Disclaimer: Nope no matter how hard I wish, I still don't own Bones. Mr. Hanson and Fox have some sort of deal with the cosmos.
Loverofbones: I actually tried to make him less jackassish. More of a I thought she was lying thing. Ooops guess I fudged that one huh.
Nichellemarie: Heh, you should have seen some of the 'emergency training' I've been though at several jobs. Yep, not exactly what I would call five star. Although GW being such a big medical school guess that was stupidity on my part. DOH
Jenheir1: I figured I'd do something different. Mainstream media wants you to believe that everyone adores roses and that's not always true. /facepalm if I had thought about it I would have wrote in some Bonnie Tyler on the radio. LOL
Silver Maker: Unfortunately there are and although this is fantasy I do put some reality in it and this may or may not be one of those situations /wiggle eyebrows. You'll have to read the sequel to find out. The He's Ours is second in line. First I have to finish Rygeony's Bday smut =D. I love it when I make husbands fall off the bed. Wait, no that's just when I make MY husband fall off the bed.
Nertoool54: I think he bought his degree at because they sell everything. That's not a plug I just like browsing their site as much as I like browsing Amazon or Ebay. LOL Anywho, I ran into the some people know everything issue at my University (with the professors) =( kinda sucked.
Yenyen76: I actually tried to write him not as ass =( Epic fail. I was trying to make him more of a stick to the rules professor who thought she was making the story up. Lets face it hearing a 21 year old tell you she'd been kidnapped while in a jungle in Indonesia is not likely to happen. Most (note the most) college students can't afford trips like that. My apologies I am going to try to figure out how to write something other than assholes. It's been pointed out I tend to write them a lot.
Mlbrunell: Tada here it is. Ahh not if she wanted it to count towards her degree. Just one ;-)
Angelbach: Unfortunately they can be insensitive and he may or may not be fired we'll see lalalalal something more to think about putting in the sequel or have I already done that? Well, wait no more read on to find out.
Thank you guys for your reviews I appreciate them I really do they keep my muse happy. Happy muse = slightly faster stories.
Chapter 65 – Princesses and Fruitcakes
Michelle could see the jungle, she could smell her own fear, and she could hear the voices in the distance. Ducking, she sat down behind a shrub and tried to calm her breathing. Hadn't she gotten out of this jungle? Had the last months been a dream? Had she fallen asleep and dreamed that Booth had rescued her from this hell? She whimpered then smacked a hand over her mouth in fear. If they found her they'd put her back in that pit. She began to move quietly through the jungle, going deeper and away from where she'd just come from.
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Legates picked up his phone and dialed Cam's number.
"Cam, what the hell is going on?" Legates growled into the phone.
"From what I can gather Michelle tried to do a Botany lab in the Jungle Greenhouse. She had a severe panic attack and shut down. While I was talking to Hodgins, Dr. Jacobs apparently smacked her thinking it would get her breathing. Which it did," Cam cursed and slammed on her brakes as she was cut off, "but it also triggered a flashback. She took off running into the greenhouse," she explained.
"Okay, so she should be easy to find then," Legates sighed.
"Don't get your hopes up there big boy, the Jungle Greenhouse at GW is the most realistic miniature and I say that sparingly, greenhouse in the nation," Cam growled, pressing down the gas and weaving through traffic.
"How big?" Legates asked, hoping it wasn't too big. He heard Cam sigh and he swallowed.
"It's on the Mount Vernon campus so if you're headed to Foggy Bottom you need to head north. The Greenhouse sits on six acres," Cam said, pursing her lips.
"Ahh, jeez," Legates grumped. He stayed on the road he was on and passed the exit for Foggy Bottom.
"Uh, Legates-"
"Shut up, Goodman," Legates growled, glaring in the rearview mirror.
"Is anyone else coming or already there?" Legates asked, mentally running a scenario.
"Ahh, Sweets is on his way and I think Booth and Brennan are too. They were in partners therapy," Cam sniggered, "when I called. Hodgins is there. He threw everyone out, so he's alone with her in the Greenhouse." Legates winced and shook his head, the hair on his neck crawled.
