Disclaimer: I only own the characters not normally seen on the show…
Previously: Booth and Brennan are officially a couple. The girls are staying with Hawthorne while Booth and Hodgins are having an impossible time of staying away from them. Brennan woke up to find that Booth had returned and both are now peacefully, blissfully, happy…
(--)
"I promise I will hold you closer, closer, I will in these of mine. I will hold you, hold you, hold you, closer, closer over and over again."
-Blessed Union of Souls, "Closer"
(--)
"I thought I told you to stay away from her?" the voice gruffly asked Dr. Long as he stood in the dingy alley. To say he was frightened to be there was an understatement. He was terrified. Even he knew not to mess with these guys.
"That's personal," Long replied, attempting to sound nonchalant.
"Well your 'personal' has become a problem for our professional. She's going to catch on pretty quickly, especially now that she knows you're involved."
"She might know that I'm in on it, but she doesn't know about you. I thought that was what mattered?"
"It is. But she starts digging around your business colleagues, I might become a suspect, and that isn't going to work out very well with my plans. I hope that you understand what amount of commitment is required from you, Dr. Long."
"I knew what I was getting into."
"Yes, but the question remains: are you still willing to make a sacrifice for the greater good of the partnership?"
"I knew that I would be the scapegoat when I signed on, remember?"
"I just want to make sure that you're still comfortable with that arrangement."
"Well, I don't really have a choice, do I?"
"That depends," the man stepped forward, pulling a gun out of his belt, "you could choose the easy way out, and I could kill you right now…or I could let your precious doctor and her boyfriend find you and send you to the chair."
"He's not her boyfriend," Long stated through gritted teeth.
"You keep telling yourself that," the man put his gun away, "maybe one day it'll be true."
"Temperance is with me," Long said, anger rising in his voice. He didn't like it when people talked about Dr. Brennan, or about Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth...
"Temperance is in the way," the man replied forcefully, "I suggest that you take care of that before I have to. Besides, how would it look if an officer of the law shot a forensic anthropologist in the back of the head?"
"They'd probably take away your nice, shiny badge," Long said sarcastically.
"Don't get smart with me kid. Just do your part. Get rid of the FBI agent and the good doctor and we won't have anything more to discuss."
"I can't kill her."
"Why not? You're already supposed to be the psychopathic serial murderer, and everyone knows how much you admired Dr. Brennan. It makes perfect sense. In a jealous rage you shoot Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan. I can see the headlines now."
"It's not funny."
" Look, kill her, scare her. I don't care. Just get rid of her. Or I'll do it myself. And then I'll be after you." The man disappeared back into the shadows, leaving Dr. Long alone with his thoughts. And his fears.
(--)
The sun was now shining brilliantly through the windows as Brennan's eyes flickered open once again. She smiled when she saw that Booth had fallen asleep again. Slowly she untangled herself from him and got out of bed. She padded across the hallway into the bathroom and began to shut the door when she heard something coming from the main room.
She looked around the corner, frowning, it was still relatively early and she could see from her position that Hawthorne's bedroom door was still closed. She took half a step back and moved quietly into the bedroom she shared with Ange. She unclipped Booth's gun from the holster at his side, making sure not to wake him.
Holding the weapon tightly she moved back out into the hallway. She took a tentative step into the main room. She could see someone attempting to close the door quietly, their back facing her. She gripped the gun and told herself to stay calm.
"Turn around, slowly; raise your hands above your head…"
"Temperance?" the man asked confused. Brennan was surprised that it was Hawthorne's voice. She lowered the gun as he turned around. His eyes widened when he saw the firearm at her side.
"Sorry, I didn't know it was you," Brennan said.
"It's okay. I should've known not to try and sneak in. I'm just lucky you said something before blowing my head off." He smiled charmingly.
"Where were you anyway?" Brennan inquired placing Booth's gun down on the island.
"I had a meeting."
"At eight o'clock?"
