Disclaimer: All characters portrayed here are fictional. No infringement of rights intended. Bones & its characters are a product of Fox Inc. & not mine. No financial gain is received from this work of fiction.
Summary: Pelant has struck at the heart of the Team again. Can anyone save them now? "Nothing is what it seems…" - Seeley Booth.
Rating: M
Thanks to those without PM: Jsboneslover: Thx 4 the trust! Yes, Bones got some balls! *blush, snigger* Massive Thx 4 UR kind support & generosity. XX. JenE: Yep, evil is right. BIG thx & warm hugs. Rangers042376: *snigger* Deep breaths help & vodka. *wink* Thx & XX. Boneslady: *Gasp* Soz about the 7.7! Didn't mean 2 scare u more. Keep safe. Daisy - Yes, left clues scattered err'where. Sex - Wooboy, *blush*. Here's the nxt, as promised. Huge thx again 4 the fab comments. XX. Guest 9/5/12: 2 quote ur 3 word review: "I hate you…" - WoW. I take that as a HUGE compliment. Thx U. Hugs & more XX. Guest 9/5/12: 2 quote u: "Evil cliff-hanger." - Indeed, *evil cackle* Thx & XX. Guest 9/5/12: 2 quote u: "Daisy Bionic Woman." *snigger* Yep, I did leave clues... Thx 4 stopping by. XX.
Right, on with the show…
Pelant
Chapter XXIX
08.55AM
0 Hrs 12 Mins 3 Secs Until Net Shutdown
Communal Lounge
… "Waiting - waiting… Contaminate identified and confirmed - VX - Nerve agent. Remain where you are…"
'We know that you silly bitch!' Caroline snapped at the voice, angered by the obvious suggestion, and ridiculous airy tone of the vamp-ish voice. 'Tell us what's happening!' Half expecting her to reply like the computer on the Star Trek episodes. Picking Ange up off the floor from under the arms, Caroline placed her into a chair; her actions effortless with the rush of adrenalin. Bones stayed on the floor between Ange's legs, not trusting her limbs to hold her weight, feeling her heart pounding with Booth's but unable to see him. She tucked her knees up under her chin, and wrapped her arms around her legs. The few sightless seconds were the epitome of torture to both Ange and Bones. Ange leant forwards, snapping her arms around Bones' shoulders, and they clasped hands in solidarity for their joint pain and fear; hanging onto the hope in one another.
Parker ignored Caroline's question with his eyes staring at the screen, as he changed the view to inside the elevator with the remote. Nobody dare interfere with Parker who had control of the remote down to a T. 'DAD!' he yelled, with tears streaming down his flush cheeks, seeing them both shaking and coughing, clearly in pain and distress. 'Dad, can you hear me?!' They all froze, and went silent to see Booth manage to nod several times. Jack suddenly spewed vomit over himself, and gasped to breathe, his trembling increasing alarmingly. 'The elevator will stop at the decontamination suite! Get into it quick!' Parker ordered, panic lacing his voice. Booth hooked his arm around Jack's ready to haul him and himself into the decontamination suite.
Everyone could see it was a huge effort just to do that, and shouted their encouragement to him. Booth looked up to the camera through the slits that remained of his streaming, puffy eyes. Bones knew he was speaking words of love, fortitude and comfort to her soul, knowing what she was going to witness in the next few minutes. She already knew what was going to happen; she'd read the disturbing literature, seen black and white VT of tests conducted on rhesus with VX. Those images, although seen a long time ago, came back to her from the dark recesses of her memory, and sickened her even now. They could all see the heinous effects ravage the men, weakening, contorting, killing them, second by evil second.
The bunker voice announced as the doors of the elevator opened, "Remove all clothing and footwear and place in the incinerator to your left. Please try to stay calm."
