Week 3 – Wednesday, Morning
Seeley sat in his darkened office, illuminated by the blue-white color scheme of his computer desktop and the harsh white light from his desk lamp, reviewing a blue FBI file. His suit jacket hung atop the seat back; white shirtsleeves rolled up to his upper forearms; the still pink scar traced up from his right wrist to disappear beneath the white fabric. His eyes rose from the file and looked through the glass wall into the outer office. The darkness had lightened since he had first arrived. His cheeks puffed out with his exhalation of a sigh. Seeley sat back against his chair, looking around the room, deep in thought.
He had come in early today. Much earlier than the now ongoing sunrise. Through the windows in both this and the outer office, he could see the lightening sky. Seeley glanced down to the photos adorning his desk. A picture of Parker, seated atop a wooden horse on the carousel at Hillside Park. He was smiling as he waved to the camera. Another photo of Parker, taken a few years ago. He stood upon a creek bank, with a fishing pole angled out towards the rushing water. Seeley smiled. While in the photo Parker was smiling, after their foray into the "sport" of fishing, he had expressed his extreme boredom to his father; extracting a promise from Seeley to never subject his son to the experience again. Truth be told, Seeley was silently relieved. He had never acquired the taste for fishing either. However, he thought he should at least expose Parker to the activity and let him make up his own mind. His eyes slid over to the other photos; a photo of Jon and Cricket at the Quantico firing range, one of he and Temperance walking hand-in-hand at a premiere for a movie based upon one of her books. He had long forgotten which one. His eyes skimmed over his own image, dressed in a traditional, black tuxedo and moved to trace over the figure of his wife. Her hair was down, a shimmering chestnut waterfall dusting her shoulders. The sparkling electric blue of the gown caressed her figure. The glittering sheen of her dress paled in comparison to her eyes. His smile grew broader. In the photograph she wasn't looking at the cameras; her eyes instead were riveted upon him. It almost seemed a studio shot. A man and woman so in Love, not even the chaotic storm of the press and paparazzi could break the spell of their protective bubble. Seeley's eyes moved to the black and white photo of Temperance, Parker and him sitting on the bench enjoying ice cream at Hillside Park. His mind traveled back to that day. The day Temperance and his relationship took on a much deeper aspect than he had ever thought possible. Then, just as quickly, his mind snapped back to the present.
Seeley rubbed his eyes and turned his head towards the computer screen. He wasn't really expecting a response to his inquiry this early in the day. But like all men who studiously watch a warming pot of water, willing it boil faster, his mind urged the response to appear. After a moment, he turned his attention back to the outer office. The brightening light from the windows tattooed the grey cubicles and equipment with horizontal lines from the half-opened blinds. He leaned back into the chair, closed his eyes, and waited.
His mind drifted within a sea of memories. Seeley allowed the current to take him wherever it willed.
It was dark when he opened his eyes. His pupils, still dilated from sleep, along with the dim red glow from the alarm clock allowed him to see the room clearly. He breathed deeply through his nostrils; his left hand moved up to rub the sleepiness from his eyes. Temperance lay cradled within the crook of his right arm. Her head nestled atop his chest, her right hand curled into a ball resting close to her lips. Both of her legs were bent and drawn up slightly. Her right knee rested just atop his groin; her lower leg and foot pressed along his thigh and calf. With her left knee jammed underneath his hamstring, his leg seemed caught within a velvet vise. Amazingly, impossibly, her semi-fetal positioning seemed to allow her to draw even closer to him. He smiled softly, extending his head towards her. As he placed a soft kiss upon her forehead, she moved slightly. Not away from him. If anything, in her sleepy trance she seemed to be trying to move into him. Her legs tightened around his as her head moved further down, pressing into his chest. He could feel her lips pucker to place a kiss upon his scar; and then she exhaled softly as she drifted back deeper into sleep.
