Bones Season 7.5x06: Jack Be Nimble~ Written by Squinttoyou

Jack ran his fingers through his unruly mop of curls. His hand tightened to a fist and he held on as he waited. "Come on," he muttered into the ringing phone. When it once again was answered by voice mail he hung up. He resumed his pacing and the phone twirled between his hands in nervous release. "Ok, so don't panic," he lectured aloud. "It's only eight-thirty. Don't overreact. The last time she was late she just took the upgrade on her massage and forgot to let you know."

His steps had carried him around the room and back to the window and he paused to look out at the street below. It looked like any other evening, the neighborhood below bustled with activity and he could see several people strolling down the sidewalk. He searched the block carefully hoping to see the familiar silver form of Angela's hybrid parked on the street, hoping to find she was already making her way inside, but there was no sign of her car.

"Ok!" He said again, speaking aloud simply to fill the silence that was driving him crazy with worry. "She's fine. She's not lying in a ditch after an accident, she's a good driver. She's not in the hospital; someone would have called me by now. And it's the wrong time of year for her to make a run to Bora Bora, it's the rainy season." The joke fell flat even to his own ears and he lifted the phone. "Shut up, Hodgins," he told himself as he dialed.

B&B

"Hey, look, Wonka is on! I love this movie; let's watch."

Brennan glanced away from her reading. "Isn't this the same story you watched with Parker two weeks ago?"

"No, that was the much inferior 'modern' version. I like Tim Burton, but he should leave the classics alone. This version is much better." Booth rubbed her belly and then kissed her just above her ear. "Come on, Bones, put the science away and watch with me."

"I have work to do," she objected, although there was little conviction in her voice. She shifted so that she leaned against his chest and nodded at the journal she was holding. "You watch, I'll read."

Booth knew leaning against his chest meant she wanted him to hold her and he obediently put his arms around her. He also knew that if she was serious about reading that article she claimed was so important, she would not have moved closer to him. He watched the movie until the commercial break and then gave her what she really wanted.

"I don't like commercials, Bones. Kiss me."

"I'm reading," she admonished, brushing him away as if he were an insect.

"Please?" he begged making his voice both pitiful and sexy.

He knew this was the game she wanted when he saw her mouth lift in a satisfied smirk. An admission of guilt she quickly hid. Brennan turned to look at him and feigned a look of exasperation. "One," she agreed with reluctance.

Booth made sure it was a good one. When it ended, she made a sound of complaint and gave him a second kiss. There was a brief protest when he lifted her into his lap, given to keep her game alive, but she helped settle herself and even wiggled around until she was comfortable. And it was all done as she continued to kiss him. She sighed into his mouth when he pulled the journal from her hand and tossed it on the floor.

Booth loved this new playfulness she was exploring. He was honored she felt comfortable enough with him to explore this part of herself, to let go and just have fun like that. She was getting better at teasing and tempting him to do it her way and he would gladly follow. The movie had resumed but he barely noted it as he focused on the way she was thrilling him.

"You have got to be kidding me," he complained when their fun was interrupted by his ringing phone.

"Just answer it," Brennan said, her own disappointment clear.

"Why do they always call just when we are getting to the good stuff?" he asked as he reached around her to pick up his phone from where it lay on the coffee table.

"If you think that's the good stuff I'm not doing it right," Brennan worried and Booth shot her a grin as he answered.

"I'm freaking out."

The smile slid from Booth's face. "Hodgins? What's wrong?"

"I can't find Angela. She was supposed to be home a while ago, and she's not answering her phone, and I know I'm probably jumping to conclusions because that's what everybody always tells me I'm doing, but I think something is wrong."

The words were tumbling from the brilliant scientist and Booth struggled to keep up. "Hodgins, slow down. Take a deep breath." Brennan climbed off his lap and Booth shared her worried look.

There was the sound of Jack drawing air into his lungs and then he spoke with slightly more control. "Ok, yeah, facts, we needs facts, right?"

Brennan had slipped on her boots and handed Booth his shoes. He tucked his phone to his shoulder and began pulling on his footwear. "When is the last time you spoke to her?"

"Uh...two o'clock, something like that, she was going to get her nails done and then she was going to a gallery because her friend, Ramon, had a piece in the show. After that she might join Ramon for a drink, but she would never do that without telling me. She should have been home by now."

"She was going to a gallery to view a painting," Brennan supplied over Hodgins' words.

"I know, Bones," he soothed as he stood. "He just told me that." He moved to the wall safe and worked the lock with quick efficiency. When the door was open he retrieved his gun and tucked it in place. "You've tried calling her?" he asked as he closed the safe.

"Like fifteen times, man. You and I both know what is going on. It's Paisley! She's got her!"

"Hodgins, we don't know that. Stay calm. We're on our way. Think about her schedule for the day; we'll want to retrace her steps."

"Yeah, good idea. I'm going to do that."

"Jack!" Booth called, "stay on the line! We need a plan; you can't just go driving around."

"I'm not. I'll meet you at the lab. She left from there so we can trace her steps."

Booth could hear the sound of Hodgins' footfalls echoing in the stairwell as he and Brennan climbed in the SUV. Switching to speaker phone so Brennan could join the conversation he fired the engine and switched on his rolling lights to help clear their way.

Brennan was eager for information and she took over the conversation. "Hodgins, did you call the salon?"

"It's closed now, Dr. B. I would have if I'd thought something was wrong early enough." His voice cracked with panic as he continued. "Oh, God. What if she's been missing since this afternoon? I thought she was running errands and having fun. What if Paisley's had her for hours?"

"Dr. Hodgins," Brennan barked, trying to calm him and still the fear he was stoking in her own heart, "Speculation is the worst form of investigation."

"Yeah, yeah, ok," Hodgins agreed without sounding one bit calmer. "Um...ok, I'm in the garage," he reported. "I'll meet you guys..."

"Hodgins?" Booth called when the scientist trailed off. "Hodgins? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Jack answered with distraction. "I just thought I heard something." He sighed and they heard the beep of an alarm as he unlocked his car. "I hate parking garages," he muttered to them. "Nothing good ever happens in a parking garage."

"We're on the Beltway now, Hodgins," Booth reported as he merged onto the highway. "We'll meet you at the lab."

"I'm on my way. Do you think..."

His question went unasked, replaced by a cry of alarm and then a yelp of pain.

"Hodgins!" Brennan called now desperately alarmed. "Jack!"

There was no answer.

