Thank you to all the kind readers who left a comment. Here we go with chapter 3 and sorry for the waiting.. kids with flu and mess at work.

Again the characters are not mine and I am not using them for profit, just to hang on until next new episode. Looking forward to it.

Greveling

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October 25th, 6:00 p.m. local time Kabul and 12:30 local time DC

Brennan followed him into the hangar airport, and biting her lower lip she was just hoping hard that Booth was not in a meeting. She really wanted to talk to him before being forced to radio silence by the situation. Words were sort of escaping her right there, but she did not care, hearing his voice was going to be enough.

She dialled his cell number, repeating like a mantra: please pick up.

He lost the track of time, just to be woken up from his day- nightmare by the ring of his phone.

His heart pumping fast and hard in his chest, he picked up the telephone hoping, no, PRAYING it was her.

Chapter 3

Booth looked at his cell while it was ringing in his hand: unknown number displayed. That gave him even more hope that indeed it was Brennan calling him.

"Booth" said his uncertain voice. It was enough for her, she felt as if a knot at her stomach finally untangled and blood could continue its normal flow.

"It's me Booth. Bones" SHHHHHH.. the line was really disturbed.

"BONES! Did you get to Kabul in one piece?" his word got to her together with the sound of his smile.

"Yes Booth. Just landed. The unit escorting me is already waiting for me, we are leaving in a few minutes. I just wanted to let you know that I arrived safe and ok..". Also her voice was light and happy, Booth could really feel her smile and happiness through the phone. He pulled it even harder against his ear, as if this movement could bring her closer somehow.

"It's good to hear your voice Bones, and I'm glad you called me to say goodbye, again. I have actually been thinking about you since you left and.. I still can't believe that I won't see you for all these weeks." He hesitated one second before continuing. "I already miss you, more than you know".

"I've been thinking about you too, Booth. Maybe because you gave me that medal of yours that is itching under all my military clothes?" She was giggling now.

God, since when Brennan was making jokes and fooling him around? He had to admit, she was a fast learner. As awkward as she was dealing with heart to heart conversations, she had already learned that sometimes humour could dilute the tension and the power of emotions. And help deal with them.

"And I'm gonna miss you too Booth, just wanted you to know it. I.." He heard a sigh and he understood that she wanted to say something else but she probably didn't know how.

His thought were running wild "That's the moment, man, tell her. Tell her what she means to you. Don't let her go without saying it. Out loud. But don't scare her, she needs to focus on her mission not worrying about your feelings." He inhaled and dove into it.

"I am so proud of you Temperance, so proud of what you are doing and the courage you have. You are the best partner in the world and an amazing person, a very special woman. I am so blessed to be part of your life. I can't wait to have you back." It all came out in one single breath.

And that was it. She was utterly speechless. He had stopped talking not because he was expecting a reply from her, nor because he had finished, no way, now that he had just started he could go on for a year telling her how special and beautiful she was. He was simply out of breath.

Silence had then dropped on their phone conversation while Brennan could feel her heart beating fast and his accelerated breathing. It told her that he meant every single word, and that he was having problems in expressing his feelings as much as her.

"I'll do my best Booth" she finally decided to take a chance as well "to accomplish this mission and help bring our guys home, but I'm looking forward to being back. With you".

Before she could even start regretting saying that, she heard his soft voice.

"It's a deal then. Ok Bones? You come back as soon as you can and I'll plan great things we can do together to catch up for our weeks apart. Just be prepared, I will want to have you by my side, all the time."

"Deal" she said with an unusual lightness in her heart and a broad smile on her face.

Sergeant Wilcox signed that they really had to go now and she had to terminate the call.

"I have to go now Booth, you take care and stay away from ladies who give you socks or nasty killers. Be kind to my grad students, remember that you'll need them" now she was openly laughing. But then her tone got serious again." I'll miss you".

"You take care too Bones, I am keeping your ring close to my heart and I am starting, right now, waiting for you."

They said goodbye and the she closed the call.

She got into the military vehicle and timidly smiled to all the marines who were waiting for her inside.

The trip began and nobody talked. She was grateful for the silence around her, apparently she was not the only one too taken by her own thoughts to chat and socialise.

She was going to have time enough to get to know her mission mates anyway. For now the outside world was changing shape and colors the more miles they were driving, but it was all lost to her. She could only think of Booth's soft voice, his words that were sinking so deep in her heart and what they really meant. The memory of his smile and his hugs that were so vivid she could almost feel his warmth close to her.

She took the medal out of her shirt and held it in her hand: Booth had been right. She was happy now she had it with her. She let it fall again on her chest and closed her eyes. Exhaustion took over and she kept seeing his charming smile and his twinkly eyes until she let herself slip into a dreamless sleep.

Fifteen minutes had passed and Booth was still at his desk, in the exact same position. She was gone now, and his world has stopped. He felt numb and dizzy. What time was it? He raised his eyes to look at the clock in front of him. Lunch time.

He was not hungry, he did not have any appetite. The idea of a pie just made him cringe. No Bones, no pie. No diner, actually. He would have hated to go there without her, knowing that she was so far away from him and in a dangerous war zone.

He had to just get up and move, and face the fact that from now on, he was going to be without a partner. Her. He was surprised at how difficult everything seemed to be, focusing on his email, the pile of paperwork waiting for him.

He just could not remove her face and her eyes from his head as if she was standing there in front of him.

But he was going to take this demon by the horn, this emptiness and longing that was not giving him a break. For himself and for her as well. If he could find a way to cope and function, he could then work and keep himself so busy that time was going to fly.

Let's do it the way she would like: compartmentalise. During the day you work Seel and in your free time you plan what you'll do once she is back. Maybe you can even find gifts for her. Yeah, that was a plan that could work.

He got up with a sprint, and made a call.

"Hi, it's Booth. Wanna grab some lunch together?" A voice gave the reply he was hoping for. "Yes, great, get all the squints. I'll see you all at the diner in 15. Sweets? Why not. I'll get him as well. Bye Cam".

Face problem number one: deal with the squints without going crazy at the idea she is not there. The sooner the better. Maybe after lunch I'll even pass by the lab. I have to get used to see her office dark and empty. Without dying inside.

He had a plan now, and felt slightly better. At least he had found the strength to pretend he was still feeling normal, while in reality he felt himself going insane.

God, I need you so much Bones. Come back soon.

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Guys, voice your opinion and let me know what you like and what you don't.

Thanks to all and let's hope these 15 days till new Bones episode go very fast. I am feeling going insane like Booth in my story sometimes. I miss my Bones!!