Seeley closed his eyes for a moment. Knowing what was to come this morning, he wanted the moment to last. After a few moments, he opened his eyes and turned towards the alarm clock. '5:25' he read. Although he didn't need it, the red dot illuminated in the upper left corner of the display denoted "AM." Not wanting the sound of the bleating alarm to wake his wife, he reached over and found the button atop the clock to deactivate the device.
He waited until the clock shone '5:30' before he tried, ever so gently, to extricate himself from his wife's cradling embrace. He moved ever so slowly, ever so quietly; he had almost made it until his foot brushed her calf. She half raised up, startled. Looking around, Seeley noted, with her eyes still closed, "Wha…Booth?"
Seeley smiled at her old nickname for him as he stood on one leg next to the bed, trying to smoothly slide his other leg the rest of the way to freedom. "Shhh," he whispered. "Go back to sleep."
Still with her eyes closed she reached out towards his voice, "Where are you going?" she asked, her voice sounding almost childlike.
"Shhh," Seeley repeated as his right leg swung free. He began rearranging the bedcovers around her, "I need to go in early today." Temperance, at the sound of his voice, eased back onto the mattress. "I'll stop back in when I'm ready to go," he whispered, and then leaned in and kissed her.
As he drew back, he could see her lips pucker and then relax, savoring his taste. She sighed softly and slid back over onto her left side. Her right arm reached out, searching for something on the bed; he didn't know what. Then she found his pillow and drew it to her. He smiled as she pulled it into her under the blanket, resuming her semi-fetal position, and then buried her face into the pillow. She breathed deeply. Drinking in his aroma. Seeley watched, his Love for her welling up in his chest, as she gently rocked back and forth, and then lay still.
He smiled as he slowly padded in the dark across the hardwood floor to the wardrobe and dresser.
The water beat down upon his chest, bouncing up into his eyes.
He stepped closer towards the spray, allowing the shower to hit him full in the face. The warm water cascaded down his face, leaping from his chin to chest, and then continuing in rivulets down his lower abdomen and legs. The sound of the water falling into the porcelain tub sounded loud in his ears. He had closed both the bedroom and bathroom doors, but was still worried the sound would wake her.
Seeley turned around and allowed the water to hit full upon his upper back and shoulders. He raised his hands to his face, wiping away the excess water. He could feel a minor discomfort in his lower back. He rotated his torso back towards the water controls. Feeling a slight twinge as he moved, he stopped. He paused a moment, and then gently rotated his torso first in one direction and then the other. He reached behind him again; and another pinprick of pain answered his movements. Pushing through the twinge of pain, his hand found the cold-water knob. He twisted it, decreasing the flow. Instantly the spray's temperature increased. He reached up and tilted the showerhead downward slightly. Twisting back around he moved to position the spray directly on the tightening area. Slowly he bent forward, stretching the muscles and ligaments. Allowing the hot water to directly impact the barking area.
As he stretched, he felt the tendons muscles and ligaments straining in resistance. After a moment of steady pressure, they slowly relaxed their grip. He eased forward, further and further. Until his hands grasped his ankles. The water pounded into his lower back and then sluiced down along his spine to eventually drench and then fall from his hair.
He smiled as the tension melted away in the hot water.
He heard voices. Two of them. A man and a woman's. They seemed familiar.
Woman's voice (unsure): "Does he always do that?"
Man's voice: "Sometimes he puts in some very long hours." A pause, and then, "It can take its toll…"
Woman's voice: "How long has he been like this?
Man's voice: "Before I got here..."
Woman's voice: "Should we…?"
Man's voice (louder): "Booth?" After a moment, even louder, "Hey Booth!"
She didn't know where she was.
And her limited botanical skills were of no help. 'Perhaps I should have listened more closely to Hodgins,' she thought. Temperance stopped and surveyed her surroundings, allowing her senses to inform her observations.
