The next morning

They were packed and ready to go they all went to the Military base Booth was in more of a Military outfit he had on naval pants gray t-shirt Naval jacket and his dog tags. Liz on the other hand was in her naval uniform and hat and three dog tags Temperance said "well I feel way under dressed" she looked down at her jeans t-shirt short sleeve button up blouse and denim blazer her hair was pulled into a ponytail

Booth said "you're fine… Liz is over dressed"

Liz glared at him "I just like to look professional'

Booth said "that is the only reason she wanted to come… so she could dust off the suit"

Liz said "funny but no"

Temperance took a breathe are you ready to go"

Booth said "as ready as I'll ever be"

Liz said "translates to Never… your never ready for what you see over there even if you have seen over there your never ready for it"

Booth said "that is so true"

Temperance said "let's go"

They drove to the helicopter port the corporal met them there and they put there stuff on the jet they got in Booth was looking over the files Liz hit him and he looked at her she said "talk to her"

Temperance glanced up at her from reading "I can hear you"

Booth glanced at her and back at Liz who mouthed 'talk'

He moved to sit next to her she look over at him "well"

Booth said "there is a lot about my past that you don't know"

She said "I know"

He said "training was hard it was grueling it was everyday"

She nodded "yes"

He looked down "nothing can prepare you for what you're going to see"

She took his hand in hers "I know, not now not then and your never ready I under stand that"

He said "and you can never be ready to go back"

She said "I know, I could go into all the statistical reasons and the death count but I won't Angela told me once it wasn't really a good idea"

Booth laughed "no it's not… not in a crisis, but some time it is… it's just hard"

She said "talk to me Booth I want to know everything"

Booth nodded "okay…I'll tell you what I can but not everything right now I need to be focused I open hose wounds I might be hard break otherwise"

Iraq

They reached there destination late that afternoon it was almost dark they were placed in a camp for the overnight.

The next morning

Liz woke up and they got ready Liz said "were going to go visit the troops"

Temperance said "wow really but I'm here tot do a job"

Liz said "you also want to find Zack don't you"

Temperance said "yeah of course"

Liz smiled "were going to do booth but we have to keep busy so hey don't figure out what were doing"

Temperance said "good"

Liz grabbed her jacket "lets go" she put on her aviator glasses and they were out the tent door

They went over t the troops area Liz said "this is were all he troops gather… take trash eat hang out"

Temperance said "I wasn't ever around any of the troops during my last time hear I was with my classes"

Liz said "come and meet the troops" they walked over to the table she smiled "hey boys"

They looked up she introduced them "Hi I'm Dr. Elizabeth Davis and this is Dr Temperance Brennan"

One said "Davis weren't you a Marine"

Liz smiled "yeah I was a Military Spy and Medic"

They got up greeting her one said "there a lot of us over in the infirmary that need patching up"

One said "you're going to help with that"

Liz said "that not the reason that we came but were not really getting out there and getting to work till Monday so we'll be around helping out where needed"

The leader of the group said "were here the guys need it if you could help out"

Temperance said "of course… if you could help us"

The young man said "how can we help"

Liz said "we have a friend… his name is Zackary Addie we call him Zack…"

Temperance picked in "president ordered him over here and we can't find him if you can find out anything"

"We would much appreciate it" Liz added

They went over to the infirmary, and there were some that were seriously injured and some that were hurt healing some were being prepared to be shipped out Temperance had not really seen to many injured people in her time not inured to these extent

She asked Liz "what can we do for them"

Liz went over to one of them taking there hand an said "comfort them… mostly all they really need besides medical attention is someone to comfort them and let them know that they will be okay"

Temperance said "some of them won't"

Liz moved some of her hair out of her face "they don't need to know that"

Temperance said "I think that you should be honest'

Liz turned to her and said "in a situation like this that the last thing that they need to hear before there death they need you to lie to them they need you to be calm and caring… remember when you and Hogins were stuck in that car"

Temperance nodded "yeah"

Liz said "remember how you told him just how he was going to die if he didn't survive"

Temperance said "yeah"

Liz said "don't do that please… these people don't need to be upset before they go they need to go in peace and there families would be a lot happier that way"

Temperance was confused "what should I do"

Liz said "how good are your surgical skills"

Temperance said "pretty good"

Liz aid "well your going to need them and these doctors need your help… scrub in if were here were going to save some lives while we can" and so they did.

