Bones Season 6:5: The Satisfaction in the Summer

by Bonesology Writers Collective

A retelling of Bones Season Six with new storylines, cases, relationships and twists...written by a collection of Bonesology fan fiction authors.

16. The Apple for the Teacher

6.5X16: The Apple for the Teacher~ written by Squinttoyou

After two days of rain the ground was saturated and every step created a softy squishy sound as his feet sank slightly into the turf. The closely tended lawn surrounding the US Botanic Garden Conservatory grew thick and he left a trail of footprints in the lush emerald green carpet. Unconcerned with evidence that would fade with more rain and eventual sun he walked purposefully toward the construction area. As he neared the soppy grass beneath his feet was replaced by thick mud and he carefully altered course so that he walked along the planks of wood laid as walkway and avoided all chance of leaving a lasting footprint. The gate to enter the area under renovation was locked but he rolled back the nylon netting and slipped through the slit he had cut days earlier.

The winding sidewalk that threaded through the display area was now his best hope of walking without leaving evidence and he stepped along the shiny black ribbon with purpose as he neared his destination. Passing the small backhoe waiting to resume its excavation of a sickly looking palm tree he paused and checked the wind. He was near and precaution was necessary. The rain was quite heavy, but it fell straight down and the air remained still meaning the danger of toxin being blown into his lungs or eyes was low. Still, he couldn't be too careful. He pulled a pair of safety goggles from his pocket and donned them before he covered his hands in fashionable leather driving gloves. Checking to make certain the hooded sweatshirt he wore still covered his head he resumed his walk holding his umbrella so that no part of his body was in danger of growing wet.

The tree stood alone its trunk rising fifteen meters from the sandy ground at a sloping angle. The shiny green leaves seemed to glow in the fading light and he watched as drops of milky white toxin dripped from their pointed tips. Ignoring the signs announcing danger he moved closer still careful to keep himself shielded by the umbrella.

"Still with us, Dr. Cruz?" he asked his latest victim. Her naked body was slumped forward held upright only by the bands binding her to the tree. Every inch of her skin was covered in nasty red blisters most of which had ruptured and leaked blood and ichor which dripped down her dangling limbs to the rain soaked ground. A sound too weak to be considered an actual moan escaped her throat as he ripped the duct tape from her gagged mouth. A loud clap of thunder sounded overhead and he looked up to the dark sky. "I'll have to hurry," he told his victim. "Can't be too careful, rain and Hippomane Mancinella are a dangerous combination. But, I don't have to tell you that do I?"

He laughed at his joke and watched in fascination as a drop of water fell from the tree into Cruz's open mouth. A dark red blister immediately formed but she failed to react. He took that as a good sign. "I know the rain has been terribly inconvenient for you," he said as if he regretted her circumstances. "But, you'll be happy to know it is quite beneficial for the cherry trees. They are almost ready to bloom and two days of steady rain is just the boost they need. I anticipate the annual Cherry Blossom Festival will be quite spectacular this year.

She convulsed slightly and a new sound emerged, this one desperate and slightly louder. He shook his head. "I'm afraid that will do you no good. It's quite pointless. I'm not surprised that you can't realize it," he sneered. "Your limited intellect is the reason you are in this mess. You don't know your own limitations. You brought this on yourself." He jabbed a finger at her slack face the gloved digit waggling before eyes which had been blind for days. "I tried to spare you this," he reminded her virtuously. "I didn't ask you to serve on that committee. I approached only the most qualified faculty members for assistance. It's your own fault for taking up the task when Dr. Lincoln fell ill. If you had not inserted yourself into my business you would not be here now!"

A lightning strike lit the sky and the flash of light allowed him a brief glimpse of her. He leaned closer to confirm his suspicions and he pressed two gloved fingers to her neck. "Excellent," he muttered when he found no beat. Reaching into the pouch on the front of his hoodie he withdrew a small box. The golden bug inside almost seemed to glow in the night as he gently shook it from the box onto his open palm. "There you go," he murmured to it affectionately as it began to crawl toward his fingertips. "It's a cool night," he said to it. "Better take shelter."

The bug reached the end of his hand and stood considering its next step. Slowly it stepped from his hand its tiny legs clinging to the strands of hair hanging damp and loose from the dead woman's head. After only a few seconds it seemed to adapt to the new footing and with one more whisper of praise from its master it scurried deeper into her hair. He watched until it disappeared, the shimmer of its gold obscured by dark damp tresses and then he turned retracing his steps carefully so he never left a footprint.

B&B

Brennan didn't bother to knock. She had a key to Booth's apartment and as she turned the lock she felt a small smile grow with the thought that she was free to use it any time she wanted. The sound of the television blaring in the kitchen let her know where to find who she was looking for and she shrugged off her jacket as she walked further into the apartment.

"Hi, Bones," Parker greeted her casually before shoving a loaded spoonful of cereal into his mouth.

Brennan walked to the television and turned it off. "Good morning, Parker."

The boy started to complain about the end of his cartoon but his protest turned to a grin as he saw what she was holding. "Is that for me?"

"Did you study your lesson?"

"I did, I promise."

"Very well," Brennan said slowly waiting for Parker to show he was ready. When he sat up straight and set down his spoon she continued. "If I bake a pie and take it to the lab and your father and Hodgins eat one-half of the pie while Cam and Angela eat one-fourth of the pie. How much pie is left for you after school?"

Parker squinted and his head tipped toward the ceiling as he thought. "Change the two into a four," he muttered as he did the math in his head. "They ate three-fourths so I get one-fourth!" he cried.

"Very good, Parker," Brennan praised as he delivered the correct answer.

"That was a cool problem, Bones," he said as he accepted the reward she had brought for him. "I like pie."

"Yes, I am aware." Parker looked up as he chomped his cereal and they shared a grin. Brennan turned and filled a cup with coffee and then returned to the table. "Did you have a pleasant evening?" she asked as she took a seat.

"Yeah, of course; Dad and I always have fun. After I did my homework we played some X-Box. Then we made ice cream floats and watched Sports Center before I went to bed.

"And I had to tell you twice to turn off the light because you wouldn't put the book down," Booth added as he entered. He was cinching his tie but left it hanging loose in favor of wrapping his arms around Brennan when she stood to greet him. "Hi," he said softly as she returned his hug.

"Good morning," Brennan answered with an inviting smile too good to pass up. Their lips met and each tightened their hold to intensify their hello. "How was your night?" she asked as they parted.

Booth hadn't released her and his hand stroked her back as he answered. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," she promised and her smile said it was true. She pulled his tie straight and then smoothed it against his chest. "But, I think it was for the best. Parker is not often with you during the week and I didn't want to interfere with the extra time you have together."

"I appreciate that," he said in a voice meant only for her ears. "But, Bones, I really missed you."

She understood exactly what that meant and she chuckled along with him as he moved in for a second kiss. Her arms were sliding back around him when the sound of dishes clanking in the sink reminded them both that they were not alone.

"I know you have to do that stuff now that you are boyfriend and girlfriend," Parker said as he ran water over his breakfast dishes. "But, I really need to get to school so could you do that later?"

"What do you know about having a girlfriend?" Booth laughed. He reached out and ruffled Parker's hair as the boy came close.

"Nothing," Parker said with a giggle. He scooped up the treat Brennan had given him and stuffed it into his waiting lunch sack.

"Are those the dried fruit snacks that Bones likes?"

"Yeah, you are out of them and she brought it to me for my lunch," Parker explained.

"He earned it by correctly answering a math question related to last night's homework," Brennan added.

"Good job, Bub," Booth praised as he moved to pour the last of the coffee into his mug. "But wouldn't you rather have a candy bar or something as a reward?"

"No, I like the fruit." Parker glanced at the clock and then looked plaintively at his father. "Dad," he whined. "I REALLY need to go."

"Ok, ok, let's go," Booth said waving him to the door. His arm went around Brennan as Parker sprinted out the door. "He's eating fruit instead of candy and complaining we aren't at school early enough. What are you doing to my kid, Bones?" She giggled as he kissed her temple.

Parker complained at every red light and when Booth pulled to a stop in front of the elementary he was already unbuckling his seatbelt. "Hey, hey," Booth called when the boy tried to bolt. Parker turned back and leaning over the seat gave them each a quick hug. "Bye!" Booth shouted as the door slammed shut. They watched him sprint inside and Booth chuckled. "I've never seen him so eager to get to school."

"I was often anxious to get to class," Brennan said with a shrug.

"Yeah, I don't think that's it, Bones. It must be his turn to feed the bugs to the class lizard. Or maybe some guy broke his arm and Park doesn't want to miss his chance to write on the cast."

"Why can't he just be eager to begin today's lesson?"

"Yeah," Booth scoffed as he eased the SUV into the flow of parental traffic. "You are changing his snack habits, Bones, but he's still a boy."

Brennan started to argue with him but her words were halted by his ringing phone. "Booth," he answered and then nodded his head to let her know it was an incoming case. "We're on our way."

