DISCLAIMER: I do not own "BONES" or any of the character in the show.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi everyone. This chapter started off being pretty short, but I kept adding and editing it. Please review! When I get reviews it makes me get the next chapter out much quicker! Honestly, it really does!
Again, thoughts are in italics.
Enjoy!
PREVIOUSLY IN CH.6
Booth walked around the side of the car slowly hanging back as he waited for her to exit the vehicle. However, he didn't want her to realize what he was doing. As Tempe slid from the passenger seat the severe heat mixed with her dehydration caused her to feel a bit dizzy for a few seconds. In an attempt to maintain her balance, she held the door for an extra minute allowing her to gather her bearings. Booth was extremely aware of the fact she didn't feel well and that it was affecting her in such an obvious way, but decided to keep quiet not wanting to make things any worse between the two of them. He knew saying something would only cause her to push him further and further away and he already felt the many miles that had transpired between them since yesterday. Worried about Tempe's pasty appearance he made sure to walk behind her in order to keep a watchful eye upon her as the partners headed towards the "crime scene" having no idea what to expect.
As they arrived and the scene came into view, their jaws hit the floor along with any remaining color in their faces, "Oh my God!" they muttered in unison.
CHAPTER 7
Booth and Bones felt as if they'd been transported into the middle of a scene from a bloodcurdling horror movie. They had arrived at their newest crime scene having only been told that it was "one of a kind". The fact that the partners had been warned to begin with when they were called in spoke volumes. However, displayed before them was a site neither could have ever imagined.
As Booth and Brennan stood, practically shoulder-to-shoulder, in the middle of their current crime scene (a deserted lot resembling a field) surrounded by blood and body parts both felt as if they had acrobats flipping around in their stomachs. Various limbs (biceps, knees, calves, ribs, heads, etc) were strewn all around them. Some were buried halfway while others were just lying on top of the ground; the ones completely unburied still contained a significant amount of tissue making them think they belonged to the victims killed most recently. The ones half buried still had some tissue, but much of it was gone, Brennan assumed with the help of various animals and their healthy appetites, not to mention decomposition.
Dr. Temperance Brennan knew she wouldn't last long without getting sick to her stomach as it began twisting and turning as she noticed intestines hanging in the branches of a tree near where she stood. The way they were draped in the tree reminded her of the way garland and Christmas lights decorated her family Christmas tree as a child bringing back memories of happier times. Times when her mother and father were still caring for her and she had not yet been abandoned by her brother, Russ. A time when she felt safe and loved. A time when she was oblivious to the kind of people her parents were. A time when she thought of them as heroes, not criminals.
It was already apparent that there was more than one victim. There was too much blood and duplicates of many of the limbs. Just doing a quick glance around the surrounding area Temperance counted at least six bodies, however she surmised there were many, many more. It would be days, possibly a week or even weeks, until they discovered everything. "What happened here?" she mumbled more to herself than to anyone in particular. Tempe had seen many terrible and unimaginable things over the course of her career, such as mass graves in 3rd world countries, tortured victims, etc., but this was the worse she'd seen and she was almost positive she was staring at only a fraction of what was actually there.
"I don't know. What do you think happened Bones?" Booth questioned her, not feeling well himself. However, worrying and focusing on his partner distracted him from the fact that he was doing his best to keep the vomit creeping up his throat from actually leaving his mouth.
Tempe didn't answer. She was too fixed and entranced, as if trapped in a fog, on the horrific scene before her. This was nothing like anything she'd ever seen. Not once had she ever seen intestines wrapped around branches of a tree and she doubted she'd ever see it again. Or at least she hoped she wouldn't.
With every step Brennan took, her stomach churned that much more, while her mouth became more and more watery with the increasing nausea. Tempe didn't know how much longer she could be there without throwing up, which would, of course, cause Booth to become even more overprotective and irritating.
In fact, looking around Dr. Brennan wondered why exactly she was called in on this particular case. There was way too much tissue on these body parts for her. She dealt with bones, not the soft parts covering the bones. Maybe I didn't need to be out on this case with Booth today. I definitely could've used the rest of the weekend to figure out how I was going to handle this new predicament with him, she thought, incredibly irritated and angry at the whole situation. "Why am I here Booth? And on my weekend off? There is way too much tissue on these bones. This is a job for Dr. Saroyan, not me!" she questioned Booth in a tone he most definitely did NOT appreciate.
