CHAPTER 4

"We're very sorry for your loss," Booth told Zoe Deacon's mother, who was sitting in front of him and Brennan.

"You say you think you might know who did this to my daughter?" Mrs. Deacon addressed them both. Brennan remained silent.

"Yes. The suspect is already in jail for kidnapping and rape charges," Booth informed the mother as he glanced sideways at Brennan, who was avoiding eye contact. "Mrs. Deacon, did your daughter mention meeting anyone new recently?" Booth asked.

"Well, she said that she had met a man at school. She was taking summer classes while also working on her dissertation. Dr. Brennan, you were such an inspiration for her," Mrs. Deacon turned her attention to Brennan, who was able to make eye contact with the grieving mother.

"It appears that she had applied for a job as my assistant at the Jeffersonian," Brennan said, handing Mrs. Deacon a packet of paper.

"Yes, she mentioned that she was interested in the position. I told her to go for it, that she would get to work with her role model…you," Mrs. Deacon replied.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Deacon, but you said that she had met a man at school?" Booth inquired gently.

"I never got to meet him, but she said he was very nice and they had gone out on a few dates. She said his name was Jason, but that's all I knew," Mrs. Deacon explained as a tear fell from her eye.

"Thank you, Mrs. Deacon. We will be in touch," Booth said as he rose from his chair. Brennan followed suit and rose with him.

"Thank you for your kindness, Agent Booth. And Dr. Brennan, it was a pleasure to meet the person who inspired my daughter to become an anthropologist," Mrs. Deacon said as she extended her right hand.

Brennan hesitated and raised her right hand, apologetically. "Sorry."

"Oh dear, what happened to your hand?" Mrs. Deacon asked.

Brennan's eyes darted away and she tried to come up with an answer, ignoring the pit that was rising once again in her stomach.

"She had a biking accident. She's quite the athlete, Dr. Brennan," Booth jumped in, smiling awkwardly. "Thank you again, Mrs. Deacon," he added as he ushered Brennan towards the door.

"Thank you, Booth," Brennan said to him once they were safely back in his car.

He looked at her, sympathetically. "I think you should take a break and go home, get some rest. I'll go talk to Hollings," Booth replied.

"I can't just go and sit at home. He can't get away with this, with murdering Zoe. He practically confessed to her murder, now he just has to pay," Brennan said, nearly foaming at the mouth. "And Angela said you would probably kill him if you two were alone in the same room."

"Yeah, well, she's not far off," Booth replied, his jaw clenched as he stared straight ahead at the road. "Temperance, you need to take a step back. Do you remember when you told me that I was too close to the case when Parker was taken? It made sense and now I'm telling you the same thing. This pathetic excuse for a man held you and my son against your will and you think you can walk in there and interrogate him just because you're mad about this girl?" Booth exclaimed.

Brennan stared at him, her mouth half open. She didn't know what to say. "Zoe."

"What?" Booth asked.

"Her name is Zoe," Brennan replied, looking away and out the window.

"Look, Bones, I know you want him to pay for what he did to…Zoe. But for you to have to revisit everything that happened to you is not going to help anything. It's only going to hurt you," Booth explained calmly and rationally. "I don't want that to happen."

Brennan looked back at him, her eyes glistening. It was no use to argue with him because rationally, he was right. And given the chance, she just might kill Hollings herself. "Okay," she replied.

"Okay, good," Booth replied.

Silence overcame both of them as Brennan thought back to their argument earlier that morning. She hesitated a moment before speaking. "Booth, I'm sorry…about this morning. I shouldn't have-"

"Bones, don't worry about it, okay? Let's get through this and then we can talk about all that," Booth replied, a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Okay, fine," she said as she looked back out the window.

"I'll try to be home by 8:00. If I'm not, is it alright if we crash at your apartment again?" Booth asked.

Brennan furrowed her brow in confusion as she looked over at him. "You don't need to ask, Booth. All of your stuff is still there anyway," Brennan replied.

"I know, I just…I don't want you to be mad at me," Booth told her. "There are more serious things to worry about than where to get married."

"I completely agree," Brennan replied.

"Okay then, I'm sorry, too. And I promise that we will get Hollings for this. He won't get away with anything," Booth said as he looked directly into Brennan's eyes.

Brennan managed a half-smile and she nodded. "Good."