Chapter 7
Brennan woke to the distinctive sound of a well known ringtone, and as she fought the grogginess that overwhelmed her she realised it was indeed her own. When she struggled to sit up she became aware of a small arm clutching her tightly around the waist. It then came to her obvious attention that she wasn't in her own bed but in none other then the guest bed and she was lying beside Caitlin. The child didn't sir and she gently moved her small fragile arm and rested it onto the mattress. She glanced over and gasped in shock to find her partner there in a peaceful slumber. He was laying on the other side of Caitlin and was snoring ever so slightly. Her head throbbed as she aimed to recall the events from last night. Her and Booth sitting cozily, drinking wine and watching a movie. Then there had been the scream, the scream that interrupted something she knew was never meant to happen. The failed kiss between her and Booth. She clambered out of bed dashing into the living area to answer the phone.
"Hello" she answered a little abruptly.
The familiar voice on the other end came from none other then Angela. "Bren! Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"No! why?" She quickly checked the clock and let out a yelp when it read nine thirty. "I'm late! How can I be late. I'm never late" she raced back into the guest room "Booth wake up!"
"Em sweetie did you just say Booth?"
"No time Angela. Has Cam got back to you on our victim?"
"Thats why I was ringing. Cam confirmed she had given birth between three to six years ago."
"The timeline fits" she answered "Okay i'll be there in say an hour."
"Sure sweetie."
Caitlin on hearing the panic stricken voice from the room nudged Booth in the side. "Mr Booth" she called.
"Uh go back to sleep Parker" he mumbled in his obvious dreamy state." He in fact had been thinking of the previous night and the kiss that had almost happened. It was then he pictured them as happy couple where Parker had interrupted them in a very compromising position. Now though as he became fully cohernet he realised that the voice didn't belong to Parker. It was instead a young female voice. She was certainly disturbing him but sadly there was no compromising position.
Parker? "Mr Booth Auntie Tempe is screaming."
"W-What! Booth shot up instantly, seeing the side of the bed where she had fallen asleep was empty. "Bones!" he shouted, now a little worried.
Brennan appeared in the doorway a little frustrated. "Booth i'm late it's gone nine thirty."
Booth relaxed, as he lay back down. "Is that all? I thought something bad had happened."
Brennan rolled her eyes "Is that what you constantly worry about? That i'm in danger even in my own home."
"Bones! wherever you go you seem to find trouble, so excuse for being concerned." He couldn't help his protective tendancies. He just cared about her so much it would kill him if she got hurt in anyway.
"Booth I don't need the third degree from you, at least not now. Are you going to get yourself out of bed and get Caitlin ready for me? Cam was able to determine that Rosanna gave birth three to six years ago making my suspicions possibly true. She is also able to compile that sketch if Caitlin is willing to help."
Booth sighed "Well if miss workaholic insists. Come on you" as he lifted Caitlin out of the bed and began to grab her clothes.
"I want Aunty Tempe to do it." Caitlin screamed as Booth began to pull off the t shirt that Brennan had dressed her in the night before.
"Aunty Tempe?" Booth cast a smirk at Brennan as she prepared some cornflakes so at least the child could have something in her stomach before they left.
"I know, but she chose it not me, and besides it sounds kind of nice don't you think?" Not having any proper nieces or nephews Brennan found the Aunty Tempe thing kind of special.
"I think you've won her over Bones she really likes you."
Brennan could see where he was going with those little comments. "I know what you're trying to say and it won't make me change my mind."
"One day Bones. One day you may think differently."
Fifteen minutes later and they were out of the apartment. Booth escorted Brennan to the suv, his hand placed on the small of her back as usual. He made sure to strap Caitlin into the car seat which he already had from his last trip out with Parker. Brennan saw this as a perfect opportunity "Could I drive?" she was waiting for his firm answer of 'NO', but to her amazement it never came.
"Sure Bones but don't get used to it or take advantage of my good nature" he said in a half serious, half joking tone of voice.
Brennan buckled her seatbelt and then ordered him to do the same thing. She couldn't count the number of times Booth drove and didn't wear his seatbelt and on this occasion it didn't seem like he he was being any more compliant. "You do know it's against the law" she reminded him in a definitive tone.
"I am the law Bones. Now don't worry about me." He then sat there grinning "Unless the reason you want me to buckle up is because you're such a bad driver."
Brennan shot him a darkened glance that forced Booth to keep quiet.
Twenty minutes later they arrived at the lab with a rather anxious Angela greeting them. "Sweetie where have you been? I thought something happened."
"Not you too." Brennan said annoyed. "It was traffic, bedlam you know."
Angela shrugged whilst directing her gaze at Booth. "Honey you look still half asleep" Noticing his eyes had dark circles underneath them. Then just to confirm her suspicions he let out a yawn.
