A/N: I got cable! I can watch the new season of Bones when it does start and I am so psyched! YAY!
Minutes passed after she heard the bathroom door shut and open and all the while Brennan couldn't move her mind past Booth. He was such an enigma to her. One moment he was mocking her with some pop culture and the next he was causing her more pleasure than anyone else in the past. Besides pleasure, he also showed her how to be happy with things that weren't ancient skeletons or artifacts. He continually brought to her cases that brought out the worst in human nature, and of course it got to her – every time, but he also got her out to see the best in human nature. Things she couldn't find outside the lab.
There was a pounding on the bathroom door, waking her from her thoughts.
"Bones! Angela is missing! We can't find her anywhere!" Booth's voice turned her insides to ice as she leapt out of the shower. Not even drying off she threw on jeans and a tank top that happened to be on the floor – not even concerned with undergarments.
Her best friend was missing.
Chapter 9:
Throwing the door open with excessive strength, Brennan flew through the door at light speed only to bump into Booth.
"Why can't anyone find her?" She asked urgently.
"She went out to the SUV and never came back. Hodgins and Zack have been scoring the hotel, we're going to take outside." Grabbing Brennan's wrist he tugged her towards the door and they ran down the four flights of stairs to the ground level and out the front doors.
Brennan made a mad dash for the SUV, as if the sooner she got to it the sooner Angela could pop out of the black vehicle and start bugging her about Booth or how she worked too much. Booth jogged behind her, trying to keep an eye out for movement or clues that could hint at Angela's where abouts or what had happened. Circling the vehicle, Brennan searched high and low for any sign of Angela but found none on her cursory search.
"Bones," Booth called from a squatting position about two feet away from the driver's side door.
She rounded the corner and knelt beside Booth as he pointed out a small pool of blood. Most likely Angela's blood.
"Oh God, Booth."
He put a steadying hand on her shoulder to keep her from collapsing to the ground. Brennan's head began to spin from the harsh reality forming before her. Normally it was herself that got into danger. Angela was always safe at the lab with Hodgins and Zack. Brennan could handle putting herself into danger, because she knew she could take care of herself, but she had pulled Angela into danger knowing full well that she couldn't protect her. She had been too busy having sex with her partner.
"This is all my fault! I told everyone that I forgot something in the SUV and when I didn't come back, Angela must have come out to check on me." Brennan babbled.
"You couldn't have foreseen this, Bones."
"No. While we were – she was getting hurt and now she is gone." Tear welled up in her eyes as hopelessness settled in.
"The Temperance Brennan I know wouldn't give up before the battle has begun." Booth stated.
Brennan nodded, getting back in control of her emotions. Now was not the time to be weak. Angela needed her.
"Let's split directions and come back in 15 minutes."
"Are you sure, Tempe?" He looked worried, Brennan thought. Should he be?
"Yes," and she picked a direction and began calling Angela's name while searching for clues.
Soon she could hear Zach and Hodgin's voices joining the fray. The voices began to fade as Brennan stepped into a wooded area. Hearing a branch snap somewhere to her left, she paused and became silent. Listening with all her might, she forced her muscles to relax and focus on her surroundings. If something attacked her she would be better off not stiff and more aware of what was around her.
Sensing something behind her, Brennan twisted to face whatever it was but was blind-sided by something hard to the side of her head, knocking her to the ground. For a few moments all she saw were white stars dancing in and out of her vision as she fought for consciousness. Feeling someone approach her she swung her feet out around her; bringing her opponent to the ground. Quickly standing she tried to make a run for the clearing, but realized quickly that the man was between her and safety. She made a leap over him but he grabbed for her ankle and brought her face to the dirt. She squirmed and fought to get the dirt out of her eyes but she could feel him standing over her about to make the final blow. Before the man got a chance though she heard brush rustling and a loud crack echo in the woods followed by a string of profanities. The attacker ran further into the woods and disappeared. Brennan scrambled to her feet and cleared the dirt out of her eyes to see her crack-assistant holding his right fist in his left hand and cursing.
"Zack?" Brennan asked, clearly confused. She would have predicted it would be Booth to save her or maybe even Hodgins, but Zack had come through for her.
"Stupid bad guys – attacking, frig'n..." It went on as they walked back out of the wooded area to find Booth and Hodgins.
"Booth!" She called out his name and was rewarded when both Hodgins and Booth turned the corner at a sprint.
