As the day progressed on the heat set in. Even being in close proximity of a rolling river, didn't cool the air much. Nikki pulled out bandana's from the back of her rig and headed for the river. Soaking each of them and wringing them out she took one to Booth, and one to Brennan and tied the 3rd around her neck
"Agent Booth mind if I give you a piece of advice?" Nikki started.
Booth stared at this kid, what advice could a kid have for me? "Sure, go ahead."
"Lose the jacket and tie, roll up your sleeves, I know you are suppose to be all spiffy, standard issued FBI, but you will suffocate down here if you keep it up. If you get heat exhaustion or heat stroke, getting you out of here will be a real pain in my ass. So please do as I ask. Being an Army Ranger you should know that." She reached into the back of her Yukon and opened one of 2 coolers she had, pulled out a bottle of water and tossed it to Booth. As she walked away with another bottle for Brennan, Booth stared after the deputy.
Nikki returned with Dr. Brennan and Booth joined them around back of the Yukon. She pulled the 2nd cooler forward and opened it. "I picked up anything I could think of to make a lunch. Dr. Brennan I understand you are vegetarian, so I picked up miscellaneous items for you also. Sorry it isn't a restaurant, but I really don't think you want to navigate that road any more than you have to."
"Is there somewhere I can clean up and cool off?"
Nikki grabbed a couple of towels out of the back and what appeared to be some clothing in vacuumed sealed bags. "Agent Booth, when Dr. Brennan and I return, I will show you the spot and I believe I have some clothing in the back there that will fit you." She turned and walked away with Brennan. He watched them until they disappeared around a corner behind some tall grass.
Down by the river the Nikki showed Brennan an area where the river flowed to the bank calmly. A nice little pocket of water that was protected from the strong current of the wild river that had cut its way through the canyon floor. Nikki found Brennan to be fascinating; she wasn't like anyone she had ever meant. She seemed high class, but yet she also seemed perfectly at home standing in a river washing away the grime and sweat. After they were done, Nikki cut open the packages she had and produced clean dry clothing, light weight but sturdy camo cargo pants and a tank top. Brennan was grateful for the change of clothing. "Dr. Brennan, I hope you don't mind, but I really don't think anyone is going to shoot at us down here and with your permission I would really prefer not to be in my uniform any longer. That kevlar vest gets hot." Brennan smiled and nodded her approval.
As both Women walked back to the Yukon, Booth was watching. He was immediately drawn to both women's slender forms. The camo pants and form fitting tank tops seems to emphasize their tiny frames. After Nikki had shed the 25 lbs of clothing, gun belt and vest, he realized just how small of a build she had.
Nikki watched the Agent and a soft smile started across her face. She busied herself with getting another bag of clothing out. "Agent Booth"
"Agent Booth?" She snapped her fingers in front of him.
"Huh?"
"Look I know you all FBI Special agent, but you are now in the middle of God's country and I really don't think he minds if you are in formal attire or not. And I am serious about you getting heat stroke." She took the bag of clothing and a towel and slapped it against his torso. "Now take this and follow me."
When she showed him where the pocket of water was, she looked hard at him. "It is too hot down here to be wearing that crap. Put this on and you will be much more comfortable" She then smirked "And I don't think your partner will be complaining if you come back in what is in that bag." She sliced the bag with her knife and started walking away.
"Why do you have extra clothing and men's clothing for that matter in the back of your rig?"
"It is called being prepared; I also have winter attire back there if you want to look. It can be 45 to 90 minutes before help gets to you depending where you are in the county and the time of year, having the change of clothing can be the difference between hyperthermia and no hyperthermia. After having to go swimming in 30 degree water to pull a kid out of an upside down vehicle in a canal, you learn to be prepared. What I have in the back is much better than the scratchy jumpsuits some have."
Brennan was sitting in the back of the Yukon eating when Nikki came back. Nikki slipped on her shoulder holster and moved her gun to it. Brennan watched her. "Did you have problems with male officers allowing you to have a gun or being over protective if you?"
Nikki let out a chuckle "Never the gun part, but they tended to become all alpha male on me when they found out I was pregnant. Just a man thing I think."
"How did you handle it?"
"I let them have it; it is built into them like DNA. They are supposed to be the protectors. They trust me as an equal any other time, so for me, it wasn't too hard to give them their 'man' thing the last few days working the street."
"Are you married?"
"Yes, he is also a very alpha male. He came out to see my side of the job, he lasted 2 hours and said I love you, but I have to go home. It was hard for him not to protect me."
"So he is not a police officer?"
Nikki laughed heartily, "No he is a doctor." Brennan looked at her in surprise. "I know strange combination. Running joke at the hospital will be if they bring in someone I shoot and my husband is the doctor. It would go something like I put that hole in him on purpose, don't you dare fix it. And, him saying something about I took an oath to fix it."
Brennan was laughing, she liked this young woman, she seemed no nonsense and very practical, but with a fun side to her.
"Can I ask you something personal?"
"I suppose, shoot."
"I don't need to shoot anything." Recognition came across Brennan's face, "Oh, you mean go ahead and ask."
Nikki smiled, "Yes that is what I meant."
"You seem very practical, why did you agree to marry?"
Nikki looked at Brennan with a shocked and confused look on her face. "Why did I agree, Dr. Brennan, I am not sure what you are asking?"
"Marriage is such an antiquated ritual for the male to show ownership of the female. While some, I am assuming you as well, believe in love, which is actually a biological function caused by the release of hormones into the system when aroused by opposite sex."
Nikki started to try to answer her when Brennan's sharp intake of air let the deputy know Booth was returning, and that her assessment of Brennan's reaction to Booth in different attire was correct. This conversation would have to wait until she could be alone with Dr. Brennan.
She slowly turned to look at the flushed faced Brennan, and then turned to see Booth heading towards them in cargo pants and a wife beater T shirt. Her pulse even quickened, well now did not expect him to look that good. Maybe I need to go jump back in the river, repeatedly.
"Now doesn't that feel better than all this garbage?" Booth nodded, he had to admit she was right. But his attention was on Brennan, she hadn't stopped watching him since he came into view. Without touching her he was pretty sure she was trembling and her heart was racing. That boosted the old ego.
As he was putting his clothing in the back of the Yukon he smiled at the Nikki. "I told you she wouldn't mind the view if you changed clothes." Booth blushed.