"I just didn't get much sleep last night."
"Booth slept with Aunty Tempe." Caitlin chipped in, and as she was only a child that statement came out totally wrong."
"Angela tried to conceal a burst of excitement on hearing that piece of information. "Sweetie" she chimed "tell me everything" and before either of them could explain Angela had already took Brennan's arm and began dragging her towards her office."
"Booth stayed at your place last night that much I know, but in the 'same' bed. Tell me what happened?" Angela asked her face holding a glimmer of hope.
Brennan casually took her jacket off and hung it over the back of her chair "For your information nothing happened. Well we may have almost kissed" She couldn't believe she was divulging that information to Angela. It would be around the lab by this afternoon. She would hear the constant whispering and the funny looks she would recieve everytime she strolled through the lab.
Angela squealed.
"Ange I said almost. It wasn't intentional at all. We had some wine and watched a movie and we were just caught up in the moment."
"So you're telling me that you were alone with that hunk of FBI hotness and you let an opportunity pass you by. Come on! Even with intoxicating liquid you still manged to refrain yourself. Bren, sweetie" Angela locked eyes with Brennan "Can't you see you are made for each other. Why can everyone see it except you."
"Ange it was Caitlin. She had a nightmare she was the one who interrupted us."
"Ah! so you may have gone ahead then" Angela prompted, still with slight hope for the two of them.
"I'm not sure" she responded in a rather disappointed tone. "Now going off the subject. How about you sit down with Caitlin and see if you can get her to describe anything."
Angela nodded in agreement, but she still carried the hope that something would happen and she hoped it was sooner rather then later.
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Carlos and Benny had been sat outside Brennan's apartment since seven that morning. Boss had instructed that they spend the day following them both. First Brennan then Booth. Studying their daily routine would ultimatley make it easier to strike when they are most vulnerable.
Benny had taken a nap before a slap across the back of his head jolted him awake. "There they are!" Carlos pointed as he surveyed the three of them exiting the building. The tinted windows thankfully kept them well hidden from prying eyes. He became increasingly interested when he saw how Booth was being very touchy with his so called partner.
Benny had to almost climb onto his partners lap to get a better look. "Tell me again why boss is so interested in that kid?"
Carlos slapped him again, but this time it was due to his stupidity level. "That kid may have seen one of us stupid. More likely you but boss believes she's a risk and as she's being looked after by that FBI agent she may feel the need to part with information.
"What if she doesn't know anything?"
"Well then we'll keep anyway and hand her over to some of your pedophile friends you hang out with sometimes."
"They are not pedophiles!" he stressed. They're just your average crackheads. Anyway to make it easier why don't we just grab her now. It's only one agent, one doctor and she's a woman no less and a tiny kid. We could just shoot them and take her. Then we don't have to do all this surveillance shit."
"Carlos grabbed his gun, aiming it a Benny's head. "This is a residential neighborhood with too many possible witnesses. Oh and that doctor i'll have you know is trained in three martial arts" He was quickly running out of patience with his lack of intelligence. "We wait until we have sufficient information to give boss. Besides we use the element of surprise, it always works best."
When the suv drove off they followed causiously, making sure the didn't draw attention to thmselves. The traffic was horrendous and Benny's contant cursing was driving Carlos up the wall. "Will you quit it or i'll toss you right now."
Benny instantly quitened down as they caught up with the vehicle as it entered the Jeffersonian parking garage. "End of the line for now" Carlos said realising they weren't going to be able to follow any further.
"So what are we going to do while we wait?" Benny inquired.
"We wait."
"Didn't you say Agent Booth had kid. Why don't we go check it out."
Carlos paused in thought and then started up the car "Benny for once you just gave me a good idea. "We'll come back later. They'll have to exit this way so we'll be sure not to miss them."
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"So honey can you tell me if you saw anyone the night your family were hurt." Angela like Brenann didn't really have much experience with kids so she tried to be as sensitive as remotely possible.
Caitlin just sat there with a blank expression. She was busy coloring with some crayons Angela had bought for to keep her occupied.
Angela tried again "Look Caitlin some bad people hurt your family and we need to find out who did it" she remained calm keeping her tone of voice consistant.
"Will Mr Booth be able to catch the bad man?" Caitlin then asked, totally out of the blue
"You can bet on it kiddo."
"My sister said the bad man was coming so she told me to hide in the closet. I didn't want to but she made me. I heard voices they were shouting they sounded angry.
My sister was frightened, she kept asking for him not to hurt her over and over. I was so scared when I heard her screaming. Then she fell down onto the floor and the man was doing something bad. I didn't want to look but I did and I saw him. He had scary eyes and he talked funny."
"Thats really good. Can you tell me what this man looked like?"
