What He Offered

Chapter 19: Calls of Duty

Bones glanced up quickly at the wall clock: time was flowing by too rapidly to allow for reflection, but she found this latest development in the tale - the new alliance between old adversaries Tim and Brennan, and the new estrangement between casual friends Vic and Jay - difficult to understand. What did it all mean? If Jay represented her past emotional insecurity, then, apparently Booth had both blamed her for it and was angry (Vic) and blamed himself for exposing it and was sad (Tim). If she understood correctly, the angry part of Booth subsequently admitted that he'd been unfair to blame her for something she couldn't help but that did not change the fact of her unreadiness, which then resulted in that troubled period when they were ill-at-ease and unsure how to be together. She thought that was right, but she would just have to read on, and see if her interpretation was borne out.

A Tale of Twin Booths, cont'd

In the aftermath of the Catastrophe, it was as if, once again, Fate had pushed the reset button all the way back to Calamity Day. Vic was walking on eggshells around Brennan again, being very careful to stay on her good side, acting the consummate professional while Brennan was her usual cool, left-brained self with him. As for Jay, or rather Miss Keenan as she now preferred to be addressed, the Booths saw her in passing at the lab, or at headquarters, where she behaved with perfect civility and reserve as befitted a junior colleague. If Vic or Tim stopped by the condo to pick Brennan up, or to drop off paperwork, Jay made herself scarce. There was the occasional awkward encounter, such as the time when Tim, while waiting to see Jay into an elevator, tried to assuage any guilt she might feel about having hurt him by mentioning casually his up-coming date with marine biologist Dr. Catherine Bryar. In the end, though, his well-meaning attempt at comfort had only caused both of them more pain, and he was careful thereafter, when one-on-one with Jay, to keep personal topics to a minimum.

The one huge innovation was Tim's relationship with Brennan. Whereas, at the outset, they had been as cats and dogs, hissing and barking at each other, now they were comfortable together as a pair of old shoes, not only co-workers but friends. It was no longer rare for Brennan to take Tim's side against Vic, or to actively seek out Tim's psychological expertise, developments about which Vic felt ambivalent.

Insecure though he might be about some aspects of their partnership, when Brennan first broached the subject of the archeological dig in Maluku, it did not occurred to Vic at all that she might be tempted to take part. "Brennan's not going anywhere," he repeatedly assured anyone who wondered aloud if Brennan might join the expedition. But then, word reached him that Jay had been accepted as a participant, and that she was urging her sister to go, too. That put a whole different spin on the situation.

"I can see it's a fantastic opportunity for Jay," Vic told Tim. While the brothers respected Jay's wishes to be addressed formally in public, between themselves Vic and Tim continued to refer to her as they had before. "She can use her research there as the basis for her doctoral dissertation, and maybe even co-author a series of articles. But, Brennan's needed here. There's no call for her to go jaunting halfway around the globe!"

"Brennan's first great love is anthropology," Tim reminded him. "Given the choice of investigating grizzly murders or unearthing remains of potentially historic significance, of course she's going to want to go."

"You don't think she wants to get away from me? Personally, I mean. I've cut way back on the charm smiles, and eye twinkling. And, definitely no bantering, teasing or suggestive talk around headquarters and the lab. Except for Miss Julian," he added for honesty's sake. "Brennan can't object to that, right?"

"We've been over this before, Vic: Brennan doesn't hold your flirting against you. I've even heard her apologize to you for the language she used that night."

"The language, yeah, but she still meant what she said. In her view, I'm some kind of clueless Cosa Nostra."

"I think you mean 'Casanova,' and for the last time, Brennan doesn't blame you. And, keep in mind, she'll only be gone a year. I know it's a long time, but she'll come back to you, Vic. You can trust me when I say she's not leaving you forever."

"Your new BFF told you that, in so many words?"

"No, we share a telepathic connection." Tim reached into the pocket of his suit coat, and extracted the letter from the Secretary of Defense that U.S. Army colonel Pelant had handed him some days before. He added, distractedly, "I know she'll be back, because I know her."

Vic snatched the well-worn envelope and its contents out of his twin's hand. "You're not going to Afghanistan, and she's not going to Maluku! That's final."

"That's not your call to make, Vic," Tim said, wearily. "I can do a hell of a lot more good counseling traumatized soldiers on active duty than I'm doing here, profiling inveterate criminals and advising colleagues on how to handle their minor personal woes."