That night

They finished up over there saved a lot of people Temperance for got what it felt like to actually save a life she had been around dead bodies so long she was in good spirits she had not seen Booth all day long when they got to the troop meeting area she found him talking to a few of the guys

Temperance said "there you are"

Booth said "where have you and Liz been all day"

She responded "we were meeting the guys and I was helping over in the infirmary I'm not suppose to do any real work until Monday so it felt good to get my hands dirty saving someone's life again"

He smiled "I'm happy for you"

Temperance said "what have you been doing all day"

He watched her sit next to him "going around he campus talking to the soldiers trying to find out more about Zack were he is what he's up to what the hell is going on in that fashion"

She said "you should have gone to the president"

He laughed "Bones you don't get it… I'm FBI… I don't have that type o clearance I can't do anything"

She looked at him "and your Military clearance"

He said "is very shaky because I'm only here for one job"

She said "then what are you going to do"

He said "there looking into it with thee clearance"

She said "so we just wait"

He said "so we do what we can we get our jobs done we find him we find him we don't"

She said "we go home… I don' except that"

He said "we can' fight a presidents order if he is to serve as requested no one can get him out but the president… we still don't know what he was call to do he could be doing what your doing he could be safe no one knows"

She said "and I'm not leaving until I know"

Booth had a knowing look "I know… it's been a long day you should go we have meetings tomorrow I want to take you around it's a lot of stuff to do"

The next morning

They were all up early Liz worked most of the night she was crashed the next morning she went over to the Infirmary till about lunch time and at lunch time she was to have a meeting with Booth and the commanders and go out to wee the bodies were found

Booth met her "hey"

She smiled "this morning was intense three deaths and four surgeries… that was crazy"

He nodded "that how war is… bombs going of every fifteen minutes that is not a sound that I miss"

She really looked at him and he didn't look like himself he looked very shaky and very off she said "are you okay"

He smiled trying to calm himself "yeah… yeah I'll be fine nothing I haven't had to deal with before… I've been at the shooting range with some o the younger guys showing them the ropes"

She smirked "I bet you they showed you a few things"

He said "no… they had nothing on me"

She said "and they wiped the floor with you"

He said "I'm hurt bones, you criticize my shooting skills"

She said "oh no I would never do that booth you much to smart for that"

He smirked he was happy to see her looking up some she was still bones but she was opening up, something had changed in her that day of the wedding but she was still Bones

He said "come on there waiting for us"

He, Liz and Brennan sat in the meeting Booth was first to ask "what do you want us to do tomorrow"

Cuttington said "follow the case, be observing"

Temperance said "and he bodies"

Cuttington said "were going to go sweep the area were going to have a bomb bot out here running over the grounds where the corpses are located… you can come and watch"

Booth asked "you want from me"

Cuttington said "some retraining and debriefing, making sure your ready for the mission again"

Booth nodded "no worries but I'll take the training"

Temperance leaned forward "and me what did you find out about my friend"

Cuttington said "hat confidential"

Liz said "you know I have connections an I can pull a over rank above you Sgt and find out"

Cuttington got up "then that is what I suggest that you do because we don't have anything"

Booth stood "I think you know… I think you know exactly but you're not telling"

Cuttington said "no I have no idea what you talking about"

Booth said "there is something about you Cutting I have not figured it out but I will"

They got out to the area Temperance was on a scope Booth and Liz were standing next to her Temperance said "you really think he's crooked"

Booth said "I didn't know any better I would say he was involved some how"

Liz said "I can find out I have connections that can go above there head"

Booth said "with whom"

Liz said "the FBI… My old Sgt can go above him and find out what we need to know… if it comes to that"

they watched as the bot ran across the road ahead of them seeing off three bombs Booth was angry "see that could have been either one of you out there"

Liz nodded "they had to do it they were going to do it either way"

Booth asked "how do we know that"

Temperance was pointing out "we're watching them"

Booth said "they might not have done it if we hadn't persisted"

Liz said "maybe not but it's procedure they had to no matter what"

Booth nodded as they watched them from were they were.

They ere leaving Temperance said "what about you"

Booth said "what about me"

Temperance said "I want to know what you had to do here"

Booth said "kill and you've seen me do that"

Temperance said "I want to see your training and all that sense we have time free"

He turned to her smirking "you really want to see"

She nodded "yeah"

He smiled "let's go them"

They went over to the shooting ran he went thorough the many assortment s of guns and ammo what type went in which and he showed her just how to put them together she tried and she was a quick learner

Booth said "you're never going to get your hands on a gun like that… ever again"

Temperance grinned broadly "then can I test fire it"

Booth said "I don't know you might hurt yourself"

Temperance said "oh come on, I have handed guns before"

Booth shook hit head "not like that that will knocked you backhand injure your hand either from heat on the or holding it wrong"

She said "then show me"

Booth admired her she was like al little kidded when she was learning about stuff her eyes were big and bright and she wanted him to show her he took her over to the shooting area booth butting on the earphone muffs and she head it he readjusted he and he took a step be hind her holding her shoulders and he yelled fire she did and after to shoot she was knocked full against him he said looking down at her "you okay"

She nodded but wanted to try it again by her self "I want to do it my self Booth"

He said "that almost knocked you in the floor"

She said "Booth trust me"

He was skeptical he said "go right ahead"

She said "besides if I can't handle it I know you'll catch me"

He smiled and said "go a head" she steed up again he stood to the died of her and watch she aimed standing firm this time and she fired a whole round and it didn't knock her over at all it was like nothing

she took the glasses off and earmuffs and said "how was that"

he said "Impressive"

she smiled they continued on, they met up for dinner and after she got him to come over the infirmary and he was okay for a while but when it got to him he had to go.

