A/N: I can't thank you readers enough for your responses! You have no idea how it makes my day to find out people enjoy this story! You give me the incentive to write. I appreciate every single one of your comments...so much! I appreciate those of you who are following the story. I can't help but be a little gobsmacked sometimes! Thank you. Thanks to everyone who helps me with this story. Y'all push me to be a better writer. And MiseryMaker...if they throw things...I'm ducking so they'll hit you!
Booth had been up most of the night. He'd quit even trying to drink water. Every time he did, he ended up making another trek to the bathroom. He hated being sick. He knew it was ridiculous, but it made him feel weak. He was determined to make it through training though. If he still felt bad at the end of the day, he'd go to the doctor. The thought made him groan. He hated going to the doctor even more than he hated being sick.
He got dressed for the day and out of habit headed down the hallway toward the nearest coffee maker. When he realized what he was doing, he stopped and hung his head. He couldn't even have his coffee. This day was going to be crap. He turned and headed out to meet his soldiers. They got started with their tasks and training seemed to be going good. Throughout the day Booth began to notice he was slowing down. He was feeling weaker by the second. He knew a trip to the doctor was inevitable at this point. Despite how awful he felt, he was pleased with the progress the men were making. They were attentive and eager to learn and they caught on quickly to everything Booth explained to them. This was the military and they were required to listen to him, but it was obvious they wanted to hear what he had to say. He was beginning to feel better about the eventuality of them going into the field. They'd been making such good progress that Booth hadn't noticed the time.
They had just finished up one of the training modules Booth had developed when Fish walked up to him hesitantly. Since he'd been the first one brave enough to talk to him, he'd become the unofficial liaison between Booth and the rest of the men. "Sir?"
"Yeah, Fish?" Booth questioned.
"Um, we were wondering if we were going to get a break? Some of us need to hit the head."
Booth looked at his watch. "Yeah, this is a good breaking point anyway." It was well past time lunch was served and he'd forgotten to release them for break. He'd been losing his concentration all day and this was just another thing that had slipped his mind. Not one of them had complained though. He hadn't been the slightest bit hungry either, which hadn't helped him notice the time passing. He felt a little guilty.
He turned to the men and decided to give them a little extra time. "Be back in 60," he hollered.
The group didn't have to be told twice. They quickly put their gear away and headed out for the johns and a late lunch. Booth stopped to watch the men retreat and realized how exhausted he was. He was incredibly thirsty too, but even the thought of drinking made his stomach cramp again. He considered going back to his building to rest, but the way he felt right now...it seemed more like a 20 mile trek. He decided to just sit and rest at the training site instead. At this point he didn't care how hot it was. Or that he didn't have a comfortable chair. Or even that he felt like he'd been run over by a freight train. He was just too exhausted to care about anything. He didn't even care about the fact he'd have to go to the infirmary later. Maybe they'd have some magic pill to make all this go away. He was glad they were open all day though because he really wanted to finish out the day's training session. He was sure he could make it. Just a few more short hours. He could do anything that long. He'd done worse for longer. Training was a snap.
Booth slowly shuffled over toward the side of the training area. He paused for a moment before pulling Bones' letter out of his pocket. God he was such a glutton for punishment. He couldn't even make it out of his room this morning without turning back to get it. He needed to lock that part of his life away right now, but he just couldn't handle the idea that a part of her was here with him in this hell hole and he didn't have her with him. How moronic was he that he allowed this piece of paper to be his rock? That he held onto hope despite what Bones said in it? How much damage was he going to have to undo when he got to the end of this year holding on to that letter like his life depended on it? It was already getting a worn look to it from the number of times he'd opened it yesterday.
He unfolded it and read it again trying desperately to remember she wanted only their partnership. It still amazed him though that Bones had gone to such great lengths to do this for him. He needed to write back to her. He was glad they had email, even though he hadn't used it, but he wanted to write a letter to her too now. He decided to do just that after he went to the doctor this evening. Another wave of exhaustion passed over him again. He was tired. Physically and mentally. He was just plain tired of thinking, wondering, worrying about Bones. The lack of sleep he got from replaying the letter over and over in his head had him more worn out than he felt like he'd ever been. Being sick wasn't helping. He tucked the letter back in his pocket, laid back on the ground and put his cap over his face for shade. He'd take a nap while the men ate and he'd be ready for the rest of the afternoon.