B&B

"At least the rain is over," Hodgins called as the partners climbed from Booth's truck.

"Yeah, great," Booth agreed in sarcasm as he shook his foot to dislodge the mud he had stepped in.

Hodgins grinned but knew better than to say anything and he fell in step behind the duo as they moved onto the garden's path. "So what's the call?" he asked. "Why am I here?"

Booth looked over his shoulder. "We get a murder victim at the botanical gardens and you need to ask why you are here? What are the odds we DON'T need you?"

"Almost nonexistent," Jack answered with a grin. "I just wanted to hear you say it."

"Aren't there other annoying squints you could give his job to?" Booth complained to Brennan.

"It would require multiple scientists to replace him," Brennan stated factually. "It is rare to find someone with his exact combination of degrees and experience."

"Yeah, I'm special," Hodgins added wiggling his eyebrows over his grin.

"I don't like to shoot people before breakfast," Booth warned. "But, I can make an exception."

"Stop," Brennan scolded. "Are you being grumpy because we didn't have sex last night?"

Hodgins chuckled and Booth wanted to groan as he saw the two men they approached reacting to her question. "Bones!" he hissed. "Not now! And no I'm not doing that."

"You seem grumpy."

"He's annoying!" Booth hissed quickly and then shifted his attention to the men waiting for them. "Special Agent Seeley Booth," he began the introductions, "My partner, Doctor Temperance Brennan and our associate, Dr. Hodgins."

"Miles Norris," the older man answered with a nod. "I'm curator of the Gardens. This is Thomas Atwater our chief arborist."

"Where are we headed?" Booth asked since there was no body in sight.

"This way, please," Norris answered taking a step toward the construction fence. "The body was discovered when Thomas came out to assess the possibility of resuming our renovation project. The rain has stalled our progress for days and we are terribly behind scheduled."

As Norris unlocked the gate Atwater donned a filter mask. "We must be careful," he explained on seeing Booth's expression.

Hodgins was looking about and recognition flashed in his eyes. "This is the tropical habitat," he said with understanding and he snatched the masks from Atwater. "Put these on," he insisted as he shoved one in each partner's hands. Pulling his own on, he continued speaking through the white shell now covering his mouth and nose. "If you feel any skin irritation or your eyes start to burn, get out of the construction zone immediately."

It was Hodgins who led them on his quick steps making it clear that he had some expectation of what they would find. The plants here were tropical in nature and palms and a variety of fruit trees lined the path they walked. A sign ahead made Booth's eyes widen in surprise. "Why does that say danger ahead?" he asked.

Before anyone answered they rounded the bend and as they cleared the idle backhoe at the renovation sight he found his answer. This was clearly murder. A woman's body was bound to a tree and it was certain from her lifeless posture and the disturbing condition of her skin that she was dead. Another sign was posted near the lone tree and Booth quickly read it as they approached. "The tree is poisonous?" he scoffed.

"Unbelievably so," Hodgins assured him. "Every part of the manchineel tree is toxic." His blue eyes darted to the agent, their isolation over the mask making them appear exceptionally large. "It's an exotic way to kill someone," he muttered to express his thought.

"Hodgins it says not to approach!" Booth complained as the entomologist suddenly moved.

"Dr. Hodgins I would prefer to complete a visual examination before we touch the body," Brennan scolded.

Hodgins ignored them both. He set down his equipment and pulled a pair of gloves from his pocket. His eyes never stopped moving and he leaned forward slightly as he searched carefully. There was a snap as he released the latex and it formed to his hand. "I knew it," he muttered. His hands were gentle as they parted the still damp hair of the victim and with extreme care he closed his fingers around the evidence. When he turned around he held it in a closed fist. Slowly his hand opened and he held it out flat for the partners to see the dead bug he had found. "Guess who?" he said, voice trembling with disdain.

---

The atmosphere in the lab was heavy with desperation. There was none of the usual banter between the scientists as they gathered around the body lying sealed beneath a contagion tent. As Cam climbed the steps they turned to her and she began immediately. "I have tox screens running on the tissue I harvested."

"Like we need it," Hodgins scoffed. All eyes turned to him and he pointed at the body. "Any amateur arborist could tell you what killed her. They don't call that tree's fruit the 'little apple of death' for no reason. Creeps tied her to that tree during a rain storm and just waited for this to happen. The whole damn plant is a death sentence."

"The method has a long history of success," Brennan agreed. "For centuries the Carib people have been known to tie enemies to the manchineel tree as the ultimate punishment."

"Brennan, I finished collecting what I need quite a while ago," Cam noted as she looked at the body beneath the protective barrier. "Is there a reason you are delaying?"

"Caution," Brennan answered. "I was just giving Mr. Fisher instructions on the handling of dangerous remains. The level of toxicity in the remaining flesh will require additional procedures."

"The idea that the dead could kill me is quite the rush," Fisher announced with a gleam in his eye.

Cam gave the intern a wide-eyed look of surprise. "Creeps and a happy Fisher, I'm officially wishing I'd never come back." After a beat to consider just why she had missed their particular brand of work she turned to Angela. "Anything yet?"

"Identification was an easy dental match," Angela reported with a sigh. "Booth already has the info, but her name is Dr. Ofelia Cruz. She is…was, a chemistry professor at Georgetown. Turner is looking into her background, but I'm following some trails through academia, stuff the FBI wouldn't normally check."

"Anything might help," Cam agreed.

"What will help is to quit wasting time on cause of death and get down to the investigation," Hodgins snapped. "The tree sap killed her, end of story. The stuff runs like syrup when it rains and she died from an overdose of the toxins it contains. It killed the bug too!" he added as if he were offended by the insect's death.

They were all looking at the entomologist with concern and Angela gave Cam a slight nod as she moved to her husband's side. "Jack," she said in a soft and soothing voice. "We have to follow procedure."

"Yeah, because that's worked so well with this guy," Hodgins snapped. He shook his head and stomped down the steps. "I've got tests to run," he yelled back at them.

Booth was approaching and the scientist bumped against him as he stormed toward his office. Booth watched him go able to see the tension in the smaller man and he looked up at those on the platform with a raised brow.

"I'll center him, Booth," Angela promised. "I just need to give him a minute to deal with the frustration."

Booth nodded, accepting that Angela knew best how to handle the erratic genius. They were all frustrated, but they all knew Jack was their best chance at finding the clues that had eluded them so far. "Bones, if you are going with me to interview the husband we need to get moving. Are you almost done here?"

"Mr. Fisher is ready to proceed," she answered pulling off her gloves and carefully dropping them into a biohazard container. "However, I need a few moments before we go." She bobbed her head toward the door behind him and then stepped down the stairs.

Booth and the others watched as she crossed toward the door. Brennan greeted the woman arriving and they shared a hug and smiles before Brennan gestured toward her office. There was silence as their walk was observed, but Angela could finally take no more and she said what they were all thinking. "What the hell is Daisy doing here?"

"I forgot about that," Booth answered as Brennan and her former intern disappeared into her office. "Daisy is in town to defend her dissertation. Bones is on the committee."

"The real question is, did anyone warn Sweets?" Cam wondered.

Brennan shut the door to her office and motioned for Daisy to take a seat on the sofa. "It is good to see you, Miss Wick."

"Thank you, so so much, Dr. Brennan," Daisy gushed. "I appreciate your time, especially when I see that you are obviously in the middle of an investigation with Agent Booth. I know how important that work is and I am flattered that you would keep our scheduled meeting when you have other priorities."

"Daisy!" Brennan interrupted. "Do you recall the parameters we set in Maluku?"

"Yes," she admitted sheepishly. "No flattery, just facts and keep my sentences short." She straightened and tried to appear professional. "Thank you for seeing me, Dr. Brennan. I appreciate your continued mentorship." She bounced a bit in her seat and then forced herself to still. "Your notes following my last draft were quite helpful and I believe you will be satisfied with my results."

Brennan only nodded then met the eager eyes across from her. "Your work is usually acceptable, Miss Wick. If it were not I would not have retained you as my intern or allowed your participation in the Maluku project. However, I am only one member of your committee and cannot guarantee the success of your defense."

"Oh! Of course not, Dr. Brennan," Daisy quickly agreed. "But, I would like to show my appreciation for all the help you have given me. There is no way I could be where I am today without your excellent tutelage." She saw Brennan's frown at the extravagant language and she reigned in her hero worship. "I like to think we grew close during our work in Maluku," she said without the blind admiration that usually sounded in her voice. "I was wondering if you would like to join me for dinner this evening to reminisce on our adventures and to allow me to thank you for your years of instruction."

Brennan was already shaking her head. "I would be unavailable this evening," she answered. "Parker is staying with Booth this week while his mother is out of town and we have plans."

A delighted smile flashed on Daisy's face. "You and Agent Booth?" she said hopefully.

Brennan did smile at that, unable to control her reaction. "Booth and I are together," she confirmed.