Caitlin described best she could the man she saw. From what Angela could make out he had a rounded face with brown hair. He had a bald patch right in the center on the top of his head. His eyes were dark and he had some scars on his left cheek.
"I remember something else too. He had a picture on his hand it was like this." She then proceeded to draw a cross on a piece of her paper.
It must be a tattoo. This would definitley help. Angela smiled "You did real good."
Taking the sketch from Angela gave Brennan fresh hope. "This is excellent work Angela. Caitlin sure was able to give you a good description."
Booth couldn't agree more.
She also told me he had a tattoo, on his hand, a cross no less. Has to gang related right?"
Booth was deep in thought. "I'll have to check back at headquarters. This likeness is great i'll just put it through the database and see if we can come up with anything."
Brennan excused herself to check on Caitlin who she found was playing happily with some relics she had brought back from Gutemala. "Caitlin can you give me those NOW!" she shouted angrily, too angrily but before she could rectify herself Caitlin burst out crying and cowered away in the corner.
I had to do it these are delicate artefacts she argued with herself. Her voice louder then normal alerted Angela, Booth and even Cam who had come to give them the results of the DNA test carried out to come running.
Caitlin sat there sobbing heavily. "I'm sorry honey" Brennan was doing her best to redeem herself. I apologise for shouting at you it's just these are not toys they are very precious to me can you understand that? It was then she heard the clip, clop of heels entering her office. She swung around only to see Angela stood there with Booth and Cam hovering in the doorway.
"I didn't mean to I- It's just she had some artefacts which are irreplacable." Guilt quickly consumed her as she felt the heartfelt sobs emenating from Caitlins small body.
Booth went over in an effort to calm her down "Its okay. Aunty Tempe didn't mean it. She's just particularly agressive when it comes to her precious atefacts" Booth explained as the same time he darted her a look of contempt.
It was no use in engaging in a full blown argument. It was her fault and she knew it.
"Dr Brennan" The voice now cam efrom Cam. "You maybe trying to play happy families but i've got work to do. Now I thought you might want to know I recieved the DNA results and there was a match. Your victim was this child mother."
Brennan loked across at Caitlin "She will never know. She'll neve rknow who he real mother was."
Booth put a comforting arm around her shoulder. He decided it best to head back to headquarters. He really needed some information and was hoping by taking a trip there he would gain some "Come on Bones why don't I drop you and Caitlin back at your place and then i'll go and see what I can find out about this character."
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Carlos looked up from the newspaper he had been buried in when the black suv breezed past him. Glancing over he saw that Benny had been buried in something more interesting then the news. "Benny do you really have to read that stuff!" He spat as the pictures of scantily clad women jumped out at him.
"Why not?" He groaned "Hey a guys gotta have some enjoyment you know. Seeing as I haven't had some for so long. Maybe when we get hold of that scientist lady do you think I could well you know 'do' her."
Carlos pulled out his flick knife and held it firmly against his throat "Boss decides what happens to her not you! We follow his orders understand?" Don't get your jollies off and you'll get to keep these" he said viciously as he moved the knife down to the buldge in his pants.
They pursued the suv until it parked up outside Brennan's apartment. They watched as only Brennan and Caitlin exited the vehicle. Carlos flashed a grin. "Looks like they are both going to be alone. I believe it's time to call boss and ask him what he wants us to do."
Benny sank back into his seat obviously disppointed that he was probably not going to get any action.
"Hi boss its Carlos."
"I hope you've got something to tell me" came the gruff voice in response.
"Yeah we followed the agent to the Jeffersonian institution this morning. I don't think they left that place all day. Then we went to check out the ex and his kid all very cute. Then we tailed them back to the docs apartment where she has taken the kid in 'alone'. I've got to give it to you boss that agent Booth sure sticks to her like superglue.
"Good, good. So this Agent Booth has a soft spot for this Dr Brennan eh?"
"Sure looks like it, but for today It also seems that he has finally unhooked himself from the good doctor cause he's now leaving."
"Look Carlos the kid is the first priority" Boss informed him
"How do you want me to go about it boss?"
"Wait a couple of hours just in case the Agent comes back unexpectantly" It should be dark by then you'll be less noticed. Get that numbskull Benny to keep watch. Then you make your move."
Carlos shifted in his seat "What about Dr Brennan?"
"Grab the kid and make sure the lovely Dr Brennan isn't left alive."
Carlos thought it a little harsh, the whole killing thing, but if thats what the boss wanted then this would be what the boss gets. After all this was risky all on it's own. This Dr Brennan was strong, she was also an expert in martial arts. She would put up a fight she would resist leaving him no choice.
A/N Okay this leads up to the near drowning in the bathtub from chapter one. Then I will continue on with the events that are going to take place after that.
