Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Bones or any of the informations used in this chapter.

Special Note to all Hikers, Rock Climbers and Kayakers. I have never done any of these sports before, while I have the greatest respect for your sport I have needed to take poetic license here. Please do not be offended, and accept my sincerest apology.

This story was originally a word challenge from another site. It was so much fun the first time I wanted to add it here with some updating. I took all of it and made one LOOOOOOOOOOG chapter. Grab a warm drink and join our favorite duo.

Chapter 18Batrachophagous - someone who eats frogs.

Prequel Earlier Wednesday Morning

"Dr. Brennan," Cam said as she entered Brennan's office, I just wanted you to know I will not be available this week-end. I'm leaving on Friday and will be back Monday morning."

Brennan looked up in surprise; Cam was not in the habit of telling her about her week-end plans. "Thank you for that information Cam," Brennan replied in a confused tone.

Going back to her work it was a little time later when she instantly realized he was there. It was his smell, the smell that was so uniquely his, fresh air and sunshine. "Booth, aren't you a little early? I thought we were going to lunch later. Do we have a case?"

"Yes I'm early and no we don't have a case. I just needed to stop by and get the signed paperwork on the Bugetti case. Cullen wants it before I leave on Friday."

"Booth I didn't know you were going away on Friday. Are you and Parker going somewhere?" She hoped if he was, he might consider taking her along. She loved spending time with both of them and a day away sounded great.

"Umm no, sorry I just found out I need to go away this week-end and I need to leave Friday morning," Booth said uncomfortably. "Sorry I guess we will have to cancel our usual Friday night dinner and a movie." He was hoping against hope he could keep her from finding out the reason, he just didn't want to go down that road again.

"I guess that will have to be ok," Brennan replied. Booth and Cam? She hoped they were not going away together. She thought they were done with their relationship. Booth had told her they were, not that is was any of her business but… She decided to ask were he was going "Booth where are you going?'

"Uh no where in particular. I just have to go."

Now the little green eyed monster was rearing its evil head, not that she recognized it for what it was. "Booth, are you and Cam going away for the week-end?"

Booth choked on his own spit, "No! Why would you ask such a crazy thing?"

"Well you have a past. You both are both going out of town leaving on a Friday, which is most unusual by the way, and you have been celibate for a long time now. I just assumed you were going away to have a liaison," Brennan replied with that look of honesty on her face, trying to hide the renting of her heart.

"Look Bones how many times do I need to tell you Cam and I are just friends. Our liaison as you put it is over." Now his anger and embarrassment were getting the better of him. "If you must know I have to go and recertify my partner survival training. The exercise is this week-end. So yes I am going away and no it's not with Cam." Oh no he had just given her the exact information he did not want her to have.

"Partner training why aren't you taking me? I am after all, your partner."

Hell she was fast. "Because it's FBI partner survival training and you are not FBI." Booth began to raise his voice.

They had been going around and around this for at least an hour now. He didn't understand why she was so stubborn; there was no way he was taking her. She did not understand why he was so pig headed, her going made perfect sense.

He thought of an idea. Cullen would support the idea. I'll talk to him.

She thought of an idea. Cullen would support the idea. I'll talk to him.

"Booth come with me. I am going to talk this over with Cullen. I am sure he will see the value of me going with you."

"First of all" he snarled "don't order me around I'll go. But it's just so I can tell him my side. There is no way you are going and that's final!"

Grabbing her jacket and purse, she pushed him out her office door and to his waiting car.

As they walked she began her plan of attack.

As they walked he began his plan of attack.

There was no talking in the SUV as they drove to the Hover, each thinking about the plan.

Booth opened Director Cullen's door slightly "excuse me Sir but could Br. Brennan and I have a moment of your time? She has something she would like to ask."

Cullen sighed, took off his glasses and rubbed his face and pinched his nose. He didn't really have time for this today, but then again Dr. Brennan was always a surprise returning his glasses he said "sure come in. Booth Dr. Brennan have a seat. Dr. Brennan you wanted to talk to me?"