They all gasped in shock when the doors opened to the decontamination suite except Parker; he'd been given the full tour by Jack when he'd arrived and knew exactly what to expect. The empty, three sided glass room with a stainless steel floor was already prepared for their arrival. Deafening jets of water pounded the floor and cascades of spray billowed filling the containment area, almost drowning out the voice. Parker became even more animated now. 'Get out of the elevator, Dad! Ya-gotta-hurry!' He jiggled about on his toes, urging him to move: understanding speed was of the essence. Everyone else fussed and twitched, imploring him to do as Parker had instructed. Booth crawled onto the puddle-d floor, then dragged Jack out too, then vomited with his effort and out-of-control, escalating symptoms. The elevator doors closed and the water began to accelerate from the powerful shower jets. It felt like they were being stabbed by the blades of freezing water. Then vents snapped opened in the ceiling and motors revved up huge fans above: that sent a hurricane blast of air downwards. Then shocking everyone twice over: making them flinch: the steel floor clunked loudly as several long grates opened sharply to drain the cleansing cold water away. The terrifying cacophony notched up their tension to snapping point, tapping out their heartbeats at a thundering 200 bpm. 'GET-NAKED - YA-GOTTA-BURN-YA-CLOTHES!' Booth shook his head, and slumped as if giving up under the acute battering and buffering, and accepting their fate. But he wasn't giving up; surrender wasn't in his psyche especially with his desperate family watching on.
'Dru - drug!' Booth managed, knowing if they didn't get the antidote soon it would make no difference if they removed their clothes or not; they would be dead before then. Just then the calm voice returned over the frightening scream of the water and air that pummelled the men slumped over the guzzling drains side by side:
"VX antidote dispensed. Please administer immediately and try to stay calm. Decontamination in progress."
Parker screamed at the top of his voice: nearly cracking it, 'IN THE BOX, DAD. BEHIND YOU IN THE BOX BY THE ELEVATOR! HURRY!' Booth rolled his eyes towards a steel handle, and with Herculean effort, heaved himself towards it. Jack's eyes rolled, and tried to focus them but his mucus membranes were so swollen and stinging he couldn't. Booth pulled the handle, and reached inside the steel bucket. He fumbled, feeling the auto injectors he'd been trained to use but couldn't quite reach them, or see much because his pupils had narrowed to pin-pricks.
'Booth, please, Baby, fight,' Bones whispered her plea, squeezing Ange's hands. The horror of watching him die was killing her too. Her heart palpitated; her lungs burned, and rasped in agony, and her body trembled like a leaf. She heard Ange sob Jack's name next to her ear, and felt her bury her wet face in her neck; unable to watch.
'Come on, Booth! You can do it!' Cam shouted her encouragement, glaring at the grizzly terrifying scene. Seeing him struggling, Sweets went to assist them, and tried to open the elevator but it wouldn't open, then he tried to door of the lounge. That wouldn't budge either. He realised the bunker lock-down had sealed each floor and they were stranded, unable to help them. His frustration mounted when they all saw a familiar, traumatised face appear at the glass of the decontamination suite: it was Daisy.
Banging on the glass, she instructed, 'Booth! Its Daisy. To the left, left a bit - you're nearly there!' while limping around the glass outside, and watching him try to retrieve the injections through the incessant, hampering deluge. Daisy then shouted her plead to the camera she knew everyone could see and hear her, 'What's the override? Let me in - I can help them!' Jack shook his head, understanding she wanted to be let in and risk her life to save them. Just then Booth grunted with his effort, and picked out the US Army standard issue ATNAA's that had been dispensed. Booth thanked God for Jack's attention to detail and paranoia because he'd given them an unexpected thread of a lifeline.
There was a collective detonation of anxiety and urgent shouts for him to hurry as Jack began to convulse violently in excruciating agony. Flat on his back but with limbs rigid, his muscles cramped, and he began frothing at the mouth through clenched teeth. Genny gripped Thierry's hand, turning her face into his chest, not wanting to watch Jack's last ghastly moments. Ange looked up to see Jack contorted horribly, wracked in agony, and whimpered.