The tires squalled in protest as Booth turned the corner onto the second level of the garage. "There," Brennan called and he brought them to a quick halt. Both had their doors open and feet on the ground almost before they stopped moving. Jack's Jaguar sat in the parking slot, the door ajar, making it clear that the owner had not left with intent. Booth scanned the area looking for any sign of a clue, but there wasn't much to see. The mini-Cooper Jack loved so much sat next to the Jag and he was certain the empty spot next to it was reserved for Angela's hybrid. There were five other cars scattered on this deck, but the scene looked completely innocent.

Brennan had hurried to the open car door searching for any hint of what had happened. There was nothing, but a glint of light in the shadow beneath the car caught her sharp eye and she dropped to her knees. She retrieved the item she found, careful to cover her hand with her shirt sleeve to prevent leaving fingerprints, and climbed back to her feet giving a soft grunt at the effort it took to lift her expanding form. "Booth," she called as she held up Jack's cell phone.

He crossed to her, his attention still on the perimeter, and gave a sigh as he looked at the phone.

"It would be foolish not to make certain assumptions at this point," Brennan lectured.

"Yeah, I know, Bones. She's back."

His arm circled Brennan's shoulders as she drew a shuddering breath and he pulled out his own phone. One button placed his call and he dropped a soft kiss to his partner's brow as he waited for an answer. "Dispatch, 22705, I need an evidence team and tactical at two-fifteen I Street Northeast; parking garage, second level. Make it quick, we don't have much time."

B&B

"Lance, wait!" Turner called as Sweets' long strides carried him up the arena steps far faster than she could go given the skin-tight, blue, leather jumpsuit she wore. She dodged a pair of portly men dressed as Orions, absently noting that they had used the wrong shade of blue for their skin tone, and then shouldered her way past a Klingon couple, ignoring the string of curses they shouted after her. "Lance!" When he didn't stop she drew a deep breath and broke into a run that she knew would cause chaffing in some rather personal spaces.

He was running too and she didn't catch him until they were just a few feet from the car. Her hand closed on his arm, the metal framework around her left hand making a clicking noise as she clamped her fingers tight. "Slow down," she scolded gently. "You want me to drive?"

He scowled at her and jerked the pointed, latex ears off his head. "I can drive," he argued belligerently, "It's my car."

"I know it's your car," she allowed. "I just thought since you were upset that maybe I should drive."

"I can drive," he repeated before stomping toward the driver's side. "I know I'm only a psychologist, but I don't need the big FBI agent to do it for me."

Turner sighed and moved to join him. She hadn't meant to imply he was incapable, but she did think his emotional state made her a better choice to be behind the wheel. He was tossing his sash and disruptor into the back seat and she waited until he reached for the key before she spoke, "It's not your fault."

He turned to her in disbelief, his hand frozen in mid-air, his head slowly shaking, the angular eyebrows he had painted on making his scowl even more pronounced. "Not my fault? How can you even say that? It's directly my fault. I was there, Claudia, I had hours to study her. I have every detail Cam can recall about her abduction and still I have nothing to help us find her. So, how is it not my fault that she now has Hodgins and Angela?"

"We don't know for certain it is her," Turner argued.

"Aw! Don't hand me that Brennan-inspired logic," he shouted. "You know it's her, Claud! We all know it's her."

"Ok, maybe it is, probably it is," she amended when he looked ready to argue. "But, just keep an open mind, ok? Hodgins is a target for lots of reasons that don't have anything to do with Paisley. This could be a normal kidnapping; someone looking to score big by snatching a billionaire."

"It's not," Sweets said as he turned the key. "It's her. It's Paisley."

He seemed a little calmer, as if his outburst at her had vented the worst of his panic. Turner watched him for several moments, noting the way his neck was corded with tension and the vice-grip he had on the steering wheel. Once again her costumed left arm reached out to him and this time her touch was soothing against his thigh. "You need to stop blaming yourself. We need you for this. You need to be able to think clearly."

Sweets' hand dropped from the wheel and he wrapped her hand in his. "I'm sorry we are missing the convention."

"We'll catch the next one," she answered lightly.

He squeezed her hand and then his dark mood returned. "This game she's playing is dangerous. Sooner or later someone will lose."

"Let's get to the lab and make sure the only loser is Paisley."

B&B

The feel of his stomach rolling and churning pulled Jack toward a reluctant awakening. His eyes opened and the dark room around him began to spin creating a discordant opposition to his nausea. He immediately clamped his eyes shut. The loss of sight helped and he breathed deeply as he fought for control of his traitorous stomach. When the worst of its turmoil had subsided he tried again. He lay still letting his eyes adjust to the darkness and making certain he had his stomach under control.

Aside from his nausea and dizziness he didn't seem to be injured. He had a terrible thirst and his mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton, but it was less of an inconvenience than the rolling in his gut. He lay on a cot, the wire netting beneath the thin mattress poking at his back, but he was not restrained in any way. Carefully flexing his limbs he tested each to make certain he had full use, all the while begging his stomach to settle down.

As he lay, breathing deeply to help calm his tummy, he tried to remember what had happened. Garage...he had been in the parking garage. He was on the phone with...Booth...and Brennan, he'd been talking to Brennan. Angela! As his memory cleared he bolted upright, the panic he had been feeling hours earlier back and even more acute as he experienced it all over again. Swinging his legs off the cot on which he lay, he struggled to his feet fighting against the renewed churning of his stomach. The room was dark, but he could see light filtering underneath a door and since he wasn't restrained he moved toward it.

"You should really stick around."

The mild warning in the female voice startled him, not from its tone, but by its closeness. Spinning quickly to face her, he felt his stomach rise in protest and he swallowed, determined not to lose control. He would never have known she was in the room if she hadn't spoken. She sat in the corner, a vague shape in the shadows, but he knew exactly who it was. "Why did you take me?"

She reached above her and turned on a small lamp. The dim lighting revealed her and Jack was startled to find both Sweets and Cam had underreported her beauty. She was bewitching; blonde hair, shapely legs, ample breasts, the entire package accentuated by a fetching dress that made her look like a girl waiting on a date rather than his abductor. Her blue eyes, however, held the coldness he expected and she answered with a calm, detached manner. "You are here because I want to see just how clever you are."

"I'm not playing your game," he threatened turning once more for the door.

"Yes you are," she answered and as if her words were a signal a second, brighter light flared to life revealing the entire room. "You would never leave without your wife."

Jack felt his heart stop as the new light revealed what he had missed. Angela lay on a bed on the far side of the room. He rushed to her still form the side effects of his own drugging forgotten. "Angie," he called but she did not respond. He shook her gently, trying to rouse her, but when he got no response he fearfully pressed his fingers to her throat. The rapid rhythm he found almost made him cry in relief. He pinched her cheek trying to push her to wakefulness, but she gave no reaction. She was limp, pale and a thin sheen of sweat glowed on her forehead.