They must have looked like quite the sight; Brennan and Zack. Her face was covered in dirt and she could feel a deep bruise forming on the left side of her face. Her clothes were filthy now and her shirt had apparently caught on something when she fell because it was torn from her left elbow region down across her stomach revealing mud smudged abs. Zack's fist was bloody and clearly broken and his clothes were also filthy from rushing into the woods.
"What in God's name happened to you two?" Booth rushed to Brennan and began looking her over, inch by inch, taking in when she winced or flinched at his touch. Hodgins sauntered up to Zack slowly.
"So, did you run your fist into a tree or something?" He asked casually.
"As a matter of fact I hit a man square in the jaw."
"We need to follow him Booth," Brennan urged. "He could lead us to Angela!"
"Let's go!" Hodgins moved to go into the woods before Booth stopped him.
"We should call for back up first." Booth reasoned.
"That sick freak could be torturing Angela as we speak! I won't let her come to harm when I can try to help!" Hodgins was quickly turning a horrible shade of red. "You wouldn't turn your back on Brennan, how could you expect me to turn mine on Angela?"
Booth was about to cave in, because he knew Hodgins was right. If it were Brennan who was kidnapped he'd be sprinting through that woods with out a second thought to his own safety. But Brennan of course spoke up first.
"Booth would not go chasing after me with out coming up with a plan first and bringing in back up. He isn't that foolish." Brennan argued to Hodgins.
Hodgins glared pointedly at Booth knowing that he was right, but neither of them had a death wish and so they wouldn't argue with Brennan.
"Booth, call for back up. Hodgins, Zack and I will go searching for a trail that the – the – Angela's kidnapper may have left." Brennan was trying to turn everything into evidence and facts – trying to distance herself from the situation in her normal clinical manner, but it was too personnel this time. Booth squeezed her hand reassuringly and let them turn into the woods to begin looking for clues and Angela.
Hours passed with no luck and a local forensics team had come to check for prints on the vehicle that didn't belong to the squints or Booth. As upset as everyone was, Booth insisted that they all check in for a few hours of sleep so they could resume a better search later.
So trudging back into the hotel room everyone looked as if they hadn't slept in days or even showered. With out even thinking about a shower Hodgins and Zack collapsed onto the last bed while Brennan and Booth took the one closest to the door. They were so tired that none of them complained about their bedmates; especially one Seeley Booth. And when Booth pulled a tired and limp Brennan into his warm embrace she only sighed in content and fell asleep immediately.
Hodgins was shaking them all awake only a few hours later, eager to continue the search for Angela. After everyone had showered they all agreed that the rational method of finding Angela was to continue working through the case to find a lead. Booth had also pointed out that if this was the same guy that killed the other girls, than he probably wouldn't hurt Angela until he had Brennan as well.
"I'm just going to drop you guys off at the morgue so you can do your thing while I follow up with the last two parents." Booth put the vehicle into park while Zack and Hodgins trudged out of their seats and waited for Brennan to get out. They were on strict orders not to let Brennan out of their sight.
"Booth, I still don't see why I can't go with you." Brennan whined.
"Because they need you more. You can do your squinting in the safety of a secure facility where you can dig for clues using your bones."
"But – "
"Bones, don't make this harder than it has to be, unless you're ready to admit that you feel safer with me." He gave her his best charm smile and she scowled in return.
"I can take care of myself." Brennan slammed the door in his face and stalked past a shell shocked Hodgins and Zack and went straight for the doors.
Sighing Booth began his trip to the last two victims homes.
It was fast approaching eleven in the evening and they learned that Holly was in fact not raped and her body had signs of man beatings prior to death. Booth finally called to tell them that he was about an hour away.
"Is that all, Booth?"
"Jeez Bones, lighten up. I can't believe you're upset with me."
Dead silence on Brennan's side.
"Well, at least you're safe. I don't care if you hate me for the rest of our lives as long as you're safe." Pause. "Bones?"
"Booth, I'd hurry if I were you." Brennan whispered.
"What's wrong? What's happening?" His voice filled with panic.
"The power just went out – "
A voice in the background. "We've gotta get out of here, the place is filling with a halothane gas." It was obviously Hodgins.
He heard a crash and the line went dead.
A/N: Now that I have internet 24/7 instead of -10/7, I should be able to do more writing and updating. If you guys could just let me know if you're reading, it'd be nice. I'm not feeling very loved, and I just know that some reviews would make me feel better, HINT HINT HINT!