"Oh! Dr. Brennan that is wonderful!" Daisy gushed, immediately back in fangirl mode. "That is a change both unexpected and long overdue."

"There were many unexpected changes on our return from Maluku," Brennan admitted.

"But they are all good?" Daisy asked. She clearly was asking about something specific but Brennan was uncertain what it was. When she didn't respond Daisy hesitantly offered clarification. "Everyone here is happy? Angela and Dr. Hodgins are I'm sure. And I understand Dr. Saroyan is a new mother, which is wonderful. Is…is Dr. Sweets happy?"

Brennan nodded now understanding what question her former intern was actually asking. "Sweets is very happy," she promised.

"He's moved on," Daisy said with a nod. "Good for him."

"Yes, I believe she is very good for him," Brennan answered. She stood unable to continue to chat like this when there was an ongoing investigation. "I must be going, Miss Wick. I will review your dissertation and I look forward to our meeting."

Daisy was trying to keep up but her thoughts were tangled in the memory of Brennan's last comment. "Thank you, Dr. Brennan," she mumbled as her mentor led her to the door.

B&B

"I'm very sorry for your loss, Dr. Arlington," Booth began. The academic across the table nodded his thanks and offered a weak smile. "Is there anything you can tell us about the night your wife disappeared?"

"I wish there was, Agent Booth, but I just don't know what it would be. Ofelia and I had separated some time ago and I am no longer privy to her private schedule."

"But you knew enough to report her missing," Brennan noted.

"She failed to show up for classes," he explained. "Missing one would be anomaly enough, but when she didn't attend her second class of the day it garnered attention. Her department's secretary called me to inquire. Ofelia has never missed a class. I knew immediately that something was amiss."

"Did you report it then?" Booth asked making a note.

"I went to the house to check on her," the professor answered. "I still have a key and I let myself in actually hoping to find she was ill and had simply failed to notify someone. It was obvious to me that she had not been home in several days."

"What alerted you to that?" Booth asked intently.

"Her cat was without food or water. She would never allow that to happen." Booth nodded in understanding and made a note and the professor continued. "That was when I reported my suspicion to the police."

"And no one had missed her until that time?"

Arlington shook his head. "Ofelia was a lovely woman, but it was not uncommon for her to spend an inordinate amount of time in her lab. If student research warranted her help or her own projects were in a critical stage she could hole up there for days. Friends would have thought nothing of her silence over the weekend."

"Can you think of anyone who would mean her harm?" Brennan asked.

"No, of course not," he insisted. "The woman lived for her work, Dr. Brennan. She put everything she had into her teaching; she mentored her students with care and dedicated her life to her research. I can't imagine anyone would have reason to harm her."

"What about her research? What was she working on?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that, Dr. Brennan. I'm an English professor, not a chemist. Ofelia rarely discussed her work in detail with me. You would have more luck contacting her colleagues in her department."

"We'll do that," Booth assured him.

They had few other questions for him and Dr. Arlington was soon making his way to the elevator. "I'll have Turner run the list of contacts he gave us," Booth said as he scanned the list of associates. "But, I doubt they know anything about it."

"It is unlikely," Brennan agreed. "Cross referencing their activity with the other murders should quickly eliminate most as suspects."

"Well, let's get you back to the lab, Bones," he suggested as they stood. "We need answers."

B&B

Angela paused in the doorway, taking the opportunity to study her husband while he worked. What she saw worried her. He had been compulsive before, in the months since they had found the first golden beetle he had spent hours and hours examining the evidence, he had stayed late, worked extra days, returned to the clues at every opportunity. But now he was desperate, intent, compelled; there was a new kind of desperation about him and she was worried. As she entered the room she was certain he didn't even realize she was there despite the click of her heels on the floor. "Jack," she called softly reaching out to touch his arm.

"I'm busy, Angie."

He was tense, his arm felt like granite beneath her hand and she could see his jaw clinching beneath his beard as he ground his teeth. "Any luck?" She waited but he didn't answer. "Jack?"

"No, there's no luck. I don't need luck. I need a damn clue!"

Angela pushed at his shoulder forcing him to turn away from the work. "You have to stop this. It is not your fault."

"I knew her."

"What? You knew Dr. Cruz?" It was the absolute last thing she had expected him to say.

"Not personally," Hodgins explained glancing down at the sample on his table and then forcing his eyes back to her. "I've read a few of her papers. I met her once at a conference on the application of interdisciplinary studies. She had a sterling academic reputation, graduated from Wooster, earned a PhD at Michigan then faculty positions at Columbia and Georgetown, she was brilliant. And now she's dead."

"Jack, you are not responsible," she scolded, knowing he was placing blame for this murder on his inability to find a clue in the others.

"Feels like it."

Angela wanted to scream at the guilt she saw in him. She wanted to cry from his pain. She wanted to hold him and never let go. "Jack, you are a brilliant scientist. You will find something."

He let her wrap him in the hug she longed to give and as she cradled his head against her chest his arms slid slowly around her waist. "I'm not a crime fighter, Ange. I'm an entomologist. I'm the bug and slime guy. I can't be the one to stop him."

"You can," she whispered as she pressed a kiss above his ear. "You will."

"She was just a professor, an academic, a lab rat like me." His body tensed and he sat back.

"What?"

"Do you think it's a coincidence that two of his victims were professors?"

"The Berkeley victim was a chemist, wasn't she?" Angela agreed as she considered the possibility. "You think it means something?"

"I don't know, but it's worth considering."

"That's speculation, Dr. Hodgins," she reminded him in a gentle teasing tone. "You don't like speculation."

"Not normally," Jack admitted. "But this doesn't really feel like a guess." They shared a look and then he turned back to his evidence. "Would you mention it to Booth?" he asked as he resumed his work. "It's his job to worry about the guesswork. My job is to find some facts."

B&B

Booth had returned Brennan to her lab and was just leaving the Jeffersonian parking structure when his phone rang. "Booth," he answered as he checked traffic and turned onto the street.

"I think we might have a problem."

"Rebecca? What's wrong?"

"I just had a call from the school. Parker's teacher wants to speak with us today."

"Did she say why?"

"No," Rebecca admitted with a sigh. "I was in a meeting so it was only a voice mail. What do you think is wrong? He's never been in trouble before." She growled in irritation. "I can't believe this happens the one week I'm out of town!"

"Everything was fine this morning," Booth promised as he slowed for a red light. "He was anxious to get there."

"He was anxious to get to school?"

Booth chuckled at her skepticism, "Yeah, I know. I told Bones it wasn't normal."

The woman on the other end of the call sighed. "I'm sorry to dump this on you, Seeley. I'm sure you are busy and normally I'd just take care of it myself, but I can't do anything when I'm in Chicago."

"Hey, relax. I'm his dad. I can handle this. I'll call the school and set up a talk and then I'll call you as soon as I know what is going on."

"Thanks. And again I'm sorry, I feel terrible about the timing on all of this. Are you in the middle of something important?"

"We are, but this is more important, Becks. He is always more important."

"That sexy dad thing you do is hot, Seeley. Why the hell didn't I marry you?"

Booth laughed knowing she was joking. "Because we are completely incompatible and would have killed each other a long time ago."

"Oh right, I remember. Yeah, you are annoying as hell." She paused for a beat and shifted back to a more serious tone. "Let me know the minute you figure out what's wrong. He's never been in trouble before. I'm worried."

"I will, I promise." He pulled into his parking space as they said goodbye. He had work to do, but before he left his truck he thumbed through his contacts and dialed the number for Parker's school. Creeps murder or not he was going to have to figure out what was going on with his son.

B&B

"Come in," Sweets called as the knock sounded against his door. Looking up he felt the blood drain from his face and heard the audible gasp he made. She was the last thing he had expected to see. "Hello, Daisy." His voice sounded thin even to his own ears.

"Hello, Lance."

She didn't speak further and he wasn't sure what to say and so they simply stared at one another. After a moment the absurdity of his response began to irritate him and he deliberately pushed aside his shock. "I assume that you are here for a reason?" he asked.

"I just wanted to say hi."

It was her turn to sound timid and uncertain and for some reason that made him feel better. "That's really not necessary," he began but he couldn't maintain his cold tone and his words softened. "But, it's very nice of you."

She brightened when she heard his soft tone and her smile appeared. "How are you?"

"I'm great," Sweets said leaning back in his seat. "Couldn't be better." His curiosity got the better of him and he asked. "How are you?"

"Good!" she answered emphatically. "I'm just in town to meet with my advisory panel and defend my dissertation. It's quite brilliant."

A tiny smile appeared on his face. "I'm sure it is," he agreed.

"So, I was wondering…" she began and then faltered.

"Yes?"

"Would you join me for a drink this evening?"

"I don't think that is a good idea."

"Please, Lancelot!"

The slight frown he had worn as he considered the dangers of meeting with her turned to a full scowl. "Don't call me that."

"You're right," she agreed sounding mollified. "I'm sorry. Please, Lance, join me for a drink. Just give me one chance to say what needs to be said. For old time's sake?"