"I honestly don't know Bones. I got the call telling me to bring you to this location. I was following orders, so you can't be mad at me. I just did what I was told."
Interrupting him, well not meaning to, she mumbled to herself under her breath, "No reason to be mad at you? Right! There most definitely is!"
I knew it! She is upset! he only pieces of her statement, but enough to have some idea of what she'd said, he played dumb asking, "Huh? What'd you say? I couldn't hear you."
He wasn't supposed to hear that. I was just talking to myself, she groaned to herself. With her cheeks turning bright red from embarrassment, Tempe replied, "Uh, nothing."
"Alright then. Well, as I was saying…if I had known how… um… fleshy the bones were I wouldn't have called you. But there has to be a reason. You know, let me find out," he answered, his voice equally full of attitude.
"Whatever" Tempe sighed, incredibly irritated, not to mention embarrassed that he'd almost heard her talking to herself.
God, what is her problem? I'm getting really sick of this side of her. I'm ready for it to disappear as quickly as it appeared, Booth thought as he left to find Agent Charles Bloomfield, the head of the FBI Forensic Team, who were currently scouring the field for evidence, basically whatever they could find that might help them. Seeley found the agent in question squatting in the dirt wearing gloves while using a small brush to sweep away bits of soil in hopes of uncovering some more evidence and/or remains. Walking towards him Booth greeted, "Hey Charlie. Wow, what a nightmare!"
"You can say that again! I could've gone my whole life without ever seeing…" pausing as he searched for the correct words, but couldn't quite articulate exactly what he wanted to say. "…something like this," he continued, disgust evident on his face.
"You got that right, buddy. Hey, I was wondering why exactly Dr. Brennan was called in on this one and not Dr. Saroyan?"
"Well, actually they were both called in Booth. But we called you and the 'Doc' first because of what we initially found," he clarified while pointing in the direction of a taped off area about 500 feet away.
"Um, ok. Thanks man," Booth glanced back to where he left Bones, his hands cupped at each side of his mouth as he yelled, "Hey Bones, over here!"
Hearing him bellow for her, Tempe trudged towards her partner. Once she reached him, she snapped, "What?"
"Charlie said he called you here because of the first thing that the FBI Forensic Team came across… over there," Booth explained while pointing to the area Charlie had just mentioned to him.
"Okay, well then let's stop wasting time and see what was discovered. After all we are here to do our job, not to socialize," Temperance growled, then stalked off en route to the taped off area.
Hearing their brief exchange, Charlie glanced at Booth, "What's up with her?"
Eyes squinted while he frowned, Booth shook his head in frustration and annoyance as he watched her retreating form storm away. "Your guess is as good as mine. She was fine last night."
"Last night? You finally hit that?" Charlie snickered.
"Hey! Have a little respect!" Booth's tone calmed as he explained, "Not that it's any of your business, but Brennan and I are just friends…and only friends. We've never crossed that line!" Seeley swore.
"Yeah, but you want to!" he teased.
"Shut up!"
"Just admit it! Look at you! You're blushing like a little girl!" Charlie laughed.
"Oh did you hear that? Bones is calling me!" Booth lied and pretty terribly, especially for an FBI "lie detector". Raising his voice, he hollered to Tempe, "I'm on my way Bones!" Looking towards Charlie he said, " See ya later Charlie," then proceeded to jog away leaving him behind shaking his head in disbelief while laughing at the strange partnership the two had.
"When are they gonna wake up and realize they're absolutely head over heels for each other?" Charlie muttered to himself.
As he approached Bones, he questioned, "So, what do we got?"
"A large quantity of victims."
He glanced down, seeing numerous bones already unearthed.
"Some kids were screwing around and stumbled across those ones," an agent nearby relayed to the partners while pointing to a small pile of bones. "We arrived and began 'digging', finding all these… so far," showing them a much larger heap of bones laid out before them. "Who knows how many more there are and that's just in this spot. I mean this is an enormous field. After more investigation of the area we found all that other 'stuff'…appearing to be more recent," he explained, referring to the location Booth and Brennan had just come from.
Booth nodded as the agent spoke. When he was finished Booth expressed his appreciation, "Good work, thank you." The young agent beamed at Special Agent Seeley Booth's complimenting words. After all Seeley was older and extremely well-known in the department, so his words meant a lot.
"Must be the most current dumping ground and this is an older one," Booth surmised.
