Disclaimer: I don't own Bones
yenyen76: Heehee my mind is already forming the Legates/Booth scene *snicker*
Mlbrunell: Umm what are you wanting sound effects for? I'll see if I can make them for you lol
Nertooold54: I've always wanted to write one of those shopping trips to VC but since I don't see Booth getting embarrassed by that I had to use someone else. Poor Legates *snicker*
Gottaluvem: You'll have to read the M&L to find out =P Bwuahahahaha
Archerblad3: See our smart technology isn't always so smart. Yes, I am aware that Glocks don't have safeties but I needed something to draw his attention to the gun being pointed at his forehead. Shame on me I know. I try to put some humor in the stories to balance out all the drama. Read my reply to Nertoool54 (above) regarding the VS scene lol.
Coterie2: Teehee that will be in the M&L story *snicker* that's going to be a fun couple of chapters or chapter.
Mendenbar: *snicker* *wiggles eyebrows* wait and see..getting there I promise.
1956JohnDeere50: Here you go a little testimony just for you.
Chkgun93: I don't remember saying Hooters but anything is possible lol ;) Glad you enjoyed the shopping trip. It's fun to write them because I get to learn new stuff and find cool stuff.
dreambetty: LOL that's every chapter well except for the ones where he's naked. I have a tendency to share my wildly saucy thoughts...otherwise known as smutty chapters lol ;)
Thank you all for your awesome reviews. Keep them coming!
Chapter 49 - Testimony
Booth tensed at the sound of someone moving in the room. Slitting his eyes, he saw Legates pulling on a tee shirt and answering a light knock at the door. Booth saw him take a hanger from the person on the other side of the door. Legates went to the bathroom and closed the door. Booth let his eyes slide shut again. Ten minutes later Booth heard Legates pick the door keycard up off the stand next to the TV and leave the room. Brennan let out a light huff and tried to burrow into Booth's chest. She lifted her head at his rumbling laugh.
"Bones, I don't think you can burrow under my skin. Although, I've got you under my skin. I've got you deep in the heart of me," Booth began impersonating Frank Sinatra.
Brennan laid her head on his shoulder and kissed his jawline. Brennan heard noise from the adjoining room and rolled off of Booth. He watched as she scrambled into the bathroom. How the heck was he going to watch a Flyers game without thinking of her baby blue satin covered backside peeking from under a Flyers shirt? He tucked his hands under his head and waited while she showered. He heard the door lock click and raised an eyebrow when Legates came in carrying coffee. Robertson and Brown followed Legates into the room. Robertson saw Booth lying on the bed and smirked.
"Fly me to the moon, Let me play among the stars," he crooned.
Booth scowled at Robertson and rolled from the bed. Booth's eyes landed on Brennan's clothes and he sighed. Sweeping the undergarments and the hanger with her suit on it up, he knocked on the door. Entering he hung the suit on the hook on the back of the bathroom door and set her undergarments on the counter.
"Bones, your clothes are out here. The guys are in the room," Booth told her.
After relieving the pressure in his bladder he automatically flushed. He got a mischevious twinkle in his eye. Reaching his hand into the shower, he quickly snatched the faucet all the way to cold. Booth stepped back as she snatched the curtain open. She picked up the complimentary bar of soap and drew her arm back. Her eyes were twinkling with a mischievous light.
"Bones, don't you dare," Booth said, turning and throwing the door open.
Legates roared in laughter as Booth hauled ass out of the bathroom being chased by a flying bar of soap. He stepped out of the way and the soap hit the floor with a small thump.
"Sarge, if you don't stop pissing her off, she's going to kill you before the bad guys can," Brown causally laughed.
"Shut up, Brown," Booth growled.
Booth walked around the room gathering up his clothing. When he heard the hair dryer start, he slipped into the bathroom, stripped and stepped into the shower. He began counting and by the time he reached three, he saw her hand come in and grab the faucet flipping it all the way cold.
"Not funny, Bones," he yelled over the shower.
He heard laughter ring out from the room outside the bathroom. Brennan pulled the curtain back a little and grinned at him. She held out a bottle then closed the curtain.
"I can't use this girlie stuff, Bones," Booth grumbled.