"Something ain't sitting right about that. I'm calling a gut feeling and I say call him and get him out of there. If she's stuck in a flashback she may think he's one of them and attack him," Legates rumbled thoughtfully. Techie's head jerked around in surprise, his eyes flaring wide.
"Okay, I'll call Hodgins. I'm about three minutes from the school. Sweets had a five minute head start on me and Booth probably used the lights so they're probably already there."
"Okay I'm right behind you," he said, slightly snickering.
"Ha, no some asshole in a big ass truck is behind me," Cam said, glaring in her rearview mirror.
"Dr. Saroyan, it's not nice to glare at people," Legates said, smirking.
"Get off my ass, Legates," Cam said, tapping her brakes. Legates barked out a laugh and hung up the phone. He stayed behind her, chewing on his lip.
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Michelle felt the sweat trickle between her breasts and glanced around. The jungle had fallen silent. Completely silent, no bugs, no water, no people just silence and air. Taking a deep breath, she whimpered again and curled in on herself. The heat was making her tired and she just couldn't afford to sleep. She had to be alert in case they found her again. What about Dr. Brennan? Did they still have her? Should she try to go back and rescue her? She couldn't leave Dr. Brennan there at the hands of those men. The things they had already done, Michelle shuddered as she thought about it.
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Legates skidded to a halt and slammed his brakes on. Turning the truck off, he reached in the back, snatched up his web belt, clipped it on then jumped out without saying a word. Techie looked at Goodman and Perkins in the back seat then shrugged.
"We get out here, boys," Techie said, opening the door, grabbing his belt and getting out of the truck.
Legates strode over to the edge of the police tape wearing a scowl. He ducked under the tape and headed towards Booth. Dr. Jacobs ran over and grabbed Legates' arm.
"Excuse me young man, this is not a ROTC matter. You need to return to the Foggy Bottom Campus," Jacobs said angrily, waving his hands around. Legates scowled down his arm to the hand that was clutching his arm.
"Who the hell are you?" Legates barked, irritated more than he could tolerate at this point.
"I'm the professor here. I'm Dr. Jacobs," Jacobs said, releasing Legates' arm and straightening his jacket.
Legates spun and let an evil smile cross his face. He started stalking towards the professor who suddenly had the feeling he was being threatened. Techie's head jerked up when Booth let out a sharp whistle.
"Techie, don't let Legates kill Dr. Jackass, over there," Booth said, pointing to Legates.
Techie stood watching for a minute then realized that Legates had that look he's seen before. The one he'd worn when Rickets and Romero were on the floor in the lounge. Running over, he grasped Legates' arm.
"Not now, man. Michelle, needs you right now," Techie said, steering Legates over to where Booth, Brennan, Cam, Hodgins and Sweets were standing.
"So, what are we doing?" Legates asked, standing with his feet hip width apart and his arms crossed. Sweets took a step back at the obviously aggressive stance.
"Um, well it would seem that she is stuck in a flashback," Sweets said, putting his hands in his pockets.
"If that's the case then her mind will only associate rescue with the people who actually rescued her.
Since neither Cam, Hodgins, or I were there, we would be associated as enemy even though she knows us. She has a positive association with the rescue, with you guys," Sweets said, gesturing with his finger to Booth, Legates, Techie, Goodman, Perkins and Brennan.
"Now, Dr. Brennan if you find her first let her think you're the one being rescued and try to steer her out of the greenhouse. If anyone else finds her, tell her you've already rescued Dr. Brennan and bring her out. More than likely she's going to be like the last time you brought her out of the jungle," Sweets said, chewing on his lip thoughtfully.
"If that's the case then if you find her you come get me," Legates rumbled with a frown.
"I don't see why that's necessary," Sweets said, rocking back on his heels.
"Because things happened on the return trip in the jeep that she might not want other people knowing about," Legates said, squinting up towards the sky.
Sweets raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner. Legates just looked at the sky and said nothing. Techie smirked because he knew Legates could hold out longer.
"That's fine," Booth said, reading it as something Michelle really wouldn't want people knowing about.
