Title: Stranded

Author: TravelingSue2/TravelingSue Follow me on twitter by TravelingSue2

Can often be found lounging by the Coffee Cart in Bonesology

Beta: SouthurnLady – Amazing women who I'm happy to call a friend.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my time, imagination and ability to entertain.

Summary: Hannah does not exist in this story, I'm writing more from a S5 perspective. B&B are called out to the hills of western Virginia to investigate a crime on the 23rd of December and find themselves stranded.

Chapter 1 – Do you believe in fate?

Booth stepped quickly off the elevator careful not to tip the tray he carried. He hoped the enticing scent of Peppermint Mocha Soy Latte would put Bones in a good mood. He shook his head, only his partner would think soy belonged in coffee, but he, at least, knew her weakness.

Striding towards her door, he knocked briskly then waited what seemed an eternity until he finally heard her call out, "Booth, let yourself in, the doors unlocked."

Shaking his head, he opened the door wide and was greeted not by Bones but by her survival gear. He wondered where she was headed to this time and called out, "Peppermint Mocha Soy Latte, Bones, come and get it."

Bones walked back in the room, a warm parka in her hands, and seized the latte from the tray. Booth laughed, "So, I take it I made a good choice."

Bones sipped her preferred beverage, her eyes closed in pleasure as she nodded, "You do know me." She opened them and gazed fondly at him, "All these years as partners, I've picked up a few things about you as well."

"Like what?"

"You love apple pie and coffee, you love any sports team based in Philadelphia, and you started to call me Bones so my doctorates wouldn't make you feel uncomfortable," Bones teased.

"You knew that?" Booth shook his head, had he been that transparent.

"Well, to be fair, not right away, but it didn't take long to figure out that when you wanted to impress your fellow law enforcement officers, you'd introduce me as Dr. Brennan, otherwise, you called me Bones," she replied.

Booth looked at her, amazed, she really was brilliant at psychology even if she didn't believe in its merits, "Did it bother you?"

"No, it grew on me after a while," she smirked, "Just like you did. All these years later and now I think of you as my best friend."

"Thanks Bones," glancing at his watch he added, "Bones, we better get a move on, we have at least a three hour drive ahead of us."

Picking up her kit, her purse and her treasured coffee, Bones and Booth left her apartment.

The SUV handled the snow-covered roads of West Virginia perfectly and the scenery was lovely. The tall pines boughs draped with Christmas snow and small lakes and streams could be seen from time to time as their drive extended for more than a few hours. Bones turned to Booth and her eyes registered briefly how handsome he looked in his black wool topcoat. He was humming to John Lennon's last hit Imagine when she asked, "So, will you have Parker this year for Christmas?"

Booth shook his head, "No, Parker is visiting Rebecca's family in Philadelphia." But then his expression brightened when he added, "But, I get him Wednesday through New Years Day, and I've got all kinds of things planned. I'm taking a few days off at the end of the week."

"I'm sorry you're not spending Christmas with Parker, I was hoping you would be," she sighed regretfully. " I know it's become our practice to spend holidays together especially when Parker isn't around, but with Dad at Russ's I didn't feel the need to stay in D.C.," Bones said.

Booth shrugged, "Bones, it's not your problem, I'll manage. I'll get some take out from Sid's, have some eggnog and catch up on my reading. Christmas will just be a few days delayed." He turned and asked, "So, where to this time?"

"Yucatan Peninsula, National Geographic will be filming a new burial site which was discovered in October and the Jeffersonian thought it would be good press for me to go," Bones added.

"So you agreed," Booth emphasized the last word, "to give up your holiday for publicity?"

Bones looked over and shrugged, "I know that isn't my practice, but I am very interested in the find and as long as the camera crews stay out of my way, I'll manage."

Booth looked over and smirked, "I have no doubt, Bones, no doubt at all. So, when do you leave?"

"First thing tomorrow, my flight leaves at 7 AM out of Reagan," Bones answered.