Looking him straight in the eye and taking a no nonsense approach, she went straight to the heart of the matter. "Director Cullen it is about the FBI partner survival training this week-end. Booth is well aware of what I do. He has spent years in the lab. It has given him a great insight into our ability to solve cases quickly. I, however, have not had the same experience. What I have had has been in the form of on the job training. I feel if I went as Booth's partner for this exercise I would then gain the some insight and a better understand how the FBI works. Which I need to do, not only support him, but also to perform as a better asset for the FBI as well." Having laid out her beginning salvo she sat back.

Booth started "I tried to tell her this is not a week-end romp in the woods Sir. It is survival training. It's not her safe little lab." Hoo boy that was not a good thing to let slip out he thought as he looked at her face.

Cullen looked from one face to the other. Well this was a fine pickle. Thinking about it a little more he thought it might be good for Dr. Brennan to see how hard Booth worked in his own right. He would be giving Booth the home field advantage. Nothing else had moved these two obstinate people to see what everyone else who spent even five minutes with them could see. Besides he could deal with Booth's reaction to her request, he was Booth's superior.

"Dr. Brennan You have a very valid point. I am going to allow" looking at Booth's livid face he held up a hand and said "make that insist you accompany Agent Booth on this exercise as his partner. He will pick you up and take you to Quantico. You are to be there at zero seven hundred Friday morning. Will that be a problem?"

"No Director Cullen it will not. Thank you for this opportunity." Shaking his hand "yeah thanks a lot," Booth muttered under his breath.

"Did you have something to say Agent Booth?"

"No Sir." He just turned and walked out of the door. As he walked away he didn't see the smile on Cullen's face and the shake of his head as he returned to his paperwork.

Friday Zero Seven Hundred Thirty Hours

At the drop off point, each partner was given an end pick up point and told they needed to be at the point by Sunday evening or it would be considered a fail. Looking at the terrain they would be going over Booth was glad he had insisted Bones wear fatigues. Bedsides with any luck they might survive, and meet the deadline, no one would know she wasn't FBI. Survive and meet the deadline right!

It had been a grueling day. He had to admit she was very good at this. They had reached their first objective by midmorning. They each ate the one MRE provided for them (which they were required to eat as the first meal of the exercise).

"You know Booth" looking at the box, "I have never eaten this before. What is it called again?"

"It's an MRE Military Ready to Eat and it is the only real meal we get. So let's open the box and see what we have. Vegetable lasagna, guess they got that for you. Beef brisket, obviously for me. One package of noodles, one of rice, two each of the pound cake, crackers, peanut butter, and lemonade electrolyte drink, yuk I hate that stuff I was hoping for the fruit punch. Two condiment packs and hey they put three heaters in here. Great the condemned will eat a hot meal."

"The condemned, I don't understand are we the condemned? Why, we haven't even finished the first day."

He was busily pouring the water into the heater (or at least that's what he would always tell her and himself in the future) so he wasn't thinking about his reply. "No baby it's just a …" oh boy she was going to kick his butt so hard it would strangle him. He scrunched his head down into his shoulders sat there waiting. It didn't come and he turned to look at her. He saw the strangest look on her face. Well it seemed strange to him, if he didn't know her better he would have interpreted it as dreamy? No, he shook his head, definitely not dreamy but what? He continued getting their lunch ready.

They continued to do well during the day and so were at the location of their first overnight stay in the early afternoon. They would receive their instructions for tomorrow from a time controlled box. As for tonight all the items they needed had been provided for them, so they set about making camp. As the evening was approaching she noticed there was no boxed food or anything else she could determine could be used to catch any food with. "What are we going to eat for dinner?"

"I, Bones, am going frog gigging."

"Frog what?"