That pleading little girl voice had always been like a knife in his gut and nothing had changed. "Ok," he agreed softly, "One drink; six o'clock at the Founding Fathers." She acted as if she was going to say more but then only nodded and turned. As the door closed behind her he leaned back in his seat and let out the breath his chest had been too tight to release. The work he had been doing forgotten, he sat in his office for some time and considered everything he was feeling about this turn of events.

---

"There has to be something," Hodgins snarled. "There is always something."

"Well, there's not!" Fisher answered hotly. "I've looked at the bones. There's nothing to tell!"

"Hey, hey, why are we screaming?" Cam called as she quickly entered the room.

"Dr. Hodgins feels I'm not performing my examination with the appropriate diligence," Fisher reported.

"I didn't say that," Hodgins snapped. "I just asked why you haven't found anything."

"Because there is nothing to find," Fisher answered his body was still encased in the biohazard suit and he waved one bright yellow arm at the quarantined body. "Believe me; I'd love to find something. Do you know how Dr. Brennan is going to react when I tell her I can't find anything significant about the victim's remains?"

"Oh, boo-hoo, poor Fisher," Hodgins taunted.

"Hey!" the intern answered with more passion than he normally displayed. "The tree killed her. You are the plant guy! Shouldn't you know something?"

"Ok, that's enough!" Cam called sternly. "Everyone calm down and focus. What do we know? That's the logical place to start."

"We know she died from manchineel toxin." Hodgins said.

Angela had entered and she spoke next. "We know she was a professor at Georgetown and a respected academic."

"We know her murder left no discernible evidence on her skeleton." Fisher sighed. "This is like the other ones, isn't it? The guy is disturbingly good. He's like a vindictive Jack the Ripper, only without the prostitutes."

Cam took in the dejected nods from Angela and Hodgins and made a decision. "Ok, that's enough. We aren't talking about this now."

"Cam, we have to figure out something," Hodgins protested.

"We will, but I get the feeling it's not going to happen if we keep on this same course." She squared her shoulders. "This is why you people need me around. You are brilliant, but your minds get too focused on the details and you can't see the forest for the trees." She waved her hands in dismissal. "Go back to work. Take one more look at everything we have on Dr. Cruz and this time try to think outside the box. There has to be a new angle."

"We've tried every angle," Hodgins snarled. "We've been doing this for months and we can't find anything on this guy."

"No, Dr. Hodgins, we've been doing this for years. I refuse to accept that one crazy madman is cleverer than this team." Cam waved her arms again. "As Dr. Brennan is so fond of pointing out, you are exceptional. And the rest of us aren't too bad. But brilliant or not, our greatest strength is our combined experience. So let's not turn on each other when we should be working together."

"Jack, didn't you tell me Dr. Cruz was a proponent of interdisciplinary studies?" Angela asked. When he nodded she smiled encouragingly. "Working together seems like the way she would want us to be."

"You think that worked?" Cam asked as Hodgins led Fisher away, their voices low but cordial as they discussed possible new approaches.

"I hope so," Angela answered. "I really hope so."

B&B

"Mr. Booth, I am so sorry to keep you waiting," Miss Elkins apologized. "I appreciate you waiting, it's a long walk to the music room and the children do need an escort. I'd hate to see what kind of mischief twenty-three fourth-graders could manage if I let them walk alone."

"No problem," Booth said turning away from the bulletin board covered in student's work.

"Did you find some of Parker's work on our High Achiever's Board?" she asked nodding at the wall as she moved to her desk.

The proud grin on his face grew wider. "Yeah, looks like Parks has a couple of good papers there."

"He actually deserves to be up there daily," the teacher admitted. "But there's a delicate balance between positive reinforcement for him and discouraging the kids who find the work more challenging."

Booth took the seat next to her desk and his voice showed his concern. "So I'm going to guess I'm not here because he failed a math test?"

"No," the young teacher said and she sighed. "Mr. Booth, I have a few years of experience as a teacher and in that time I've learned to deal with all sorts of situations. But today I encountered something with Parker that really threw me for a loop."

"What did he do?" Booth asked with dread.

"I'm afraid it's what I did."

"Huh?"

She sighed again and then opened her desk drawer. She began removing small items from the drawer as she spoke. "For about two weeks now I've been finding things on my desk, little presents like this." She held up a small figurine of a dog and for some reason Booth saw in his mind's eye a tiny pink pig. "I was very flattered but I had no idea who my secret admirer was…until today."

"Let me guess."

She nodded and set the dog down among the other trinkets. "I caught Parker leaving a gift on my desk this morning." Her eyes were troubled and she wore a look of regret. "I tried to explain to him that while I appreciated the gesture that it wasn't appropriate. It's the first time I've had to deal with this sort of thing and I'm afraid I didn't handle it very well. Parker grew embarrassed and upset. I didn't mean to hurt his feelings. That's why I asked to meet with you or his mother as soon as possible. I'm really very sorry, Mr. Booth, but I think I may have made a delicate situation much worse."

"I…uh…" Booth chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "Ok, I was expecting spitballs or a little roughhousing on the playground," he admitted ruefully. "I wasn't really prepared for the junior Casanova."

"You and me both," she agreed.

Booth smiled. He liked this young woman and he appreciated her concern for his son. "Well," he said giving her a charming smile that never failed. "At least we know he has good taste." A tiny blush tinted her cheeks and she suddenly looked young enough to be of interest to Parker. He offered her his hand and stood. "Thanks for the concern. It's nice to know you care about how he's reacting. His mom and I can discuss it and we'll take it from here."

"Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

As he made his way down the hall he tried to figure out just how he was supposed to handle this. He dialed a number as he neared his SUV and wondered just when it had become time to deal with this sort of thing. His musing was cut short when his call was answered. "Becks, you aren't going to believe this one," he began.

B&B

After a check with Turner that only increased the sense of failure on this case, Booth headed for the lab hoping there was something new from the geniuses. He was surprised when he found Sweets shadowing Brennan like one of her interns. "What are you doing here?" he asked as he joined them and took the second chair in front of Brennan's desk.

"I was looking for you."

"I had something to take care of," he explained bobbing his head in the general direction of the door.

"How did it go?" Brennan asked looking up for the first time. "Is Parker alright?"

"I'll tell you later," Booth promised with a smile that thanked her for the concern. "Sweets, as long as you're here," he said shifting back to the more important business of the day. "Do you have anything for us on this guy? Cam has the squints trying new things and Turner and I are chasing down leads that are barely there. What can you give us?"

The profiler took a moment to think and then nodded. "New approach, ok yeah that might work. Up until now we've discussed Creeps as an individual. That he's really just all id, and there is no super-ego, no grownup controlling his behavior."

"Is that another way of saying he's nuts?" Booth asked.

"Sure," Sweets agreed. "But it's not that simple. And maybe instead of trying to examine him so closely we should step back and take a look at the bigger picture."

"What bigger picture?" Brennan demanded.

"While each individual murder is committed with intent they remain a part of the larger whole. He has a purpose in his actions and identifying the greater ambition may provide insight we are overlooking. Generally speaking, humanity is fairly predictable. We act on patterns, subconsciously for the most part, some passed down from one generation to the next, but these repetitive actions reveal a great deal about who we are. The more psychologically immature a person is the more likely they are to repeat the same relational patterns over and over." He looked at them both and shook his head for emphasis. "And, dude, Creeps is mega-immature. I suggest we forget about the minutiae and look more closely at the overall commonalities."

"If we could identify commonalities, Booth would have arrested him by now," Brennan argued. "Only two victims share the same profession. There is a variety of genders, ethnicities and socio-economic positions. There is no statistical similarity in the victims."

"There is a connection," Sweets insisted. "He works carefully; his victims are not chosen at random."

"That's true," Brennan grudgingly admitted.

"So let's line it out," Booth said eagerly.

"This is useless," Brennan argued. "I need facts, not conjecture.

"Come on, Bones, just try. You are smarter than me. What do you see? Big themes, broad spectrum that's anthropology, right?"

Brennan's glare told him she did not like having Sweet's theory turned on her own field but she did give the matter some thought. "They are complex."

"Good, Dr. Brennan," Sweets agreed. "Intellectualization is a common pattern, he's going out of his way to make the deaths intricate and yet leave no trace. He's trying to prove that he's unique."

"A unique pattern," Booth muttered in speculation. "So what you see is a spoiled brat? His idea of throwing a fit is to murder people in the most unique way he can find?"

Brennan was shaking her head. "This is pointless. I need facts, Booth. Sweets can call it whatever he wants, but this is nothing more than conjecture. Looking for commonalities is guesswork." She stood and on quick feet moved toward the door. "I'm going back to the remains. There is something to learn. I will find it."

"Bones, wait," Booth objected as he darted after her. He stopped her in the middle of the room and forced her to turn. "You've already examined the body twice. You didn't find anything and you don't miss stuff. We are getting there, I know it. Don't give up now."