It was daylight. She was in a forest of some kind. As she turned, all she could see were the trunks and fronds of various trees, saw grass and other flora. 'Tropical,' she thought. Slight, insectile buzzing seemed to be all around her. The air was humid; a slight sheen of sweat covered her arms, shoulders, legs and chest. Droplets of sweat trickled their way down her back and between her breasts. Her white tank top clung to her skin where her sweat saturated the fabric. She breathed deeply, her nostrils filling with the briny smell of the ocean. She couldn't hear the waves, but she was sure a beach was nearby. But was she on the mainland or an island? Looking up, she could see through the treetop canopy the blue sky lay hidden behind clouds. Not white, wispy, high-altitude cirrus clouds. No, these were the gray, roiling cumulonimbus clouds associated with storms. 'I'll need to find some shelter soon,' she thought absently. Almost in response, a heightening wind rustled the leaves and saw grass.
Then she heard it. The sharp 'Crack' of a rifle shot. While a primarily intellectual person, Temperance nevertheless instinctively ducked. Kneeling, she held her breath - she did not know why - and waited. Another shot sounded. And then another…and another. But she didn't hear the telltale whizzing of passing bullets. Nor the 'tick' and smashing of bullets nicking and smashing the leaves, trees or stalks around her. She breathed again. She did not seem to be the target.
But what now? Run away? Move towards the gunfire? Perhaps she could get a better idea of where she was. Or stay here, hiding? In the back of her mind, she felt as though she was forgetting something. Temperance tried to narrow her focus. Allow her mind to burrow deeper into her memories. After a moment or two, she shook her head. It had danced out of her reach. Rising, she looked around, and then started to move in the direction of the shots.
The gunfire continued. Sometimes joined in by small arms fire. At times, the interval between shots seemed longer. And then at other times, the sounds erupted in a frenzy. Her ears picked out the differing sounds of rifles and small arms. Then, just as suddenly, it stopped, replaced by the dull, drone of the insects. She continued moving forward cautiously.
In other circumstances, her trek through the wilderness would have been an enjoyable experience. Too often she had been cooped up inside the lab, hunched over either an aged set of bones awaiting the solution of who they were in life; or more recently, decaying, seemingly indistinguishable remains of someone who has met a bad end. Truth be told, that was the reason she enjoyed going on the various digs archaeologists invited her to. She was outside, usually in the sunshine and fresh air. She thought of the changes her new life would bring. No longer would she be able to just pack up and go to a dig. She would have a child. Sure, Seeley could cover for her. But did she really want him to? It wasn't a question of IF she would miss out on seeing her child grow. It was HOW MUCH of her son or daughter's life would she miss? And whether she would be willing to pay that price.
Lost in her thoughts, the crashing sound of the underbrush directly in front of her position startled Temperance. Too late, she tried to avoid the muscular form bursting from the dense brush. Seeley crashed into Temperance sending them both sprawling to the ground.
"What the…?" Seeley said once he realized he had just barreled over his wife. He looked at her prone form on the ground, astounded.
Temperance, getting her breath back, looked at him in surprise. Seeing blood staining his white shirt from what appeared to be haphazard cuts, 'Why is he wearing his suit in this jungle?' she started to move over to him, "Are you all right?"
"Are you?" he countered concernedly.
Temperance nodded, "I heard gunshots," she said as she reached him and started examining the tiny slices on his arms, face and clothing.
"Yeah," Seeley said, now looking around on the ground for something. "They're right behind me."
"What are these cuts?" Temperance said.
Seeley smiled as his hand tightened around his sniper rifle. He turned back to his wife and motioned towards the tall grass, "Saw grass. It can cut you pretty good when you're just running hell-bent through it."
Seeing the cuts were superficial, Temperance's mind turned back to their situation. "Who were you shooting at?"
Seeley looked around. Almost as though he hadn't heard, he asked, "Did you find them?"
Confused, Temperance said, "Find who?"
