Memorial Day Weekend

As you all are aware I've been quiet. Its been hectic. Husband got deployed, Christmas, then we bought a house. So sleep? Yeah. I'm still struggling with Hunted...okay ripping my hair out. While my husband is busy gaming I thought I'd skip the unpacking and give you a tidbit. I'm changing names so you have no idea who it is but it will give you both an idea and something to think about this weekend. For my non American readers, Memorial Day is about remembering the soldiers who died for our freedoms. Unfortunately there are Americans that believe the extra day off this weekend is about barbecues.

Maggs watched Michelle from the corner of his eye. He pulled through the gate and onto the base. Driving across base, he made his way to a to a building near an airstrip. The sign over the door said, Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs. Sighing, Michelle opened the door and stepped out into the humid July night. Even at eleven o'clock at night the air was thick and heavy. Stepping forward, they opened the door and entered the lobby. Michelle glanced around at the atrium. Wide open spaces in soothing browns and grays adorned the walls and floors. A small fountain gently splashed. Maggs walked in and stepped towards a plaque on the wall. Michelle stood next to him and read over the numbers of lives lost for the United States. Michelle walked away, trying not to cry at the thought that the number on the last listed would increase dramatically over the next few days as the men from Phoenix were added. She perched on the edge of the fountain and crossed her legs at the ankles. Maggs shook his head in sorrow and looked to the ceiling for strength and guidance. Michelle looked up as the door opened and honor guard men began to walk into the building. They paused at the sight of Michelle sitting on the edge of the fountain. A Marine split off and headed toward her with a pinched frown on his face.

“Can I help you ma'am?” He asked in a clipped tone. Michelle looked up at him with a scowl. Maggs walked over and stood just to the right of her, his stance slightly defensive.

“I'm here awaiting the arrival of a soldier from Camp Phoenix,”she told him in an austere tone. He frowned at her and his brow lowered.

“I do not know when your loved one will arrive and there is military protocol that must be followed. Please return to your hotel and we will contact you,” he said. Michelle stood up, slid her palms down her skirt and looked up at the man.

“Dr. Temperance Brennan is on the flight that will be landing in,” she looked at her watch, “the next five minutes if it has not already done so. She is escorting the Private. He is not as you would say 'believed to be' dead. Every man on this plane has been positively identified by military protocol and are properly labeled,” Michelle said evenly. Maggs’ eyes opened wide at Michelle's cool calm collected response. The men behind the Marine snapped to attention. Maggs snapped to attention and the Marine spun on his heel then snapped to attention as well. Michelle stepped to his left and saw General Henderson entering the building.

“At ease gentlemen. We have a rough detail tonight. This plane contains forty servicemen that were killed at Phoenix,” he somberly. The men swallowed and Henderson looked around. He saw Michelle standing to the left of the Marine and moved towards her.

“Ms. Welton, what are you doing here?” He asked her in stunned amazement as he grasped her hands.

“I came to be here for him and Dr. Brennan,” Michelle said softly.

“Tempe's coming?” Henderson asked, looking over his shoulder.

“She will be arriving with him,” Michelle said in a choked voice.

“Oh no they brought her...” he trailed off and sighed at the horror she must have been through.

“I'm glad you're here,” he told her, squeezing her hands. A moment later, a very pregnant woman came through the door dressed in black. Her eyes and face were puffy from crying.

“Sir, this is highly irregular,” the Marine said quietly. Michelle moved to the woman and tilted her head to look at her more clearly.

“Jenna, right?” Michelle said quietly. She nodded and looked a Michelle with confusion.

“Jenna, I'm Michelle. I was at the Hodgins' Mansion,” Michelle told her. Jenna thought about it a moment and nodded.

“Waiting room, I remember,” she whispered. Michelle pursed her lips and nodded. She guided the woman over to the fountain and sat her down. An older couple rushed through the doors and over to where Nikki sat.

“Jenna, honey, you have to slow down,” the older woman fussed at Jenna.

“Excuse me? May I ask why are you here?” Henderson gently asked the family with a sympathetic look.

“Dr. Brennan, called me and told me he would be arriving tonight. I needed to be here,” Jenna sniffled out. Henderson paused and shook his head and thanked the Military's lucky stars. Dr. Temperance Brennan had pulled off forty-five miracles.

“I understand. However, your loved one will not be released until after the mortician has finished his job. He does not come in until eight,” Henderson said gently.

“I told him that I would be waiting for him when he arrived. He is arriving and I will be waiting,” Jenna said vehemently. Henderson shook his head and stepped back.

“Sir, are you the command officer overseeing this transport?” The Marine asked, his face blank at the current events.

