A Pain That I'm Used To—Chapter 17
Disclaimer: Do I really have to go through this every time? I swear I don't own them!
Author's notes: Thanks once again for reading and special thanks to those who are reviewing. You make my day and not in a Dirty Harry kind of way…
Waves back at Howdylynn—thanks for all of the nice comments and yes, I also enjoy when Booth gets all protective and aggressive. Apparently I'm trying to drag this story out until August 30! (wink)
And please Jaed, build BonesDBchippie that jetpack soon! I would hate to read about more injuries due to impatience for another chapter and stupid crutches! (LOL)
And elliot02uk—(waves around a pic of a shirtless DB) You will give me the magnifying glass or so help me I will put another Merriam-Webster's definition in the author's notes! (big grin)
Hope everyone enjoys this chapter! And if you do, you know what to do…
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Brennan studied her partner's profile as they drove along the highway. His brow was slightly crinkled in frustration and tension radiated from his body. Booth shifted in his seat and placed his right hand on top of the steering wheel as he placed his left elbow on the door, bringing his hand to his face. He glanced over at Brennan and found her staring at him, apparently deep in thought.
"What?" He turned his eyes back to the road for a moment and then back to her.
"What do you mean 'what'?" She watched as he clenched his jaw, which was a true indicator of his annoyance.
"Bones…why are you staring at me?"
"I was attempting to decipher what was wrong with you by interpreting your body language."
He smiled as he turned his attention once again to the road. "You could just ask, ya know?"
"Okay. Why are you so…agitated…and tense?"
"I'm not agitated or tense, Bones."
She glanced at his right hand gripping the top of the steering wheel tightly and smirked. His eyes traveled to what had caught her attention and he immediately relaxed his grip.
"Why did Fife arrest Natalie?"
"Malicious injury to property…Elaine Thompson didn't elaborate on whose property or what exactly she did…"
"That's just a misdemeanor, isn't it? Why did she call you?"
"Yep, misdemeanor and my guess would be she called because of who arrested Natalie more than anything else." He sighed as he unconsciously squeezed the steering wheel again. "At least this will give us another opportunity to speak with Natalie about what really happened that night. With Hodgins' confirmation that the concrete on Ronald and Katherine's bodies matched that in the basement…oh, I just don't buy that she didn't hear anything, like six or eight gunshots."
Silence fell over the couple for a few minutes.
"Where were you earlier?" Brennan asked, turning in her seat to face him.
Booth balked at the question. He had intended to bring up his visit with McVicar later after he had driven her home. "What? What do you mean?'
"It's a fairly simple question Booth. I didn't use any of the scientific mumbo-jumbo you deplore." She sat back in her seat, crossed her arms and stared out the window. "I tried to call you about Hodgins' findings and you didn't answer your cell phone. Then when I called your office, I got your voice mail. I'm not the only person in this SUV who is a creature of habit Booth—you always answer your phone, always."
"Bones we can talk about that later, okay? Right now, we need to concentrate on the case at hand…"
"We've got an hour and a half until we arrive in Willow Lake. I believe we can discuss where you were earlier and still have time to redirect our focus to the 'case at hand'." As she studied him, she saw his eyes grow darker and his jaw clench again. "Booth?"
He sighed and ran his left hand over his face.
"Okay, if it's personal…or involves Parker…I understand. I apologize for prying but you've told me countless times that friends share things with each other." Brennan stared out the passenger side window and took in the massive amount of trees. "Remember that whole 'monkey see, monkey do' thing you mentioned?"
"When I tell you…what it is that I…I need to tell you, you've gotta promise not to wig out on me, okay?" He looked over at her as she turned her face to him again.
"I don't know what that means but it doesn't sound good." Her brow furrowed in confusion and apprehension.
"It means you promise not to lose your temper and beat the crap out of me," he smiled slightly.
"I can't predict what my reaction will be until you present the facts to me Booth." Keep it logical Brennan, she told herself, even as an uneasy anxious feeling crept through her body.
Booth paused as he mentally debated the pros and cons of telling her about McVicar and Patrick Kava now. She needed to know the truth and she needed to know what McVicar had told him. The truth was Booth had dragged her along to Willow Lake to ensure her safety. While he didn't want to believe McVicar's ramblings about Brennan being in danger, he wasn't willing to take the chance.