"Warning: Lethal levels of VX detected. 12 parts per million - decreasing."
'They're-not-gonna-make-it,' Flynn said with certainty, almost arrogantly.
Incensed, Caroline clipped him around the back of the head for airing that. 'Sit-down 'n' shut-up.' Flynn withered, and sat down on the edge of the couch away from everybody, wringing his hands.
'INJECT HIM SOLDIER!' Cam balled her order at Booth, judging that he was losing coordination and mental focus. It worked.
Sensing Jack's chronic rigor, and knowing his agony was moments from him, Booth lurched towards him, and with a sharp stabbing motion he thumped the antidote into his thigh through his jeans. Bones knew the pralidoxine and atropine mix wasn't enough, so yelled, 'THE DIAZEPAM TOO! BOTH SHOTS, BOOTH!' She remembered all too well seeing bones snap during this phase of the nerve agent attack: so it was imperative to give a relaxant to hopefully avoid that macabre torture.
"Warning: Administer injections immediately or death will occur. Push red button if more antidote is required. Try to stay calm…"
Daisy manically tapped in any digit PIN she could think of into the pad, hoping to get lucky. Then she had a brainwave, and tapped in: one zero one zero one zero one. The door opened into the decontamination area, and without care for herself, she hobbled in, slamming the door behind her amid the flashing lights and pandemonium.
'Oh. Jesus…' Sweets whimpered, witnessing her lifesaving dash, feeling his eyes singe for her blind courage. She fell to the floor, and grabbed the auto injectors from Booth just as he started to convulse too.
'Get out,' Booth groaned futilely, his body not his own to control now and in unimaginable pain. Ange felt Bones stiffen in her arms, and hold her breath.
Ignoring him, like lightening Daisy stabbed the Diazepam into Jack's other thigh. Then efficiently injected Booth with both too, one in each cramping thigh simultaneously.
'OH - WELL DONE, BIONIC BABE!' Caroline praised. Ange gripped Bones ever more tightly, knowing this was far from over. Bones felt Ange's heartbeat rumble against her back, and tears poured from her own eyes. Unfortunately the diazepam was administered too late for Jack as Daisy saw his thumb, index and middle fingers pop like twigs upwards: one after the other; as the muscles and ligaments shortened on his left hand. Ange and Bones slammed their eyes shut, feeling the torture with him amid horrified gasps from the onlookers.
'I'll get more!' Daisy said to Booth, pushing the button. But no more dropped down from the automatic drug dispenser behind the wall into the bucket.
"Warning. Assessment: Lethal level of VX, eight parts per million - decreasing."
'Close the bucket-close the bucket, Daisy!' Parker instructed manically, remembering what Jack had explained how the system worked. She slammed it shut, then slapped the button again. Daisy heard them drop into the bucket, and opened it to get them.
"VX antidote dispensed. Please administer immediately. If symptoms persist after ten minutes repeat full treatment and seek medical assistance. Try to stay calm."
Booth's convulsions began to subside almost immediately but could sense Jack wasn't responding as well as him to the lifesaving cocktail of drugs. He hauled himself to Jack, spitting and coughing en route, and held him in his arms as best he could. Jack's swollen eyelids prevented him from seeing him, but he knew who was holding him. He tried to smile his thanks, but needed to breathe so that attempt failed. 'Tell - tell Ange,' Jack mumbled what he thought was going to be his last words. His tongue was gashed and bled where he'd bitten through it with his savage convulsions which still hadn't completely subsided.
'She knows - she knows,' Booth comforted breathlessly, rocking him in his aching arms, then spat mucus and water out of his mouth again. The Team saw Daisy inject herself in one thigh as a precaution, then crawl to them to remove their contaminated clothing. As she began Booth tried to assist her. 'Stay still, Booth, let me do it - I've always wanted to do this,' she said with a wry, tender smile. Sweets grinned, and slowly dropped his eyes away, taking a seat finally next to an emotionally exhausted, hung-over Caroline: who instantly took his hand, and squeezed it. He was touched by her sweet mothering and near smile, suspecting that was for her comfort too.