“Yes, Lieutenant, I will be. We need to head to the tarmac,” Henderson said, offering his hand to Jenna. She smiled and took his hand as she pushed her weight to her feet. They walked outside and Henderson helped the family into his town car, taking the front seat. Michelle and Maggs climbed into the truck and followed the town car to the tarmac where a C-17 waited. After they climbed out of the vehicle one of Army guard approached Maggs.

“Hey, Maggs, long time no see,” the man said quietly, shaking Maggs’ hand.

“McAllen, yeah, it has been a while,” he said somberly.

“What are you doing here? Grieving services?” He asked, nodding to Michelle's puffy eyes.

“I'm standing right here, dipshit,” Michelle hissed. Maggs reached out and squeezed her forearm.

“Yes and No. Her other half is still at Phoenix. One of his unit is on this transport,” Maggs said softly. Michelle shrugged off his arm and walked away.

“So, who does she belong to?” McAllen asked, looking over his shoulder at Michelle.

“Legates,” Maggs said, looking at the ground and nodding. McAllen looked over his shoulder and then back at Maggs.

“I'm up but I get off at eight. Maybe before you leave we can get a beer or something,” McAllen said.

“Yeah, sure but I'm not leaving Michelle alone,” he said quietly. McAllen shook his head and walked over to where the rest of the Army guard stood. Michelle stood at the edge of the red carpet that had been rolled out on the tarmac. Beside her on one side stood his family and at some point Maggs had moved to her other side. They stood still and silent as they watched the dignified transport begin to happen. A three second salute to each of the fallen, a presenting of arms to each of the fallen then the cases were moved out onto the red carpet. Michelle's teeth began to worry her lip until one of the metal transport cases was followed by Dr. Temperance Brennan. Her eyes were tired and puffy, her pregnant frame slouched and moving slowly. When his case came to a halt, Brennan stopped and put her hand on top of the flag draping the case. The honor guard turned and made their way back to the plane. Michelle moved quickly as to not interrupt the movement of the next case. She wrapped an arm around Brennan and steadied the pregnant woman's tired body. Placing her free hand over Brennan's, she met her eyes with the same sadness. They stood and watched in silence as the last twenty cases were unloaded and placed carefully on the red carpet. Michelle looked up when another hand landed on top of hers. Jenna's pain was almost tangible. The breeze ruffled around them easing the humidity just a slight bit. Maggs watched in stunned amazement as the three women stood together for an hour as the last of the cases were unloaded. None of them moving, deathly still with their hands one on top of the other, stacked on his case. They stood silent and watchful as the Chaplain said his prayer. Michelle's ears caught Jenna humming and Michelle waited until the Chaplain had finished before she picked up the song that Jenna had been repeatedly humming.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me....

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now, I see.

Michelle's voice rose on the word see and floated over the forty cases sitting on the red carpet in the early morning.

T'was Grace that taught...

my heart to fear.

And Grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that Grace appear...

the hour I first believed

Michelle dug deep and poured the loss and pain from everything into the lyrics as she sang. Jenna began to sob as Michelle's voice washed over the transport case of her man.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...

we have already come.

T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...

and Grace will lead us home.

The Chaplain stood in awe of the woman's voice who wept in words. Brennan could hear the faith that she had heard so many times in Booth's voice pouring from Michelle in the words that she sang. This was more than therapy, this was a song for the dead.

The Lord has promised good to me...

His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be...

as long as life endures.

Michelle swallowed unsure if she could continue then Jenna squeezed her hand and Michelle knew she had no choice. In this time and in this place this was needed. Maggs stood with his eyes glistening with unshed tears as the pain of her loss, their loss, the world’s loss came through in song.

When we've been here ten thousand years...

bright shining as the sun.

We've no less days to sing God's praise...

then when we've first begun.

Maggs saw the tears of the honor guard and Henderson's stiff upper lip tremble just a little. He choked back a sob and swallowed the loss he told himself he wouldn't let get to him. He knew the pain that Legates and his unit were feeling was pretty deep. Their unit was unusually tight, they were almost family. No correction, they were family.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me....

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now, I see

On the last word, Michelle lifted her voice and it soared through the silence of the early morning dawn. When the note faded away to nothing, the men saluted and turned to begin lifting the cases into the waiting trucks. Michelle bowed her head and let the single tear roll down her face and land on the pile of clutched hands. No one paid attention to the photographers that were taking pictures in a solemn fashion. None noticed one photographer who used a telescopic lens to take a picture of three hands clutched on top of a flag draped case with a single tear on the top hand.

“Couldn't have said it better myself,” the Chaplain whispered at the end of the song. Henderson nodded but kept to attention and saluting.

This hasn't been betaed so please excuse any bad grammar or weirdness