"He tends to be more of a night person. Tea?" Hawthorne held out the kettle, indicating his query. Brennan looked up.
"Oh, yes, please," she answered. He turned to the faucet and began filling the kettle. Brennan watched him. She was getting a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was never one to follow those gut instincts, that was Booth's area of expertise, but something was really off here.
"Milk, sugar?"
"Both please, two sugars. Thank you," Hawthorne handed her the cup of steaming tea. She smiled and stirred it lightly with the spoon he had given her.
"Did you sleep well?" Brennan's eyes were drawn to Hawthorne's hand. He was playing with his spoon.
"Yes, and I woke up to somewhat of a surprise."
"Ah, Agent Booth…"
"Yeah…I assume you let him in last night and he didn't break down any doors or anything."
"Breaking down doors? No. But he did threaten me at gunpoint. Said if I didn't let him in he'd make sure I wish I did." Hawthorne's face was dead serious. Brennan stared at him in shock and horror. Then Hawthorne broke out into a smile. Brennan sighed, "I'm joking! He didn't even have to knock; I just let him and Hodgins in."
"Very funny. I think I'm gonna go back to bed now." She stood up from the island and grabbed her cup and took the gun off the table.
"Sweet dreams," Hawthorne commented, "oh, and Dr. Brennan?"
"Yes?" she turned back to him.
"Can we not tell Lily about my secret rendezvous? She doesn't like it when I leave early in the morning."
Brennan forced a smile, "sure thing." Hawthorne grinned. She walked down the hall, her mind working over the acquired information. Still, she had nothing solid. This was all circumstantial evidence, not permissible in court. She thought for a moment. I'll tell Booth, see what he thinks. Maybe I'm just being skittish. It's probably nothing…
She moved onto the bed, trying not to wake Booth. Her efforts failed, however, and when she had finally settled at his side, he was awake and staring at her. She laid her head on his arm and smiled. He responded likewise, brushing a hair out of her eyes. He moved to kiss her softly and she accepted, letting her fingertips brushing gently over his cheek bones.
"Morning," he said pulling away from her.
She sighed contentedly, "morning, again."
"Remember when I said we could stay like this forever?" Booth began.
"Yeah…"
"That only works if one of us doesn't get up," he grinned and Brennan rolled her eyes.
"So what are we supposed to do? Wet the bed?"
"Now that just killed the romance."
"I have a knack for that," Brennan kissed him again.
"Yeah, you definitely do. Don't punch me!"
"I won't punch you, but you have to take it back!" Brennan grinned wickedly.
"Maybe I will, and maybe I won't."
"Than maybe I'll punch you--ah!" she screeched when he began to tickle her senseless. She attempted to stifle the uncontrollable laughter as she squirmed away from him. Unfortunately for her, the bed was too small for her to go far and he eventually pulled her close to him, her back to his chest.
Brennan sighed. She closed her eyes again. It shocked her how she could suddenly feel so comfortable with someone. She had never let David hold her after they'd had sex. Well, that was also mostly because he was out the door pretty quickly afterwards. She'd never really been into the whole touchy-feely crap. But now she was starting to realize that perhaps she'd been too quick to judge it. She and Booth hadn't even had sex and he was already holding her like this…like he'd never let go.
"You know things are gonna have to change when we get back to DC," Booth started.
Brennan frowned, though Booth couldn't see it, "what'd you mean?"
"Well, we can't do what we've been doing. It'll be too difficult. And weird," Booth answered, his voice calm. Brennan felt something in her chest start to hurt. Not that she actually believed in the cliché, but was this what if felt like to have your heart broken? 'Cause it sucked. Tears started to prick the corners of her eyes. Two minutes ago she'd been the happiest she'd felt in years, now she felt like throwing up.
But she didn't let those tears fall, don't show weakness, she reminded herself. Instead, she got mad. She sat up and turned on him, her eyes burning with the hatred of a scorned woman. One look could've killed him so it was a good thing he was looking at the empty space in his arms. As he turned to look at her she slammed her fist as hard as she could into his shoulder.
