"Let me come with you, Bones."

This was the first time they talked since Bones had confessed him her pregnancy in the street last night. After the initial euphoria had slowly faded away, the two of them dived into silence. Booth felt puzzled, and knew that she, too, was trying to gauge what they were about to face. The question that both of them were afraid to say out loud was whether they were ready face it. The prospect of having a baby together could put their already messy enough relationship on a whole new level of complexity. He was actually a bit relieved when she asked him to take her home last night – that was her subtle way of telling him that she needed some time and space.

"No. You must go to work. I can take care of this by myself. I have an appointment with Dr. Conrad at ten, so I guess I can be at the lab at eleven. "

She tried to sound confident over the phone, but he knew her long enough to sense her uncertainty under the surface.

"Okay. But you know that you can count on me, right? I know you're all strong and independent, Bones, but I'm here to help. Just tell me if you want me to come with you, and I'll take the morning off." Booth made another attempt, but he knew that once Bones had made up her mind, it was pointless to argue with her.

"It's not necessary. As of now, all I want to do is get the pregnancy officially confirmed. I need evidence, Booth." That already sounded more like the real Bones. Booth could only hope that once she has her evidence, she will find it easier to come to terms with the whole situation. Although there was a lot they needed to discuss, he decided not to push it any further right now – he granted her time and space.

"I get that. Then I see you around eleven. Take care, Bones."

"I will."

Later in the FBI headquarters Booth found himself being barely able to concentrate on work. He was driving everyone crazy by acting edgy and constantly checking his watch – he was so eager to see Bones and to find out what the doctor said. After he had threatened another agent with his gun for taking the last chocolate bar from the vending machine, Hacker ordered him to leave. He left reluctantly much to the relief of his co-workers.

He arrived at the lab at five past eleven, but Bones's office was empty. He found it odd that she had not arrived yet – the doctor's office was not that far away. He was just going to ask Angela if she had seen her, when his phone rang. He looked at the display hopefully, but it wasn't her number. It was a blocked number.

"Booth."

"Agent Booth, did you lose something precious?"

"Who is this?"

"I have a little gift for you. Do you see that brown box on the desk?"

"Yes." There was indeed a strange brown box on Bones's desk.

"Open it."

"I'm not opening anything until you tell me who you are and what do you want."

The man burst out into laughter. "Come on, Agent Booth. Are you afraid of a small box? Be a man. Open it. "

Booth went over to the desk, and unwrapped the 'gift'. He glanced into the box. His face became tense as he realized what he was looking at.

It was Bones's dolphin ring with blood on it. Feeling his strength slipping away, he collapsed on the couch. Fear started to build up inside his heart.

"Dr. Brennan is with me, Agent Booth," the man said matter-of-factly. "But don't worry. I won't hurt her. I just want to make her happy. "

"Don't you dare to touch her, you son of a bitch," Booth yelled into the phone.

The man was laughing in a weird almost gentle voice, but all of a sudden he stopped. "I do whatever I want, Agent Booth. Now you know how it feels when you can't have something you really-really want. Because you want her so much, don't you, Agent Booth? But I don't blame you. She is so beautiful. Her hair is so shiny and her skin is so soft. " Booth heard him breathing intensely. "But you wouldn't be good to her. You just want to take advantage of her. Not like me. I will worship her. And respect her."

"I want to talk to Dr. Brennan." He vaguely remembered that according to protocol this is what he was supposed to ask, but he found it really hard to act rational.

"I'm sorry, she isn't available at the moment. She is busy getting ready for the ball. I'm taking Cinderella to the ball tonight and then we'll live happily ever after," he said and hung up.