""Whoever's done this it looks like they've been at it for awhile," the young agent remarked.
"I agree with you, Agent…" Booth paused, not knowing the young man's name.
"Agent Brandon Hayes, sir," he divulged pulling off his glove and extending his hand f to shake Booth's.
"Special Agent Seeley Booth," he introduced himself while shaking Agent Hayes hand.
"Oh I know, sir. I've heard all about you. You have an amazing reputation. You close cases, a lot of cases. It's an honor to meet you!" the young agent beamed.
"Thanks, but I could never do it without my amazing partner Dr. Temperance Brennan and the rest of the "squint squad" over at the Jeffersonian."
"Nice to meet you," Temperance shook Hayes hand as well.
Returning his attention to his partner, Booth inquired, "What's the story Bones?"
"There are numerous victims here. These don't all belong to one person…obviously. Some appear to be women, men, and there is at least one child that I see without investigating the bones more closely here. I can tell you more when I look them over at the lab."
"…a…child? Dismembered?" Booth stuttered, his face paling as the realization hit him.
"A child? Yes. However, I can't tell you at this time if it was definitely dismembered."
"But, what do you think?" he pressed.
"Booth, you know I don't work like that! Why do you always ask me to guess? You know I don't feel comfortable doing so!" Brennan practically screamed at him.
"Fine Bones! Whatever!" With drooping shoulders and a scowl firmly upon his face, Booth stormed away. How long are things going to be like this? This is more miserable than when we first started working together. And she hated me back then! I would prefer that rather than the way things are now! he questioned himself.
Temperance was left standing over the bones. Looking towards the men still searching for any more possible remains and/or evidence, she instructed, "Just send everything you find to the Jeffersonian Institute." With that said she turned away following in Booth's footsteps. Maybe I was too curt with Booth. I'm just having a difficult time being objective about last night, not to mention getting it off my mind. I mean how could he not remember that we had intercourse? she wondered.
Brennan could see Booth standing near the area where the most recent victim's remains were. He appeared to be watching various members of the FBI Forensics Team working through the steps of a crime scene including uncovering gruesome body parts, taking photographs, and logging them into evidence, while looking like busy bees gathering and storing honey for the long winter months that lie ahead. However, this is only what it looked like. In reality, he was so submerged in his own thoughts that he noticed nothing of his chaotic surroundings nor did he hear Brennan approaching. I know she is an expert at compartmentalizing even when one of our cases involves children, but she knows how much these particular cases get to me. Bones is always pretty respectful of my feelings whenever a case involves a kid. I mean she knows I always see Parker whenever I see a dead child and she may not understand but she never speaks or treats me so badly…making me feel that my feelings are invalid and don't matter. I mean all I wanted to know was if the child appeared to be dismembered. I know she can do that, so why jump all over me for asking? I'm guessing it had nothing to do with the case, but whatever she's mad at me for. I must have done or said something! Sure, she has taken out her anger and/or hurt on me before when it had nothing to do with me at all, but never to this extent. So, it must be me that she's upset with! If only I knew what I did, so then I can fix it! Maybe she found out about Cam? But there's really nothing to find out! We're not dating…only using each other to fill a void. Or at least that's what I thought was the deal, but apparently that was just me because after her proclamation of love this morning, we're obviously on two completely different pages… Oh man that reminds me, how could I have been such an idiot, not to mention an ass? Not only did I envision, unintentionally but still I did, that Cam was Bones when we fucked this morning, but I got so caught up that I proclaimed my love for Bones to Camille. Now she thinks I'm in love with her. How did I get to this point? How did I not see how Cam really felt? What kind of cop am I? Apparently not a good one! Were there signs that I missed? I wonder if anyone else picked up on anything? Maybe Angela? She's really insightful. Bones? Maybe that's what… Before he could finish his thought he heard Brennan's voice beside him.
"Um… Booth?" Tempe whispered, interrupting his train of thought.
When did she get here? Wow, I must've really been in my own little world to not notice her approach me, Booth thought to himself.
Although he gave no indication he'd heard her Tempe knew he was listening, so she continued, "I'm sorry for…well…back there. I was extremely inconsiderate, not to mention disrespectful. You aren't the only one who is bothered by child victims. I am too. I just find that during these cases the only way I can do my job is if I stay completely detached and unemotional. It's a coping mechanism, a very helpful and rational one actually. But for some reason this time it wasn't nearly as effective as it normally is and the remains of the child really got to me. Why today and this particular case? Maybe because I'm incredibly hung-over. I don't know, but I apologize for taking it out on you. That was unprofessional."