"What have you done to her?" he demanded, glaring over his shoulder at Paisley who had not moved from her chair.

"That's for me to know and you to find out."

Booth was on the phone but he took the cup of coffee Brennan offered him and gave a weak smile in return. He wasn't doing much more than acknowledging the information he was receiving, but his partner lingered, hanging on every grunt or 'ok' he spoke. When he ended the call he answered before she even asked her question, "There's no signal from Angela's phone, nothing they can trace."

"Cam would like to go over the timeline," Brennan answered without giving much reaction to his report. She hadn't expected there to be a signal. Paisley wasn't that careless.

The team was gathered in Brennan's office and as the partners joined them they could overhear Cam speaking to the group. "First, I need to apologize. I'm trained to observe crime scenes. If I had done a better job with my own abduction we wouldn't be in this situation now."

"It's more my fault than yours, Cam," Sweets objected, "She's a psychopath; I'm the one who should be able to provide some answers."

"Don't start," Booth warned from behind them. "Cam, you gave us good intel, there just wasn't anything we could use. She kept you in the dark." He turned to Sweets. "And you," he began but then halted. "I'm sorry," he said as he rubbed his hand across his forehead, "but what the hell are you two wearing?"

"We were at a convention," Turner answered, trying to sound as if she didn't care about his reaction.

"Your Seven of Nine costume is quite good, Agent Turner," Molly whispered as she leaned in from the chair across from Claudia. "I recognized you right away."

"Thanks," Turner answered feeling both embarrassed and elated.

Booth shook his head at both the junior squint and the couple in costume. "Anyway," he said with exasperation, "what I wanted to say is that we can't afford the blame game. This is no one's fault. Assuming this is Paisley..."

"It is," several voices interjected as one.

"Then, we need to accept that and move on with the investigation. It's not the first time one of us has been kidnapped. It's happened to me and Bones, in the past, it can happen to any of us, but every time it does we need to make certain we are working as a team. That's how we find our bad guy."

Cam gave a nod of agreement and resumed control of the meeting. "We don't know much, but we do have some information. Angela took a half-day of vacation time and left here at noon with Brennan."

The anthropologist continued, "We had lunch at the vegetarian bistro on 10th street. She had an appointment at her salon at two o'clock, but when we parted she mentioned doing some shopping before she went there."

"Her spa appointment was at two," Cam resumed the narrative, "After that she was supposed to meet her friend for the gallery walk."

"The what?" Booth interrupted.

"The first Friday of every month the art galleries at DuPont Circle are open late for a gallery walk," Sweets answered. He saw Booth's expression and lifted his chin, "What? It's a good date night."

Brennan leaned toward Booth and spoke softly, "We should do that some time." Booth glared at Sweets, but didn't respond.

Cam was wearing an amused grin as she moved on, "Angela's car was found on J Street, so it's reasonable to assume she at least made it to the art district."

At this point Booth spoke up once again all business although he was holding Brennan's hand. "I had agents contact the gallery and spa owners. Angela did keep her appointment for nails and massage. The gallery owner didn't remember seeing her, but from him we got the contact info on her artist friend and he says Angela was there for about an hour. She left because she said she had one more appointment for the day."

"What appointment?"

Cam shook her head at Brennan's question. "We don't know. All we know is she didn't drive from the gallery so either it was close by or she was snatched leaving the art show."

"Perhaps information regarding the mystery appointment is on her computer?" Arastoo suggested. "Maybe there's a note or an email that would give us some idea of where she might have gone?"

Brennan nodded. "Mr. Vaziri, please use your time to audit Angela's files for such information." She paused for a second. "I have found that personal messages to a romantic partner often contain information you might not put anywhere else and that includes such mundane matters as daily errands. I do not wish to intrude on their privacy, but I believe we should also check Dr. Hodgins' computer for an indication of where Angela might have gone. Miss McDaniels, please assist Mr. Vaziri."

Both interns acknowledged the order. Brennan's direction made them all eager for such a concrete way to contribute and Booth stood. "Bones and I are going to go to Hodgins' and Angela's place and take a look around. We've already scoured the parking garage, but maybe there's something in the house that will give us a clue." He held his partner's hand and helped haul her to her feet. "Turner," he continued as Brennan gained her footing, "Cantilever needs an update. Hodgins changed the rules after his Gravedigger ordeal and they are going to need regular updates on our progress."

"Since we don't have Hodgins, I'm going to keep a close eye on the FBI techs doing the work on Angela's car," Cam reported.

"What do you want me to do?" Sweets asked as Booth gestured for Brennan to head toward the door.

"First thing I'd do is get out of those pajamas," Booth answered. He saw his joke did little to relieve the guilt he could still see in the younger man's eyes and he continued in a more serious voice. "Give some thought to what she might find intriguing about both Jack and Angela," he suggested. "Maybe if we can figure out why she found them interesting we can figure out where she took them."

B&B

Jack placed the cool rag on his wife's brow. It was the next step in his long attempt to wake her, so far nothing had worked, but he still held hope. Unwilling to give the watching Paisley the satisfaction of another of his rants he kept his fear in check and muttered to his wife as he gently pressed the cold cloth to her forehead. "Come on, Angie, baby."

A soft groan came from his patient and Jack's hope soared. "Angela," he called to her, "Angie, baby wake up." Angela began to stir and her hand lifted to her brow trying to swipe away the cold cloth. "No, leave it on," Hodgins scolded as he held it against her head. "Come on, Ange, wake up."

His last words held a note of command and she tried to respond. Her eyes fluttered open but she winced in pain and shielded them with her hand. Jack noticed and leaned over her. "Ange, does the light hurt your eyes?" She nodded and mumbled something unintelligible. "Let me see," Jack ordered. He leaned down so that his body blocked the worst of light from overhead. "Angela, open your eyes," he commanded.

She tried and he caught her hand when she moved it to once again protect herself from the glare. "Ange, how many fingers am I holding up?" He wiggled the three fingers he had in position in front of her eyes.

She shook her head and pushed his hand away.

"You don't know or you can't see clearly?"

"Blurry," she slurred.

"Well, that's not surprising given how dilated your pupils are," he mumbled. She moaned again and he looked down on her with concern. "What hurts, baby?"

"My head," she said her words mushing together in a slur. She held her hands to her head and her mouth worked. "Really thirsty," she managed to croak.

Jack quickly poured her a glass of water from the crystal pitcher Paisley had thoughtfully provided at the bedside. He slipped one arm around his wife and helped raise her up before tipping the glass to her lips. She drank greedily slurping so fast that quite a bit of the glass's contents dribbled down her chin.

"Go back to the party," she said patting his arm. "I'll be fine."

