Chapter eight: Dirty Tricks
Slectovencto's car pulled up in front of a seemingly abandoned mansion. Brennan turned her head to look at the building through the side window. They had been driving for what must at least have been eight hours. It was getting dark outside and some black rain clouds floated slowly but threateningly over their heads. She could tell that the wind was raging outside. The few trees that surrounded the mansion bent and the wind pushed and pulled at their leaveless branches.
"You nervous?" Slectovencto asked as he smirked and sat back in his seat, tired of driving.
Brennan didn't answer. She was too preoccupied observing her surroundings. They had stopped on a snow-covered gravel path that led to somewhere behind the mansion. A sterile blanket of white snow was spread out over the vast hills and the moon cast down a soft light as the heavy clouds floated past it.
The sight gave her an eerie feeling. Like something evil was about to happen. This was not at all irrational for Brennan knew why she'd been brought here. Ortez wanted to take revenge on her and she was fairly sure she wasn't going to like it.
Slectovencto yawned and stretched his muscles.
"I'm just gonna drop you off at the door and park the car," he announced.
Brennan froze and clenched her jaw. It was almost going to happen. During the ride she'd tried to ignore the forming knot in her stomach and think about places and people that appealed to her. She'd thought of unidentified soldier nr. 656. The last one she'd identified before they left. There were so many soldiers left that she had yet to give a face.
If Ortez would think rationally, but Brennan was pretty sure he wouldn't, he'd do to her what she did to him and they'd be even. Of course, getting even was not enough for an alpha-male that had been hurt in his pride like himself. Perhaps he would get even first and then kill her.
Brennan shut her eyes and shook her head to ban these horrible thoughts. There was no point in making herself more nervous and scared than she already was. On some occasions it was more rational not to think logically.
Slectovencto opened his door and got out of the car.
Objects are supposed to be nothing more or less than that: Objects. Booth had proven that wrong, though, by using the example of her attachment to her mother's earrings. This is why Brennan looked for comfort by clutching the little dolphin that was in the left pocket of her jacket while Slectovencto walked around the car to let her out.
The ice cold wind bit straight through her jacket and made her shiver as she stepped out.
"Follow me," Slectovencto said up-beat as he started down the path that led to the front door. Brennan hesitated. She had to make a decision and it was a hard one because her judgement was clouded by her emotions. She didn't have much time to think. Could she let go of her only comfort and hope for her final clue to be found?
Russ had turned on the radio in their car to relieve some of the tension that wired the air. Booth had said nothing for a couple of hours straight and only stared in the distance, a pained expression on his face.
"Are you sure we're going the right way? I mean, there could be over a hundred places where-" Booth finally broke the silence.
"There are only two mansions that match the one Slectovencto described," Russ replied. "They're known to us. My father has maps marked with numbers. Each of those numbers matches a number on a polaroid taken of the site. On the back of the polaroid is a description of the activity on the site and of people we know have once used it or use it regularly," Russ explained.
"And you just happen to have learned them all by heart?" Booth said sarcastically.
Russ laughed.
"No, I texted my father as soon as we knew it was Ortez."
"I never saw you texting anyone."
"That's because the only thing you've been seeing since we left the hotel is my sister. Mentally, I mean."
"Haven't y- What's that supposed to mean?" Booth said indignantly and turned to Russ.
"Booth, it's okay. You're in love with my sister," Russ smiled amusedly. Booth turned his gaze back to the road and Russ glanced at his stubborn expression.
"Oh, come on! I was onto you the first time I saw you two together. Don't worry, it's not that obvious but I can tell when someone's hitting on my sister."
"I never hit on your sister," Booth said.
"You don't have to keep denying it, Booth. She has feelings for you too, you know."
"She does?"
"Hell yes! She's nice to you even though she disagrees with you on all that you believe in, isn't she?"
"Well... yes."
"And she spends time with you after hours."
Booth stared at him, waiting for more.
"When she gets scared... she comes to you for comfort. Doesn't she?" Russ said with a serious look on his face.
"That's right. But how do you-"
"That last one was just a guess," Russ grinned. "She sees you as family, Booth. The way she talks about you-"
"She talks about me?"
"Booth, this is getting too obvious. Stop interrupting me."
"Sorry," Booth murmered.
"She admires you. She looks up to you. She trusts you." Russ paused. "I wouldn't be telling you this if I thought you would end up together eventually. After all, this is kind of confidential. The thing is, neither of you is going to be the first to make a move. I'm sure there have been times when you were this close to kissing but one of you had to make contact first and neither of you did."
Booth thought about the time when Zack had gotten his doctorate and he stood outside with Brennan. "You know, I'm just... I'm just one of those people who doesn't get to be in a family, that's..." she had said sadly and looked down at the pavement. "Listen, Bones, hey. There's more than one type of family," he'd replied and touched his finger to her chin. Their heads had moved slightly towards each other as they had locked their gazes. That had been it, that had been the moment. But he didn't want to overwhelm her. He wanted to leave it up to her to move closer. He wanted her to decide when she was ready. Maybe all this time she had waited for him to do the same thing...
"You're both stubborn. And scared that the other one will turn you down. You think you know that you interpreted all the signs correctly but when it comes to putting into practice what you've done in your head over a thousand times you suddenly become insecure. I'm telling you man, if you really want to be with her do it. Just... do it. Kiss her. Tell her you love her. She doesn't want to embarrass you. That's why she won't kiss you first. She's always afraid to misread other people. Being turned down by you would ruin her. She has abandonment issues, you know."