Seeley said, in a mixture of astonishment and incredulity, "Who? J.J. and Christy!" Temperance was shocked into silence. Seeley continued, "Remember? They wandered off?" Seeley, seeing her confusion, continued, "We thought they may have gone to the old Mission…"
Temperance looked around, her confusion not quite ebbing away. "The old Mission…" she started.
Seeley nodded. Realizing time was ticking away, he pointed towards the North, "You go check the Mission, I'll draw them off," he pointed his rifle towards the East. "If you find them, hole up inside. I'll be there soon."
Temperance reached out for his shirt, "Wait Seeley," she cried. The fabric slipped through her fingers.
Seeley looked back at her as he advanced off to the East, "No time…" He nodded reassuringly to her, "Find them…" Then he turned and disappeared through the brush.
Temperance heard movement from behind her. She whirled, only to see the opaque underbrush. Now she heard voices, growing closer. She stood and ran North, through the brush. Her heart constricted in fear. Fear for her husband. Fear for her children. Fear she would not get there in time.
She didn't know how long she ran. Or how far. All she knew was her arms, shoulders and face were cut in what seemed dozens places from the saw grass. She stood, gasping for air, trying desperately to hear any sound of the pursuers. Nothing. She moved forward. Now more slowly. Not the desperate, blind, headlong rush she had just endured.
Then she saw him. Unmistakable in his dark blue ball cap and Hawaiian shirt. 'Jon!' her heart leapt. 'Jon and Cricket are here too!' she thought, a bit more comforted. It wasn't just Seeley and her searching for them. He was moving away from her. "Jon!" she yelled out to him. He must not have heard her as he continued moving forward, increasing his speed.
Temperance began running as well, using Jon as her trailblazer. She pounded through the brush, never gaining on Jon nor losing ground. Until finally, as she watched, he seemed to drop out of sight. She hurried to the spot, only to find herself falling from a now-behind her escarpment, down towards a creek bed a good twenty feet below her.
She knew a fall of this distance shouldn't have lasted this long. The creek bed seemed to be moving away from her as she fell, picking up speed. She could see Jon's body off to her right. It had come to rest in a sitting position up against the cliff face. His sniper rifle, barrel up, leaned against his left leg.
She closed her eyes, waiting for her own collision with the ground.
Temperance's body lurched. Breathing heavily, her eyes opened.
It was daylight. She lay on her back in her own bed. Staring at her bedroom ceiling, she raised her hands to her eyes. "Oh crap," she said. After a few moments, getting her breathing back under control, she sat up, leaning back against the headboard. Temperance slid her feet to her haunches, raising her knees in the process. Leaning her elbows atop her knees, she ran her fingers through her hair. 'I thought I was done with these,' she thought, annoyed. She turned to the empty side of the bed. All she saw was Seeley's pillow; a poor excuse of a substitute for him. Even so, she reached over and pulled the pillow between her chest and raised knees. As she wrapped herself around the pillow, she laid her head atop the fabric. Temperance turned her face towards her bed stand. Tented atop her gun safe sat a familiar blue and white card. She smiled as she reached out and brought the card to her. Seeley's flowing script caressed her eyes.
"My Darling Temperance,
I'm sorry I can't be with you this morning. I have to go in early to take care of some things before Kelly gets in.
I've set the timer for the coffeemaker for 8:00," Temperance looked to the alarm clock. She noticed the alarm was off, but Seeley had a pretty good handle on her circadian rhythm. It was 8:07 now. She smiled and turned back to the note.
"Have I told you lately I Love You?
'I Love You more today more than yesterday,
but less than tomorrow.'
Don't forget to pick me up at around 1:00 so we can put the flyers up about the Serras' funeral.
I Love You,
Seeley"
Temperance closed the card. She inhaled deeply as she brought it to her lips for a kiss. Her mood considerably better, she tossed the pillow to Seeley's side of the bed and bounded to her feet.
