(The Life in the Light)

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I don't own Bones.

Oooooooooooooooooo

Not sure if they were being practical, Brennan knew that going on vacation while she was pregnant would not be as fun as Booth would like, but she knew he was looking for some peace and being away from home and away from work would give him that. She wasn't up for long hikes or swimming, but she was available for quiet dinners, conversation or just being there with him while he relaxed. She packed several books for both her and him, just in case they decided that they wanted to read instead of watching television. The television didn't have cable and could only pick up two local stations in the area, so she imagined the television wouldn't be on very much.

Grateful that the cabin was available, Booth packed the SUV with his and Brennan's luggage and after dropping Christine off at Max's place, they left the city behind and enjoyed the quiet ride up to the cabin. Before they got there, Booth stopped at a grocery store and bought enough food and drinks to last one week. If he needed to go to the store he could, but he wanted to get to the cabin and not leave unless it was really necessary.

Pulling up to the cabin, he noticed the lawn needed to be mowed which he could take care of. He had brought some gasoline as well as a propane tank. He could switch out his propane tank with the one on the porch for the house when needed. All in all, he didn't consider this vacation to be very expensive and the isolation was a welcome relief.

Once he had unloaded everything into the cabin, Booth carried the groceries into the kitchen and found Brennan wiping down counters, appliances and the sink. No one had been at the cabin for a couple of months and there was dust everywhere. While he unloaded the food in the cabinets and fridge, Brennan got out a dust mop and cleaned the floors. "We can air out the comforter in the bedroom we're going to use. Everything is clean, just dusty."

Done with the groceries, he carried the luggage into the bedroom, grabbed the comforter from the bed, carried it outside and hung it from the clothesline in the backyard. That done, he got out the lawnmower, filled the tank with gas and mowed the lawn around the cabin. Once he was finished, he locked the mower back in the shed, walked over to the picnic table in the backyard and sat down. His gaze moved around the yard and as he watched several birds boldly landed in the back part of the property near the trees and began a search for bugs. It was quiet and Booth felt his body relax. He hadn't realized just how tense he had been until he wasn't.

She saw him sitting at the picnic table and decided to sit on a rocker on the porch and give him some space. His battle with gambling had been hard on him and she wanted to give Booth time to enjoy the quiet by himself. Living in a large city, there was never any time that there wasn't noise. Here, in the woods, the only sounds she heard were birds singing, insects whirring and squirrels fussing at something. The wind occasionally picked up a little and that caused the leaves on the trees to rustle and a few branches to clack together. It was a pleasant sound and she felt herself relaxing. She hadn't realized that she wasn't relaxed, so obviously she had needed this break too.

Aware that Brennan was on the porch, Booth decided to give her a chance to enjoy the isolation of the cabin. The day was warm, but not too warm. The fresh mowed grass was a pleasant scent in the air and watching the birds coming and going was soothing for the moment. There were few opportunities for them to just sit and do nothing and he found it to be satisfying. He knew he couldn't bear to do nothing for too long, but once in a while it was alright. Once in a while you have to give yourself permission to do nothing.

Ooooooooooooooooo

The sun was starting to set and Booth realized he was hungry. Standing, he stretched his arms over his head and let them fall to his side. Turning to face the porch, he smiled at Brennan, walked across the lawn, up the steps and on to the porch. "You hungry?"

"I believe I am. I also need to go to the bathroom." Standing, she shook her head. "It's so peaceful here, I should have gone to the bathroom sooner." Moving back into the cabin, Brennan made her way to the bathroom, while Booth removed items from the fridge and started to prepare dinner. He had bought a couple of roasted chickens, mixed greens, various fresh vegetables and salad dressings. Brennan back in the room, Booth removed two plates from the cabinet. "How does salad sound? I have some chicken for mine and I bought some sun dried tomatoes and some pepperoncini peppers and fresh cucumbers for your salad, although I might add some pepperoncini to mine too."

"That does sound delicious." Brennan retrieved one bottle of beer and one bottle of water from the fridge. "I'll be happy when I can drink beer again." Placing the bottles on the kitchen table, she found the loaf of bread that Booth had bought and placed it on the table. "It was nice this afternoon."

Booth paused. "It was. Thanks for thinking of this place. I think the cabin was a great idea." Turning back, he continued to prepare their salads. "The drumbeat is barely there, Bones. I can hardly hear it. I think the extra GA meetings, you and Gavin talking to me . . . I think they helped me push the urge back and the drum . . . the drum is almost quiet . . . Thanks for helping me and thanks for trusting me. I needed to know that you trusted me to fix this."

"I did trust you, Booth. I knew that you knew what you could lose." Brennan smiled as Booth placed the salads on the table. "You know that if the drums ever get louder you can come to me and I'll help you muffle the drum."

"I know. It helps to know you're on my side . . . in my corner." Booth sat down, splashed some Italian dressing on his salad and handed the bottle to Brennan. "Without you . . ." He didn't finish. He knew that she knew what he was saying.

Clasping his hand, Brennan nodded her head. "Not without me, Booth. Not without me."