"What party? Ange, there is no party."

"I'm ok, go have fun," she answered still sounding intoxicated by the way her words ran together.

Jack eased her back on the bed and she was asleep again before her head hit the pillow. Making certain that her breathing was still regular and strong Jack pressed a worried kiss to her forehead. Then, consumed with anger he whirled to face the woman who had silently watched their entire exchange. "Why are you doing this?" he yelled.

"You are wasting time, Dr. Hodgins." She paused, her head cocked as if a thought had just occurred to her. "You know, I asked both Dr. Saroyan and Dr. Sweets what they preferred to be called. But, I never even considered calling you by another name. That's interesting, don't you think?"

Jack's fists balled and he took three quick steps in her direction. "What is wrong with her?" he screamed.

Paisley's demeanor remained calm but she did take two steps so that the chair she had been sitting in now stood between her and Hodgins. "You know I won't answer that. In fact, I won't answer any questions regarding your task. It is your task, Dr. Hodgins. And quite frankly I'm appalled that you are wasting what little time you have with these ridiculous histrionics. You only have so many hours before an antidote will cease to be useful. If you don't get to work your wife will be beyond saving."

"Antidote?" Jack repeated as he realized what was happening.

"Yes, of course. I'm sure if you put your mind to it you will discover what poison she has ingested. Then, it should be a relatively easy matter of telling me what antidote I should procure for her." She smiled winsomely at him, her bright, straight smile an artful display of innocence. "You should really get to work."

B&B

"You ready for this, Bones?"

"Just open the door, Booth," she answered. "We won't find any answers standing in the hallway." Her eyes lifted to his and she acknowledged his concern. "And, I'm fine."

Booth didn't really believe that, but he did know that she needed to pretend it was true. He turned the key and opened the door to the Hodgins' apartment. "We should always have a key to places we need to search," he joked as he pocketed the spare key they kept to the apartment.

"That would necessitate my friendship with victims prior to their crime," Brennan answered. "I would prefer not to repeat this scenario."

Booth felt like a heel for making her say those words and he moved to her. His arms wrapped around her from behind and he hugged her to his chest. "I'm sorry I said that," he apologized. Brennan leaned against him and he could feel her tension. "We'll find them, Bones. Paisley has let everyone go so far, and Hodgins is almost as smart as you, he'll figure something out."

"What if he doesn't?" she asked as she hugged his arm to her chest tightening his hold on her. "What if this time she doesn't let them go? What if they fail whatever task or tasks she has concocted for her amusement?"

"Jack isn't going to let anything happen to Angela," Booth promised. "I know he's just a squint, but he loves her. Love can help a man do almost anything, Bones." He kissed her temple and held her and she allowed it.

Her eyes were moving around the room, searching, cataloging everything she saw, but without her usual clinical study. "They are my family, Booth," she finally said. Her hand dropped to her belly and she rubbed the swell as she continued. "They were my family when I didn't have a family. I don't want to lose them just before I gain a real one."

"We won't lose them."

Brennan sighed and her body straightened enough that he had to let her go. "I know you are trying to comfort me, Booth and I love you for it. But, we have lost family before. Please don't promise me things you can't insure."

"Ok," he agreed, knowing the loss of Zach was still new enough that he couldn't deflect her pain. "I can't promise, Bones. But, I can promise that we will do everything we can to find them. And, if we are lucky enough that they come home we won't stop until we figure out who she is and how she's doing this. Sooner or later she will lose this game."

Brennan's eyes held approval and she gave that curt little nod he recognized as her most professional, controlled, agreement. "I'm going to take a look in the bedroom. I suggest you start in the living room."

B&B

"Do you have everything you require?" she asked solicitously.

"I'm missing a medical degree and a hospital quality lab," Jack answered tersely without looking away from the beaker in which he was pouring a vile of water.

"Oh, I don't think those are necessary, not for a man like you, Dr. Hodgins." Paisley gave him a winsome look. "It has become quite clear to me that you are quite brilliant. Any rich boy can prolong their education enough years to complete multiple degrees, but your study was actually about study not fun. You earned top honors in each of your program's Dr. Hodgins. You don't need an MD to determine what is wrong with Angela. You are a scientist; a very good one."

"I'm an entomologist, a botanist and a mineralogist!"

"Yes, I'm quite aware. I know a great deal about you, Dr. Hodgins. If you had not ignored me, you might know a bit more about me."

"Oh, here we go," Hodgins sneered. "Sweets said you thought we ignored you."

"Dr. Sweets talked about me?" she asked with eager enthusiasm.

"Yeah, you drug and abduct a guy we tend to talk. Like to the cops."

He was ready with his setup, or at least he thought he was and he stepped back to survey his work space. Paisley had set up half the room as if it were a mini-lab. The equipment was rudimentary, but he seemed to have most of the basic equipment and supplies. In addition to the standard chemistry set he also had a large stack of textbooks and resource materials on plants, minerals and insects. That seemed a clue and he was operating under the assumption that Angela's condition was the result of an infection or contagion transmitted by an organism or element he should be able to identify.

He turned and looked at his wife who still lay unconscious on the bed across the large room. Now all he had to do was figure out what her symptoms were. Willing his hands to stop shaking, he picked up the equipment he needed and crossed to her bedside.

"Ange, I have to draw some blood," he explained as he knelt at her side. He wasn't sure she could hear him, but talking to her was always the best part of his day and it helped him now. She lay limp and sallow looking on the white sheet and he pulled the covers up to make certain she was warm enough. Carefully, he pulled her arm from beneath the sheet and lay it on the bed with the veins exposed. She didn't react to the alcohol swab he swiped against her skin, but when the needle pierced her vein she rallied.

"Don't move, Babe," he ordered, trying to prevent her from hurting herself. The vile filled as her blood spurted with each beat of her heart and he quickly pulled the needle free.

"All done," he vowed as he applied pressure to the site.

"Jack asked me to marry him, Dad," she answered, clearly disconnected from the reality around her. "Are you going to be able to make the ceremony? I know you are busy, but a girl really needs her dad to walk her down the aisle when she marries her prince charming."

"I'll be there, Darlin'," he answered in his best imitation of Billy's drawl.

Angela wore a smile as she slipped back to sleep. With his blue eyes brimming with tears Hodgins bent and kissed her forehead. Then he stood and marched to his work station.

Molly gasped in shock and then quickly closed the email she was reading. Arastoo was seated next to her and he looked over in sympathy. "Another one?"

The young redhead nodded. "They are very open with one another regarding their desires."

"They are married," he pointed out as he returned to his own search. "I find it a little creepy to be trolling through their computers this way. Some things should remain private, even for these two."