If that was all there was to it, Vic knew he would not stand so adamantly in Tim's way. He was mortally afraid for his twin, however, because under that exterior of apparent calm and philosophical acceptance, Vic suspected that Tim was heartsick unto death. Though he talked a good game, and presented an easy-going front, Tim was grieving hard, and it was all the worse for his keeping it locked away inside. Vic had tried to get Tim to open up, but his brother fobbed him off at every turn, with claims of being "fine, fine." But, Tim was far from fine; he was sinking into depression, and Vic feared he was heading to Afghanistan to get himself killed. "Yeah? Well, I'm not letting you go into a war zone without me, bro, and, while your services to the FBI may be far from critical, mine are absolutely vital to the safety and security of the greater D. C. area, so you just take that into account when you're weighing your options."

Tim sighed. "No one's indispensable, Vic."

Not long after, when Vic heard the news that Brennan had been asked to lead the Maluku dig, he saw the writing on the wall. So, as before when he was in danger of losing her to Sully, he had time to contemplate his answer, and had it ready when she admitted to him that she would like to accept the offer.

"I thought you already had," he said, sulky as a preschooler who has no choice but to accept a grievous disappointment.

"We've been partners for over five years," Brennan said, confused by his churlishness. "I wouldn't accept the position without discussing it with you first. Vic, please, look at me." When he'd complied, sheepish at having behaved badly, she went on, "I think you know how exciting the prospect of exploring this new find is for me, but I would've passed it up and stayed here in D. C. if it weren't for Jay. She's still grieving, Vic. I can't let her go alone. She needs my support and encouragement. I'm all she has."

Vic sighed, nodded. "I see that. And, I'll answer the call to service, and go back to the Army."

Brennan smiled, sadly. "To train soldiers, and prevent lives being lost unnecessarily?"

"And, to look out for Tim. He's in a bad way, too, Brennan. I've already done my duty to my country; my conscience is clear on that score. But I still have a duty to my twin, just as you have a duty to Jay. So, where Tim goes, I go."

"And, it's only for a year, after all."

"Yeah, what's a year in the grand scheme of things, eh, Brennan? We'll be back busting bad guys before you know it."

Vic and Tim were already in uniform on the day Jay and Brennan were due to depart for Indonesia, and they had to sneak off base to see them off. As they raced down the concourse, Vic remembered the last time he had hustled through this particular airport: that time, he'd been rushing "to rescue" Brennan from Homeland Security in an attempt to entice her back to the FBI, and now, he was there to tell her good-bye, to let her go. When he finally caught sight of the sisters, Jay was poised to head to the boarding gate, but Brennan was craning her neck, looking about her anxiously. When she spotted them, she brightened, and hurried to meet them halfway.

Tim was before him. Brennan threw her arms around his neck, and hugged him close. "Sorry we're late," Vic heard Tim say, "Couldn't get leave. Had to go AWOL."

Brennan sank back on her heels and released him. "I'm so glad you did! Tim, promise me you'll stay safe. Please, sweetie, don't take any foolish chances." But, Tim wasn't listening. He had seen Jay over her shoulder. "Go," Brennan said, sending him off with a little push.

Vic closed the distance between them, and took Brennan's hand. In shared concern, they watched their twins take leave of each other. Jay hugged Tim awkwardly, all hesitation and spastic movement, and then, Tim was speaking, Jay's hand in his, and she was nodding her understanding, head bowed, a single tear dripping down her cheek. When Tim stepped back, he had to pull his hand away, so tight was her grip. He turned smartly on his heel, marched up and past them up the concourse, and never once looked back.

Brennan watched him disappear into the crowd, and sighed. She turned back to Vic, and fixed her wide blue eyes on his. "I've got to go," she said, but her body, as though rooted in place before him said, I want to stay.

Vic stepped up to her. In his life, a great deal had been required of him — enormous sacrifice, enormous patience, enormous pain — but this, this saying good-bye, was the severest demand of all. "You take care of yourself out there in the jungle, Brennan. Watch out for bandits, and venous snakes."

"And, you, don't be a hero. Please, Vic, don't be yourself."

He tried to manage a cocky smile for her, but his bravery didn't extend that far. He choked out, "A year from today, Brennan, at the reflecting pool…"

"By the coffee cart. I know. A year from today."

And, still she gripped his hand so tight. The loudspeaker announced final boarding: her flight to Jakarta. He gave her fingers one last squeeze, and extricated his hand. His desire to catch her up in his arms and hold her, hold her, hold her was so strong, he had to turn on a dime, and stride quickly away so as not to ruin everything and give in. When he was far enough away to outstrip temptation, he allowed himself a final look back, only to find her walking slowly away, head turned over her shoulder, her feet saying I have to go, her eyes saying I want to stay.

In truth, what's a year in the grand scheme of things? What are a mere seven months, for that matter? Time enough, as it turned out, for everything to go to hell.