-Venus POV-
Temp, Booth, and I are walking through the memorial sight as I look around feeling a bit jumpy, so I wrap my arm around Booths as starts speaking. "I never get used to the magnitude of this place, what it's taken to keep this country free." I nod as Temp speaks, "All societies build monuments to their dead to convince future combatants that it's an honor to die in battle." "Well, for these servicemen, it was, you know? And somebody to use this place to protest the war-- it just pisses me off. These are the lives that gave them that right. These men- they should be respected." "If they're really respected maybe not so many of them would be buried here."
I didn't know what to say as I just watch the conversation between the two as Booth answers back, "Are we going to get into something here, Bones?" "I don't see why. I think we three wish this place were a lot smaller." I nod as a man call over to us, "Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan, Dr. Venus, right this way." He starts leading us as he explains, "Must have happened in the middle of the night. Place is so big no one saw the fire." We were getting close to the site as I release my arm from Booth as he gave me a small comforting squeeze on my arm telling me that I got this. I gave him a small nod and we all head towards Zack who was taking pictures. Zack turns around and starts explaining, "The accelerant was charcoal starter." The FBI agent informs us, "We didn't find a suicide note." Temp then asks, "If he was a protestor, wouldn't he leave a note?" I answered, "Didn't need to. It's on Charlie Kent's grave." Booth nods, "Press was coming out this morning to do a tribute to him. It's the one-year anniversary of his death." Temp then asks, "Charlie Kent?" "He was in the National Guard. He was about to be drafted by the NBA when he got shipped out to Iraq. He gave his life taking out a group of insurgents to save his unit. Won the Silver Star."
I start to feel cramped, but I continued on, "It's male, African descent, approximately 20 to 29 years old. It's a bit early to determine cause of death." Booth then adds, "I am not a pro, but I'm guessing fire." I shrug as Temp gives him an annoyed look. I stand up as the agent speaks, "The White House and DoD want an ID as soon as possible." Brennan then speaks, "So they can brand him a traitor." I look down at Temp as Booth says, "Why do you have to be so cynical?" "I'm not cynical. It's a necessary part of the psychology of warfare-- heroes and villains. Without clear distinctions like that, we'd never be able to fight." "Yeah, well, I always found being shot at is a motivating factor." I look at the Agent, "We will get the ID as fast as we can. Could we bag these fragments of his clothing. We should also get any singed plant life or debris you find around him." Zack nods, "I'm on it."
I look up seeing Booth looking at a Tomb stone as I walk over to him and put my hand on his shoulder. Temp walks over to us, "What?" Booth answers, "That was Jamie Richards. We were in the Rangers together. He was hit by a roadside bomb just outside the Green Zone. You know, he left a... wife and two kids. The fact that he was near this..." I console him as Temp asks, "You believe somehow he's still here watching?" "Yeah. You don't. I get that." "I know you think he was a good man. That's... That's enough for me. Zack, I want pictures of all remaining tissue before he's moved." I watch as Temp leaves and I bend down by Booth and look up at the sky, "I understand... I lost someone who was a father figure to me... He also left behind a wife who was pregnant. I guess he was practicing being a father with me, but he was gunned down protecting one of our men..." Booth looked at me as I look down back at him, "I believe Richards would like us to catch the person who did this and bring back peace to this site." He nods and I stand back up and head towards Temp.
We are back at the lab on the platform watching the news, "The unidentified suicide victim was found at Private Kent's grave this morning. Services had been planned to honor Kent on the one-year anniversary of his death in Iraq. The war hero..." Boss then starts to speak, "Ah... I used to love watching Kent play. He could fly." Zack adds, "He made 46.4% of his three-point attempts in his last season." "A basketball fan. I'm surprised, Mr. Addy." I chuckle as Brennan, "Zack, I'd like you to keep cleaning the bones." Zack then asks, "Did you see the game against North Carolina? 53 points, and he grabbed 18 rebounds." "Zack..." "Sorry. Cleaning" Boss then speaks, "It's difficult knowing Kent will never play again. It makes the war so real." Hodgins then speaks, "Which is odd, since it was all fiction that got us there in the first place." I froze when he said that as Boss asks, "So you don't think we should stand up to tyrants?" "Sure. I've been waiting for the press to do that for three years now."
