Chapter 9
Booth walks into Brennan's apartment, he closes the door behind him and looks around the room.
"Come on Bones...help me out here, what is it that you want me to see?...You knew that I would come looking for you, where is my breadcrumb?"
He walks into the bedroom and sits down on her bed, his eyes scan the room and then he lets himself flop backwards, his mind replays that night, the way her eyes sparkled when he told her she was beautiful...the security images of her leaving a club, her arm threaded through Jack's.
He closes his eyes at the thought and tries to imagine her face, she's smiling at him, her eyebrow shooting through her forehead towards the sky in that annoying way that she does that he seems to love at the same time...Her face contorts into one of pain, she reaches out for him and he tries to grab at her hand but he can't reach her...then she's gone.
He sits bolt upright, his forehead cold with sweat. He blinks and wipes his face with his hands...the room is dark. He spins around to look at the alarm clock at the side of the bed and then puts his head in his hands...he's slept for 2 hours, he's exhausted and he's shaking.
His cell phone starts to ring, he reaches into his pocket and takes a deep breath before putting the cell to his ear.
"Booth"
"Booth it's Hodgins, he's moving."
"Okay, tail him, stay as far behind him as possible...but whatever you do don't lose him."
"I've been tailing him for 15 minutes, I just wanted to make sure he wasn't going out for pizza or something...Did Zack get you?...He's been trying your cell for an hour or so."
"No, he didn't...what did he find?"
"He didn't have a conclusive result...he was trying something else, said he should have it in a couple of hours."
Booth jumps up from the bed and heads to the front door, "Ok, I'm gonna get my car and then I'll catch up with you...Where you heading?"
"Maryland"
"I'm on my way...this is important Hodgins, this might be our last chance."
"I know, just hurry and get here."
Booth slips his cell into his pocket and jogs for the door.
Booth attaches his Bluetooth headset and starts up the engine.
He hits a button his cell and pulls out from the parking lot heading towards Maryland, Hodgins, and what he can only hope is a safe Brennan.
"Booth is that you?"
"What have you got for me Zack?"
"Angela did some research, the pizza guy used to be a wall street broker, apparently he lost a lot of money and then his job...he was sectioned 3 years ago...he was stalking a girl, kidnapped her apparently...got off with it though due to temporary insanity."
"That's not gonna help me catch him Zack..."
"I know...but the print that I found on Dr Brennan's necklace will."
"You're sure?...I need certainty on this Zack?"
"It's him."
"Good work Zack...thanks."
"Agent Booth?"
"Yeah?"
"Get him for me?"
"I got a punch with your name all over it."
"Thanks."
Booth disconnects the cell and puts his foot down. "I'm gonna kill him."
XXXXXXXXXXX
Hodgins turns the headlights of the SUV off and slows down as Brian pulls into the docks...He pulls out the cell and dials.
"Booth where the hell are you?"
"I'm about 15 minutes behind you...where you at?"
"We are at the docks...he's getting out his car. Looks like he is heading for warehouse 7."
"Do not follow him Hodgins...stay in your vehicle and wait for me to get there...if she is in there, we cannot risk spooking him..if he panics who knows what he'll do?"
"Did Zack get back to you? Did he find anything?"
"Yeah, we got our guy...which is why we need to do this right."
Hodgins sighs and mumbles his agreement.
Booth pulls up behind Hodgins' SUV and quickly makes his way to Hodgins' window. Hodgins rolls it down and nods towards the warehouse...
"He went in about 10 minutes ago, he spent the first 5 minutes looking around."
"He probably is a little spooked since his meeting with Angela, it's probably why he has waited until now to come pay a visit...he's got an hour before his shift starts...I took the privilige of finding out on my way over."
Booth pulls his gun from his hip holster and checks the bullets, Hodgins points at it "Do I get a gun?"
"No...I've seen Bones with a gun and you are far moodier than she is...I need you to call for back up...if you hear any shots I want you to stay in the car, if he leaves before me I need you to tail him until you can get some backup."
Hodgins nods and Booth starts to make his way to the warehouse.
He cautiously edges his way up the side of the warehouse wall and towards the entrance, there is a shaft of light coming through the door but silence inside. Booth keeps his gun at the ready, he hopes he won't have to use it, but for the first time in years he is more than willing to if necessary. This is the first time that he feels his anger coming unbidden, his restraint slipping, his palms sweating.
