TDL Season 2 Chapter Four: "The three men with three skills"
The Jeffersonian is finally not on fire. Booth and Sweets pull up in Booth's truck and run inside. They jet past the firefighters and FBI agents and see the gang on respirators. Angela and Cam, however, are on stretchers and are being wheeled out. Hodgins follows them with Michael in his arms. Bones has a few cuts and Izzy and Gwen have a few burn marks.
"Bones, what happened?" Booth says quickly.
"There was an explosion." Bones says as the paramedics apply alcohol to her wounds.
"Bones, you could've died. I need more than 'There was an explosion!'"
"Dr. Brennan, we need more specifics on what happened, that's all." Sweets adds on.
"We had solved the case, but we received a disk from Chef. We watched it and left the unchecked evidence out in the lab. He said something about something blowing up and then the next thing we know, we were all unconscious." Bones tells them.
"So, he wanted to kill you. It's as simple as that." Booth wipes his mouth and slam his hand on the wall. "I should've been here!"
Perotta walks up. "I'm sorry, Booth. You entrusted me with your team and I almost got them killed." Booth gives her a sharp look. "Anyway, Chef's intention was not to kill us, just to knock us out while someone else came and erased all work Angela did on the video. Chef was getting careless and then he had to delete her progress. But, the only way he could've known that-"
"Is if he had someone working with him on the inside!" Booth finishes her statement. "Perotta, have the techs grab every surveillance tape in the Jeffersonian since the day the cases started! I'll go and get some people to help us out in the meantime. Sweets, make sure they all get to the hospital!" Booth pulls out his phone as he runs out of the damaged lab.
Meanwhile, outside the lab…
Booth is running outside as a television news crew is getting the latest updates on the fire.
"Oh, wait, there's an agent now!" exclaims the blonde woman who was with Booth before. She and her cameraman run to Booth. "Agent Booth, is there any clue as to what caused the source of the fire?" she asks.
"No comment!" Booth yells as he gets in his truck and drives away.
Meanwhile, at the hospital…
Cam is in her bed and unconscious. Angela is next to her, but she slowly wakes up. She turns to her left to see Hodgins rocking Michael slightly to sleep.
"Hodgins….what happened?" she asks with a weak voice.
Hodgins looks up as he continues to rock his son to sleep. "Angie, don't talk. You should rest. I'll take Michael to your dad's and be back." Angela nods and drifts off to sleep as Hodgins leaves the room.
Meanwhile, at the diner…
Booth walks in and sees the two people he was looking for at a table waiting on him. He sits and Duncan and Max look him square in the eye, knowing the situation is serious.
"Ok, this Chef guy is really getting on my nerves, and he's destroyed the entire Jeffersonian lab, so here's the deal. No more science, no more examinations, and no more squints!" Booth says quietly but angrily.
"But I'm a squint." Duncan says.
"Look, you got your job by conning us, so you have some non squint uses. Look, I need you two to dig up what you can on Chef. Until the lab is back to normal, we can't rely on Bones and Hodgins to help us. This fight is going to the streets. I'm going to get more agents I know on this case, and I know another scientist who can help us. He's almost like Bones, but we'll be able to use him more easily. I'm going to get him a bit early." Booth stands to leave.
"What do you mean by early? And who is this guy?" Duncan asks.
"He was the one who was hired to replace Cam. That's all you need to know. Be at the reflecting pool tonight at ten!" Booth exclaims and rushes out the diner.
Max and Duncan stare at each other awkwardly.
Meanwhile, in the hospital…
Bones walks in and sees Angela sitting up. Bones takes a seat next to her.
"Hey, sweetie. Are you ok?" Angela asks.
"Ang, you're the one in the hospital bed, not me." Bones and Angela laugh. "But, I'm fine, how are you?"
"Still a little weak. My throat hurts less, though. I can't believe Booth let you come here alone. He's usually more protective of you."
"He didn't, he put Sweets in charge." Bones points to him at the door. "I looked at the charts the doctors had for you and Cam, and I was impressed by their clarity."
"Is everything ok with me?" Angela gets a little tense.
"Yes, but Cam will be out for some time until they can clear her lungs of all the smoke she inhaled from the fire." Bones and Angela look at Cam laying almost lifeless on the bed next to them.
Hodgins, Gwen, and Izzy walk in.
"Ang, you sure you're ok enough to sit up?" He asks and sits next to her.
"I'm fine, baby." She says and leans on his shoulder to rest. "How's Michael?"
"Sleeping soundly to your dad's rock music." The two of them laugh together. Bones and Gwen smile at them.
"This reminds me of the time I married a desert bandit to earn my freedom from slave-hood!" Izzy exclaims and does her signature maniacal laugh. The others look at her with looks of concern.
Meanwhile, in McKinley Psychiatric Hospital…
Booth drives up to the entrance and talks to the entry guard. He raises the gate and Booth drives in and parks. He gets out and heads straight into the building. He goes to the front desk.
"I need to see Dr. Zack Addy." Booth says as he flashes his badge to the receptionist.
Ten minutes later…
Booth and Zack are in his truck driving to Booth's apartment.
"I don't understand. Why can't I see the others?" Zack asks.
"Because, right now, we need some new faces to take down this Chef guy and you're the freshest, so there." Booth snaps at Zack.
"I can tell you're upset, but I won't mention that, I promise." Booth looks at Zack confused. "I know it's hard to believe, but I won't mention you're clearly exercising out your frustrations you have toward the Chef person at me. Nope, I won't mention that at all."
Booth just shakes his head.
Meanwhile, at the hospital…
The blonde woman walks into the room and joins the others. They all get quiet and stare at her.
"Are you a nurse?" Bones asks. "Because you're dressed wrong for that."
"No, I'm Booth's girlfriend." She says and Bones gives her a quick look of disdain. "I came to see how you all were doing? I'm Hannah, by the way."
"So, you decided to visit after you got your ratings?" Bones asks with a harsh inflection in her voice.
"Yeah." Hannah says with a similar tone.
The two of them glare at one another and the others are confused.
Meanwhile, at Booth's apartment…
Booth is standing in front of Duncan, Max, and Zack, who are all in chairs.
"Ok, each of you has a different skill I think we can use to catch Chef. Max, you still have a reputation in the illegal circles, correct?" Booth aims his hands at him. Max nods yes. Booth turns to Duncan. "And you, you can become an undercover operative and see if you can find any connections to him." Duncan nods as well. "And Zack, you're going to be our forensic member. I would rather have Bones stay away from this case as long as possible. So, you're my guy, got it?"
"Understood." Zack says.
The four of them sit in silence as it begins to rain outside.