Disclaimer: I do not own Bones
Chapter Nine
Sam Cullen groaned, looking through the papers to try and find the file about Daniel Goodman. It was almost midnight and he just wanted to go home, get some shut eye or even grab a drink. This case was difficult. You'd think it would be easy, but it wasn't. There were so many holes in it.
Rodger Norton
Age: 35
Cause of Death: Unknown
He was found by the school janitor in a patch of woods down the block. His body was buried. No sign of respect. This was a cold case.
The facts and everything were hidden, somewhere under his nose. The only solid suspect they had was Daniel Goodman.
What Cullen gathered so far was the fact that everyone at the Jeffersonian institution hated Rodger Norton. He was mean and crude. But, according to the people who worked there, he had some bad blood with Daniel Goodman. Though nothing about Goodman fit the criteria at all. He was a family man and respected member of the school, but then again sometimes the most diabolical killers are the ones you least expect.
Cullen still couldn't find the file though. "Milton, where did you put those files?" he questioned, looking at his long time partner, Julia Milton. They've been working together for five years now. Julia Milton was one of the first women on the force to prove to the guys she was just as good. In fact, she's one of the FBI's top agents when it comes to murder investigation. That's why Cullen liked her, she had ambition and didn't take crap from anyone.
"I don't know. But you wouldn't believe it, some kid allowed his little brother to wonder on a crime scene. That's how kids get abducted," Julia fumed. "Or even killed. The ignorance of youth."
"Slow down Milton. As long as you got the kid back it'll be fine. He probably won't do it again," Cullen muttered, scrolling through the paperwork. "And I'm sure you scolded the hell out of his older brother."
"You bet I did," Milton responded, chuckling a bit. "And you were the last one to have the files, so you better know where they went."
"Oh crap, ugh I'll find it later," Cullen cursed, rubbing his eyes.
"We should get home. It's getting late and this case won't solve itself if we're exhausted. You don't want to stay up all night Cullen. It won't do you any good," Julia told him. Almost ordering him like a mother would a child.
"I agree. It's around here somewhere. There's no way I misplaced it," Cullen said, shrugging as he walked over to his partner. "I could use some shut eye."
"Come on, I'll drive you home. Don't need you falling asleep at the wheel," Julia said, chuckling as she brought her friend over. "Plus I'm sure once you get some rest you'll remember where it is."
"You're probably right," Cullen agreed. "But early tomorrow, we're going to be bringing in Goodman. I think it's time we finally spoke to him."
"I agree," She said as the two then locked up for the night.
Meanwhile somewhere not too far away, Temperance Brennan was sitting in her bedroom corner, analyzing the x rays. Her eyes must have seen them a million times, trying to see something that could make this murder different. There had to be something. Her eyes were missing something she wasn't seeing.
"Marge!" John screamed. "Marge!"
"What the hell do you want you drunk bastard!?"
"Where did you put my remote!?" John yelled throughout the house.
Brennan winced, hearing the sound of her foster parents yell. John was very drunk right now and it was getting worse as he began to scream at everyone. When he was drunk it was the worst. That's when he got violent. Normally he'd take it out on Brennan. Sometimes Marge, but it'd always backfire on Brennan. Always.
"I don't know! Ask Temperance!" Marge yelled back, causing Brennan to freeze. Immediately, Brennan hide her information underneath the mattress, the only place her foster parents wouldn't find it. Then, quickly, she hid under the covers. Her heart was racing as she grabbed a book to camouflage what she was doing as John came barging in.
"Temperance! I thought- I thought I'd told ya a thousand times not to go through my stuff!" John yelled, marching over to her and grabbing her forcefully by the wrist.
"I didn't do anything!" Brennan protested as his grip got tighter.
"Shut up ya little bitch!" He barked, his voice slurred. "I outta teach ya a lesson? Do you want a lesson? Because I'll give you a lesson," He said firmly, trying to grab her out of the bed.
"Leave me alone!" Brennan screamed, causing him to halt.
"Look, when I tell you something you do it. Alright? Don't you dare disrespect me!" John bellowed, smacking her across the face. Brennan stood still as a statue as she tasted blood in her mouth. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't. If she did that would only fuel John to hurt her more. She couldn't. Not today. She would not let him win.
"Answer me girl!" John yelled, hitting her again. Temperance stood still once again as she looked away, avoiding all eye contact. She kept still as he kept hitting her.
"I don't know," She answered. "You might've left it in the kitchen. Check there."
"Good girl, finally saying something after a beating or two," John mumbled as he walked out of the room, not making any sense. Brennan felt relief wash over her as she then looked in the mirror. Her body ached all over, but the pain would be durable. She looked down at her arms, which were covered in bruises along the side of her rib cage. Luckily she didn't break any bones. If she did, she would have to stay home for a few days or two. The only thing she was going to have trouble with was going to be with the black eye slowly beginning to form.