B&B B&B B&B B&B B&B B&B B&B B&B B&B B&B B&B B&B B&B B&B B&B
It was late afternoon when Brennan came back to her tent to rest. If she were honest with herself, she'd admit she was actually seeking refuge from Marlena and Daisy. The two had become fast friends instantly and were a little overwhelming at times. As she pulled the mosquito netting back and plopped down on her bed, she allowed a huge sigh to escape.
Brennan had developed a pattern to her days. She rose early to work at the site before breakfast. She took a mid-morning break and a mid-afternoon break. She went to meals either earlier or later than everyone else. Her entire schedule had developed around the amount of uninterrupted time she could tolerate in the presence of the two bubbly friends. She longed for her lab where she could instruct the two in appropriate behavior. Here, though, she was a colleague. An equal...despite her superior knowledge. She wriggled into a more comfortable position and stared at the pattern on her blanket. It was during these quiet moments that she allowed herself to remember her DC life and DC family. During the day she had a job to perform and several, most especially two, people to keep focused. Times like this, the alone times, were hers. As was usual, her thoughts turned to Booth.
It had been five weeks. He most definitely should have received his letter by now. She didn't understand why she hadn't received something in return. It was irrational, she knew, but she had hoped he would notify her somehow. Why hadn't he written back? Why had he not sent an address for her to use? Even an email would have been quite easy to send. Why hadn't Booth responded? Why hadn't he contacted her at all? Was it something she'd said in her letters? She'd made a point to write once a week since she'd arrived. She'd gotten the address to send them to from her publisher. She'd written six letters to him now and he'd not sent one word back. Maybe he was just really busy with his trainees. He'd always made time for her in the past though. Even to the point of being annoying. He'd said before he left that it would be at least a month before he'd go out in the field with his soldiers. He should have access to email still. Maybe he wasn't receiving the letters. That's what it had to be. They had left each other on good terms. At least she thought they had. But the Booth she knew would never ignore her like this. She'd try emailing him. Yes, that was the next step. Just a quick message to see how he was doing and get the correct address. Just a quick message to help her feel closer to him again. The loneliness and emptiness she'd been feeling had begun to wear on her. She knew if she could just talk to him, she'd find reserves of energy.
Just the thought of a potential solution to her problem had her excited and she raised up on her elbow to reach for her satchel and laptop. She paused when she heard someone running outside, which was unusual. The pace in her Maluku life was so very different than the fast pace of her DC life. She recognized that she had done her usual compartmentalization tactic because she kept referring to her DC life and her Maluku life in her thoughts. Suddenly Dr Hasani's assistant burst into the tent causing her to jump and sit up quickly.
"Thomas!" she yelled. She couldn't believe his highly inappropriate behavior.
"Dr. Brennan! There you are,' he said breathing heavily from his exertions. "Come quickly!"
Temperance scrambled off her bed to follow Thomas, wondering what had happened at the dig site. A cave in of one of the walls most likely. She thought they'd done a better job of supporting the dirt walls. She'd just have to be more vigilant. She turned toward the dig site as she stepped out of the tent.
Thomas turned the opposite direction and began to jog toward the front of the camp instead.
"Thomas? Where are you going?" she asked, looking at him in confusion.
He turned back to her. "You have an important phone call Dr. Brennan." He waved his hand indicating she should follow him and turned to continue down the path.
She couldn't figure out who would be calling her. Maybe the Jeffersonian needed her to consult on some findings. She really didn't think it necessitated Thomas rushing around like a mad man though. She would discuss this with him after her phone call.
She quickly walked to the area Dr. Hasani had claimed as his office. He looked up as she entered. "Oh good, Temperance, you have a very important call."
"Thank you Dr. Hasani." She picked up the receiver as Thomas and Dr. Hasani left the room.
"This is Dr. Temperance Brennan," she stated expectantly. The last voice she expected to hear burst through the phone.
"Tempe. Thank God. They found you. Finally."
"Jared? Why are you calling me? They said it was important." She gripped the receiver a little tighter. She couldn't figure out why Jared, of all people, would be calling her. It could only have something to do with Booth. She waited for him to elaborate.
Jared wasted no time with pleasantries. "Tempe, he...he had a heatstroke." Brennan's stomach lurched inside her body as her lungs struggled for air. Her concentration took a blow. Heatstroke? Despite what people thought, they were often fatal. She knew that. "What? Where is he?"
