A/N: okay, so I really wasn't intending on continuing this story. I wanted to leave it as a one-shot, but that goes out the window. This will probably end up as an M…maybe. The song in this chapter is 'Where's the Girl' from the musical, The Scarlet Pimpernel. I admit to taking one liberty. I changed the name Marguerite to Temperance so it would flow a little better. As before, the lyrics aren't essential, but it's such a pretty song, and for the most part fits quite nicely for the story. I hope you enjoy.
I remember days full of restlessness and fury
I remember nights that were drunk on dreams
I remember someone who hungered for the glory
I remember her, but it seems…she's gone
Booth stormed into Camille's office at the Jeffersonian Institute, slamming the door behind him. Camille looked up at him with raised eyes.
"Something wrong, Seeley?"
"Why the hell wasn't I told that Bones was leaving? Why did I have to learn from my boss that she was in Prague?"
"How am I supposed to know what Dr. Brennan does and does not tell you?" Camille crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked at him.
"You could have said something. Instead, I'm meeting Young Santa Claus at the Hoover Building."
"I don't talk about what goes on here at the Jeffersonian outside of work…"
"Which still left you ample time to mention this!"
"Seeley, what exactly are your feelings toward the doc, because I've got to tell you, this seems way more than friendship."
"She's my partner…"
"Dr. Brennan is an employee of the Jeffersonian Institute. She doesn't work for the FBI, hence, not your partner."
"I should have figured that would be your attitude. I've never known you to be the jealous type, but I was clearly wrong."
"You think I'm jealous of Dr. Brennan? No, Seeley. I'm trying to give you a dose of reality."
"My arrangement with Bones is her full participation in any case that I bring to the Jeffersonian, hence, she's my partner. I come to the Jeffersonian for assistance because of her. Now, when Santa is done with the examination and has a report, send it to me." Booth turned to leave the office, but stopped when Camille began to speak again.
"So what does this mean?"
"It means that my relationship with anyone who is employed at the Jeffersonian is strictly professional. Call me when the report is ready." He left the office and slammed the door. Angela saw him storming across the lab and ran to catch up to him.
"Booth, what's going on?" She was shocked by the piercing glare he sent her way.
"I'm not in the mood to talk right now, especially to any of you squints." With that, he left a very stunned Angela in his wake. Hodgins and Zack looked on from the examination platform.
"Angela?" Zack began tentatively. "Are you okay?"
"Does anyone have any idea what that was about? I don't think I've ever seen Booth so angry before." She looked back at the two, hoping they would have an answer for her.
"He did know that Dr. Brennan was going to Prague, right? I mean, she told him, didn't she?" Zack looked from Angela to Hodgins, wondering if they knew for sure whether his mentor had talked to the FBI agent.
"There's only one way to find out." With that, Angela strode purposefully toward her office. This wasn't a conversation that needed to be overheard.
Where's the girl?
Where's the girl with the blaze in her eye?
Where's the girl with the gaze of surprise?
Now and then I still dream she's beside me.
Brennan walked through the streets of Prague, looking around at the beautiful gothic city, but not really taking in any of the sights. A cool breeze kicked up, and she clutched her jacket tightly around her. She was determined to not think of Booth, but she couldn't keep the image of him kissing Cam out of her head. She sighed. It was going to take quite a lot of time to get her emotions back under control.
When her cell phone rang, she debated about not answering it at first, but when she looked at the caller id, she changed her mind. It was only Angela.
"Hey Angela."
"Did you tell Booth you were going on a sabbatical to the Czech Republic?" There was a deeply accusatory tone to Angela's voice.
"I left a note for him with Dr. Caufield."
"Oh, Bren, how could you? You told me you were going to tell him."
"I did, in that note."
"You know, for once I can't believe how much you're avoiding him. Why didn't you tell him in person? Do you have any idea how hurt that man is? He won't even talk to me." Brennan felt a few tears trying to surface, and looked up toward a lamplight. Once she got the wayward liquid under control, she spoke again.
"Angela, I don't know how…every time I…I can't see anything besides him kissing Dr. Saroyan. I can't get it out of my head, do you understand that? I don't like feeling this out of control." Again she looked up toward the light. She was not going to cry.
"Oh, Sweetie…"
"No, don't. I don't want to hear any pity in your voice. I'll get over this, it's just going to take time."