"I went back to talk to McVicar," he said softly, his eyes never leaving the road.
Brennan stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "You did what?" Anger briefly flooded her senses as she took in his confession. Why would he put himself through another visit with that psychopath? And without her?
"You heard me Bones."
She continued to process the information, mulling over the possible outcomes of his visit with her mother's killer, allowing her anger to subside. "Did he tell you anything?"
He nodded his head; glad she was containing her anger for once. "Yeah, he gave me the name Patrick Kava. I ran it through the system and there's very little on the guy. I've got a call into the Chicago field office to speak with some of the original agents in charge of your…of, um, Max and Ruth's file. See if they can tell me anything."
"And he willingly gave you that information?" she inquired, narrowing her eyes at her partner. She examined his hands and didn't notice any abrasions where he may have hit someone.
Ignoring her question, he glanced over at her. "Do you remember your parents ever referring to anyone named 'Gramps'?"
"No, I don't. That's why I was surprised when a grandfather I never knew existed took me out of foster care." She leaned her head back against the head rest and closed her eyes. "I can't believe you did that."
Brennan realized that she wasn't really angry with Booth's actions so much as his secrecy surrounding those actions. But the truth of the matter was that she was relieved that he had been able to obtain the information without her being in McVicar's presence again.
Booth reached across the console and grabbed her hand. Lifting her head, she gazed down at his hand and then at his face, taking in his beautiful dark eyes. "I think by now you know there's not a lot I wouldn't do for you Temperance."
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The smashed up cherry red Mustang sitting at the curb on Main Street was the first thing that caught Booth's attention as he made a left turn. "Oh no, please tell me she didn't…." he muttered.
"Whoa, she really messed up her boyfriend's car," Brennan observed.
Exiting the vehicle, Booth stepped over to the Mustang and walked around it to examine the damage. "Why would anyone hurt an innocent car?"
Brennan's lips quirked into a smile. "I'm sorry…did you just say 'innocent car'?"
"Do you have any idea what the value of this car in mint condition is?"
"You mean before its innocence was taken away?"
Booth pulled his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose and glared at her. "That's just not funny at all." He stormed off toward the sheriff's office with an amused Brennan in tow.
"Agent Booth! Thank god you're here. Arrest this maniac," Elaine Thompson demanded as she pointed to Sheriff Fife who was standing at the door to a small interview room.
"Arrest him for what?" Booth looked at Fife and then back at Elaine.
"For harassing my granddaughter. That brute placed her in handcuffs and dragged her down here like some common criminal."
"Okay people, let's calm down," Booth said as he held up his hands. "I think we need to have a little discussion about what constitutes as a federal offense—because injury to property and harassment, not federal!"
Fife smiled at Elaine. "See there, I told you there was no need in callin' him."
"Wipe that smile off your face before I smack you, Michael Fife!" she screamed at him.
"Keep it up Elaine and you'll be sitting in handcuffs with Natalie," he screamed back.
"Both of you shut up!" Brennan's outburst startled the sheriff and the elderly woman, prompting them both to take a step back. "Sheriff Fife, why did you arrest Natalie?"
"It has something to do with the Mustang, doesn't it?" Booth winced as he asked the question.
"Oh yeah, it sure does. I saw her and Billy get into an argument as they were leaving the diner. Well, the sporting goods store is next door and they're having a sale on kayaking equipment so some of their items were outside…"
"Please no…she didn't." The agent rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Took one of those kayaking paddles and went to town," the sheriff said as he nodded his head.
Brennan's brow creased in confusion. "Wait, she was already in town."
"No Bones, what he means is that she damaged the car with the paddle." Booth turned back to the fair haired man. "Why didn't you arrest her right then?"
"She took off running when she saw me." He sighed. "Poor Billy. That kid worked so hard on that car….it was sweet."
"Mrs. Thompson, do you have any idea why Natalie was so angry with her boyfriend?" Brennan asked as she watched the older woman take a seat on a long wooden bench.
