Disclaimer: "Bones" is the property of Fox Broadcasting, Kathy Reichs, and Hart Hanson. The following story was written for pleasure only and not for personal profit in any way.

Chapter 7

Brennan entered the cabin at the stern. Thanks to the close proximity of the patrol boat equipped with a fire hose, they were able to salvage much of the large ship. The front half was untouched by the fire and it was still afloat at least. The agents first on the scene did a quick sweep of the boat looking for survivors. They found none. They did locate two bodies at the rear of the boat, near the origination of the blast.

Everything was charred and blackened in the rear cabin. The ceiling above had been consumed in the explosion.

"Based on the scorch marks, I would say it started with a fire which met an accelerant, most likely fuel of some kind," she said, gazing around the room. Her eyes came to rest on the blackened skeleton a few feet from her. She looked the body over carefully, kneeling gently on the charred remains of the cabin floor.

"Due to the amount of debris under, rather than on top of the body, and the position of the limbs, I would say that this body was in the room above when the explosion occurred," she said in a firm businesslike tone, as she assessed the first victim. "If the ceiling is collapsing, natural reflexes would cause your arms to come up and try to protect yourself. This body's limbs are splayed as if trying to brace for a fall."

"The victim is male… Caucasian… early to mid thirties," she continued, her voice a little unsteady for the first time. Her hands were shaking as she leaned forward to move a piece of debris from the charred remains before her.

The Deputy Director stood behind Dr. Brennan, watching her as she worked.

"Sir," called an Agent addressing Cullen. He turned towards the door. "We found this, in the main cabin," the agent stated, holding up a clear evidence bag containing a black handgun. Cullen recognized it immediately as a .40 caliber semi automatic Glock, standard issue to all FBI personnel. He nodded to the agent.

"The serial number confirms it as Booth's service gun," the Agent stated, in a softer tone.

"Thanks, Connelly," said Cullen, turning back towards the woman in front him, leaning over the remains.

She had her flashlight in one hand, examining the teeth of the victim. His stomach sank. It looked like he had lost a good agent, one of his best. He just hoped McGregor would be identified as the other body. Watching her carefully, he worried how Brennan would react when she identified this body or the other one as Booth's. The death of a partner was one of the worst things to deal with in this job. He was unsure how the woman in front of him would react and he needed to be ready for the worst. She was very 'compartmentalized' or at least that's the word that Dr. Sweets, the psychologist assigned to evaluate the two of them after Booth arrested Brennan's father, frequently used when he spoke about her. But he doubted anyone could kneel over a pile of charred remains and identify them as the person they spent every day with and not lose it a little, especially a partnership like these two had. They worked together better then any other team he had ever seen. They argued constantly, and no one could really understand why they even worked together, but you couldn't say they weren't effective.

The doctor stood and quickly made her way to the second body, flashlight still in her hand. Cullen followed her, trying to decide how to say what needed to be said. He watched her hands, shaking visibly as she examined the skull and then the teeth. She was afraid, afraid that she was about to have the truth confirmed for her. Cullen shook his head slowly as he watched her work.

"It's not him," she said quietly, letting out the breath she didn't realize she was holding. "It's not him," she repeated a little louder. She stood, turning to Cullen. "Neither of these bodies are Booth," she announced, the relief evident in her voice.

"How can you be sure?" he asked, wanting to believe her, but not sure he could.

"Two years ago, he lost his anterior molar on the left side and both of these skulls have their original molars," she said, smiling at him.

He returned her smile, his relief evident on his face. Looking at her he could see moisture in her eyes. So she is normal, he thought to himself, just very controlled. As he watched her, her face fell, the relief being replaced again by dread and uncertainty.

"Then where is he?" she asked, still looking at Cullen, a calculating look in her eye.

She crouched down and began examining the remains again, this time focusing on the legs. Cullen watched her in silence.

Dr. Brennan stood quickly and returned to the first body and began examining its legs. Normally she would have conducted a thorough exam to begin with, but at the moment she was more concerned with who it wasn't than identifying who it was.

"Neither of these victims show any sign of injury to the lower limbs, old or recent," she announced.

Culled paused, waiting for her to elaborate. When she didn't expound on her finding he prompted her, "And that's relevant because--?"

"Neither of these men, would walk with a limp," she added, seeing he was not on her train of thought.

"So where is McGregor?" asked the Deputy Director.

An Agent stuck his head around the doorframe. "We've found blood, sir," he stated.

Brennan was first out the door. She followed the Agent around to the port side of the boat. Nearing the edge of the scorch marks from the fire, he stopped, pointing at the outer wall of the ship. There was a long smear of blood going along the side, which had been partially washed off by the fire hose. She pulled out her UV light and shined it on the deck beside the wall. Large splatters fluoresced all along the deck, continuing about half the length of the boat. Where the trail ended there was a large smear of blood going over the side of the ship. She walked back along the trail, examining the blood carefully. Cullen watched her, half-expecting her to be able to tell him this was Booth's blood just by looking at it.

"The blood was here prior to the explosion," she said, reaching down and touching a splatter mark with a gloved hand, "but not long before. The person was not drug or carried. From the splatter pattern and the smears along the wall, they walked, or I should say staggered along the side of the ship, using the wall for support, before sliding over the edge."

Cullen took a step towards her, "Maybe Booth was able to free himself. He then exited out the back door and along the port side where we could not see him and over the edge," he suggested.

"Somehow McGregor finds out he is gone and comes out onto the deck looking for him," added Brennan. "I saw him walk to the bow and look into the water, like he was looking for something or someone. He then continued down the port side and out of sight. Moments after he disappeared from our view the back of the boat exploded," she finished.

"He then either jumps or is thrown into the water," Cullen picked up, continuing the scenario. "So this cannot be McGregor's blood; the trail leads from the stern up the port side and we saw him at the bow just before the explosion."

"Given the amount of blood," Brennan said, her voice softening just a little, "I'd say he has at least one substantial injury. Depending on the type and location, I am not sure he would be able to swim…"

"We need to search the lake as well as the surrounding shoreline," Cullen ordered. "Get the dive team into the water. Connelly, take your team and start searching the shoreline. Let's move, people, we are losing daylight and we don't want to do this in the dark," he finished, following Brennan towards the closest boat.

She looked out over the water between the boat and the closest shoreline, ideas tumbling over each other as they raced through her head. I've already buried you once, Booth, she thought. Don't make me do it again.

To Be Continued...