Disclaimer- Okay, so here's my disclaimer for both ch. one and two. I don't own Bones, because wishing something does not make it true.
A/N Thank you everyone who reviewed, it is very much appreciated! All of you were very kind, and are wonderful people for inspiring me to continue this story!
Chapter Two:
It had been about a week since the first body had been discovered, when Agent Booth once again showed up at the Jeffersonian on a bright and sunny morning, dressed in a crisp navy blue suit, a grim look on his face.
"Bones," he said without preamble, noticing her with the squints in the main part of the lab. "Another body has been found. A twenty-nine year old woman by the name of Alicia Mackenna." He tossed a new file on the lab table.
"Well, if you already know who she is, then why do you need me?" Bones questioned.
"We want you to find out cause of death, and see if the killer perhaps left any clues, like last time," he informed her, referring to the inscribed rib.
Several men in dark 'FBI' jackets followed behind Booth, and laid a black body bag on the table alongside the file, before leaving as quickly as they had come. Zack Addy aided Dr. Brennan in unzipping it, revealing a perfectly normal-looking woman, save for the fact that she was dead. There were no marks on her pale flesh, no blood, nothing to indicate it had been anything but a natural cause of death.
Bones inquired about that as well. "What makes you so certain it was murder and not just a natural death?"
"She was found strapped to a tree outside of the bureau, much like the last victim. Typically, people who die natural deaths are sent to morgues, not hung out like macabre lawn decorations."
Hodgins spoke up. "But why would this guy want to venture so close to a federal building? I mean, if I was some Psycho killer I wouldn't exactly want to get caught in the act, you know? Crazy or not, prison can't be fun."
"Because he's not a Psychopath. He's a Sociopath," Booth informed him.
"And the difference is..." Jack prompted, motioning his hands in a 'continue' gesture.
"Psychopaths are murderers, but they're insane murderers. They kill because they feel that they need to, or because 'voices' tell them to, or simply because they can't fully comprehend the concept that it is wrong to take a human life. Sociopaths are perfectly sane human beings who simple enjoy the kill. They understand perfectly the difference between right and wrong, and they just don't give a damn. Sociopaths are more dangerous."
"Well, that's comforting," Hodgins said sarcastically.
Dr. Brennan ignored the two men's chatter as she concentrated on the task at hand. The body was in perfect condition, no contusions found anywhere. She looked over the victim's torso, and noted the fact that there was a small pink line down her chest, indicating that there was healing scar tissue. It looked as if it had been open heart surgery, judging by the position of the incision. That was unusual for a person of her age. She called for Zack to hand her the file that Booth had abandoned on the table. Looking over the victim's medical records, she noted that the woman had been in a minor car accident when she was a teenager, and had had her tonsils removed as a child, but besides that had been in good health. There was no record of any kind of heart surgery.
She once again took up a small scalpel, and began to cut into the body, carefully following the previously made mark. She thoroughly inspected the victim, before turning back to Booth. "I know the cause of death," she announced.
"Great," Booth replied. "And that would be what exactly?"
"The victim's heart was removed."
Silence followed these words.
--
After a moment of hush, Bones spoke again. "There was something else. This was found in the empty chest cavity."
She held up a small glass tube for Booth to see. There was a slim white piece of paper visible through it. Brennan extracted it, and read it over.
"Well?" Booth prompted. "What does it say?"
"This Game has but one rule," she read aloud.
"Wonderful," Booth said, frustrated, throwing his hands up into the air. "Not only do we have a deranged Sociopathic killer on our hands, but he's being all Mr. Cryptic to boot. Don't you wish all the bad guys would just turn up and say 'It was me! I did it!' instead of being all sneaky?"
Bones smiled. "I don't think that's how being a bad guy works. I think there must be some sort of a handbook saying that they have to at least attempt to be sneaky bastards."
Booth grinned at her. "Was that a joke Bones? Gee, if I didn't know any better, I'd almost think you had a sense of humor," he teased.
"And if I didn't know any better, I'd almost think you used your head for something other than storing hot air."
"If I only had a brain..." He sang, grin still firmly in place.
Hodgins and Zack chuckled quietly, and Brennan looked to Booth curiously.
"The Wizard of Oz?" He said, brows raised. "Come on Bones, ringing anything?"
The confused look remained in place. "I don't know what that means."
Booth laughed, and smiled widely at her. "One of these days, Bones, I'm going to tie you up and force you to watch all of the classics, so that at least you will have some sort of knowledge of pop culture." He shook his head. "I just don't get how you know so much about every culture but our own."
Bones didn't reply. Her mind was still occupied with the thought of Booth tying her up. She silently thanked whoever may be listening that Booth wasn't having one of those mind-reading moments of his. She didn't think her face could flush anymore than it already was.
A/N Okay, o how was that? I tried to make it a bit longer, even if it wasn't by much... And i just hd to add that little dirty thought to the end... grins Okay, so PLEASE let me know what you think. I even take criticism so long as it's done tastefully. Ta, luvs.