He opened the cap and sniffed suspiciously. It was a musky, woody scented body wash and shampoo combined. He poured some out into his palm and began to scrub. He heard the door open and close. After rinsing himself off, he turned off the water and threw the curtain open. Grabbing a towel he stepped out of the tub and toweled off.
He pulled on his clothes and looked at his hair with a groan. The door opened a crack and her hand appeared in the door. He followed the line of her finger and saw a small black jar on the counter. Picking it up he saw 'the big tease' printed on the container. Further inspection revealed it to be hair gel.
"I love you, Bones," Booth called through the door.
Legates looked at Brennan with a raised eyebrow. She held up her magna doodle which had two words on it.
Hair Gel
Legates barked out a laugh and shook his head.
"Prissy bastard," Brown grumbled.
"Yeah but he can still kick your ass any day of the week," Legates said.
Brennan smiled smugly and narrowed her eyes.
"Hell, she can kick your ass. Oh wait she did," Legates shot at him.
Brown glared at Legates who was laughing at him.
"She," Robertson pointed at Brennan, "kicked his," he then pointed at Brown, "ass?" Robertson asked as he pointed back and forth between the two.
"Well," Legates rubbed the back of his neck, " she was fighting Francis and then Patterson joined in. Then Brown and Lopez, it was I believe, got in on the action. When she got tired of fighting them she put them down. It was very amusing," Legates told Robertson.
Robertson chuckled at Legates story. Brennan glanced at her watch then began moving around the room gathering up their items. Legates' mouth fell open when a duffel bag appeared from under the bed.
"When the hell did she buy that?" He wondered out loud. Booth came out of the bathroom and dropped the items in his hands into hers.
"She's not your slave you know," Brown teased Booth.
"No, but I'm smart enough to let her organize and pack. It's dangerous otherwise," Booth said.
"Sarge, you smell like you are wearing cologne. Did you buy some at the mall?" Legates said, biting back a smile.
"No, it's the body wash and hair gel that Bones bought," Booth replied.
Picking up his clothes, he folded them then handed them to Brennan. They left the room and headed to the desk. Brennan checked them out and Robertson pulled the Humvee around. After everyone climbed in, Robertson looked over his shoulder at the people in the back.
"Breakfast?"
"Yeah, food would be good," Booth said.
They left the hotel lobby and made their way to the Humvee. Once everyone was buckled in, Robertson started the engine and pulled out onto the interstate. Robertson unerringly made his way to a diner very similar to a hundred other diner's around the nation. All resembling the Royale Diner that they ate at in DC. They walked in and sat down at a large Booth. The waitress came over and frowned at Robertson.
"What do you want, Jared?" The waitress asked him with a glare.
"You know what I want," Robertson replied. She smiled at everyone else at the table, shooting Booth a flirty grin.
"What can I get for ya'll?" She asked paying special attention to Booth.
Robertson cleared his throat, caught her eye and shook his head no. She stuck her tongue out at him.
"I'll take pancakes, sausage and eggs with coffee," Legates said.
"I'll have the same and she'll have the oatmeal with bananas, tea with honey," Booth ordered.
The waitress turned her eyes on Brennan and appraised her. Brennan met her eyes with a cool look. She suddenly smirked and put her hand over her mouth. The waitress's eyes widened as she realized who Brennan was.
"Temperance Brennan?" The waitress asked in a screech reminiscent of Daisy. Brennan huffed air out of her throat and nodded.
"I'll put these orders in for you," she said and bounced away. Brennan pulled out the magna doodle, wrote on it and flashed it at Robertson.
Who is older?
Robertson rolled his eyes.
"Technically, me. But as she constantly reminds me it's only by two minutes," he replied.
Legates snorted at Robertson's comment. Their breakfast arrived in five minutes and they began to eat.
"Jeez, Robertson, where the hell do you put all that?" Legates asked eyeing the huge stack of pancakes, four pieces of sausage and large pile of eggs.
"My mom always said I was entirely hollow from the waist down," Robertson said, sipping his coffee.
Legates finished his breakfast and watched in stunned amazement as the 5 foot nothing, 160 pound man ate his way through the entire plate. When they finished Booth dropped a wad of cash on the table including a healthy tip.
Brennan picked up the ticket, wrote something on it and signed it. Robertson laughed as they left the diner. As they walked into the courthouse Hammon walked briskly up to them.