"Tempe..." Jared paused for a moment struggling with what he was about to tell her. The line had a great deal of static, but she could still hear his deep inhale. He let out a huff before continuing, "...Tempe, it was bad. Really bad. They...they..." She couldn't tell if he had paused again or if the line was breaking up.
Her mind reeled as she listened to the fluctuation in the intensity of the static. No. Not Booth. He had to be alive. He had to be okay. Her mind stopped functioning as she saw his image as clearly as if he were there with her. Her heart raced as she started to breathe faster and gripped the receiver as if it could save her. No. This couldn't be. No. No. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Jared?"
Jared's voice continued when the line interference decreased, "...and they called in a priest for last rites." Temperance felt like she'd just been hit in the chest with a baseball bat and she stopped breathing. She felt weak. She stumbled to Dr. Hasani's chair and collapsed. Tears immediately streamed down her cheeks as she desperately denied what Jared was telling her.
Suddenly the line went dead. Temperance sat in shock and denial. Her fear came timidly at first, "Jared?" Silence. Panic set in. She didn't know where Jared was or how to call him back. "Jared?" No. This was not happening. This could not be happening. She shook her head in disbelief again. She couldn't hit the button to hang up. What if he came back on line? She raised her voice, "Jared! Are you there? I can't hear you. Jared! Please say something! Jared!" She was met with silence and the knowledge she had no way to contact him again. She resorted to what seemed a normal reaction in this situation and she frantically tapped the receiver button to close and reopen the line.
Dial tone. Temperance couldn't have stopped her tears at that point if her life had depended on it. Her mind refused to cooperate with her and one word kept repeating itself...No. Her shoulders began to shake in rhythm to her sobs. She dropped the receiver on the desk and raised her hands to cover her face as she continued to shake her head. No. She was alone. She couldn't be alone. She needed someone here. She needed Booth. She began to cry uncontrollably.
Booth. His smile. His constant reassuring presence. His support. His friendship. His love. Gone. In one quick moment, Brennan's life had changed forever. She would never be the same. Booth. He couldn't be gone. No. She refused to accept it. She cried openly and began quietly chanting one word over and over as if it could turn back time. "No...No...No...No." In this remote land, she had never felt more alone in her life. She should be home. She should have stayed home. If she had stayed, he would have stayed. Her eyes flew open and every ounce of air left her lungs as her epiphany struck her full force. This was her fault. Oh god, this was her fault. No. Booth. He had done nothing but give his life and his heart to her. Her fear in the face of his death was laughable. What had she done? At this realization, her mind shut down and she simply stared at the phone. Seconds ticked by and she couldn't move...couldn't think.
Time ceased to exist.
She was jolted out of her daze when the phone suddenly rang. She grabbed it quickly. "Jared?"
"Yeah, Tempe, it's me. I don't know what's wrong with the line. I'm really sorry about that." Temperance uselessly wiped at the tears on her face. Seconds ago she had been desperate to have contact with Jared. Now that she had it, she didn't know what to say. Jared saved her.
"Listen, I don't know how much you heard of what I was telling before. Did you hear that Seeley had a heatstroke?" Temperance nodded her head, fresh tears welling up in her eyes. "Tempe?"
Brennan's voice came out in a hoarse whisper, "Yes. I heard you."
Jared could hear how badly she was affected by this news. He knew she and her brother were closer than any two people he'd ever known. He continued, "Well, it was bad and they had pretty much given up hope." He tried to lighten the mood and chuckled with his next statement. "You know Seeley though. He never quits. At anything." Brennan creased her brow and shook her head in confusion at Jared's words. His mood sombered when he didn't get a response from her. "Somehow he survived and he was transferred to Germany." Brennan's mind grasped one word as if her life depended on it. "Jared, he survived? He's alive?"
"Oh god Tempe, I'm so sorry. Yeah, he's alive. He's going to be okay. In time. God, I didn't mean he died. It was just bad. I'm so sorry I didn't say that first. Tempe...God..." Temperance couldn't stop herself from crying again. Tears of joy. Tears of anger. They poured down her face. He was alive. He was alive! She was still so hopeful of this news and fearful of his answer that her next question came out as a whimper, "Where is he?"