"It's romantic, really," Molly argued as she opened the next email.

Arastoo gave her an amused grin. "Embarrassing, but romantic and completely lewd," he listed.

"It would be wonderful to have someone like that," the girl admitted with a shrug, "Someone who could know your most intimate thoughts, someone to love you so much that they thought of you often in the day and let you know it."

"I'm sure you'll find someone someday, Molly," he assured her. "You are a very sweet girl."

She blushed, her cheeks pinking behind her freckles and she gave him a grateful smile. "Your girlfriend is very lucky, I think."

"I'd like to think so," he agreed with a chuckle. "So, what would he be like, this man that will send you lascivious emails?"

"I don't know," she said deflecting the question with an embarrassed shake of her head.

"Yes, you do," Arastoo pressed.

She looked into his friendly face, saw his sincerity and his encouragement and returned the secretive smile he wore. "Handsome," she admitted hesitantly, "A strong, masculine face with a square jaw and maybe a little scruff." She paused seeming to focus on something only she could see and then spoke with more certainty. "He has beautiful, expressive eyes and he's caring, surprisingly gentle. He looks like a good boy, but there's a rough side to him, it makes him exciting." She fell silent for a moment as she contemplated her dream man and then seemed to shake off her daydream.

"He is..." Arastoo said as her words caught his sharp attention. "So you have your eye on someone?"

She immediately shook her head with embarrassment. "No, of course not, that would be inappropriate." She sat up straight and tried to appear more professional as she continued. "I'm just a girl who likes to dream. Maybe there's an alpha-male with a caring heart out there, or maybe I've just seen too many movies. Either way, such foolishness won't help us find out what happened to Angela or Dr. Hodgins. We should get back to work."

Arastoo agreed and resumed his work, but he couldn't help think that the blush that had accompanied her denial only proved that her description of her Prince Charming was someone very real.

B&B

"Hey," Turner said to the three at their table as she took her seat.

"Hello, Claudia," Brennan answered.

"You guys already order?" the agent asked as she watched Brennan spear a piece of fruit and pop it into her mouth.

"We did, but the waitress brought Bones a snack," Booth explained. "There was an 'incident' last week that they would like to avoid repeating."

"It was not an incident," Brennan objected as she shoved another bite of fruit into her mouth.

"Bones, you threatened to strip the cook's body down to bone and hide the evidence in some jungle if you didn't get food right that minute."

"It was a joke."

"It was scary. You are scary when you are hungry."

"The baby is hungry," Brennan said with a dismissive shrug. "The required increase in caloric intake necessitated by pregnancy can have an adverse effect on my emotional response."

Cam and Turner both wore grins as they listened to the couple across the table. Booth saw their amusement and scowled at them both. "Knock it off," he ordered. "Where are we on things?"

Cam's smile disappeared and she slumped in her chair. "No one will be shocked to hear me say the FBI techs found nothing in Angela's car. I can't even blame this one on them. I'm sure even Hodgins would come up empty. There are no fingerprints other than Hodgins, Angela and Brennan."

"We took Angela's car to yoga on Tuesday," Brennan explained.

"So no anomalous prints, no blood, no dirt, not a damn thing that might tell us who took her," Booth growled. "Again."

"If I get my hands on Paisley she's going to regret it," Turner said with the same frustration.

"We'll get her," Cam vowed.

"Yeah, but before or after Lance becomes completely obsessed?" the younger woman worried. "He's in his office right now working like a fiend. I can't get him to eat or take a break. He just keeps saying that he will find what we need."

Cam was frowning with concern. "You don't think he's going off the deep end do you? We already went through that when Hodgins was so focused on Creeps McGee."

"Sweets isn't going to tip into crazy like Hodgins did," Booth argued. "He's just pissed that she keeps getting away. Let him go, the kid usually comes up with something we can use." The waitress arrived with their food and Booth slid his plate away from Brennan before he picked up his sandwich. "One thing I've been wondering about is why the change in MO?"

"Taking two at a time," Turner restated.

"Yeah, it's a lot riskier. Why take that chance?"

"Leverage," Brennan answered.

"Bones?"

She finished chewing the bite she had taken and swallowed. "She took them both so she had leverage over one. If someone threatened you, Booth, I would comply with whatever task was given me to insure your safety. Angela and Hodgins love each other just as much as we do."

Cam watched as Booth slid his plate closer to his partner and then kissed her cheek. "You know," she said to Turner who was also watching their companions, "cranky when she's hungry isn't the only way that baby has affected her."

B&B

The longer the process took the more his panic rose. Unable to stare at the test he was running for one more second he stepped away from his little lab and went to check on his wife. Kneeling at her side, he brushed her hair from her damp brow and then kissed her forehead. "I'm working on it, Ange," he promised softly. "I'll find it."

"Wow."

He turned and glared at the woman seated in the comfortable chair across the room. Paisley seemed unconcerned about his anger and she shifted into a more relaxed position. "It's like watching one of those ridiculous romance movies," she said with a smirk.

"There is nothing ridiculous about love." Jack stood and turned so he could face her, instinctively wanting to protect Angela from their tormentor even if it was only her words that threatened.

"Ah, love...a good man will do anything for love. You don't buy that load of manure do you?"

"You don't believe in love?"

"I understand love very well, Dr. Hodgins. It is a fabrication, a lie, an idiot's folly."

"That's sad."

"No," she snapped with a hint of fire. "I think it is quite accurate. Lust, desire, those are real. But that fluffy-cloud-romantic-forever crap is nothing but rubbish. How many partners did you have before you married her?" she asked. "How many did she have? And you don't think she 'loved' them all? It's a farce, Dr. Hodgins." She paused and considered her next thought before she spoke. When she did her tone shifted to a more agreeable note. "It is however a wonderful tool. I've had absolutely no trouble gaining your cooperation."

"It's not cooperation," Jack began. A noise behind him ended his response and he whirled around to find Angela convulsing violently. Her body shook and her head thumped against her pillow with violent spasms. "Angela!" he cried and sank to his knees. He held her as the convulsion continued, his tears trailing her cheek.

"Really, Dr. Hodgins," Paisley called. "If you continue to play nursemaid you will never complete your task on time."

Booth might have missed her if he hadn't heard her sniffle. The woman he loved wasn't a crier. She was too strong for that, too much in control of herself and her emotions, too analytical. Except that lately he'd endured more than a few tears. Whether it was her pregnancy or just the change in her that their relationship had caused he wasn't sure, but he could recognize that little hiccup she gave when the tears started. He changed direction and entered Angela's office. "Bones?"

She sat up making room for him to sit beside her on the couch. "I'm fine, Booth," she said as he wrapped an arm around her. "It's just my elevated hormones."