"Whatever you say. Look, I'll check up on you later, okay?"
"Yeah, thanks Ange."
"And, Bren, be careful over there."
"I will." Brennan shut her phone and sighed heavily. Tempe began to walk again, turning toward her apartment. She reached one hand into her coat pocket and wrapped her fingers around the small figurine inside.
Where's the girl who could turn on the edge of a knife?
Where's the girl who was burning for life?
I can still feel her breathing beside me.
Booth cradled the glass in his hands, staring at the clear liquid inside. He swirled the liquid, but didn't really look at it. Instead, he closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. The tinkle from the bell at the door indicated the arrival of another patron. Booth brought the glass to his lips and took a drink. As he set the glass back down, the person sat next to him in Bones' old seat.
"You know, drowning your sorrows really won't help." Booth turned to look at the woman next to him.
"What do you want, Angela?"
"You have to go to her, Booth."
"Why should I? She ran from me, and we weren't even dating. Hell, I wasn't even aware she was interested."
"When was she supposed to tell you? I mean, just when she was ready, you started sleeping with your ex, then Cam."
"She encouraged me, said it was only natural to have urges. Bones never said anything."
"And did you think she would? For someone who's so good at reading people, you sure didn't do a good job here. She went to the Czech Republic to try and get over you."
"Why are you telling me this, Angela?"
"I already told you. You have to go to her. That wall she hides behind? Don't make her reinforce it."
"Well, I can't exactly leave right now, not during a case."
"Now who's avoiding? You two love each other, I know you do, everyone does. Now don't be stupid Booth, it doesn't work for you. Take some personal time and go to her, because when she comes back to the States, you won't have another chance." Angela stood, patted his shoulder and left him alone at the bar. Booth began swirling the liquid in the glass once again before finishing the drink off. With a sigh, he slid off the barstool and left Wong Foo's for home.
And I know she remembers how fearless it feels
To take off with the wind at her heels
She and I took this world like a storm
Brennan ran the brush gently over the bones protruding from the ground. As the skeleton came into view of the sun for the first time in centuries, she began to catalogue information about the body. Her associate on the dig, Dr. Ludmila Svoboda listened as Brennan ticked off information about the skeleton.
"Female, approximately thirteen to fifteen years old, damage to the pelvic bone indicates she bore at least one child. Compression in the spine shows wear due to heavy labor of some sort, most probably from carrying heavy loads."
"Her placement with the other bodies shows that the burial was done hastily, with little care to the remains. I'd say this would date to around the time of the plague." Ludmila took out a camera to photograph the bones. Brennan gave a crisp nod in response. "You know, Dr. Brennan, I heard you've yet to take in some of our wonders here. I was planning to go to Kutna Hora this weekend. Would you like to come along?"
"I don't think so. I have to work on my book."
"Oh come now. You can't just work yourself to death. One would think you were trying to hide from something. Come along. I'm sure you'll be fascinated by the ossuary at All Saint's Chapel."
"I really don't visit churches and cathedrals." Brennan offered her companion a tight smile as a thousand unbidden images of Booth flooded back into her mind. A thousand phrases and moments swirled in her head…You know, the words come out, but they just don't get across the drawbridge to the princess I know lives within…hey, I know who you are…Meet Jasper. Tempe's hand reached into her pocket and squeezed around the little pig figurine Booth had given her. "On second thought, I think I will go. No use hiding from life, right?"
"That's the spirit, and I promise you Dr. Brennan, you'll enjoy the church immensely." Ludmila gave Brennan a wide smile before both turned back to the skeletal remains.
Come Again!
Let the girl in your heart tumble free
Bring your renegade heart home to me
In the dark of the morning I'll warm you
I'll rouse you
Seeley Booth walked into the Jeffersonian with Special Agent Jason Teirnan, a young man, about five years younger than Booth. He was short, had flaming red hair and freckles. The young man looked around with interest as Booth led the agent up onto the examination platform. While Hodgins said something to Caufield, the anthropologist put his hands on his ample middle, threw his head back and laughed with an exuberant sound resembling…
"Santa Claus." Booth muttered as he approached the group. Agent Teirnan snickered, but gained a more serious expression as the group turned to face them.
"Agent Booth, I didn't expect to see you here. I believe you asked us to call you when we had a report on our findings." Cam looked at Booth with a coldly professional expression.