"Are you guys ready for this?" He asked them in a serious voice. Brennan rolled her eyes and looked at Booth.
"Mr. Hammon, this is not our first rodeo. We spend a lot of time on the witness stand," Booth said gruffly. Hammon handed Booth a folder with several sheets of paper in it.
"Here's your affidavit. I faxed a copy to Caroline," Hammon said. Booth let out a hissing breath. Hammon turned on his heel and they followed him into the court room. They sat on the first bench behind the prosecutors table and waited.
Ten minutes later the room was packed, the jury seats were full, the defense table was full and the judge had just entered the court room. They listened to the drone of the witness as they spoke about Francis.
When Booth was finally called to the stand, he stood and made his way to the stand. He placed his hand on the bible and swore to tell the truth.
"Mr. Booth, what do you do for a living?" Hammon asked.
"I am a Special Agent in the FBI criminal investigation unit," Booth replied easily, leaning back in the chair. Brennan let a smile cross her face, she recognized the look.
"How did you end up in Afghanistan if you work for the FBI?"
"The Army contacted me last year. They offered me rank to go and train soldiers for a year," Booth said easily.
"What particular skills were you being sent to teach?"
"I am a trained sniper as well as an investigator. I was sent to teach this set of skills to make better snipers," Booth said, lacing his fingers together in his lap.
"And what rank were you promoted to?"
"Sergeant Major," Booth said.
"How and when did you meet Private Francis?"
"I met Francis probably second week in July and I literally ran into him when I was leaving Bones' tent," Booth said.
"Bones?"
"My partner Dr. Temperance Brennan," Booth said, his eyes shooting to where she sat. Several of the jury members followed his eyes to her.
"What were you doing in her tent?"
"I was taking care of her. She suffered from severe post traumatic stress disorder and was temporarily paralyzed," Booth said simply.
His eyes shot to Brennan and asked for forgiveness. She tilted her head in acceptance and acknowledgment of the necessary evil.
"Why was she in Afghanistan?"
"Not that I see how it's relevant but she was brought to Camp Phoenix after she was kidnapped in the Maluku Islands," Booth said.
Legates flinched and Brennan glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"So, Private Francis was outside Dr. Brennan's tent doorway when you came out?"
"That is correct," Booth replied.
"What caused the friction between yourself and Private Francis?"
"He called Bones a juicy," Booth almost snarled. He heard the jury inhale deeply. Most of the jury were men.
"A juicy?" Hammon asked for clarification.
"Juicy is slang for a prostitute or bar girl," Booth said, his teeth clenched in anger.
"Is this when your intense dislike of Private Francis started?"
"Yes, I don't know when he started disliking me but that's when I started disliking him," Booth admitted.
"Did he report you to Lieutenant General James Henderson?"
"Directly after the conversation in which he called Bones a juicy. He approached the General in the mess tent," Booth affirmed.
"And what happened?"
"General Henderson told him to leave the situation alone. That it was none of his business," Booth said.
"Did Private Francis listen to the General?"
"No, in fact he continued to harass both myself and Bones," Booth said.
"And what happened?" Hammon asked causing Booth to let out a sigh and look at the ceiling.
"I lost my temper and punched him in the face," Booth admitted.
"Did you have any prior assault charges?"
"No, I was arrested when I was 20 but no charges were pressed," Booth admitted.
"I'd like to submit the twelve affidavits that were submitted that state that this particular fight was in fact provoked," Hammon said, holding up a thick stack of papers.
"Now, Agent Booth, what happened following this fight?" Hammon asked as he approached the spot where Booth was sitting.
"Private Francis was demoted from Sergeant to Private and transferred into my unit," Booth said.
"Did Private Francis' attitude change after his demotion?"
"No it did not," Booth said, slowly shaking his head.
"Can you tell us about the last incident?"
"The last incident happened following a PT session. We decided to have a hand to hand combat session. Bones was invited to join in the session and accepted. After a fight with Bones, Francis approached her, me and General Henderson. He insulted her and I lifted him by the neck of his shirt," Booth explained, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"And it ended there?"
"No, he took a swing at me but was stopped when Bones came to my defense," Booth said gruffly.
"Came to your defense?"
"She caught his fist in a martial arts move, twisted it then kicked him in the testicles causing him to drop to the ground and throw up," Booth said, trying not to let the grin bloom on his face.