They all watched Booth start to fade from consciousness as the diazepam began to kick in but saw him gallantly fight to stay awake. Daisy didn't take long stripping Booth, and began on Jack. Getting his sodden jeans off was the most difficult as they clung to his skin and he still quaked. Once they were completely naked Daisy put all the clothes in the incinerator, and slammed the door shut. There was a whoosh sound from inside as they were sucked up and away.
As an edgy calm now descended the bunker-babe spoke again. Everyone looked up, around, and at one another as the lights stopped flashing and turned to solid amber from red. Then the siren stopped but it didn't alleviate their tension much.
"Attention. Level three, secure - level two, secure - level one, under review - ground level, contaminated. Please wait…. Bunker lock-down successful. Internal power source engaged."
'What does all that mean?' Thierry asked in the hesitant lull.
Parker, still staring at his disfigured father, answered him in a matter-of-fact way, 'The bunker has gone into self-sufficiency mode. The reactor has engaged and will last for about fifteen years. We're free to enter all floors.'
Thierry then asked, feeling his heart drop to his weakened knees, 'You mean… we're trapped down here for fifteen years?' He gulped, and stared into Genny's harrowed eyes. His next thought was for his daughter, and felt his burn with tears.
'Something like that,' Parker said unconcerned by the prospect, then walked towards the screen, and said to Daisy, 'I think you have to scrub them, Miss Daisy!' She looked up, and nodded.
"Warning. Assessment: Lethal level of VX - six parts per million - decreasing."
'I'm still concerned for Jack - he hasn't responded so well. Shall I administer another shot?!' Cam stepped beside Parker, studiously studying him with a medics eyes. Jack still trembled and was struggling to breath whereas Booth was breathing much easier and didn't look in excessive pain. 'I don't want to OD him,' she added nervously.
'No. Give it a few more minutes to take effect, Daisy.' She nodded, grateful for the external advice and backup, looking around for something to scrub them down with.
"Attention: Decontamination scrub and implements dispensed."
Daisy looked positively excited by that information, and quickly crawled to the steel bucked again, taking out the contents, and closed it back up. Putting on the scouring glove on her left hand, she squeezed the scrub onto it, and began to exfoliate Jack's hair, face, neck and chest diligently. Booth put on another pair with his arm still comfortingly around Jack, and assisted her but was much slower and uncoordinated as he was virtually doing it blind. 'Jack is very hairy - I suspect the VX has clung to him more than you,' she told, the almost hair-less, Booth.
Coughing throughout her scrub of them, and regularly spitting away his excessive mucus, Booth reminded, 'Gotta remem-ber - this water - is freez-ing,' with a shaky smile for Daisy. Blushing, she started to chuckle, knowing he was covering for their withered man-hoods she was about to scrub down. Everybody grinned at his jovial remark; taking that as a positive sign for his rapid recovery. However Bones wasn't so quick to relax; she wouldn't; not until they were given the all clear.
Then they saw Jack shift against Booth's chest, and say something which they couldn't hear. However Daisy heard his feeble croak. 'Feel-ing much - much better…' Jack trailed off, then started to fit again in Booth's arms: shocking everybody again…
!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!
09.07AM
0 Hrs 0 Mins 0 Secs
Jasper Engaged
NET SHUT DOWN IN PROGRESS
Five Minutes Until Worm Eradication
!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!
Moments Later
Above Ground
Nikolay ran towards the old barn, seeing the knurled wooden door open and a dark smoking mass just outside it. He hoped he wasn't too late. But as he neared, he spotted a can of Right Guard discarded on the jade grass via the motif glinting in the sun. His heart stalled, and slowed his pace. It was then that he smelt a familiar stench of charred flesh, and gave the can a wide berth, walking over to the smoking remains of what he judged was a human male. 'Oh. God. vhat have you done - vhat have I done?' he asked himself, harrowed by the result of his vengeance and sin. He gulped to swallow the bile that had risen to his throat, and looked to the open barn door. Seeing a red light flash intermittently and a camera above the steel door just inside the wooden one. He waved frantically at the camera lens, shouting, 'Hello! Hello! Can you hear me?! Agent Genny Shaw?!'
