Part three, Opening.
She noticed the letters the second she entered her office.
With her face burried in a folder, she sensed that something was different before she visually saw them.
Looking up, halted in the door way, her eyes fell instantly on the disorganized stack of envelopes.
"Booth." She half sighed, half wimpered, as if she expected him to answer her.
Sitting down, she put the folder that was seconds ago so interesting to her aside, now forgotten.
She brushed her finger tips over the top envelope.
There was nothing written on it, and turning it over she felt the weight of it in her hand.
The paper was rough, dirty. She wondered how he managed to keep all the envelopes safe through so much.
Although, thinking more clearly - he was the most protective, caring individual she knew, so she should not be surprised.
Corners were bended, and watermarks faded amongst the grain.
She sifted quickly through the envelopes. Estimating that there were hundreds.
Some heavy, some light. Yellowed to different degrees.
She tugged at the corner of what appeared to be the oldest envelope.
Sure enough, the date confirmed - it was written two days after she had left.
"Bones, "
She sighed, drawing her eyes closed. She had not heard that name in so long, and it brought with it memories and feelings she was uncomfortable with assesing.
" Bones,
I expect you are taking care of yourself just fine in that Indonesian jungle. As long as there is not too many snakes.. Haha.
It is weird not talking to you. I do not really know what to do with myself without you. After six years, not hearing your voice in a day is pretty much like being deaf. Ya ya, I know.. not literally. But I am trying to make a point here. The point is, I miss you. And I wish you were here with me. Not here, literally.. because it is dangerous and I might just have a heart attack if I have to imagine you being in a war zone. But, anyways..
things are going well with the training I am doing. I feel like I am making a difference in the world again, in a different way then how we make a difference. Cosmic balance sheet is taking a beating, but I suppose thats just part of the job.
Ive got to go, I will write you soon.
-Booth. "
She folded the letter and tucked it neatly back into the envelope, questioning certainly not for the first time in the past year, what kind of mistake she made.
Drawing another breath, she searched for the second most yellowed, rough envelope.
My Bones,
It has been a while, but after writing the last letter I realized that I do not even have an address for you.. So wether these will eventually get to you or not, who knows. Its nice to be able to speak to you through this, even if you are not reading them. I imagine you rolling your eyes at me, correcting me.. it is more manly then writing in a diary or something. Tell the guys I'm writing to you is easier than explaining them that I am just..writing.
We lost some good men two days ago. One who I was particularly close with. He was a son, a husband. He was just telling me earlier in the week that his wife is expecting their first child in 7 months, and now... well now he is just gone. I should have done something. I should have been more protective, gotten better surveilence of the area.. something. Now a child won't ever know their father.
I am realizing things here, that I thought I could let go. Things I thought that I could surpress and forget or ignore before, and now I am not so sure.
Booth.
It wasn't until she noticed the letters in his name blurring that she realized she was crying.
It felt foreign. The past year she had surpressed all her emotions, or tried to, and now.. everything was coming to the surface.
"Sweetie? What is it!" Angela asked, concern in her voice as she rushed to her friends side.
Bones quickly folded the letter, and stuffed it back into the envelope taht had carried it so far.
She wiped at the tears on her face, trying to smile at her friend.
"Sweetie.. whats going on? What is all this?" Angela asked, thumbing through the remaining seeled envelopes.
Brennan could only shake her head slowly, shrugging her shoulders.
Angela nodded in response, biting the inside of her cheek, "Booth?"
The sound of his name only causing her tears to fall harder.
"Well, have you seen him?" the concerned friend asked, hugging her friend.
Brennan shook her head again, "I.. didn't want to."
xxx
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~EverythingHappensEventually