"Were there anymore instances?" Hammon asked. Booth paused, cocked his head and thought.
"He came into my tent and got ignorant but nothing serious," Booth said.
"Okay how about the mission?"
"We left at 4am and made the four hour drive and run to the site. We scoped the insurgents and waited for an appearance. When the target appeared, I was taking aim when I saw the flash off of a scope. When I realized there was an extra sniper on the roof, Private Francis pushed me up into the line of sight. I heard three shots and lost consciousness," Booth said.
Brennan's face went pale and her lips were pressed together. Hammon finished and then Booth answered the cross examination with ease.
Next Hammon called Legates up to the stand. Legates answered the questions about getting Booth back to the base.
Brown was next and he gave his version of what happened.
Finally Brennan was called to the stand. She placed her hand on the bible, tried not to roll her eyes and swore to tell the truth.
"Now, Dr. Brennan you were called from your tent by Sergeant Parks, is that correct?" Hammon asked her. She nodded her head yes.
"Dr. Brennan recently suffered from trauma to her throat and is unable to speak. Her answers will either be nodded or typed using this keyboard," Hammon said, holding up a keyboard, "which will be displayed on the over head projection. A transcription will be provided for your review during deliberation," Hammon said, placing the keyboard in front of Brennan.
"What happened when you reached the medical tent?"
I asked what had happened. His entire unit turned and looked at Francis.
"Then what happened?"
I cursed at Francis and kicked him in the face
A blush stole across Brennan's face as Booth's eyebrow quirked up.
"What was Agent Booth's condition when you saw him?"
Brennan reached over to the keyboard and began to type.
He was unconscious. He was in severe shock. Low blood pressure, erratic heartbeat, shallow breathing and extensive bleeding from his cranium.
"Are you a medical doctor?"
No I am a Forensic Anthropologist but I have extensive knowledge of the human body. My paramedic license only recently became out dated.
"What happened after you entered the emergency area of the medical tent?"
I leaned over and spoke to Booth
"What did you say?"
Nothing that is relevant or appropriate for the jury to know
"Dr. Brennan!" Hammon said sharply, glaring at her.
It was personal and not relevant
"Fine, what happened?"
His vitals stabilized and they arranged for a helicopter to take him to Kabul
"Did you accompany him to Kabul?"
Yes, I have extensive knowledge of his medical history including his reactions to certain anesthetics
"What happened on the flight to Kabul?"
Brennan sucked in a deep breath closed her eyes and slowly exhaled as the sound of the flat lining monitors filled her ears.
Booth's heart stopped and he stopped breathing
"So he died on the flight to Kabul?"
Brennan nodded in the affirmative and blinked trying to clear her eyes of the tears in them.
"When you arrived at the hospital what happened?"
I argued with the doctors and finally got them to agree to let me accompany Booth into surgery
"Seeing his brain did not bother you?"
No, I was with him when the tumor was removed from his brain three years ago.
Hammon turned his attention to the TV that sat next to the witness stand.
"This is a video of the surgery. It is graphic but necessary," Hammon said, hitting the play button on the DVD player. The video that Brennan had been watching appeared on the screen.
"What is going on in this particular part?"
They have already peeled the skin back from his skull and are trying to determine how to remove the bullet from his skull. The bullet is lodged in the parietal bone after following the lamboid suture.
Brennan used her finger to indicate where she was talking about on her own skull.
They were having difficulty, due to its position in the skull, removing it without shattering the surrounding bone.
"What did they determine?"
After discussion they determined that since I had experience reconstructing skulls and was available that they would attempt to remove the bullet. When they removed the bullet the skull shattered.
The DVD moved forward and everyone watched as the bullet was pulled out and a crack was heard as Booth's skull came apart. Booth swallowed down the bile that was rising in his throat. The next scene showed a close up of Brennan gluing the skull together.
"What are you doing here, Dr. Brennan?"
I am using a medical glue to piece Booth's skull back together. After that I reattached the broken piece to his skull.
The DVD showed the rest of the procedure. Hammon showed the jury Booth's x-rays following the surgery. Brennan explained the medical aspects of the x-ray.
"Dr. Brennan how likely was it that Booth would die of this head wound?"