"Gigging it is often done at night, using flashlights. You can locate the frogs as the light reflects off their eyes. Also shining a light in their eyes stuns or dazes the frogs, and makes it less likely for the frog to see you. A gig for a frog is usually a four pronged pole. We don't have a pole but we do have a small branch and I can carve it into a point. Not as effective but we will eat tonight. You start the fire and I'll get the frogs." Taking the and a bag off he went.

Half an hour later he was back, in his bag he had fifteen frogs and some berries. He gave her the berries and set about preparing the frog legs.

When he handed her the first leg she looked at him with a serious look "Booth I didn't know you were Batrachophagous."

Now it was his turn to look at her in surprise "I'm what? Looking at her smiled he stated to grow angry and hurt. Look just because you don't like frogs there is no reason to call me names."

"Batrachophagous, Booth" she smiled, "someone who eats frogs."

This time he said something he would forever admit to her "baby, that's not all you're going to find out about me this week-end." Looking at her face in the firelight he saw the look again and wondered…

Saturday –

Booth policed the camp while Bones readied breakfast. She heated water in one of the food heaters, heating some sweet grass for tea and some berries. He had wanted them to eat some of the left over frog (he had enough for breakfast and lunch yuck) and she was trying to think of a way to warm them and still make them eatable. Suddenly she saw some larger leaves that were non-toxic and wetting the leaves she wrapped the frogs in the wet leaves and placed them in the fire. Soon their breakfast was ready and they sat down to eat.

"Hey Bones these frogs are good, you steamed them? I'll have to remember that the next time. What is this tea? It almost tastes like regular tea, which you know I hate, that has been sweetened. It's not half bad."

"So Booth, now I can steam frogs and make a tea you like, aren't you glad you have me? Before you answer, remember, who decided I was going on this little junket."

"Yeah, it was Cullen! Not you or me. So let's get going or we'll be late to our next check point."

"Booth what is our next challenge you didn't tell me last night."

"That's because I didn't know the box was time locked. It opens at 9 o'clock let's go and see what's next."

They walked to the box just in time to see it open. As it did an envelope popped out. Booth took the envelope and tore one end open removing the card. It told them to hike down trail ten miles west to the objective and the next box. They had two hours.

"Booth, I've trekked all over but never under a time constraint. You have, therefore you must have a method to do so. What is it?"

"You have to run one mile then jog one mile. That way your muscles won't build up lactic acid and cramp."

As they began Bones began with the reason for the body creating lactic acid. "The body prefers to get its energy from oxygen but when there is more oxygen that the body can use, like running from the Saber Tooth Tiger or lifting weights larger than our bodies could easily lift, it the oxygen is changed into glycolysis This …"

"Bones, running here not talking. Concentrate on the job at hand. We can talk during the jogging phase. This is supposed to be my relaxation week-end"

"Booth, how could all of this be …"

"Bones, shhhhh, no talking remember?"

With the pace Booth set they reached the next check point easily in less than two hours. Bones was impressed. They had time to sit in companionable silence while waiting for the next check point box to open. "Booth have you ever seen anything so beautiful?"

She did not notice he was staring at her when he said "no babe I haven't. Oh shit, he had let the b word slip again did she hear it? She didn't apear to have. Maybe he got by again; he was going to run out of luck soon.

At eleven the box opened right on cue. Booth looked at the card with a smile, this was an easy one. Bones looked at the card in terror it was her greatest fear. How was she going to do this for Booth?

Rappelling down the cliff took them about an hour and a half. It wasn't hard for either of them, just time consuming. Making sure all the tying off points were secure. Booth was glad they did not have to remove the rope. It would stay there for the cleanup crew to remove.

Once at the river level he looked around for the kayak and found it folded and placed under a tree. "Bones, here is the kayak. I'll get it ready, you make lunch and after we eat we'll go down the river and see we are in for."

