(Thanks for the reviews!)
Hodgins gulped a bit as he stared at the man with the gun.
"My boss wanted me to see how far you are with getting the money, and if you don't have any of it to leave your girlfriend the message. After all she's the only one who knows about this right?" He sneered.
"Um, yes..." Lied Hodgins. "And no I don't have the money yet...But I'm getting it out of my account right now!" He added quickly with fear in his eyes as he stared at the gun.
"Just um out of curiousty what type of message did your um boss want to send?" He managed to ask.
Suddenly the door opened and Zach entered the apartment for he too shared it with Hodgins until he got his own place.
"Hey Hodgins, how are you doing with getting the..." He stopped as he stared at the man and the man whirled around -while Hodgins shouted at Zach to leave -and shot Zach directly into the shoulder. Zach yelped, clutched his shoulder in surprise, and collapsed.
"That's the message." The man snapped. "And next time we meet and you don't have the money I'll aim better." With that he walked out past a groaning Zach and closed the door behind him leaving Hodgins in shock for a few seconds before hurrying to Zach.
"Damn it." He cursed as he studied Zach's shoulder.
"Is it bad?" Grimiced Zach. Hodgins nodded.
"But it could be worse." He told him opitimistaclly.
"Great thanks." Zach laughed bitterly.
"Come on, we need to get you to the hospital." Hodgins said and helped Zach to his feet to lead him to the elevator and headed towards his car. The hospital was only a few minutes away.
"Who the hell was that man anyways?" Zach managed to ask weakly while Hodgins helped him in the car.
"The messenger." Sighed Hodgins and hoped he wouldn't come back. It was more then clear for Hodgins that the man got his message accross. He didn't need to be reminded off twice.
(Scene switches a few hours later at the hospital and Cam picks her cell phone up that's ringing.)
"Cam here." She said as she anxiously waited for the results on Zach.
"It's Booth." Booth said on the other line. He was in the car now with Russ, Max and Louise, heading towards Max's Safe House.
"Booth what the hell are you calling me for? It could be dangerous!"
"That's why I called you on your cell. You have it with you all the time, you know for a fact that it's not tapped."
"True..."Sighed Cam.
"You seem a little on edge, what's wrong?" Booth asked and Cam sighed again.
"Booth I don't know how to tell you this." She said quietly.
"Tell me what?"
She fell silent.
"Zach's been shot Seely." She said and Booth stared at the road in shock.
"What?"
"Someone came to give Hodgins's a message about getting the money in on time and um well...Zach showed up and the man shot Zach in the shoulder..."
"Jesus." Booth muttered, rubbing his forehead.
"What's wrong?" Russ asked.
"Zach's been shot." Booth said quietly.
"What?!" Russ shouted.
"Sh..." Booth hissed. "How is he?" He asked to Cam who shook her head.
"I...I don't know." She whispered. "Booth, nothing like this has happened, what if... What if the person who did this tries it again not just to Zach but to other people here? What if you can't find Brennan in time?"
"Don't ask these questions. It's not healthy. Right now the team needs you to be calm, especially Zach." Booth told her sharply.
She nodded, still trembling, a bit in shock over what's happening.
"Yes, you're right Seely."
"I'm always right Cam." Booth smiled and she smiled at that too but the smile quickly faded as the doctor that was working on Zach's wound came over in a non expressional face.
"I've got to go Booth. The doctor is here, he's going to tell me the Zach's diagnostic."
Booth nodded.
"Call me back on my cell and let me know how he is." He asked.
"I promise." She agreed and hung up and stared at the doctor, terrified on what he would say, terrified on what the outcome might be...