(A/N): I'm sorry it's been so long guys. In all honesty, exam season is upon me, and whilst this is borne of procrastination, it also holds some truth within this author's note. Until my exams are over and done with, I probably won't be getting any more chapters out, for anything. If I do indeed manage it, then my next chapter will be that of Heaven Can Wait, but that is only a slight possibility. Also, I was a little sad with the lack of reviews for this fic. I mean, if you don't want me to post any more of this, you guys only have to say, but I like reviews, they make me feel all warm and fuzzy, not to mention that they tell me if I'm doing good or not. That being said, onto review time:

Loverofbones: Aww thank you, I'm glad that one made you laugh. I hope you enjoy this chapter too, though it is not as fun, I think. Still, thank you for reviewing.

Allthingstvshows (1,2 and 3): I'm happy that the bouncy ball made you laugh. It seemed like an Ammi thing to do. I'm okay, I promise, just swamped with revision and work and whatnot. I love your reviews and I hope you like this chapter just as much as the rest of them.

ZinaR: You may be assuming correctly. I foresee Judas on a Pole featuring in this fic haha. Thanks for reviewing!

Okay, so, I think I've said this before, but if you want to ask me anything on my fics or anything, I can be PMed here and I'm not opposed to social media if you want to request that off me. So, with that done, this chapter starts up the Gravedigger arc, as well as Ammi and Cam's first meeting. I mean, you didn't think it'd go smoothly, did you? Enjoy.

Take Two

Chapter 7

It had been a couple of weeks since the Epps case, which had included a short undercover case in Las Vegas, a chance for the partners to openly display themselves as a couple, whilst Amethyst had volunteered to stay with Angela, calmly deflecting and defusing some of the artist's more outlandish ideas of her friends' relationship. In short, things had been going smoothly recently, far too smoothly.

"Okay, why did you want to meet me here?" Booth asked a little snippily as he slipped into a seat opposite Cam in the Royal Diner, deliberately ignoring the slinky black dress the coroner wore and the elegant updo her hair had been fashioned into. He'd ignored a lot of none too subtle hints from her that she was interested in him as more than a friend, but he'd also stolen a specialty of his girlfriend's, and played innocent to her intentions. He checked his cell phone out of habit, as he always did when he didn't go home at night with Brennan, like when she was working late, or, like that night, going to karate. Amethyst was waiting for them both at Brennan's apartment with Parker. It was a Thursday, but Rebecca had agreed to give Booth from Thursday to Tuesday with the little boy in a rare display of generosity.

Cam sat up a little straighter and tucked a small stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Look, Seeley, I really wanted to tell you…"

"Don't call me Seeley, Camille." Booth cut her off, automatically reaching for his phone as it began to ring. Cam's hand shot out, covering his hand that held his phone.

"Let it go to voicemail. You're not on call tonight and you deserve a night off." Cam let go of his hand after it had stopped ringing. "Seeley, I want us to be… more than simply old friends."

"Cam…"

"No. I know the chemistry is there, and don't even try to deny it. I want us to try, at least, as a couple."

Booth's mouth opened and closed like a goldfish as he tried to figure out a way to let her down gently, preferably without settling Cam's wrath on his girlfriend through no fault of her own. He settled on checking his voicemail to give himself more time, his face losing all its colour as he listened to the modulated voice telling him that both his partner and Hodgins had been captured and buried alive by the Gravedigger.

"What is it?" Cam asked, half curious and half irritated at the interruption to their conversation. Mutely, Booth pressed replay and held out the phone for her to hear the message.

"Oh studly." Angela wrapped her arms around him as soon as he entered the lab, Cam hot on his heels. "How much did they want?"

"Eight million dollars." Booth rubbed his forehead with his hand, attempting to rub away the tension headache he could feel forming between his eyes. "I know Hodgins is rich, and Bones' books are doing well, but, I just… I don't know if I can get that much money in time."

"We'll get them back Booth." Angela assured him, directing a harsh gaze to Cam as the latter attempted to place her hand on Booths bicep. Booth shook the hand off instantly, shaking his head at the same time.

"I know but, ugh, I gotta call Gem, and I've got Parker, and…" He trailed off as Angela shot a sympathetic glance in his direction.

"Don't worry about all that g-man. Leave that to me. You just focus on getting Jack and Bren back, okay?"

"Thanks Ange." Booth managed a shaky smile before he made his way into his partner's office and pulled out all the information she had on the gravedigger. He had to find something, he just had to.