"Don't go in there yelling for her. You wouldn't have done that and didn't do that. If you find her approach cautiously and make sure she recognizes you before you touch her or invade her space," Sweets said, looking directly at Legates.
"Don't do your shrinky thing on me, twerp. I've been doing this for the last few months. I know how to deal with it," Legates said, smirking at Sweets.
"But not to this extent," Sweets said, pursing his lips.
"So what are we going to do when we get out here? I mean isn't she really going to freak?" Goodman asked, looking around at the tape, students, professors and vehicles.
"I have a med bag and a sedative ready. The ambulance is," paused when her phone rang, speaking briefly she hung up, "ten minutes out. It is stuck in traffic but I think between Sweets, Legates and the sedatives we can keep her calm. The ambulance is set to take her to GW Hospital," Cam said, her face crumpling at the word hospital. Hodgins took her arm and guided her away from the group.
"Go ahead and rescue the princess," Sweets said, waving his hand towards the door. As they started moving towards the door, Dr. Jacobs came running towards them waving his arms.
"Wait, wait a minute," he yelled as he ran. The group froze and each scowled at the man as he ran towards them.
"I hope that you understand that there are some very rare plants living in this greenhouse. I hope that you'll be very careful when moving around them," Dr. Jacobs said in a rushed voice.
Legates let another evil smile slide across his face at the doctor's words. Reaching on the back of his belt, he unclipped a sheath and pulled out a CRKT Ultima. Turning the knife in his hand, he eyed the doctor. Booth wondered if that's what he looked like when he'd cleaned his rifle in front of Reed. Legates was working the scare tactic well.
"Interesting factoid," Legates said as if considering the information, as he ran his thumb along the flat of the blade.
"I..uh..hope that you won't ruin this greenhouse. A lot of hours have been spent putting it together," Dr. Jacobs said.
"Hmm, you mean like the hours that Michelle has put in trying to get her life together after what happened to her? The hours you ruined, destroyed, wasted because you couldn't listen?" Legates asked before turning on his heel and heading towards the door.
Dr. Jacobs scowled and turned on his heel. Stalking to where Sweets was standing, Dr. Jacobs glared at the young man.
"Who the hell called the military? And was it necessary?" Jacobs yelled at Sweets in an authoritative manner. Sweets' eyes narrowed and his mouth pinched.
"Who are you?" Sweets asked, glaring at this arrogant man.
"Dr. Jacobs and I'm quite sick of all this crap. I understand now that she's gone through something traumatic but the military? Really?" Jacobs questioned, putting his hands on hips. Sweets rested an elbow in his hand and tugged at his bottom lip with his other hand.
"Those men were there for her original rescue," Sweets started.
"Wait you mean she wasn't lying about being taken hostage?" Dr. Jacobs squeaked in horror.
"No, she was in Maluku and taken hostage and held for over twenty four hours," Sweets said.
"I thought she was saying that because she didn't want to get her hands dirty. Some of these young women do that, they come up with the strangest stories," Jacobs said, deflating. The horror of what he'd done finally sinking in.
"Michelle is running around on a six acre plot of her own personal hell because you didn't take the time to verify her story," Sweets said, squinting towards the greenhouse.
Legates opened the door and stepped around. His hackles went up at the sight and smell of jungle. Booth stepped in and crossed himself. Brennan took a deep breath and shook her head.
"I can't," she strangled out before spinning, pushing past the other men and out the door. Goodman and Perkins stepped into the greenhouse and shook their heads.
"All right gentlemen, spread out. No worries about too much noise. No animals, no bugs just us and her," Booth said, heading into the jungle.
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Legates stalked into the foliage and Techie was impressed how both men disappeared in broad daylight. He wondered briefly if he disappeared like that. Legates felt the sweat trickle down his back as the humidity sunk into his shirt. He'd been walking around this area for almost an hour. She'd been in here for almost two hours now. His eyes constantly moved and he saw marks in the dirt where Michelle had scrambled.
He kept moving and found a spot where she'd sat against the tree but how long ago and for how long? He followed the tracks she left and then they stopped next to a tree. Glancing around, he crouched and tried to see under the bushes. He heard a whimper and spun around. Walking back to where he had just come from, he stopped and crouched.