"And your best friend is missing." He added softly.

"She's going to be fine," Brennan said but there was little conviction in her voice. She leaned against him and he tightened his hold silently providing the comfort she wanted. "She was talking about us raising our children together," she whispered. "At lunch yesterday, I mentioned my next obstetrics appointment and she found it exciting. She was hoping that the adoption process would soon yield results because she wanted to become a mother and share that experience with me."

"You will, Bones," he said and brushed his lips against her head. "Everything is going to be ok."

"You always tell me that. Even when you have absolutely no reason to believe it to be true you make that promise to me."

"Did I ever tell you about the time I promised Kenny DiGiacinto that I could get him free candy?"

Brennan's head lifted from his shoulder. "This is relevant?"

"Kinda," he said as he pulled her close again. "Just listen. We need to share a secret today anyway." Brennan snuggled back into his arms and he paused to gather his thoughts. "When I was in the fifth grade, Kenny D was the biggest, meanest eighth-grader on the block. He used to pick up kids and shake them until stuff fell out of their pockets."

"That's an exaggeration," Brennan protested.

"Ok, maybe he didn't shake you, but he did pick kids up and not let go until they gave him their money. I know because one day he did it to me."

"I would imagine you did not take that well."

"I didn't, but the guy was three times bigger than me, I didn't have much choice. The problem was the only money I had was my emergency money. I always kept a dollar in my pocket so if Jared and I had to stay away from the house I could buy us a snack. So, I couldn't give Kenny my emergency dollar, but if I didn't give him something he was gonna pound me."

"What did you do?" She asked, leaning closer.

Booth's mouth lifted in a grin at hearing her infatuation with the story. "Everybody knew that the reason Kenny was looking for money was so he could buy candy. The guy had a real sweet tooth. So, I blurted out that if he let me go I could get it for him for free."

Her eyebrows shot up. "How?"

"I had no idea," Booth admitted, "but it made him let me go. I told him to meet me in an hour outside my dad's barber shop. He showed up five minutes early and I still had no idea how to keep my word. And then it happened." He grinned, almost mischievously. "Candy fell out of the sky."

"Booth," she scolded. "These are supposed to be truths we share."

He held one hand up, palm out. "I swear, Bones that is exactly what happened. Candy fell out of the sky. Hit that big dumb bully right upside the head!"

Brennan huffed in frustration. "Booth! What really happened?"

He laughed at her expression. "Alright, alright...the candy didn't exactly fall out of the sky...more like the window." At her nod, he continued, still smiling. "My dad kept a jar of candy on the shelf beside his chair for when he cut kids' hair. And I guess that was sort of my plan all along, to go in the shop and sneak a few pieces for Kenny. Stealing from my dad was about the stupidest thing I could have tried, but I didn't have many options and no time. Well, it turns out that right about then, my old man was working on a kid named Brian Fellini, and he was screaming the whole time Dad was trying to cut his hair. After a cut the old man usually offered that jar to kids as a reward for sitting still. When he offered it to Brian the kid was still throwing a fit and he shoved it away. My dad lost his grip and candy went everywhere, including a couple of pieces that just happened to end up flying out the window."

"That is a fortunate series of events."

"It is."

Shaking her head, Brennan decided that this was one of those times that she was just going to have to go with whatever point Booth was making. "So, I should have faith that Angela and Jack will be returned unharmed because once when you were a child you made a foolish promise and it all worked out."

"Exactly." He nodded slowly.

"That is horrible logic, Booth."

"Gotta have faith, Baby." He twirled a strand of her hair around his fingers. "Sometimes you just have to believe it will all be ok."

Brennan rested against his shoulder as she considered his words. Their agreement required her to now share a story from her own past and she searched her memory for something fitting this moment. "I don't have many examples of things 'working out for the best'," she began. "But there was one time."

"Yeah? See! What happened?"

"When I was eight I contracted the flu. I missed several days of school."

"Sounds horrible," he joked.

Brennan swatted his stomach and grinned sheepishly. "It was. I was very distressed. I missed all the practice rounds for that week's spelling test. Our class was engaged in a contest and I had to take the actual test on the day of my return without preparation."

"And you failed it?"

"Of course not!"

Booth chuckled at her indignation. "So how did it all work out for the best?"

She lifted her head and gave him a grin that revealed she was still proud after all these years. "I had the highest score and earned the right to represent the class in our school spelling bee."

"Bet you won that too, huh?" he asked as he hugged her.

"Yes." Brennan sighed and again settled more comfortably into his embrace. "We can hope, Booth, but that doesn't guarantee they will come back safe."

"Jack and Angela are squints, Bones. They aren't as super squinty as you, but they are pretty amazing. Have some faith in that."

"I can do that."

B&B

Jack flipped through the pages of the tome before him searching for the answer. He was right on the verge, he knew it, but it wouldn't come to him. He had ruled out most minerals as the culprit and he was reasonably certain it wasn't insect venom. A poisonous plant seemed the most likely cause of Angela's condition and he skimmed through the pages looking for a description that matched her symptoms.

"Sensitivity to light, slurred speech, delirium and confusion," he muttered as he read a list matching the signs he was trying to match. "Damn, she doesn't have a discoloration of the skin or blood in her stool." He flipped the page and continued his search. "You have to be a solaneles," he grumbled aloud. "I know you are." His finger was moving over the page and it suddenly frozen. Leaning forward he read the description again. When he read it the third time he was certain.

"So, you have an interest in ancient English history?" he asked. "Or is it Shakespeare you fancy?"

Paisley smiled slightly and stood. "Any educated reader has an interest in Shakespeare, Dr. Hodgins."

"I'll guess your favorite play is Macbeth, then?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Because it's nightshade," he answered triumphantly. "You poisoned my wife with atropa belladonna, just like Macbeth poisoned Harold Harefoot."

Paisley moved to the door and for the first time since the ordeal had begun the exit opened. Hodgins moved quickly to prevent his captor from leaving. "You promised," he reminded her. "You said if I found it you would give her the antidote."

"Of course I did," Paisley agreed as if he were silly for doubting her. She pushed the door open further, revealing her partner who stood in the doorway holding a black case. "I have it right here. Excellent work, truly, Dr. Hodgins," she complimented as she took the case and walked toward Angela. "It was most impressive."

Jack followed and anxiously took Angela's limp hand in his. "Whatever, just give her the medicine."

"Certainly," Paisley agreed as if he were asking her to pass the salt shaker. She lifted a syringe and pressed the plunger to insure it was ready. "I'll give Angela her injection just as soon as you take yours."

Jack was focused on Angela and it delayed his reaction. The needle pierced his skin before he could bolt away.

