SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVE YET TO SEE SEASON 5 EPISODE DO NOT READ THIS.

Disclaimer: NatesMama Thanks for the referral back to "the official" site for the origin of this challenge. However, to me you shall always be the keeper of the flame. I still am Boneless alas far from being thin.

Chapter 35 Hold My hand

As Margret Zora Booth stood to take her place at the podium she saw her parents watching her and smiled. They had no idea why she was speaking and didn't really care. They were there in the middle of a busy day, in the middle of a long and horrifying case to listen to her talk. They didn't know her project had been chosen as a science fair consideration even though it did not contain and hard scientific data, they were there to see her and sitting next to them was her eighteen year old brother Parker who didn't care about those things either. He was here to see his baby sister.

Clearing her throat she began. "To some people the holding of hands is of little consequence and has little Social, Scientific or Anthropological value. However according to my Mother, a world famous Anthropologist and my Father a Deputy Director in the FBI the world would be wrong. Hand holding can have significant impact on the human condition. I am here to present my evidence and let you draw your own conclusion."

"In the year 2010…

"Brennan" Cam said as she came into Bones office holding a piece of paper "you are requesting a one year sabbatical to go to the Maluku dig? I didn't know you were even considering it. Does Seeley know?"

"Looking up from her desk at Cam she said "no I have not told him yet, I was planning on telling him tonight if you gave me the sabbatical. I know the letter is really just a formality as I could quit and return to another intuition in a year's time, however I find I do like it here and would like to continue my association with Booth and the FBI when I return."

"Your right and for that reason alone I am granting your request, however how do you think Booth will survive for a year without you? Do you expect him to remain in stasis while you are gone?" She was aware of the struggle Booth was having regarding his feelings toward Dr. Brennan and was not afraid to speak her mind when it came to defending her friend.

"Cam you know that humans cannot remain in stasis for any measurable length of time it is unhealthy. However as to Booth I believe this will give him the opportunity to move on and when I return we can continue as we are meant to be just partners."

"Dr. Brennan you are so full of crap" she said in a resigned tone "but I suppose everyone has the right to make a totally huge ball of crap out of their life if they so desire. Like I said your request is approved, I will see you in a year" and she turned to leave taking her anger with her.

Brennan watched her leave and thought about what Cam had said, was she making a large ball of crap out of her life? She had no way of knowing, she only knew she had to do this for Booth, to protect him from her.

Across town Booth was in a slightly different conversation, but the outcome was to be the same. "Agent Booth?" Director Culled called as he knocked on Booth's open door jamb waiting for him to say come in, which he did right away.

"While it is always nice to see your Sir to what do I owe this visit?" He had an idea what Cullen had come about but not why he had come in person. He wasn't left in the dark for long.

"I have here," Culled held up a piece of paper "a personal request from the Secretary of the Army to grant you a one year leave of absence to go to Afghanistan. Would you care to enlighten me as to why he is requesting the presence of my best Agent?"

"Sir I believe it is because I am you best Agent they are making the request. They believe I can teach both our troops and the Afghanis' how to interrogate suspects more efficiently."

"That and you are a top Army sniper who has not lost his touch" Cullen said staring hard at Booth.

"That too Sir I am sure."

"Do you want to go son? You know I don't have to honor this request. There would be no mention of you not wanting to go. I would just tell them I find I am in need of your services more than they are and can't release you at this time."

Booth smiled Cullen would do just that if Booth asked. "Sir you know that wouldn't make them change their minds, they are positive I can make a change. Save lives. Lots of lives."

"Son, they have said that since the Revolutionary War and will continue to say it as long as this country goes to war. Think about it. Do YOU want to go?"

He had thought of little else since receiving that letter "Yes Sir I believe I can make a difference and I can help save the lives of our men stationed over there."

Cullen played his trump card "what does Dr. Brennan think? What would she do while you were gone?"

"She thinks I can make a difference, and she is probably going to a dig in Indonesia so I doubt she will even be here."

Cullen could hear the deep sorrow and resignation in Booth's voice. Here was the real reason Booth was wanting to go. Dr. Brennan was leaving for another dig, leaving Booth alone and if he were a betting man he would bet the length of her time away was for one year. While he really hated to see the younger man go into danger, as a man in love with his wife he couldn't watch Booth sit around DC waiting for her return either. "Ok son I will grant their request, just know it is for one year and then I want you back. No hero stuff, or getting yourself killed."

