Okay, I haven't had time to check the comments yet, but I will! Bring on the angst! lol!
They pulled up behind the abandonded building. It was a small two-story building, windows and front door boarded shut. One small door opened out into the alley. For a moment, Booth's mind flashed back to the day Kenton had kidnapped Bones. He remembered the fear, the pain. He had almost lost her then, but he had saved her. Now it was Parker in danger.
She glanced over at him. He was too quiet. "So, Cullen's on the way?"
"Yeah. He wasn't happy with me, or you, but our forensics team still hadn't found anything, so he couldn't say too much." He checked his watch. "Where are they?"
"They'll be here." Brennan wasn't sure what to do. He hadn't brought up Epps' phone call again, and neither had she. She knew what Epps wanted, but she couldn't tell Booth. She was the only one who could get Parker out of there, she just needed to find a way without Booth knowing.
Booth opened the car door. "They're here."
She had to hand it to them. They were definately discreet. She hadn't even known they were there. They wouldn't want Epps to be aware of them. She opened her door, and got out.
Booth was arguing quietly with Cullen. "I'm going in there to find my son!"
"Booth, you need to let them handle it. You're too emotionally involved."
"Of course I'm involved! He's my son! I..."
"Booth." He turned to look at her. She laid a hand on his arm. "You need to.." Once again she was interruppted by his phone.
"Booth."
"What in the hell do you think you're doing?!" Epps' voice was slightly panicked. "How did you find me?"
Booth looked around. How did he know? He could barely see the agents in the darkness. "What are you..."
"Don't play games with me, Agent Booth! Don't try to come in here, or your son will die!"
"Epps' listen to me.."
"This is my game, Agent Booth, not yours! I make the rules, and I'm calling the shots!"
Brennan didn't know what Epps was saying, but she heard the fear in Booth's voice.
"What do you want?" Booth wanted to jump through the phone and strangle him. "You've got to tell me what you want."
"Soon, Agent Booth. Soon." The line went dead.
BBB
Parker looked up at the bad man. He was talking to his daddy, saying bad things. He hadn't wanted to go with him, but the bad man had come in through his window, and made him smell something funny, and he had gone to sleep. When he woke up, he was here in this spooky building with no lights. The bad man made him talk to his daddy, but then took the phone away. Parker didn't want to be afraid, he wanted to be like his daddy, and his daddy was never afraid. His daddy was brave, and he put the bad guys in jail. But he was afraid, and he just wanted to go home.
The bad man came over to him. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he wouldn't cry. His daddy was going to come and get him, put the man in jail. He just had to be brave. He knew his daddy would save him.
BBB
Brennan watched Booth. He was talking to Cullen and the other agents, trying to figure out what to do next. She had to get in there. She knew that the only way he would let Parker go would be if she switched places with him. No sooner had the thought formed, than her phone rang. Instinctively she knew it was Epps. She slowly inched away from Booth, and grabbed her phone.
"Brennan."
"Dr. Brennan. I imagine this was your doing. Agent Booth isn't smart enough to find me without your help."
"He's a lot smarter than you seem to give him credit for." Epps just laughed. "If I come in there, you'll let him go?"
"Of course, Dr. Brennan. Women are much more fun than little boys."
Brennan shivered at his words. "If this is a trick, make no mistake, I will kill you."
"Now, Dr. Brennan. When have I ever given you any reason to doubt me?" Epps' chuckled at his own joke. "I'll be waiting."
Brennan hung up. She glanced over at Booth. He was talking to Rebecca, who had somehow managed to find out where they were. No one was paying any attention to her. She started walking across the alley, through the darkness. She was almost to the door, when one of the agents spotted her. "Dr. Brennan?" She didn't stop.
Booth looked up at the sound of her name. He saw her walking towards the door. "Bones?" What was she doing? Suddenly, fear shot through him as realization dawned. 'Ask your partner. She's the key.'
"Bones!" He lunged forward. Cullen grabbed him and held him back. "Bones!" He yelled again. She didn't look back, just kept moving towards the door. "Temperance!"
She paused at the sound of her name. She turned and caught his gaze, pleading with him to understand.
"Temperance, don't..."
She gave him a small smile, turned and walked through the door.