Thank you to all who took the time to review. LoveShipper, Vmf447 (you're right about the show doing that), RobinAngelena (lol!), mendenbar (had a good laugh with your witty review), doge, 554Laura, dms517 (I might get to that if I feel inspired enough with that idea), Phyllis, regbride12 (thank you, always glad to see that my stories are enjoyed), FaithinBones (I think it's something that will always haunt him), gatewatcher, topaz270, ZinaR (another good stories idea I might take up if sufficiently inspired).

The inspiration for this came while I was listening to the news as I drove to work one morning. In my head, I was thinking if Temperance Brennan were real, she'd be just the person they'd get to help with this. Anyway to avoid stuff I don't want to get into, certain details in this one shot are deliberately vague.

Forensic Anthropologist

When she heard on the news she knew that she would be the one they would call. As predicted, her phone rang a couple of minutes after the news excerpt ended. In her mind, she had already decided to agree to the request even before she answered her phone. She knew she had little choice. It had been many years since her expertise had been called upon for situations like this but she knew what to expect. She would have to leave soon. The Army and CIA didn't like to be kept waiting. But that was not what drove her. It was the thought of family, waiting on news about their loved ones lost in a war so long ago, that made the decision easy for her. She had to go, even though her circumstances had now changed from years ago.

Booth had understood. Of course he did. He was a veteran after all. He of all people understood why she had to go the most. Her children whined and Hank cried when he was told Mommy had to go away for work for a long time. Her heart broke as she waved good bye to her family at the airport where she was to be flown to where her assignment was to be carried out, little Hank's tear-streaked face etched in her memory. Christine had tried to be brave but she noticed her wiping away tears as she clung to her Daddy's hand. In his father's arms, Hank kept waving even as he sniffed and cried.

"We love you and we're proud of you. Go do what you have to do, the kids would be fine with me. Be careful okay? And make sure you eat. I love you."

Booth had spoken those words to her as he kissed her goodbye. It was ironic how she had always envisioned their roles to be reversed. She had always thought she would be the one saying goodbye to her husband, called away to some important military task, her being left behind with the children.

It wasn't the first time Brennan's expertise had been called upon to identify remains of fallen war heroes. This time, there were quite a number of remains that had been brought home and she didn't expect the task to be finished quickly. She wanted to be thorough. Their families deserved answers. They deserved the closure they had been waiting so long for.

As she worked methodically, she couldn't help but she miss her family dearly. She was acutely aware that she was missing out on Christine and Hank's childhood. She remembered taking Christine and running, depriving Booth of three months with their daughter. She felt remorse but pushed the thought aside. Things were different now. She called Booth regularly and conversed with her small children. She was always assured that they were doing well but they missed her.

In the past, she could remain objective, detaching herself from emotion, but now, knowing what it was like to have a family made her task harder than she had anticipated. Each fallen solider had a family too. Someone was missing their Dad, their husband, brother, son. It was heart breaking to think that any one of them could have been Booth. The emotional turmoil she battled inside her did not however prevent her from performing her expected duties to her usual exceptional standard. She was still the best forensic anthropologist in the world and she had a job to do.

Two weeks into the job at hand, she was surprised when she was offered a break and go home for the weekend to spend some time with her family. She gladly accepted the offer.

When she got home, Booth immediately knew what she was doing was taking it's toil on her. She had only been given a short three-days at home before she had to resume her job identifying and cataloguing remains at the military base. She spent every waking moment with her children and at night when Hank and Christine were asleep, the couple spent much needed time together. He knew that being with him soothed the ache in her heart. Her three days at home seemed to go by all too quickly.

"You don't have to go." Booth said as he lay sprawled naked on their bed after another session of their love-making.

"I have to." Brennan replied matter-of-factly as she pulled on her clothes and gathered her things, ready to make the nine hour flight back to work.

"This is hard on you."

"It never used to be. But I owe it to the many families waiting for answers."

"Yeah, I know."

"I've requested for Clark to accompany me this time. We should be able to complete the identifications faster."

"That's good. I'm missing you already." He said as he slid off the bed, pulling her into his arms again.

"I love you. Don't forget to eat." Booth had said to her again as they said their goodbyes at the airport, a sense of déjà vu descending upon them as she left that afternoon.

Another two weeks later and she was done. With Clark's help, what could have taken twice that time was avoided. Weary and after a long flight, Brennan got home in the early hours of the morning. The house was quiet, everyone asleep in bed.

She checked on her sleeping children. At the threshold to their bedroom, Brennan took the time to admire her husband, who was asleep naked, save for the pair of boxers he had on. She watched the rise and fall of his chest, grateful that he had not perished in the many wars he had so bravely fought in.

She undressed and slipped into bed next to him, her actions waking him. Sleepy eyes blinked sleep away as his dark brown eyes betrayed his surprise.

"I wasn't expecting you home so soon, not for a couple more days anyway."

"I wanted to surprise you."

"The kids would be happy to see you when they wake up."

"They're okay?"

"Yeah, but they'll be that much happier now that Mommy's home."

"I missed you."

"I missed you too." He tunnelled his fingers through her hair.

"Make love to me."

He could sense a sadness in her voice and he pulled her down towards him, gently showing her how much he loved her.

As the waves of pleasure slowly subsided from her body she lay on his chest, the gnawing ache inside her soothed somewhat. He always had that almost magical ability to read her mind.

"You know that I'm not gonna end up like them right? I'm still here. And I'll always be, for as long as I can." His fingers ghosting her back that was now covered with a thin film of sweat that gave her naked body a slight sheen.

He waited for her to process her thoughts and then felt her start to cry.

"It's okay Temperance. I'm here. I love you."

He tightened his arms round her as she finally allowed herself to grieve. When she finally stopped crying, she lifted her head off his chest.

"I'm sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about."

"I never used to be like this."

"This was the first time you've had to do something like this since we got together. Since Hank and Christine."

"Yes… I was afraid for you every day I was away."

"I'm not with the Army anymore."

"But you're still with the FBI."

"And I'm still here."

"I know it's not logical but it feels better now that I'm back home. Even thought you still take Aubrey with you to the field mostly, it just feels better that I'm home."

"I get what you're trying to say Bones. I worried about you too. You've lost weight. You didn't eat like I told you huh?"

"I got caught up with work sometimes. Lost track of time."

"Yeah well now that you're home, I can fatten you up again."

"Booth!"

He laughs the laugh she had so missed.

"I'm glad you did what you did. Even though it must've hurt. I'm proud of you. You gave closure to so many families at the cost of your own happiness."

Brennan was never one to be modest but this time her smile betrayed a hint of humility. "I kept thinking what I would do if it were you."

"It's not." He reassured her again. He turned his head to check the time. "Kids would be up soon. Why don't you grab a shower. I'll make breakfast. I bet you miss my pancakes."

"Yes I did. The pancakes they occasionally served for breakfast never tasted as good as yours."

"Of course they didn't. I cook every one of my pancakes with love."

Being a world renowned forensic anthropologist did take its toll on her now and then but this time she knew it was worth it. In the past, she worked without having to worry about another person but despite that contrast, the present was so much better. She could get to come home to this. Brennan smiled, her heart now light.

"It's good to be home Booth."

"It's good to have you home Bones."

A little angsty I know but this one-shot was literally a moment of inspiration that grabbed me and wouldn't let go. The idea was just was begging to be put into words. Took me less than half an hour to get it done. Liked it or hated it?