B&B

Turner slowly walked up the stairs to the Jeffersonian lounge where Booth was getting a much-needed caffeine boost. "Boss?"

Booth turned, "Turner?"

"I know that you're not fond of me talking about my personal life but I was wondering…" She trailed off as she reached for the coffee pot and poured herself a cup.

"What's going on?"

"It's Lance, he's just…he's not himself." She grabbed a handful of sugar packets and shook them back and forth before dumping them into her cup, "He's not sleeping, and he's going into the office before the sun comes up and not coming home until after it's gone down."

"We're all on edge right now, you know?" He leaned against the railing, "Chasing a serial psycho takes a lot out of you."

"That I understand but he's so…so focused. And even at home he's distant and…and the only way I can describe it is he's hard."

Booth sighed knowing that there was a time not so long ago that any woman living with him could have said the exact same thing about him, "It'll pass, Turner. I can't tell when but I know that it will."

Claudia took a stinted sip of her coffee before asking, "I know what you said at the diner, that he won't get all crazy and to let him do his thing. And, I agree he's brilliant, if anyone can figure her out its Lance, but I just can't shake this feeling. I was wondering. Could you maybe…I don't know, talk to him?"

While Booth inwardly groaned, outwardly he offered Claudia a smile, "Yeah, I'll check in on him."

"Thanks, boss." Turner took one final swig of her coffee and tossed the cup in the trash.

Booth let her get about halfway down the stairs before he called out, "You owe me one, Turner." He was contemplating just how he had managed to get so tangled up in the personal lives of colleagues when he saw the reason walking through the lab below. Tossing his cup in the trash he hurried after her. "Bones!"

Brennan turned and waited for him wearing what looked to him like a tired smile. "I want you to rest for a while," he said as soon as he reached her.

"I will," she said without commitment as she resumed her purposeful walk.

"I kind of meant now, Bones."

"I know what you meant Booth, I'm pregnant, not stupid."

"You are far from stupid, Baby."

She rolled her eyes at his sweet tone and sexy smile. "Don't do that."

"What?"

"Don't try to charm me into doing what you want by using that smile."

"What smile?"

"The one that usually means you are offering to make me feel good."

Booth pulled her to a halt, his arms sliding around her, holding her close. "You've been on your feet for hours. It's been over thirty-hours since Hodgins disappeared. We got very little sleep last night. You know as well as I do that those things are taking a toll on you. All I'm asking is that you lie down and rest, Bones." He employed his smile again. "Come on, I'll make you feel good."

"Booth, I am not in the mood and this is not an appropriate time for sex in my office."

The very mention of it gave Booth a mental image of the last time they had used her office for a bit of fun but he resisted the temptation to mentally relive it. "A foot rub, Bones. I'm offering you a foot rub."

"Oh." She broke from his arms and continued her walk to his office. "That might be enjoyable," she admitted.

"Great, then come get comfortable," he ordered, gesturing to her couch as they entered her office.

Brennan had not stopped her purposeful walk. "I have to go to the bathroom, first."

Booth flopped down on the couch and pulled his tie loose. He probably wouldn't sleep, but he might as well be comfortable as he tried to coax his partner into some real rest. His head fell back against the sofa and he closed his eyes taking advantage of the moment's quiet. It was a brief moment that ended with a sharp knock at the door. He looked over his shoulder and found Sweets leaning through the doorway.

"Booth? Claudia told me you needed me?"

"She doesn't waste any time does she?" Booth mumbled under his breath.

"What?"

Booth stood up and waved his handle casually, "Nothing… "

Sweets entered the room and came closer. "Are there any updates?"

"No, it's not that I just… How are you holding up?"

Sweets' brow furrowed, "Fine, same as you. Why?"

"No reason, I just know that these types of cases can have a major impact on all parts of your life."

Crossing his arms across his chest, Sweets sighed, "What did Claudia say?"

Booth wanted to keep this conversation as short as possible so he didn't lie, "She said that you're maybe a little too focused on catching Paisley."

"How is that possible? She's a psychopath who drugged and kidnapped me and Dr. Saroyan! And more than likely has Angela and Hodgins right now, doing god knows what to them. So yeah, I'm a little too focused but I think it's more than called for."

"You're right, to a certain extent." Booth rubbed his hands together as he continued, "We're only going to have this talk once so, listen good. Do not risk the life you have, at home with Claudia, to catch the person who could have taken that life away from you. Trust me, it's not worth it. Keep working the case, yes. Stay on the top of your game, yes but don't let it taint the good things you have. It could take us years to catch Paisley but if you are alone when we do, the win will feel empty and that's almost worse than not winning at all."

"You think I'm losing her?"

"No, not even close. All I'm saying is don't screw it up."

Brennan returned and Sweets watched as she crossed the room to join them. The scientist stopped and perched on the arm of the sofa and her hand fell naturally to Booth's neck. He could see her fingers caressing the agent as she spoke. "Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, Dr. Brennan," Sweets answered. "Everything is fine. Booth was just giving me some very good advice."

B&B

"Dr. Saroyan, do you have a moment?"

"We have no evidence, no leads, and no ideas of where to find them," Cam answered dryly. "I have several moments, Mr. Vaziri."

Arastoo stepped through the doorway he had been standing in and crossed to Cam's desk. "I have a concern," he said as he took his seat.

Cam's eyebrow lifted. "What about my lab concerns you, Mr. Vaziri?"

"It's..." he paused suddenly feeling reluctant to voice his concern. "Please remember that I only bring this up because of true concern for the parties involved."

"Your discretion and adherence to decorum are legendary," she assured him. "What's up?"

"I have a concern about a fellow intern."

Cam leaned forward. "It's a competitive environment, Arastoo," she reminded him. "I'm surprised Brennan doesn't have you doing anthropological face offs to prove who gets the top grades."

"Not that type of concern," he corrected. "And, I would totally win a face off."

"Then what is the problem?"

Arastoo looked to the door to make certain they were still alone. Turning back to Cam he looked embarrassed at his words. "I believe Molly may have developed an unfortunate infatuation with Agent Booth. I obviously can't bring this to Dr. Brennan's attention."

"Why not?" Cam asked. "I'm sure Brennan would find it as amusing as I do."

"Amusing?"

"Molly does have a crush on Booth, that has been obvious for some time."

"This seems more than a crush," Arastoo argued fearing she didn't understand. "We were reading some rather personal messages between Dr. Hodgins and Angela."

"I'm sure you were," Cam agreed under her breath.

Arastoo bobbed his head to indicate the intensity of those messages. "Molly remarked that while it was uncomfortable to read them she was envious of such devotion. We started talking and I asked her what she was looking for in a man."