"Ow! What the hell was that for!" he asked sitting up and rubbing his sore arm.
"You are an asshole, you know that!" Brennan tried to get off the bed but Booth grabbed her wrist. She lashed out at him again, her palm connecting with the side of his face. The force of the impact made a loud cracking sound and the FBI was momentarily stunned.
Bones took the opportunity to peel his fingers away from her wrist. She was able to throw one leg over the side of the bed before Booth took hold her again and pulled her back to his chest. She flailed and struggled against him but he had her bear-hugged.
"What in the name of God has gotten into you?" he asked slightly breathless.
"I will not be some vacation fling. I'm better than that, and I thought you--well, I don't think that anymore and--."
"Bones, what the hell are you talking about?" Booth sounded genuinely confused.
Brennan stopped thrashing about and turned in Booth's arms to face him. He was still holding her tightly, afraid of getting hit again. He looked down at her, his face showing confused innocence. Brennan felt her hatred dissolve and the broken heart feeling returned. He didn't know what he meant to her then. He didn't think breaking them off would be a big deal. It wasn't bothering him at all and now, here she was tears starting to form at the corners of her eyes again. Big baby…
"You want to end this, then fine. But don't act like it was nothing, okay? Because it was definitely more than nothing for me..."
Booth raised an eyebrow. Bones was definitely talking complete crazy now. The problem was: she looked like she really believed what she was saying. Great, he thought, I finally find the perfect one, and she's completely out of her mind! Maybe it just comes and goes, because this does not sound like Bones.
"Bones, I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but I still have absolutely no clue what you're talking about? This meaning us? Why would you want to end us?" Booth asked.
Now it was Brennan's turn to look confused. She searched Booth's eyes. He really didn't seem like he had any idea what she spouting on about. She furrowed her brows and stared at him.
"I don't want to end us…"
"So, then, what's all this about?"
"I thought you wanted to end us…"
"Why would I want to do that?"
"You said things had to change. You said we couldn't keep doing what we're doing."
Booth suddenly got the light bulb look. You know the one that cartoons get when the light bulb beside their head suddenly flicks on. His mind rewound the conversation and he realized where they gone astray. He grinned. So Bones was afraid to let him go, huh? Didn't want to break things off with him? Well, all of that was good news but she was still looking for answers and he had a feeling if he didn't supply them, he'd get punch again.
"I meant back home. I meant living arrangements and stuff."
"Oh…"
"Yeah. I don't just want to see you at work, Bones. If we're gonna keep this thing going then we're gonna have to spend a little bit more time together."
"True. So what do you suggest?"
"Well, I wasn't thinking of doing things to quickly, that never seems to work, so I figured we'd kind of switch off, or whatever, who was staying with whom."
"Sounds logical…"
"I'd hoped you'd say that."
They were silent for a minute. Brennan leaned her cheek against his chest and Booth rested his chin on the top of her head. How could she possibly think that I'd want to leave her? It's taken me almost a year to get where I am today! There's no way in hell I'm going anywhere anytime soon. He grinned softly. Bones was definitely the one woman that he'd really struggle to stay with. No matter what, this had to work. It had to because if it didn't…Booth didn't even what to think what a wreck he would be.
He leaned back against the headboard, pulling Bones down with him. His fingers wrapped themselves in her hair. They lay that way for another minute before Brennan broke the silence again.
"I feel really stupid right now."
"Why?"
"Because I hit you, more than once, for something you didn't actually do."
"I've been hit worse."
"I'm sorry."
"It was justified."
"No, it wasn't," Brennan sat up, her eyes meeting his.
"You thought I didn't want this to happen. I'd hit me too."
"I didn't want you to leave…"
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"I thought you didn't like empty promises?"
"Promise?" Brennan's voice was slightly firmer when she asked the second time.
"Cross my heart," Booth answered.