Angela then says, "I can't believe you took the bait." "Boss looks at her for a bit, "Yeah. Me, neither." His phone rings and he checks, "Ugh... press office at Defense. Please ID him. This is the third call in an hour. Hello. Yes. It's a pleasure to hear from you again, sir. Yes. We're very close." I wave Boss a goodbye as Angie speaks, "All right, I fed his dentals, approximate age, height, along with a rough sketch I made from the tissue markers into the DoD database." Hodgins adds, "Victim had lamb about an hour before his death. Of course, it's a little overcooked now." Booth then comes up, "He toasted himself. Who cares what he ate?" Brennan then speaks, "Just doing our jobs, Booth." Hodgins then adds, "Big boys telling you to sweep this one under the rug?" I speak up, "This isn't the time Hodgins." Booth then adds, "Just can the left-wing conspiracies, Hodgins. This is probably one of your nut-ball friends here on the table." "Don't think so. The fabric found at the scene was cotton with synthetic polymers; dye: olive-green. This dude was wearing a military uniform."
My jaws dropped when hearing that and I look down at the victim as Hodgins finishes, "He's one of yours, not mine." Angela then speaks, "Okay. His name is Devon Marshall. He just served in the Guard with Kent." I look up, "What?" "He was there in Mosul the night Kent was killed." Zack then asks, "He was protesting?" Hodgins adds, "Marshall could have had a change of heart. It's not like support for the war is increasing." Booth then suggested, "Or it could've been survivor's guilt. The guy who saved his life didn't make it. You wouldn't imagine what it would be like to carry that around." I was looking at the victim as I noticed something, "Sorry Ranger, I don't think so." Brennan nods, "There's evidence of damage on the external auditory meatus here and here." Booth looked at her confused, "I'm sorry, But I left my phrasebook at home." Zack then explains, "The opening in the skull where the auditory nerves feed into the brain." I then rephrased it for Booth as I saw him still confused, "They are talking about earhole." Booth nods, "They simplified these words for a reason, people." I add, "Something was jabbed into his ear." "Okay, that's clear, but why?" "There are scrapings within the cranium and marks on the inside of the parietal and occipital. Whatever was used was pushed completely through his skull."
Hodgins then says, "Someone scrambled his brain, then set the fire, so there'd be no tissue left to see what had been done." "Yes, Devon Marshall didn't die in the fire. He was murdered first." I started to feel jumpy all of a sudden and I tugged Booth sleeve making him look down at me I whispered the word, "Bumblebee". Letting him know that I was going to have a panic attack, he nods and looks up, "Alright let's get going Bones, Blueberry." Temp was about to ask where we were going as she sees me being a bit fidgety and nods.
We were in the car as my episode had passed as Temp speaks, "Marshall was against the war. They knew he'd look like a protester, so no one would expect murder." I then add, "As far as anyone knows, this is still a suicide." Booth nods, "I want the killer to think that he got away with it, all right? He's smart. I want the edge." Brennan nods as she was on the phone with Zack, "Okay, Zack, then magnify the marks on the cranium. Call me if you match them to any kind of weapon." Booth then adds, "You know, I'm just going to be asking his mother a few questions. You both could just stayed back there and played with your bones." I speak, "No can do Ranger, he is one of us and I am going to help get the justice he deserves."
