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Previously on Mistaken Identity . . .

Pulling out her gun she clicked off the safety, it was most likely that they had found the right place but that only increased their level of anxiety and nervousness as they started to look behind them to see if they had missed any other drops of blood. Seeing nothing they looked to the right and then left and were rewarded with the appearance of more spots just to the left of where they stood. Turning they started to follow the ominous trail when they both heard the sound of what was clearly a moan.

Looking up from their intense scrutiny of the gravel before them, they saw what looked like a man in a dirty white shirt and black slacks lying slumped against a wall aligning another alley. Picking up their pace they ran towards him – both of them knowing in their hearts that it was their missing friend – they had found Booth!

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Mistaken Identity

Chapter 34

Vacant Alley Near The Steel Warehouse . . .

Picking up their pace they moved forward cautiously, since they had no way of knowing if Booth's captor's were near. As a safety precaution Cam made Hodgins walk slightly behind her since she had the weapon and the training for this kind of thing. Looking side to side frequently as they gained ground on the man laying passed out against the wall just a few yards ahead of them, they were thankful to have heard him moan since it at least eased their minds that he wasn't dead but they still couldn't be sure it was Booth until they got close enough to see the man's face.

"Oh my God Cam – that is Booth!" Hodgins whispered with a slight panic creeping into his voice as they had finally become close enough to make out the unconscious man's features. Once Cam was finally confident that the three of them were alone, she started moving forward at a much faster pace.

"Come on, I don't see anyone around so let's hurry." She said to Hodgins as they ran the last few feet to get to Booth's side. Hodgins noticed the rifle laying nearby and quickly pulls some latex gloves from his pocket so he could lift and move it further to the side while making sure not to smudge any prints that might be found later. Prints that might help them catch whomever had put Booth in the painful looking state they found him in.

Cam knelt down next to Booth, careful not to jar him in any way. The last thing they needed him to do was wake up and yell out in pain – or worse yet awake in a panic thinking it was his captors whom had found him!

She reached out to place her hands as gently as possible on each side of his face, not missing the fact that his skin was cold and clammy from the light sweat that lingered there, she very lightly slapped one of her petite hands against his cheek trying to rouse him. "Booth . . . Booth can you hear me? Come one open those brown eyes for me." When he didn't respond right away she immediately started to assess his injuries while a nervous Hodgins just watched and awaited her instructions. She ran her fingers gently over his head from scalp to the back of his neck, finding some bumps and cuts from what must have been multiple hits to the head, then both her eyes and Hodgins were drawn to the substantial amount of blood covering the front of his formerly stark white shirt. Carefully unbuttoning the few closed buttons she then slowly peeled his shirt causing both she and Hodgins to gasp as the sight. There were many areas where he had clearly been burned or cut – all of which where slightly infected but thankfully not as much as they could be.

"Oh my God what the hell did they do to him?" a now irate Hodgins asked with seething venom practically dripping from his words.

Cam fought back tears as she realized the torture her friend had endured, sickened by the fact that he was probably used to it by now having endured worse instances of torture before in his past. But used to it or not – this surely had to have been a painful and traumatic experience. "Come on, we need to see what other injuries we are dealing with and then I will need you to go get my car and bring it closer. We need to get him out of here."

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay with him while you get the car?

"No but thanks for offering. I am the one with the Police training and the gun so I need to be the one staying with him." She assured him. Then she continued to assess Booth's body for injuries and after noticing some of his ribs were possibly cracked or even broken – their eyes both simultaneously caught sight of his battered leg that was bordering on grotesque at that point.

This time both of them cringed and gasped again at what they saw beneath the torn pant leg – though it was at least set properly thanks to Brennan's previous attention – it still had more signs of infection that managed to make it extremely hard to look at. "How the hell did he get here on that leg?" Cam questioned.

"I bet I know." Hodgins started to explain, "I bet he used this rifle here as a cane! See how the end here is completely coated in dirt and dried mud?" he said while pointing at the portion of the rifle he was referring to.

"Mmmnnn . . . uugghhh"

Cam and Hodgins both physically flinched, startled by the moan of pain Booth had just let out.

"Booth, it's okay, you are okay. It's me - Cam. Hodgins is here too so come on, we need you to wake up." Cam pleaded with him as she moved her hands back up placing one on his face and grabbing a hold of his hand with the other. "Booth?"

Suddenly Booth's head started rolling slightly from side to side as if he was having some kind of nightmare. Then before they could even react - his eyes shot open with an almost wild look to them as he looked around frantically while trying to sit up. It was obvious he was disoriented and unsure of what was going on or where he even was for that matter.

"WHA?" he said as he sat more upright faster than Cam and Hodgins had been prepared for. Both of them quickly snapping to attention and physically pushing him back down against the wall. "Hold on there cowboy!" Cam ordered.

"Booth come on man ya gotta stay still - we gotcha." Hodgins pleaded with his friend, then turning to Cam he added. "Cam I'll go get the car, toss me your keys."

