Ok so this chapter I focused on the relationship between Booth and Christine. The ending of the chapter may be shocking (or not). It depends on the reader. And to all B&B fans, I know that there isn't much B&B in this story (at least not yet). I want the progression of their romance to be believable and right now Hannah is still in the picture so I can't do much B&B yet but I promise there will be plenty of B&B in future chapters. Please read and review
After listening to the voice message, Temperance collapsed on her office chair in shock. 'Ok Brennan think,' Brennan thought. 'The motive for the murder is clear, he or she wants Christine. But why? What does Christine have that's worth killing for? The voice on the message was scrambled but maybe Angela can work on it so we can hear the unscrambled voice. But I will never hand over a fifteen year-old girl to some sick bastard. We are going to have to solve this case by the end of this week before the situation gets out of hand.'
Brennan looked over at Christine. Christine had her legs pulled up against her chest with her face in her hands. "Christine, are you ok?"
"No I'm not okay. My parents were murdered because of me. Maybe if I didn't go to the movies with my friend, the killer could have just taken me and left my parents alone and then they would still be alive. "
Temperance got up and made her way over to her couch and sat down next to Christine. "You can't blame yourself. Even if you were at home last night, your parents would have been killed anyway. Killers will stop at nothing to get what they want. I have to ask you Christine. Do you know why anyone would want to kidnap you?"
"I really don't know why anyone would want to take me Doctor Brennan. I'm just a typical high school student. Maybe the killer wants some kind of revenge. I just don't know but I wish I did." Then Christine began to sob uncontrollably.
"Don't worry Christine we will get down to the bottom of this I promise." Just after Brennan said this, her best friend, Angela Montenegro walked into her office.
"Hey Bren so are we going to lunch at…oh what's going on sweetie."
"Hey Ange. Can I talk you outside of my office for a second?"
"Sure Sweetie." After making sure that Christine would be ok by herself, Brennan approached Angela just outside of her office so Christine would be out of earshot.
"I'm afraid that I won't be able to go out lunch with you today. Christine and I just got done listening to a very disturbing voice message that was left on my voicemail."
"Who left the voice messages Brennan?"
"That's the disturbing part. It was the person that murdered Christine's parents."
"Oh my God"
"Yeah, well the voice was scrambled but I was hoping maybe you could work on it. Angela, the murder is after Christine. Apparently, she has something that's worth killing for. But Christine does not know what the murder exactly wants with her. Maybe Sweets could talk to her."
"Or Brennan, you could just try to get to know her better. You are better with people than you think. I'm going to go work on the voice message and I will order Thai food to be delivered to your office. Sound good?"
"Yes that sounds good Angela. Let me know as soon as you got anything on that voice message."
~Four hours later~
After hearing about the voice message left on Brennan's phone, Booth went into Angela's office to see if she was able to unscramble the call.
"No Booth I'm still working on it. The scrambler is very complicated. I may not be able to unscramble the voice but maybe I will be able to distinguish where the killer made the call. Have you listened to the voice message yet?"
"No but Bones told me already that the murderer called her to tell her that he is after Christine."
"Well I hate to be the one to tell you this Booth, but the situation is graver than you realize. Just listen." Angela pressed the play button on her Angelator: "Doctor Brennan. You don't know who I am but I know all about you. You have something that I want. I want Christine Miller. She has something that no one else has. Her parents are dead because they got in my way and now you are in my way. If I don't have Christine by the end of the week, you will be next."
"I'M GOING TO KILL BONES. WHY DID SHE NOT TELL ME THAT THE MURDERER THREATENED HER?" Agent Booth stomped out of Angela's office and straight into Brennan's office where he found Bones working on paperwork.
"Bones, why did I have to hear from Angela that the murderer made a threat on your life?"
Brennan put down her paperwork and stood up and crossed her arms. "Because I knew how you would react. I can take care of myself Booth. I don't need to be protected."
"Yes you do Bones and I don't care what you think. I'm putting both you and Christine into protective custody."
Bones was about to argue when Booth quickly asked Bones, "Where is Christine?"
"Oh she is in the chapel. She told me that she was going to pray the rosary but I don't know what that means."
"A rosary is kind of like a beaded necklace but you don't wear it around your neck. It's used by Catholics pray to God through the intercession of Mary. I'm going to go talk to Christine. Where is the chapel?"
"It's on the upper level on your right and don't think I'm not going to argue with you about this later" Booth gave her a quick smirk and then left. Bones was then left to wonder, 'Who is Mary? Maybe I'll ask Booth or Christine about that later.'
~In the chapel~
"Pray for us oh Holy Mother of God that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen." 'Wow I can't believe I finished praying the whole rosary already.' Christine thought. Christine rubbed her eyes with her hands and looked at her hands. 'My hands are drenched in tears. I don't think I have ever cried so hard and long before in my life.'
"God, I know this is not part of praying the rosary but I need to ask you something. Why were my parents taken from me? They were good people and I loved them so much. I have so many regrets. I know there were times when I should have listened to my parents and I should have told them that I love them more often." Christine felt more silent tears fall down her cheeks. Christine continued to pray to God, "I'm thankful that I will be able to live with someone that is nice to me and understands me but I'm so scared. I don't want anything to happen to Doctor Brennan or to anyone else because of me."
