Death in the Bones

Chapter 1 - A Strange Start

The only sounds you could hear in my office were the faint sound of cars outside, the voices of my co-workers outside my office door, and my iPod playing my favorite Nickelback album. A typical work day at the FBI building in Washington D.C. Oh great, I thought as my cell phone rang, my ex.

"Hello?" I said into the phone with a irritated tone

"Hello, Liz." replied the familiar voice of my ex, Robert.

"That is Elizabeth to you, Robert. You haven't been able to call me that in years."

"Easy there, Godzilla. I just called to talk. Not to kill each other."

"Well there's a idea. How about I take the first shot, through your head."

"I know you Liz-"

"Elizabeth" I snapped cutting him off "Or would you prefer to call me Agent Sutter?"

"Hold on a sec Liz. Hey Brittany go check to make sure that brat is asleep."

"Yes, Mr. Tyler" the faint voice of a woman in the background said. Great, I thought, more of them.

"I want to talk to her, Robert." I said getting his attention again.

"Who? Brittany?" he asked playing stupid

"No. You know who. Annabeth. I want to speak to Annabeth."

"That's not gonna happen, Liz."

"She's my daughter too, Robert!"

"Good-bye Liz."

"Don't you hang up! Don't-"

It went dead. I wanted to talk to my daughter. My Annabeth. I wasn't the one who is a drug addict or the one who has a drinking problem. I have two jobs and a huge house. I'm royalty in every country except Singapore. And I was a Marine snipper. Sure my childhood wasn't the best, but I a good mother. And even better forensic anthropologist and FBI agent. I hit my head down on my desk in frustration. I didn't want to deal with anymore of this crap.

"Liz?" my partner Seeley Booth asked "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm okay." I replied trying to sound convincing, lifting my head up to face him.

"I'm your partner, Liz. I know when something is wrong." he said taking a seat in one of the two black leather chairs in front of my desk.

"You're right. Something is wrong."

"Are those squints treating you good?" Seeley asked.

I laughed. Squints are what he calls the scientists at my lab in the Jeffersonian Institute.

"Yes. They are treating my fine." I answered

"Good. Because if they weren't, I would have to, you know, have to have a chat with them." he said as if he was my bodyguard.

What a partner he is, I thought. Seeley Joseph Booth is extraordinary. Seeley has one brother, Jared. I've never met him though. They come from a abusive alcoholic father. Seeley was a Army snipper. He has the heart of a lion. Besides his father, Seeley isn't exactly proud of his family. You see his ancestor killed President Lincoln. Talk about a strange family but, I shouldn't be talking though. My family isn't so awesome either.

Seeley has medium brown hair and warm brown eyes. He's kind, sensitive, caring, strong, loving, and independent. Seeley is brave and protective of the ones close to him. Booth has a son, Parker. Parker is three years old like my daughter Annabeth. Annabeth and Parker will be starting pre-school next year. Parker's mom, Rebecca, didn't marry Seeley after Parker was born. Seeley doesn't know why she didn't, neither do I. Annabeth and Parker were born only a few days apart. Annabeth was born June 14th and Parker was born June 10th.

"Is it Tyler again?" Booth asked getting my attention again.

"Yeah. It's Robert again." I replied catching the tennis ball he was throwing to me "That arrogant jerk won't let me talk to my daughter."

"Still fighting for custody?"

"Yeah. It's been two and a half years since I started going to court."

"Yeah, yeah. I know, Liz. You'll get her back." he said leaving my office as silently as he came in.

My cell phone rang again. I was so frustrated that I almost throw the phone on to the desk.

"Yeah." I said into the phone

"Liz we got a case! Mind picking up Bones from the airport or should I?" Seeley asked appearing in my doorway again with a huge smile on his face.

"Dude." I said putting the phone down and rolling my eyes at him.

"You getting Bones? Or me?" he asked again.

"We'll both get her. I'm the only one who can tame the beast." I laughed grabbing my coat.

"Great. I'll get the car." Seeley replied showing his cocky smile. "Bones' s flight comes in in 20 minutes. That gives us enough time."

"Okay come down. Fill me in on the case." I said

"One sec. Where did I put the keys?"

I dangled the keys around my finger in his face.

"Don't get cocky." he laughed

On the ride to the airport he filled me in.

"A body was found at Arlington National Cemetery. Caretaker found it."

"In or out of the casket? Because there are a lot of bodies at a cemetery."

"It was found in the pond, smartass." he replied

"Okay. So anything else? Was the body wrapped in something? Was it wearing clothing?" I asked as we pulled up to the entrance

"I don't know. I'm gonna go get Bones." he said unbuckling his seat belt. I reached my hand out to catch the seat belt around his waist.

"Oh Liz. I didn't know you were interested." he laughed winking at me.

"Umm… no. Let me get her. She will slap you again if you go in. and I don't think she wants to be brought out in handcuffs." I said unbuckling me seat belt and getting out of the SUV.

I walked inside the door to see my other partner, Dr. Temperance Brennan, with her hands in the air with cops pointing their guns at her. Angela, our facial reconstruction specialist, standing in next to her. Both of them being yelled at by a guy in a suit and a ear piece. The FBI's worst enemy, the CIA. I stood there laughing because this could only happen to Brennan. Only her. And maybe Jack but he would be in handcuffs by now.

"Okay okay. Let them go. FBI. They're working with us. This is a big misunderstanding." I said shoving my way through the cops showing the CIA my badge.

"I didn't need your help Dr. Sutter." Bones said

"Brennan don't call me that. Call me Liz. Now grab your bags. Ang, don't flash anyone on the way out."

"Will do." Angela laughed

I walked them to the door of the airport. I turned to Angela.

"Ang, can you back to the lab and tell Zach to get to Arlington Cemetery A.S.A.P., we got a case. Bones, bags in the car. You get the back seat this time."

"Okay. See ya later." she said then leaned in closer to me and whispered "Don't be afraid to get it on with Booth. He's hot."

"Angela," I whispered "He's my partner. That can't happen."

"Why not? It happened before."

"Angela shut up please. And get back to the lab."

"Okay okay. Have fun." she replied as she walked quickly to her car.

Bones wasn't so happy about working with Booth. Last time it didn't work out that great. It ended with Bones slapping Booth in the face.

"So," I said breaking the silence "how was your trip Bones?"

"Don't call me Bones. And it was fine." she said ignoring Booth 100%.

"That's nice. So a body was found at the bottom of a pond in Arlington National Cemetery. It wasn't in a casket."

"I see." Bones replied

"So you'll work the case?" Booth asked her. She ignored him.

"Yes. We will work the case. She doesn't exactly have a chose in this conversation." I said "Orders from Goodman. You don't like it Bones take it up with him."