Booth was quiet for at least a minute before replying, "I understand. Thank you for the apology, Bones. But that's not all that's bothering you. Is it Tempe?"
Her silence was the only answer needed.
Turning towards her he reached for her hands, "Why won't you answer me? Talk to me Temperance? Please, you know you can trust me!"
Unable to meet his eyes, for fear he'd know she was lying, Tempe carefully withdrew her hands from his, "I'm fine, Booth. Really, that's all that's burdening me. I guess I'm just not myself today."
Once again letting the issue fade away, they both turned towards the heinous crime scene. Both watched an agent discover, photograph, and remove a pair of black men's dress shoes with feet still inside that had been in a nearby bush. The feet were wearing red and blue striped socks, similar to a pair Booth had worn just days earlier, and the legs were severed mid-calf, leaving jagged pieces of bone showing. The legs appeared to have been ripped apart, not cut smoothly by a blade of some kind. Looking at all the flesh still attached, Brennan stated, "Dr. Saroyan will definitely be needed on this case." At the mention of her superior's name, Tempe noticed Booth tense up. That's odd. I thought they were friends, she contemplated.
This was definitely a case she'd work closely with Cam. In fact, Dr. Brennan was surprised she wasn't there yet. Not only were their various body parts on the ground, but in bushes, plants, flowers, trees, etc. Some of which appeared to be cut, while others appeared to literally have been ripped apart as if something or someone had played tug-of-war with each limb effectively tearing it in two pieces. Similar to when one comes across a wish bone while eating and snaps it into two parts. Continuing to look around, Tempe's eyes caught sight of something they hadn't seen when she'd first arrived, probably because she'd felt so sick when she initially laid eyes on the crime scene. Quite a few bones were poking up from the soil. More were being unearthed as various agents sat, spread out around the area, gently and carefully digging and brushing dirt away as they searched for more remains. This had obviously been a dumping ground for some time.
In fact, no sooner did Brennan bring up Camille Saroyan's name than she heard a car door slam, footsteps approach, and an all too familiar and disbelieving voice utter, "What… the… heeeeellll?" There was a silent pause as the doctor attempted to take in the grisly scene before her eyes. "Oh myyyyy God!" Dr. Camille Saroyan exclaimed coming to stand just behind the partners.
Camille was horrified and needing comfort she reached out attempting to squeeze Booth's hand. Not expecting to feel her hand on his he immediately pulled away. What the? What's changed in a few short hours? Sure he was acting a bit weird before I left his place this morning, but I just thought maybe he'd been planning some elaborate and romantic way to admit he loves me and was upset with himself for letting his feelings slip out this morning. That he was angry with himself for ruining his plan. Maybe I was wrong, Camille thought to herself. Seeley quickly glanced over at Camille. She was hurt, the look said it all, which only made him feel more guilty and worse over what had happened that morning. This is definitely not one of my best days. Could anything else bad happen? Booth wondered.
He desperately didn't want Bones to find out about "them" (Cam and him), especially given her current frosty behavior towards him. However, Brennan had just looked over at him to ask if he was ready to go when she saw the strange interaction between the one-time lovers. Seeing this caused her heart to feel heavy and begin to ache. Why? She had no clue. Confused over seeing Cam reach for Booth, Tempe wondered, Are they dating? But he slept with me last night. Of course, he doesn't remember. But still, he believes in monogamy and would never be unfaithful. He considers infidelity a sing and that God punishes those that are unfaithful. He would never put himself in a position where God could possibly punish him. But when she noticed the way in which he yanked his hand away from Cam's she felt elated, causing the aching in her heart to disappear. The only question was…why? Why did Booth pushing Cam away make her feel happy and…dare she say hopeful? Well, I guess they aren't together. It must just be her. Maybe she wants to be with him or maybe she was just upset about this crime scene. I mean it is extremely upsetting. It is a well-known fact that in horrible and upsetting situations, people tend to seek comfort. Often from the opposite sex. They are friends and he often provides me solace when I am upset and we're friends. Having too much on her plate at the moment, she shook the thoughts and questions from her mind.
