Chapter 29

It had been three days since Booth's surprise arrival. Most of the time he spent his days watching Bones work or just hanging around the tents getting to know everyone, but when they were all working he was surveying. Much to his partners dismay he took post and watched the locals as they circled the site on the edge of their perimeter. He knew that they hadn't been causing any issues but he wanted to make sure that nothing more happened, that his girlfriend wasn't in danger and even more so there wasn't another murder planted for the team to dig up. It had been driving him crazy that they had buried a body within the dig perimeter knowing that it would be found eventually, it was like they wanted Bones to find it but then didn't act on it other than terrorize the group of scientists. Something was missing from the scenario and Booth was determined to find out before he left.

The leave that he was granted by the army was ticking away and he had been given the choice of going back to finish his year contract, or be honorably discharged for his work he had done in the past and thus far with training. The decision was eating at him not knowing which to choose. He had left the army years ago with good standings and had excelled in his career since then. Now as Sergeant Major he had been given more responsibility than ever but he had never felt less fit for a position. The guilt from taking a job he wasn't suited for anymore weighed on him more than anything. The PTSD was tethering on destroying his well being. He had no idea what to do.

"Agent Booth." Daisy Wick's voice caused him to jump from his little post above the dig. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm heading down to the site and brought you some coffee." Taking the cup he hummed in appreciation as she began to rattle on about the dig and Dr. Brennan and he tried to pay attention but he had gotten fairly good at ignoring her over the years.

"It's, uh, not Agent anymore Daisy. Just Booth is fine." He finally said as he surveyed the scientists below them working endlessly to find more remains or artifacts. "Thanks for the coffee. Be safe down there, I noticed more movement today than the last couple."

The guerrillas didn't seem to care that they were being watched by him or really anyone else, that didn't bother him but knowing they were so confident to show themselves constantly did make him nervous.

"We were all pretty nervous when they were bothering us, but they never actually crossed the barrier while we were working. We never saw them do anything, they were very sneaky. Except when Dr. Brennan beat them up when they came up to us." The young anthropologist giggled at the memory and he groaned at the thought. "You being here means a lot to her, by the way, she would never mention it to anyone but I could tell her she was homesick."

While he had known it was true that she had missed home, he also knew that his presence at the dig wasn't helping her stress levels. He didn't want her to feel pressured to go home with him if he didn't choose to go back to Afghanistan, but he also wanted nothing more than to just be in DC and find normalcy again.

He watched the site for a couple more hours before heading back up to the camp to find something to eat and get Bones to take a break with him. "Lunchtime, Bones." He whistled as he entered her work tent. She was hunched over a set of remains examining them closely with a stack of literature and a tablet next to her. It was obvious that she was ignoring him in favor of her research but he wasn't afraid of her wrath for disturbing her. Moving behind her he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.

"Booth." She whined more than scolded and he chuckled as she didn't work too hard to move him. "I'm working, I can't just stop because you're hungry." Tightening his hold on her, he took a step back forcing her to step with him and chuckled at her huff. "I'm serious, I know you're capable of eating by yourself unless you have somehow forgotten how to feed yourself in which I can point you towards the med tent."

"Come'on Bones, come take a break with me. You promised me you'd show me some of the scenery and I want to do that now. Please, let's grab go-bags of food and go for a walk." Kissing her neck again he smiled against her skin when she finally relaxed.

"You are a terrible influence on me and my work ethic." Brennan grumbled as she finally wiggled from his grasp and marked her place in her research and locked up her findings. Honestly she had been staring at the same thing for the last hour, having hit a wall, but he did not need to know that. "I suppose a break would be beneficial and we could do a little exploring before coming back." The wide grin that was plastered on his face made her melt inside and she looped her arm with his as they made their way to the cantine for some lunch.

"Bones, when I said exploring, I wasn't exactly thinking of an hour-long hike." Booth said breathlessly as he trailed behind her just slightly up the small incline.

"It has not been an hour, it's been maybe twenty minutes and we're almost there." She smirked as she led them off the path and after five more minutes of jungle they were greeted by a small opening overlooking the water. Turning towards her partner she was delighted by the pleasant look on his face. "I found this in the first weeks we were here, when we weren't finding anything at the site and I needed to get away from the stress of it all. I'm not sure any one else has ventured off path to know it's here."

The volcano she had mentioned in a letter to him was just off in the distance and only the sounds of the jungle and water around them could be heard. It was quite literally a little piece of paradise right there on the island. "It's beautiful." Booth murmured as he stood by here just taking in the views. "This right here is why I can see your reluctance to leave." He added and she shook her head.

