Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, typical!
Ok I am so sorry for the delay on this one. I won't make excuses but I hope at least some of you are still interested. Lets see how this chapter goes and if reviews suggest people are still keen I'll try and update again by the end of the weekensd.
For all of you who have been kind enough to review; this is for you!
Booth and Brennan remained silent most of the way to the rectory each absorbing the words they had just spoken. Brennan sat there waiting to feel scared but her senses failed her. They soon kicked in again but only in terms of being scared that she wasn't scared which she soon considered to be irrational and as such she chose to ignore those fears. She played with her fingers marvelling at how different it felt to his touch and yet in some ways he felt as if he was such a part of her that his touch was not the same as any other foreign object. She looked over to watch Booth as he drove and had to smile at the grin that was plastered across his face. She had little doubt that she was the reason behind his smile and the knowledge of this made her heart skip a beat.
Booth's smile widened as he became aware that she was watching him. Her interest and openness had truly shocked him and he came to the conclusion that he really had underestimated her. He did not know why he had assumed that she would be guarded with the man she was with but he had done. His mind went back to Michael and he supposed that they had worked in quite close proximity to one another and yet she was open enough with him to be uncharacteristically indiscreet about case details years after they had split up. He came to the conclusion that it was incredibly difficult to gain her trust, to get her to let you in, but once you had she gave her trust completely. In a bizarre way Brennan had a very trusting nature and this element of her character was part of what had drawn Booth too her. Her naivety ensured that she perhaps wasn't as jaded as he was, as suspicious of everyone's motives, the hidden agenda behind each action.
As Booth pulled the car over he turned to meet Brennan's gaze, this time she did not look away she simply looked inquisitively at him.
"What is going on in that mind of yours Bones?" Booth questioned, his fingers grazing her cheek lovingly.
"Are you scared Booth?" She questioned, the nature of her query taking him aback.
"Scared of what?" He asked, wanting to clarify exactly what it was she was trying to get her head around.
"This." She replied gesturing between the two of them.
"I suppose I am a bit, it's so new, but that doesn't mean we should back away because it's a bit scary Bones." Booth affirmed, hoping that this was not a delayed reaction on her part. He didn't relish the idea of her ending things before they had really had a chance to begin.
"I know Booth, I'm not backing away I just can't work out whether I am scared more by the idea of this working or the idea of it not." Her face crumpled in deep thought.
Booth smiled at her, relieved and amused by the expression on her face.
"Why are you grinning at me again Booth? I'm serious."
"I'm sorry Bones, I guess you just make me smile, which in my book isn't a bad thing."
"You don't have a book Booth." Brennan said in all seriousness.
"Bones…" he began before leaning in to kiss her forehead. "Do you know what would help?"
"What?" She responded dubiously.
"If you tried to think a little bit less. I know it's a challenge for you but perhaps you should try not to worry and just enjoy things."
"I don't try to worry Booth." She spoke defensively, shying away from his touch.
"I know" he soothed, moving closer and stroking her hair, "nor do I but I do. But I guess that just says how much you mean to me doesn't it." He said smiling.
"Don't use your charm smile on me Booth." Brennan laughed pushing him away lightly. "It won't work on me."
"Bones we both know it will."
"It won't Booth I can assure you of that."
"If that's what you want to think then fine, feel free, go ahead but I know that you know you find me charming."
"Seriously Booth you need to check your ego sometime because it is spiralling out of control."
"I guess that's what waking up with a beautiful woman does to me."
"Booth." Brennan blushed, "Stop with the lines ok?"
"Only because we have work to do, we can pick this up later."
"That's what you think." Brennan teased getting out of the car.
Booth knocked on the Vicar's door with a certain degree of insistence. When the door had not been opened after a few minutes Brennan began to get impatient and headed around the back to see through the windows.
"Bones where are you going?" Booth called after her.
"To check out the back. You stay there"
"Which one of us is the cop here Bones?" Booth asked waving his hands and rolling his eyes.
She did not answer him she simply cast an incredulous look over her shoulder at him as she disappeared down the side of the house.
"Bones" Booth sighed shaking his head, half amused and half frustrated. He knocked on the door again and having received no answer he decided to follow Bones. Moving smoothly down the path behind her he slowed as he noticed she was watching something. She sensed movement behind her and tensed. Booth hoped that she would turn to identify the fact that it was him rather than launching in to an attack straight off. Booth touched her shoulder lightly and let out the breath he had been holding when she turned slightly, enough to catch his eye and urge him to follow her eye line.
