Author's Notes: There've been a series of reviews/pms with people telling me things like 'there were no cell phones in 1994' and 'how can Goodman be the same age as them?' 'But Brennan's older than Angela'. Good points yes, but this is AU (not to mention fanfiction), which means it's set now (demonstrated in Chapter 9 with the case file Angela comes across, dated '2006') and that I can place the characters wherever I want age-wise. If I can get away with putting them all in the same school (especially when it's mentioned in season 1 that they all went to different schools) then I don't think the rest really matters. I'm sorry if that caused any confusion at the beginning but I hope it's okay now and that you can enjoy the rest of the story.
Chapter 10: Text Message
"So we're exactly are we headed?" Seeley asked, duffel thrown over one shoulder as he turned the key in the lock and pocketed it.
She gave him a funny look. His expression was deadly serious but there was just something about the way he had said that, that made her wonder whether or not he was just humouring her; waiting for her to back down and decide that maybe running away wasn't such a good idea in the first place.
Only she would hardly call it running away, more… investigating. Besides, you have to have somewhere to run either too or from. She didn't, not anymore, most of her belongings were in her bag, the rest she could live without, she had no destination and she didn't really have a home. The Booths was nice, pleasant almost but it wouldn't last, they never did. Six months, four names, Patrick, Swanson, O'Connor and Gardiner, wouldn't be long before those four became five, five became six, six became seven –
"Hey," Seeley waved his hand in front of her face "Earth to Bones,"
Temperance swatted his hand away, "what?"
"Where're we going?"
"I…"
"No pressure," he said, as if he thought he'd pushed too hard "I was just wondering, we could just walk for a while – see where we end up,"
She nodded, she couldn't conjure a reason to argue with him, and it gave her time to think.
They walked in companionable silence, the roads were quiet; scarcely a soul in sight, and for one bizarre – and incredibly paranoid moment – Temperance felt like everyone was watching them from behind their lace white blinds.
She was yet to figure out why Booth was with her, his life was fine, normal even, he had friends, a family… the most stressful thing in his life was probably whether to watch Saturday-morning cartoons or study for finals. So why was he following her? He'd known her what… less than a month, why abandon all that for someone he barely knew?
"What're you thinking about?" he asked softly as they rounded the corner, she stumbled on the soft verge and he caught her arm, steadying her easily.
"Nothing," she answered reflexively, stepping out of reach and crossing the road, barely even looking for traffic.
He followed "you okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied tersely.
"Look, you don't have too-"
"I'm doing this," she whirled around to face him "I'm doing this and I don't care if you come with me or not. I can't for one second imagine why you would want too but then again you're hardly what I would describe as the average person so you can do whatever you want too do but please," she paused, "stop asking me questions,"
He put his hands up in defence "that's cool," he answered "I just thought that… you know, I'd tell you that mom and dad really like you and…" he cut himself off under her steely gaze "okay," he said "okay,"
The woods were, once more, dark, as if an eerie reminder of the crime that had been committed there. Even the air felt damp, and the only sounds were that of their breathing, which sounded absurdly loud, she shivered as a light breeze flicked through the trees, playing with her hair and tickling her neck. She reached into her pocket for her gloves; her hands numb and fingers fumbling as she tried to retrieve them.
"Bones look out!"
Temperance span around in time to see a dark figure disappear back into the shadows, she stepped backwards, tugging her gloves on as she did so. She jumped when her back hit her companions, she almost let out a shrill squeak but Seeley clapped his hand over her mouth, she grabbed his wrist and pulled it away.
"Shh!" he hissed.
"Why?" she replied "whoever it is knows we're here,"
"We need to leave," Seeley said, scanning the area for a stick or small branch, something he could use if they had to defend themselves.
She turned to face him "I already-"
Something hit her between the shoulder blades, sending her sprawling to the ground, stars dancing in front of her eyes as she tried to push herself back up, another blow and the stars faded to nothing, blackness overcoming her as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Seeley yelled, dodging their attacker clumsily, backing up as fast as he could, panic rising and reaching its peak as he hit a trunk. Trapped between the masked-man and the tree he squeezed his eyes shut and pressed himself instinctively further into the tree, as if hoping that it would protect him when he was eventually hit. Muscles tense and his heart hammering in his throat he flinched as a loud bang ricocheted through the woodland, there was a series of clicks and rustling leaves as a further two bangs sounded. It was several seconds before he dared open his eyes, and when he did he was surprised to see the 'skeedaddle' man standing there, wielding a shotgun.
"What the…?" he whispered breathlessly.
The man hobbled over to him, two callous-rough fingers gripped his chin and Seeley resisted the urge to recoil as his head was turned from side to side, before the man clapped his shoulder and asked "ye all righ' boy?"
"I'm," he swallowed "I'm fine,"
"No yer not," the man said gruffly, limping back over to where Seeley saw Temperance was lying.
