Right- well I promised myself I wouldn't do this, but this might be a little long. I tried to set it out like a case, and reviews would be greatly appreciated. ;)
Disclaimer- I don't own anything. Shame really.
A/N- Some swearing.
Summary- During a spring heatwave, a woman's body is found in a pond in a field of daffodils. To solve the case, Booth and Brennan must bury every feeling to stop themselves from catching fire.
The Partner in the Pond
Chapter One
"In a pond? Should I call Hodgins now?" Brennan laughed.
"Might be worth it." Booth said distractedly. He rounded the black SUV through a corner in a small town in Maryland, landing in the middle of a traffic jam.
"Shit." He slammed the steering wheel with a fist, causing Brennan to jump slightly.
"You okay?" She turned to face him slightly, turning down the air conditioning, that was blasting cold air into their faces.
On an abnormally hot spring day in April, with cloudless skies, a blazing sun, and lawn upon lawn blanketed with daffodils, it hardly seemed like a good day for a road trip to her. She rolled down her window, attempting to taunt a non-existent breeze. They had peeled off their jackets long ago, as he sat in his shirt, and she in a camisole, she couldn't help but notice the small beads of sweat forming on his furrowed brow.
"You've been quiet since breakfast. Is it about this case?"
"I'm fine." He said through clenched teeth.
"Booth-" She pointed to his hands on the steering wheel, "-you're knuckles are white. Indicating a very tight grip." She paused, studying his features. "You're annoyed at me, aren't you? Is this about what I said about pie?"
He laughed grimly, and she smiled.
"No." He turned and shot her a half-hearted charm smile.
"Then what's wrong?"
"Oh! Look at that!" His head was facing the road once again, as he floored the gas. "Traffic's cleared."
They drove in a rather thick silence, the light buzz of the engine audible through the open windows. Occasional cars sped past, bringing a burst of air that ruffled her hair around her face. Brennan watched out the window, naming the flowers she saw in each perfectly gardened lawn. Booth glanced away from the road for a moment, and caught a glimpse of his partner. Her eyes were closed for a moment, her head tilted up to welcome a small breeze. Her hair was messy, skin aglow.
Despite everything- he couldn't help but grin to see her that way.
"Watch the road Booth." she said, not moving- one azure eye open, watching him.
"I am."
He turned back, and cursed the feeling of a small flush in his cheeks.
"I guess this is it." She said after a few minutes, as Booth parked next to a Crime Scene Unit van. Reporters swarmed around, being controlled by rather burly looking local officers.
"What's with all the publicity?" Brennan asked, as Booth pulled a pad from his jacket, and helped her into her jumpsuit. She swatted his hand away, before loosing her balance without his support. She stumbled slightly, and he caught her arm.
"It's a National Park, Bones." He laughed.
"We've found bodies in National Parks before." She said quizzically, clipping on her belt, and immediately regretting it. She could feel sweat dot her back, and congregate around her camisole.
"Fine." He held up his hands in defeat, before pulling up the yellow tape to grant them access to the scene. "I have no idea what's-"
Both of them stopped in their tracks, startled.
They were met by what seemed a sea of daffodils. No paths were marked, and it seemed that the investigators had to trample flowers to make one. In the middle, was a pond, the sparkling water steaming in the heat.
"Wow." He stammered. "That's- a lot of flowers."
"They're planted here for a reason Booth." She recovered. "This can't be good for your allergies."
He groaned in agreement as he felt a sneeze burn his eyes.
"Dr Brennan! Agent Booth, over here." An officer called from their left. He waved them over to a shallow part of the pond, where a corpse had been dredged up with a net.
"Who found the body?" Booth asked.
"Local kid. He's over there." The officer motioned over to a crowd, while Brennan squatted by the remains.
"Female." She sniffed. "Thirties. Nasal suture indicates Caucasian."
"Cause of death?" Booth asked, between scribbles, and sneezes.
"Benedryl." The officer said, and the partners turned to him in question, squinting in the sun.
"It''s an allergy thing. Medicine? No?" He stammered as Brennan glared. "I'll be over here."
The officer bolted and the partners scoffed.
"Seriously. Cause of death?"
Brennan fingered away a shred of flesh, releasing a rather vile smell from the body. Booth gagged audibly.
"I concur." She muttered. "Seems to be some damage to her ribs and clavicle."
She reached into the body, her movement accompanied by a rather loud squelch. Booth gagged again.
"Okay- I'd rather sneeze." Booth said in disgust, Brennan chuckled in response, extracting her hand, laden with decomposing flesh and a small, dainty gold locket, with a small lily engraved on the front. She lifted it into the light, before slipping open the locket.
"Looks like there was a picture in here. It's too damaged. Angela can look at it- see what she can recover."
After a moment- she stood up with a huff.
"We're done here." She called out to the techs- "I want the pond drained, and everything shipped to the Jeffersonian. Search the surrounding ground, 100 yard radius. Send samples to Dr. Hodgins." She turned back to Booth, who stood, cocking an eyebrow at her. "Let's go." She smiled.
"Sure thing."
She began to unzip her jumpsuit, walking to the car, but Booth hung back, grabbing the arm of a tech scuttling about.
"Can I see that locket?" He asked, in a hushed tone. It was handed over without a word.
He lifted it into the sunlight, fingering the evidence bag gently to get a better look.
"Shit."
It's a bit confusing just now- but if you think I should continue, please drop me a review. :)