Angela waited until Cam had stormed off to her office in a huff before she flipped her phone open and called up her best friend's daughter. "Ammi, its Ange. Listen, there's something you need to know…"

Booth had just gathered up Angela, Cam and Zack to discuss anything they may have found when the doors to the lab opened with their usual whooshing noise and Amethyst strode in with a hurried stride, wearing a casual blouse and jeans combo with combat boots, carrying Parker on her hip, who was wearing soccer pyjamas and was sleeping on Amethyst's shoulder, little slippers adorning his feet. She made her way into Brennan's office, the open blinds allowing everyone to witness her putting Parker down to rest on the sofa and covering him with the usual throw that rested on the couch usually. Once she'd done that she strode back out and bounced up the platform steps after swiping herself through. "Okay, what've we got so far guys?" She asked simply, gazing round at everyone.

"I'm so sorry." Booth managed to choke out, his eyes watering at the knowledge that the teenager stood so calmly before him could lose her mother in the next few hours, and he couldn't help but blame himself for it. He nearly flinched as her eyes, as identical to her mother's as always, fixed on him with a steady gaze. She shrugged a little.

"It's not your fault. So don't beat yourself up over it Booth." She offered him a small smile. "Let's just find them, okay?" She turned to Zack as Angela handed her Brennan's spare lab coat, buttoning it up over her blouse and tying up her hair into a messy bun. "Zack, you start."

"I, uh, alright." Zack cleared his throat. "A significant force was used to deliver an electric shock to the back of the neck, similar to that of a stun gun or a cattle prod, but I cannot find one that is strong enough to leave damage to the bone that we've found so far."

"Ammi, the ransom was eight million dollars." Angela told her softly, making the younger one flinch a little.

"I know." Amethyst replied just as softly.

"She doesn't have that much, does she?" Booth asked, fairly certain of the answer. Amethyst shook her head.

"No. If I had to guess, I'd say about two or three. But not eight. Definitely not eight. I can make a few calls, but…" She let out a deep breath. "There's no guarantee I'd get the money, let alone in time."

"Damnit!" Booth hit the railing of the platform in frustration. "I can't get anything from the Cantilever group either without proof of life."

"Not even for Hodgins?" Angela asked.

"It's his rule." Booth told her with a defeated sigh. "And everyone knows that the Gravedigger doesn't give proof of life, and he doesn't negotiate. Damnit!" He repeated, hitting the railing again. It hurt his hand to do it, but it soothed a little of his incredibly troubled mind to focus on the pain in his hand rather than the pain in his heart at the thought of not getting the two scientists back, though his heart mainly cried out for his partner and what she might be going through.

"I'm sorry but what's going on?" Cam finally interrupted, having eventually found her voice. All heads turned to face her in unison. "Who're you?" She demanded of Amethyst.

"Ammi."

Amethyst, Angela and Booth replied simultaneously. Cam shook her head.

"Alright, Ammi. What do you think you are doing here, especially in a supposedly restricted area of the medico-legal lab?"

"I'm helping you all get Drs Brennan and Hodgins back from the Gravedigger." Amethyst replied slowly.

"And who authorised that?"

"I did." Booth answered testily before pulling out his phone and dialling his boss' number quickly.

"Cullen."

"Sir, do I have authorisation for Amethyst to be part of the Gravedigger investigation?"

"… Yes, go on. That kid's as scarily smart as her mother. If anyone can get the scientist back, then it'll be that kid of Dr Brennan's. Tell her I said hi, and that Amy would like her to visit when she gets the time."

"Thank you sir, and I will do." Booth hung up before addressing Cam once more. "Cullen agreed." He then turned to Amethyst. "He said hi, and to visit Amy when you have the time. She misses company around her own age, I think."

"Well, I don't blame her. Adults suck." She stuck her tongue out at Booth's mock offended expression. Her jovial expression dropped from her face. Adopting a serious mien, she stepped up to the special agent and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his shoulder. Booth's arms automatically circled around her back, hugging her as tightly as possible without hurting her. "We'll get them back." She murmured, her voice muffled slightly by his suit jacket. Booth found himself nodding into her hair, though he wasn't certain who he was reassuring; the teenager or himself.

"Yeah, maybe." He forced himself to pull back slightly, enough to meet her worried sapphire eyes. "I just… I want my partner back. And Hodgins, obviously, but…"

"I know what you mean." She assured him. "And you don't think they'd go down without a fight, do you? I'd take the twelve hours as a guideline, not a deadline."