"I'll try Sir" Booth offered as he shook the man's hand grateful someone here besides Parker would miss him.

They agreed to meet at her place for dinner the night before he had to leave. He was leaving a week before she was so it was easier. They purposely kept the conversation away from any subjects that might be cause for argument both fighting for the need to protect the other from the pain they were each secretly carrying. He had delayed for as long as possible but finally it was time for him to leave. As he was at the door he turned and looking at her reached for her hand as his thoughts spilled out. "Bones I'm sorry about the mess I made of everything that brought us to this point, that is making us need to spend this year apart. But will you make me a promise? In one year's time will you meet me at our coffee cart in front of the Reflecting Pool? I promise in that year I will get myself under control and I will go back to being just the partner you want and need and nothing more. Just promise me this one thing, please meet me there."

His speech took the last of her resolve after all she had put him through he still loved her but would do what she asked and use this time to become what he thought she needed a partner. "Booth I…" she saw him start to talk again and held up her hand "I need to say this. I know tonight is not the night for revelations, it is too late. But I too will put this year to good use. I need to examine why I can't seem to let you be more than a partner when all I really want is a personal relationship with you. I will meet you at the coffee cart in one year I promise." They hugged tightly and suddenly he let go, opened the door and was gone.

At the airport she looked for him. She had hoped to see him, but was not surprised when he didn't come. They had said goodbye and had each received a promise. Suddenly she felt eyes on her and knew it was him. Walking over quickly they reached for each other's hand as if it were a lifeline. They said goodbye again amidst the hustle and bustle of all of the human air port traffic and their friends. Holding hands they made their promise again.

"One year later," Margaret continued "they met at the coffee cart and shared their life altering changes. Each had used the year to make the change the other needed. Nine months later I was born. Anthropology is the study of humanity, the quality of being human, what makes up the human condition. In my family from 2010 it has been hand holding. It happens at every important event, my Parents wedding, when I was born. Although my scientist Mother will tell you I cannot possibly remember such things at such an early age, my heart reading Father will always disagree, the heart sees what it wants to see he says. On Saturday mornings when we all eat breakfast together and on those rare and heart stopping events where one or both of my Parents has been injured through doing their job. The first contact they always make, we always make, is reaching out and holding each other's hand.

So I present my hypothesis, big changes come from small, apparently irrelevant things like hand holding. I also present my evidence, my Parents Dr. Temperance Brennan of the Jeffersonian, Deputy Director for the FBI Seeley Booth and myself who all came to be through the holding of two hands. Thank you.

Once Margaret had taken her seat the Science teacher Dr. Correll came to the podium to make his concluding remarks. "We would like to thank all of you who attended this year's Science Fair presentations. The competition was fierce this year and it was very difficult to choose the top three. Here are the top three winners, and the names are in no particular order, Stephan Johnston, James David and Margaret Zora Booth. The three Booth's looked at each other, Booth and Parker grinning like Cheshire cats. "And the winner of the 2020 Science Fair goes to…Margaret Zora Booth" he exclaimed walking over to congratulate her.

At his proclamation of their daughter as the winner of a contest they had not even known she was in, all the Booths looked at each other. Parker was the first to yell "Way to go Maggs" with Seeley right after him proclaiming to all who could hear "that's my baby girl." They both looked down to see a silent Bones crying and Booth instantly dropped back into his seat.

"Taking her hand he asked "what's wrong Baby she won, she beat the squints at their own game." The pride was evident in his voice.

Bones nodded and looked down at their entwined hands "she gets it Booth, she understands me."

"Of course she does Baby she's her Mothers daughter through and through, with her Father's good looks thrown in for good measure" he added smiling at her. "Let's get Maggs and go celebrate dinner and desert at the Diner." He pulled his wife to her feet and they went in search of their daughter hand in hand.

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Without this season's poignant end with its hand holding, obviously this could not have been written. Some see the glass as half empty I choose to see it as half full and rising. I hope you liked this chapter.

An interesting side note Margaret Zora was named after Margaret Mead and Zora Neale Hurston two famous Anthropologists I think Bones would have admired enough to name her child after. The Maggs was all Booth.

Nyre

Next chapter: Precious Treasure