Liz me him outside he was wander back and forth arms across his chest he stopped looking at the moon she said "you okay"

He nodded "yeah"

She touched his arm "Booth I was there I know it brings back a lot of memories, we met like that"

He nodded "and it never gets any easier… you know I saw him about a year ago"

She nodded "your friend, yeah… he's in a wheel chair, you saved him that day… got hurt pretty bad too… I should know I had to work on you"

He said "out you took care of him"

She said "yeah I saved his life… he might have been able to walk again if I had been in the right hospital"

He said "you saved him and you saved me in more ways then one… I thank you for that" he took her hand and kissed the knuckles

She said "but his is something you shouldn't be sharing with me you should be sharing with Bren"

He said "she's so hard to talk to in situations like this you already understand"

She said "yeah I do I was there just because she wasn't doesn't mean out should keep her out of it she's in it now tell her share with her… she deserves that much from you" he turned and temperance was in the tent doorway and Liz second her out she came over she let his hand go placing it into Brennan's smiled at them booth and went back inside it was not her place anymore and she wasn't going to take it. She turned watched them as they sat and stared to talk, they talked long into the night.

Monday

That morning, Temperance got up and went get ready she had to do the body identification this morning and she was ready as she ever would be for what was to come Liz met her outside in the in the jeep

Temperance said "you're up early… where Booth is"

Liz said "training exercises… I got up early to do what more I could at the Infirmary and talk to one of the soldiers he was dying… we could all see it I held his hand"

Temperance said "did he pass"

Liz nodded "not even an hour ago"

Temperance said "I'm sorry for you"

Liz shook her head "don't be… he was going to die I knew that he was a casualty of war it's what happens some times you have to except you can't save everyone"

She could agree with that "you ready to roll"

Temperance said "I don't know what that means"

Liz shook her head pushing her sun glass down from her forehead to her eyes and smirked pulling away from the tent and heading toward the field.

Iraq: Far Eastern Saudi Arabia

Near the boarder of Baghdad

Liz used her clearance to get them in the area and they drove over parking at the military tape together they walked under Liz said "how did the take go last night"

Temperance smiled "it went well"

Liz asked "did he tell you"

Temperance answered "about your friends, and his involvement, how you to met up, in the infirmary… yeah he told me"

Liz said "did you understand it"

Temperance nodded "yeah he has a complex issue with a prior fear brought on from his prior experience in the war and he has traumatic reoccurrences when placed in similar situations"'

Liz said "you didn't tell him that"

Temperance gave her a look and confirmed with a "no" she stooped over the body analyzing the bodies place and what reason it would have been where it was in the first place "this body was thrown from a vehicle something like a military jeep or other vehicle it was still moving the patterns around show that it might have been dragged"

Liz said "tire marks but those could be from an vehicle thy had to go over the area with the robots yesterday"

Temperance took out her file "but they took pictures before they tampered with the area" Liz look the file from her and hey began to sift each part of the skeleton and g to through process in order to trans port the two bodies that were found there

Liz asked "you think these could be our missing couple"

Temperance smirked "you tell me"

Liz glared at her and then smiled stooping next to the bones "there are too bodies one is a mail I can see that from the pubic bone and a female one won who has bewared one if two children from the aging of the bones I can tell that the man is in his late forties early fifties and she was in her early fifties"

Temperance said "avid sports player both played tennis he fished a lot and she was always doing something athletic and healthy… sound like any one of our couples"

Liz said "Donald's"

Temperance said "won't know until we get an ID… let get it up and get it out of here" they took the next hour cleaning and clearing the area

they loaded the coroner bag into the back of the car and got in they were driving back to the came that was about an hour away from the side they were going through one of the smile villages and they passed a few solder vehicles. They were stopped in the middle of an intersection waiting for the free right to pass when Temperance felt something was not right when the solider convoy to there left was blow up Temperance and Liz screamed as the bomb blew there car and over and it rolled three time lading in it's side Temperance was woozy she didn't know what was happening when the glasses in the front was kicked out and she was hauled out she was thank full for that and she said "Help her… help her but she was stopped when a white back was put over her head and she was dragged away.

Liz was coming too she saw the person being dragged noticed Temperance was no longer with her she crawled out she saw the three figures in the insurgent uniform throw the person in the back of the van she knew that if they took her more them likely they were going to kill her she got out not paying any attention to her injuries and pulled out her gun and shot she hit the one point back in the head she went to shoot the driver but he ducked down and her handler that had thrown her in the back of the van turning shooing with the machine gun he went for her she ducked behind the car and then she went to shoot again and he aimed for the fuel tank she figure that our and ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction as the she hit the ground when it blew a peace of shrapnel got trapped in her shoulder

She rolled over looking around at the damage she was lucky to still be alive the convoy was way down the road but she noticed something the body back that had been in there car was strewn about a half mile away look to still be in tacked she got up and limped over to the back getting down on her knees next to it the form had been broken into more piece but it was nothing that she could not handle with the right equipment Booth was going to kill her.