Brennan quietly pushed the dresser up against the door so John wouldn't be able to come in again during the middle of the night. Once that was done she grabbed the x-rays again and looked at them again closely. That's when she noticed the fractures going on the arm. They indicate there was a struggle, his hands were bound together before he died. That would mean it's not a meaningful kill. The murderer had no respect for this victim. It was a murder fueled by some sort of rage. They also had to be big or strong because by the looks of it they had to carry the body at one point, which was a 220 pound man. That's not easy.
Even though it wasn't much Brennan couldn't wait to tell the information to her friends, only problem was to hide the lovely gift John gave her.
When she got into school the next morning, Brennan kept her hair down and in her face. She did use some make up she had to cover the black eye, and she did a very good job at it, but the hair would be an extra precaution.
"Oh god, sweetie what's with the style today. You look like you've just rolled out of bed," Angela said, looking at her best friend carefully. She was dressed in a long sleeve shirt, jeans, and her hair seemed to be all over the place. "Not to be mean or anything, but this is-"
"I know Ange, I've just had a long night. I studied the x-rays all last night," Brennan muttered to her, glowering.
"I'm sorry sweetie, it came out the wrong way," Angela said, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You look amazing. You always do, it's just you seem disheveled."
"It's okay. Really Ange," Brennan said, reassuring her friend. "I shouldn't have lashed out like that."
"It's fine," Angela told her. "I just want to know you're okay."
"I am. Very well actually, I found a few things last night," Brennan told her, lighting up.
"Okay, good. Hodgins did too. Something about rare plant life and Booth analyzed the timeline of the murder along with some other things. We're going to meet during lunch to discuss it," Angela explained.
"Okay. Got it," Brennan said, gathering her belongings as the bell rang.
"Bye sweetie, see you in a bit," Angela responded with a smile, causing Brennan to smile as well.
"Bye," Brennan said softly before her friend headed out to her next class. She felt relief washing over her. She knew Angela could tell something was up, but luckily she was able to pass that. Brennan just had to make it through the day, get home early, and then she would be in the clear.
Throughout the day she seemed to successfully avoid Booth and Angela. She knew they were pretty observant people, so it wouldn't be hard for them to notice something was wrong.
Lunch finally approached and they all met up outside of the school. They couldn't risk the cafeteria and they definitely couldn't risk the library or someone would find out. The police were still patrolling this place even though it wasn't really much of a crime zone anymore. The best place would be somewhere secluded outside. So that's why they chose a spot behind the baseball field's dugout. Brennan was relived due to the fact it was shady and no one would see anything wrong with her.
"Any word about Goodman? I heard they were questioning him today," Cam said, being the first to speak.
"Yeah. I was talking to Pops and he thinks the police might interrogate us too," Booth said to the group. "We're the closest to Goodman, they're going to try to get everything on him. Though I was looking at the time line, and according to some information Hodgins told me...I don't think Goodman could have done this."
Brennan noticed how Booth was staring at her. She was getting nervous. That was his thinking look. She knew he knew something was up.
"Going off about what Booth said, I found some interesting things about the particulates they collected off this guy," Hodgins announced. "If I'm correct this man was not killed in that area. The area he was found in does not match the particulates found on him. I also did some calculations and suspect that this man died from somewhere between 8pm to 9pm. Why this is probably not Goodman is due to the fact he always leaves the school at 5pm and then goes home. Plus, where this man was killed it seems like he was killed in a tropical environment or in someone's home. The particulates and Goodman don't match up-"
"Yes, but this could very likely still mean Goodman. Am I wrong?" Angela asked.
"Yeah, I'm afraid so. There isn't enough solid evidence," Brennan finally spoke up. "Though looking at the fractures on this man's wrist, it does prove Hodgins' conclusion. I need to look at these more, but so far I can tell this was not a crime of passion. This was a crime of hatred. They way the body was buried and beaten prove that."
"Then it's not Goodman because he wouldn't do such a thing! He's a good man!" Booth interjected. "He'd never kill a man in cold way-"
"True, but we don't know that yet. Whether it was Goodman or not, we need more to prove his innocence," Brennan told him.
"I'll look into it more. My mom is the cornier on this case actually," Cam mentioned.
"She is? Since when?" Booth asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Since the last cornier the FBI used quit. I guess she was just assigned onto the job. In the meantime I'm going to see if I can get anything off of her," Cam announced, looking through some of the paperwork.
"Alright, we'll meet here again at the same time tomorrow. Agreed?" Angela said, looking at everyone. "Let's just hope whoever the killer is be brought to justice."
Once the others dispersed Brennan could tell Booth was on her tail. "Hey Bones, why were you so quiet in chem today?" He asked, walking besides her.
