Chapter 4 – How about a tour?


They mingled for a few hours, and then found a quiet table each enjoying their favorite beverage; Bones had a glass of red wine, Booth a scotch on the rocks. They were chatting quietly, when Kate and Castle found them and settled into the empty seats at their table.

Castle asked, "Hey Tempe, finished your schmoozing for the night?"

Brennen looked up puzzled," I don't know what that means?"

Booth explained, "It means have we done our duty and mingled with the benefactors enough tonight."

The confusion cleared from her eyes, "Yes, I believe our duties are finished," she added, "Have you had fun tonight," she directed her question to Kate.

Kate answered with an impressed smile, "Wow you guys have talent; I didn't know Hodgins and Angela could sing, and that lawyer you work with Caroline Julian she sounded just like Etta James, what a voice." Kate was referring to the staff talent segment of the evening.

Booth chuckled, "Hell I didn't know any of them could sing and I've been working with them for years." Booth sent a questioning look towards Bones and asked, "I wonder why they did ask us to sing Tempe, we could have done "Hot Blooded" we're pretty good."

Tempe smiled slightly and said, "What's ours is ours."

Kate and Castle picked up the undertones of that simple statement deciding to let it pass.

"Oh, you're right, but still we could have done our knife throwing act that definitely would have gotten everyone's attention."

"Booth, you know the security here the only weapons that make it into this part of the building are 2000 years old artifacts. Dr. Merk rejected that suggestion, he didn't want to start a precedent with weapons," she had also thought of the knife throwing act.

"Wait, a knife throwing act? Really, when was that?" Castle asked, clearly interested.

"A few years back we were investigating conjoined twin deaths, they were circus performers the only way we could get information was to go undercover," Bones explained.

"Yeah, we were Buck and Wanda Moose-Jaw we had a knife throwing act, I actually had to throw knives at Tempe, but what a performer she even surprised me during our performance and I had to hit a rubber nose off her face," Booth picked up Tempe's hand and laced it with his. "Scariest thing I've ever done, I was terrified I would kill her but Tempe had all the faith in the world in me and we did it."

"I didn't know you were scared, you never showed it you were wonderful," she turned towards Kate and added, "He has amazing hand eye coordination, he's just as skilled with a gun he never misses," she added under her breath, "Andy misses." Only Booth picked up on that little nugget, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

"Thanks Tempe, I always appreciate the faith you have in me to keep you safe," Booth temporarily lost in the depths of her beautiful crystal blue eyes.

Castle cleared his throat to interrupt, "Okay kids we get the hint but before we go how about a tour of the lab, I'd love to see it."

With that they got up, collected their things and wandered down to the Medico-Legal Lab, they chatted the entire way until they finally reached the security desk of the Medico-Legal lab.

"Good Evening Dr. Brennen, Agent Booth," Joe the security guard greets the pair.

"Joe, we'll be signing in Kate Beckett and Richard Castle," Bones gestured to Kate and Rick.

"No problem Dr. Brennen. Turning to the visitors Joe asked, "Mr. Castle, Ms. Beckett could you please sign the visitors log?" He handed them the visitors log along with numbered visitor badges.

"Are you Richard Castle the writer?" Joe asked.

Rick smiled over at Joe, "As a matter of fact I am have you read my work?"

"After Dr. Brennen here you're my second favorite author, I loved Derek Storm, but I really think I'm going to enjoy your Nikki Heat series. That first book was excellent had me guessing until the very end," Joe said enthusiastically.

Castle smirked at Kate and replied, "Thanks, Joe I always love meeting my readers, hope you continue to read the series I promise it's only going to get more interesting."

Kate, Bones, Booth and Castle enter the Medico-Legal lab, Bones domain.

"Wow, this was impressive on the webcam but it definitely didn't give me the scope, I feel like I've hit the 22nd century everything looks so high tech and modern," Castle is enthusiastic with his praise.

"Rick, I'm not sure any of us could tell you what the Medico-Legal lab will look like in the 22nd century, but I have toured other facilities and I feel the Jeffersonian outstrips them by far," Bones answered what she perceived was a question.

Bones pointed out Hodgins Lab, adding, "And this is where Dr. Hodgins will perform his experiments, which he has to clear thru Cam first. We've had quite a few accidents and explosions come from that room, that's why Cam has to approve. Dr. Hodgins thinks he's invincible in his scientific principles and feels all experiments' are valid and safe; we've found that to not always be the case."

"Here is the forensic platform where unless the victim is in Cam's autopsy suite, is placed here on one of the examination tables," she gestured.

Kate also duly impressed asked, "Why here and not in a secure room, Dr. Brennen?"

"Kate, please call me Temperance or Tempe, as for your question we examine the remains here first as a team, once the bones are cleaned they are placed in the Bone Room, just follow me," Bones added leading them off the platform to the Bone Room.

Booth just followed along knowing how proud Tempe was over her domain, simply followed her lead, knowing he'd get a tongue lashing if he didn't.

"Right thru here is the Bone room," Tempe stepped aside to let them pass.

"Who's this?" Castle asked pointing to the skeleton arranged on the table.

"It's a WWI solider I'm currently trying to identify using medical histories and bone analysis, to date I've identified 200 soldiers," Bones replied.

Kate shook her head in wonder, "Wow, I can't believe you can do that."

Booth interrupted and added, "Actually Kate, Bones is amazing she solved a 2000 year old murder case, that's actually what caught Cam's attention before she even started working here. I was stuck on a case and she suggested that Bones could help and the rest is history," Booth finished with a smile.

"Well I'm impressed, why you even bother writing novels when you have a skill like this. You amaze me," Castle looked at her with new found respect, really taking in the "world renown" portion of her working title.

"The books are my one and only creative outlet; ask Angela I'm clueless on fashion, décor and pop culture references. I don't or I should say I didn't use to watch television, though recently I have found a few channels of interest, I work with facts all day long, the books exercise my imagination," Bones finished with.

"Now if you'll follow me, I'll show you my office, I have a beautiful 3000 year old Egyptian mummy on display that might interest you," with that Booth rolled his eyes, the mummy had been there as long as he can remember, he nicknamed it Fred which infuriated Bones.

As they walk together towards her office, Booth heard Bones puzzled remark, "That's odd I don't remember shutting off my light or closing the door," she opens the door, flipped on the lights.

"Booth, come quick!" Bones anxious voice called out.


A/N: What you think Bones found?

R&R as always