"Huh?"

"Their IQs are genius levels by themselves. Put that together and their knowledge of pretty much everything, and you don't think they'll be able to find a way to prolong their oxygen supply?"

"You have a point." Booth admitted slowly before a though occurred to him. "Wait, how do you know about the Gravedigger? We only got the case today."

"Angela told me who took them when she called. I googled the name when I was getting Parker up enough to move himself to the elevator. Eidetic memory, remember?"

"And yet you still need to put sticky notes on every available surface." He muttered, returning the smirk she shot him with one of his own. "Alright, well, I need to have another talk with a H and R guy. You gonna be okay here?"

"Yeah. I'll make a few calls, see how much money I can gather in the timeframe we have, and I'll keep Parker company. I'll look over the remains with Zack too if I get the chance."

"Okay. Twenty minute check-ins?" Booth checked as he finally released her. Amethyst rolled her eyes but nodded.

"Normally, I'd call you over-protective, but under the circumstances, I can live with it."

"That's the point gem. I'll bring food for you and Parks in a couple of hours."

Angela held back her smirk as Cam practically foamed at the mouth beside her, both females in the former's office watching as Amethyst moved around the platform with a practised ease, directing Zack on what to do to assist her. Parker sat in a chair in a corner of the platform colouring in a picture book Amethyst had brought in from the car.

"Who is she and why is she acting like she runs the place?" Cam fumed, mainly to herself.

"Huh? Oh, that's Ammi. It's just the way she is."

"And clinging to Seeley? Is that 'just the way she is' as well?" Cam asked, mocking the words that Angela used to try and describe the unique teen.

Angela bit her bottom lip to try and stop herself from snapping at the pathologist. She could see herself liking the other woman if it weren't for two things; one, that she was trying to snag Booth as a romantic partner, and two, that she seemed intent on making Brennan miserable. The second item had gotten a bit better, but the first had gotten worse. Angela didn't know which balance she hated more. "If anyone's going to find Jack and Bren, then it'd be Ammi. I've never bet against her yet, and I'm not about to start now."

Cam huffed and stalked from the room. Angela rolled her eyes but followed her boss out into the main lab area and up onto the platform. Cam ignored the brunette girl with the blue streak and Zack, instead walking up to Parker and pasting on a smile for the five year old. "Hey Parker. Do you remember me?" She bit back a sigh at Parker's hesitant shake of the head. "I'm Cam. I'm a friend of your daddy's." Parker's eyes shot instantly to Amethyst, who had stepped from the bodies and removed her gloves. She stepped up to them, placing a hand on Parker's shoulder.

"Can I help you?" She asked, barely keeping her tone civil. It was one thing to make her mother make amends with the pathologist, but she drew the line at letting the woman use Parker so obviously in trying to get to Booth. She'd promised both of his parents that she'd look after and protect the young boy after all.

"I'm trying to talk to Parker."

"Not without me here you're not. And failing that, you can't without Angela present." She glanced at the artist, who nodded her consent to that. "Parker doesn't know who you are, and he's been taught not to talk to strangers."

"And just who do you think you are?" Cam demanded, drawing herself up to her full height in an attempt at intimidation. She didn't see Booth enter the lab near the platform with cartons of take-out for his family. Amethyst's eyes flashed an icy blue as she stepped fully in front of Parker, standing up just as straight as the older woman, arms crossed across her chest and one hip jutted out slightly.

"I am Amethyst Tesla Brennan and you will cease talking to Parker and I in such a derogatory and condescending fashion immediately." She told the coroner with all the air and authority that Brennan usually possessed. Angela looked torn between gasping in surprise and laughing at Cam's shocked profile. Booth's jaw dropped. He'd never heard the fourteen year old sound like that before, no matter what situation she'd been in. Silently dismissing Cam, she handed a notebook to Angela. "Jack writes you a lot of notes right? Can you figure out what this says? I found it open to this page in his office next to his mass spectrometer."

Angela took the notebook with a sombre nod, reading the scrawling writing quickly. "Uhm, it says that the traces of aluminium found on the clothing are almost certainly from the kidnapper's vehicle, like a box in the back of a trunk or van."

"You can read that?" Cam asked in surprise.

Angela shrugged. "Like Ammi says; Hodgins sends me a lot of notes."

Booth decided that that moment was the best to announce his presence, bouncing up the steps and holding out the take-out boxes. "Okay, who wants pizza?"

To Be Continued…