Booth nods as Temp adds, "I know. Just wanted to keep you two company, that's all." Booth asks, "Company?" "Yeah. I'm trying to be more sociable." "Lousy liar." "I just think inside both of you're still military, Booth. You both might be too close to this one. I just want to make sure you both stay objective." I look away as Booth speaks, "We know how to do our jobs, okay? I was doing it just fine, long before I met you two." "You're angry." "Well, because I have people all around me with opinions about the war who don't know what the hell they're talking about." I nod, "I get it, Ranger. It does get annoying when they don't know what's it really like out there." Temp then adds, "I've been in Sudan, Rwanda. For two months, I sifted through the wreckage of 9/11, trying to help the families of the victims." "All I'm saying is that this is just another case, that's all. It just... it's another case." "You're not such a great liar yourself. We are your partners. Let me be both of your partners." Booth looks at her for a moment and looked back at the road, as I grabbed Temps shoulder and she turns around and looks at me as I gave her a small smile with a nod. She smiles back and grabs my hand giving it a small squeeze.
We at Booths office as Temp and I were standing right behind Booth, as he asked the mother while holding Marshall's picture, "Did he have any troubles since he came back? Any personal problems?" The mother answers, "Some days... I didn't know him. He used to be very outgoing, happy. But since he came back, all he did was spend time with his little sister. Take her to school, help her with her homework." The sister nods as she speaks, "Said his job now was keeping me safe. But most of the time, it was like I was taking care of him. It was like he was scared all the time." Booth then asks, "Did he, uh... Did he talk, you know, to anyone else that he served with?" "Just Jimmy. He'd talk to him. When Jimmy wasn't in the hospital, the VA." The mother adds, "When he was over there, he really believed in what he was doing. He wrote us all the time, saying how good he felt seeing the people free... voting, 'cause he remembered when his grandpa was a young man... he didn't have the right to vote. When can I have my son back? When can I lay him to rest?"
I look at Mrs. Marshall, "Soon, Mrs. Marshall. We want to make sure we know all of the facts." She nods and stands up and leaves with her daughter as start thinking about how similar I am with Marshall. Booth turns around and looks at us as I ask, "Am I a bother to you Temp?" "What makes you say that?" "Well, when the sister was describing how Marshall was when he came back, it sounds similar to what I am doing... Am I bothering any of you when I have my episodes?" Temp gives me a huge, "You are never a bother. I am happy to help you whenever you need it. You do too much for me already for me, let me take care of you once and a while." I nod and hug her as Booth also speaks, "Yeah, you don't need to worry Blueberry. Let's get going and meet this friend of his."
We made it to the hospital where it is made for all veterans as we walk in the building Temp says, "I know it's his sister, but it seems odd for a grown man to spend so much time with a 13-year-old." I shake my head, "Like I said earlier I am just like him and if I where 13 you would also be spending time with me all the time to take care of me. Plus, when you come back from combat it's still all over you." Booth nods, "You know? You want to be around something pure. Something innocent. Adults-- they want you to relive it all. They want war stories, like they're entertainment." Brennan then speaks, "It makes them feel better. If they hear you survived, then maybe war isn't so bad. John Wayne syndrome." "Don't tell me you're going to trash the Duke now." "Are you kidding? I love the Duke." I look between the two as they try to voice them out as Booth does it first, "Wouldn't have guessed that one, little lady." "Remember Stagecoach? Listen cowboy courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway." I try to keep my laugh contained as Booth asked, "What was that, the Duke? That was horrible. That was like Jerry Lewis." "Was not." "Yeah it was, look Blueberry is trying so hard to not laugh right now." I look at him, "Don't rat me out Ranger... I didn't laugh that's what counts."
We are sitting down as Booth talks to Jimmy first, "Just a couple of quick questions, Jimmy." "I-I... I can't... I can't talk about Devon now, man. I-I... I-I just can't." His wife then asks, "Why can't you leave him alone? He's got enough troubles." I speak, "We understand, okay? It's... Readjusting... takes time." Booth nods adding, "It's different for every one of us." "It sure as hell was different for Devon. He's gone, man. Son of a bitch should have never checked out on me like that." The wife then talks again, "That's when Jimmy came back in here, when he heard about Devon. He was doing pretty good before that." "Baby, I can't hold a job yet. I can't even provide for my family." Booth asks, "Did you and Devon ever argue?" "Oh, no, we-we had to stick together. That's what it was all about."