Oooooooooooooooooooo

The week passed slowly and both Booth and Brennan relished it. They were comfortable in their solitude knowing it was just temporary and that they would see their daughter in a few days. They used this time to talk, take short walks along the path into the woods, play a board game Booth found in a closet, reading and making love.

Each day helped heal them in ways they hadn't known they needed. Their lives had been filled with worry and fear for quite a while and now they could see that they didn't have to live like that. It made them think about things that had never crossed their minds before now.

"Do you think we should find new jobs, do something else?" Booth sat on a rocking chair next to Brennan on the back porch staring at a deer that had just entered the clearing.

"Is that what you're thinking of?" Brennan observed the deer nibble on one of the leaves of an apple tree and waited for Booth to reply. After a few moments of silence, she realized that he wasn't going to answer her. "Do you want to quit working for the FBI?"

Trying to be truthful, Booth sighed. "I don't know, maybe . . . we've been through a lot . . . If Danny hadn't come to the house that night, I might have died when those mercenaries showed up. You and Christine could have been killed . . . I love my job, but sometimes, I don't know if it's worth risking my family for. We chase really bad people. They don't have any compunction about killing someone and collateral damage is just words to them . . . Someone needs to go after them and stop them, but I don't know if it should be us . . . You're going to have a baby soon. Two kids and we're risking their lives doing what we're doing."

She let him talk and when he stopped, Brennan gave him a few minutes to continue if he wanted to. The silence stretched out and she finally spoke. "What we do is important. We have closed cases that were cold and law enforcement gave up on them. We found a traitor and he's in jail. We stopped a coup against our country. We did Booth . . . Yes, what we do is dangerous, but we're dealing with dangerous people who don't value life. We get justice for those who couldn't get it themselves. And yes, you were attacked in our home, but Danny was there to help you because he, like you believe in what he is doing. We're not alone Booth. We're not unprotected. Our children are watched, guarded . . . Their lives are no more at risk than any other child whose parents are in law enforcement." She was still gathering her thoughts and she was surprised that Booth hadn't interrupted her yet. His silence told her that he was listening and she needed to be careful what she said. He was looking for advice and she didn't want to him give him bad advice.

"If you feel that you must give up working for the FBI then I will understand, but I am a forensic anthropologist and I have been working to identify victims of crimes since I graduated from University. I have identified the remains of citizens killed in war, murdered because they didn't support dictators or were of the wrong faith or nationality. Soldiers who have died in foreign fields, who have died fighting for their countries. I have been threatened, accosted, thrown in prison and I have seen my husband attacked in our home, my stepson's life threatened and I have not given up doing what I do. I am the best in the world and I give a face to those who have been thrown away. I've given them a voice and I have helped them get justice . . . you have fought for the United States, you've killed evil men who were trying to destroy their country, their people. You've investigated crimes, solved murders, brought down traitors, exposed a coup . . . you are exemplary at what you do. We are a great partnership and we help hold back the darkness that is constantly trying to dampen the light in the world. It's hard, it's dangerous and it affects us, but in the end, we do what we do because that is who we are. If you wish to give this up, you can, Booth, but I don't know if that will make you happy. Only you can know that for certain. I will support whatever you decide to do, but I must continue to do what I do . . . Do you understand?"

He appreciated that she was being honest with him about their situation. Booth knew that she would support whatever he chose to do because she loved him. "I hear you, Bones . . . I think my brush with gambling again shook me up harder than I wanted to admit. I don't really want to give up working for the FBI, but I need for you and our kids to be safe . . . Do you think Max would like to move in with us permanently?"

Surprised, Brennan shifted in her chair so she could look at her husband. "If I asked him to, he might agree . . . Do you think that is necessary? Durant is dead. His co-conspirators have been arrested. As far as we know, everyone that was a threat to us have been neutralized. If it will give you peace of mind, I will ask, but I want to make sure you've thought through the consequences. My father is a very independent man and he travels a lot. Even if he agrees to live with us, he may not want to babysit our children all of the time."

"Yeah . . . but when he is around, I know our kids are safe." Booth exhaled deeply. "I don't really want to give up the FBI, Bones. I was just . . . thinking out loud. Thinking about what a peaceful life would be like."

"I think a peaceful life would be very boring to you and to me." Brennan understood who Booth was. She knew him and she knew his need to help, to make things right. The FBI was a perfect job for him. "You may get a promotion and with that the risks might lessen. Why don't we wait and see if you're going to get that promotion or not? If you don't get the promotion, then we can ask Max to move in. If you get the promotion then it is likely you will no longer be in the field and the dangers to our children will decrease therefore Max moving in will not be needed."

Her logic was sound and Booth agreed with what she had said. "Okay, let's see what happens with my promotion. We can decide what to do if and when I get it . . . It's a good plan, Bones. Thanks."

Pleased that Booth was willing to wait before making life altering decisions, Brennan smiled. "You're welcome, Booth." The deer was still in the yard and she turned to watch the animal continue to eat the leaves on the apple tree. "She's lovely."

"Yeah, she is." Grateful to have someone that understood him, Booth leaned back against his chair and crossed his legs at his ankles. "It's been a nice vacation. I'm glad we came."

"I am too."

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