"No Dr. Brennan, I don't. All I know is that she came stomping into the house muttering about how stupid men are," Elaine responded, shaking her head. "So cynical for a 17-year-old girl. Then she grabbed that stupid music thing she carries around with her and sat listening to god knows what, ignoring me until that brute showed up."
Booth stepped over to the door of the interview room and glanced inside at Natalie. "An iPod," he muttered.
"Don't say another word Elaine," Joseph Keith said as he walked breathlessly into the corridor followed closely by Maggie and Billy.
Fife rolled his eyes at the theatrics playing out in front of him. "She doesn't have to say anything and neither does Natalie. I saw her damage Billy's car and so did half the town."
"Look man, I really don't want to press charges, okay?" Billy shuffled his feet and looked down at the floor as he stood behind Maggie. "I mean, it was kinda my fault that she got so upset…"
"Billy, I'll pay for the damages to your car, you know that," Elaine said.
"Yes ma'am, thank you. See sheriff, there's no reason that Nat has to get in any trouble over this." The young man placed his hands in his pockets as Maggie patted his shoulder.
"Well, that's settled," Joseph said as he checked his watch. "Now if you'll excuse me…"
"Actually you may want to stay Mr. Keith," Booth said, forcing a polite smile. "Dr. Brennan's team had some interesting findings for me today and I need to speak with Natalie about them."
Elaine and Joseph stared at each other briefly before returning their gaze to the FBI agent. "And if you don't speak to her now?" Elaine questioned.
"Then Agent Booth can always place your granddaughter in handcuffs and escort her to DC," Brennan said as she crossed her arms. "Our questions shouldn't take that long and then you go home."
Booth's smile was now genuine as he watched Brennan's blunt response sweep across the room.
"Very well," Joseph said as he proceeded to the door of the interview room and opened it.
Booth could hear the faint sound of a bass booming from the ear buds of Natalie's iPod as he entered the room. "I'm surprised she's not deaf as loud as that is."
"Natalie, Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan have a few questions for you," Joseph yelled at the teen who ignored him.
Elaine took a seat on one side of the room and sighed. "This is what she does when she doesn't want to talk to anyone or hear what you have to say," she explained.
Brennan leaned across the table and yanked the ear buds out of the young girl's ears. She then picked up the iPod and switched it off.
"Hey you stupid bitch, that doesn't belong to you." Natalie reached out to grab the small device as Brennan tossed it to Booth.
"The 'bitch' part I'm used to however 'stupid'…that one's new," the anthropologist said as she glanced at her partner.
"Natalie please." The exasperated tone of Elaine's voice seemed to fuel the young girl's anger.
"Don't 'Natalie, please' me or 'Natalie Marie Thompson' me! Why don't you and your lame ass lawyer leave? I don't need you in here! I don't need anyone!"
"Natalie…" Joseph began but was abruptly cut off by the young girl.
"I said to get out." She turned to face Booth. "Do they have to be in here? Can't I talk to you alone?"
"Well she's over 16 years of age and legally speaking she can be charged as an adult and would be entitled to the same rights," Booth shrugged as he glanced over at the lawyer. "I don't see why she can't speak to me alone Mr. Keith…other than the fact that you won't get to charge Mrs. Thompson for it."
Joseph huffed as he picked up his briefcase and escorted Elaine out of the room. "I told you what you should have done with that child two years ago," he muttered to his employer as they walked out.
Brennan closed the door behind them and took a seat across from Natalie.
"Why does she get to stay in here?"
"Because she's my partner," Booth answered as he watched Natalie glare at Brennan.
"What's your problem with me?" Brennan questioned as she returned a glare of her own.
"Other than the fact you're the reason Billy and I broke up?"
Booth chuckled as he realized his observation of their small spat in the driveway the night before had been accurate. "You smashed up Billy's Mustang because he was checking out my partner?"
"I don't find that funny Agent Booth."
Brennan leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "I don't find that particularly funny either," she mumbled, embarrassed that Booth had once again been right.
"He didn't just check her out. He went on and on about how cool it was that a FBI agent gets to work with 'that babe' until I just lost it." Natalie placed her face in her hands for a moment in an attempt to control her temper. "I don't really remember smashing up his car," she said softly. "It happened and then the next thing I remember Sheriff Fife was running towards me, yelling and I just took off."
