AN: Oh friends! Serious apologies! I have only myself to blame (and finals and graduation...) I promise to be more "on top" of things now that I'm done. I owe you all some great love stories now. See my new 3-parter for some BB hot fluff (the hot part to be posted this week). :)

Disclaimer: Dear Fox, I appreciate your cliffhanger for the season finale. I have SO MANY ideas as to what happens. You guys sure you don't want to hire me? Really, I'm a great writer - please see my wonderful reviews if you don't believe me...

A Sentiment and a Prayer
She couldn't do this without Booth. She'd waited; she'd made the rest wait too. He had to see it with them. But he hadn't come back to his office after he'd gotten permission from Cullen to fly out Wednesday. They had left a message with his office. They had left a message on his cell phone. "It went straight to voicemail," Zach had announced. That's when Angela realized where he'd be. The one place he would turn off his cell phone.

Pulling open the solid wooden door of St. Patrick's, Angela stared reverently at her surroundings, taking in the shamrock inlay in the vestibule, the multiple marble statues of saints, and the beautiful Celtic crucifix in the sanctuary. Angela found him in the third row, on his knees, his forearms resting on the pew in front of him and his forehead resting on his folded hands.

The soft tap of her heels echoed around the marble room as she approached him; she could see his eyes were closed, but his lips were moving with silent prayer. Not wanting to interrupt his conversation with God, she sat in the row behind him, knowing full well he was aware of her presence. She took this moment to immerse herself in the hushed calm of the church, attempting to find solace in the sights, sounds, and smells that uniquely identified this as a place of worship.

Angela sent up a silent prayer of her own, asking that Brennan be found safe. She did not use poetic words or traditional prayer; she was not religious like Booth. She just came right out and asked for it. Send her back to us. Make them safe. Keep them from harm. Send her back to us. Please. Please.

She was unsure of how long she sat there, but eventually, Booth raised his head, made the sign of the cross, and stood. Meeting her eye as he passed, Angela could see traces of tears in his eyes, which were also laden with determination and hope. She followed him onto the bustling streets of downtown Washington, DC.

"What do you have? Did you find out something?"

Booth's questions came in conjunction with the heavy wooden doors of the church closing with a soft thud. He expected her to fall into step with him as he made his way down the stairs and onto 10th Street, heading back to the Hoover building.

"Yes, there is something, but it's not what you think, Booth. I got a letter from Brennan, and I thought you would like to see it."

Booth's questioning look prompted her to continue, "It's a video letter, Booth, addressed to all of us. I have it set up at the Jeffersonian."

Booth ran his hands through his hair, almost agitated at the normalcy of everyday business being conducted around the Jeffersonian. Don't they know that a squint – one of their own – is missing? Don't they care?

In Angela's office, he found everyone gathered. Remarkably, no one was talking or moving; their stillness a telling contrast to the activity of the rest of the building. Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts, but raised their heads in a collective acknowledgement that he and Angela had arrived. He threw himself into a chair as Angela started the CD.

On the screen Booth watched as Brennan's face appeared, full frame, her brow furrowed as she seemingly fiddled with something on the camera. Her face retreated as she sat down on a chair behind a desk, revealing a non-descript, cream coloured canvas as a backdrop rippling in the winds. She was now smiling brightly.

"Hi Angela, Booth, Hodgins, Zach, Cam!" Brennan waved at the camera.

"I know this is unexpected, but I really wanted to see you. As that wasn't going to happen, the only thing I could think of was to let you see me. And, yes, I know this is kind of against the rules. But, seeing as I only have two weeks left here, Sam and I estimate you will receive this after I get home."

Booth sighed. She had recorded this not so long ago. Her estimation was incorrect. The mail had come quickly and she wasn't home yet.

"Things are progressing well, you'll be happy to hear. I'm accomplishing a lot. Sam is learning a lot. We plan on completing our assignment within the next two weeks, and I cannot wait to see you all again. Believe it or not, I miss you guys. Hodgins and Zach and your bug races, Angela annoying me with you-know-what, Cam relieving me of all the ones with skin."

"It's not the same conversing with the hoi polloi gathered here, even if I do consider them an exceptional team." Brennan smiled softly, as if she held a secret.

"You know hoi polloi but don't know kit-and-caboodle?" A woman's voice off-camera interrupted Brennan's verbal letter home.

Brennan glanced to the right of and over the camera, blinking at an off-screen person. "Well, I know snark when I hear it," she scoffed, though her smile contradicted the intended sarcasm.

"Dr. Brennan, I'm not entirely sure 'snark' is a word."

"Of course it is; it indicates a snide or derisive remark. It's also a graph in mathematics. I'm surprised you don't know that, Sam."