"You know very well that even if this wasn't here, the work I'm doing is the reason I don't want to leave the project yet." She chastised as she sat down on the ground. "However, when
I first found this area; I did think of you and your insistence that a vacation actually be a place to relax and enjoy. So this is just a place I go to do just that, if even for a little while." Brennan knew that he was eager to get back to DC and he wanted her to go home with her, but she had promised a year to the project and despite her finds and how close she was to identifying them she hated the thought of breaking her contract. Knowing he was breaking his didn't make her feel any better.

They sat and ate in a peaceful silence for a little while before he pulled her in between his legs. Sighing she leaned against him and closed her eyes just enjoying the closeness. "May I ask you something?" Brennan whispered not wanting to intentionally ruin the moment but needing to ask. He hummed seemingly reluctantly and she kissed his cheek. "Have you made a decision on whether you are returning to the Army?" Booth groaned and she bit her lip knowing he wasn't wanting to speak on the subject just yet, just as he had been the last three days. "Booth…"

"Bones." He breathed as he tugged on a piece of her hair that had fallen against his cheek. "No,
I haven't decided. Do you really want me gone that badly?" He questioned back and she quickly shook her head and turned so that she was facing him.

"Never, I find that I have missed you so much since we parted and as you know I have had my share of regrets regarding both of our departures from DC. I just know how much you honor your country and I don't want me being in any danger to jeopardize that. You're too good of a man, Booth. I'm just worried for you, that's all." Brennan sighed as she cupped his cheek so that he would look at her more directly instead of around her towards the water. Slowly she brought her lips to his and kissed him. "However I do admit that either way you choose I know that it'll mean we'll be separated again, and I hate that." He wasn't cleared to be on the island for too long, eventually he'd have to leave just to go through the proper channels to come back again for a long period of time.

"A large part of me knows that I need to finish what I started over there." He said softly and she nodded urging him to continue. "But, Bones, I don't know how to survive over there anymore. Not without the job eating away at me more than it already has. You know I did a lot that I'm not proud of when I served before, now I'm teaching these kids to do the same thing, how am

I am supposed to train them when I have never moved past what I did?"

"Your karmic balance sheet" She said simply earning a glare from her partner. "I'm not saying it as a bad thing, I'm just saying it as I know what you're talking about. However, in some cases I think that's what makes you so good for the job. You know how to teach them to be good soldiers and maybe you can help them not feel so guilty when they're tours are over." Brennan shrugged. "I hate psychology, maybe you should contact Sweets."

It barely took a second for him to groan at the thought and pulled her closer to him. "How about we don't mention him right now, hmm? Let's just enjoy our time together and when I want to talk about it, we'll sit down and decide what's best. Okay?" He asked as a hand slid under her tank top and she raised an eyebrow at him. "How discreet is this place?" His lips found her neck and she hummed in response.

"No one from the site has been here that I know of but that doesn't mean no one knows it's here." Brennan answered honestly as her own fingers moved to the hem of his shirt as he paused his own movements. She pouted. "You shouldn't start something you're not going to finish."

His head fell to her shoulder as he contemplated just how close they were to someone finding them before throwing all morals away. "Never." Booth murmured against her shoulder as he nipped at it before finally helping her out of the thin shirt. "However if someone, especially Daisy, finds us it's on you." He warned with a grin.

"Told you we were safe." Brennan gloated as she straightened her shirt and laid back against him once they were both redressed, basking in the warmth of each other. If there had been anyone around they hadn't heard them and she hoped that meant if anyone had been on the trails they hadn't heard them either.

"Yeah well…" Booth started before losing his trail of thought as he rubbed circles up and down her back. "I love you." He finally said contentedly. "Though I suppose I should get you back to work huh?"

Gathering their empty lunch bags they made their way back towards the trail and he was relieved when he didn't see anyone coming or going hoping it had been that way since they had arrived. Stopping off at her tent they both freshened up before he wrapped his arms around her. "Don't work too late, please." He whispered into her ear before kissing just above it. "I'm going to go do my rounds at the site and maybe the perimeter just to be sure."

"You worry too much." Brennan replied before kissing him soundly. "But I appreciate you. Just be careful, okay? I know you're trying to protect me and the site but be safe. I can't have you getting hurt." The thought made her more sick now than it did when he was in a warzone. It was a feeling she just couldn't get away from.