A/N: I won't be able to post next weekend as I'm making a trip to NYC. I promise to be back the 27th. Enjoy the chapter! :)

Chapter 3

The Jeffersonian Medico-Legal Lab, Monday at 5:30 pm

Booth strode back into the Lab and could see the platform was empty. Changing directions to Brennan's office, he saw the door was closed. She usually kept it open and he was wondering what could be going on as he knocked on the door.

"Come in," his partner called.

"Think about what I said," Angela smiled as she left the office leaving the two alone.

"Everything ok Bones?" Booth wondered.

"Fine, I guess unless you consider the fact we have a murdering coworker to catch," she said. Her partner looked closer at her. The normal spark in her eyes now seemed to be very dull and she was pale.

"Are you sure you're ok? You don't look so good," Booth's concerned was conveyed in the tone of his voice.

"I'll be fine when this case is over," she shook her head. A typical "I'm not fine and I don't want to talk about response, the G-man noted.

"Speaking of which, I have the lab running a priority on the gun. They hope to have something soon. Cullen says to give him a daily update," he explained.

"Well so far Zach has cleaned all the bones and we're still trying to determine what holes and breaks were caused by the iron maiden or possible bullets. Hodgins sifted through the body fluids and searched the inside of the device but didn't find evidence of any bullets. Angela should get the skull in the morning and hopefully give us a face," Brennan said.

"Sounds good. Let's get something to eat. I think we both could use a break," he gave her a smile and she nodded. Grabbing her coat off the rack, Booth helped her into it and then placed his hand on the small of back as they walked out of the Lab together.

"There is something going on between those two, I know it," Hodgins said as he watched them leave and swiped into the platform.

"What?" Zach asked confused.

"Dr. Brennan and Booth you numbskull. How is it you're supposed to be so brilliant and then completely blind?" The entomologist wondered.

"I am trained to look at skeletons not office relations, I believe that's Angela's job," Addy replied. Jack was about to reach over and strangle the junior anthropologist when Angela, who was coming up the platform, stopped him.

"Don't even think about it. You'll be the one having to explain to Cam and Brennan why he's dead," Hodgins gave her a look but put his arms down.

"Well done Zach," the forensic artist gave him a smile.

"Thank you. I have seen nothing to indicate that anything has changed between Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth. They behave in a professional manner and can still be friends. Much like you and I, Hodgins," Dr. Addy replied.

"Except the professional part," Angela teased. "Remember the pig and the wood chipper experiment?" Both men did the "oh yeah there was that" head bob.

"I think it's time you took me to dinner Hodgins," she continued as she leaned over and kissed him.

"In your office?" He asked as he kissed her back.

"That's it I'm getting a squirt gun," Cam's voice and unmistakable swipe noise carried over to the people on the platform. At this statement, Angela and Jack spilt apart.

"What would you use that for?" Zach wondered.

The Royal Diner, 6:15 pm

Booth and Brennan had fallen into an oppressive silence since ordering their food. The forensic anthropologist looked at her partner as he fidgeted in his seat.

"Last time I saw someone fidget that much, Parker had to go to the bathroom," she said breaking the tension. This made her partner chuckle and he replied,

"That was the longest ten minute drive home,"

"It sure was. I thought the poor boy was going to have an accident," Brennan smiled.

"There would be something I wouldn't want to explain to Cullen," the FBI agent smirked and this made both of them laugh. It was then that his phone rang and he answered it.

"Booth," there was a long conversation on the other end before he thanked them and hung up.

"What was that about?" Brennan asked.

"Are you up for a drive after dinner?" He wondered.

"Sure, Zach and Jack can handle things at the lab for a little while," she told him.

"The lab ran the serial number on the gun and found the registered owner, a Mr. Arthur Flynn. Apparently he reported it stolen about six months ago," Booth said.

"How do you think this will help us?" The world-renowned author was a little confused.

"The clip was empty, hopefully this Mr. Flynn can us explain that. Otherwise we could be looking at the gun being used in multiple crimes," he explained.

"That would be a logical assumption. Zach is still trying to see what was made from either device and it seems highly unlikely that someone would unload seventeen bullets into our victim. Someone would have definitely heard that," Brennan nodded as the waitress dropped off their meals. Booth thanked the girl before replying,

"That is for sure considering it wasn't fitted for a silencer." The two then tucked into their food.

Arthur Flynn's Residence, Alexandria, Virginia, 7:30 pm

Booth knocked on the door of the old colonial home and both partners were surprised when a young woman answered the door.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

"I'm FBI Special Agent Booth and this is my partner Dr. Temperance Brennan we're looking for a Mr. Arthur Flynn," he said making the introductions.

"I'm his niece, Samantha. He's home, why don't come on in," the teenager offered.

"Thank you," Booth smiled. Samantha let them in and then took them into the living room. There a man sat on the sofa; he appeared to be enjoying the program he was watching on TV.

"Sorry to interrupt Uncle Art but these people are here to see you from the FBI," the young woman explained.

"The FBI?" He gave a confused look and immediately stood up.

"I'm Agent Booth and this is my partner, Dr. Brennan," once again the introductions were made.

"I'm not sure how I can help you but have a seat," Flynn pointed to the sofa as he shut the television off.

"We recently discovered your semi-automatic Smith & Wesson M&P nine millimeter pistol," Booth started.

"Someone used it didn't they?" The middle aged man asked.

"There is a possibility of that but we're wondering if when it was stolen how many bullets did it have left in the magazine?" Brennan jumped into the conversation.

"I think I had used eight or nine of the bullets but I can't remember. I used to go to the shooting range, fire off a magazine at least once a week to stay in practice. The last time I used it though something wasn't right and I only got about half the magazine before it jammed. I had just gotten fixed when it was stolen out of my truck," Art explained.

"It jammed?" Booth was interested to hear that.

"I bought it used and it hadn't been maintained very well so sometimes it jammed even though I did my best to clean it," the man said. Booth nodded and then stood.

"Well thank you for your time, we'll be in touch,"

"Is their any chance of getting it back?" Flynn wondered.

"We'll let you know," the FBI agent promised. They left the house and headed back out to the SUV.

"So we're looking for only eight or nine bullets," Brennan said.

"Sounds like fun," her partner shook his head.

To Be Continued…