Now it was Richards turn with Sweets. Sweets had Hall wait outside explaining that Rayah's mental state was still fragile. Hall accepted that, but he planned on having a talk with Sweets about the baby dream.

Richards obviously not wanting to be there, "Ok I am here."

Sweets, "How did you sleep?"

Richards, "Same old nightmares."

Sweets, "Looking at your body language shows me this time it was different."

Richards, "Well Elliot heard me screaming out 'no, not the baby'."

Sweets, "Did you tell him?"

Richards, "No and as I recall I didn't even tell you. You searched through my medical records."

Sweets, "It was my job and I think you know that."

Richards, "But it was my business to tell or not tell whom I wanted."

Sweets, "This is also true, but you haven't told anyone, making it very toxic to your psyche."

Richards, "That is not true. I told Johnny and Temperance."

Sweets very surprised once again. These sisters like to shock him, he was sure of it. "You told Dr. Brennan?"

Richards, "Yes in the cave."

Sweets, "What made you decide to share this with her?'

Richards, "I don't know I just did. She even told me that she would've done the same thing in my position."

Sweets, "I am sure that this is true. Are you starting to feel a sisterly connection to her?"

Richards, "I don't know what a sisterly connection would feel like."

Sweets, "Well do you feel like you want to do things with her, family things?" he clarified.

Richards, "What do you mean family things? I mean I use to wrestle with my brothers when we were younger, but I don't think that it would be appropriate to wrestle with her, especially with her hand still being so tender."

Sweets, "Yeah, probably no wrestling. Are you looking forward to having lunch with her?"

Richards, "I think so. I am very curious of why she wants to spend time with me. I mean I got the better end of things growing up."

Sweets, "But don't you think that maybe she wants to know what it is like to have a family, let alone a sister, who always wanted her?"

Richards, "I see your point."

Sweets, "Finally!' he said jokingly, knowing that Richards had more of a sense of humor than her sister.

Richards, "I have a question."

Sweets, "Shoot."

Richards, "That is such a stupid question since shooting has nothing to do with asking a question. Do you think that it is ok or even professional for me to spend time outside of work with my boss?"

Sweets, "Have you been spending time with Cam?"

Richards, "Yes and I like her very much."

Sweets, "And is she the one inviting you out?"

Richards, "Yes."

Sweets, "I think that Cam has faith in you, that you know the difference between professionalism and friendship and that at work you will be a professional."

Richards, "Thank you Sweets."

The session was over and Sweets was very concerned about her not wanting to talk about the miscarriage and face those feelings. He knew he still had to work on that with her.

They went over to Fisher who confirmed the fatal stab to the chest and Cam confirmed the arsenic poisoning.

Cam, "So now we know the how, Booth will have to discover the who and why."

Brennan, "I will call Booth and give him the update."

Hall had also called Booth notifying him that most of the serious gamers on the roster would also be at the Miami convention, which was suppose to be a huge event. Booth and Richards had interviewed the serious gamers. They found out that there was a huge rivalry between two guilds and a certain group of guildies from both sides took this very seriously. Since they lived in different geographical locations the best way to question them all would be at this convention in Miami. Richards had called her brother Briody who had plotted out a plan for them to fit in. It was pretty easy, since Richards and Hall were already fictional characters, he would have to come up with costumes for Booth and Brennan and Sweets will just have to be an attendee. He would call them demos allowing the attendees to question and give input on possible new characters for the game. Booth then called Cam to let her know the plan.

Cam, "I don't understand why you need to take Richards and Brennan?"

Booth, "Richards knows the scene and Bones would kill me if I did this without her. Plus Bones is likely to spot the murder weapon."

Cam, "Fine Seeley, but you will need to put in a good word with the FBI so the lab can get the funding for the expansion."

Booth said reluctantly, "Fine."

Chapter 18

Brennan and Richards were sitting next to each other in first class and the FBI guys were flying coach.

With tensions still high, "So I guess we are sharing a room?"

Brennan, "It looks that way. The hotel was nearly sold out so at least we all got suites. Booth doesn't usually get to stay in such accommodations."

Richards, "Neither does Hall."

Brennan, "I am sorry about last week. I didn't understand the underlying emotions, and I didn't realize that I was insulting you."

Richards, "I know, I was just hurt and confused. I didn't mean to lose my temper and say those things to you either."

Brennan, "So we are ok now?"

Richards, "We are ok now." she confirmed.

They get off the plane and Briody is there to pick them up. Although he is extremely busy with the big convention in 2 days, he doesn't get to see his sister that often and is dying to meet his new cousin.

Briody is not what Brennan expected. He had a flattened blue and black strip of hair slicked down the middle. He must wear a Mohawk she thought. He was very tall, muscular and a little husky. He didn't look like anyone in the family, but he did have blue eyes. After all no one in her family seemed to look alike except for those very faint distinctions that a trained professional could spot.

Richards introduced Brennan and Booth to her brother. Brennan and Booth were quite surprised by Briody's charm and charisma for being such an intimidating looking guy. Briody dressed in combat boots and very stiff and proper high dollar German clothing. Of course all black.

Booth smirking and whispering to Hall, "I wonder what the other brother was like?"

Richards talking to Briody, "Are mom and dad coming?"

Briody, "No not this one, but I expect everyone to be at the Vegas one!"

Richards, "When was that one?"

Briody, "In six months. I am going to reveal the new characters. Right now I am testing out some of them to see which ones are the most popular. So far I have had marginal success with the 3 we have demoed at the other conventions."

Richards, "Will you have time to help us profile any of the regulars? And do you know the two guilds that are at war?"

Briody, "There are a lot of guilds at war, but I know which two you are talking about. The Avengers of Gods Law and The Peacekeepers at War."

