I first started writing this story at the end of last year but hit a major case of writers block. BonesDBchippie, I dedicate this story to you for being my beta and for all the additional help you gave me. I never would have got this posted if you hadn't offered your help and being so patient with me.
The story is based on a real FBI case but it is filled with fluff, comfort, danger and a little romance for good measure. Please review because I love to know what all you readers think.
In Temperance Brennan's office at the Jeffersonian Institute, Angela folds her arms across her chest and perches on the edge of Brennan's desk.
"Booth sweetie, will you stand still please." Angela asks in a soothing but firm tone. Booth has been pacing Brennan's office on and off for over half an hour.
"She's late; she should be back by now." Booth stops for a moment to glance at his watch then continues pacing. When his back is to the office door Angela stands up to greet the figure that has just appeared in the doorway.
"Bren sweetie, welcome back." She walks over and hugs her friend. Booth spins around when he hears Angela's voice and only gives the two a few seconds before he charges over.
"Bones, I need you to come with me." He says as he grasps her arm.
"Booth, I've just driven in horrendous traffic for five hours." Brennan tells him. "I'm not going anywhere but home." She walks over to her desk and picks up a thin folder.
"Sorry Bones, this case is too important." Booth rubs his hands together excitedly.
"Bren, he's not kidding." Angela says with a serious look on her face. "Just be thankful I stopped him from coming to drag you away from the conference two days ago."
"It can't be that important if you waited two days." Brennan smirks.
"D.B Cooper is very important." Booth retorts.
"D.B Cooper?" Brennan asks.
"You know, the guy that hijacked a plane and parachuted out with a bunch of money years ago." Angela tells her, making it more of a statement that a question.
"Right, I remember hearing about that once." Brennan stuffs the file she has been holding into her bag and walks back over to the door.
"It was in 1971. Cooper hijacked a North West Airlines 727, handed a note to a stewardess demanding $200,000 and four parachutes." Booth explains. "He threatened to blow up the plane and all the passengers if his demands weren't met. They were and after getting the money and parachutes, Cooper had the plane take off and ordered the pilot to fly no higher than 10,000 feet and no faster than 200mph." A grin comes over Booth's face as he gets to the good part. "He then jumped out the plane taking the money with him." Brennan stands with one hand on her hip looking skeptical.
"Didn't a kid find some of the money on a river bank?" Angela asks.
"Yeah, eight years after the hijacking." Booth states. "The serial numbers matched the money given to Cooper. And now a skeleton has been found in the area where it's believed he would have landed. We need to go there. Now." Booth stares impatiently at his partner.
"It doesn't exactly sound urgent Booth. Can't this wait until tomorrow when I've had a chance to go home and at least sleep?" Brennan asks.
"You can sleep on the plane." Booth takes her elbow and starts steering her out the office.
"Booth, I don't even have any clean clothes." Brennan protests. Booth glances at Angela then sighs.
"Fine, we'll swing by your apartment on the way to the airport. We should still make the flight."
"Booth." Brennan pleads. He merely smiles.
"Let's go. Chop chop." As he ushers a reluctant Brennan out the door. She glances back at Angela who shrugs helplessly and signals for Brennan to call her.
XxXxXxXxX
Two hours later Booth and Brennan are in the departure lounge waiting to board their flight having made it to Brennan's apartment in record time for new clothes then to the airport to get through security checks. Booth is pacing the floor of the lounge while Brennan slumps in an uncomfortable chair, resting her elbow on the arm of the chair and propping her chin up with her hand.
"Booth, you're giving me sore neck. Will you please sit down or at least stop pacing." Brennan sighs heavily. "It's bad enough our flight is delayed."
"Sorry Bones." Booth slides into the chair next to her. "But this is big. This case…it's huge." He grins. "No one has been able to prove what happened to Cooper. Some believe he died on landing because the terrain where he jumped is pretty rough. Others think he landed and made it back to civilisation, changing his appearance and living the high life. This woman in Florida, Joe Weber, is convinced her husband Duane was D.B Cooper. Apparently he confessed on his deathbed."
"And you?" Brennan asks.
"He was a criminal but part of me wants to believe he succeeded." Booth grins. "Rationally though, I doubt he survived and it would be great if we could close one of the FBI's biggest unsolved cases." Brennan notices the glint in Booth's eyes and it sparks a little something inside her. She may be tired but Booth is right, this case could be interesting.
"Hey, you want some coffee?" Booth asks suddenly. Brennan sits up a little. "You look like you could use it." He comments.
"Thanks Booth." Brennan says sarcastically. "You know, I'd be a lot more awake if we could have left for this little 'adventure' tomorrow. We're going to be arriving in the middle of the night now and I won't get much sleep." She rolls her eyes and adjusts her position again.
"Sorry Bones." Booth shrugs before standing and disappearing off to find some coffee. He's far too excited about the case to think about sleep.
XxXxXxXxX
When Booth returns to the lounge with a cup of coffee in each hand he finds Brennan curled up on the seats looking somewhat uncomfortable. Her legs are tucked right up to her chest and her head is resting on her arms which are acting as a barrier between her head and the cold metal of the seat. Booth smiles as he looks down at her. Brennan can be a real firecracker when she's awake but when she sleeps she looks so peaceful and calm. He sits down next to her and places her coffee on the floor. Setting his own coffee down on the seat next to him Booth slips his jacket off and folds it up. Then gently lifting Brennan's arms, he slides his jacket under her head and lowers her back down. She moans softly but remains asleep. Picking up his coffee, Booth takes a long drink and thinks about the adventure to come.
XxXxXxXxX
A female voice comes over the tanoy a few hours later. "Passengers on flight 413 please prepare for boarding." At the sound of the announcement, Booth sits up a little and looks down at Brennan who is still sleeping soundly, oblivious to the activity around her.
"Bones." Booth shakes her shoulder gently. "Hey Bones, our flight is ready to board." Brennan stirs and pushes herself up as she wakens.
"I'm awake." She mutters as she gathers her wits. As she rubs her eyes, Booth picks his jacket up and slips it back on.
"Come on." Booth stands up and pulls their tickets from his jacket pocket. Brennan trails after Booth with her bag dragging across the floor, as he heads for the gate. A few minutes later they are walking onto the plane and being shown to the business class seats Booth booked. In a few short hours they'll be touching down to investigate the remains believed to be that of the infamous D.B Cooper.
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