AN: Okay, so I didn't get this finished before the season finale. The stories are similar, but I create another story for the death of Brennan's mom and jumble things a bit. I also tried to incorporate some of the series. I hope this doesn't turn out to be crap and you enjoy.
Chapter 3: Wreckage
Medico Legal Lab
Jeffersonian Institute
3:26 p.m.
Brennan stared out into space, for once devoid of all thought. A knock on her door brought her blue eyes up from the paper clutched in her hand.
Seeing Booth in the opening, she tucked the slip under a stack of file folders. He walked in slowly, like a scared child afraid to approach her. He looked around for a few moments, and then spoke.
"I was going to check on you to see if you needed anything," he said quietly.
She shook her head lightly and sat back in her chair. Booth nodded and stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"Okay. I just wanted to come by and tell you goodbye. I have a few days off. Cullen is making me take them," he said with a smile.
"I just finished up the paperwork from our last case. Everything should be alright."
"Well, I guess I will see you in a few days. Give me a call if you need anything, okay Bones?"
And with that, he closed her door behind him, leaving her to her thoughts again.
He had no intention of spending his time "lounging around" and enjoying the freedom of his demanded four days off from Cullen. Bones needed his help, and with Blake, he might be able to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Pulling the phone from his pocket, he punched numbers quickly as he left the coolness of the Jeffersonian. The hot D.C. air hit him in the face, burning the breaths that he inhaled into his nose and lungs.
"Blake."
"Hey, I need something from you," Booth told her. He heard a small whimper, and then she began to speak.
"You've given me enough work to keep me occupied until my retirement. What else could you possibly need?"
"I need Russ Brennan's number and address."
Blake snorted quickly then said nothing for the next few moments.
"Why?" she questioned, skepticism pouring through her voice.
"Why do you think?" Booth grumbled back.
"I really can't give it to you. Sort of like…patient confidentiality."
"I'm an FBI Agent. That's sort of null and void on me."
"Damn you and your persuasiveness. We are able to get away with too much."
"So then you will give it to me?"
"With reluctance, yes. Brennan hates me, but regardless, I want to help the woman. I know what it's like to want answers and not have any."
Booth listened as Blake read of the information, scribbling the address and number down quickly.
"Booth, do me a favor before you traipse off and do something rash."
"Who me?"
"Yeah. I've noticed how protective you are of Brennan. Try to stay focused. Remain objective. And when she is yelling at you for speaking to her brother, don't pull my name out of your brain."
Booth laughed lightly and ended the call. Perhaps it was a stroke of luck, but he didn't have far to travel.
"North Carolina, here I come."
Russ Brennan Residence
The neighborhood was less than to be desired. So was his home. Upon pulling up in the driveway, Booth noticed the house screamed "bachelor pad." A rundown car sat tucked under a makeshift garage. Stepping up on the cement steps, Booth let his fist collide with the door. It swung open a few moments later, a man coming to stand in the doorway.
"Russ Brennan?" Booth asked as he flashed him the badge.
"Another cop," the guy frowned. "It never ends."
Booth threw him a questioning look and the guy smiled.
"What is this about?"
"It's about your sister and the rest of your family."
"What about them?"
"Do you remember anything before your parents vanished? Say, a few weeks before or leading up to."
"Nope," Russ replied simply.
Booth waited for something more, but nothing came out of him. After only five minutes, he wanted to choke the guy. His eyes held the green tint that Brennan's did, hair dark brown and he was about the same height.
"You either help me out willingly now or I drag it out of you later, k buddy?" Booth growled, running a hand through his hair.
Russ' jaw bunched up as he glared at Booth.
"I remember mom saying she was working a tough case. She'd come home late and night and cry sometimes. One night as I walked by her bedroom, I heard her tell dad she was scared."
"Of what?"
Russ let a smug look cover his face.
"I'm not too sure since I wasn't actually part of the conversation."
"Where did you go right after your parents vanished?"
"Went to work. Left that God forsaken town. Tempe was going to live with Gramps or something."
"She ended up in a foster home," Booth said through gritted teeth.
"Damn, tough luck huh?" Russ said, taking a sip of coke.
"Tough luck? Tough luck? Brennan still hasn't completely gotten over that. It sticks with her every day. And here you are, nonchalantly not caring!" Booth yelled.
"Truth be told, it sounds like she is doing better than me! A best selling book, a nice fancy job in D.C. Or maybe you haven't noticed where I ended up," Russ spat. "Tempe is strong. She always was. She made it. That is enough, isn't it?"
"She grew up without the love of her family and missed out on being a kid," Booth spewed back.
"Maybe she is better off for getting her shit together. I don't have FBI Agents running around and doing my bidding for me," he mused.
"I'm here on my own. Just stay in place. You run, I hunt you down," Booth pointed.
"Wouldn't think of it," Russ said with a sarcastic smile.
"Yeah right," Booth grumbled, putting his shades on.
At least he had a place to start now. He would go to Bone's mother's firm and get the last case she had been on. There was still nothing on the father, but something had to come of this.