"I think you mean 'quark' – and that's particle physics."

"Particle physics aside, Sam, I'm in the middle of something here." She gestured toward the camera, her hand upturned, her elbow resting on the desk in front of her.

Angela smiled. She remembered Brennan mentioning that Sam reminded her of Zach, but this interaction was reminiscent of Booth and Brennan banter. Knowing what to look for, Angela recognized Sam's easily flip back and forth between CIA agent and learned anthropologist.

On screen, a blonde head popped into frame, covering part of Brennan's face. She smiled and waved. "Hi, guys. Sorry."

Temperance grinned as Sam offered her apologies to people she had not met. Yet, she reminded herself. Hadn't met, YET. Temperance fully intended to introduce Sam to the staff at the Jeffersonian when they got back.

"Yes, yes, I'm sure they accept your apology," Temperance pretended to be agitated as she pushed softly on Sam's left shoulder, effectively pushing her off-camera.

"Oh, I'm sure they do, too. I only say that because you've told me all about them, and they seem like good people." Sam had raised her voice at this sentence, indicating she wanted to be sure the microphone could hear her.

Temperance made a face in the direction she had pushed Sam, though she'd already left the tent, and light laughter could be heard. Her eyes returned to the camera, twinkling with mirth, as a slight blush crept over her cheeks.

"Well, I guess you've just met Sam. And yes, I do talk about all of you. Booth, don't let that inflate your ego any more. I don't want to have to deal with an oversized ego when I get back."

Temperance smiled, knowing full well that Booth would be grinning from ear to ear to hear her mention his ego, continuing their banter even though they were oceans apart.

"Not everything's been ideal, though. We have had several run-ins with … locals," Temperance knew she shouldn't be mentioning what happened, especially since her security had told her not to. But, for some reason, she wanted to let her friends know how she was feeling. But she tried not to sound too concerned; she didn't want Booth to do something crazy – like hop a plane and come get her.

"It hasn't been bad, and our security detail has taken care of everything. We've been told that the disruptions won't happen again. So don't worry about me. Nothing's going to happen. And I'll be home soon, I promise."

Temperance rested her elbows on the desk, "When I get back, it's Wong Foo's on me. Then, there will be apple pie from the diner at my place. You have no excuse not to be there. I'll even supply the wine." She was looking forward to the best 'Welcome home' ever. This was one trip she'd taken where everything had gone smoothly, and she wanted to celebrate.

"So, I'll see you guys in a few weeks." She paused briefly as she dropped her eyes to the table. She brought them to the camera again, and added a final thought, her voice almost breaking. "I miss you." Temperance brought her right hand down on the keyboard in front of her, stopping the recording, and blinked to try to rid herself of the tears that threatened. She looked up as she heard someone at the flap of her tent.

"Hey." Sam stood there, arms crossed and eyebrows raised.

"You had to go and interrupt the only recording I could have made, considering this was the only CD we had to spare…" Temperance tried to sound mad, but could hear the teasing in her voice.

Sam's soft smile indicated she had something on her mind, and Temperance knew what was coming. She'd accidentally let slip her feelings for Booth during an altercation a few days ago with the men in the jeeps. She'd been avoiding Sam's questions on him for as long as she could. But, now, standing in the tent, Sam was curious.

"Apologies, friend. I didn't mean to overhear… but now, I wonder. Who exactly do you miss?"

Shout outs!

BandBfan24 (I'm loving the reference to the superman music!)

KristiM (I love that you love this fic. Totally feeds my ego!)

Mockingbird84 (Oh, something's def going to happen to Brennan. Drama, drama, drama!)

YouandMeKelly (Booth's so going. I still don't know who he's taking…)

Miss Bennet (Apologies for not posting "really soon" like you wanted. As stated above, finals and graduation got in the way! I'm on it now, though… )

Juliet (Thanks for giving me a chance! Any thoughts on how to spice up the summary??)

Xxhopexx (I am so glad this is one of your favourites!!)

Stewierocks88 (I am trying to keep characters as canon as possible… but then again, they did confess "feelings"… that's not really canon…)

Luli27 (Welcome to the world of Bones… thanks for being a fantastic reviewer! I really appreciate the feedback and the suggestions!)

Jerseybones (Re: ch3. OMG. I didn't mean to make you cry! Re: you being stuck on 6 – yes, I know I'm disappointing, I really wanted to get this next chap up before finals, but that was a no-go. Please let me know what you think of 7, and anything you may/may not want to see…)

Tonik2255 (It's a quick read, isn't it! We all know Booth is going to find Bones… or does Bones find Booth? Who rescues who?? I know, I'm evil sometimes…)