He jumped, and stepped back when a woman's silky voice instructed: "Warning: This area is contaminated - Nerve agent VX present. Leave the area immediately."
'I need to speak to someone - I know v'ere Pelant is going to release it. Is Agent Shaw or Henry down there?' Nikolay waited for a reply, expecting her to answer him.
"Warning: This area is contaminated - Nerve agent VX present. Leave the area immediately."
'Yes, I understand. You must listen to me! I know v'ere Pelant is going to release the VX…!' he shouted, getting frustrated, not noticing three armoured Hummers race up the drive of the estate behind him. They rapidly emptied of armed FBI and Apricot agents that fanned out, taking up positions in the tress. The sexy voice spoke again:
"Warning: This area is contaminated - Nerve agent VX present. Leave the area immediately." It was with that repeated statement that Nikolay realised he was talking to an automated machine, and spun away frustrated. He walked towards the can of Right guard, and looked at it laying on the grass. Swallowing hard, he picked it up: not caring if he became contaminated as he knew he deserved to die for the events he'd set in motion. Then he heard another voice: this time it was a male voice, and a stern one at that. It was hollered through a megaphone.
'FBI - FREEZE!' Nikolay's heart soared: by a quirk of fate he'd stumbled across the people he need to talk to. With his surge of relief he ran towards the man holding the megaphone to his mouth.
'FBI! I'm Nikolay!' He continued to pelt towards them, waving the spent can. 'He's used it! There's a dead man!'
'FREEZE!' Hacker narrowed his eyes at the shouting man, and thought he heard an accent but wasn't sure. 'Hold your fire,' he said in his walkie-talkie to stand down his men and the Apricot team in full HAZMAT suit's and masks aiming their weapons.
'Sir, he's got a can of some sort in his hand and I'm pretty sure he's foreign…' Hacker's subordinate informed with a distinct nervousness in his tone, hiding in the woods. Hacker knew what he was implying. 'Shall we take him out?'
'No. Wait. Let's hear what he's saying first. Identify the can in his hand,' Hacker gave his order with authority, staining to hear Nikolay.
'I'm Nikolay! I've got the VX can he used!' Nikolay panted, trotting now as he weakened, and held the can aloft. 'I know v'ere he's going to release it…!'
Commander Apricot Seven came over the radio this time, 'Subject says he's Nikolay, he's used the VX and is going to release it. That's a direct threat, Hacker. I'm taking the shot.'
Hacker barked back, 'NO! Stand down! Confirm-confirm!' A shot rang out across the emerald grass and Nikolay dropped to his knees, swayed, then fell forwards and flat, the harmless can tumbling from his hand. Gurgling blood seeped from between his lips, and a gaping hole in his chest. Nikolay knew he was dieing, just not the way he expected, and thought this was a better way than he'd envisioned. He also felt the cool fresh grass on his face: the lush scent invaded him, reminding him of his blissful childhood in the meadows of his beloved Belarus, and smiled.
Hacker ran to his side, and knelt down. 'Jesus,' he cussed, seeing the high-powered round had torn right through him from front to back from the trigger-happy Apricot Commander.
Nikolay looked into Hacker's eyes through his mask, and reached for it, pulling him down to whisper, 'I know - v'ere he vill - strike next…'
Hacker's eyes widened. 'Where, Nikolay, where?'
'Tell, Helga, I, I, tried tooo, make her proud, da?'
'Yes, I will - promise. But where, Nikolay, tell me where?' Nikolay pulled him closer, and whispered in Hacker's ear… Hacker leant back as Nikolay slumped, and gurgled out his last breath through a bubble of scarlet blood that popped over his blue-tinged lips.
