A/N: This is my first story attempt. Hart Hanson said we may get to see the trial for the Gravedigger. This is my idea of how that might play out. It's part narrative, part screen play style. Some S5 spoilers. I don't own Bones or any of its characters.
Chapter 1
Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth are sitting in her office at the Jeffersonian discussing the conclusion of their latest case. Through the doors in her office , we see Prosecutor, Caroline Julian enter the lab and head towards Brennan's office. She enters.
CAROLINE
Good, you are both here. Where is Dr. Hodgins?
BRENNAN
We just finished our last case, so he's probably cleaning up his work area.
BOOTH
What's wrong Caroline?
CAROLINE
Go get him and meet me in the conference room upstairs.
Caroline turns and leaves the office heading for the conference room. We see Booth look to Brennan who has a curious look on her face. He indicates he'll go find Hodgins and leaves the office. Brennan puts the case paperwork back on her desk. She grabs her coffee and heads up to the conference room. Upon arrival, she sees Caroline seated at the head of the table looking agitated.
BRENNAN
Booth went to get Hodgins. They should be here shortly. What is this about?
CAROLINE
Sit down, Cherie. I'll tell you all once they get here.
Brennan is used to the brash nature of Caroline, so she is not fazed or affected by her tone. She picks a chair on Caroline's left, one facing the open door of the room. Booth has found Hodgins and they arrive a minute or two later. Booth closes the door. Both men sit opposite Brennan.
CAROLINE
I called you all up here because we have finally been granted a court date for the prosecution of Ms. Heather Taffett, or The Gravedigger as you people so affectionately call her.
Booth immediately looks to Brennan to gauge her reaction. Brennan gives no hint of any kind of emotional response. She appears to simply be waiting for Caroline to continue. She is unaware of the look she received from Booth. At the same time, Hodgins' face has drained of some of its color. He has his hands tightly clasped under the table and is gazing forward with no object in focus.
CAROLINE
Now, each of you were victims of Ms. Taffett, and as a result will be called to testify against her. No surprises there. So I want you to start preparing for this as the trial is set to begin next week. Are there any questions?
Booth, now noticing Hodgins anxiety and Brennan's undeterred focus, attempts to lighten the mood.
BOOTH
No questions here. Should be a slam dunk case. Open and shut. No way this one's getting away with it!
CAROLINE
Cherie, shut your mouth. This is far more serious than you know. While Ms. Taffett is obviously guilty, she's got family money and that money has bought her one of the best defense attorneys in the country. And we've all seen how a good defense attorney can make the guiltiest criminals come out smelling like roses.
BRENNAN
I've got rose scented perfume that I'd be more than happy to wear during the trial if you think that would help our side.
Booth knows Brennan is being too literal, and gives her a look. Caroline looks at her with a flabbergasted stare.
CAROLINE
Is she serious?
BRENNAN
What?
BOOTH
It's a figure of speech, Bones.
BRENNAN
Oh, so you're not really saying they smell like the flower?
BOOTH
No.
Brennan nods in acknowledgment to Booth of this new concept she's learned. Booth chuckles a little as he finds himself still surprised at how such a smart, beautiful woman can be so dense at some things.
CAROLINE
Booth, you can go now. I need to speak with Dr. Brennan and Dr Hodgins alone.
Booth starts to speak up about not wanting to leave, but the look from Caroline tells him she means business. He glances back to Brennan to see if she's ok with this. Brennan gives a slight nod to Booth and without a word in response she knows he'll wait for her downstairs. Booth exits. Both Hodgins and Brennan look back to Caroline.
CAROLINE
Now, we need to talk. It's come to my attention that the defense is going to try to use some of the evidence against us.
BRENNAN
I don't understand. How is that even possible?
As she says this, Hodgins realizes what is happening and where Caroline is going with this.
HODGINS
It's the letters, isn't it?
Caroline is nodding yes, while Brennan looks at Hodgins. We can tell she doesn't understand the significance yet.