Very likely. Only 1% of gunshot to the head victims survive. Those statistics are based on hand guns not on high powered rifles.
"And he had technically already died?"
Correct
"Thank you Dr. Brennan," Hammon said.
Brennan viciously shot down the cross examination making the defense attorney look stupid. After her cross examination the judge called recess for lunch.
Hammon exited the court room and turned to them.
"I am impressed by your answers on the stand. You both were impressive," he complemented them.
Booth snorted and put his hand at Brennan's lower back. Everyone exited the courtroom and walked towards the Humvee parked down the street from the courthouse. Booth felt a tingle along the back of his neck. He began shooting looks around them but seeing nothing. Legates began to walk faster.
"You feel it too?" Booth asked as he noticed Legates pace pick up.
"Yeah, my neck is crawling," Legates muttered.
They reached the Humvee and Booth practically pushed Brennan in the vehicle. When Booth got in behind her, she was glaring at him. Robertson drove them to a local Italian restaurant and dropped them by the door. He caught up with them inside the building. They stood waiting and Hammon finally joined them inside the door.
The hostess sat them and handed them menus. Brennan scowled at the menu and let out a huff. Booth frowned as he didn't see a lot she could eat.
"What is the soup of the day?" Booth asked their waitress when she came to take their order.
"Creamy potato," she answered.
Booth looked at Brennan and she rolled her eyes but nodded a yes. After their orders were placed they sat back and began discussing the trial.
"Are they going to need us anymore after today?" Brown asked, swirling his straw in his soda.
"Probably not but if they do I will call you," Hammon said, sipping his coffee.
He turned his attention to Brennan who was stabbing her straw into her milkshake to break up chunks.
"So out of curiosity what did you say to Agent Booth when he was in the medical tent?" Hammon asked her his voice dripping with inquisitiveness.
Brennan continued to stir her milkshake and raised one eyebrow at Hammon. He continued to stare at her and she just pursed her lips. Booth started to chuckle.
"Mr. Hammon, Bones is an alpha female of the top order. I don't know many males who can stare her down. You have set down a challenge and she will win. She will neither look away nor will she answer you," Booth said.
Without losing eye contact with Hammon she gave Booth a single thumbs up. Hammon continued to stare but finally gave in and glanced away. Robertson chuckled at the man as he dropped his gaze.
"We'd just say she was a tough chick," Robertson said.
"Anthropologically speaking Alphas both male and female are equal in pack structure. They are mated for life and the top of the food chain. You will not find a more physically fit or mentally astute pair," Booth said, taking a bite of the calamari that the waitress had dropped off.
Brennan turned her gaze to Booth and he saw the merriment in her eyes.
"Yes, I did research, Bones. She has spent years calling me an alpha male almost as an insult. Little did I realize that technically she was right. I was an alpha male not respecting the alpha female due to human's tendency to view females as the weaker sex," Booth said.
Legates hooted at Booth's explanation.
"I'm so telling the guys. You are a squint," Legates said, pointing at Booth with a French fry.
"You, young man, had better learn not to use that as an insult or Michelle will box your ears," Booth said, smirking.
Legates snorted and Booth looked at him with a knowing look. Hammon cleared his throat and their attention was drawn back to him.
"I am expecting that this will end today as there was only one expert witness. Mostly it is character witnesses. Most of the information was in a packet that they will be given before deliberation," Hammon said.
"So the verdict today and sentencing later?" Brown said, taking a bite of his salad.
"More than likely. You guys should be on a flight home by 4ish I'd say. Unless the jury argues about the verdict," Hammon said.
When their food arrived everyone got quiet while they ate. Brennan finished first and got bored sitting there with nothing to do. Pulling her lap top out, she flipped it open and began typing.
"Is she always like that?" Hammon asked, jerking his thumb at Brennan. Booth chewed and swallowed while glaring at Hammon.
"Mr. Hammon, normally Bones would be talking. So instead of staring at us while we ate, she found something else to occupy her time. She has a lot of things on her plate and not a lot of time. This is the second court date this week, we have a current investigation, her publisher probably wants two chapters, she gets close to thirty emails a day with questions and offers, she has student theses to grade and correct, she has duties at the Jeffersonian on top of all that. And that is all that I know about there is probably more," Booth said.
Legates looked over at Brennan his mouth hanging open slightly. Brennan picked up her magna doodle and scribbled.