She began shaking her head before he even finished speaking. "I need…"

"Answers, I know!" Booth finished, his voice rising with the heat of his frustration with her stubborn refusal.

"Yes! And I won't find them in soft science drivel!"

"You tell him, Dr. B," Hodgins cheered as he entered the room.

"Back off, squint," Booth growled jabbing a finger in the scientist's direction. "This is between me and Bones."

"Hey man, I just came to tell her that I'm running a new test. Don't blame me that you are trying to convince her that Sweets' mumbo-jumbo is going to work."

"Whoa, mumbo-jumbo is a little harsh, Dr. Hodgins," Sweets objected as he too rose to his feet.

"Harsh is six dead bodies," Hodgins answered.

"Ok, we're done," Cam announced as she and Angela stepped into Brennan's office. "It's time to call it a night before this team is mired in self-defeat."

"I'm not going home," Hodgins declared. "I'm going to take another look at the latest beetle."

"We're leaving," Angela insisted as she pulled him from the room. "Cam ordered us to sleep on it and that's exactly what you are going to do."

B&B

Sweets watched Angela drag Hodgins out the door and then turned. He felt a bit intrusive as he realized the partners were having a rather intimate discussion of their angry exchange. He sank quietly back to his chair trying not to intrude but fascinated by the moment. He couldn't hear their exact words, but he did catch an occasional 'sorry' and at least one 'I love you' that let him know they were quickly diffusing the tension that had sparked.

When Brennan finally took a step back from the intimate stance in which they had been engaged, Sweets cleared his throat for attention. Booth's eyebrow lifted in surprise. "We're going home now Sweets," he teased as he retrieved Brennan's jacket from her coatrack. "This is the part you can't watch."

"Can I talk to you two for a minute?"

The partners shared a look. It was impossible to miss the insecurity in their friend's voice and they both felt that instinctive need to protect him. Booth returned the jacket to its place on the rack and they turned together to face him. "What's up?"

"Daisy came to see me."

"Ah," Booth said nodding with some sympathy.

"I need some advice."

"From us?" Brennan blurted in surprise.

"Bones, don't say it like we don't know anything. We have been there."

"Been where?"

"In a place where you need to be cordial to your ex," Sweets answered.

Brennan's brow creased with her confusion. "Booth and I have no experience as ex-lovers. Our current relationship is a first for us."

"That's not completely accurate, Dr. Brennan," Sweets argued. "When you two split for your sabbaticals that was very much like the severing of a committed romantic relationship."

"Yeah, ok," Booth interrupted feeling uncomfortable at the mention of what had been. "Let's not dwell on it, Sweets. Things were complicated back then. They aren't now; moving on."

"That's exactly my point," Sweets answered. "How did you move on? How were you able to resolve the issues associated with Dr. Brennan choosing her work over you? When you came back from your trips you were able to work together and somehow you managed to build on what had already happened. I'm supposed to meet Daisy in ten minutes for a drink at the Founding Fathers. How do I go sit with her and get past all that has been between us? I thought I had worked through all this emotional baggage over her leaving me, but when I saw her walk into my office it came rolling back like a freight train."

"Does Agent Turner know you are meeting Daisy?" Brennan demanded.

Sweets smiled at the protective question. "Of course she knows. She understands that I'm only going so I can finally put some things behind me." His eyes turned to Booth and he was pleading for help. "I'm just not sure how to do that."

Booth looked at Brennan as he considered his answer. Was it like the kid suggested? The two of them had been together in almost every way back then, but it wasn't that simple. They had been partners then, closer than most, equally dependent on the other. But, it was nothing compared to what they had now.

"It wasn't a 'relationship'," he said turning to Sweets and taking Brennan's hand in his. She squeezed her agreement as he continued. "Our situation was different, Sweets. You and Daisy were supposed to be committed to one another. Bones and I…" he glanced at her and her tiny smile matched the one he was wearing. "We weren't there yet. We were both in the middle of our own emotional crisis and we both understood that the separation was what we needed."

"So, what Daisy did was worse," Sweets said, all the old pain and anger returning to fill his voice with emotion he had thought was passed.

"Maybe," Brennan allowed. "But, it would be my observation that the end result was a net benefit."

"I'm better off because of it."

"The separation was painful for all of us, Sweets," Booth said gently. "Bones and I went into it in trouble and we came out stronger."

Brennan moved closer to her partner and slipped her arm around his waist as she continued his point. "It gave us the perspective to realize that the only person who will ever truly understand us and accept everything we are is the other."

"We learned just how special our partnership is." Booth's voice was soft and tender and his arm moved around Brennan's shoulders to hold her tight. It still amazed him to know he had her, to know that there was someone who understood him, who accepted the good and all the bad that lay beneath it, and still wanted him. She wanted to wake up next to him every morning and go to sleep next to him at night just as much as he wanted that with her. He wondered if the kid could truly understand how rare that was. He looked at his friend and tried to help him see. "For you it was different, Sweets, but you learned from it and I think we all know you are better for it."

---

Angela slipped her arm around Jack's and laid her head on his shoulder as they walked slowly out of the building. He turned his head and pressed a kiss to her hair making her smile and she tightened her hug of his appendage. "Can we take a walk?" she asked.

"I'm not really in the mood, Ange," he started to refuse.

Lifting her head she kissed his cheek and pleaded in a needy voice that usually got her anything she wanted. "Please Jack? There's only a few minutes of sunlight left and you know how pretty the garden is this time of day." Her smile grew naughty and she pressed a soft kiss to his neck before whispering in his ear. "Besides, you know you can't walk past them without lecturing about them and I always get turned on when you talk about flowers."

Jack changed direction and they strolled into the rose garden. His mood was somber and Angela remained quiet allowing him a few moments to feel his turmoil. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked after they rounded the bend in the path.

"They are growing Siberian squill," Hodgins noted, nodding toward the small blue flowers that covered the green expanse beneath the trees.

"That's not what I meant."

"I know." He bent and plucked one tiny flower from its stem. "They bloom early and cover the grass in a sea of blue. They don't last long; they'll seed and go dormant by the time grounds crews need to mow. But they are the first promise that good things are to come."

"I love your poetic side. Good things will come, Jack," she promised tenderly cupping her hand against his cheek.

"Every time I find a clue it's not enough," he said voicing his greatest torment. "I found the parasites on the ants after he killed Alice and he was already long gone. I found the carbon signature in the beetle's exoskeleton after he killed Bruce but that came too late too."

"The next time you find something it won't be too late."

"You don't know that Ange."

"You don't know it's not true."

Jack chuckled. "You are spending too much time with Brennan. That was a thoroughly rational argument."

"You like it better when I spin off on a tangent?"

He resumed their walk and wrapped his arm around her. "Of course I prefer it."

"What are those?" Angela asked as the white flowers growing low along the path caught her eye.

"Those are double flowering bloodroot."

"Really?"

"Yes, really," he answered through a chuckle. "Why?"

"It's just an odd name for something so beautiful. They look so pristine and pure."

"They are toxic."

Angela sighed. "Like the tree. What is it with Mother Nature?" she asked wryly. "Did we piss her off? I never knew there were so many killer plants around."

"They are everywhere," Jack assured her.

"It's a shame," Angela said still looking at the white blooms. "Those are really very pretty. They were cheering me up until you said they could kill me."

"They aren't quite that powerful," Jack corrected.

A small sound behind them caught his attention and he turned. His face registered some shock to find a man standing not far away. He hadn't realized anyone else was out here. In the fading light it was hard to see him clearly and Jack tensed to be caught off guard as he was. When the man stepped closer the fading light revealed a rather small man, about his size with large gray eyes that almost gleamed in the waning daylight. His lank dark hair hung past his ears and he wore a hat from under which he sported a slightly troubling smile.

"Lovely evening," he said in a crisp voice. "So sorry to interrupt, I'm just passing by."

"No trouble," Jack said watching closely as the man passed.

Angela ignored the man as she watched Jack. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just think I should know that guy. He looks familiar."

"He probably works in one of the other buildings," Angela said dismissively. "You know how odd some curators can be." Her arm once again slipped through the crook of his and she tugged gently. "Come on, how about you buy me dinner and I let you get lucky?"

Neither noticed that the strange man stood in the shadows watching until they were out of sight.

B&B

Brennan turned her head from the passing scene outside her window and looked at the silent man next to her. Something was troubling him. Their conversation with Sweets had revealed much and she still felt the connection that had filled her with warmth and comfort as they discussed Sweets' fears. The events of the last year had taught them much and they were not the same. She was not the same. The most important lesson she had learned was her certainty about her place at Booth's side. Holding tight to that feeling she reached for his hand. "What's wrong Booth?"

He helped fit their hands together and glanced away from the road long enough to meet her concerned eyes and shrug. "I'm a little stuck."

"With the case? We're all stuck. That is why Cam insisted we 'call it a night'."

"No, that's not what I meant, but nice use of the phrase." He sighed and then shared what was bothering him. "He's only ten, Bones!"

