AN: Thank you for all of the story alerts and favorites so far, and for the one review . Please leave a quick message after reading this chapter to let me know what you think of the story so far. I am not sure how many chapters I am trying to aim this to be…partly will be based on where the story takes me and how well I think you, the readers are receiving and enjoying the tale.

A Friend

Cam peered out the window of her dark sedan, trying to concentrate on seeing through the pouring rain. Caroline had met up with her and Hodgins as they were leaving the mental hospital and informed her that Booth had borrowed her car and was planning on taking Brennan and Christine to the church. Brennan wanted to go ahead and have Christine baptized, and strangely enough had changed her mind about being present.

But that had been hours ago. Now it was early evening, and no one had heard from either of them. Cam thought they would have stopped by or at least sent a picture from their cell phones of the baby after the event. Something must have happened. Please, God, please don't let Pelant have gotten to them. I need some more time for my team to figure out this puzzle, she prayed.

Cam pulled her car over in front of the church. The street was empty. She could just see the parking lot beside the church. From the dark street she could make out the front end of Caroline's car, the hood propped open. "This can't be good" she whispered as she reached for her umbrella and got out of the car. She walked quickly over to the side of the church towards the parking lot when something caught her eye. Something white in the darkness of the evening storm.

Cam ran towards the steps of the church. "Booth? Booth! Are you hurt? Where's Dr Brennan? BOOTH! Can you answer me? Where is Brennan and Christine?" She knelt in front of him, running her hand over him, looking for signs of injury.

Booth looked up, his eyes red-rimmed and bleak. His hair was dripping wet and matted to his forehead, and his clothes were soaked, but he didn't seem to realize he was sitting in the middle of the cold spring storm.

"Gone."

Cam shook her head. "Gone? What do you mean? Damn it Booth…tell me what the hell is going on here…What have the two of you done? Where are Dr Brennan and the baby?"

Booth laughed, once, and without any humor behind the sound. "Not me Cam. She took the baby. Max and Bones planned it without me. She's going off the grid until we catch Pelant. She's gone. I don't even know where to start looking for her…and if Max is helping her, I bet where ever I would look is the last place she would think of going anyways. My family is gone."

Cam covered her mouth with her hand in shock. "Oh my god…oh no. I'm so sorry Seeley."

"They're gone. And the worst part…even worse than being alone…I don't think we can catch Pelant if Bones isn't here to help. How the hell can I being her back when the best part of our partnership isn't here to help figure out how he managed to fool the system?"

Cam shook her head, unsure how to respond. The rain continued to pour down on them.

"Come on Seeley. We need to get you out of the rain. Come on …please…please…" She pulled on his arm until he finally budged, following her to her car. She unlocked the passenger door and settled him in the front seat, then quickly ran around the front to get to the driver's door. She got in the car and locked the doors behind her. She placed the key in the ignition and waited for the air to warm and the front window to begin to defog before putting the car into gear.

"I'll take you home and then I'll get in touch with Hodgins and the rest of the team know what's-"

"No."

Cam turned to look at Booth. His eyes were closed, rain droplets still dripping from his cheekbones onto his shirt. "No what Seeley?" she asked gently.

"I'm not going home. There is no home without her there. I don't want to go in that house without her and Christine there." Cam frowned.

"Booth, I understand, but I can't bring you back to the lab with me. You can't have any involvement in the case. You've been suspended from work, so I can't take you to the Hoover. And I damn sure am not leaving you in the middle of the street on a dark and rainy night."

Booth nodded. "Take me to Caroline's. I need to tell her about her car anyways. She can help me figure out where to go from here."

Cam pressed her lips together, frustrated. She needed to try and stay as impartial in this case as possible, but she was torn between believing in the justice system and helping her friend. Seeley had always been there for her. It seemed cruel not to give him that same trust now. But how could she help to bring down Pelant if she wasn't still on the team?

"Okay. Okay…I'll take you to Caroline's. We'll have to surprise her. She told me she isn't using any more technology than absolutely necessary until Pelant is found and we know we've got him- including her cell phone."

Booth didn't reply. He sat in his seat quietly, eyes still closed, waiting.

Cam pressed her lips together tightly and put the car into gear and pulled out into the street. She had to trust her decision. She needed to be at the Jeffersonian and ensure nothing about their evidence could invalidate the case they were trying to build again this psychopath.

She just hoped that Booth would be able to see she was doing this for the greater good. Right now, he's in so much pain he can't see much of anything, she thought sadly.

Caroline sat on her sofa, a cup of hot coffee in her hands and a book she was pretending to read in her lap. Outside the rain had finally died down, leaving a damp and cool night. The house was silent. She had sworn off as much things associated with computers, scanners and plug in thingy-a-ma-bobs as possible. Until those geniuses at the Jeffersonian were able to nail down Pelant, Caroline figured she was just as safe here in her townhouse in Georgetown as anywhere else. At least if that mad man wants to try and kill me here he can damn well do it in the comfort of my own home and while I finish a decent cup of café au lait, she thought.

A loud knock sounded at the door. "Aw Hell Caroline! When are you gonna learn to keep your big mouth shut?" The knock sounded again.

"Okay, okay. Keep your pants on…I'm coming. If you're in that much of a hurry you might as well keep on moving down the road!" she muttered loudly as she made her way to the door, picking up the baseball bat her ex husband had insisted on leaving her and that she kept in the umbrella stand in the foyer.

She peeked in the window off the side of the door. "Chére?"

What was Camille Saroyan doing on her doorstep after 9:15 at night? Caroline opened the door, still holding the bat in one hand, but hidden behind the door.

"Caroline. I'm sorry, I know its late, but there's a problem. I need you to-"

Caroline held one hand up in the air, effectively halting Cam's request. "Doctor Saroyan. As an active member of the team investigating the charges against Andrew Pelant, you cannot make any request of me. I am no longer on the case, and, in fact have now become a suspect in my own right. I must ask you to leave these premises effective-"

"Caroline, She's not asking. I need you. Please." Booth stepped out from behind Cam's shadow on the porch.

"Chére? What in the world? What's happened? Where's Dr. Brennan? Why aren't you with her?"

"Can I come in, please Caroline? I need somewhere to stay, at least for the night. I'll explain more, but Cam needs to get back to work…and we need to make sure she isn't seen with either of us. It isn't safe for her…or for the case."

Caroline shook her head, as if trying to jump start her brain into working. "Yes, yes…come in. Doctor Saroyan, I'll handle Agent Booth. You get your gorgeous skinny self back to work. And don't come back here unless you've got solid evidence to help us bring down this bastard."

Cam smiled tightly. She stepped back to allow Booth to walk through the doorway. She touched his arm as he brushed by her. "Seeley…we will catch him. We will bring them home."

Booth tried to smile, but the gesture did not make it to his eyes. He nodded. "Thanks Cam. I'll find a way to be in touch."

Cam nodded, and then turned to walk back to her car.

Booth walked inside. Caroline glanced up and down the street, watching for anything out of the ordinary before she closed the door, the sounds of the locks loud in the night air as she secured the door behind herself.

A/N: Okay, well at least he is out of the rain and somewhere safe for the night. Any thoughts or ideas of who we will see next? How about trying out that nifty new Review button right there and letting me know what you think? (I know…I sound so high maintenance, huh? I'm really not..it's all my muse talking. She's a piece of work, let me tell ya!)