"How long have you had a problem controlling your anger?" Booth asked.
Exhaling a long breath, Natalie sat back in her chair. "It started about six months before Mom and Dad disappeared. I knew they were having problems…the yelling and arguing was a dead giveaway. Then they started taking out their problems with each other on me. Dad gave me such grief about Billy because he's five years older than me."
"I have to say I understand why he would be concerned," the agent replied.
"Billy's not like that and our relationship isn't like that." Natalie smiled slightly. "He understands me, listens to me…" Sighing again, she stared straight at Booth. "I lied to you, Agent Booth. My parents weren't fine when they came home that night. They were already arguing...loudly. I took Josh to his room and turned on his little radio to drown out the noise and then I went to my room and got my iPod. That little thing is the only thing that saved my sanity for six months and then the night they disappeared. I can't even tell you how many nights I fell asleep listening to music."
"Do you always play it that loud?" Brennan watched as Booth pushed the device back towards to the young girl.
"It's the only thing that drowns out the noise," she said, placing the ear buds back in her ears.
The agent and the anthropologist pushed their chairs away from the table and stood. As they left the room, they found Maggie and Billy sitting on the bench in the corridor.
"Where's Mrs. Thompson?" Booth asked as he looked down the corridor.
"Mr. Keith took her home. He wanted to discuss the possibility of getting Natalie some help," Maggie answered.
"She would be fine if everyone would just leave her alone," Billy mumbled as he stared at the floor.
Maggie sighed as she placed a hand on the young man's arm. "Billy, can you honestly look at the damage to your car and say that she's fine?"
"But Aunt Maggie…"
"You know and I know that she needs a little bit of help…some guidance." She removed a five dollar bill from her purse and handed it to her nephew. "Go get something to eat at the diner and then I'll take you and Natalie home."
He nodded as he stood and then left the office.
"Billy's your nephew?" Brennan watched the tall young man as he walked down the stairs to the sidewalk.
"Yes, his parents moved to Florida a few years ago so I'm the only family he has around here. He's more like a son than a nephew though," she chuckled. "He's a good kid."
"He's dating a teenager," Booth stated.
Maggie appeared slightly startled by the agent's insinuation. "What does that have to do with anything? They are both good kids, Agent Booth. Natalie has been through a great deal…today's episode, well, we all have bad days."
"That's true, but we don't all take kayaking paddles and smash the hell out of classic car, right Bones?"
Brennan's cheeks flushed slightly as she recalled taking a baseball bat and smashing the television that her ex-boyfriend came to retrieve from her apartment. Although at the time she did think someone was breaking in, Brennan couldn't deny how good it felt to swing that bat at Pete.
"Bones?"
"Thank you for your time Maggie," she said hastily as she left the office with Booth hot on her trail.
"Please tell me that you haven't declared war on a classic car before Bones." He stepped in front of her, blocking her path to the SUV.
"Not on a classic car….a television," Brennan smiled. "Remember when I told you that mine broke?"
Booth nodded as she continued. "Well, I kind of broke it with a baseball bat while one of my ex-boyfriends was holding it."
"You 'kind of' broke it?" She moved past him and opened the passenger's side door and climbed into the SUV. "Just promise me you won't do that to your new flat screen, okay Bones."
"As long as you don't break into my apartment and try to steal it Booth, we won't have a problem."
"Trust me, we won't have a problem," he laughed as he buckled his seatbelt.
"Why didn't you mention the concrete and the basement when we were talking with Natalie?" She glanced over at her partner as she buckled her own seatbelt.
"You heard how loud that thing was when we walked in?" Brennan nodded. "It's a feasible explanation for why she may not have heard anything. She's upset that her parents are arguing again, turns up the volume and somehow manages to fall asleep with that noise blaring in her ears."
Brennan sighed as she stared out the passenger side window. "Do you realize that we're right back to square one suspect-wise?"
Rubbing the back of his neck with his right hand, Booth released a sigh of his own. "I don't know what to think at this point Bones…I really just don't know what to think."