"Parker?"

"Yeah," Booth admitted. "We pick him up in five minutes and I have no idea what to say to him. I'm not ready for this, Bones. I need more time. We shouldn't have to talk about his heart being crushed by a girl for at least a few more years."

"You sound panicked."

"I am!" He sighed and pulled his hand free of hers to run it over his neck and then up through his hair. "This is one of those times when I feel completely in over my head."

"You have faced other uncertainties as a father," Brennan reminded him. "Like that time you were forced to improvise when you lost his diaper bag while in the park or when he was five and he asked you why your body had more hair than his."

Booth shook his head. "I'm going to be more careful about what stories I tell you for our daily sharing."

"You have figured out what to say to him before," Brennan insisted. "You will know now."

Booth reclaimed her hand and lifted it to his lips. They were stopped at a light and he leaned across for a second kiss against her lips. "Thanks, Bones."

B&B

Sweets stopped at the bar and ordered a drink before he approached the table. Taking a quick sip for courage he squared his shoulders and went to join his ex. "Hello, Daisy," he said pleased to hear no sign of the insecurity he felt sounding in his voice.

"Thanks for meeting me, Lance." She smiled far too broadly as if she were impossibly happy to see him. "You are looking very handsome," she gushed. "You made an excellent choice in neckwear today. I always adore that color on you! It makes your eyes sparkle."

Sweets ignored the compliment and offered only a polite response. "Thanks. How have you been?"

"I've been very busy," she said as if it were an accomplishment. "My time in Maluku was very rewarding. Working with Dr. Brennan as I did was the single greatest learning experience of my life."

"That's great."

"But it wasn't the greatest time in my life," she added. Her hand reached across the table. "I didn't recognize that when it was happening, but time away has helped me see…."

Sweets jerked away from her sloshing his drink as he escaped the touch she had made to his hand. "Don't do that, Daisy."

"Lancelot," she pouted.

"I asked you not to call me that."

His tone was cold and commanding, sounding almost alien as it issued from his boyish façade and she pouted. "I'm sorry."

Her wheedling tone set his teeth on edge. How had he ever fallen for that? "What did you think was going to happen here, Daisy?" he asked pointedly. "Did you think you were going to come back and I would welcome you with open arms? That I would just let you pick up where you left me?"

"I thought…Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth…."

"Don't," Sweets snapped. "Don't you dare compare what they have to the shallow, juvenile interaction we called a relationship. You left me Daisy. You chose your career over me and didn't bat an eyelash when I said I didn't want you to go. You manipulated me. And I let you," he added, taking his share of the blame. "But we aren't going back there. You chose to move on. I did the same. If that was the happiest time of your life I'm proud to have been part of it. But it's over."

Daisy's mouth was clamped shut held in a firm line of anger. She gathered her things and with as much dignity as she could manage she stood. "Have a pleasant evening, Dr. Sweets."

He sat watching her leave. He knew he should feel guilty about the way that had played out. He didn't regret the words, they needed to be said and he felt an enormous sense of satisfaction for having said them. But, he did wish that he had been less hurtful.

"Sent her packing, huh?"

He looked up shocked to find Turner standing over him. "Are you spying on me?" he asked as she took the seat next to him.

"I'm an FBI agent, its called surveillance."

"Claude…"

"You need your own therapy if you think I was going to let that little conversation happen without giving you back up." He wasn't sure how to respond to that and his mouth dropped open slightly as he struggled to respond. Turner chuckled and leaned close, letting one arm loop around his as the other lifted and her fingers touched his cheek. "I didn't eavesdrop," she assured him. "I just wanted to be close enough to make certain that she didn't hurt you again."

"She didn't."

"Yeah, it was kinda hot when you were kicking the ex to the curb," she answered with a darker tone.

"Well," he said his chest puffing slightly at her intentions. "She was hinting for another chance, but that's not going to happen. Know why?" he asked as he leaned into her space.

"Why?"

The inviting smile on her lips lifted his own smile into a cocky leer. "I don't waste time with little girls anymore," he bragged. "I have the sexiest, most loving, beautiful woman any man can imagine. I didn't even want to be here. I just wanted to be home. With you."

Turner smiled triumphantly. "Let's go, Doc."

B&B

Booth put it off as long as he could, but with dinner over and bedtime approaching, he was running out of time. He scolded himself for his reluctance. He was a Ranger, a Sergeant-Major of the US Army, a FBI Special Agent, why was he frightened of a ten-year old boy? Because this was his ten-year old boy and saying the wrong thing, not having the right answer when his son needed him, was his biggest fear. Admitting it made it easier to face and he marched himself into the living room with determination. "Hey, Bub," he said taking a seat next to his son.

Parker was playing his video game but he spoke up as soon as his father joined him. "Dad, is Bones spending the night with us tonight?"

"She was planning on it," Booth answered. "Is that ok with you?"

"Sure," Parker answered giving a shrug without losing focus on his game. "I like it when Bones is with us. She's the best girlfriend you've ever had."

"Park, pause the game," Booth ordered gently. He waited until Parker complied and then he continued. "I wanted to talk to you."

"Ok. What's up?"

"First, I'm glad you like that Bones is my girlfriend. Your opinion is important. You are important to both of us and it makes us happy that you approve."

"Sure, Dad. Bones is the best!"

"Second," Booth said forcing himself to move on past the easy stuff. "I wanted to talk to you about what happened at school today. I had a talk with Miss Elkins."

Parker's eyes dropped and he watched his hands twist together in a nervous fidget. "Oh."

"Did you understand what Miss Elkins was telling you?"

"Yeah, I promise," Parker said quickly. "I won't do it again, Dad. I'm sorry."

"Park, I'm not mad."

"You aren't?"

"No, buddy, I'm not mad. I just want to make sure you are ok. Miss Elkins was afraid she hurt your feelings."

"She didn't hurt my feelings," Parker assured him. "I get it. She's a grownup, I'm just a kid."

Booth nodded. "She really likes you, Park, but not that way."

"Yeah, Dad I get it. She explained it. Can I go get ready for bed?"

Knowing it was the wrong thing to do, but eager for a way out of this conversation Booth nodded. "Sure, Bub." Booth watched Parker leave the room, feeling like a chicken but thankful the moment was over. He heard the floor creak with a step and looked over his shoulder as Brennan entered. "Don't say it," he said before she could speak. "I know I blew it."

"You allowed him to go before you said the things you had prepared."

"I know," he said leaning back in dejection. "I just felt so lost. I don't want to make it worse. He said he was fine."

"When I say I'm fine, you tell me I'm lying." She took a seat next to him turning her body to face him and she let her fingers sift through his hair as she tried to ease his turmoil. "If it is important you will find a way to say it."

"Thanks," he said letting his head drop back against the cushion as her touch relaxed him. His hand slid slowly over her thigh and he tried to still his nerves.

"I'd like to share my secret with you."

"Now? We usually do that at bedtime?"

Brennan smiled rather knowingly and her touch to his head slowed as her nails scraped across his scalp. "We are likely to be busy at bedtime." His hand squeezed her leg and she took that as agreement. She had given this some thought and she knew what she wanted to tell him. Sometimes their secrets were small, unimportant things that were shared simply because no one else knew them. Sometimes they told each other things because the other needed to hear them. She thought this was such a time. "Do you recall the Aaron McCall case?"

Booth cocked his head. "The kid that was murdered by his case worker? Yeah, that was a long time ago, one of our first cases, but I remember it."

"You were very kind to me regarding that case."

Booth's eyes softened and he brushed his fingers against her cheek. "I knew it was a tough one for you, Bones. Aaron was an orphan and in the system. I knew it bothered you the way he seemed forgotten."

"It was very early in our partnership, but you knew. You knew I was hurting and you stayed with me after the case was closed. You talked to me and helped me. You didn't have to do that, Booth but you did. I didn't know what to say about what I was feeling, but you did. You said all the right things and it helped."

"Aw, Bones..."

"No, honestly, Booth. You found the words. You'll find the words now." She smiled and snuggled down into the crook of his arm letting him wrap her in a hug. "That was when I decided to dedicate my second novel to you. To thank you for that night; to thank you for saying the words I needed to hear."

"Bones, you told me you dedicated your second book to me so I would stop complaining about Andy being me."

She giggled. "And you believed that?" He hugged her tight and they sat quietly for a moment. "Have the talk with Parker, Booth," she advised quietly. "You will know what to say when it is time."

Booth held her tight feeling a dizzying joy in response to the love she was giving him. She was trying so hard to be there for him. Her effort was the most flattering thing he had ever been given. Suddenly he was struck by the need to share with her something equally important. His eyes moved across his living room and he knew what it should be.

"Bones, do you ever wonder why I have so many clocks?"

"I assumed it was something you collected, like your baseball cards or Parker's spacemen figurines."