"Michelle?" He whispered, trying to find her. He heard a branch move then complete silence fell. He knelt down where she could see him.
"Michelle, Baby, it's okay. Let's get you out of here," he said in a low calm tone.
Michelle froze at the sound of Legates' voice. His voice, she recognized so she should come out and let him get her the hell out of this jungle. She froze, what if it was all in her mind?
"Michelle," he called again.
His voice catching in his throat. He knew she was here but he didn't want to back her into a corner. He didn't want to break her mentally. The nerves made goosebumps rise on his flesh and made him shiver slightly. He tried to keep his breathing calm and even.
Michelle shivered and closed her eyes. She leaned over and peered through the branches. She saw Legates sitting in the middle of a partially cleared area. His head turned and he smiled gently in her direction. Scooting so he faced her, he crooked his finger at her.
"Come on, Michelle. Baby, you're not in Maluku. We need you to come out here," Legates said softly.
Michelle scrambled out from behind the large clump of ferns. Legates caught her as she wrapped herself around him. She was sobbing against his neck and breathing raggedly. He kept her clutched to him as she sobbed. He scooped her up and lifted her against his chest.
He walked straight through the jungle back towards the door of the greenhouse. When he was on the edge of the jungle and sat down on the edge of the clearing. Michelle looked around, moaned and buried her head in the crook of his neck. Pulling out his phone, Legates called Booth.
"Booth," Booth answered his phone.
"I got her, Sarge. I need you to clear everyone but Cam, ambulance driver and Sweets out. They need to be gone. I can give you my keys and the guys can go back to the dorms," Legates said quietly. Booth flinched on the other side when he heard Michelle softly crying.
"Okay, where are you?"
"I'm on the edge of the clearing near the door. I'll gather up the other three," Booth said, ending the call.
"Oh, God, what have I done? Dammit, this is so embarrassing," Michelle hiccuped and started sobbing again. Legates dropped a kiss on the top of his head.
"Baby, this isn't your fault," he muttered, "not in the least. You asked to be excused from this. He forced you here then hit you. Not what should have happened."
He pulled her tight against his chest and lightly rocked her as she continued to cry softly. It was another ten minutes before Legates heard Booth coming up behind him.
"Keys," Booth said.
Legates shifted Michelle in his lap and dug into his pocket. Pulling out a set of keys, he held them out for Booth. Booth walked out into the clearing and let out a whistle. Legates watched Booth, Goodman, Techie and Perkins walk into the clearing and out the greenhouse door.
Michelle continued to cry softly and Legates' heart broke for her. He sat cross legged on the ground with her curled up in his lap. His hand ran down her back and kisses were dropped on her head. Legates wasn't sure how much time passed but he heard the horn of his truck blow and knew the area had been cleared out.
"Come on, Baby, they want to take you to the hospital," he said softly.
"No, no, no," she said in panicked tone, clutching his shirt.
"Sweetheart, this was bad. We need to take a better look at the situation and see if it could have gone different. If there was something that could have been done. Baby, you were there again for the better part of two hours," he said, his voice choking out between a clenched jaw.
"They won't let anyone see me, just like last time," she sobbed.
"I'm not going to let that happen, Baby. You are not going to be left alone," Legates promised. Pulling his phone out again, he dialed Cam.
"Dr. Saroyan," she answered.
"Cam, I'm making her a promise and I need you and Dr. Sweets to make sure it happens," Legates said in a gravelly tone.
"Depends on the promise," Cam said, biting her lip.
"She's scared that she's going to be alone. Something about last time she wasn't allowed to see anyone," Legates said. Cam hmmd remembering that rule and being angry about it.
"Yeah, I remember that stupid rule," Cam growled.
"Well, I told her I wouldn't leave her alone," Legates said.
"Let me talk to Sweets," Cam said.
"She won't come out if it doesn't happen," Legates said in a hushed tone. Cam pinched the bridge of her nose and glanced at Sweets.
"Let me call you back," Cam said then abruptly ended the call. She looked at Sweets and sighed.