Jared paused for a moment. "Well, he's on his way to DC now actually. He started out in Germany." He really was alive! Temperance could tell from the tone Jared was using that he was leaving details out. She knew there were varying degrees of severity with heatstrokes. But if Booth was on his way to DC, he must be fit for travel. However, it must have been bad enough for him to be discharged and sent home like that. "Jared, what aren't you telling me?"
"He's okay Tempe. Well, the doctors say he will be okay. He's in the hospital. Well, he will be." Brennan's patience ceased to exist in that moment and her mind screamed for a more coherent answer. "Jared! Stop giving me vague statements and tell me what I need to know right now."
"Okay. Okay. He had the heatstroke and got transferred to Germany. After about four weeks, they decided he was stable and ready for therapy so they're transferring him to DC. That's where he's headed now." He rushed into his next statement, "I called you as soon as I knew he was headed home." He worried about telling Tempe the details like that. He was breaking a promise in calling her. He knew she needed to know though and knew she valued black and white facts. Of course he'd botched it up like everything else he did and he'd let her think he was dead. He'd never forgive himself for that. "He's going to be okay Tempe."
Brennan's stomach lurched yet again at this new information, a million questions ruling for supremacy in her mind. The most glaring bit of information she'd heard though was how much time had passed. "Four weeks? Jared, when did this happen?" She knew when it had to happen. She'd written one letter a week...five letters since arriving here.
Jared sighed again. He'd known this was going to be a difficult call to make and one that Seeley was going to make him pay for sometime. "He'd only been there for a week when it happened."
Temperance could hardly digest the information. She'd been going about her days as usual while Booth had been in the hospital? For four weeks? She should have been by his side the way she knew he'd have been there for her. She was furious at the injustice of getting robbed of being there for him.
"Why am I just now finding out about this? Jared, why didn't you call me? How did it happen? Booth isn't careless. He would have taken the appropriate measures to ensure he was hydrated. This doesn't make any sense." Brennan's tongue couldn't keep up with her taxed mind and she blurted out her thoughts as they hit her.
"I don't have a lot of information, Tempe. They said he was sick. Some kind of stomach thing. He was dehydrated and went out to train. The soldiers found him after a break." Jared stopped talking then weakly continued, "He's going to be okay."
Brennan got angry with his answer and his overuse of the word 'okay'. "Jared! How bad was it?" She heard him draw in a deep breath and release it. "Tempe..."
She could tell he was going to try to avoid details. "No, Jared! Now!" She heard him draw in another deep breath. This time he held it. She could almost hear his indecision over the phone line and opened her mouth to further persuade him to speak when he released it along with the beginning of his explanation. "Well..." he paused again. Brennan's frustration was rising to epic levels and she had no patience to wait to see what he would say. She moved on to her next question. The only one that mattered right now. "He's in Washington?"
"Yeah. Well, no. He's on his way. He should get here today sometime."
"I need to go Jared. I need to make arrangements to return to DC." Jared began to talk again, "Tempe, wait."
Temperance stopped him, "No! I need to go." Jared interrupted her, "Tempe!" Her temper was running short and she yelled in frustration, "What?"
Jared knew he was fighting a losing battle, but he tried anyway. "They aren't going to let you in to see him yet. They're going to want to get him settled in. Why don't you let me see how he is and I'll call you with an update the second I know anything. Just wait."
"They'll let me see him. He's my partner. I have to see him." She paused, the need to affirm her relationship with Booth taking over her thoughts. "Jared, he's my partner. I...I have to go." She had already begun thinking of the arrangements she needed to make in order to leave when Jared tried another tactic, "You don't need to be starting out traveling in the middle of the night. Just let him get settled before you try to see him."
The frown Brennan was wearing deepened. Brennan was not about to allow Jared to tell her what to do. She was furious with Jared for not calling her sooner. Furious for letting her think Booth was dead. Furious with his lack of details. "No, Jared. I need to leave now."
Jared hated this whole situation. He especially hated what he was about to say to Temperance. He knew she wouldn't want to hear it. He didn't want to say it. One day, when he was able, Seeley was going to kick his ass for even telling her about him being in the hospital. He pulled out the last card he had to play. The one he thought would stop her in her tracks. "Tempe, he doesn't want to see you."
"I don't care," she screamed just before she slammed the receiver into its cradle.