In the garden the vicar was sitting next to a pretty blonde woman on a small bench. They were sitting close together and even Brennan noted the non platonic indicators that were rife within all aspects of the pair's interaction. The vicar held her hand loosely and she rested her head against his shoulder.
Booth leaned in to whisper " I guess we now know that the vicar likes girls half his age!" Booth smirked.
"No Booth." Brennan responded, "we simply know that he likes this girl half his age it is of no use to generalise. Just because he interacts with this woman in this way it does not mean he interacted with Laura Jacobs in the same way."
"Bones it is a reasonable assumption."
"A no more reasonable assumption than stating that you must be having sex with every woman you work with just because we…"
Booth cut her off with a look returning their attention to the vicar and his young companion. "Ok come on." Booth said pulling her away from the fence edge by the elbow.
"Come on where?" Brennan questioned although following him obediently. "I though we were going to 'bust him' or whatever it is?"
Booth smirked at Brennan's use of colloquial terms and began to explain. "I don't want him to know that we know he has precedence in fraternising with young women. It might make him more thorough if he is trying to hide something."
Brennan nodded in understanding. "So what do we do now?"
"Now Bones." Booth grinned, "We make enough noise to ensure we don't catch the vicar doing anything inappropriate!" With that Booth started back down the path towards the vicar shouting "Hello! Anyone home? Hello!" within a few seconds the vicar called back to indicate that he was in the garden. He met them with a smile at the garden gate; the young woman nowhere to be seen.
"Hello both." He said jovially. "What can I do for you?"
"Is there any chance we can come in and ask you a few questions Father?" Booth asked politely.
"Sure, sure no problem son." The vicar smiled opening the gate and gesturing for Brennan and Booth to come in to the garden.. "I only have about 20 minutes as we have a prayer meeting arranged for 11 and I can't possibly be late for that."
"No problem at all we only have a couple of questions." The vicar nodded for him to continue. "From our investigations it would seem that Laura Jacobs was a particularly religious woman. Did she come to you frequently for religious guidance?"
A look of genuine confusion spread across the vicar's face before he began his answer. "I'm afraid Agent Booth, I only knew Laura through her reputation. I met her only once when her daughter was in hospital and I was offering religious guidance then. She did not wish for me to stay and say a prayer with her daughter. She quiet forcefully asked me to leave."
"why was her daughter in hospital?" Brennan asked to clarify things in her own mind.
"For her broken arm and dislocated shoulder. She was in a fair amount of pain." He sighed.
"So Laura Jacobs never attended a church service here?"
The vicar shook his head.
"And you at no time went to visit her personally to try and encourage her to come to church?"
"Look Agent Booth I don't know what you are insinuating but I do my job well. I work hard at looking after the spiritual needs of this community. However I do not have the time, support or finances to approach every one to try and help."
"Ok Father, no offence intended." Booth smiled making calming gestures with his hands. "That's all the questions we have for now but you will be willing to answer further questions if anything else comes up?"
"Of course Agent Booth, you know where to reach me." The vicar smiled, regaining his composure.
With that the vicar held the gate open for Booth and Brennan to exit. Brennan offered a polite smile and wandered the path back to the SUV with a look of confusion etched across her face. As they got back in the car Booth muttered, "I just don't think he did it."
"For once Booth I have to agree with you on that one. He seemed to be telling the truth and although I stand by my original conviction that he is.." Brennan stalled looking for a word other than "creepy".
"Creepy?" Booth offered with a laugh.
"Creepy," Brennan repeated with a slight roll of her eyes "He didn't seem to know what you were trying to get at with regards to the home visits Laura was receiving."
"Well if he wasn't the vicar that was visiting her who was?"
"There are no other churches in this town Booth and none close by, it seems illogical to suggest that a practicing vicar would travel beyond his parish to visit one family."
"You think he is a fake vicar?" Booth questioned raising an eyebrow.
"I think whoever he is he had no legitimate reason for befriending and visiting the Jacobs women. My question is why, as a religious woman, did she not want prayers said for her daughter in the hospital room."