BRENNAN
I still don't understand?
CAROLINE
The prosecution is going to try to discount your testimony by showing that you can't respond rationally and he'll use the letters to prove it.
BRENNAN
We wrote those letters right before we set the bomb off in the car. Anthropologically speaking, most cultures find a way of making one last communication with others before they die. Just because we wrote a letter doesn't mean we aren't rational. Plus, I am very good at compartmentalizing.
CAROLINE
The jury doesn't care about compartmentalizing, Cherie. We need them to see that despite your situation and what you went through, you can still look at the case objectively.
Hodgins has remained silent through this. He knows he gets emotional when it comes to this case, and the issue of the letter makes him even more nervous.
CAROLINE
Think about it, Cherie. Your letter is going to be read aloud to everyone in that courtroom.
It's now clear that Brennan hadn't realized this and we can see that this affects her deeply. Neither she, nor Hodgins, has ever shared with anyone what they wrote on the pages torn from her book. Both sit there unsure of what to say. Caroline views them both and knows this is going to be difficult and imagines that it will be difficult for those to whom the letters were written and she's pretty sure she knows who they are.
CAROLINE
Take some time and think about this. They are locked up with the rest of the evidence, but if you need copies of the letters, let me know and I'll have them sent over. I want you to be mentally prepared to deal with this in front of the jury. I'll see you next Wednesday, bright and early.
At this, Caroline gets up and leaves the room. Brennan follows soon after, but Hodgins stays in his seat looking lost. As Brennan goes downstairs to her office, we find Booth pacing in Angela's office and Angela sitting on her couch, chewing at her nails. Both Booth and Angela know that something is up and are concerned for the ones they love. Angela looks up and sees Brennan heading into her office. She tells Booth who immediately leaves to go to her. Angela stands up and heads for the stairs to go find Hodgins. Booth enters Brennan's office and finds her fiddling with paperwork on her desk. She appears distracted.
BOOTH
So, what did Caroline want?
BRENNAN
She told us to be prepared for our letters to be read in front of the jury.
Booth stares at her confused.
BOOTH
What are you talking about, Bones? What letters?
BRENNAN
When Hodgins and I thought we were going to die, he wanted to write a letter to Angela and suggested I write one too, so we tore pages out of my book and wrote something. When we were rescued, the letters were turned over as evidence.
Booth stares at her as she tells him this. He's surprised because he's never heard either of them mention writing a letter. His eyes fill with compassion for her as he realizes that she will have to relive this memory. At the same time he burns with anger towards the gravedigger and all that she put his partner through. He would do anything to spare her the pain. Anything to comfort her.
BOOTH
Bones, I had no idea. Why didn't you tell me?
BRENNAN
I didn't know how, so I just ignored it.
Her voice catches a little and Booth notices. He walks over to her and lifts her chin with his finger. They lose themselves for a moment in each other's eyes. Brennan becomes self conscious and looks away. Without taking his eyes off of her, he takes his hand and gently brings her face back to meet his.
BOOTH
I hate that she did this to you.
BRENNAN
I know.
BOOTH
I wish I could have saved you from this.
BRENNAN
You did. You rescued us just like I told Hodgins you would. I would be dead if you hadn't run the moment you saw the smoke plume come out of the ground.
BOOTH
No, Bones. I wish I could save you from reliving this now.
Booth and Brennan continue to stand together getting closer to one another with each statement. Both wanting to hold each other but being too shy to initiate it. Finally one breaks.
BRENNAN
Can I have one of those guy hugs?
Before she can finish the question, Booth has pulled her to him in a tight embrace. She wraps her arms around him and buries her head in his chest. He leans into her with his head resting in her hair. His strong arms make her feel safe and for a moment, she loses herself. He can feel her heave slightly and his shirt dampen from a few stray tears. He whispers to her that it will be ok. They continue to stand there appreciative of the hug that they both know is more than just a guy hug.
A/N - Please review!