Chapter Five: Scully and Mulder

So this is the woman who has my best agent tied up in knots. Cam scrutinized the woman who just barged into her office. Her posture radiated determination, and only the slight widening of her blue eyes gave any hint of nervousness. She was pale, and she did appear as if she had been sick for a long time. The dark hollows under her eyes weren't there for nothing. At least she's calmer than what Booth was. Cam almost took an instant liking to her, until Brennan requested that she work on the Howard Epps case.

"I'm sorry--Ms. Brennan, I'm not getting the feeling you truly comprehend the situation. You have no credentials that could aid us. You are neither law enforcement nor scientist. Hell, I'd even take a psychic onboard at this point, but Ms. Brennan, you are just another ordinary civilian. Which means you'd be a liability and a safety concern. Not to mention, you are a victim of Epps himself--in the courtroom, anything you provide could possibly be dismissed. Which brings me back to my major point--Howard Epps is a dangerous man, and I understand you know firsthand of what I mean." Cam discreetly tapped her head to get her point across. Brennan grimaced and shifted uneasily.

"That's what everyone has told me, yes," Brennan confirmed. I really am beginning to dislike Cam…again. I am a scientist, I do have credentials, and I've dealt with criminals before. And psychics are frauds, it would be an ill-advised choice to recruit one. Brennan sighed, and added quietly, "But I know I can help you. Please, hear me out."

Cam tapped her pen on the desk, contemplating. Booth shot both women a withering glare before he asked, "You aren't seriously thinking about listening to her?"

Ignoring Booth, Cam nodded, "You have one minute, Ms. Brennan."

Brennan launched right into it. "I know things. Booth can second that. Need I remind you about your fractured feet?"

"No," Booth answered stiffly.

Okay, I'm going to cheat again, because in the real world I would need x-rays. I wouldn't have known any of this if Booth hadn't been blown up by my fridge. But I need the two of them to believe me. "Booth…it's hard to tell, but I detect some odd bone formation in your ribcage. Can you please lift your shirt?"

Booth shoved his hands into his pockets disdainfully. Cam actually smirked and motioned for Booth to do as Brennan asked. Groaning in frustration, Booth yanked his blue work shirt up. Brennan stepped forward and turned him to the side. With horror, she felt her cheeks turning red from touching his bare skin and muscular abdominals. He snickered, "Like what you see?" Cam rolled her eyes and Brennan chose to ignore his jab.

Clearing her throat, she announced, "Your fourth, fifth, and sixth ribs were broken at one point in time. Probably around fifteen years ago…"

Booth's eyes widened, and Cam watched, clearly fascinated now. Brennan had to fight herself from smiling, knowing that she must have appeared as a freak at the moment. She was bluffing, but they'd never know it. "They're too spread out for normal formation, indicating that you were shielding someone…I don't know from what, but your ribcage has since healed…"

Booth jerked back from her, and a thick silence descended the trio. Cam's mouth was slightly agape and Booth muttered, his eyes to the floor, "You've made your point."

Trying to cut the growing awkwardness, Brennan finished, "I know bones. And my knowledge of that will lead us to Howard Epps so he can finally be apprehended. I'm sure that there are bodies that have not yet been identified?"

Cam shook off her astonishment from earlier and stuttered, "Uh, yes, there's some women who remain unidentified. Is that what you can do--find out who they are?"

"And so much more…with a lab, and everything," Brennan hinted. She sensed that she was going to get her way after all. Okay, now I'm starting to like her…again.

Cam nodded and looked to Booth, almost helplessly, "Well, she sure as hell convinced me. It can't hurt--"

"Wait," Booth argued, "you said anything she finds can be dismissed in court."

"She wouldn't be the first person in this case," Cam answered cryptically. It flew over Brennan's head, but it appeared to hit Booth. His cheeks flushed red, and he diverted his eyes to the floor. Brennan frowned. What was that about?

"Here's my offer," Cam finally conceded. "You will help in this case as a civilian consultant. Anything you find will immediately be handed over to one of our people."

Brennan started to protest and Cam held up her hand, "It will always be your find, and you can supervise, but someone not connected personally to the case has to handle the evidence. I will allow you to go into the field."

"Can I have a gun?"

Booth and Cam unanimously answered, "No."

Some things never change, Brennan thought sourly.

Cam directed to Booth, "Ms. Brennan is your responsibility--"

"I can't believe you're being serious," Booth interrupted.

"Booth, my patience is already walking a tightrope, do not push it over the side. Ms. Brennan is your responsibility. Understood?"

Booth shrugged his shoulders in defeat. "Understood." He cast a sidelong glance to Brennan and said evenly, "Perfect. We're Scully and Mulder now."

Brennan smirked. For once, she already knew what he meant.