"We don't know she didn't want prayers Bones. We know she didn't want prayers offered by the creepy vicar."
"Booth!" Brennan sighed exasperated.
"I'm just saying maybe she thought he was creepy too."
"Maybe Booth but we have no definitive way of knowing. What we do need is an idea of what the person, whoever he was, that visited Laura looked like because his behaviour just doesn't fit."
"So I guess we head back to Florence Park and try and get a description. Maybe Angela can do something with it."
"No Booth Angela will need to ask the questions to get the image right. Maybe we could set up a video conference?"
"Using your laptop?"
"No such luck the video conferencing is still refusing to work. I haven't had a chance to put it in to be fixed. I'd expect the only facility round here with that kind of technology would be…" Brennan paused in realisation of what she was about to say "The Sheriffs office."
"I guess you want me to give him a call then?" Booth asked, extending his hand for Brennan's phone.
"Not before I phone Ange to Ok this with her. It's her day off and she had plans if she doesn't have time then that is her choice.
"I'm sure you can convince her." Booth offered a knowing grin.
Brennan hit speed dial 1 and took a deep breath knowing that Angela was most certainly not going to take this well.
"So decided to spill your guts then?" Angela drawled on the end of the line.
"Spill my what Ange?" Brennan asked furrowing her brow.
"You know sweetie, tell all about you mysterious yet kinky partner in crime?"
"My what Ange?"
"Oh Bren" Angela said with a sigh, "maybe this would be easier if you just told me why you called."
"Well Ange we kind of need a favour in the form of an impression of a suspect. I was wondering if we could set up a video conference any you could take witness descriptions to give us an impression of what we are working with.
"Sure sweetie no problem. First thing tomorrow and I'll be on to it."
"About that Ange, is there any chance you could do it today?"
"No Bren, no. I have plans and I really don't want to cancel them. We are going to the Gallery opening at 4 and I do not plan on missing it."
"What time is it now?"
"What Bren?"
"What time is it?" Brennan repeated turning to Booth for an answer this time
"Um quarter to 11. Thereabouts." Booth replied with a confused expression.
"Look Ange we could probably set this up within the hour. If you head to the Jeffersonian you could have it all done by 3 and that would give you plenty of time. I'm sure he can pick you up from work. Please Ange, I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
"But Bren I had plans." Angela complained.
"I know Ange but please do this for me. If we don't get an id there is no way I'll be back in time for Tuesday night."
"Are you trying to manipulate me Bren?" Angela questioned with a glimmer of pride that Brennan had learnt the art of manipulation.
"Most certainly not!" Brennan answered indignantly. "Ok maybe a little. Did it work?"
Angela let out a soft laugh "On one condition Bren."
"Anything" Brennan answered without thinking a choice she was about to regret.
"I'll do the illustration if you tell me who the guy was."
"Ange, I can't.." Bren stuttered casting a worried look at Booth.
"Ok honey, because I love you I'll make it easier on you. You can answer yes and no, 'k?"
"That seems reasonable." Brennan hedged.
"Is something going on between you and Booth?" Angela pried
"Oh Ange this is jus, I no, I um"
"Yes or no sweetie and no lies. Otherwise that suspect will remain without a face til tomorrow morning." Angela teased.
"Yes" Brennan said, barely a whisper.
"What?" Angela shrieked, "Was that a yes?"
"Yes Ange ok yes now we'll set up the interview now. If you get yourself to the Jeffersonian he'll be in contact ok?"
"I just can't believe it."
"Believe what Ange?" Brennan questioned innocently.
"You guys finally getting it together." Angela sighed a romantic sigh.
"Not back to that again Ange just leave it please." Brennan begged Booth was now well aware that Angela knew what was going on.
"Ok sweetie we'll talk when you get home. I'm so happy for…"
"Thanks Ange, love you too, bye." Brennan cut her off abruptly.
Angela stood in her kitchen phone in one hand, coffee in the other and a smile spread from ear to ear. She was proud of Brennan, more than words could ever say. With that thought she dialled Hodgins number. After all it was only fair as he had been party to many a match making plan in the past. Angela however, was surprised by how much she was enjoying the opportunity to talk to Jack. Odd she thought, very odd.
"Ok Booth." Brennan said taking her head from her hands. "Can you drop me back at the motel. If you sort the conference with Angela I can stay back and try and research the grandmother see if that gives any leads ok?"