"Those are Star Wars characters not spacemen," he corrected quickly. "Boba Fett is not some generic astronaut. Anyway, it's not because I collect them." He stopped needing another moment before he continued and she pulled back enough to meet his gaze as she realized this was important. He smiled weakly and there was a darkness in his eyes that prompted her to reach for his hand.

"When I was a POW, I spent most of my time in solitary." Brennan's hand tightened around his and he held on tight taking the strength he needed for his words from her strong grip. "There wasn't anything to help mark the passage of time. No windows so you could tell what time of day it was. I'm pretty sure they didn't even feed us regular, so there was no schedule you could use to figure out what time of day it was. When I was pulled out of there I had no idea how long it had been. The days seemed impossibly long, Bones. To sit there hour after hour, day after day with nothing to look at, no way of knowing where you were or what was happening. It nearly drove me insane."

"I thought it had been held a couple of weeks; the longest weeks of my life, but just two weeks. When the guys in the unit that found me told me what day it was I thought they were kidding. It was forty-eight days, Bones. Forty-eight days. I lost almost two months. Six and a half weeks with no idea what time it was."

"Six weeks was long enough for the bones in your feet to begin to heal improperly. That's why they had to re-break them."

He nodded. "They broke them when they took me. That way I couldn't make a run for it. They broke them and then threw me in that cell. It was dark. I'm not afraid of the dark, I could deal with that. But the time, Bones. The time stretched out like some unending promise of never. I thought it was going to last forever."

Tears pooled in her eyes as Brennan considered what that had been like. The broken bones would have been excruciatingly painful and he would have been completely unable to bear his own weight. He would have been forced to lie there in pain completely alone and suffering. The added torture of not knowing the day or the hour would have been a disorienting burden. It might have broken a weaker man. "And so you keep clocks," she observed softly.

"Now I keep clocks."

Her tears slid down her cheeks and he pulled her close. "I'm sorry," he breathed as he kissed her softly. "I'm sorry. Don't cry, I'm sorry, Bones."

Brennan clung to him and she shook her head. "Thank you. Thank you for sharing that with me, Booth. I want to know. I want to know it all."

---

Brennan's steps echoed in the quiet lab as she walked briskly across the polished floor. The general lab was still lit only by the dim lights used at night but a glow coming from Hodgins' office let her know he was already in. She wasn't surprised and she could admit the same frustration that had prompted him to arrive before dawn was the reason she had rolled from Booth's warm bed at this hour. The only way to fight this desperation for answers was to keep trying. Sweets could lecture all he wanted on patterns and psychological theory but she had never seen a murder solved without hard evidence. Hanging her jacket on her coatrack, she slipped on her lab coat and headed for the ookey room. They had samples from each of the remains that had passed through the Jeffersonian and she wanted to take a look at them collectively.

The main doors parted as she neared the small room where her specimens lay and she paused to greet her friend. "Good morning, Angela. You are up early."

"Yeah, well...we couldn't sleep," Angela answered her eyes darting to Jack's office. "I have a query running through the data we've collected on Creeps and I figured while that was working I had time to pick up breakfast. Want a bagel?" Brennan's eyes moved to the door of the small lab and the artist nodded with understanding. "You go get started. I'll bring you something in a bit."

Brennan eagerly got to work and the morning silence helped her slip into the kind of total concentration that allowed her to truly study the evidence. Angela had just set a bagel and coffee at her elbow when hurried steps sounded behind them. She looked up and found Fisher sliding to a stop as he careened through the doorway. He pulled his ear buds from his ears as she greeted him. "Good morning, Mr. Fisher."

"Dr. Brennan," the intern responded with no surprise to find her already at work. "At the hospital we did an exercise where we tried to empathize with others. To put ourselves in their situation and explore the emotional issues, it is supposed to help us identify our own neurosis. I've been trying it with Creeps, to think like him. I had an idea."

"All ideas are worth pursuing, Mr. Fisher," she approved with a nod.

Fisher bobbed his head in thanks and placed the speakers back in his ears. He busied himself at another station and Angela returned with breakfast for him.

The artist was moving to her office to check the status of her search when Cam exited hers. "Everyone is here?" the coroner asked as she shrugged on her lab coat.

"Yeah, there's breakfast if you are interested."

"I ate a little something with Paul," Cam answered. "And I'm about to reexamine our latest victim's tissue. I don't need a full stomach."

"Ange," Brennan called as she stepped from the ookey room. "Booth says PD found something. He's sending you raw video."

"I'm on it!" Angela said as she hurried to her office.

"A break?" Cam asked Brennan with a raised eyebrow.

"Perhaps," the scientist allowed. "But, I would reserve judgment until we have more data."

"Maybe, but we sure as hell need one," Cam muttered as she headed for her autopsy room.

B&B

"Hey, Booth you wanted to see me?"

"Yeah," the agent answered waving him into the conference room. "DC-PD found Dr. Cruz's car. It was parked at the drug store two blocks from her house."

"So, you have a likely last known location?"

"Right. Her purchase is actually in the car so with the receipt we not only can confirm location but time."

"That's a good clue!"

"I'd like to think so, but I'm not holding my breath. Anyway, the employees working that night are here. Bones is tied up at the lab and Turner is checking out some other details, so I wanted you to sit in on the interview."

"Third string, thanks," Sweets joked.

"Better than JV, Kid," Booth answered playfully.

The hope they had at finding a possible clue and their light emotion of a playful exchange began to fade as they questioned the potential witnesses. "Unbelievable," Booth growled as he led Sweets away from their final interview. "Even when we find a clue, there's nothing to it! How can no one remember anything?"

Sweets saw the familiar frustration building. Each time the team encountered Creeps the mental strain and psychological burden grew more complex. He was desperate as the rest of them to apprehend the serial killer, but the longer these cases dragged on the less he was concerned with justice and the more with his friends' stress levels. "Booth, we've talked about this." They entered Booth's office and he closed the door behind them, hoping privacy would help the agent talk about it. "He goes out of his way to appear non-threatening. The victims don't realize the danger until it is too late. It is highly unlikely that others around them even notice his presence."

Booth's phone chirped and his troubled eyes dropped to it, eager for something to focus on besides the truth Sweets wanted him to face. It was Angela calling and he put her on speaker. "What's up, Angela?"

"I have something for you," she answered. "Security footage from the bookstore next door shows Dr. Cruz leaving the drug store."

"Let me see!" His fingers scrambled over his keyboard and he quickly activated his communication link with the museum. Angela had her information waiting and with one click he was watching their victim stroll casually from the store.

Sweets leaned over the desk and watched with him as Cruz walked straight to her car and unlocked the door. There was no sound on the video but it was clear that as she opened her door a noise of some sort caught her attention. The chemist reacted, lifting her head with interest. She then tossed the bag she carried into her car, shut the door and walked purposefully across the parking lot away from the building she had exited. There was a smile on her face until she disappeared from view.

"That's all I've got," Angela apologized. "I've tried everything, but I can't do any more with it. There are no reflective surfaces, no other feeds, and no way to see what she saw. If she had walked in almost any other direction I would have footage from another camera."

"He knew where the dead spot was."

"Yeah."

"She knew him," Sweets said confidently.

"Huh?"

"The way she reacted," he explained. "She looked up like someone was calling her by name. She smiled with genuine warmth. There was no alarm, she was casual and relaxed. The way she walks off camera is just a regular everyday walk with no concern, haste or alarm."

"She trusted him?" Angela said sickened by the implication.

"He's a tricky bastard," Booth agreed darkly.

B&B

Booth could feel it the moment he walked through the sliding doors. The tension in the lab was high. There were no raised voices today, no frustrated scientists venting their lack of progress with shouts. Instead there was a sense of need that permeated the air and everywhere he looked he could see squints working diligently. They saw him coming and without Cam needing to order it they each left their work stations and joined him so that they were all gathered in Cam's office.

Booth moved to the wall of data they had collected over the last few months. Each of Creeps' murders was detailed, the facts listed as if by enumerating the basics the truth would reveal itself. The information displayed stretched around the room like a banner of inhumanity. He paused long enough to survey each face of those they had yet to find justice for. Alone, each one of them was enough motivation to find the truth, combined and unsatisfied they gave him the same desperation he knew the whole team felt. "I have to ask," Booth said half apologizing before he began. "Anything?"

There were slight movements of negation in every direction but only Cam answered. "We'll find it. We haven't hit pay dirt yet but today has been promising. We're coming at it from new angles and I'm certain we'll find it."

"I know it's been said," Hodgins added. "But Creeps McGee is no fool. These murders are so well planned I don't think we could do a better job ourselves."

It was just another admission that their foe was good at his game. Each of them had said the same at one time or another, but as the words left Hodgins' lips both Booth and Brennan reacted. Their eyes met and instinctively they knew the other had had the same thought.

"Why didn't we think of this before?" Booth asked her.

"I'm certain we have and simply overlooked it. But, I admit it does seem obvious."

"What seems obvious?" Angela demanded.

Booth broke the eye lock he shared with Brennan and turned his face to her. "Creeps is a genius."