Booth had calmed down but more so because of his exhausted fatigue and the fact that he was still trying to make sense of what was going on and trying to remember what had happened to bring him to this point. He then yelled out in pain as the agony of his sudden movements caught up with his brain.

"Ohhh oww damn! Son of a Bi-!" he couldn't even finish the cuss word as the pain in his chest, ribs, leg and head all seemed to attack him at once, taking his breath away completely and causing him to bite down on his lip while trying to breathe through and dial down the overwhelming pain.

"Gosh Booth I am so sorry! Look before we move you to get you into my vehicle I will give you something for the pain okay? You know I have a first aid kit that would make a Doctor envious." She tried joking in an effort to help keep him calm. She could tell that he was not only stuggling with physical pain but also with trying to wrap his mind about what had happened to him and what was going on.

Cam always made sure to keep a far better than average first aid kit in her vehicle at all times, fully stocked with everything including the stronger narcotic pain medication. Her kit was locked up in a special compartment so no one could steal it and sell it on the street. So she would have to grab the kit since Hodgins wouldn't be able to. She was never more grateful for her profession of being a Medical Examiner as she was right now. Having graduated medical school at the top of her class she had enough certifications to open her own Doctor's office if she ever chose to do so. Medical Examiners or coroner's as they were also known as, actually had to endure even more intensive medical training than did most physicians – though she knew that most people would not even be aware of that.

"Cam?"

His weak voice brought her attention back to tending to her friend. "Yeah Booth – it's me, now listen Booth - I need you to just stay still for a minute, Hodgins went to get my SUV, we're gonna get you out of here!"

Booth forced himself to sit up a little bit more, squeezing Cam's hand that was still trapped inside his own. "Listen to me Cam, we don't have much time! I escaped and I don't think I got very far before I passed out! We need to get out of here fast!" his adrenaline was picking up a bit as his panic over being found crept over him. "Cam seriously I –"

"Booth okay okay, I hear you. Don't worry – in fact look, here he comes." She cut Booth off mid-sentence to point to her silver SUV as it gained ground on their location. Hodgins stopped just feet from where Booth and Cam waited and once he arrived at their side Cam pulled her hand free of Booth's and ran to grab her kit. "Hodgins just stay with him for a second, I'll be right back!"

When she returned she was carrying a large white box with a red cross and other writing on the side. Popping it open next to her she immediately retrieved a vial of morphine and a hypodermic needle. Booth's eyes became as wide and alert as she had seen since he first came to. She followed the direction of his pupils and saw that he was fixated on the needle she had just released from it's protective and sterile plastic wrap.

"Caamm you knoww I hate needles!" he practically begged and pleaded but his words came out more slurred than threatening due to the bone shattering pain he was fighting. "Com'on don'cha have some kinda pills I cn taake in-ssstead?"

"Booth I promise you will barely feel it, I am very good at giving injections that I have been told are practically pain free! Come on it's gotta be better than the pain I know you are in right now! Besides the liquid morphine is the fastest acting things I can give you. Now just buck up and hold still!"

While she was talking Booth hadn't even realized she had quickly swabbed a pre-soaked cotton pad across his bicep where she had already slid his shirt sleeve up – then just as she was uttering her orders for him to shut up – she had already slid the needle into his muscle in such a smooth motion that he was shocked at how little it had hurt. "See! Now was that so bad? Okay come on – we let's get you outta here!"

"You tricked me . . . not nice Cam - not nice." he half pouted half teased, trying to lighten the mood. Cam and Hodgins looked at each other and rolled their eyes, both secretly relived to see the return of their friend's familiar sarcasm and boyish charm - no matter what he had just gone through, it was a good sign that he hadn't been too psychologically damaged by what he had just endured.

"Bones! Where's Bones - is she okay?" Hodgins smiled, happy to see even more of the old Booth they had come to love, always worrying about everyone else even while he was half out of it from pain from his own serious injuries.

"Yeah dude just relax, so far she's fine. She's still safe for now at the Jeffersonian - we'll tell you more once we get you out of here. But we can't take you to there yet - it's too risky and we'll explain more later. Right now I have somewhere else in mind and then we can come up with a plan to get Dr. Brennan away from there."

Booth closed his eyes again, still feeling out if it and exhausted, maybe even more so with the added morphine now kicking in. He weakly replied, "No Hodgins, I will come up with the plan." what little strength he had in his voice had faded even further by the end of the sentence, as if the few sentences he had spoken had completely drained what limited energy he had left. Hodgins realized there was no need for him to even reply since it was clear his words would have fallen on deaf ears.

Cam quickly grabbed the rifle and any other bits of potential evidence in the immediate area and –placed it in the vehicle while Hodgins grabbed a camera and used it to take just three or four quick shots of the area in case they needed it for a case later to show where they had found Booth, also to use later to determine how far Booth had gotten from the nearby warehouse that he had alluded to being held in. Cam and Hodgins had purposely let Booth talk while they waited, giving the morphine a few minutes to kick in before they attempted to move him. they knew that they needed Booth to help them once they were ready to get him to the car and trying to move him without the pain relieving drug would have taken twice as long and could have easily caused him to pass out again – delaying them even further.