"Bones!" he exclaimed, rushing forwards and falling to his knees besides his fallen friend, rolling her onto her back he patted her cheek lightly "Bones… Tempe… wake up…"
The man leaned his gun up against the nearest tree and crouched down beside them, knees creaking as he pulled a canteen from his belt, Temperance came round just as he was unscrewing the cap "here ya are love," he said, holding the bottle out.
She blinked at him and Seeley gave him an incredulous look, as if he wasn't sure what to think.
"Go on," he said, sighing and pressing it into her hand "it ain't poisoned,"
Tentatively she pushed herself into a sitting position, biting back a cry of pain as she did so. She sipped the canteen cautiously, but once satisfied that it was only water she took several dip sips before handing it back.
"Ye okay?"
She nodded but cut herself off, shaking her head when the motion made her head spin.
The man pushed himself to his feet "I like 'er," he said to Seeley, gesturing at Temperance "she tells the truth." He fixed the canteen back to his belt, picked up his shotgun and gave the duo an expectant look "well come on then, cannee have ye lying out here in the open can I?"
Temperance and Seeley shared a look as the man started shuffling away.
They stood in the doorway to the cabin, the inside blissfully warm compared to the way it felt outside, of course the roaring fire in the corner might have had something to do with that.
"'Ere," the man said, holding out two coarse blankets, a cigar resting between his lips as he spoke.
"Uh…" Temperance started, taking one of the blankets for herself as Seeley took the other.
"C'mon in," he let out a puff of smoke as he settled into the armchair closest to the burning furnace "yer lettin' all the heat out,"
Seeley shut the door, glancing at Temperance carefully.
There was silence for a long while, the man was staring at the fire contemplatively, smoking his cigar dutifully and tapping ash onto a saucer at his elbow. During that time both Seeley and Temperance managed to edge their way forwards, coming to a halt at the couch and warily sitting down.
The man looked up, looking from the unused blankets to the two teenagers holding them "ah dinna give yer them for yer to stare at." He smirked as the boy practically fell off the couch trying to hastily wrap the blanket around his shoulders, the girl took a moment longer but did the same at a much slower pace.
"Who are you?" Temperance asked as the man finished his cigar and flicked the stub into the fire.
"Jeffrey,"
"Jeffrey…" Seeley prompted.
The man got to his feet, rummaging through something on the mantle piece "just Jeffrey,"
"That it? No last name?" Temperance asked, blinking when the man stared at her.
Jeffrey re-took his seat "so what's yer names then?"
"I'm…" Seeley hesitated "I'm Tony and this is Roxie,"
Jeffrey raised his eyebrows, sighing and looking at Temperance expectantly.
"Seeley and Temperance," she supplied, ignoring Seeley as he elbowed her sharply in the ribs.
Jeffrey gave Seeley a look "see?" he said "the truth," he relaxed back into his chair, crossing his legs and drumming his fingers absently on his knees "so what'cha doin' all the way out 'ere?"
Silence.
"Well?" Jeffrey prompted "c'mon, I ain't gonna judge ya. What was it? Drugs? Sex? Beer?"
"No!" Seeley exclaimed, "we were…"
Temperance picked up where he left off "we were going for a walk,"
Jeffrey snorted "I ain't stupid," he said, although he sounded more amused than offended "I seen ye before,"
They both stiffened.
"Easy kids," he said "I ain't gonna hurt ya, wouldn't saved yer asses if I wan'ed to do that would I? Ain't nothing I hate more than child killers,"
"We're… uh…"
Jeffrey nodded curtly "yer runnin' away," he said.
It was strange – and kind of creepy – how he could figure out so much. Neither of them said anything.
"Why though? Ye look like nice kids. Ye get grounded? Pocket money stopped? Yer daddy get drunk and kick ye out?"
Seeley's eyes narrowed "c'mon Temperance," he said, getting to his feet and holding out his hand "let's go,"
"My parents are missing," Temperance said, without looking at either Jeffrey or Seeley "I'm going to find them,"
Jeffrey frowned, glancing at Seeley.
"She's my foster sister," the teen replied, sitting back down, albeit reluctantly.
"Ahh," Jeffrey said thoughtfully "and ye think that them folks they found out 'ere, are yers,"
Temperance gave no indication that she heard him, never mind cared what he'd said. Another silence followed that was interrupted by a sharp beep, Seeley pulled his cell phone from his pocket, flipping it open and reading the message.
'Where are you? Ms Jessup said Bren's sick. Angela. x'Ignoring the stares he could feel on him he replied: 'We're fine, we'll be back soon. Don't worry. Seeley.'
"Anyone interestin'?" Jeffrey asked, a smile tugging at his thin lips.
Seeley ignored him and looked at Temperance "Angela,"
The quiet that followed was comfortable, or at least as comfortable as it could be, Jeffrey stoked the fire, lit another cigar and didn't say another word. Neither did anyone else.
Author's Notes: Short but… it's here :P Please review!