"And?"

"And she described Agent Booth."

"She said that? That she was interested in Booth?"

"No, but she described him. There wasn't much doubt who she was talking about. She even referred to him as an alpha male with a caring heart."

"Well, that is Booth," Cam admitted. "Look, Arastoo, if Molly wants to fantasize about Booth she won't be the first. I think you are reading far too much into this. Besides, Booth is a big boy and Brennan is fiercely territorial. I don't think one shy intern is going to be a concern to either one of them."

"It was very concrete," he added unwilling to let it go. "I don't think she was speaking in the abstract. She was thinking of someone specific and, well, there just aren't that many people like Agent Booth."

"I appreciate the concern, Mr. Vaziri," Cam answered and it was clear she was done with this conversation. "I'll keep an eye open."

Arastoo heard the dismissal and rose from his seat. Thanking her for her time he left and Cam watched him go with a smile. She realized Brennan's interns were fiercely loyal, but the idea that sweet and innocent Molly McDaniels would ever be so forward as to make a play for Booth was comical. "Still," she said aloud as she turned back to the police reports she was scanning as part of her futile search for something related to Paisley, "a girl has to have a dream man. If Molly managed to find one even a little bit like Seeley Booth, she'd be doing all right."

B&B

"Booth," he answered softly, hoping to avoid waking Brennan who had finally managed to doze off. He didn't want that disturbed for anything less than the Hodgins' return.

"Boss, we just got a call from Park Security."

"And?" he demanded jumping to his feet and dumping Brennan's feet from his lap.

"One of their officers just found both Hodgins and Angela. You were right; they were dropped at a memorial. The Korean War Memorial this time."

"We're on our way," Booth said as he pulled the now fully alert Brennan to her feet.

"Korean War," he reported to his partner who was quickly pulling on her shoes.

"I told you to have them all watched," Brennan lectured as they hustled toward the parking garage.

"Manpower, Bones," he answered with an injured tone, "There are over 160 monuments in the district, I can't have them all watched."

She grunted but didn't object further and Booth accepted that as a winning argument. The drive to the monument was short, but they still arrived after the initial response. Rolling lights from both cop cars and an ambulance signaled the location of their missing colleagues.

"They are fine," Turner reported as they neared the scene. "Angela was poisoned, but we think she's been given the antidote. Hodgins seems to be recovering well." She gestured to the ambulance where they could see the couple being loaded for transport. "They are taking them in for a complete checkup now."

"Security footage?" Booth asked as he surveyed the site.

"I already requisitioned it," the younger agent reported.

"Witnesses?" Brennan asked.

"None really, but the security guard did report that he thought he saw someone. But, in the dark, and with all the statues, he convinced himself it was his imagination."

"Damn," Booth muttered as he scanned the field of bronze soldiers scattered across the monument. "If it was her, that's a close call."

"Not close enough," Turner grumbled.

"I want to talk with the security guard," Booth decided. "Maybe he saw more than he thinks he did."

"Are you sure I can't get you something?"

Angela smiled and squeezed the hand she held. "I'm fine, Sweetie, honest." She pointed at the monitors above her hospital bed. "See, scientific proof."

Brennan returned the squeeze and the smile of her friend. "You should not hesitate to ask if you require anything."

"What I want is to catch this crazy bitch," Hodgins announced from the next bed.

"I think we all want that," Cam agreed. "I'm more than a little tired of these cases we can't wrap. First Creeps, now Paisley."

"As much as I hate her," Hodgins argued, "I can tell you Paisley doesn't come close to Creeps. He was brilliant and completely evil. Paisley is delusional, but she doesn't have the same darkness."

Sweets spoke up from where he leaned against the wall. "She might not display the same darkness, but she's a true female psychopath. You can't take for granted the fact that you guys came through this more or less ok. A time may come where one of us doesn't. Even though she seems goal-oriented right now, she can be unpredictable and can strike at any time." "We just have to keep working it," Booth lectured. "These things can take time."

"I wish I could give you more information," Hodgins worried aloud. "My statement is pretty much useless."

"It's better than mine," Angela noted. "I don't remember a damn thing."

"She's taking her time and preparing well," Sweets reminded them. "She's prone to impulsive behavior, but she's intelligent enough to not be reckless."

"Which means," Booth said, "that she probably already has a plan for her next step. So everyone should continue to be careful."

"There are a limited number of us she has yet to take," Brennan stated as if she weren't the one in danger.

"I well aware of that, Bones. That's why you are going to be under constant watch." He shook his head as her eyes filled with the familiar stubborn glare. "You are vulnerable right now, Bones. Until the baby comes I'm not taking a chance; with either of you."

Brennan's hand caressed her expanding middle and the defiance in her eyes softened a bit. "I'll be careful, Booth, but I accept it is not my own safety that is triggering your need to protect me. And I will insist that you also remain vigilant. Don't make me worry about you."

Booth's smile was soft and intimate. "Okay, Bones." The look the partners shared seemed to raise the collective temperature in the room and everyone wore a smile.

"Okay, you have our statements, as uninformative as they are," Jack said as he struggled out of his bed. "I appreciate everyone's concern, but I think Angela needs some rest."

"Speaking of protective males," Cam drawled as she and Turner rose from their seats.

"He's kind of cute when he's shooing two federal agents, his boss, and a black belt from the room," Turner answered.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm a real stud," Hodgins responded. "We'll see you all tomorrow."

"A real stud with a nice ass," Sweets said pointing to the back of Hodgins' gaping hospital gown.

"Out!" the scientist ordered as the team chuckled and left the room.

Angela was grinning as he turned to face her. "It's a sexy ass too," she noted with an eyebrow wiggle.

"You want to see it again?" he offered as he neared.

Angela lifted her blankets and he took the hint. With minimal effort they were soon snuggled together in the bed. Angela clung to him and Jack held her tight. "You ok, Babe?" he asked as he felt their playfulness shift to a somber silence.

"I haven't said thank you." She drew a shuddering breath as her emotion threatened to get the better of her. "Thank you for saving me, Jack." She kissed his cheek and her fingers stroked his beard with tender concern. "Are you ok?" she asked. "I know you were scared."

"I was scared for you." He shifted so that he lay on his side and could look at her face. "I was scared I would fail you. I couldn't let that happen." He kissed her gently before he finished. "I would die for you, Angie." His voice cracked and his tears fell just as hers were. "I am your guy. I will never let you down."

"My guy with the nice ass," she said wearing a smile filled with love. "How did I get so lucky?"

Join us again next week when the suspicious death of three underwater explorers reveals a shockingly scandalous secret among them in Rub A Dub Dub by Rynogeny.