"Christine?"
Christine jumped and looked behind her and saw Agent Booth standing in the doorway to the chapel. 'Oh God, I hope he didn't hear me praying out loud the whole time.'
"Do you mind if I join you?" Christine shook her head and made a space in the pew so Booth could sit next to her.
After a few minutes of silence, Booth commented, "I can't even imagine what you are going through. But I will tell you something, you are the strongest fifteen year-old I have ever met. No wonder Bones likes you so much. You are just like her in that way."
"Well I don't feel strong. I'm scared of what's going to happen. Spending time with God helps me relax and come to terms with what is going on."
"You know I'm Catholic too." Booth took out his Christopher medal and showed it to Christine.
"Saint Christopher, the saint who holds patronage of things related to travel and travelers. My Dad had a Saint Christopher medal with him all the time because he would travel a lot." Christine then looked away from Booth so he wouldn't see her cry.
"Hey Christine, I promise that I will do everything I can to protect you."
Christine looked up and studied Booth's face for the first time. His brown eyes were sincere and caring. "Thanks Agent Booth. Protect Doctor Brennan too. But I can tell that you care for her deeply so I guess I don't even have to ask."
"Christine, Bones is just my partner and friend. I don't care for her in that way."
Christine gave Booth a small smile and said, "I never said that you did care for her in that way." 'Ok I have no doubt in my mind now that Agent Booth and Doctor Brennan have had a past. They are both way too defensive when it comes to their relationship status. I wonder why Agent Booth has a girlfriend. They are both aware of their feelings. Something must have happened between them. I'm going to have to uncover their whole story later.' Just as Christine thought about this, she became inspired.
"Agent Booth, is there a piano around here?"
"I think there is one in the museum on the lower level. Why?"
"You'll see." Christine then got up and left the chapel with Agent Booth right behind her.
~Down in the lower level in the museum~
Christine approached the piano that was down in the museum and examined it. 'It's a Steinway grand Model B, awesome.' Christine then sat down at the piano bench, quickly warmed up by playing a few four octave scales and then began to play the melody that was forming inside her head. A few moments later, Booth went down the steps and into the room where the piano was at. 'I wonder why Christine wanted to play the piano…oh wow.' Booth listened to Christine play the piano. 'She sounds amazing. No mistakes and it sounds like she is playing something pretty complicated and the melody is so beautiful.'
"Christine who composed that piano piece?"
As Christine continued to play, she laughed and replied, "I'm coming up with it right now. I first thought of the melody while I was in the chapel and I had to get out of my head."
"How often do you come up with your own pieces?"
"All the time. I get inspired with a new melody every day. It's just so overwhelming that I don't even bother writing the melodies down."
'Wow that is unbelievable. She is a piano prodigy and I don't think she even realizes it. I would kill to have a talent like that. Oh shit.' Booth then walked out of the room so Christine would be out of earshot, took out his cell phone and dialed Brennan's cell.
~In the Jeffersonian lab~
"Doctor Hodgins, have you determined what kind of knife was used on the two victims?"
"Not yet Doctor Brennan, I'm still working on it." Brennan's cell phone began to go off.
"Ok keep me posted." Brennan answered the phone. "Brennan."
"It's me Booth. I think I just figured out why the killer is after Christine."
"Why?"
"Christine is a prodigy piano player. The killer must be after her music."
"That's ridiculous Booth. I know a lot of people love music but I don't think that's a logical…"
"Just listen Bones." Booth then put his cell phone on speaker so Bones could hear Christine play. "Wow that melody is so beautiful. Who wrote it?"
"That's just it Bones. She can compose her own music and to her, it comes naturally. If Christine decided to write down her music and publish them, she could become world famous. But she doesn't write down her music. That's why the killer is after her. He wants to take her so he can make her write down her music and then he is going to take credit for her work. "
"I don't know Booth. It seems like a crazy motive for murder but I can't think of any other reason why the killer would be after her. Are we going to tell Christine of our suspicion?"
"I don't think so Bones. She has been through enough today and playing the piano is helping her cope. We are not going to make her afraid of playing the piano. She's scared enough as it is. Bones, it's 6 o' clock now. How about I take you and Christine to the diner for dinner?"
"Ok Booth, I just have to finish up my paperwork. I'll be ready in five minutes and Booth?"
"Yes Bones?"
"Thanks for being there for Christine. I didn't want to go to the chapel with her because I don't understand religion and I don't think I ever will."
Brennan was sure Booth was giving her his charm smile through the phone as he said, "Sure thing Bones. I'll see you in a bit."
Booth hung up his cell phone and walked back into the piano room where Christine was still playing.
"Hey Christine, I'm going to take you and Bones for dinner at the diner."
"Ok sounds good." 'This is perfect' Christine thought. 'Maybe I will be able to pick up on something about their relationship while they are having dinner.' Then together, Agent Booth and Christine left the piano and walked back up the stairs to Brennan's office.