"Wow, it's already 1 o'clock! Hopefully, we don't run into any problems at the crime scene," Booth said.

Bones shrugged, "Booth, crime scene investigation is quite straight forward, for the most part your tech's will be doing most of the work."

"Well, nothing is absolute and I believe in fate, remember?" Booth smirked as their eyes met.

Bones laughed and said, "And I don't."

Booth spotted the FBI Forensics' utility van ahead and easily parked in the area in front of it. As they stepped out, Bones, in her jump suit and her kit in hand asked, "What's the context of the find?"

"Snow plow driver was clearing the fire roads of Monongahela National Forest and swerved to avoid hitting a deer, then hit a particularly large mound of snow just off the road instead," Booth answered.

"So, how was the body discovered?" Bones was perplexed how a snow plow driver could stumble onto a crime scene and apparently desecrates the crime scene all in one motion.

"The speed at which he hit the snow mound literally severed the head of the victim, and it came flying out of the mound and hit his windshield," Booth added, slightly disgusted at the image he was painting.

They approached the crime scene and Booth flashed his badge and quickly introduced himself and Dr. Brennan. "Bones, I'm gonna go talk to the driver for a minute." He paused then asked the same question he always asked when they were investigating a crime scene in inclement weather, "Are you sure you don't want my coat, you're turning blue?"

"I'm fine Booth, if it gets to be too much I'll ask the tech's to get my coat from the SUV, I know how to take care of myself," Bones said impatiently, tired of the same argument.

"Okay, okay, just asking," Booth shrugged and made his way to towards the forensic van.

Bones, instead, proceeded towards the yellow taped off area and greeted a familiar figure, "Hi Mike, what have you got for me?"

"Doctor Brennan," he greeted and pointed towards the exposed body and severed head of the victim.

"Mike, did you place the victim's head here after the collision?" Bones asked as she bent to begin her examination.

"Yeah, we recorded the events and where the head eventually landed, but I did place the head back near the body; you okay with that?" Mike asked, hoping to be spared the wrath of Dr. Brennan.

Bones nodded absently and began to examine the decomposed body at length.

After a few minutes, Booth joined her, his note cards already in hand, "Got anything for me, Bones?"

"Yes, based on the pelvic bone, this is a female in her early twenties, no children," she then pointed to the decomposed head and added, "I'd say Caucasian, approximately 1.52 meters with a weight of 61 kilograms."

Seeing Booth's confusion, she immediate translated, "Approximately 5 feet tall weighing 135 pounds."

Booth smiled his thanks and transcribed the information and then said, "I wonder how long she's been out here?"

"Based on the rate of decomposition, I'd say a few months," she stood stretching her stiff back. "I can't get a better timeframe until Jack has a chance to examine the particulates." With a puzzled frown creasing her brow, she added, with a slight quiver shaking her frame, "I'm not seeing anything obvious that would tell me how she died."

Booth immediately whipped off his topcoat, admonished as he draped his coat around her shoulders, "Bones, I told you those jump suits aren't made for 20 degree weather."

She closed her eyes briefly savoring the heat of his coat, the collar of his coat brushed her nose and released a scent so uniquely his, "Booth, I'm fine really." She opened her eyes, his face was so close she could see the glints of gold hidden deep within the chocolate brown and said, "but thank you for the coat, I appreciate it's warmth." She added, "I underestimated the elements."

Booth smirked, "That's what I'm here for, to protect you from the cold as well as a few other things."

Bones smiled, "I'd say you're underestimating your abilities Booth."

His hands were still on the lapels of his coat, with his face only inches from her own, her eyes automatically fluttered shut. Behind Booth, Mike cleared his throat knowing without being told he'd just interrupted the best crime solving team in D.C., he smothered a grin and asked, "Dr. Brennan, can we move the body now, the boys want to get back to D.C.?"

Embarrassed, she stepped away from Booth and focused on Mike, "Yes, I'll call ahead and let the Jeffersonian know you're coming."