Brennan, "Those names make no sense at all!"

Sweets, "You are thinking to literal! It makes perfect sense when you dive down into the psychology of it all."

Briody, "I am not one for psychology, but you do have it right."

Brennan, "I hate psychology."

They went to the hotel. The suites were awesome! As Sweets put it.

Briody, "I wasn't sure who was going to be sharing rooms, but all they had left was a 2 bedroom suite and a 3 bedroom suite so that's what you have. The two bedroom one is the honeymoon suite, so I thought maybe you all could figure out the room assignments. (Briody laughed, looking at Brennan's and Booth's closeness) Probably you two in the honeymoon suite. It's very romantic you know."

Brennan quickly spoke up, "Us, no we are just partners."

Briody said nonchalantly, "Oops, my bad. So since we only have two days until the convention I need Sweets to go to my designers room to find you a costume that makes you blend in. I want to spend some individual time with Dr. Brennan here to figure out her persona."

Brennan, "My persona?"

Briody, "Well we need to make a character about you. I believe that if you build a fictional character out of a real person it does better. It adds heart!"

Booth laughing, "But she is all brain." As Brennan gave him a dirty look.

Briody, "Rayah you can help me develop a history for her since you know her better."

Hall, "Booth and I are going downstairs to ask some questions."

The agents went downstairs and Sweets was off to get a costume.

Briody, "So Dr. Brennan, tell me about yourself."

Brennan, "Please call me Temperance or Tempe. We are family after all."

Briody being ever so blunt and comical at the same time, "Good choice of words. You can think of me as your cousin or brother, which ever you like."

Brennan now a little confused and Briody could see that.

Richards irritated at Briody, "I can't believe you brought that up!"

Briody, "It doesn't matter to me. We are family and that's it. The title of cousin or sister doesn't matter to me. I love you just the same."

Brennan started to understand this family dynamic and saw how Richards was more sensitive than the rest.

Brennan, "I understand it now. You made all of your characters based on family, because they were the only ones you could trust, but Max?" (questioning how trust worthy he was)

Briody, "Of course UncleMax, (emphasizing the uncle), He would do anything for family! I just wouldn't want to be on his bad side, (jabbing Brennan lightly), if you know what I mean."

Brennan, "I have found this to be true."

Richards, "So you aren't angry about this whole mess?"

Briody, "I understand why he did it and the way I look at it, without his actions I would've never had you for a sister, maybe never of met you. Or I would have just been meeting you today like I am with Temperance."

Both women started to tear up. Briody just embraced them in an awkward bear hug. Well not awkward for Briody.

Brennan, "Wow, he is better than Sweets."

Briody, "We have a lot of work to do, so give me hobbies, interests, fantasies."

Brennan, "I am a world renown scientist, top selling mystery writer, and I work."

Briody, "Not much to go on. Do you dress up for Halloween?"

Brennan, "Yes, Wonder Woman."

Briody, "Lets discuss this over lunch, I am starving."

They went down to the hotel restaurant and continue exploring the possible characters.

Briody speaking to Temperance, "Well you aren't making this easy are you? A top scientist, book writing, wonder woman, vegetarian. (now talking to himself), Think Briody. Think! Ok I have thought of a couple: Brigit (Fiery Irish Goddess in charge of Poetry, Healing, Smith craft and Martial Arts.), Danu (Celtic Goddess of Wind, Wisdom and Fertility), I got it! Artemis. The wild Goddess of Hunting, Animal Liberation, Feistiness and Feminism."

Brennan, "Let me think about that."

Richards, "I thought that Artemis was often thought to be a lesbian."

Chapter 19

Now back in the hotel room, Brennan and Richards were sitting there talking while Briody was working in the other room with the seamstress on a costume.

Brennan started to get tearful, "I see why you are not willing to give up Briody as a brother. If he was my brother, I would never give him up no matter what scientific DNA says."

Richards was so touched by what Brennan had just said and she was unable to verbally respond, so she just hugged her.

Booth and Hall entered the room and realized they were witnessing a touching moment.

Brennan, "What did you find out?"

Booth, "Mostly just about the powers of what all of the characters have."

Hall, "The murder was probably done by a group of people, not just one."

Booth, "Or one person trying to make it look like a group."

Brennan's phone rang and it was Hodgins. She put her speaker phone on.

Hodgins, "I found particulates from inside his shoe and the dirt matched dirt found in Florida. Angela made a face and got a name off the missing persons registry in Florida, Robert Dalton. I will send your computer the photograph."

Brennan, "Did you find out anything else?"

Hodgins, "The cedar was run of the mill Home Depot planks. The piece of Steel that was found was a tip of a replica of an antique claymore sword sold at all of the conventions, plus you can order this on line. I compared it to mine. The only problem is that thousands have been sold and most of the people on the roster you faxed me have one. Torching the body removed most of the traceable evidence."

Booth, "Who filed the missing persons report?"

Hodgins was standing next to Angela while she was on the computer.

Angela, "His wife. You know this victim was kind of hot for being a gamer!"

Richards found this amusing, "You should see those William Wallace look alikes!"

Brennan joining in, "Are they as handsome as Mel Gibson?"

Richards, "Oh yeah!"

Hall, "Enough! Us guys don't want to hear all this!"

Angela looking at Hodgins with pure lush, "So which one are you hot stuff?"

Hodgins, "William Wallace of course!"

Brennan, "Can you send me a sexy picture of you through my computer?"

Angela very unsure of why she wanted it, but said ok.

Brennan, "Briody is considering making a character of you."

Hodgins, "Ohh what type of goddess is she going to be?"

Brennan, "The Goddess of Sex."

Booth grabbed the phone from Brennan's hand and hung it up.