The longest chapter I have written for this story! Chapter 13!! I'm not that great at writing long chapters, so if it ends up a choatic mishmash of ideas that didn't blend well at ALL, feel free to tell me, as in a review:)
Don't ask me why the first paragraph is so random, oral hygiene is kind of on my mind right now.
Brennan scrubbed the brush back and forward through her mouth. She was grateful that she was able to brush her teeth (since she herself had forgotten to pack any and all dental hygienic supplies) even though she could not see why anyone would want citrus flavored toothpaste. She pulled her hair away from her face and spit into the trash can, slightly annoyed that the film of orange-mint flavoring was lingering around her mouth. She walked to her cot and took a sip of water, swigging it around and eventually spitting it into the trash can. Ordinarily, she wouldn't even have time to brush her teeth (or she'd be too tired to brush them), as they had to be down in the pit at five o'clock sharp, but at the moment, their work had hit a bit of a dry spell.
They'd already excavated the entire pit and had run their eyes over every single shard of bone that they'd come across. It wasn't until last week that they realized how scarce the bodies were becoming. Eventually, instead of identifying, they'd spent a whole two days helping the archeological team dig a little deeper; to see if anything was still hidden among the dirt. So far, they'd come across nothing.
So, for the time being, they were all either re-examining what they'd already examined at least fifty times, helping set up a parameter for the new exploratory dig site, catching up on their daily hygienic duties or packing their bags to head home. Brennan was doing a little of everything and to be completely honest, she was getting bored of running through the same thing everyday. Examine, dig, shower, sleep, eat, and sleep. Luckily enough, she had Deni as a tent mate, and Deni never seemed bored.
Just as she began to wonder where the blonde headed girl had wandered off to, she heard her voice pierce the silence of the air around her.
"Hey, Dr. Brennan, the mail guy just came! And guess what, my friend? You got something." Deni called as she entered the tent carrying a large, slightly odd shaped box, a few small envelopes and one larger manila envelope. She set the box down gently and cautiously on her cot and plopped down on the extra bed next to Brennan.
"Someone sent me a letter?" She asked, trying to hide the excitement that was building up inside her. Deni saw right through her, as usual, and began to sift through the pile of envelopes.
"Deni Masters, Deni Masters, Rebecca Masters-must be from Mom, she never could accept the fact that I didn't like my name…" She spoke aloud as she read the labels on the corner of the envelope.
Brennan grabbed the manila packet from her right hand and began to peal up the two metal strips. As she opened it, the butterflies in her stomach fluttered for a second.
"Oooh, what's that? A love letter?" Deni teased as she tore into one of the envelopes.
As she pulled back the flap and carefully removed the contents from the packet, she saw a one page letter, a few photographs and a drawing on blue construction paper.
She recognized the writing instantaneously. The letters were in all caps, and she immediately noticed the odd way the 'E's' were written, four separate lines that almost, but never connected. She also saw the name at the bottom, which kind of gave it away…
She wanted so desperately to read the letter, but she decided to wait and read it privately, without Deni sitting next to her to watch the wave of emotions that would undoubtedly pass over her face. It would probably kill her, but she just couldn't read it at that particular moment.
So instead, she carefully slipped it back into the envelope and began to study the pictures.
They were of her and Booth. She didn't remember ever taking them, or having them taken, but the evidence didn't lie. There was, however, one picture that she knew about, the same picture that Angela had snuck into her bag. She flipped it over to find Booth's scratchy, all caps writing once more. 'November 3rd, 2008' it said simply. Somehow, she knew that this particular picture had meant a great deal to him.
The drawing made her smile from ear to ear. It was a stick figure portrait of Booth, herself, Angela, Hodgins, Cam and Parker. She turned it over to see the words 'From: Parker Booth, To: Dr. Brennan' written neatly in green crayon on the right hand corner.
"Get anything good?" Deni smiled eagerly. Brennan bit her bottom lip and nodded, determined that she would not cry or squeal with delight, or saying something awkward or stupid. Deni flashed her a devilish, knowing glance, and then, understanding Brennan's unspoken need for privacy, she walked toward her bed and removed her box.
"What's that?" Brennan asked. Deni gave her a soft look,
"After you read your letter, come find me out by the food tent and I'll show you." She gave her a warm, genuine smile. Brennan nodded, glad to see someone respecting her boundaries. Deni exited the tent and began walking across the dirt to the tent, the evening sky turning quickly to gray as night approached. She looked around and saw that no one was there. She turned her chin to the skies above her and bit her lip as she grinned.