"They're not going to let me do it," Michelle shuddered against his chest.
"We're not leaving here until they do," he said, squeezing her tighter.
"You can't stay here and I can't either," she said in a broken tone.
"We're not leaving here until they promise that you won't be alone or feel like you're alone," he whispered against her temple.
"You have accountability," she sniffled.
"Heh, not until Monday," he said.
"When did you get home?" She asked, trying to burrow further into him.
"We were driving to the dorms from the airport when I called," he said, kissing her again.
"Oh, God," she moaned, running her hand down her face. He reached out and captured her hand. Bringing it up to his lips, he placed a kiss on her knuckles.
"Hey, I got to rescue my princess," he told her smiling at how good Sweets words had worked for him.
"Honey, I'm not a princess. I'm a farging fruitcake," she sniffled. He smiled at her and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Farging? And I happen to like fruitcake, especially when it soaked in some Jim Beam Black, that lovely caramel color," he said with a smirk.
"Yes, I said farging. I've been hanging out with the guys to much. Tanya pointed out my dirty mouth," Michelle mumbled. Legates chuckled and snuggled her closer to him.
"I missed you," he said quietly.
"I missed you too," she said, gently clutching his shirt.
He let out a sigh and almost groaned at the conversation he knew he was going to have to have with her soon. It was going to be a doozie for sure. But for now he'd just be happy like this. He hit the button on his phone and answered it when it rang.
"Hello," he said.
"Legates, Sweets says that he can get the doctors at GW Hospital to agree," Cam said, sighing. It had been a tooth and nail fight but they finally won.
"Okay, there's no need for the sedative. She's calm now," he said quietly.
"Are you sure she'll stay that way?" Cam asked worried that Michelle might freak again.
"Yeah, she's in the here and now. We were just discussing fruitcake," he said with a grin when Michelle swatted him.
"Fruitcake?" Cam said, her face scrunching.
"Sure, you know it's actually good when you soak it in alcohol," he said, genially.
"Um, okay, can you bring her out?" Cam said, not sure what to say to his comments.
"Okay, we'll be right out," Legates said, chuckling at Cam's confusion.
Ending the call, he slid the phone into his pocket and picked her up against his chest. Wiggling around, he got his knees beneath himself then rose to his feet. He carefully exited the building and the ambulance stood with the back door open and Cam stood on one side and Sweets on the other.
An EMT stood just to the right of Sweets. Sweets climbed in the back of the ambulance and sat down. Legates gently lifted Michelle into the ambulance and the EMT climbed in and unhooked the straps to the gurney then gestured for Legates to set Michelle on the gurney. Legates pulled her tighter to his chest and glared at the EMT.
"She needs to ride on the gurney for her own safety," the EMT assured him.
"I think the issue is the straps. We don't want to restrain her," Sweets said, waving the EMT out of the way.
"Um it's against policy," the EMT said, shuffling in the small space.
"For her safety you don't want to restrain her," Sweets told him with a finality that the EMT nodded at.
Legates lay her down on the gurney and sat on the bench next to it. She whimpered slightly at the loss of contact. Reaching out, he pulled her hand into his and clutched it between his.
"Okay, what's your name?" The EMT asked, sitting down on the bench next to Legates. Michelle looked at the EMT and rolled over, pulling Legates hand with her.
"Baby, he just wants to know what to call you," Legates said, running his free hand down her back.
"Her name is Michelle," he told the EMT.
"Okay, Michelle. I just need to get your pulse and blood pressure, okay?" The EMT asked, looking at Michelle curled up on the gurney.
Michelle threw her arm out but otherwise ignored the EMT. He clipped the pulse oximeter on her finger then put the cuff on her arm. Sweets looked at Legates with a questioning brow and Legates frowned at him. Reaching over, Legates put his hand on her hip and lightly squeezed. She shuddered then rolled over to face Legates.
"I don't want to go to the psych ward," she whispered.
"I know, Baby, but we need to do something about this. This was a bad flashback," he said, pushing her hair back from her face. Sweets sighed and crossed his arms.
