Tempe, Turmoil and Triumph
Chapter 7
"So, people-focus, what do we know for sure?" Cam asked after the grief stricken group had gathered on the platform in the Jeffersonian.
"We know we have two burned female bodies, with partial skulls, a missing person, a Prada like bag, highly flammable material of undetermined origin," Hodgins said. "We know the Chinese locals have indicated the skeletons appear to be roughly Dr. B's size-we know that they are hiding something as well. Was it a random attack?" He continued.
"Well, gang-we also know that in 11 hours you will have the two sets of remains, and all the soil samples you could ever want delivered to you," came Caroline's voice from below the platform. Before anyone could swipe their access cards she marched up the stairs, sirens and alarms blaring, she studiously ignored the disgruntled looks on the security guards faces. "We also know that the missing body is female. We just got a final passenger manifest. There were three crew members," she read from the list in her hand, "Xu Wang, Thu Phan, and Brian Nyugen. There were 3 'farmers', presumably with the livestock, John Lung, Pam Huang and Ni Lei, there were 2 American tourists Malcolm and Inarra Reynolds and their daughter, Zoe. There was a Chinese-American student there on a visa to visit her family, Rachel Li-Geller and 2 French – Canadian missionaries coming back from a church sabbatical a…Phoebe Bing and Monica Burke and their pastor, Seamus Potter. The tourists and their daughter along w/Mr. Nyugen and Ms. Geller have been taken to the hospital. That leaves the rest as either deceased or missing" she finished.
"So, she could be the one missing, right Caroline? It's possible she's just hurt and wandered away right?" Booth persisted-having never felt so helpless in his entire life. He was trying so hard to keep the worry and emotion from his voice. Even as a kid growing up with an abusive father, Booth had never felt so like he was unable to help than he did now.
"Yes, Agent Booth, it's possible. But, honey, please don't grasp at that possibility and hold on until we know more, okay Cheri? Okay?" She walked over to him and placed her hand on his forearm, "We're doing the best we can."
Booth nodded and told the assembled group that he was going to go to his office and make some phone calls. First on his list was Rebecca. He needed Parker now more than he ever had in his life-but he just couldn't be the dad he needed to be today. He was so close to breaking it was everything he could do to navigate the stairs.
There goes a heartbroken shell, thought Cam as she watched Booth leave. Turning to the still assembled and shell shocked squints, she didn't notice the detour Booth took to Brennan's office.
When booth entered her office, the first thing he noticed was her scent, faint, but still barely gracing the air. Turning on the just the desk lamp, Booth looked around her desk and her office and…her. He tried to focus on what needed to be done and barely noticed a glimmer of something shiny by her keyboard. The lamp light was glinting softly off of a small picture frame. It looked as though it had been decorated in silver glitter and macaroni noodles. Picking it up he looked at the picture it held. It was a photo of him and Parker on the merry go round-he was looking at Parker and holding his son on the big black horse he always chose to ride. Parkers face still had the remnants of his rocky road ice cream cone and he was smiling brightly at the photographer. I never knew Bones had this he thought as he sat down at her desk. Well collapsed really, his legs no longer able to support him. Oh Bones…Temperance, I hope you're okay, I hope I can find you-but God-Dear Lord if I can't please make sure she's taken care of-for me God please? I've earned that haven't I? He finished his prayer and started to get up to leave. He reluctantly returned the photo to her desk and walked instead to the couch to just sit for a minute to think about what he should do next.