Chapter 8

Brennan could tell that everyone was annoyed with the answer that they had been given. Both Brennan and Booth had informed them that what was going in their personal lives had no bearing on business and work issues, so they weren't going to let them in on anything that was going on there. Brennan knew that Angela would pull her aside later, and she would find a way to get her to talk, that was what Angela always did, she found a way under your defenses. Brennan could see that Dr. Sweets and Daisy were talking quietly were they had parked themselves when they had arrived earlier and she was happy to have more of her friends around her. She didn't understand or see things the way everyone else did, she knew that much, but she knew that they all cared about her and because of that, they cared about her daughter. Alana was going to be so happy to see how loved she is when she was returned home to her. Brennan felt tears in her eyes and knew it was because she was so scared that the people who mattered so much to her, might never get to meet the little girl who held her heart.

"How could I have been so stupid?" Brennan muttered to herself as she walked down the hallway to Alana's room, mainly because she thought of it as a place to be close to her daughter, even though Alana hadn't been there yet. She wasn't sure why she felt that way, logically and scientifically being in that room with a bunch of stuff, most of which Alana hadn't even touched or seen, wouldn't bring her closer to her daughter, but she felt that way.

Brennan didn't know how long she had been sitting by herself in the bedroom but she looked up when the door opened and Hodgins walked in and saw in one of the chairs in the room. He studied her closely, almost like he studied particles and things under a microscope and she squirmed a little bit. She wasn't sure what it was he was looking at, but it was starting to annoy her.

"I am trying to figure out how you could have slept with Booth back before you really knew him. I mean now, everyone knows why you two would sleep together, you two are perfect together and you get along greatly. You two know each other extremely well, it's almost like you two have been around each other forever, but back then?" Hodgkins looked at her, cocking one eyebrow in complete confusion and question.

"He was nice to me and we were working on a case together. I don't have to really know someone, to sleep with them." Brennan pointed out, frowning at her friend and co-worker. She had nothing but respect for Hodgins, and thought he was amazingly smart and talented, but there were some things she wouldn't ever share with him and some things that she knew he crossed the line on getting information on.

"Look, I am only saying this because I consider both of you as my friends. You two need to lean on each other right now, both of you need to quit pretending you can handle this on your own and that you don't want to burden the other one or make things harder for each other. You both have a daughter that was kidnapped by a woman who kidnapped both of you at one time as well. You both know what she is capable of and you are both scared out of your minds for Alana. You need to be there for each other, and you know I am right." Jack Hodgins said as he sighed before he got up and left the bedroom. He knew she needed time to process what he had said and she would need to see for herself that she needed Booth and he needed her.


Alana winced as a spider crawled across her legs. She hated spiders, even though her mom said not all spiders were bad and that they were good for the planet, she hated them. She bit her lip because she wanted to scream but she knew better. The mean lady wouldn't believe she was screaming because she saw a spider, she would think she was trying to get herself some help and then she would get in big trouble and she didn't want to get in trouble again, she hated it when she got in trouble. She was hungry, she was dirty and she wanted her mommy. She felt the tears falling down her face and she started to move her legs, she brought her knees up to her chest and started rocking back and forth as she started to cry, all she wanted was her mommy, she really wanted her mommy.

"I miss you mommy, I love you so much." Alana whispered softly into the middle of the dark closet she was locked inside. She wasn't allowed to sleep on a bed or anything soft, sometimes if the closet was too small, she didn't even get to lay down. This time was one of those times, it was a very small and cramped closet and so she had to sleep sitting up if she wanted to sleep, but she wasn't tired and she didn't want to fall asleep in there. "I want to go home, please find me mommy."


Booth could tell that his wife was beating herself up. Everyone had gone home, taking pieces of work with them so they could continue on at their own places and come back here tomorrow. However, if there was something that needed the lab then they would head there and work for a while. Booth was watching Brennan push her food around on her plate and he was becoming more and more concerned for his wife. Glancing over he saw Jared, his younger brother, watching Brennan with a concerned look as well. Booth finally let his fork hit his plate, making a clattering sound and he leaned back in his chair, wondering what he could say or do that would help his wife right now, but there was nothing because like her he felt helpless. Their young daughter was out there with a serial killer and there was nothing they could do for her, they didn't even know if she was alive, and that was the kicker because if it turned out that Alana was dead or if she died because he didn't get to her in time, then Booth would never be able to forgive himself, ever.