"Yeah, I know," Booth answered sincerely. His heart leapt at Russ's words. If what he said was true, and it sounded logical- what was it with Brennans and logic?- he had been wasting some serious time.
Brennan hesitated before walking up to the door. Slectovencto glanced over his shoulder to see if she was still coming and saw her faltering.
"Hey, whatever he's going to do to you, you probably had it coming." He laughed at his own encouraging words and Brennan shivered in the cold.
Slectovencto knocked three times, first one and then two quick knocks. That had to be some kind of code, Brennan figured. All was quiet around them except for the wind blowing in their faces. Brennan's curls danced on her shoulders and she clutched her own waist to keep warm.
"Come over here, sweetheart. There's nowhere you can run now," Slectovencto demanded. Brennan knew he was being rational and walked over to him.
"You cold?" he asked.
She looked at him confusedly.
"Just making conversation, right?" she retorted.
"All I'm saying is: I'll be glad to keep you warm," Slectovencto smirked.
"No thanks," Brennan frowned.
Finally the door opened.
"Heeeey Slecto! Where've you been, my man?" A Latino opened the door and greeted Slectovencto enthusiastically.
"On assignments, man! How're you doin'?" he replied as he patted his apparent friend on the shoulder.
"I'm fuckin' great, man! But tell me, where did you get this beauty from, 'ey?" the Latino asked as he looked Brennan over and smiled appreciatively.
"That sweetheart's my assignment, Carlos."
"Man, you're lucky! I wish my assignments looked that good."
"Bad luck for you, my man. Aren't you going to let us in?"
"Oh sure, sure, man!" he said and opened the door so Brennan and Slectovencto could pass.
"Miss Slecto's Assignment, let me please take your coat," Carlos offered after he closed the door.
"I'd rather keep it on," Brennan replied and felt nauseated from the knot in her stomach.
"Aw, come on, lady. Master Ortez isn't ready for you yet, we can still have some fun!" Carlos stood behind her and breathed on the nape of her neck as he slowly tightened his grip around her arms.
His pleasure didn't last long, though, for Brennan jammed her elbow in his stomach and quickly turned, grabbing him by the arm and twisting it as she threw him on the floor.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Carlos whined being taken by surprise.
Slectovencto was cracking up.
"That sweetheart's got a bite that stings, doesn't she, man?" he laughed.
Carlos stumbled to his feet and walked threateningly towards Brennan.
"No, man, keep it down. Easy, easy. She's master Ortez's, remember? Ya don't wanna mess with his belongings, man," Slectovencto quickly grabbed his friend and turned him around so that Brennan was out of his reach.
Carlos looked at him, then started laughing himself.
"What, man?" Slectovencto asked indignantly.
"Did she get you too, Slecto?" Carlos was the one cracking up, now. "Look at your freaking eyebrow, man!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Slectovencto tried to hide his embarrassment.
"Well, at least master Ortez is gonna get to spend some quality time with this beauty. She fights back, she stays on her feet longer. We get a good show, man."
"If master Ortez will let us watch, that is, my man."
"Sure hope he will. The lady's freaking gorgeous, man! Look at her!"
Both men turned and looked at the spot where Brennan was standing just a minute ago.
"Where is she, man?" Carlos asked.
"Shit! I don't know, man, but shit!" Slectovencto started to pace through the hall, opening doors and peeking inside.
"Did we just lose her, man?"
"Shut up, Carlos! Let's just find her."
They started going through all the rooms together until they heard the engine of a car.
"Fuck!" they exclaimed simultaneously as they realized they hadn't locked the door when they came in and Slectovencto had left the keys in the car.
"You shouldn't have distracted me, man!"
"You shouldn't say anything. You're the one who couldn't control himself, man."
Carlos and Slectovencto kept arguing as they threw open the door and ran towards the car.
"I'll be damned..."
"How the fuck did she do that? She was standing right next to us, man, just a couple inches away. Next thing you know, she's in your car escaping!"
The deafening sound of multiple gunshots reached their ears and made them stop dead in their tracks. The engine of the car immediately went quiet and a dark silhouette of a man loomed from the shadow of the mansion.
Carlos, Slectovencto and Brennan stood frozen and waited for the man to identify himself.
"Idiots!" he sneered. "Why do I have to do everything myself?"
It was Ortez.
"Master Ortez, I apologize. It was our mistake. Please, it will not happen again." Suddenly the tough guys had shrunk to subjective slaves.
Ortez ignored them and strode towards the car. He opened the door and grabbed Brennan by her wrist. He roughly pulled her out and twisted her arm behind her back.
"This is how it's done, boys," he said disdainfully and pushed Brennan forward towards the door.
Now there was no chance to escape and Brennan was tired of the building tension and the stress of the past twenty-four hours. Not to mention she was hungry. And thirsty. But even though her most important needs were rest, a drink and a proper meal, all she could think of was Booth. How much longer would she have to try to keep Ortez off her back before he finally got here?
All the sudden she longed to be back in Booth's arms in the warm hotel bed. If only that would be possible. They'd snuggle up under the duvet together and lock their gazes, see nothing but each other. Then he would lift her head with his finger under her chin and come so close that their noses touched. Yes, she longed for Booth. To be in his arms. To be safe.
At last, to be safe...