"Michelle, we have to talk to someone more adept at dealing with this type of disorder," Sweets said, leaning forward.
"Dr. Sweets, please shut up," Michelle said quietly. Legates turned his head, leaned over and put his head down on the gurney. Looking into her eyes, he gave her a soft smile.
"We're going to get through this," he said. She bit her lip and shook her head in a negative motion.
"You should get away from me," she said quietly, looking down at her hand.
"Ha, yeah because that's happening," he said, grinning at her. She kept looking at her hands and let out a sigh.
"Michelle-"
"Shut up, Dr. Sweets," Michelle said, starting to cry.
Legates scooped Michelle up then laid down on the gurney, placing her directly on top of him. Her head lay on his shoulder with her face tucked into his neck. The EMT put his hand up to stop Legates but put it down when Sweets shook his head at the man. Legates cupped Michelle's face in both his hands, pulled her face up so they were almost nose to nose and looked her in the eye.
"Michelle, I am not going anywhere at all. Not now, not ever. You are stuck with me," he told her.
He pulled her against his chest and held her as she sobbed. The EMT's eyes grew sad at Michelle's sobs. Legates held Michelle all the way to the hospital. As the ambulance pulled into the hospital and started backing into the emergency entrance, Sweets leaned forward.
"Legates, you need to get up so they can unload her," Sweets said gently. Legates pulled back slightly and pushed Michelle's hair back from her face.
"I'll be right here, okay? I'm not going anywhere," he told her.
She sniffled and nodded her acceptance. Legates sat up, placed her back on the gurney then climbed down from the ambulance. He waited as Michelle was unloaded and strode next to the gurney as they wheeled her into the emergency room. They waited for a nurse to approach them.
"You can sit over there, sir," the nurse said, gesturing for Legates to go to the waiting room. Crossing his arms and widening his stance, he stayed where he was. The nurse looked up and up and up then reaching his face she paused at the look on his face.
"I'm sorry, sir, you'll have to wait in the waiting room," she said, frowning at Legates.
"Not happening," Legates said, shaking his head in a negative motion.
"Sir," she said in an irritated tone. Michelle sat up and slid off the gurney. Legates turned, picked her up and put her on the gurney.
"Baby, you have to go in," he whispered against her temple. She shook her head no.
"No, I am not going in there alone again. Never again," she said, sobbing. Legates wrapped his arms around her and smoothed his hand over her hair.
"We'll figure something out. I'm not moving and they'll take you without me over my dead body," Legates told her. Michelle nodded into his chest and continued to wet the front of his shirt with her tears.
"Sir, I need you to let her go," the nurse said, huffing.
"If you have someone else to take care of go take care of them. I'm not going anywhere and she's not going anywhere without me," Legates told the woman firmly.
Cam came in through the doors and immediately spotted Legates standing there scowling at anyone that tried to approach Michelle. She walked over and looked at him with a sigh.
"Legates, they can't help her if you don't let her go," Cam chided.
"Dr. Saroyan, I promised I wouldn't leave her alone and they're refusing to let me stay with her," Legates growled.
Cam groaned and pinched her nose at the lack of communication in the hospital. She looked over at Sweets with a scowl.
"Sweets, what happened to the doctor you were speaking with?" Cam snapped at the young psychologist.
"He's dealing with an emergency. So we're waiting on him," Sweets said, shrugging helplessly. The nurse approached again and Legates glared at the woman.
"Nothing has changed in the last five minutes," he told her sternly. Sighing, the nurse walked off and Cam snickered quietly.
"I understand she's trying to do her job and I understand that the nurses get the shit end of the stick but I'm not going anywhere," Legates said with a sigh. Michelle mumbled something into his chest and Legates shook his head.
"Not happening," he said to her mumbled comment. He rested his cheek on the top of her head and sighed. He looked at Cam with a heartbroken look in his eyes.
"Lance," a young looking man said, coming forward holding his hand out, "long time no see."
"Dr. Geyer, this is Dr. Saroyan. And the young lady attached to the front of the tall man here is Michelle. The tall army guy is Corporal Josh Legates, Michelle's boyfriend," Sweets said, gesturing to each person.
