Thanks to reviewer: Meg (I don't plan on continuing into B&B's live, sorry but I really don't want this story to be as long as my other Bones fanfic. I'll probably end this fanfic in a couple more chapters.)
I had some quick internet time so I figured I'd update this since I was a couple chapters ahead.
Cam watched as the interns each took their turn with the bones. With her autopsy on the body done, all they needed was to confirm the same knife killed both for Kyra Willows' murder to be added, and Rodriguez to be arrested. Both victims had been kidnapped several years before and were found within forty-eight hours of death, and both were able to be tied to Jose Rodriguez.
"There is a knife mark on the sternum," Wendell said. "By quick examination, it looks similar to the mark found on Kyra Willow's and is similarly placed."
"So the same knife?" Cam asked.
"Do we still have her remains?" Arastoo asked.
Cam shook her head. "We have copies of the x-ray." She quickly logged onto the file and zoomed into the sternum.
Wendell handed the sternum to Fisher, who was closest to the magnifying camera. The latter placed the sternum under the microscope and zoomed to the knife mark. Without hesitation the squinterns and Cam gathered around the screen, each separately comparing the marks.
"Looks like a match," Wendell said.
"I agree," Fisher said.
"I agree as well," Arastoo said.
"Me too!" Daisy quickly added. "Can you overlay the images to be sure?"
Cam pressed a few buttons and the two images moved to the center of the screen, the knife marks fitting perfectly over each other.
Hodgins swiped his card and ran onto the platform, wildly waving printed out results in his hand. "I have the chemical composition results! The particulates from the knife stabbed into Kyra Williams, matches the current victim's."
"There's no way for a defense to dispute it?"
Hodgins shook his head.
"We have to be sure of this. If we want Rodriguez thrown in prison, we will be forced against the strongest and smartest defense lawyers." Cam turned her attention to the interns. "All of you will be present at the trial, but one of you needs to be able to testify as a forensic anthropologist. Clark will be here tomorrow to reexamine the remains so he can also come to conclusions. He will be the top expert witness, but Hacker wants more than one expert witness in almost all fields. Not only to give a strong case, but…Rodriguez is a large threat. Which of you will be willing to do this?"
The interns exchanged glances for a moment before Wendell stepped forward.
"If it will get Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth the justice they deserve, I would be more than willing to testify against their killer. No matter the consequences."
1 week before…
On the day Brennan was released from the hospital she and Booth went straight to Hacker's office at FBI headquarters.
"The bomb in the Jeffersonian has been removed," he informed them. "However, tomorrow an FBI made bomb will be put in its place. Dr. Brennan, you will examine whatever remains in the first examination room. At approximately noon, Agent Booth, you will arrive to talk with Dr. Brennan. It is very important that no one else be in the room at that time. We are working on getting bodies similar in appearance to the two of you, which will be placed in the room. This exchange will have to be quick and undetectable. You two will hide in the Jeffersonian until Agent Andrews is able to get you out. From there you two will be sent to a safe house, where you will stay until we find somewhere else to hide you-"
"How long will this assignment require us to be hiding?" Brennan interrupted.
"We are focusing most of our homicide and national security units on this case. Almost all of our top agents will be working to bring Rodriguez in. You two should be back before you know it."
"And I will be with Booth the entire time?"
"You two will be with each other so much you'll be sick of each other."
"I doubt that would happen. What are the bodies that you will put in place of us? If you get the structure to far from ours your plan will not work."
"Actually, Temperance, we have a few bodies that were donated to science and whatnot that are available for this case. They are currently in the morgue downtown. We were hoping you would assist in choosing which one was closest to the two of you."
Brennan smiled. "I would be delighted."
Brennan examined the bodies one by one, every so often going from one to another to compare certain features. Each body was nearly void of all flesh, several were in fact burn victims killed in fires or car explosions. Brennan took a breath and snapped off the rubber gloves.
"I believe I have found the two that are closest to Booth and I," she announced before pointing out the two she'd chosen.
She shrugged out of the white lab coat and met with Booth in the hallway. "What were you and Andrew talking about?" she asked.
"Just the hideouts we were going to," Booth replied.
"Where are we going to be?"
"Only I will know that, Bones. It's safer that way."
"I'm not going to tell anyone, why is it safer? Do you not trust me?"
"You'll see when we get there." Booth put an arm around Brennan's shoulder and let her lean against him. "Are you sure you're okay with this, Bones?"
"Yes. I can do this, Booth. Why? Are you having second thoughts?"
Booth shook his head. "Of course not."
"You have more to lose. You have your brother and son. I only have my brother, who is several hours away, and my father…who I have not heard from recently."
"You forget the squinterns."
"I wish you would stop calling them that. They will easily find another mentor to replace me, though I am the best. It will be difficult, but they are all bright students and I am confident in their abilities."
Booth smiled. "You also have Angela, and Hodgins, and Cam."
"I believe they will all accept this and should Rodriguez never be caught, they will eventually move on."
"They'll catch Rodriguez."
"Is this what you went through the first time you died?" Brennan suddenly asked.
"Not really. It was more sudden then," Booth admitted. "No false bodies, just a mannequin in the coffin."
"You were also allowed to let those close to you know about your true survival. Though you did not tell me."
"You're still holding that against me?"
"Yes. You should have told me."
"You were on the list. Sweets didn't let them tell you."
"Which is why you should have made sure I knew."
"You know what, Bones, I think you're just mad because you don't want to think of losing me."
"Of course I don't. You are my best friend, besides Angela of course."
"No, it's more than that," Booth whispered.
"I do care for you, Booth. I would be very….upset if you truly died." Tears sprang in her eyes and Brennan did her best to hold them back. "You should have told me!"
By now the partners had ceased walking and Booth wrapped his arms around Brennan.
"I should have been told," Brennan insisted. "How can we do this to them?"
"Shh, Bones, it'll be okay. They'll understand."
"And if they don't?"
"Then we'll still have each other, Temperance."
At hearing her given name Brennan looked up into Booth's eyes. Neither knew who moved first, but moments later found the two locked in a lover's kiss.
(next chapter, the explosion day. I will update as soon as I have internet again because that chapter is ready to go.
