Arastoo was talking to another agent animatedly, and Booth was interjecting every so often. Suddenly Arastoo threw up his hands, and then placed them on his hips angrily, shaking his head.
Sweets observed this interaction, subconsciously analyzing Arastoo's obvious distress and not-so-obvious fear, and Booths concern. He approached the group and stood a foot or so away, listening before jumping in.
"Sweets!" Booth said loudly, "how's it goin?" "All right, I... guess," Sweets said hesitantly, uncertainly, knowing all too well Booth was using his arrival to energetically break the tension. "What's going on?" Sweets questioned. "Cam's been abducted," Booth said with a sigh. "Oh, my god…" Sweets exclaimed, "By whom?" he asked. "Somebody from the Middle East, and that's the only Intel we got."
"I noted a license plate number, but it was conveniently unregistered and the van is heading for the airport," Arastoo said. Sweets suddenly had a thought squirm through his mind like a rat in a maze. He stood there for a moment, silent as a tomb, then jumped and ran for control centre. Booth, Arastoo, and unnamed Agent 3 followed suit.
"Were watching the cameras Sweets, we know what we're doing," Booth said as Sweets paced the room of screens, deep in thought. Booth gave him a few seconds, and when Sweets continued in silence, he waited a few more before breaking the vigil with, "Sweets?" "I know you're already watching the cameras, Booth," Sweets said, "but I KNOW people, and I can do this," he insisted, giving Booth a look.
Something clicked then, and Booth conceded. "Yeah ok, I know," Booth said, "He's right, he can," he looked around at the others. "Booth?! We've been staring at the screens for an hour now, and can't find them! One guy isn't going to be ab-" Booth cut off the other agents protest smoothly. "John, don't underestimate Sweets, all right? I KNOW that look- that look on his face? That's the look he gets before he charges in like SWAT and tags the bogey. He's had a hand in solving more murders than you and I have years on our lives, so let him work!"
"See there?" Sweets question cut through the air of tension and doubt. "That's the car!" Arastoo said, which was depicted on the screen in which Sweets was pointing at. "Yes, and look here," he said, looking at another screen. "It's a husband supporting his pregnant wife and towing their luggage. What about it? That was me and Bones 3 months ago," Booth observed and questioned. "Bones and I. And that's what makes them so good Booth. They could be ANYBODY." Sweets said, then smiled.
Booth looked closer. "Wait! He's not helping her walk, he's dragging her along!" Booth realized. Sweets smiled again and nodded. Booth got it. Finally.
"Get a team to the airport immediately! Do recon only, we'll be there soon. DO NOT bring attention to yourselves unless absolutely necessary, do you understand? The target is the "pregnant" wife in the sari and the hijab, bogey is the male that's dragging her. Heading for a private jet at 15D. Go! Go! Go!" John yelled into his phone, and a few people jumped up and ran out.
Arastoo, Sweets, and Booth followed him to the garage. They hopped in an FBI issued vehicle and drove for the airport
"Do we have eyes?" Arastoo asked into a pair of headphones. He was dressed as a college student, in jeans, a hoodie, and an "iPod", AKA radio. "Yeah we got visuals," Booth replied. "They are sitting in the Starbucks now…" Booth paused and scratched his head, then absentmindedly adjusted his COCKY belt buckle.
"Got it! Sweets- you cause a distraction, trip him, spill something, I don't know, improvise. Arastoo- you act like the surprise passerby that was in the right place at the right time, and catch her. Slowly carry her away as Sweets checks with the man. Any questions?"
"Yeah- where do I take her?" Arastoo asked. "To John," Booth said, "He'll send her back with the guys, then step in for questioning and detainment." Booth answered. "Sounds good to me!" Sweets said, "Let's do it!" Arastoo was silent for a moment, then said, "Sounds good, but I go with her in the car." "Fine," Booth conceded, "now let's go!"
Booth sat down in a seat at Starbucks and pulled out his laptop, typing away for cover. Sweets headed for the line near where the man and his "wife" were standing. He turned around just as Cam's captor did, and ran into him. "Whoa! Sorry man! I so didn't see you there…" Sweets exclaimed, grabbing the spilt coffee cups.
Arastoo ran forward and caught Cam, helpfully standing by. "Thank you," the man said, sweating nervously, "she's not feeling well, "he continued, trying to excuse the state of his "wife". "Yea, I remember when my wife was pregnant," Arastoo said, "sick and tired ALL the time." The man gulped and nodded.
"Hey can you ask the guy up front where maintenance is? Than we can get this properly cleaned up." Sweets asked the man. The captor nodded uncertainly, then hesitated and finally walked away. Sweets nodded almost imperceptibly and Arastoo hoisted Cam into his arms and hurried away. Sweets followed him and stood right outside the shop.