"This is Dr. Geyer," Sweets said in way of an introduction.
"Okay so we're going to go ahead and take you up to the fourth floor," he said, looking at his scribbled notes and the clipboard in his hand.
"Michelle, can you lay back on the gurney so these nice guys can wheel you up?" Dr. Geyer asked in a soothing tone.
Michelle and Legates both turned glares on Geyer and growled in unison at his patronizing tone. Geyer took a step back and nodded.
"Okaaayy," he said.
Sweets pursed his lips and shook his head at Geyer. Legates kissed Michelle's forehead and gently pushed her back onto the gurney.
"I'm not going anywhere, Baby," he said, taking her hand.
She gripped his hand so hard, her knuckles turned white. They moved to the elevator, Legates keeping pace with the gurney. Cam and Sweets walked next to Dr. Geyer.
"So what happened?" He asked, holding the clipboard and pen up waiting for an answer.
"I'm not really sure. I only know what Dr. Hodgins told me. From what he said, Michelle went into the jungle greenhouse and started to have a panic attack-"
"Why did she have a panic attack from a greenhouse? Does anyone know?" Dr. Geyer asked, looking at Cam.
"She was kidnapped in a jungle almost a year ago. She won't talk about what happened during that time," Cam sighed, "anything you want to know you'll have to get Legates to ask her. He's the only one she'll talk to after a panic attack."
"Uh, okay," Dr. Geyer said.
"She had a panic attack and stopped breathing," Cam continued.
"How often does she have them? And is it common for her to stop breathing?" Dr. Geyer asked, still scribbling.
"The last one I know of was in October and on the average yes it's common for her to pass out," Cam said.
"That you know of?" Geyer asked, still writing.
"Legates and Michelle started dating and he took over her care," Sweets said. Legates shot a glare and jerked his chin.
"I did not take over care of her. She has been taking care of herself," Legates snapped.
Geyer continued writing as they walked. Everyone loaded on the elevator and Geyer looked to Cam to finish.
"One of her professors believed it to be wise to smack her so she'd start breathing," Cam said, grunting.
"She went into a flashback and got stuck in the flashback, from what I understood from Dr. Hodgins," Dr. Sweets continued.
"How did you get her out of the greenhouse?" Geyer asked, looking to Sweets for an answer.
"We had the guys who got her out of the jungle in the first place go in and get her," Sweets said, sticking his hands in his pockets.
"Oh God, the guys know?" Michelle moaned, rolled over and curled up still clutching Legates' hand. Legates planted his other hand behind her thighs and leaned over.
"It was only Perkins, Goodman and Techie," he whispered. Michelle moaned and squeezed up tighter. He dropped his forehead on her hip and let out a sigh.
"Baby," he said in a choked voice. She squeezed tighter and released his hand. Legates heard Sweets start to say something and stood up straight.
"Dr. Sweets, shut up," Legates growled.
"Is he always this protective?" Geyer asked, looking at Sweets. Sweets sucked his lower lip into his mouth and nodded.
"Is he going to be a problem?" Geyer asked, not looking at Legates who was glaring at him.
"If you don't start acting like Michelle is a person I'm going to be your worst nightmare. She has feelings," Legates snapped.
Standing up to his full height, he glowered at Geyer. The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Legates walked next to the gurney and went into the room just behind it.
"Don't touch me please," Michelle said, moving away from the orderlies who were trying to help her onto the bed.
Legates held out his hand and Michelle put hers in it. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. Her legs wobbled under her but she stayed on them. She moved onto the bed and swung her legs up onto the bed. Michelle squeezed his hand and held on for dear life. Her face was slowly getting pale.
"I'm not going anywhere," Legates promised her. She smiled and shook her head, her eyes drifting closed. She took several deep breaths.
"Okay, Michelle why don't you tell me what happened," Geyer said.
"I think not," Michelle said.
"How about we just get her processed and checked in," Legates said, shooting Sweets a dirty look.
"Mr. Legates-"
"Corporal," Legates snapped his correction, "I am a Corporal in the United States Army."
"Okay, Corporal Legates, she needs to talk about this," Geyer said.