She stepped out of the yellow-taped area followed closely by Booth. She found his presence disconcerting but shrugged it away. Taking out her iPhone, she noticed immediately she had no service and asked, "Booth, I don't have a signal, do you?"

Booth pulled out his phone and saw the same no signal graphic as had Bones. Shaking his head, he said, "We'll have to call it in after we exit the National Forest; I'm not surprised considering where we are."

Bones nodded, "You're right, it is very remote. Have you been issued your satellite phone yet?"

Booth shook his head, "Nope, but I should have it after the first of the year. You know how budgets work."

Booth and Bones waved Mike and his team off as they proceeded to pack the remains for transport. Bones and Booth began to walk back to his SUV when Booth spotted a private road leading off to the right of the fire road. Pointing towards it he said, "Hey Bones, I'd like to check out that private road, maybe our victim came from that direction?"

Bones nodded, "That's fine, Booth, but how about we stop at the SUV first and get my coat. Your suit jacket can't possibly keep you warm."

Booth nodded, "Yeah, it's a bit chilly, good idea."

They trudged through the snow stopping to open the back of the SUV where Bones had thrown her parka. Shrugging out of the warmth of Booth's jacket, she quickly put on her parka. Luckily, she had her muck boots on but Booth's dress shoes definitely weren't enough protection from the snow. Noticing them, Bones suggested, "Booth, you may want to change your shoes, we can't drive down the private road with the snow banks so high and you'll freeze walking through it."

Booth realized she was right and reached into the SUV to retrieve his own set of muck boots and muttered, "Yeah, but I hate these things, they make me look like a freak."

Bones teased, "So, you're telling me I look like a freak wearing mine?"

Booth laughed then shook his head, "No, Bones, you look cute. I, on the other hand, look like a freak."

Just as Booth was exchanging his footwear, the FBI forensics van drove by them as did the state troopers who'd been called to the scene.

Waving them off, Booth finished putting on his footwear and closed the SUV, then looked over at his companion, "Ready?"

"Of course, let's go," Bones replied quickly. Now feeling better with her cap covering her head, warm gloves on her hands and her parka enveloping her in a blanket of warmth, she was ready for anything.

Booth looked at his partner and couldn't help notice how her eyes sparkled with curiosity. She looked more like a college senior getting ready to explore the campus on a winter afternoon than someone looking for clues at a crime scene.

He offered his arm and said, "Okay Bones, let's get this show on the road."

Taking his arm, they began to climb the snow mound blocking the entrance to the private road, it was a good four feet deep and just as wide.

After climbing over the mound, Bones asked, "What do you expect to find, Booth?"

"Maybe something, maybe nothing, but there's a faded sign just there," Booth pointed towards a nearby tree, "I'm thinking maybe there's a cabin up there, and the victim may have come from it."

Bones teased, "Is that your gut talking?"

Booth smirked, "Yeah, and are you going to argue with it, Bones?"

"I gave up disputing your gestational system a long time ago. If it says to investigate, I've learned to listen."

Booth murmured thoughtfully, "So you'll listen to my gut, good to know Bones, good to know."

Bones glanced at her watch after they'd walked for a few minutes, "It's after 3, we should probably turn back. In 30 minutes, the sun will be setting…it sets at 4:13 PM tonight."

Booth looked surprised, "Did you calculate that or did your read that?"

"Calculated it, of course," Bones answered.

Booth smirked, "I should have known," looking ahead, he spied what he assumed to be a cabin.

"Well, it looks like we'll make it, Bones, there it is up ahead," Booth replied.

Seeing a small log cabin accented with red window shutters and flower boxes with a wide covered front porch, the entire area leading up to the cabin was undisturbed, a veritable blanket of white. Bones spotted the reflection of a small pond in the background, its water frozen solid with the cold reflecting the late afternoon winter sunlight. She murmured, "It's lovely."

"Well, as nice as it is, we're here to look for clues, Bones," Booth said a bit abruptly.

