Chapter 12

Booth and Brennan left the Jeffersonian's parking lot a few minutes alter saying goodbye to Anna and Marianne Maisson. Booth was unusually quiet. Anna's message from his grandfather was fresh in his mind and he found himself remembering happy childhood days playing ball with his brother and friends.

That catcher's glove had been one of his prized possessions as a twelve year old. Guessing at the reason for the thoughtful look on Booth's face, Brennan asked, "She was right, wasn't she?"

Booth looked over at her. "I can understand why Anna has made such an impression on you. Yeah, the basic details are correct. I did have a grandfather named Nick. He was my mother's stepfather who raised her. She was very young when he married my grandmother. His old catcher's glove was my birthday present when I was ten. He died when I was 15."

After a moment's pause, he said, "Giving it to Parker was one of the first things I thought about when he was born. Whenever I was home to visit my parents, I meant to dig it out but I don't have a clue where it is now. I'll know more when I check with my parents." He chuckled to himself as more happy memories paraded through his mind. "I did think I had lost it."

"Anthropologically, our culture uses the participation in sports like baseball as a means for bonding between male members in the family structure. Team sports are also important for preparing young men to become warriors and protectors of the community," said Brennan.

"Is that supposed to mean that giving Parker a catcher's glove is the first step on a slippery slope of turning my son into a soldier?" Booth said, hoping this wasn't going to turn into an argument about warfare and violence.

"Booth, I also said "protectors of the community". He could just as easily grow up to become a cop or even an FBI agent like his father. I would also think the best reason for giving Parker a baseball glove would be that he was interested in playing the game. sometimes playing a game is just playing a game for fun," Brennan said, calmly and objectively but with an underlying smile as they exchanged a glance.

"Oh...well, yes of course," Booth said, feeling slightly off balance but relieved to avoid cracking that weighty nut guaranteed to supply endless hours of heated debate. Remembering her smile, he began to get the impression that maybe he had been set up and had fallen for the bait. Brennan's sense of humour occasionally caught him off guard. He returned her smile acknowledging his defeat.

"So where are we going," asked Brennan as their route through the city seemed suspiciously familiar.

"This shouldn't take long. We're going to the FBI headquarters. It's a simple case of identifying and finding cause of death for remains found at a construction site. They are believed to be the remains of an old man with Alzheimer's that wandered away from home last summer," he explained.

"Oh, before I forget, what happened to the case you called me about before the explosion the other day?" she asked.

"Well, umm, this would be that case," Booth said, expecting Brennan to instantly get upset. "Now before you start yelling at me about compromising evidence, I'm only following orders. You're preaching to the choir here," Booth said hoping to avoid an argument.

"What is that supposed...oh, I get that. It means 'Why try converting members of the same belief system when they are already believers'. Zack could have dealt with a simple case like that the other day. I keep trying to convince you that he needs the field experience and it would be nice to have someone who can handle things when I am unavailable," said Brennan, pleased with herself to have understood his cultural reference. The issue with Zack was another well worn topic between them ever since Zack had received his doctorate.

"Wasn't my decision, Bones. The explosion involving you and Angela kind of trumped this one and Cullen made the call to hold off transferring the case until more was known about the bomber. Local ME and FBI forensics have already recovered the remains. They would probably have ended up as another one of your Limbo cases anyway if they couldn't make an immediate ID. With our bomber in custody, Cullen bounced the case back to us," he explained.

As expected, the case was a simple one. The remains were inspected at the FBI morgue and transport back to the lab was arranged. Brennan confirmed that the remains were those of an elderly Caucasian male. When they returned to the Jeffersonian and headed into Brennan's office, they were stopped by Zack's voice.

"Dr. Brennan, you have a message and a fax from the Pennsylvania ME's office about the Salisbury cemetery," he explained, approaching them from the platform, juggling several items that included his keycard and several sheets of paper.

"Of the 22 hits from the GPR survey, only 3 were human infants. The other 19 consisted of 8 dogs, 7 cats, 2 raccoons, a tree stump and an engraved rock used as a grave marker dated 1879. Are you going to the cemetery to recover the remains yourself?" Zack said, reading from the papers in his hands.

"Yes, Zack," Brennan replied as he handed her the faxed report that contained the details Zack had just summarized.

"Will you be taking any of us along?" he asked hoping he might be able to go.

"No, Zack. Not this time. It won't take me very long and there is a case I want you to take care of while I'm gone," explained Brennan andtold him of the case she and Booth had just received. He left to begin preparations for receiving the remains already on their way.

"I hope you find her, Bones," Booth said, reaching out to touch her shoulder gently.

Brennan responded to his gesture with a nod and appreciative smile as she scanned the report. His hand lingered a moment before he removed it. After a moment of reading, she put the papers on her desk.

"Booth, I know you have to get back to your office, but I wanted you to have a look at Anna's pictures before you go. I'll get a set copied for you, if you like. I'm sure she wouldn't mind," Brennan said as she picked up the folded collection of drawings from her desk.

Booth joined her on the office sofa to look at the pictures, one at a time. Each one had bright colours and an expressive detail that made it easy for the mind to retain a memorable image. The shocking and often violent nature caused thoughts of concern to arise in both of their minds. They were simultaneously thinking that Anna was too young to be exposed to such images, let alone have them come unbidden to her own mind.

None of them struck any chords of recognition for any case that either of them were aware of...except one. This one, a pleasant country landscape on a sunny day, was a scene of rolling hills and scattered copses of trees that surrounded an open area marked with rectangular shapes instantly recognised as a cemetery. In the foreground were three small crosses surrounding one large one. Two of the small crosses were pink and one was blue.

Brennan held one corner of the picture andBooth assisted on the other side as they both looked at it together. Exchanging a glance, Booth put his arm around her shoulders. Brennan leaned into him and accepted his offered comfort as emotions rose within her and her eyes became teary again against her will.