Booth saw that Temperance was looking towards him. Dammit, Cam! Did Bones just see that? God I hope not! He looked at Bones, eyebrows raised in a questioning manner.
Knowing what he was asking, Tempe responded, "There isn't really anything more I can do here. Just have…"
Booth interrupted her. "Everything sent to the Jeffersonian. Yeah, I know Bones. This isn't our first case together," he smiled. After a minute or so he asked, "Well then, are you ready to go?"
Sighing, she answered, "Yeah, I am. Are you?"
"Yeah. Oh yeah," he replied. "Alright then. Everybody, you know the drill. Everything gets sent to the Jeffersonian!" Booth yelled to the members of the FBI Forensic Team.
A young FBI agent, Tim Flooder, who had worked a few crime scenes with the partners, approached Booth, "We won't be done collecting for days, maybe even a week or more. I mean who knows how much more is buried, so do you want us to just send the evidence over to the Jeffersonian as we find it or wait until we have all of it, Agent Booth?
"Tim, just send it as you find it. That way the squints can get started as soon as possible. Okay?"
"Sure thing, sir."
"Thank you." Booth loved it when he was called sir. He felt respected and important, and often times intelligent. Spending the majority of his time with Bones and the "Squint Squad" he often felt insignificant and sometimes kind of stupid. He relied on them for so much; in fact, most of their leads on a case were discovered by the "Squint Squad". Often times Booth felt the squints didn't need him at all and sometimes thought that if they had better social skills he would become completely useless and unneeded. At times he felt as if he sat around waiting for them to find him a lead only to then send him off to use his big muscles, strength, and good looks (including his "charm smile" as Brennan called it) to extract needed information from suspects and people involved in the case. Once he had the information he'd bring it back to the "squints" only for the cycle to repeat itself, causing him to feel like their messenger and errand boy.
While Booth was speaking to Agent Flooder, Tempe glanced around the site. What happened here? What kind of person does this to others? I thought I'd seen everything, but this…. Wow. While observing her surroundings, Brennan's eyes met a disturbing site. An agent had just discovered a child's head mounted on a long wooden stick, reminiscent of a slimmed down tree branch. Thank God Booth didn't see that, Tempe thought as her stomach jolted, causing her hand to quickly fly to her mouth. I can't get sick! She had never thrown up at a crime scene or over any human remains before, even when she was a "rookie", and there was no way she was starting now.
Always aware of where Brennan was and what she was doing, Booth immediately saw her hand go to her mouth. It took all the self-control he had not to run to her. However, he knew that would embarrass her and only make her anger and attitude towards him dramatically worse. So, Seeley did the only thing he could think of to help without drawing attention to her. "Alright, let's get outta here Bones," he said, surprised at how calm he sounded when he felt anything but.
Temperance could only nod in response. She began towards the vehicle (leaving a jealous and fuming Cam behind to collect and do what needed to be done with the remains she'd be working with) with Booth walking next to her, his right hand lying lightly on the small of her back. Feeling so terrible in that moment she welcomed the comfort this small gesture provided. Allowing him to open the passenger door for her Booth offered his hand to help boost her into the large FBI SUV. Closing the door, he jogged over to the driver's side. Jumping in, he quickly put the car in reverse trying to get them as far away from this hellhole of a crime scene as soon as possible.
Once he was far enough away, Booth slowed down not wanting to make her car sick on top of the nausea she was experiencing thanks to her hangover. "Hey I'm really hung-over Bones and this disgusting crime scene made me wanna puke. I just need a little air to help with the nausea. Is it cool if I turn the air up? Maybe roll the windows down a little?" he asked his beautiful partner.
Still feeling nauseous and a bit preoccupied, Tempe replied, "Oh um… yeah that's fine. No problem."
Seeley knew it would help her too, which is why he asked. He was worried if he just did it she would accuse him of "coddling her". He also wasn't exactly lying. He too was extremely hung-over, but worrying about her distracted him from how awful he felt.
As the silent drive continued and her stomach began to calm a bit (thanks to the help from the air and the fact they were no longer surrounded by brutally dismembered human remains) she began to feel the consequences of getting very little sleep. Taking off her coat in order to wad it up into a pillow she could place against the window, she wasn't thinking about why she had kept the jacket on in the first place. As she dozed his eyes automatically wandered over her. Subconsciously checking to make sure she was okay, that the love of his life was safe and sound. That's when he noticed the bruises on her.
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