Three chapters not two, revisions and I have to schedule my classes for next semester.
She showed the magna doodle to Hammon.
"Well, I guess she uses every opportunity she gets to work," Hammon said.
"You have no idea," Booth snorted.
"Don't even try that, Sarge. We ALL heard you in the desert," Brown said, pointing his finger at Booth. Booth's face flushed red and he looked down at the table.
"Okay, maybe not EVERY opportunity," Booth muttered.
The men finished their meals to the sound of the keys on Brennan's laptop clicking. She sighed and pursed her lips then gently blew out a breath. Pausing, she cocked her head, her eyes seemed to be staring into space. When her eyes blinked Booth knew she found whatever it was she was looking for. He finished his pasta then waited on the other men to finish.
She glanced up at a beep on her screen. Her face screwed up in a frown and she mouthed several curses. Her IM flashed a quick message.
Coming home.
Brennan looked over at Booth and scowled at him.
"What did I do?" Booth asked completely confused.
She looked at him and tried to figure out how to tell him. She leaned her chin on her hand and tapped her cheekbone with her index finger. She looked around the table and saw a menu that had a wine list on it.
She picked it up and handed it to him. He looked at the list until she pointed to the picture of the grapes in the upper corner. He raised an eyebrow at her. She put the heel of her hand on her forehead and wrapped her fingers towards the back of her head.
"Head?"
She shook her head no and waved her fingers as if she were asking for more.
"Skull?"
She made the same motion again.
"Brain?"
One more time and she saw the light blink on in understanding.
"He's not? Please tell me he's not," Booth said, sighing. Brennan shook her head and reached out to squeeze his hand.
"Do you feel like you have no idea what just happened?" Hammon said having watched the exchange.
"All the time," Legates said with a smile.
They left the restaurant with some time to spare. Robertson dropped them off at the front of the building and then went to park the large vehicle. As they were climbing the steps the prickling sensation returned to Booth's neck.
Rubbing his neck, he quickly climbed the steps, giving Brennan a slight push. When they got inside Brennan rounded on him with scowl.
"Bones, my neck is prickling," Booth warned her. She glanced at him in confusion. He could hear her in his head saying 'I don't know what that means'.
"It means someone is watching us in a not so nice way," Booth explained. Brennan put her hand over her stomach.
"Yes, it's a gut feeling," Booth affirmed. Brennan nodded and turned back around.
"Did your logical scientist just accept your gut feeling?" Legates teased, smiling at Brennan.
Brennan nodded again and began walking towards the courtroom. They entered the court room and sat in the same places they had occupied earlier. Ten minutes later, the court was back in session and they sat through Francis' questioning and his character witnesses which were few.
The judge excused the jury and dismissed the court until the verdict was in. Booth and Brennan sat on a bench outside of the court room waiting. Booth looked down at Brennan and frowned. She was wincing in pain and he could see the skin around her cheekbones pulling tight.
"Bones, go put something on your face, baby. It looks like it hurts," Booth urged.
She let out a light sigh and nodded. She stood and walked to the bathroom. Booth watched her go with worried eyes.
"You really do love her don't you, Sarge?" Brown said as if he was just discovering the concept.
"You're just figuring that out, Brown?" Booth muttered with a glare.
Brown shook his head and grinned at Booth. They were only waiting for forty minutes when the bailiff came out to call them back into the court room. They took their seats and waited as the jury filed into the court room. The bailiff delivered the verdict to the judge.
"Private Francis, stand to receive your verdict," the judge commanded. Francis stood and looked straight at the judge.
"On the charge of assault on a non commissioned officer-guilty. On the charge of attempted murder of a non commissioned officer-guilty. You are confined to Leavenworth Penitentiary until your sentencing in three weeks," the judge said then banged his gavel.
"Court is adjourned," the judge said, banging the gavel again.
Everyone in the court room stood and began filing out.
A/N: Okay ... flight, figures, subs, The Bobbie, texts, identifications, snarfing, more grapes and brains, porn, files, connections, summaries, Wheee, sorting, organizing, the list, jobs, laughter, pajamas, healing, and sleeping.
A/N2: So tomorrows chapters have a few things of interest in it. *cough* only three more chapters and one epilogue to go. Then the hating begins../shudder
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