Brennan frowned, "I don't know what that means."
(--)
Angela had woken up a little while after Brennan's freak out. When Angela realized in what position she was nearly flew out of the sleeping bag and into the bathroom. Her movement, of course, awoke Hodgins, who had no idea what was going on. When a blushing Angela returned from the bathroom that four went out to join Hawthorne and Lily for breakfast before Hawthorne took them back to the hotel to collect their things.
Booth and Brennan stood in the doorway to the room. Neither moved; both just looked at the mess that they had created the day before. Brennan smiled, embarrassment flooding through her veins. Booth tried to suppress a laugh, but it came out as a snort instead.
They looked at each other once before moving inside and starting to straighten things up. Booth noticed the flowers that Dr. Long had given Brennan still sitting on the table. He glared at the bouquet before pulling the flowers out and throwing them in the trash can.
"You've been waiting to do that since I got those," Brennan commented, smiling.
"Do you really want flowers from a killer sitting in your room?" Booth queried.
"Well, no…"
"And I don't want them in here anyway. See, problem solved."
"You are the most overprotective…"
"Yeah, and you love that about me."
"Excuse me, Dr. Brennan," a young man in the red bell-boy uniform drew their attention.
"Yes?" Brennan stepped forward.
"A package was delivered for you this morning," the boy said handing her a box wrapped in brown packing paper.
"Thank you," Brennan said, handing him a five dollar bill from her pocket.
"Your welcome," the young man departed, closing the door behind him.
"Who's it from?" Booth asked, trying to hide the suspicion in his voice. It didn't work.
"No name or return address." She started to peel back the paper.
"I'll give you three guesses who it from, and the first two don't count."
They both held their breath as Brennan ripped off the last of the paper and pulled the top of the box. Inside were about a hundred glossy photos, all in black and white. But resting on top of them was something else. Brennan pulled out a pen, Booth handed her another; she used them like chop sticks to pull the object out of the box and examine it.
It was a medical bracelet. Brennan held up to eyes level and inspected the name. With a sharp intake of breath she dropped it again, her eyes wide. Booth frowned at her. He took her make-shift chop sticks and picked the bracelet up himself. He looked away quickly. The name read: Zack Addy.
"I'm sure he's fine, Bones. Long's a doctor remember? He could've just taken one from the hospital," Booth said, his free hand on her back, its presence calming her.
"You probably right," she agreed. Her next step was inspecting the pictures. Again she was startled by what she found. They were recent. Very recent…most of them were of her and Booth…at Hawthorne's house. Nearly all of them from earlier that morning…
"Jesus…" Booth glanced down at them.
"Who else knew we were there?" Brennan asked.
"I suppose anyone close by would've heard Hawthorne offer…"
"What if they didn't?"
"What're you saying Bones? You think Hawthorne's in on it?"
Brennan nodded, "I caught him coming in this morning. He'd said he was at a meeting. And now these pictures of us at his house, where nobody's supposed to know we are. He's left-handed Booth."
"I just find it hard to believe that this guy, the guy who's been helping us catch the killer, is the killer."
"It's the perfect position to be in. He helps us divert the investigation away from him, all the while acting like he's this great friend and everything. He played us, Booth, he played all of us."
"You really think he's the one?" Booth asked Brennan nodded again; "Okay…" he pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number, "This is Special Agent Booth. Yes, I want you to get an arrest warrant for Officer Richard Hawthorne, on first degree murder and criminal conspiracy." He hung up, "I hope you're right about this, Bones."
"Me too," she said quietly.
(--)
Booth and Brennan stood at the top of the first flight of the massive stairs in the hotel lobby as Hawthorne was taken down the second set in handcuffs. Behind him and the two FBI agents escorting him, were Angela and Hodgins, both looking shaken.
"Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan…" Hawthorne started but their stony faces quieted him. He bowed his head and let the agents walk him through the hotel. Angela and Hodgins stopped to stand with Booth and Brennan.