Booth pauses at the entrance and takes a deep breath, he peers through the opening and into the warehouse...nothing stands out as being suspicious, and there is no sign of Brian. He knows that this isn't going to be as easy as he might have hoped. One wrong move and he might lose her...lose her, that makes him pause, his gut turns at the sheer concept, he's just found her, he feels like he might just be finding himself...he's realised that Parker isn't all he wakes up for in the morning anymore. He knows now that he has to stop being the FBI agent...it's time to be the sniper again. Stripping off his jacket, he places it on the floor by the door and then cautiously makes his way inside. His senses are on full alert, and his steps are silent...he turns his head from side to side allowing his ears to track any sounds...a scuffle from his right makes him choose that path and he stalks over towards a small office. As he draws closer he can hear voices.
His heart thumps in his chest when he hears her voice, the blood rushing from his stomach makes him feel momentarily queasy. He draws close and backs up to the wall close to the office door and listens
"I always knew...from the moment I saw you I knew you were different.."
"Brian, I like you, I really do...but you have to, they'll be looking for me..."
"Oh they already are, but your friend is barking up the wrong tree..."
"My friend? Booth?"
"Angela...the pretty one, she came to ask if I saw you, I said no and then we arranged a date..."
Booth rolls his eyes at Angela's predictability.
"Don't worry Temperance, I won't go on a date with her, I'm all yours.."
"Brian please? Let me go.."
"No...stop asking me to let you go.."
"I have a friend in the FBI, he'll be looking for me, he will catch you..."
Booth hears the unmistakable sound of a strike and then a whimper, her whimper. His finger tightens on the trigger.
"Dont! Don't ever let me hear you saying that again!"
The room goes silent for a couple of beats and then
"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have hit you but you made me mad...don't make me mad...when I saw you with that guy, I knew that you weren't meant to be with him, how could you be...you and I, we are meant to be together...we love each other."
Booth peers through the door, Brian is kneeling above Brennan, she is tied to a desk, and he is kissing her forehead and stroking her hair gently, Brian's hand moves and Booth sees a streak of blood at the corner of Brennan's mouth, he silently steps into the doorway unnoticed by both of the room's occupants...both remain unaware until Booth presses his gun against Brian's head.
"FBI.."
Brian tenses beneath Booth's Sig, Brennan gazes at Booth intently and his eyes convey so many emotions at the same time that she is unsure of what his particular feeling is.
"Okay Brian, let's try and do this the easy way huh?...Now why don't you straighten up and slowly make your way over to the window...hands in the air.."
Brian straightens up, his hands slowly raising to be level with his head..he slowly makes his way to the window on the far side of the room. Booth uses this opportunity to glance at Brennan, a slither of blood has tracked from the corner of her mouth.
"You ok?"
She nods mutely. He concentrates on Brian and moves towards him slowly, Brian reaches the window and stops...Booth reaches into his pocket to pull out his cuffs "Slowly bring your hands down and put them behind your back."
Brian does so, Booth looks down at his cuffs and Brennan makes a gasp, he spins to look at her as he feels a dull pain against the back of his skull...Booth stumbles forward, gun still in hand. When he is able to look up he sees Brian holding a gun to Brennan's head...
"I'll do it man...you need to back the hell off!"
Booth holds up his hands and nods slowly. "Ok, just take it easy...be cool."
Brian's eyes are wild, Booth knows that the adrenaline running through Brian's body will make him stronger than he appears, it'll be best to catch him off guard. He slides his gun across to Brian and backs up. Brian grabs Brennan's hair and pulls her up to her feet, he unlocks one of her cuffs which allows her to step away from the desk...she meets Booth's gaze. Brian grabs her wrist tightly and she winces at the pressure.
"Now stand up agent. And move over to the doorway. One wrong move and she's feeling the inside of her skull."
Booth complies and holds his hands up level with his head.
"So you're the guy huh?...You're the guy I see all the time? You screwing her? That why you are here?"
Booth tears his eyes from Brennan's and back to Brian "No...I'm no threat to you there..."
Brian smiles..."I can see that you admire her though..You want her, I recognize that look in your eyes...Have you ever felt her skin?.She's so soft...and brilliant, and unique." Brian strokes her face with his gun hand, she closes her eyes briefly. "We've got something special, no one is gonna ruin that...not even you..Which is why I am sorry to have to do this..."
Booth's eyes dart to Brennan as a shot rings out through the air.