'What did he say?' Apricot Seven asked, kicking the can further away, clearly unconcerned at killing him, coming closer to hover over the dead Russian.
Standing like an oak, Hacker grit his jaw and fist. He swiped a right hook across Apricot Seven's mask, stunning him, then ripped his mask off, screaming in his face, 'He DIED before he told me, you fucking asshole!' Panic-stricken, thinking he'd been exposed to the deadly agent, Apricot Seven backed off, grabbing his mask, and frantically put it back on. Hacker shoved him over onto the grass, and pounded away toward the Hummers, leaving everyone on Hacker's team glaring at him, hoping he had been contaminated.
!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!
Two Minutes Later
Inside A Hummer
Alone in the vehicle, Hacker tapped in a secure number on his cell with his thumb, while ripping off his mask. Luggia answered agitatedly, 'Hacker, did you stop Jasper?'
'No, we got here too late as we suspected we might. The bunker is locked down tight. We can't get in. Its too late now anyway,' he said, looking at his watch, knowing Jasper had been successful and Pelant's worm was dieing as they spoke.
"Sssshit! You-know-who isn't gonna be happy," Luggia vented, staring into the smiling, sparkling eyes of Professor Liskov. She was obviously pleased that Angela's Jasper had thwarted all interested parties in the pursuit of Pelant's dangerous worm.
'If you ask my personal opinion -' Hacker went on, 'I think Angela did the right thing by us all. But that's not the end of it… VX has been released here. My team are securing the area and estate. Plus I've got a burnt corpse to identify. And Guess what else? Nikolay was here waving a goddamn can of Right Guard. He wanted to tell us something but - Apricot shot him against my direct order…'
There was a stony silence, then Luggia asked tentatively, "You don't think that was - deliberate, do you?"
Hacker sighed strongly. 'Anything's possible. I don't know who to trust anymore.'
Looking at a printout he'd just been handed, Luggia informed, "Well, I've got something to tell you too - we've just been handed an email from Jack Hodgins, sent ten minutes ago. It reads: "Pelant at Lever's estate bunker. Need immediate armed assistance. Whole Team underground." …"
Hacker had a frightening thought given that information: Pelant could still be lurking but doubted that. 'Oh. Crap. He must've sent it before the Net went down.' Luggia nodded. 'At least we know why the bunker is locked down - its the VX. They could all be dead down there along with Pelant.'
"Umm. Maybe. My guess, he released the VX to trap them to keep them out of the way. Or worst case scenario he has killed them."
'Either way, we've gotta get in there fast or at least attempt to make contact with them.'
"Agreed. Can we blow it open?"
Hacker laughed ironically, 'Ha. I doubt that very much - It was built to withstand a nuclear blast. Anyway, try to contact them.' Luggia nodded. Hacker watched as one of his Agents came to the vehicle's window, and held up a two clear evidence bags with handguns in each, and sagged. Hacker made the leap immediately, 'My guys have just found Booth's firearm and another.' Then he postulated, 'Pelant must have drawn him out, attacked him with the VX, then with the door open, shoved him back in - entombing them all…'
!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!
Communal Lounge
With them all unaware of events on the surface and other more pressing things to worry about, the Team watched in rapt, chronic silence as Daisy performed CPR on Jack. She was desperately trying to keep his heart beating until the lethal threat had passed and she could get him into the infirmary proper. He'd already had two rounds of drugs but his weakened heart had failed under the enormous strain.
Ange appeared almost catatonic, and rocked herself backwards and forwards, unable to blink or speak with her eyes fixed on Jack. Bones felt her arms crush around her chest getting tighter and tighter as Daisy struggled relentlessly, defiantly, panting with her own Herculean efforts. Bones' eyes poured along with all the other woman. She feared that it was all to no avail, and her heart splintered for her best friend who'd lost, not only her mother, but feared for her sanity if she lost Jack too.