The wife adds, "Devon would call and Jimmy would take off to meet him. Middle of dinner, playing with Sarah, it didn't matter: Jimmy would go." "He needed me, Karen. Man, you served, I am not sure about you Mame. You know what it's like when you get back. You got no one but the guys you served with." Temp then speaks, "You and Devon would visit Corporal Kent's grave site?" "It never should've happened like that, not to Kent. We would go and tell him that. We... we were sorry. We needed him to know." I nod understanding as Booth says, "We understand." Temp then speaks, "I don't. How did it happen, Jimmy?" I grab Temps hand as Booth says, "It doesn't matter, Bones." "But, Booth..." "We'll see you later, okay, Jimmy?" The wife then adds, "At home. He'll be home next time, with me and the kids. Right, Jimmy?" We start leaving as I stop and turn around back to the couple and take out a card, "When this investigation is over, I would like you to call this number." Jimmy takes the card asking, "What is it?" "I think its a good opportunity that you might be interested in." "Why should I wait after the investigation?" "This person is a bit busy right now, but will be more open around when this investigation is finished." "Okay... I will give them a call." "All right, I will get going now."
I jogged up to Booth and Temp as they were talking. I listened as Booth says, "I thought you didn't like speculation." "I don't. That's why I took this. Cigarette butt, to see if we can pull any DNA from it. Match it to anything he left on Devon." "All right, if you got what you need, why are you giving me such grief?" "Because... I thought you could've been a little tougher in there." "I'm tough." "Most of the time." Booth chuckles as he says, "Do you always have to get the last word in?" I get in between them as I say, "She does like to." We then hear someone call Booth and we turn around as we see a man in a wheelchair make his way over to us while saying, "Son of a bitch." "Hank! Hey! How the hell are you, man?" "Oh, great; just got some new wheels." "Ah, sweet ride. Hank Lutrell, Dr. Temperance Brennan and Dr. Venus Brennan." "Oh, the bone lady and her little super soldier sister." Temp and I shake his hand as she says, "That's us." "Oh, I heard you three were working together. Booth and I were in the same unit in Kosovo. Hey, you've got to come over for dinner or Jennie and the Kids'll keep asking about you." "I'd love to. I'll call, we'll make it a date, okay?" "Great, I gotta roll. I've got to be in court at 3:00." "Yeah." "They can't start without the judge." He starts rolling away as he turns around, "Hey, uh, call me or I'm gonna kick your ass." I wave goodbye as Temp asks, "What happened to him?" "He got hurt."
-No One POV-
Zack starts speaking "There are signs of additional damage, on C-1 at the base of the skull. This mark couldn't have come from the assault inside the cranium." Angela then speaks, "I just think that you should be aware that Booth and some other people went through something over there." Hodgins then speaks, "So I'm not supposed to tell the truth?" "Truth? It's opinion, Jack." Zack continues talking, "It looks like a dimple in the bone... could be genetic." Hodgins then continues speaking, "There were no WMDs. That's the truth." "Every major intelligence agency in the world thought there were." Zack continues speaking, "We should get magnifications of the area to determine what else could have caused it." "Are you defending what's going on over there?" "No, mistakes were made... obviously." "Yeah, like establishing military bases over there instead of investing a fraction of what this war costs into alternative energy projects." "Nothing is that simple." "To me, it is. We're ruled by the corporate oligarchy. Face it." Zack continues, "There's also some discoloration here. You should do some scrapings to see what it might be." Angela cuts Zack off, "You want to make the world a better place, Jack? Try shutting your yap long enough to hear something other than the sound of your own voice." "Hey, where are you going?" Zack asks, "The scrapings?" "Huh? Oh. Yeah. I thought we were having a good time.
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DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN "BONES". IT IS OWNED BY JOSEPHSON ENTERTAINMENT, BY HART HANSON. I ONLY CLAIM MY CHARACTER VENUS BRENNAN. I ALSO DON'T OWN ANY OF THE IMAGES. THANK YOU.