He stepped onto the wide porch and decided to soften his tone and teased, "So, Bones, where would you hide your spare key if this was your place?"

Bones smirked and pointed quickly to the dated old milk can sitting patiently by the door and said, "I'd have hidden it in the milk can."

Booth stepped back and looked at the entire house and said, "I'd have hidden it in the flower box furthest from the door," he chuckled, "let's see who's right?"

Bones tipped the milk can and nothing tumbled out, and Booth reached into the flower box and found nothing there as well. They laughed and Booth said, "Well, I guess we're both wrong, you don't think they hid it under the mat do you?"

Bones smirked as she lifted the corner of the mat revealing the key, "Apparently they only locked it because society has told them they should. With a cabin this remote, probably only a hiker would have stumbled across it."

Booth bent to retrieve the key and smoothly inserted it into the lock. The door opened with a loud squeak as though it hadn't been opened in years. Stomping off the snow, Booth and Bones entered the cabin. Booth noted the wide fireplace with the bear skin rug, obviously very dated. Bones noted the kitchen area with a battered wooden table that had shown much use but appeared to be much loved as it was draped with a dusty table cloth and an equally dusty centerpiece. Each looked at the floor and turned to the other and Bones spoke, "Booth, based on this layer of dust, our victim wasn't in this cabin, I don't think it's been occupied for several years at least."

Booth nodded, "Yeah, I guess that's a dead end. Okay, let's get back to D.C.," Booth turned and escorted Bones out careful to relock the door and replace the key where they'd found it.

Trudging back out fairly quickly, it was now about 3:30 and the sun was showing significant signs of setting soon. Booth unlocked the SUV and they both climbed in, Booth inserted his key in the ignition and nothing.

Looking surprised, Booth checked the fuel gauge…it read half a tank, his fuel gage was electronic so he knew his battery wasn't completely dead. Bones looked over concerned and said, "Booth, is something wrong?"

"Yeah, the truck won't start, Bones," Booth immediately popped the hood and checked over any connection going to and from the engine. Bones had also stepped out of the vehicle but instead of looking at the engine, she bent to peer under the vehicle and called out, "Booth, can you come here I think I see the problem?"

Booth moved to her side of the SUV and bent to look under the carriage of the vehicle and immediately saw what attracted Bones' attention, a large black puddle of oil located just under the engine block. He groaned, "Dammit, no way I can fix that, Bones."

"I know we need a tow," she immediately took her phone forgetting momentarily she was out of range, and seeing the no signal indicator she groaned. Immediately, she showed Booth the display on her phone and pocketed it quickly then asked, "What do we do now?"

Booth shrugged, "We stay here, Bones, what choice do we have?"

"We'll freeze out here, Booth," Bones said, stating the obvious.

Booth smiled at how literal Bones could be and said, "I meant, we stay in the cabin, it's got a fireplace and I noticed they had wood stacked in the side yard," he shrugged and added, "At least, we won't freeze tonight."

Resigned to their fate, Bones nodded, "It could be worse, I suppose."

Booth nodded as he opened the back of the SUV. They needed more supplies and the SUV had a few that could give them a few creature comforts. He immediately pulled his go-bag and Bones kit, she always kept a change of clothes on hand as did he. They'd both learned over the years not to count on the conditions of crime scenes to keep them clean and dry. Handing her the kit and his own go-bag, he said, "Well, I've got a few supplies in here that should at least keep us from starving." Booth pulled out an army bag filled with MREs and other survival items, which Bones immediately wrinkled her nose at. "Ugh, not exactly vegetarian are they, Booth?"

"No, but at least you won't starve," Booth said, and then pulled out a sleeping bag as well.

Turning to her he said, "Lead the way Bones, I'm right behind you."

Nodding she turned and said, "Well at least we're together, I know I can take care of myself but I do feel better knowing you're here."

Booth smiled his agreement as they made their way back to the cabin.

R&R is always appreciated :)