Bones gathered some small twigs to make a small fire in a pit in the sand. She got some water from the lake and started it to boil. She had brought, grass, berries, leaves and the last of the frogs from breakfast for lunch. She was very grateful this was the last of the frog. She would rather be eating ants rather than frog. After fifteen minutes Booth had joined her and the food was ready. "So Booth what is next?"

"We are we are white water rafting for about ten miles to the next check in. That should take us about three hours. We should have maybe two to three more hours of something to do today. I'm not sure. We have to go up at some point to get to the pickup point if nothing else. Our pick up time is Sunday afternoon around four. Normally that gives us one last objective for tomorrow. He had been watching her while he was talking. Suddenly he was concerned "Bones have you done any white water?"

"No Booth I will need some instruction, but don't worry I have a steep learning curve." She looked at him in defiance "I am not afraid Booth I can do it." She sat up stiffer and glared at him.

"Bones, I never said you were afraid, but you can't kid a kidder, and I am a full fledged one, what's up." Taking her face in his hand he asked quietly "you do not want to go down that river, why?"

Turning away she said "it's ok. I can do this for you Booth."

"I never doubted for a minute you would do this for me, but we are not leaving until you tell me what's wrong," he said sitting down with a no nonsense look on his face.

"Booth this is time and we don't have time for this."

Pulling her down beside him he continued "Bones, we do have time, I always have time. Just tell me."

"Actually it was during a high school field trip. You know I have told you I was very awkward as a teenager? Well we were walking along a trail and somehow someone pushed me over the cliff. I slid down the hill into the river. The water was running fast and I was taken down river for several miles. I really thought I was going to drown. The teacher finally caught me and brought me in." She was beginning to shake and tears were beginning to build in her eyes, "Booth, after I was out of the water my clothes were wet. I was cold and my physical development was behind those in this class. They began to tease me. They called me plank chest for the rest of the year."

Holding her tight and rubbing circles on her back he whispered softly in her ear, "Bones, they were stupid incentive lunk heads. Have you gone back to a school reunion? Well the next time we are going. Have you looked in the mirror lately? You are way hot! And the two of us? Smokin!!! They won't know what hit them." He nudged her with his shoulder. "Now you can do this all you need is a little instruction and a Special Agent at your side." Booth spent the next fifteen minutes showing her how to paddle and off they went. They were able to get down the river without any problems and found check point and the next box. This one was a puzzle. What could they want from them? They had to wait until five.

Saturday Night

At five they opened the box. Booth was confused. There was a cabin one mile to the east and they were to spend the night there. What was going on? He had been doing these drills ever since he joined the FBI. He had never stayed in a cabin over night. He was usually lucky to get a sleeping bag. When he thought about it, other things were different as well. The MRE's were top notch and had included Bones' vegetarian food. The objectives had not been as challenging as usual either. They weren't a walk in the park, but did not force him out of his comfort zone. The only snag had been the white water, but that had actually gone well. Was he over thinking everything? Cullen usually over saw these things, did he have something ulterior in mind… no.

"Hey Bones, it says we are to go one mile east, there is a cabin there we are to use tonight. We need to get some food on our way. Got any idea how to catch fish, without hooks or nets?

"I have done it without a rod or net, which is a good thing since we have neither, it's called tickling. First you look in the river to see where the fish are feeding. Then you lie on the bank and extend your arm into the water, if the water is cold your arm and fingers may go numb. It is easiest and most comfortable if you lay on your side. You wiggle your fingers very slowly. You move your fingers and hand very slowly toward the fish until it comes near you. When you can touch it begin to tickle the fish's belly. When the fish is near enough to you quickly scoop it up and onto the bank. Volia! Fish for dinner. "

"Bones, sounds like you've done it before you get the fish and this time I'll get the fruits and nuts. Meet you at the cabin. One mile that way," he pointed east.

He was at the cabin before her. This was really strange, it was ….. nice, furnish well, had a full kitchen, no food however, and a full bath. One of the largest soaking tubs he had ever seen and a shower to die for. After she got here he was taking a shower. He heard Bones before he saw her.

