A/N: Thanks guys. Well, let's see what happens now.
3.5
Setting: There are two chairs, back to
back. Booth sits in the left one, hands
tied behind the chair, his ears tuned for
the approaching movement of Brennan.
He thinks that he should have done something.
There is no way that Murphy can be alone with
Bones. His head turns to the doorway hearing
the shuffling of feet.
-
Booth felt the air slam out of his body as he looked to Brennan's face. The whole left side of her face was swollen and beginning to bruise where a cut on her cheek was bleeding slightly. Immediately, he tried to stand, taking the chair with him and nearly rushed forward.
"You son of a-!"
Murphy pulled the gun from his waistband and aimed it at Brennan's head coolly.
"I will not hesitate."
He was breathing hard. He was even shaking. No. Booth couldn't do this. He didn't want her hurt, dead. But he couldn't deny the fear that was coursing through him, or the anger at this man who had beaten Bones. It took every ounce of his self control to not lunge forward and try to kill Murphy, but the gun. Booth knew he had been defeated. Looking at Brennan, he could see the plea in her eyes to just listen. He sat down roughly.
"Good job, Mr. Booth."
"Bones, are you okay?" he choked out.
Brennan tried to nod her head, but Martin grabbed her roughly to situate her in the chair so he could tie her and Booth together. Her whole face felt like it was going to implode from the pain.
Weakly, "I'm okay, Booth." Brennan had seen the burning in his eyes and had known he would have attacked Murphy in a heartbeat any other time. The problem was, there was a gun at her head, and she hated feeling that weak.
"Are you sure?"
"Just superficial wounds. No broken bones. I'll be fine."
"What did he do to you?"
"Slammed me against the wall," she said, looking at Murphy.
"Now Dr. Brennan, do you think that's fair? I mean, you did try to escape while we were talking about women's respect."
"I will kill you," Booth said evenly into the thin air, not caring Murphy didn't take notice.
Brennan pursed her lips. "If you really respected women, you would let me go."
Murphy paused, then put the gun in his waist band again.
"Okay."
"Okay what?"
Murphy nodded his head and smiled a little.
"If that is what you want, then…you can go."
3.6
Brennan stared at Murphy, not fully comprehending what he'd just said.
"What do you mean I can go?"
"Exactly that. Martin will untie you, blind fold you, put you in the trunk of the car, and deliver you to your apartment."
"Why?" she asked dumbfounded.
Murphy put his hands behind his back and began walking the short room, disregarding Booth's gaze on him the entire time.
"I said I respect women. And I do still respect you, Dr. Brennan, even if you did try to escape. I know it was a response to the immediate situation, and I understand that. You request to leave and I would like to fulfill that."
"You'll let her leave safely?"
"Yes, Mr. Booth."
"You or your men won't touch her? She leaves here untouched and at her apartment untouched, alive?"
"Absolutely."
Brennan finally found her words. "Booth-."
"Bones, you've got to go."
"We don't know if he's telling the truth!"
"But this could be your chance out."
"And he might just be saying this to kill me, or you, the moment I leave the room."
"Listen to me, Bones." He tried to turn his face as far left as possible to catch her in his peripheral vision. "He's telling the truth. He'll let you leave. You have to leave. I don't want you here. It's too dangerous."
"I don't trust him," she replied, looking directly at Murphy.
"I won't let you stay here, Brennan."
"Mr. Booth, I believe this is Dr. Brennan's choice."
"You don't think I know that! I'm trying to talk some sense into her!"
Murphy pulled the gun and pointed it directly at Booth, fingering the safety with his thumb.
"Let Dr. Brennan decide, or her choice may not be so hard after all."
Brennan swallowed and lowered her head. Two choices. Stay. Leave. Stay. Leave. Her head was pounding with the possibilities of what could happen to her and Booth.
Booth breathed and stared at Murphy. He could feel Brennan's warmth and it reminded him how much she had to live. No matter what, she had to live.
"Fine," he muttered.
3.7
"If I go," Brennan said, looking up, "you won't try to hurt me or kill me?"
"You have my word," Murphy said, still pointing the gun at Booth.
"And that's it? I go free and Booth is alright here?"
"Well," Murphy flashed her a grin, "Maybe not entirely."
Brennan's eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"
"I can't just let you go with all the time in the world to save our FBI agent, can I? So, from the moment you are put in the trunk, you will have exactly four hours before I use this weapon to put a bullet into Mr. Booth's skull."
"No, you can't do that!"
"Dr. Brennan, I believe I can."
"I don't even know where I am, much less how far from my home I am! How do I know I'm not more than four hours away from my apartment to begin with!"
"You will have to take that chance."
"Bones, take it."
"What? I can't, Booth! I don't know-."
"If you don't take it you might die. I will not let that happen!"
"If I take it there's a very good probability that you will die here!"
"And that doesn't matter! Do you understand me? You need to save yourself because you are the only one who can save me! Only you."
Brennan stared ahead at the wall trying to ignore Booth's fingers trying to hold onto her wrists, pleading silently to save herself. There was a possibility she could save him if she got out. There was also a good chance she was very, very far from her apartment. It was just not enough time. She turned her head and looked at Murphy. After a few moments, he looked back to her. They stared at each other for just a few seconds, but Brennan already knew what lay behind those light brown eyes. Death. For her and Booth. For one of them. For everyone.
"I leave," she swallowed thickly, "and he's as good as dead, isn't he?"
"Four hours is four hours, Dr. Brennan."
"Booth," she whispered as he tried to turn his head towards her, "please understand this."