Author's Note - Thank you all for sticking with me. Here is a little gift for all the mom's out there. Happy Mother's Day
Cam stood frozen. She willed her feet to move towards her friend, to help her, to console her, but they would not move. Brenna's scream's died down, but she backed against the wall of the cave sobbing hysterically, uttering no over and over again. Both just stared at the place Brennan had fallen.
It wasn't long before the four men came into view. Sweet headed towards Brennan and Wendell towards Cam. Agent Barrows and Mike the medic just moved forward.
It wasn't until Wendell's arms wrapped around her that Cam's tears began to fall. She shook silently as he whispered comforting words in her ear.
Sweets words fell on deaf ears as he approached her. She just stared. He knelt before her looking up into her empty eyes.
"Dr Brennan. Temperance. Please look at me."
"No. No. No."
He was tempted to slap her to bring her out of it, but remembered all the martial arts she knew and decided against it. He was at a loss for what to do.
Mike and Barrows unsure of what was going on moved forward. All of a sudden Brennan rushed forward pushing the Agent into the Medic and shouted at them.
"No, you will step on him!"
Sweets apologized to the men and walked to Brennan and wrapped his arms around the frantic woman and turned her away from the men. He never realized she could act this way. She was always so rational. He always surmised there was more to her, more to the partnership between the two. Now he could see it clear as day. She truly loved this man, enough to protect him even in death.
Cam felt empty. Like her own life had been drained from her body. Seeing Brennan act so erratically only intensified her own emotions. She clung to Wendell. She felt that if she let go she would disappear into the dark waters.
Wendell felt robotic. He didn't know what to feel or think. Everything seemed so surreal. Never in his life could he imagine he would be in a place like this doing what he was doing. These were two of the strongest women he had ever met. Seeing them now he felt he didn't know them at all.
The two men began feeling around in the water for what they imagined would be the body of Agent Booth.
Agent Barrows felt what could be interpreted as hair brush against his wrist. He motioned for Mike to join him. He nodded to Sweets and Wendell so they could prepare themselves and the women.
They each grabbed what appeared to be shoulders and lifted the body to the surface of the water
The men at the surface were making headway at the opening. Hodgins was now dangling from a rope checking the integrity of the area. He had a smaller pick axe working deeper down then the larger axes would allow. He didn't like the amount of sandstone they were encountering. It could prove to be unstable under pressure, but they didn't have much choice in the matter.
He calculated that they needed to widen it down approximately another half meter or so. He could possibly be done in another hour or so.
Hacker and many of the other workers worked on clearing the area surrounding the hole. Helicopters were standing by. Everyone was wound tight as they prepared for all possible scenarios.
People patrolled the area in case Broadsky decided to see his handy work. Forensics had found the location of the explosion and were working the scene collecting all the evidence they could find.
Every FBI agent on scene swore to themselves they would catch the bastard who did this. Agents knew that they could be taken out at anytime. Their jobs put them in the line of danger, and each one was willing to lie down their lives in the name of justice. But this, this was an atrocity. What this man had done was the furthest from honorable as they thought you could get.
This guy was supposed to be military. He should know of honor and duty. He could have faced Agent Booth as a man on the battlefield. Anger boiled in them all as they worked to bring their fallen comrade home
Angela slept a fitful sleep of nightmares. Each filled with scenarios of what Booth's body would look like. She had cried until she had no more tears to shed. Then her body gave in to the exhaustion of the whole experience.
Those who passed by her looked on with sorrow. Many wished she would just go back to a hotel and find comfort in a soft bed. She clutched her swollen belly as she slept. They could only imagine what her dreams were brining. She was bringing life to the world, while this man brought nothing but death.
Caroline could only pace. She couldn't just sit and do nothing, but there was nothing for her to do but wait. She hated waiting, but she was in no hurry to find the details either. Like all those in this line of work she was able to compartmentalize. She was able to separate herself form the cases and the victims. This time the victim was someone she cared for. It hit to close to home.
She was getting old; she had done everything she thought she needed to in life. Her child was older, out on her own. This man had so much ahead of him, a small boy who cherished him. He had a chance for love and happiness.
Now he had nothing. All those who care for him only have memories. Parker would grow up without his father. She wondered what it would do to the boy. Would he grow up like Seeley or Dr Sweets, or more like Dr Brennan? She feared he could even swing in the wrong direction and be on the wrong side of the law. Pain and loss affect everyone so differently.
Seeley was a good man; Parker will have many people who cared for his father to help him adjust. He would grow up just like his dad. She just knew it.
Miles away at a picnic ground, Broadsky was listening to a scanner. Booth would no longer be in his way. He was sure the FBI would be after him in full force, but he could handle them. They weren't Seeley Booth. They didn't know him and he doubted even one of them had Booth's instincts.
The lady doctor wasn't dead but he was sure he wouldn't have to worry about her for a long time. IShe wouldn't bounce back from this anytime soon. He thought it a bit arrogant to leave his calling card on the truck, but he somehow thought that if Booth had made it he wanted him to know it was him. Maybe it would have scared him into omission, but at least would have rattled his concentration. No worries now though. He couldn't figure out why they were even working this late. The man is dead, not like he was going anywhere anytime soon.
Closure maybe? Those who feel always want closure. No one can ever accept that what happens happens. Life is war, war has casualties. He had warned him to back off. It wasn't his fault Booth wouldn't listen. Damn guy thought he had to save everyone. He carried a dead man for miles, for what. So he could get buried. He always put his life on the line for people, he obviously didn't value it.
He switched the radio off and walked to his car.
"Fools. All fools." He mumbled as he started it and drove away. He had another target to prepare for.
Authors note: Please don't hate me. I know I am being evil, but I just can't help myself. Please keep on reading, there is much more to come. There is much more than meets the eye.
5/9/11 - I have been trying to post ch 16 since 6 am. the document loader will not do it, i just get a white screen. I will post as son as i can.