"Booth, here are the fish, what is this place? What kind of training have you been going on these last years?"

Walking out of the bathroom, he said "It's is as much a surprise to me as to you. I have never been here before. This is one very strange survival training. I'm just not sure what we are supposed to be surviving."

"Well don't look a gift horse in the mouth Booth let's get dinner ready and think about it afterward."

"Bones did you just uses a colloquialism?" At her nod of the head he continued "and correctly too. I'm proud of you."

After dinner they were swing on the front porch swing looking at the stars. Each was lost in their own thoughts, happy to just be together with no chance of an interruption. If anyone were to say they were more than partners they would deny it, but still they did treasure the moments when they were alone together, sitting quietly.

Swinging back and forth a song came unbidden into Booth's head. How it got there he didn't know, but there it was. Where it came from he couldn't remember, but there it was. He continued to think about it, editing the lyrics in his mind, they intrigued him. There you see her, she don't got a lot to say. But there's something about her, you wanna kiss the girl. Yes, you want her, look at her, you know you do. There is one way to ask her, It don't take a word fo on and kiss the girl. Now's your moment, boy, you better do it soon. She won't say a word until you kiss the girl. Don't be scared you got the mood prepared go on and kiss the girl. Don't stop now don't try to hide it how, you wanna kiss the girl. You gotta kiss the girl. Go on and kiss the girl. He turned to look at Bones to see a small smile on her face and wondered what she was thinking.

Swinging back and forth a song came unbidden into Bones' head. How it got there she didn't know, but there it was. Where it came from she couldn't remember, but there it was. She continued to think about it, editing the lyrics in her mind, they intrigued her.

Tale as old as time, true as it can be, barely even friends then somebody bends unexpectedly. Ever just the same, ever a surprise, ever as before ever just as sure as the sun will rise. Finding you can change, just a little change small to say the least. Both a little scared neither one prepared tale as old as time song as old as rhyme learning you were wrong, am I wrong? She turned to look at Booth to see a small smile on his face and wondered what he was thinking.

They turned and reached for each other. Their kiss began as a sense of one searching for reassurance. As the fire began to kindle the world winked out like a candle. They were in a world of their own creation. They moved as one to the bedroom.

He asked "are you sure?"

She asked "are you sure?"

They said "I've never been more sure."

Their life began in a cabin in the woods.

Sunday Nine am

Booth left her long enough to get the next card from the box. It read, I hope you both got your wish. The pickup point is one mile north. Be there by sixteen hundred hours. Booth see me at zero eight hundred tomorrow.

He took the card back to Bones. "What do you think he meant about our wish?"

Bones looked at him and smiled.

Booth said "Baby I don't know about you, but I do know I got mine."

"Booth, you are aware I heard you every time you called me baby?"

"Ahuhh No. I thought if you did you would have shot me if you had a gun or at the very least kicked my ass."

"No Booth, I have found that I like it, but only when we are alone and I can do something about it. Now what do you say we use that tub before we have to leave?"

"Booth, I have something to tell you, close your eyes, give me your hand, darling. Do you feel my heart beating do you understand, do you feel the same?"

Booth continues "I watch you when you are sleeping, you belong with me. Do you feel the same am I only dreaming or is this burning an eternal flame.

Bones continues with "say my name, sun shines through the rain, darling and you come and ease my pain. Please don't ever let me loose this feeling."

As she leans back into his body she heard and felt the deep rumble of his voice filled with conviction. "We are more than the sum of our two parts. We have become one; you are Bone of my Bone and Heart of my Heart. We have come home."

She wrapped his arms and legs around her, for once she didn't feel the need to have the last word. She just accepted his love.

B&B&B&B&B&B&B&B&B&B&B

"Kiss the Girl" – Howard Ashman "Beauty and the Beast" – Howard Ashman "Eternal Love" - Written – Tom Kelly

I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it.

Nyre