"What's going on?" Hodgins asked.
"Yeah, those guys came in and said Hawthorne was under arrest for killing those girls. Since when did that happen?" Angela inquired.
"Since Bones got a box of pictures from someone, anyone wanna guess who? All of them were at Hawthorne's place this morning," Booth explained.
"And that makes him a serial killer?"
"He's also left-handed, Angela," Brennan continued, "and he was sneaking into the house this morning when I first got up."
"Maybe he was getting the paper?" Angela offered.
"He said he was at a meeting," Brennan countered.
"I still don't understand how he could be the bad guy."
"The evidence points to him," Brennan snapped.
"Fine, but I don't believe it."
"Fine, you're allowed to have your own opinion," Brennan replied sharply. Booth gave her a sad look then proceeded to descend the stairs, the squints following him, as he walked through the lobby and out to the SUV.
They piled in. Angela and Hodgins in the trunk seat. Booth on one side of Hawthorne, Bones on the other and the two other FBI agents, Orville and Wilbur, in the driver's and passenger's seats. Hawthorne turned to Brennan and opened his mouth but Booth cut him off before he could talk.
"Don't speak to her, don't look at her, got it?" Booth warned. Hawthorne nodded in silence.
"Nice work Booth," Orville said.
"Yeah, never would've thought it was Hawthorne," Wilbur agreed. He glanced at the agent in question, "you sure had us fooled."
"So, why'd you do it, big guy?" Orville asked, looking in the rearview mirror.
"Hey, do you think you could, maybe watch the road!" Brennan barked.
"Yeah, I really want to die before we get there," Angela agreed forcefully.
"Hold your horses woman, we'll be fine," Orville replied caustically.
They drove for a few more minutes in silence. Brennan was going over the evidence in her head. Something suddenly popped into her head. She glanced out the window and saw that the turnoff for the morgue was coming up.
"Hey, can you pull over here and let me out?" Brennan asked.
Booth frowned at her, "why?"
"I need to get something," Brennan answered. Orville pulled to the side of the road and let Brennan get out, "Ange, Hodgins, I might need your help," she said. The pair shrugged and joined her on the sidewalk.
"Bones, what's going on?" Booth inquired, moving to undo his seatbelt.
"Nothing. Just go back to the FBI building. We'll meet you there in a little while," Brennan answered.
"You sure?"
"Trust me," she smiled at him and closed the door. Taking a step back the trio watched as the SUV sped away toward the FBI headquarters.
"So," Angela said, "what're we doing here?"
"Solving a case," Brennan replied calmly.
"Funny, I thought we already had?" Hodgins cut in.
"I have, we just need to find one more piece of evidence."
"So why do you need us here?" Angela inquired.
"I don't. Ange, I need you to go to the hospital and get Zack."
"He's being flown back to DC in like half an hour," Hodgins said.
"I know. I need the preliminary identifications on the DNA samples from under the first girl's finger nails."
"You gonna match that to Hawthorne's?"
"I'm gonna match it to someone," Brennan answered slyly.
"So you don't think Hawthorne's the one that did it?" Angela asked.
"I haven't made any conclusions yet, that's why I need those ids."
"So then why did you have Hawthorne arrested?" Hodgins asked.
"Look, I said I haven't concluded anything yet, Hawthorne could still be the guy, but I just want to double check some things…"
"Okay… I'll go to the hospital," Angela said, pulling out her cell phone.
"Good," Brennan turned to Hodgins, "I have another job for us to do."
"At the morgue, I assume?" Hodgins asked.
"Bingo," Brennan replied and the pair headed down the street.
(--)
TBC in Chapter 15 "Hope to Die…"
A/N: You reviews are great! I love that you guys like this so much. I really think that there will only be two chapters left. Sorry guys but this case is definitely coming to a conclusion. I really appreciate all the support you have given me for this, considering it was my first Bones' fic and everything. I love you all!