"Warning. Assessment: VX - one part per million."
'She said that already - why hasn't it decreased again?' Genny queried in a confused, anxious way.
Bones realised the reason first, and stiffened to say, 'Daisy, you have to incinerate your robe and scrub down!' Daisy immediately looked to the camera, but still pumping hard over Jack's heart. 'Stop CPR, strip, burn, scrub!' Bones insisted.
'He'll die if I stop!' she said, almost exhausted, and terrified to obey, not wanting his death on her conscience.
'Yes -,' Bones agreed, 'but we can restart his heart! The water temperature is low so his heart has slowed anyway. It's like he'll be in a hypothermic coma. Trust me, Daisy, we can resuscitate him!'
'That's right,' Parker jumped in. 'There's a defib-thingy machine in the infirmary! Once the threat is gone we can come and help you!' Cam was already running out of the lounge, and spiralling up towards the infirmary. Flynn pelted after her so did Thierry, needing to do something than just watch. Genny and the rest watched as Booth dozily put more scrub on his gloves in preparation to help scrub her down.
'Angela?! You tell me - what do you want me to do?!' weeping, Daisy asked after filling Jack's lungs again, and then pulling one arm out of her drenched, heavy terry-towelling robe. Booth tugged earnestly at it to assist while Daisy refused to stop CPR until she had a reply from Angela.
Ange just kept rocking, and clinging to Bones but not answering her. Understanding her conflict, Bones gently whispered to her, 'Ange, this is the only way. The faster she does it the better chance Jack has. Tell her - she needs you to tell her.' Ange swallowed and blinked, looked to a startled Michael in the playpen, then took a deep breath for courage.
All eyes turned to Ange, willing her to give her consent, 'Do it, Daisy,' she said weakly.
'DO IT- SHE SAID DO IT!' Genny hollered, the airless tension too much for her to bare. Daisy ripped off the robe and quickly stuffed it in the incinerator, slamming it shut. She heard the satisfying whoosh again. Booth was already scrubbing her back and arms with a massive surge of energy, the last of it. She began scrubbing herself too just as Cam, Thierry and Flynn appeared at the glass doors of the decontamination suite. Jack lay hideously motionless. Cam pushed a gurney to the men in preparation for them to put Jack on it. Then she set about charging the defibrillator. She ran around the room sorting out drugs, heat pads; saline drips; everything she was going to need.
Bones said to Caroline, 'I'm going up to help - she'll need me. Take care of Ange.' Caroline was on her feet and next to Ange in a split second, holding her possessively, protectively. Then Bones charged out of the room, and ran as fast as she could closely followed by Parker. She heard his footsteps, and reached back for him with her hand while still running. He surged, grabbed it, and they ran together up to the infirmary.
"Attention. Assessment: VX - zero parts per million. Decontamination complete. Please seek medical attention."
Nobody sighed with relief in the infirmary even though the showers, fans and the deafening sounds slowly subsided. The warning lights turned to green and the men charged into the decontamination area. They picked up Jack and put him on the gurney, then wheeled him to Cam. Daisy collapsed flat, breathing heavily, and looked to Booth laying beside her. 'Now we're even,' she said softly. He grinned, fumbled for her hand, and nodded as he squeezed it hard with abyssal gratefulness. Then he felt hands again and he was raised onto another gurney, and wheeled out on it.
'Thought we'd lost ya,' Flynn said to him, just as he felt lips on his. Utterly confused he almost pushed Flynn away then realised it must be Bones as the lips were warm and tender, and plump with love and colossal relief. He breathed in, and then he knew it was her; he could still smell himself on her.
She pledged sweetly against his swollen lips, 'Love you-love you. Thank you for not dieing.' Booth smiled, feeling her caress his cheek and the smile in her tender declaration. 'I'll be back in just a minute. I've got to…' she trailed off as he nodded, knowing she had to help with Jack, then he felt a fragile hand slip into his.
