Third week of June (Three weeks until Brennan's due date)

"It's going to hurt, isn't it?"

Hank shrugged. "My Elsie, Seeley's grandma, she was a trooper. She powered through labor like it was nothing. But Lizzie, oh boy…I remember when Lizzie had Shrimp. Wow, I could hear her screaming all the way down the hall. So, who knows, you may be fine. You may not even need the drugs."

Brennan nodded worriedly. And to be honest, she had almost forgotten about Booth's mom. She was about to be a grandma and Brennan doubted she knew. She wanted to tell Lizzie. She liked his mom. But after they found her, Booth had cut all ties. She left him and then he left her.

"So, should I take the drugs or not?"

Hank shook his head. "Wait to see if the first contractions hurt. If they do, I'd say take 'em. If not, hold off as long as you can. If you want, that is."

"How long will it take? The pregnancy books said the average first time mother is in labor for eighteen hours. I'm not sure I want to be in pain for that amount of time."

"You'll be fine, sweetheart. You're one tough cookie, Bren, I wouldn't worry about it. But, uh, I have a question for you."

"Sure."

"I don't want to stress you out, but have you heard from Seeley?"

She looked away from Hank and attempted to keep the tears from filling her eyes. "No. I have not."

"Okay. Okay, it's fine, sweetheart, just don't you worry about Seeley. He's coming home to you. I know it."

"It's impossible for you to know something like that."

"It's impossible for you to know that he won't come home," Hank told her, "I can promise you, he's doing everything in his power to make it home safely. He'll be home before you know it."

"I really hope you're right, Pops."

"I know I am."


"Seel? Do you see that? Is that what I think it is?"

"It's a humvee. It's not an American humvee though. We have to stop them. They can help us."

"Okay, I'll carry you. We can move faster if I carry you."

"You can't lift me!" Booth laughed.

"I know, you fatty," Parker jabbed back, "Okay, I'll go flag them down. You sit here."

He helped Booth sit in the sand and ran to the oncoming tank.

Booth had never been so relieved to see a friendly face.

"It's the British special forces. They're going to help us out. You won't have to walk anymore!" Teddy yelled, running back to where Booth sat. He helped Booth stand and they waited for the vehicle to pull up.

The humvee pulled up and Booth introduced himself.

"I'm Lieutenant Oliver. Corporal Parker has said you got lost?"

"Sort of. We escaped capture. Two of the men we were with are dead and now we're trying to find our camp. Can you help us?"

"We would never leave some one behind," Oliver told him, and Booth let out a sigh of relief.

"You look like you could use a seat," Oliver said, looking towards his feet. Booth nodded. Two of Oliver's soldiers held out their hands to give Parker and Booth a boost into the humvee.

"I hate to break it to you boys, but we have to go finish up our mission before we can take you back to your own camp. We can get you in contact with them. That way, they know you're safe. And we have a medic that's gonna meet us at a rendezvous point here in the next few miles. You can go with them and get checked out."

"We really appreciate everything, Lieutenant. Thank you," Booth told him sincerely.

"Well, I've been in your position before, Corporal. A few American troops back in the day saved my life. I'm just paying it forward."