A/N: Watch out for that last step, its a doozy. ;)


Chapter 4

The Jeffersonian Medico-Legal Lab, Tuesday at 6:00 pm

Brennan stood over the bones that had been delivered by an FBI agent thirty minutes ago. Hodgins had found more but the total was still shy of two hundred and six by one. It seemed whoever killed Anna Smits had buried the fingers and toes all together instead of scattered which actually made their job a little easier. The entire skeleton was almost back together and evidence that they craved still appeared to be missing. Shaking her head, Brennan continued to analyze the bones hoping for anything resembling a tool mark or break. Booth had gone to retrieve Anna's medical records and alert the missing persons division of their discovery. A beeping alerted Brennan to someone's entrance onto the platform.

"Hun, don't you think you need to take a break? You haven't eaten since Booth forced the Thai take out on you," Angela asked, worried her friend had gone into "total case focus" mode.

"I'm fine. I just need to keep working on the bones. Any word from Cam or Hodgins?" The forensic anthropologist asked effectively changing the subject.

"No word on your missing bone. Which one is it again?" Angela wondered.

"The left tibia," Brennan said to which the forensic artist gave her a look.

"The left shin bone," her friend clarified.

"Does that help at all?" Angela wondered.

"The tibia is the stronger of the two lower leg bones. It is also the larger than the fibula and connects the knee with the anklebones. In fact it is the second longest bone in the human body, only shorter than the femur," Brennan spewed.

"Uh huh well how does that help? Is the guy keeping it for a souvenir or is it possible still buried out in those fields?" The forensic artist wanted to know.

"There is no way to determine that from what I have in front of me. Until Hodgins completes the sweep of the last field, I'm not going to conjecture about it," her friend answered.

"Right, I forgot. Well if you get hungry you know where to find me," Angela smiled before heading to her office. Brennan turned back to her work but couldn't shake one of her friend's questions. How did the missing tibia help them?

"Hey Bones," Booth's voice broke the silence that had only just fallen over the platform.

"Yes Booth?" She turned around to face him as he scanned onto the special work area.

"Forensics finished sweeping through the park bathrooms and found something very interesting," he told her.

"Which is?" She questioned.

"A clump of mud that doesn't match the mud at the park because there is clay in it and a clump of brown hair," Booth gave a partial smile.

"So our killer brought clay to the seen with him. When Hodgins is done, I want him to look at that sample," Brennan said.

"I'm having the FBI squints look at it and then Hodgins can take a peek. As for the hair, I'm having it run through the database and also trying to match it with our victim," he explained.

"Good. The only bone we are missing is the left tibia and…" Booth cut her off.

"That's the shin right?"

"Very good. Unfortunately the new bones haven't yielded anything I was hoping for," Brennan told him.

"Well do you want to go to the diner? Take a break?" He asked.

"No, I'm hoping that if I X-Ray the bones, I'll be able to get something. See you in the morning?" She gave a slight smile.

"All right but if you change your mind, you know where I'll be," Booth gave her one of his 'charm' smiles and then exited the platform. Brennan loaded all the bones into a box that was stashed under the examining table and headed for X-Ray.

Sometime later, Brennan sat in her office waiting for the X-Rays to be completed. She had caught one of the techs on his way out and convinced him to stay later. He told her it would take about an hour because of having to retrieve all the fingers and toes to make sure they weren't in the way of the larger bones. At first she continued to look at her watch but something else was now taking up her time, Anna's diary.

The team continues to pick on me. I don't know why I stay. It's all a big joke to them but all I want to do is play soccer. Just because I'm heavy doesn't mean I'm not good. I've been picked on all my life so I guess it shouldn't be a big deal but I thought at least my teammates would be good to me.

Brennan processed the paragraph in the entry dated only two weeks before Anna disappeared. This girl obviously had a tough childhood and it was a shame she didn't grow to be an adult.

Anyway, they'll all stop saying things when they realize how much they need me. When they realize the other girl isn't as good. They'll be sorry.

The shell that was Anna's outward appearance was becoming clearer as the next entry sprawled on the page in a fast script that was very hard to read.

Coach is leaving her in!! After she let in two goals and we were up. We almost lost the game! What is he thinking?? I'm so angry but I can't say anything. If Coach wants us to fail then I'd better let him do what he thinks is best. Still after I had five shutouts…

"Reading something good?" A familiar voice came from the doorway. Brennan slowly lowered the diary and looked to the doorway. Her eyes went wide as she recognized the face to go with the words.

Booth walked back into the lab. He checked his watch and noted it was now eight o'clock. Sure that his partner hadn't eaten anything yet; he headed toward her office to offer they go out for a drink. Yet there was something else that called him to the world-renowned author's door. He had almost made a mistake when he pulled her close to tell her to talk to him about Zach. The look in her blue eyes had said it all. He loved her but he wasn't about to ruin their partnership if she didn't feel the same way.

As he neared the office he saw a techie pushing a cart with a box full of bones and stopped him.

"I'll take that to Bones," he flashed a smile. The man gave a confused look.

"Dr. Brennan," Booth clarified.

"This is evidence, I can't just give it away," the technician was still unsure. Nodding the FBI agent pulled out his badge.

"Oh you must be Agent Booth. Well tell her the results will be ready in the morning," he smiled and gladly let the G-man take the cart.

"Thanks, will do," the two separated and Booth continued onto his partner's office. As he neared it he heard her shout.

"Sully!"

To Be Continued…


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