'Oh. Dad, I thought…' Parker said pitifully, then paused as he began to sob, bury his face in his neck, and grip him tightly. Booth curled an arm around his shoulders, and held him as firmly as he could, still unable to see clearly when his eyes burned again. Not with VX this time but with true emotional tears.
'Parker, you were amazing. I'm so proud of you - so proud,' he told him in a deeply moved way. 'H-how's Jack doin'?' Parker looked over to Bones and Cam though his streaming tears. Booth didn't let go of him.
Bones was hurriedly putting up a drip, then injected him just as Cam shouted, 'Clear!
Bones lifted her hands off Jack immediately: a jolt of electricity shot through him, then Bones began again to give her orders calmly and quietly to Flynn and Thierry, while she put an oxygen mask over Jack's mouth, and linked him up to the heart monitor, 'Blankets, heat pads, quickly.' They did as instructed. Bones then turned her back to the camera to shield Ange from what she was about to do. Taking Jack's contorted hand, she quickly, and without any visible emotion, pulled outwards, and snapped back into place each of his fingers in quick succession. But Parker saw her actions, and winced on each snap, however noting Jack hadn't felt anything. Once set back Bones then gave the nod to Cam. With paddles at the ready and charged, she nodded back, then shouted her warning again, 'Clear!' Parker was astounded by the two women; it appeared as if they'd done this sort of thing everyday of their lives.
Another thudding shock went through Jack's heart; his body and limbs lurched on the gurney. Booth felt Parker jolt in his arms, then nestled his head back in his neck. Booth held him tight, whispering, 'He's gonna make it - he has to. Say a prayer, Son.'
Parker told him quietly, 'I am, Dad.' Booth could hear an erratic sound from the machine, scuffling and muffled voices of concern, so held Parker a little tighter. Sweets had arrived with another robe to wrap around Daisy, and helped her to a chair. She sat down, anxiously watching Bones and Cam work in perfect harmony and symmetry, while Sweets wrapped his arms around her to warm her up.
'Charging-t'three-hundred. Clear!' Another thud was heard then the machine began to beat in a regular, familiar reassuring way. It was only then that there was a collective sigh of immense relief, especially when Jack groaned, rolling his head: back with the living. Cam looked to Bones then to Booth. 'I've got this now - you see to Booth.' Bones nodded, and instantly left her for him. 'He's gonna be ok, Ange,' Cam said towards the camera but the door opened and in came a distraught Ange supported by Caroline. They came over slowly, obviously not convinced. Ange was steered to a chair beside Jack, and took his hand, staring into his face.
Hearing Jack mumbling, Daisy straightened her back, and shone a smile, then sunk into Sweets arms, and was promptly smothered with congratulatory, pride-filled kisses. Booth felt Parker smile on his neck and more tears trickle down his neck. Then he felt delicate hands toying with his: liquid being injected into the back of his hand, then another wet soft face tucked into his neck. He put his other arm around her, and began to weep with joy that he was loved so dearly and alive.
"Attention…"
Everyone froze, except Caroline. 'Not again. Please tell me you're letting us out. I've got cats to feed, ya-know? They'll be crapping in the pantry and shreddin' my unmentionables by now,' Caroline muttered, dropping a hip with exasperation.
"Incoming message from unknown source. *click* - "Tempe - Tempe, are you there?"
Everyone looked at each other with widening eyes. Bones replied with a tremolo quivering her suddenly frail voice, 'Dad…?'
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A/N: Y'aaay! They're alive! Max is back too - or is he? Nikolay has bitten the grass and taken his secret to the grave - or did he? Can they get out of the bunker and chase after Pelant before he strikes with the remaining can of VX? Was there another reason why Apricot shot Nikolay or was it a genuine mistake under pressure? Who can Hacker trust now? Will Caroline's cats die of starvation or survive on her unmentionables for fifteen years? Discover what happens next in the subsequent chapters of Pelant, rapidly on the way. Hugs, Lebxeb XX.