Finally after what in real time was only four minutes yet seemed like thirty - Booth started both of them by snapping awake again, even though his pain seemed to have faded to a barely tolerable level, the meds did nothing to quell his frantic mind causing him to rouse himself, something he had been trained to do - and had become very good at doing, during his time as an Army Ranger. His energy spurred on by the increasing anxiety he felt, knowing the longer he remained there, the higher the risk of being recaptured if they didn't get him out of the alleyway fast. And this time the captors would gain two more people to use for leverage against Brennan!

"Okay, we gotta get moving." he ordered, now feeling more clear headed as the morphine continued to do it's magic. Booth watched as Cam and Hodgins knelt back down on either side of him knowing that it was now or never, as they each reached one of their arms under each of his own, they carefully helped to hoist him back up into a semi-standing position albeit on one foot. Then placing one of Booth's arm around Cam's shoulders and the other around Hodgins, they helped him hobble over to the open door to the back seat of Cam's SUV where they eased him in and Cam forced Booth to slide over and lay all the way down. One reason was to keep him out of sight just in case and the other was to keep his injured leg somewhat elevated.

She cringed as he cried out in agony when she eased her daughter's fluffy down coat under his foot and lower leg to help elevate it further knowing that it had to be done but knowing that even on morphine the movement had caused him tremendous pain.

"I am so sorry Seeley, I wouldn't have done that if it wasn't critical to treatment of your leg. But trust me, it will feel better being elevated this way if you just give it a few minutes."

At first Booth's only response was a slight nodding of his head, his face was completely drenched in sweat from the short exertion and his pain level was making it harder for him to concentrate oin anything else. But then Cam heard Booth's barely audible voice and leaned in to hear him better.

"D-don't call me Ssee-ley."

She nearly burst out laughing, relieved at seeing a glimmer of the old Booth which made her feel like everything was going to be okay. Then she closed the door to the back seat and jumped into the SUV since they were pushing their luck the longer they remained in that vicinity. Hodgins took the wheel this time so that Cam could keep an eye on Booth. He quickly turned the car around to go back the way they had come so he could avoid getting any closer to the warehouse and risk being seen.

"Booth what do you want me to do next?" cam turned towards the back seat, hoping to get some direction from Booth before the morphine pulled him under. "Do you want me to call the FBI now and send them to the warehouse?"

Booth's adrenaline once again spiked again as he took in what she had just asked, "NO! It's too soon and could put Bones in further risk. I . . . I jus' need time to come up with . . . a plan" his shaky voice giving away the fact that the morphine wasn't helping take the edge off the pain as much as he had tried to let on. "Now . . . what's going on? What is Bones dong back at the lab, how did she get there? I mean . . . they would not have just - let her go!"

"Okay." Cam answered first, "Just take a deep breath Booth, she's okay but we think she's being watched somehow. I don't know if they have her wired but that's my suspicion. There are also a few new employees at the Institute that have my natural gut instinct fired up - I have a feeling some of them may be internal moles watching her from afar. Does that sound like the MO of your kidnappers?" Booth let his head fall back down onto the seat as he waited for his breathing and his heart rate to calm back down to somewhat normal levels while trying to clear his mind and shake off the groggy pull of the morphine - relishing in hearing that his Bones was okay for the time being.

"Yeah . . . it does-ss. But they . . . uh, they don't seem to thinnnk . . . thinngss through. But that might bee to our . . . benefit. "

Cam and Hodgins exchanged glances, noticing the slowing of his words and the groggy sound to his voice. Cam knew it wasn't just the morphine that was causing it, most likely it was the combination of the morphine, the concussion she knew he had based on the sluggish reaction of his pupils, extreme fatigue and the fact that he was finally safe enough to let his guard down. She knew he would be out like a light in a matter of seconds. "Alright Booth – that's good now just rest and let us take over for a while. We will keep you and Dr. Brennan safe and you have my word we will NOT let them taken her back again. Okay?"

No answer was forthcoming so Hodgins looked up at the rear view mirror back to check on their passenger and found him down for the count.

The silence caused Hodgins to look into the rear view mirror to check on their ailing passenger, "Well Dr. Saroyan, I think that's about all we're gonna get out of him for now – heee's out!"

Hodgins then took in a deep breath, taking a moment to calm his own nerves while hoping that Cam didn't notice how badly his hands were shaking as he griped the steering wheel more tightly hoping to hide the tremors. 'Wow what a rush!' he thought as he realized just how dangerous their rescue mission had been now that they were clear of the area. He knew how easily things could have gone South and suddenly his safe lab job was looking better and better – from now on he decided, he would leave the dangerous field work to Booth and Brennan unless they were badly in need of his expertise!

Cam looked towards the back seat, turning slightly so she could keep a better eye her first 'live patient, the question now was – where was Hodgins they taking them?"

To Be Continued . . .

Post chapter A/N: Just for all of you and to reward you for your wonderful patience, I wanted to give you a chapter that was 100% Booth hurt/comfort! I hope you enjoy and I will try hard to update again sooner than I usually do!