"That was before the case was turned over to Special Agent Jason Tiernan. Jason, this is Dr. Camille Saroyan, Dr. Stephen Caufield, Dr. Jack Hodgins, Angela Montenegro and Zack Addy."
"Why aren't you handling the case, Agent Booth?" Zack looked confused. "We've only ever worked with you on cases."
"Because I'm going on a personal leave for a little while. There are some things I have to get straightened out." He looked over at Angela, who offered him a small nod and slight smile.
"And does this have anything to do with Dr. Brennan?" Cam asked.
"It's really none of your concern Camille. Now, I've already briefed Agent Teirnan on the case, and he has all of the files for it, so no need to bring him up to speed. If you'll excuse me, I've got a plane to catch." With that, Booth turned and left the new agent with the scientists and left the Jeffersonian, a place he didn't intend on seeing for quite some time. He glanced at his watch. Good, he thought. He had just enough time to make it to his apartment to change, then head to the airport for his flight to Prague.
Temperance, don't forget I know who you are
We were cut from the same surly star
Like two jewels in the sky sharing fire
Temperance looked out the window of the train as she and Ludmila rode into the town of Kutna Hora. The area was beautiful and hilly, the buildings dating back towards the Middle Ages in some areas. Trees and shrubbery made the area lush, and the crisp, blue sky added to the storybook feel of the town.
"So what is so special about this All Saint's Chapel?" Tempe asked Ludmila as they exited the train. The station was bustling for such a small community, but the loads of tourists clearly outnumbered the residents there. As they were jostled by the exiting crowd, Brennan dropped her bag. She bent to pick it up and was vaguely aware of a man nearly tripping over Ludmila and herself. The muttered 'sorry' sounded familiar, but it was probably just her imagination. She stood and dusted her bag off before the two of them began to walk into the town proper.
"You'll see when we get there. I promise, this is worth the trip."
Where's the girl so alive and aching for more?
We had dreams that were worth dying for
We were caught in the eye of a storm
Booth looked out of the window as the train rolled into the station at Kutna Hora. He marveled at the architecture of the town. It looked like a place right out of a fairy tale, and as cheesy as he even felt the thought was, he was hoping for his own story book ending. He wanted to sweep his princess, Temperance, off her feet. It was a fantasy he'd harbored for a while now after Parker had taken to watching Disney films. He wanted to be her knight in shining armor and protect her. He'd just never imagined that she'd feel the same way.
With that thought swirling around in his brain, he stepped off the train and into the depot, almost tripping over a woman bending to retrieve a bag and bumping into her companion. He muttered a quick 'sorry' before heading into the town.
Angela had been kind enough to supply him with Brennan's weekend itinerary: All Saint's Church in Kutna Hora. He only hoped that he wouldn't miss her, and fully intended to stay there all day if necessary.
Come again!
Let the girl in you heart tumble free
Bring your renegade heart home to me
In the dark of the morning, I'll warm you
I'll rouse you
Brennan and Ludmila arrived at the church about an hour or so later. Both had enjoyed the walk immensely, and Temperance felt herself relaxing in the peaceful feel of the place. All Saint's Church was larger than she expected, and as they approached, Ludmila gave her some of the historical information on the place.
"Back in 1278, an abbot, named Henry traveled to The Holy Land on a pilgrimmage and visited the Golgotha."
"That's the site that Jesus was supposedly crucified at, correct?"
"Yes, exactly. Well, Abbot Henry collected a jar of soil from the site and brought it back with him. He sprinkled the earth all over the cemetery that's attached to the church, and many people of the time believed that would make the cemetery holy ground. They flocked from all over Europe to be buried there, believing that it would give them a path directly to heaven.
"This fervor increased during the Black Plague, and once the pandemic was over, more than thirty thousand bodies were buried here. Those bodies allowed for the creation of this ossuary."
"What do you mean?"
"Just wait until we go inside, Dr. Brennan. You're sure to be speechless."
The two women entered the church and Temperance stopped, staring at the decorations in complete awe. Everything was made from human skeletal remains from a coat of arms to a pyramid.
"Is this entire place made up of…"
"Bones!" Temperance turned around at the voice and came face to face with
"Booth!"
Where's the girl?
Is she gazing at me with surprise?
Do I still see that blaze in her eyes?
Am I dreaming, or is she beside me now?