"You're just avoiding seeing the Sheriff." Booth teased.
"That is not the case it is just a poor utilisation of man power to have both of us ferrying people for a video conference."
"Well why don't you do the ferrying and I make the inquiries then."
"Come on Booth. Stop being deliberately annoying."
"Ok Bones you an have your way but only because you have been especially nice to me lately." He smiled taking her hand briefly in is.
"Thank you."
Upon arrival at the motel Brennan handed over her cell phone to Booth so that he could stay in contact as after all, she had the phone in her room from which to make inquiries. After an initially awkward attempt at a kiss goodbye Booth and Brennan stood in her room enjoying the effect they had on one another until Brennan pushed Booth out the door so they could both get some work done. It was agreed that Booth would set up the conference and have Angela email Brennan with the results. Booth planned to chat to the women some more to see if he could get any more information before they could meet back up and see where Angela's illustration could lead them.
By 12.30 Booth had been able to transfer the women from Florence Park to the Sheriffs office for the video conference. The Sheriff was less keen on the idea than Angela but after some gentle persuasion Booth had been able to get his own way. The women chatted happily to Angela who was able to discern a lot of information from their descriptions. Booth was impressed with her interview skills and lurked in the background smiling. He noted the occasional knowing glance Angela shot in his direction and prayed to god that she wouldn't make any inappropriate comments in this setting in front of the Sherriff.
At a little after 3 Brennan put the phone down on yet another useless avenue of trying to gain information on Laura Jacob's mother. There seemed to be no records not even people who could give a vague description. As a disabled woman she should have had a clear record of care and medical treatment but neither were forth coming. Brennan flopped down on the bed in frustration and just as her mind began to drift to thoughts of her and Booth her laptop chimed indicating that she had recieved an email. Brennan sat up abruptly and clicked to open the email from Angela.
First was a quick note from Angela covered in hearts, her words were ones of encouragement and her sentiment made Brennan laugh out loud. As Brennan scrolled down the email contained copies of the facial reconstructions Angela had done. Images that Brennan found hard to take in and remain as impartial as she would like to be. Finally there was the sketch of the vicar depicting a face that seemed all too familiar to Brennan. As she scanned the image waiting for the pieces to fall in to place the name that matched the face was one she knew. He was someone that most certainly would not have any legitimate reason for wearing a vicar's outfit.
Brennan moved to the phone to call Booth and give him the positive ID when someone fumbling with a key in the lock of her door disturbed her. She rounded the corner to reach the door and let Booth in. "Good Booth I'm glad you're here I have got a positive Id on the image Angela…" Brennan began as she opened the door only to be greeted with the life size version of the image that filled her computer screen. Utilising the element of surprise he reached out to grab her and Brennan swiftly kicked him in the chest. He flew back against the door momentarily stunned before grabbing her and placing a chloroform covered cloth across her mouth before she could fight any further. Within seconds her fighting had stopped and he dragged her limp, lifeless body fully in to her room ignoring the constant ringing of the telephone.
"You shouldn't have fought now should you?" He said leaning over her and wiping blood away from her nose and lip caused by the force with which he had placed the cloth over her mouth. "Or are you the kind of woman who likes a bit of pain?" He questioned leaning forward and kissing her lips harshly, enjoying the taste of her blood.
"You stupid bitch!" He screamed jumping away from her as if another man from the one he was seconds before. "Even unconscious you tempt me, you do not deserve to breathe the same air as the rest of us you dirty bitch." He shouted kicking her violently in her side before falling down next to her.
"Don't worry my dear." He cooed in her ear, "I'll save you."
Booth stood on the corner of Florence Park cell in hand dialling Brennan's room. He had tried his room and hers and yet he was receiving no answer. He had a copy of Angela's image in his hand and he was sure he knew the face from somewhere he just couldn't place where. He hoped that Brennan might be able to shed some light on it. Booth decided that Brennan was probably off doing something she shouldn't and so headed back to the hotel to track her down before she took matters in to her own hands if she did know who the suspect was. As he drove he dialled the rooms a few more times in the hope that maybe she had just been taking a shower.
"Damn it Bones answer the phone." He said in to the cell as he was transferred back to the hotel reception again. "Pick up the phone."
So guys have you worked out who he is yet?