The man ran out a few minutes later, looking around frantically. He turned and saw Sweets, who just smiled and shrugged. The captor ran toward him and started yelling in choppy Arabic, none of which Sweets could understand. "Sorry man, I don't know what you're saying," Sweets said, shrugging.
The man took a deep breath before continuing. He looked at Sweets with hatred, and said six short words: "You don't know what you've done." "Oh I think I do," Lance replied, "I think I know EXACTLY what I've done. I've returned a close friend to the man she loves, back to her life. I've rescued the damsel from the monster in this world. I'VE. WON." He concluded arrogantly, stressing the last two words and poking the man in the chest twice.
"No, you really DON'T know," the man said, "you've killed yourself, and possibly her," the man corrected, "and you've done a damn good job of it." Sweets looked at the man for a few seconds. His shoulders were slumped, he was exhausted and defeated. He knew he lost, but he knew he had won. The only reason he wasn't fighting anymore was because he was safer to be persecuted here in the states then go home and accept his failure. The smirk dropped off Sweets face instantly when he realized how scared the man was. Things just got complicated.
Airport security arrived and cuffed the man, who stared blankly at Sweets through the motions. Before being led away, however the man looked him in the eyes for the first time, and said "If only you were safe here," then the security guards jerked him away. "Beware the Aztec," the man yelled as they told him to shut up and dragged him away.
"Lance, what is it?" Booth had come up behind him. "Where are Cam and Arastoo?" Sweets asked, ignoring Booths question. "Heading for the FBI building, why?" Booth asked. "Tell them to stop the car, now!" Sweets called as he ran for the parking garage and ignored Booths question YET AGAIN. "Sweets, I can't just- hey wait! I need an explanation, laymen here, remember? I not genius!" Booth sighed and ran after him.
Arastoo held Cam's limp body as they sped toward the Hoover building. There they would be safe until they solved this thing. He brushed her medium length hair out her face as her head rolled back on his arm. He was happy she decided to grow it out. He leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her forhead and hoisted her closer to his chest, feeling the necessity of contact to ease his worry.
'Damn what did the bastard give her? She's still out from 9:00 this morning?' He braced himself and held her firlmy as they sped around the corner by the Royal Diner. *Beep! Beep!* Arastoo picked up the radio. "Paladin here- go on-," he said into the mic. "You need to stop the car right now! No time for questions, get out of the damn car!" Booths voice came out the speaker.
Arastoo banged his fist on the glass in front of him, and it dropped. "You need to stop the car now! Booths orders, code Steel!" The driver pulled over immediately. Arastoo slammed the door open and jumped out, grunting as he hefted Cam in his arms. No sooner had he gotten 3 feet away a car came barreling around the corner and rammed into the government vehicle they were just in. The car slid across the pavement into Arastoo, who threw himself over Cam in a vain attempt to protect her as the 2- ton piece of metal bore down upon them.
Arastoo opened his heavy lids, which were crusted in blood. He raised his arm to feel his head and winced as he felt open flesh. He placed the same hand on the ground to sit himself up, and felt something soft draped over his arm. He shook his head to clear the fog from his mind, which caused excruciating pain. He looked down and realized it was Cam.
It all came flooding back. The rescue, the crash, him trying to protect her. He gently lifted her to his lap and cried out in pain. He examined his hand. All the flesh had torn off, and at least two of his fingers were broken. He lifted Cams head with his good hand. Oh thank God- his hand got all the damage.
Then suddenly he saw blinding white again, and when it cleared, he saw red and black, the blood from the wound dripping in his eyes. His head whipped back and he hit the ground again, watching event unfold, helpless.
A man came over and scooped Cam roughly into his arms and carried her to a car. The angel of evil hoisted Arastoo's love into the backseat and sped off, taking all the work they had put into getting her back and throwing it in their face.
Arastoo let his eyes close and felt himself being overpowered by the fog as it snaked its tendrils through the deep corners of his mind, taking over his consciousness. The last thing the squintern saw was a gray Pontiac Aztek speeding away with his soon-to-be fiancé.
Booth ran from the car that had delivered him to the scene, and ran straight for Arastoo. He got on his knees and felt for a pulse, sighing in relief at the steady beat of life. He started examining the intern more thoroughly, at once noting the open gash on his forehead. He noticed his hand next, all the flesh torn of the back, and three broken fingers and a broken wrist.
He took note and finished his stock of injuries with what looked and felt like a few bruised ribs. 'Man, he got it good!' Booth thought. Knowing Arastoo, he probably jumped to protect Cam. Then he noticed fresh blood on the ground, and turned Arastoo on his side. There was a fresh wound bleeding on the back of the man's head that was fresh enough not to be from the accident.
He called a medic over to do the professional work and left him with instructions to place Arastoo on high priority for necessary operation. He stood up and placed his hands on his hips, meeting Sweets eyes as they both wondered what the hell they were going to do know.