Chapter 2

Brennan looked out the passenger side window and sighed heavily. She caught Booth looking at her out of the corner of her eye but didn't let on that she noticed. The whole trip had been taken in silence, neither of them speaking of the events that had occurred earlier. Idly, Brennan thought back to a few moments earlier.

Could what her co-workers said be true? The thought ravaged her mind as she stared at Booth. She couldn't make her eyes move off of them, all the while, the painful ache in her chest becoming sharper.

Separating the white latex from her flesh, she tossed it aside, not caring where it went at the moment. Her heels scraped across the floor and the blue fabric of her lab jacket flapped in the air. The woman was the first to acknowledge her, Booth's eyes following soon after.

Brennan stopped and shoved her hands in her pockets. The silence was deafening, no surrounding party offering to be the first to speak. Booth shifted he weight and placed his hands on his hips.

"Temperance Brennan, meet Special Agent Anna Blake. She's our missing person's specialist."

Blake stuck out her hand, a somber look chiseled in her young features. As Brennan grasped Blake's hand lightly, her heart sank into her stomach.

Watching the vehicles pass now in silence, Brennan felt uneasiness creep into her. She knew what this was about. If Booth had asked the agent to meet him, it only meant one thing.

"Temperance, you aren't mad, are you?"

It felt odd to hear the use of her first name. It had been reserved for intimate moments between the two of them. She resented its use now, fearing only impending sadness.

"I thought we agreed this was a you and me thing."

"It still is and always will be."

"You brought her into this."

"Look Bones. I know you resent this right now. But hell, she's the best damn agent we have for this type of thing."

"And what exactly is this 'type of thing'."

Brennan watched as his knuckles faded from pink to white on the steering wheel. His shoulders tensed and he clenched his jaw.

"With your parents Bones. I wouldn't let just anyone in on this. She may be a bit rough around the edges but I have this feeling like maybe she can help you."

Brennan turned to face him fully, catching his look as he turned to face her. She didn't know what to say or how to act about any of this.

"Just hear her out," Booth requested. "Then decide."

10 Minutes Later

When they walked in the door, the smell of fresh bread and ground coffee wafted into Brennan's nose. Sitting to the back of the room, Blake sat staring out the window.

As they approached the table, Brennan noticed the tab of the file folder sticking out from Blake's fingers, her parents names faded in black type. Same folder only…fuller? Could it be?

Booth pulled out Brennan's chair, her blushing slightly as Blake watched. Booth made no deal out of it and took a seat next to Brennan. Blake scooted closer to the edge of the table, resting her elbows on the counter and clasping her fingers together.

"So uh, if you have any questions for me or anything, ask away," Blake said with a small smile.

Where did she start? So much ran through her mind, it seemed difficult to grasp a coherent thought. Straight to the fact rights?

"Why did you decide to take this case?"

"Booth approached me several weeks back. He asked me to take a look into the disappearance of your parents."

"So anyone can just walk up to you and request something such as this?"

"It's rare for an outside party not directly related to the missing to come forward with a request. Primarily, my job consists of dealing with the family itself."

Brennan nodded and pursed her lips, trying to formulate her next question.

"So why did you accept my case?"

"I was under the impression that Agent Booth had been given consent by you to approach me. When he informed me he had not done so, I asked for a meeting between us, to get your acceptation or rejection."

"I'm sorry. I just don't know what all to say."

Blake fidgeted in her chair and glanced out of the window.

"I understand this type of thing is hard, really. But, I will share something I have found out, regardless of your choice for help or not."

The sick feeling returned to the pit of Brennan's stomach as she glanced over to Booth, receiving a solemn look from him.

"What?" Brennan whispered.

'I've located your brother Russ," Blake returned, withdrawing a slip of paper. Tears began to form in Brennan's eyes. She had to look closely to see the name, address, and telephone number scribbled on the sheet.