Legates looked at Michelle and pulled her hand to his lips. Kissing the back of her knuckles, she smiled at him.
"You want to stay here, Baby? Because this dipshit is pissing me off and I think I can find a better doctor for you," Legates said, looking her in the eye.
Michelle turned to look at the doctor and narrowed her eyes. He gave her a patronizing look and she shook her head.
"Okay, we're out of here," he said, standing up. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Legates helped her stand up and they started toward the door.
"You can't leave," Geyer said mildly.
"Really? Why would that be?" Legates asked, looking at the doctor with a smirk.
"Because she's being admitted whether she wants to be or not," Geyer said, scribbling on the sheet in front of him. Legates let a smile cross his features and his brow lowered.
"In the District of Columbia you can only be involuntarily committed if you are a danger to yourself or a danger to others. Michelle is neither. She hasn't hurt herself, anyone that was in that greenhouse, anyone on the way here or anyone since we've been here. You do not have the authority to commit her," Legates smirked.
"Now look here young-"
"First off little man, I'm probably older than you. Second off, I have been under treatment at Fort Myers and Bethesda for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as mandated by my long term service in Afghanistan. Part of that is knowing our rights. One of which is the District's and US Army's policy about being committed," Legates said, smirking. Sweets rubbed his thumb under his nose, using his hand to cover up his grin.
"This is why I don't like family being here, Lance," Geyer said, looking at Sweets.
"Probably because you don't like it when patients or their family know their rights," Legates snapped then gently lead Michelle from the room.
"I warned you," Sweets said, shrugging then walking out of the room.
"Dr. Saroyan, are you going to stop her?" Dr. Geyer said, gesturing towards the door.
"No, I'm not. Legates has always done right by my daughter," Cam said, standing up and walking out. Legates stood with Michelle in the elevator pressed up against his chest.
"Okay, Baby, we're going to find you a doctor. I'll talk to Dr. Nabhan tomorrow. Tonight you're staying with me," Legates said.
Michelle nodded her head against his chest. Sweets and Cam stepped in the elevator next to the one Legates and Michelle had just taken down.
"You think he's going to find her help?" Sweets asked, looking over at Cam.
"Yes, Legates won't let this one slide. She was scared, he was scared for her," Cam said, clutching the strap of her purse.
Legates led Michelle out into the lobby.
"Shit, hang on," Legates said, taking out his phone.
He called Techie to come get them. They stood outside the emergency room entrance waiting for Techie to come get them. Michelle wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in his chest.
"You should find someone who is not so fucked up," Michelle whispered against his chest.
"Nope, and you're not fucked up," he told her, running his hand down her back.
"Look at what I did. Look at what happened," she said in an embarrassed tone.
"You had a flashback. I have them all the time. I just don't get stuck in them," he said, shrugging.
"You don't have them," she argued.
"Don't I?" Legates asked, quirking his eyebrow.
"Do you end up in the hospital? Did you freak your entire botany class out? Did you get stuck in your own personal hell?" She asked, her eyes glazing over and her voice wobbling. Cupping her face, he lifted it so she could look him in the eye.
"Every time I wake up sweating I wake up from my own personal hell. I'm in that stinking jungle, looking through my scope and you're both dead. I don't..." his voice drifted off as he closed his eyes. He dropped his forehead to hers and took a deep breath.
"No, I don't end up in the hospital but I didn't suffer anything as nearly horrific as you. No, I didn't scare my botany class but I have freaked the guys out with my nightmares in the months after Maluku," he whispered.
A/N: Awww poor Michelle will she get the help she needs? /snort Ya'll already know the answer to that. But what about tomorrow...chocolate, underwear, commando, a dog, espresso beans, a kick, despair, frustration, weirdness, Walter Reed, Romero still stupid, Trazadone, nightmares, exercise, dongles, enjoying the view, purring, things not coming out right and reaching destinations.
A/N2: I know that Dr. Geyer is an asshole and it has been mentioned that I write too many of them. He is the actual impersonation of the psych doctor I ran into at the emergency room once. So yeah I guess I did write him as one.