Seeley Booth knew something was up the moment Brennan came into school. The way she acted, it was the same way his mother would act after his father would beat her. Marianne Booth would cover her face up and become irritable and aloof at times. She tried to give Seeley and Jared a happy, loving mother, but she couldn't stand being with Edwin Booth after he threw her down the stairs and almost killed her. That day was the last time he ever saw his mother.
"I'm just tired Booth, that's all," She lied, looking down at her books.
"Are you sure? Because you don't seem yourself today," He said, touching her arm gently. "And I'm worried."
"There's nothing to be worried about. Don't worry about me, I'm fine," She blurted out.
"Bones-"
"No, Booth. Really. I am fine. I just had a rough night, that's all," Brennan responded, walking furiously down the hall.
"Well I don't believe that. Okay maybe I believe it was a rough night, but I don't think you're telling me something," Booth said, rushing after her. "And I'm not going to stop bugging you until I know."
"Booth, sometimes you don't need to know about everything in my life. It's my life, just stay out of it!" Brennan lashed out. "Please. For my sake you won't."
"Why? I won't judge you Bones, you know that. I trust you, so please trust me," He begged her. "Because I don't think you do."
"Booth I trust you," She said, frowning as she held her books tighter to her chest. "I just…I just can't do this right now."
"Why? You are not acting like yourself, Bones," He said as a matter of fact. "Please."
After he said that Brennan looked at him for a few moments with questioning blue eyes.
"Just please, tell me," Booth begged, his voice raw. Brennan could tell this was upsetting him. "I just...I just need to know you're okay, please Bones? Please?"
"Booth, I trust you and I care about you...But I can't. I just can't," Brennan said, her eyes welding up with tears. "I'll see you tomorrow." She then began to run away, back into the school.
"Bones, come back. Please. I didn't want to upset you! Bones!" Booth called out to her as he ran after her, only to be stopped by the bell ringing.
For the rest of the day it would bother Seeley Booth. All he could think about was his Bones. He cared for her. He never wanted anything to harm her and something in his gut was telling him that she was hurting. He wanted to be there for her. He wanted to be with her and know that everything in her life was alright.
After school, Booth looked all over for Brennan. She was no where to be seen. Finally he came across Angela and Hodgins in the hall, holding hands as they made their way to her locker.
Hodgins just got off of school with Zack so he decided to meet up with his new girlfriend at the school.
"I'll be right back. I just need to make sure Cam can give Zack a ride home and then we can go on our date," he replied, smiling as he kissed her hand. Angela, charmed by the little bug boy, smiled.
"See ya then," she said before he left. Once Hodgins was gone, Booth came over.
"Hey Angela," He said, coming over to her side. "Have you seen Bones?"
"She went home early," Angela informed him. "Something about having to help her mom or dad with something...Is it just me or did she seem a little off today?"
"Something was off," Booth muttered, taking his car keys out. "I'll see you tomorrow Ange."
"Look, if you're going to check on her don't make it worse. You're a good guy, Seeley Booth, just don't do something you'll regret it. Brennan may be smart and tough, but I know there's more to her. I think she's been through some things and may not be ready to tell us yet," Angela mentioned to him as she closed her locker door. "And if you do hurt her I'll smack the crap out of you."
"I know, Angela. I know." Booth smiled at her. "I won't hurt her. That's the last thing I want to do to her. I just want to be there for her."
"Okay. Good luck then G-man," Angela said, causing Booth to chuckle before he got into his car. First he stopped home to tell Pops he might be a little late because a friend was in need, but after that he then drove to Brennan's house and parked across the street. He watched for anything suspicious, but nothing. He was going to knock on her door when he noticed a car pull up into the driveway. A man got out and he seemed exhausted as he stumbled into the home. Once he got in there, there was some screaming, but after that stillness. That's when Booth could finally see across the street, through the window that Brennan was sitting in her bed reading a book.
Quietly Booth got out of the car and headed over to her window. He tapped on it lightly, trying not to spook her. It did the trick because it caught Brennan's attention. She opened the window to come face to face with him.
"Booth? Why are you here?" She asked alarmed. "Are you stalking me?"
"No. Not at all. I came to see if you were okay but then your folks started screaming," He said, motioning to the door.
"You shouldn't have come here Booth," Brennan told him, frowning. "I'm fine."
"It doesn't look like that," Booth said, eyeing her carefully. It was dark outside and he couldn't make out her face quite well, but he could tell something was off.
"Fine," She grumbled, opening the window wider. "Get in. They're asleep and they will be for the next couple of hours."
"Thank you," Booth replied as he then crawled into Brennan's bedroom. It was small, quaint, and pretty bare. He expected to see more books or something. When he turned around to face Brennan, hair still covered her face. She was dressed in a pair of pajamas though, something Booth hasn't seen her in yet. It was a blue long sleeve shirt a tad bit big on her and she was in a pair of blue flannel pants.