"Thank you." She whispered. It was nice to know that everything was aligned, that there was balance in the universe.
Brennan closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She wasn't sure what was about to happen, but she knew that it would be monumental. For once in her life, instead of rationalizing and predicting things based upon evidence, she let her emotions and her gut feelings take over. She opened her eyes and pulled out the letter. After tucking a strand of loose chesnut hair behind her ear, her eyes began to take in the words.
'Dear Bones,'
Deni sat cross legged in the dirt, her blonde hair falling loosely out of its ponytail. She used her house key to open the box and when she tossed the cardboard flaps over she found a mountain of packaging peanuts. She shuffled through a small layer of them and finally came to what she was looking for. She grinned and her green eyes flashed through the now almost black sky. She had a solar powered light set out in front of her and she began to remove her treasure from the oddly shaped box.
It was a black case covered in bumper stickers. She slid her hand over it, recalling the many times she'd opened it. She flipped over the latches and pulled the top piece off, revealing the beautiful instrument that she loved so dearly. She removed it from it's case and sat in her lap, playing a few chords of a new song she was working on.
Suddenly, she heard the near silent footsteps of Dr. Brennan approaching her. She smiled up at her and patted to the ground next to her, motioning for her to sit. Brennan nodded and heaved a large sigh.
"So. I presume I was correct."
"What?" She asked, the rims of her eyes stained pink from crying.
"I was correct in predicting that it was a love note." Deni strummed a low note and swished her hair to her right shoulder. Brennan didn't answer, but the glow in her cheeks and the mixture of hope and moisture in her eyes said it all. It was silent for a second as Deni warmed up her fingers.
"You know, I wrote a song. It's inspired by you." She cut through the stillness of the night.
"You did?" She asked, as if it was the most absurd thing she'd ever heard.
"Yes, why wouldn't someone write a song about you?" She asked, looking up at her. Brennan didn't answer.
"You're an amazing woman, Dr. Brennan." She told her sincerely, beginning to strum out a soft melody. Brennan gave a shaky half smile and pulled her knees to her chest like a little girl.
The tempo picked up and Deni made a clearing-of-the-throat sound as she prepared to sing.
"It's really a duet, but it'll have to make do." She grinned, proud at her achievements.
"It's okay to have scars; they will make you who you are." She started, her voice ebbing and flowing over the notes in perfect tempo.
Brennan was lost. Lost in a mix of joy, gratitude and something else. Some kind fulfillment, as if finally, for the first time in her entire life, it didn't seem like everything and everyone was working against her. She felt as if she belonged. As if she was welcome.
"'Cause we're far apart and my lonely heart finds it hard to get through the night. You pull me out of the dark and now it's light." She continued, her voice drifting off into the sky. Suddenly, the wind picked up, as if it were dancing to the music.
"I like the way that our arguments stop when we fall asleep and the way that your body feels when it's wrapped around me. And I'd like it if you made it to mine by Christmas Eve, so you can hold me.
And we'll watch Christmas TV." She sang, as she burst into the chorus once more. The song went on and when Deni strummed out the final chord, Brennan clapped.
"Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week!" Deni called, bowing over her guitar.
"You are an amazing musician." Brennan grinned.
"Oh, thank you. Writing songs is kind of my pastime. I'm in a band. Well, a two person band. It's Indy-Folk music." She went on, placing her guitar in her lap.
"Well, that was beautiful." Brennan commented, "Really, Beautiful, Deni."
"Well, you were the inspiration." She smiled.
"How did I inspire you?" She asked, honestly curious. Deni pulled her guitar up again, pondering over the question for just a second.
"Because, after all you've been through, after everyone walking out on you, after all the rejection you've had to face and after retreating into your shell, I can see that you are an amazing person. You speak the truth, you don't just talk simply to be talking, you talk because you have something to say. You put one hundred percent of yourself into everything and you're not afraid to stare down the ugly monster that is reality. You know, people underestimate you. They just have to break through to you." She strummed a chord for dramatic appeal and gave a small goofy smile. Brennan glanced at her and without notice, plunged into a hug.
"Thank you." She whispered.
Yeah, I had so many things I wanted to do with this chapter and it all kind of ended up as a big haphazarous mess..oops:)
I think I'll have about four more chapters and the story shall be completed!
Reviews, anyone? I'm buyin!
~Rhea~
Sweets: "Agent Booth, you've been trying to intimidate me ever since you stepped into this room, you've succeeded."
Bones: (in a bit of whisper to Booth) "Don't scare the boy."