and while she knew that Michael was on a time limit probably, she knew he was patient when people were coming up with answers. Finally she said, "Out of curiosity, have you ever thought that maybe the doomsday sayers may be right?"

She held her breath when she say the look that Michael was giving her. She could tell he was thinking about his answer. No doubt, before he was domesticated as he would say, he just told it to you straight. Reid did the same. It seemed to almost be a stereotype of geniuses. The intellect left little room for consideration of feelings but for Michael she knew he had a touch Asperger's that contributed that though some would probably call it being a sociopath since he was blind still to some social cues. He was lucky that the team understood that and knew he meant no harm if he didn't respond like most people would. She waited while he construed his answer.

I believe that the world will end. It is written in the Bible and that's enough to scare people since the imagery is intense. Book of Revelations and all… I believe it will end but not when we think it will.

"The God's own time thing?"

Don't knock Him or His son. And the power of prayer… Let's just say that I kind of know when Sarai has been praying for me and the team. But yeah. God has His own time on things and what he knows, we only know a fraction of it. Can't comprehend it. I know it sounds weird coming from a mechanical genius who deals in certainty and it sure as shooting messes with Spence's head.

"I know that all too well. I do the same and… I'm glad we can talk about God."

Always, Gen. You know, Sophie used to say it was the greatest miracle that a genius, a scientist believed in the basic truths of God and Jesus. She was talking about me since I accepted it despite the fact that it was asking me to believe something that couldn't be proven with scientific method.

But going back to what you asked, I know it will happen and while I worry a little, my biggest concern is the day in front of me. Teaching Rory what her mother and I know about Him and letting her make the commitment when she is ready. I take the opportunity when it comes to me. I find it fun to talk with our sniper and we pull out our Bibles and have a go. That's in between reading on military law, international law and the occasional op plans.

Genevieve grinned and chuckled at that. She nodded hearing his words and listening. She looked off to the side as she thought about things.

Is this about my niece or nephew that will be making an appearance come February?

"A little. And Spencer."

Spence will come to his own understanding. Like I said, don't knock the power of prayer. And don't worry about the baby. Already things are going great. Kid has a mom who is already teaching them the Word.

"How do you…?"

Sarai. We rarely keep secrets like that.

Genevieve knew he said that to clarify that he didn't keep secrets like what she did when she was resting and listening to the audio scriptures she had. She also followed through on Reid's assertion that Beethoven was a good choice and Michael didn't argue with that. There were some secrets he had to keep and while anyone could ask Reid, they didn't and Reid knew he could but didn't. She hummed a chuckle, "And here I was thinking you used your operator talents."

Nah. Simple observation.

Genevieve smiled, "You always could make me laugh."

Huh. And here I was thinking Spence was the funny one.

Genevieve shook her head in bemusement. "I'm glad we could have these chats but… I would think you want to talk to your family."

You're family too, Gen. You married my lil' brother. Then there's the team. I try to make sure I let Penny Rose know things are okay. And I spoke to Sarai and my little whirlwind with curls.

"Spencer played piano with her the song you were composing."

I know. It was a piece I was working on to teach her how to play. Been working on teaching her how to read music. I know she's three but she speaks Arabic and Farsi since we speak it around her and Hadasa has been teaching her Hebrew. Little sponges first five years.

Genevieve smiled and hummed at that. She then thought about something and asked, "So the kids that were born in the bunker…"

They would have been conditioned to accept what they had been told was the truth. In adults, it's repetitive assertion and highly suggestive state. For the teens that were abducted, makes sense. I mean… I was witness to a girl, American, who was convinced to become a suicide bomber in Turkey. We are not infallible beings, Gen. We are susceptible to the junk out there. There are radicals here that truly believe the whole 'if you martyr yourself for the cause you'll be in paradise'. We are programmable.

"Put that way now makes it sound scary."

Don't worry. The kid will be fine. You and Spence both had good heads on those shoulders. Remember that.

Genevieve sighed in relief. "I know. And thank you."

What family does? Right, Spence?

She wanted to laugh at the deliberate stressing of his Texan twang. He did that on occasion more to have fun. Sometimes when he was stressed it came out. Normally, it was soft but you could still hear it. She was curious how the locals in Afghan thought of it when they heard him speaking Pashto or whatever language he used.

Hearing his reference to Reid, she shifted to see that Reid had come out looking a little tired but awake and happy to see his friend. She smiled and said, "Well, I'll leave you both to finish this conversation while I make dinner."

If you're making that chicken thing you do, then I am jealous.

Genevieve laughed at that as she got up to make room for Reid to sit and talk to Michael. She walked to the kitchen where she could observe Reid talking to his friend and brother. She heard him start to talk about his latest case. That was going to go on for a few minutes. She smiled as she got out food and pots and pans.

Michael was right that there were scary things in the world. He was scared, everyone was scared. The difference was that rather than he run away from it, he faced it, made preparations. He was well aware that he couldn't control everything. She was scared at the prospect of becoming a parent, but she was also full of joy. She knew that even with all the scary things in the world, she still had people that mattered the most to help her see it through.

She looked up when she heard Reid give a high pitched indignant protest. She tried hard not to laugh since she could hear Michael laughing and teasing her husband. Things would be okay with people like Michael making sure the world was a safer place and not on the verge of destruction.

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. – Revelations 2:3

A/N: Genevieve talks to Mike about her thoughts after hearing about the case. Tag to The Bunker. Enjoy.