Disclaimer: Nothing's mine.
Chapter One
Temperance "Bones" Brennan sat at her desk in the Jeffersonian as she stared at a skull. There was nothing odd about it. One thousand years old, a male somewhere in his thirties, Asian. It had all the markers of a bone that was from an ancient civilization. It was also the only thing she was really sure of at the moment.
For the past several years there had been many things that were constant, as certain as the rising sun. Seeley Booth, Angela Montenegro, Jack Hodgins, Camille Saroyan, and the Jeffersonian itself. Even Lance Sweets – though annoying – was a person she could not imagine not having in her life. They had become integral parts of her being in a very short amount of time. Now however it seemed that the team was splitting up.
Booth was heading off to Iraq to train young soldiers. The famous forensic anthropologist knew that this was a good thing. Her partner was one of the best and it was likely that the death rates would go down with his training.
Angela and Hodgins were going to Paris to relive the dream. Or that was what Angela was doing. Jack was just going with her because he loved his wife dearly.
Cam wasn't going anywhere really. She was staying in D.C. but was going back to being a state coroner instead a specialist at the Jeffersonian.
Sweets had broken it off with Daisy and it seemed to have broken something in him. He was taking a vacation from psychology. Brennan had no idea what he was going to be doing but she hoped that he would be happy. Even if he practiced a soft science.
As for herself, she was going to the Maluku Islands to study what could be a crucial link in the evolutionary chain of homo sapiens. Even though she was all packed and ready to go, Bones felt unsure of herself. She loved her job and this was the first time she was having doubts about gallivanting across the world to study remains. Why was that? Why was she having second thoughts now of all times?
Temperance was shaken from her thoughts as her phone rang. She sighed wondering who would call her at eleven PM. Still picking up the phone was better then brooding about what her life had become. "Brennan here."
There was silence and she thought for a moment that it was a prank call. "Hello Athena."
As soon as she heard that name she felt cold inside, even though she knew her body temperature was still a toasty 37°C. "I'm afraid you have the wrong number –"
"I know I have the right number Athena. I know that you're retired. I know that you're going to the Maluku Islands. I also know that you don't know that someone's trying to kill you."
The man's voice – for it was definitely male – sounded familiar from a life she tried her best to forget. "Jason?"
"Yeah. It's Assistant Director Jason now though Athena."
It didn't surprise her that he was now near the top of command. He was good. Not as good as her, but still good. "Congratulations I suppose. And stop calling me that."
There was a dry chuckle. "No can do. Right now I'm not calling forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. I'm calling former Agent Athena Asheblade. The triple A as I used to fondly call you."
Bones let out an impatient sigh. "You still have the rambling problem Jason. Either tell me what's going on or leave me alone."
"And you haven't changed." He was silent for a moment before saying, "But you're right, I need to get to the point. The Agency needs you."
"Needs me? Why would it need me?"
"Hush and listen. You remember one of your last missions? The one with Drake?"
Brennan felt a wash of unwelcome memories come over her. A dark field. A tall man. A little girl with a gun to her head. "It is rather hard to forget something like that Jason." Even if I wanted to.
"Yeah…Listen Drake had a son. He was only thirteen when Drake died. We had hoped that he wouldn't turn into a sociopath but it wasn't meant to be."
"So you're saying that Drake Jr. is a murderous twenty-seven year old. What does this have to do with me? As you said when you started this conversation, I'm retired."
Jason's voice was so soft that she had to strain to hear his next words. "He's a psychopath with a fixation on making those who hurt his father pay…Athena he's fixated on you."
The earlier chill was nothing compared to this freezing realization. It wasn't hard to connect the dots. She had killed his father and so he would want revenge. And if Drake Jr. was anything like Drake then he would come after everyone she cared about before hunting her down and slaughtering her like a dog. If she let him, that is.
"What do you want me to do, Jason? Come back? Return to the CIA and become Dark Angel Athena again?"
Her voice was filled with sorrow and no small amount of anger. She was supposed to be retired. She wasn't supposed to be worried about sociopaths from her past.
"Yes, Athena, that's exactly what I want you to do. And you have to, if you want your friends to live on in blissful unawareness about your past. Because we can't catch him Athena. Not without you. And if he isn't caught then Drake Jr. will come after your friends to get at you. And then they'd know."
Temperance Brennan was many things. She was calculating, fact based, and ignored her emotions. She had never been a cold blooded killer. Athena Asheblade, however, was a killer. She made intuitive leaps in logic, she was devoid of emotions – since she refused to recognize that she had any – and she killed without remorse or regret. Or at least, she had before she had become Dr. Brennan. Now she regretted every life that stained her hands red. But there was one thing that Athena and Temperance shared. The fact that that those she cared about would only be harmed over her dead body. And that was the only reason that the next few words spilled out of her mouth.
"Fine. Where do I need to go?"
"I knew you'd say yes…Go outside. There should be a black SUV waiting across the street. The sign is 'Dark Angel' and the counter sign is 'Athena Lives'."
Brennan snorted. "Wonderful. I never knew you were so creative Jason."
"Hey," He sounded offended. "Don't disrespect my creativity, when you don't have any!"
Just before she hung up Jason said one last thing. "Leave your phone in your office Athena. It's best if you just disappear while you're on this case."
Temperance Brennan disconnected the call and placed her phone on her desk. She looked around her office, with its glass walls, leather couches, and elegant desk, saying farewell to all that was familiar. Then she stood and walked out the door, not looking back. She knew that if she looked back that she would never have been able to leave.
As Bones exited the Jeffersonian for what could have been the last time she could only hope that they would be safe. Even if she died protecting them. When she gave the sign to the driver and heard the counter sign she could only snort. Athena lives indeed. As the SUV pulled away from the only world that the forensic Anthropologist should have known, Doctor Brennan became once again, Athena Asheblade, otherwise known as Dark Angel Athena. One of the best – and most heartless – agents that the CIA had ever seen.
I seem to enjoy starting new stories before finishing my other ones. If you hadn't noticed this story will be somewhat AU. Actually it'll be almost completely AU after season 5. I might get some things mixed up, because while I love Bones I haven't really watched it for a while. This will be M for gore, mature themes, and a smattering of language. This will also eventually have B/B. Eventually. Hopefully you liked the beginning of The Agent in the Anthropologist. Until next time...