"Booth, there's a lot about me you don't know and a lot the others don't even know. It's better that way because if you did...You'd judge me."
"I won't ever judge you Bones. You gotta understand that," Booth said, touching her arm gently. "Neither will Angela, Hodgins, Zack, or even Cam. You're brilliant and beautiful. Whatever you have going on at home or is in the past, that doesn't make you who you are."
Brennan gave him a weak smile before sitting down on her bed. "Look...I'll tell you but if you tell anyone I will never be able to trust you again. Ever again. Promise me you won't. Crisscross your heart and everything."
"It's cross your heart, Bones," Booth said, taking his hand and forming an x over his heart. "And I promise."
"Good...And you can't say anything to the others but...I'm...I'm a foster kid. Those two people I live with, they aren't my real parents. These people, they're mean and they yell. So I don't get much sleep at night...And this is what it's like to be a foster kid. This is what it's like even for the Sweets. It's rough and it's mean and you can't do anything about it. So yes, I was tired this morning because my foster dad got angry last night and kept the whole house awake," Brennan explained to him.
"Bones, that doesn't make me think any less of you. It's okay that you're a foster kid, I don't mind," Booth told her, touching her hand lightly. "And I'm glad you told me...It's just, are they abusing you?"
"Booth-"
"Are. They. Abusing. You?" He asked again, his tone very serious as he looked at her dead in the eye. "I need to know this."
"No," Brennan lied through her teeth. Booth nodded, taking her word, but he was still very unsure. She was still uneasy about it.
"Bones-"
"I'm not lying Booth. Look, just don't ask anymore questions because if you do they'll take me away," Brennan hissed at him. "I've been in worse homes than this. Okay? I've been hit before, so when I say this home isn't bad I mean it. My last foster homes, some were nice but those they never last. Then there are the horrible ones which you just have to get through. You can't do anything about it even though the parents are cable of terrible things. Okay? This is one of those where I don't mind. I am happy at school and I only have a year left so I'd like to stay here. I don't want to leave D.C, so don't ask anymore questions!" She fumed.
"Alright, Bones. I'll drop it. But if they are, tell me. Please tell me because I never want to see you get hurt. Got it? I've...I've dealt with that crap before. I don't want someone else to go through it too."
"You were abused?" Brennan asked, her tone surprised.
"Yeah. I don't like to talk about it, but yes. I was. My dad. He was an alcoholic. He beat me. I know the drill of when someone is getting harmed like that..." He trailed off, grabbing the St. Christopher's medal that Pops gave him.
"I'm sorry Booth," Brennan told him, touching his knee gently.
"It's in the past. I'm fine. It doesn't effect who I am now, and neither does you being a foster kid effect who you are," Booth said softly. She nodded, looking away still.
"You want to go somewhere?" Brennan asked him curiously. "Just a thought."
"Where? It's getting late out," Booth said, looking at his watch.
"My foster parents won't be awake till eleven in the morning. They won't know I'm gone...Just please Booth. I need to get out of here."
"Fine, come on," He said, grabbing her hand. Brennan quickly threw on her coat and climbed out the window with him. Together they went in his car and drove until they got to the Jefferson Memorial. They parked the car right out in front so they could see the lights of D.C flickering on the water.
"Why did you want to come here?" Booth asked her curiously as they got out of the car.
"I don't know. I just needed to go somewhere other than there," Brennan muttered under her breath.
"I know the feeling, I use to leave my house in the middle of the night sometimes and roam Philly for a good few hours while my dad got angry. Use to take Jared with me sometimes…Just to help clear my mind..."
"Yeah, that's what I need," Brennan said, looking over at Booth. Her hair still covered her face along with a new coat of make up.
The two then walked around the memorial for a bit, just standing in the silence. After awhile they then headed back into the car where the two sat in the back seat and talked for a bit. I don't think either of them realized it was well past midnight by now.
"I wish everything with Goodman going on right now and everything else horrible would just end. And I wish you all the happiness in the world, Temperance Brennan," Booth said to her softly at one point he looked up at the stars through his windshield.
"That's impossible," Brennan whispered, brining her knees to her chest.
"No. It's not. It's very possible and it'll happen to you one day. I promise," Booth said. Brennan smiled and then leaned her head against Booth's shoulder. In response he rested his on top of hers and the two just laid in his back seat, falling asleep.
A/N: Sorry for not updating in such a long time, but ta da! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and are enjoying the new season! It's getting good! Btw I did change my pen name so if you guys get confused for some odd reason, I'm now the Butterflywhisperer previously Sibuna826twihard. Soooo in the meantime, please review, thanks for reading, and keep on the look out for the next update!
