Hi everyone, sorry it has been so long, I went over to Ireland for a few days to visit my family, and then I was competing my horse Bella. I have had a good half term and have been thinking about what to write but having a bit of writers block, any ideas? Let me know.

Thanks to all those who have reviewed

Anyway hope you like it…

Chapter 10 –

Brenna had fallen asleep on Angela's sofa and Ange didn't have the heart to wake her, this was the first time since April had been taken that she had got any proper sleep, she had been sitting there crying for ages until she had cried herself to sleep. Angela was amazed; she had never seen Brennan without her emotions trapped behind a strong wall, but ever since April had arrived that wall had been crumbling to show everyone how human she actually was, now the wall was completely gone and her emotions had been set free for the first time since her parents had disappeared.

She looked back at her computer screen, and began to try a different technique of cleaning the photo, the last shred of hope that they had left of finding April, it scared her that the child's life may be now resting in her hand, but it drove her on, making her even more determined to find the young girl.

''hey Angie how's it going'' she whirled round to see Booth standing in the doorway, the stunned, vacant expression on his face that he had been wearing since the phone call still written on his face ''err hi, I don't know, I have cleared it up a bit but not enough to get a face yet, the camera wasn't exactly of the highest quality so I don't know how well the picture will turn out'' Angela looked at him before dropping her head ''I'm sorry'' she whispered.

Booth moved into the room ''don't you apologise Ange, you have worked so hard to try and find her and there is no way we can ever repay you for how much you have done for April, not just now while she is'' he swallowed hard before continuing ''missing but for her whole life you have been there for her when we weren't'' Angela smiled a small smile ''you were always there for her Booth even if you didn't realise, you were always there''

Booth gazed at her sadly ''except for now'' Angela looked at him ''as you said you can't always be there'' Booth shook his head before looking at his watch ''its almost nine'' he noted ''we are expecting the call soon, can you get a fix on my phone to track whatever calls come in?'' Angela nodded and began to do so, once it was done she turned to face Booth and found him kneeling next to the couch gently brushing hair out of Brennan's face, she jerked awake crying out ''APRIL'' before remembering and crumpling into Booth's arms sobbing as he cradled.

The rest of the team all slipped into the room along with some FBI kidnap and ransom professionals, they had already been briefed and were here to see what they could get from the call, Dr Sweets wondered in to offer support and see what he could evaluate from the call.

They waited.

It was almost an hour after everyone had arrived that the phone eventually rang.

Everyone stiffened and gripping Brennan's hand he looked up at the FBI guys who nodded and slowly he picked up the phone, everyone was wearing headphones so they could her what was going to be said.

''Hello'' Booth answered

''hello Agent Booth, how are you holding up'' the kidnapper's voice taunted from the other end

''I'll be better once you are either dead or behind bars''

Nemesis chuckled ''sorry but that is not going to happen, are you going to give me my money, and keep your daughter alive, or shall I end her suffering now''

''where is our proof of life'' Booth demanded

There was a short pause than an audible sigh ''accept the video conference coming onto your laptop now''

Booth dived for his laptop, opened it and accepted the conference and the screen went black for a minute before a live video came up and he felt fresh pain explode into life inside him as he stared at his little girl.

April was lying on the stone floor of a small barely lit cell, she lay on her side facing the camera, and she was not moving, then there was a crack of a whip and she jerked up, instantly defensive, but all the pride and fight had been drained out of her, she cowered away. Her usually warm sparkling brown eyes were dull and almost lifeless, the hair that usually shone and hung in gentle waves was now flat and lifeless, she had always been skinny but now there was nothing of her, the clothes she was wearing were hanging off her making her look incredibly tiny, she was covered in dirt and grime, but not enough to hide the wounds that covered almost every inch of her skin.

Her clothes hung in rags barely covering her, showing more cuts cris - crossing across her slender frame, some of the wounds were beginning to heal but most of them, were infected and could not heal, she had a black eye and a split lip, most of her face along with most of her body was covered in blood. Where there were no cuts there were bruises, there was not a piece of uninjured skin in sight.

The sight of his daughter like this made rage rear up inside of him, like a snake ready to strike, April's eyes seemed to boar into his fixing him in place, they were full of fear, but also of a sort of anger that he had seen in her mothers eyes, when she was about to start fighting back.

He watched as her fingers slowly began twitching, scratching at the dirt on the floor, drawing something that he couldn't make out, he tried to squint at it but couldn't make it out. The voice of Nemesis bought him back into focus though as he began to make his demands.

''right now there is your proof, so where is my money, do we have an agreement'' Booth glanced sideways at the kidnap and ransom experts who were staring intently at the video, at his glance though they nodded and Booth slowly accepted the deal, just hoping and praying that they would have her back soon and this would soon all be over.

''excellent'' Nemesis said and they could hear the smile in his voice ''send it to the unmarked bank account, I'm sending you the details now''

Once Angela had confirmed that she had the bank details and Booth had told Nemesis this he glanced back down at the picture on his laptop, April was still scratching at the dirt deepening the lines that she had already made, she looked straight at the camera and then down at the ground, she waited a few seconds before repeating the move and then after waiting briefly again she wiped the dirt drawing away, before curling away from the camera and they could see that she was trying to hide the worst of her wounds.

''I wonder how long you will be able to keep this up agent Booth'' Nemesis pondered ''I know that the FBI does not earn that much and I'm sure Dr Brennan's books don't make enough to keep you daughter alive for that long'' ''we will find away to pay'' Booth said shortly ''for as long as it takes to find you and kill you we WILL find away to get the money'' there was a pause on the other end of the phone before Nemesis replied almost sceptically ''uh huh if you say so, well lets see how long it goes shall we, well I got to go Agent Booth, spend some time with your daughter, see if I can increase the pain you are all in''

Once again they all shouted ''NO'' but Nemesis had already hung up, everyone's attention went back to the screen where they could see April huddled, her head whipped round to show her face streaked with tears, her eyes widened in fear and she began to back away, a masked man with his back to the camera entered their view and made his way towards the young girl who seemed to be begging him, shaking her head vigorously from side to side, he was wielding a large heavy looking stick which he raised above his head, April let out another desperate silent plea before covering her head.

The stick came down, once, twice, three times.

Brennan turned her head away and Booth struggled not to be sick or loose his temper, as he watched April silently crying out as the heavy stick beat at her back, she slumped to the floor, and just took the beatings, tears running down her cheeks freely, not held back. Everyone was glad there was no sound; they wouldn't have been able to bear her screams or the sounds of the heavy wood striking her.

April's attacker turned then to face the camera, he was wearing a mask, a clown mask. April wasn't afraid of clowns like he was (though he would never admit to that) but she shared his distaste for them, though after this she would probably understand his hatred for them.

Nemesis waved at the camera before pointing something at the camera and then the connection was lost.

And once again they were left without April's location, but they had the video and April's little drawing, but the question was, could it lead them to her?

Well hope you liked it PLEASE REVIEW I promise I will update sooner it I get more reviews

Thanks

Mysticgirl101