"Well…yeah," Angela scoffed. "We knew that didn't we?"

Hodgins' head was cocked as he thought about it. "But we hadn't actually said it," he mumbled thinking aloud.

"Ok!" Booth said clapping his hands to break the pondering silence. "This is it, squints. This is where the gut hunch pays off. Think!" His head swiveled to Hodgins. "Think, Hodgins. There aren't that many of you brilliant types, what's the best way to track him?"

"The question we should ask," Brennan argued, "Is what kind of degrees could he have that would give him the baseline knowledge he's demonstrated?"

"Yeah, yeah," Hodgins said excited by the line of thought. "Ok, let me think. Obviously entomology, the dude is serious about his bugs."

"I'm going to say Chemistry," Angela added.

"Why?"

"He killed two chemists," she reminded them. "Skill or no, they did something to piss him off. My money is on him being a chemist."

"That would allow for knowledge concerning many of his acts," Brennan agreed.

"I'm going to tentatively rule out an MD," Cam said thoughtfully. "He's displayed some knowledge of the body, but nothing has made me suspect he has formal training."

"I'm taking notes," Angela said as she gave them an excited smile. "If we identify some areas of expertise I can start cross referencing academic records with MENSA, Rhodes awards and selective fellowships."

"Ok, bugs and chem, but not med," Booth said as he popped to his feet.

"Booth, don't pace," Brennan chided. "There isn't that much floor space in this office."

"I'll share it," he said as he took her hand and pulled her to her feet.

"Booth! What are we doing?" she laughed as he held her close and began to sway.

"We're dancing, Bones," he said playfully. "Because I'm telling you right now this is going to get us somewhere."

B&B

They didn't notice her approach because they were each focused on the other and so when Daisy pulled out the chair across from them both Sweets and Turner looked shocked. "Hello!" the anthropologist said with a bounce. "Mind if I join you?" She didn't wait for an invitation and took the seat. "I'm Daisy," she said extending her hand to Turner.

"Special Agent Claudia Turner," she answered grasping the hand for a firm shake.

"Daisy, what are you doing?" Sweets stammered. "I thought…after last night…."

"Oh, don't be silly, Lance," Daisy answered cutting off his question before he could state it. "Maybe my feelings were a little hurt, but I was just being silly. I'm over it."

"Of course," Turner agreed evenly.

Daisy's eyes flashed to the agent and then back to her ex. "I'm not stalking you or anything, I just haven't had a chance to eat at the diner and you know how much I love their tuna melt. I couldn't pass up the opportunity since my afternoon is free. And then I saw the two of you sitting here and I just thought it was perfect! I really wanted to get to meet Candace."

"Claudia," Sweets corrected with a frown.

"I'm glad you aren't stalking him," Turner joked. "I'd hate to arrest you."

"What?" Daisy asked seeming to be confused by the statement.

"Stalking Lance, that's a felony."

"I was joking," Daisy answered. "Wasn't I Lance?"

"I'm sure you were," Turner answered calmly. "I just don't find Lance a joking matter." She pushed her empty plate back and tossed her napkin on it. "I'm sure you two have things to discuss. Last night's meeting really didn't last very long. If you'll excuse me, I really need to be getting back to work."

She dismissed Daisy and turned to face Sweets. "I'll see you later?"

"Yeah," he answered with a grin. She leaned in for a kiss and he spoke quietly. "You enjoyed that didn't you?"

"Oh yeah."

He laughed softly and accepted the kiss she offered. His eyes followed her as she stood and when her hand caressed his cheek he turned his head and kissed her palm. "I'll see you later."

"Nice to meet you, Dandelion," Turner said giving the clearly jealous woman a flippant glance as she walked away from the table.

"She's very…FBI," Daisy stated trying to find a response to what had just happened.

"She is amazing," Sweets corrected his eyes still on the woman who was walking confidently away.

---

"Let me have him," Angela said lifting Macon from Cam's lap. "Hello, you little angel," she cooed. "I just love holding him. He's so happy, it makes you happy."

Cam grinned as the baby responded to the playful smiles the artist was giving him. "He is the best way to forget about this place," she agreed.

Angela grunted as she took a seat on the sofa. "I could use a little of that; just a break from it while we wait for a lead."

"I am optimistic about the data you are compiling," Brennan said as she joined them.

"We can hope," Angela agreed as she held Macon over her head and made him squeal.

"Ange, how is Hodgins?" Cam asked. As the boss she needed to know, but there was nothing but concern for her friend in her voice.

The question brushed the smile from her lips and Angela hugged Macon close taking comfort in holding him. "He's doing ok, but he blames himself every time we find a new victim. I'm not sure how many more he can take."

"He'll be ok," Cam promised. "He has you to lean on."

"Whether he likes it or not," she responded with a chuckle.

As her two friends shared a smile over that comment, Brennan considered her own effort to be supportive of Booth through his parenting crisis. She hoped she had been of as much benefit as Angela obviously was to Hodgins. "How do you know if your efforts are successful?" she asked aloud.

"Oh, Sweetie, you are always there for Booth."

"We have been through a great many trying situations as partners," Brennan agreed. "But things are different now."

"Not really," Cam objected. "Brennan, you two have always had the deepest connection. You can't be broken, I learned that lesson quickly. And this new part of your relationship doesn't require anything that you weren't already giving each other. But, it's not just you. It's all of us. This team is strong because we have one another. Creeps is trying, but he can't break us."

"Absolutely," Angela agreed, although she sounded almost desperate to believe it.

They were silent for a moment, each reflecting on the struggle that they all felt over Creeps' freedom. Finally Cam stood, determined to move forward despite another unsolved murder. "Ok, he's happy now, but I guarantee you if I don't get him home he's going to be very cranky very soon." She reached for her son and Angela handed him over. "I'll see you both tomorrow."

"Night, Cam," Angela called and Brennan echoed the same sentiment. "What are you up to tonight, Bren?" she asked when they were alone.

"I'm going to prepare a surprise for Booth. He is uncomfortable about something he must do and I want provide an opportunity for him to discuss it if he wishes."

Angela chuckled as they left Cam's office and walked toward Brennan's. "Like Cam said…unbreakable."

As Brennan collected her things, Angela retreated to her own office. "Good night, Sweetie," she said as they met at her door.

"Are you not going home?"

Angela nodded toward Jack's office. "You need to get home to be there for him. Right now I need to be here for the same reason."

Brennan nodded with understanding. "Don't let him stay too long. There is much we might learn once your computer search is finished."

"I won't, but he won't wait either." They parted and as Brennan walked through the exit Angela stepped into Hodgins' office. Without a word she took a seat and flipped open the sketch pad she had retrieved from her office. With a glance at the clock she noted the time. One hour, she would give him one hour and then she was taking him home. Part of being there for him was forcing him to walk away.

B&B

"You ready to see your mom?" Booth asked glancing at the boy seated in the passenger seat.

"Sure." Parker answered with a shrug. "But, I wouldn't mind staying with you another night."

"I'd love that, Bub, but Mom missed you a lot. She would be pretty disappointed if she didn't see you tonight."

"I guess so." The conversation wasn't holding his attention and Parker moved on to something more interesting. "Hey, Dad, did you catch him?"

"Catch who?"

"The bad guy. You and Bones have a case, right? I could tell you were talking about one. Did you get him?"

Booth sighed. "No, not yet. But we will."

"You guys always get 'em," Parker agreed with confidence.

He turned to look out the window at the park they were passing and Booth wrestled the last of his reluctance into submission. Signaling before he could change his mind he dropped out of the flow of traffic and eased the truck into a parking space. "Mom is eager to see you, but how about we stop for a game of hoops?"

Parker agreed with enthusiasm and they were quickly on their way to an empty court. "Ok, you have to take it easy on your old man," Booth joked as he removed his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves. I'm not exactly dressed for a game."

"Yeah, they don't wear side arms in the NBA," Parker answered bouncing the ball he had carried from the SUV.

"Very funny," Booth answered and swatted the ball from his son's hands.

The game began immediately and there was as much laughter and trash talk as there were baskets made. As Parker took a shot Booth eased up, feeling now was as good a time as he would find for this conversation. "Good one, Bub," he praised the basket. "You are getting pretty good; must be because you are getting older."

"I'm stronger, I think," Parker agreed. "The ball doesn't seem as heavy."

He passed the ball to his dad and Booth took both the ball and the opening. "Lots of things change as you get older. Like how strong you are, or how you feel about girls."

"Girls are ok," Parker agreed without any real commitment.

Booth dribbled moving toward the basket but allowing the boy to play defense despite their size difference, the game making it easier to continue. "Girls are going to be a big deal the older you get. They can make you do crazy things and you don't even know why you are doing it."

The ball clanged off the rim and Parker scurried to catch it. "How come?" he asked.

"Well, how come you were giving Miss Elkins those gifts?"

Parker shrugged as he dribbled. "I don't know. Because she is nice and I wanted her to like me."

"That's the same reason every time with girls."

"Really?"

"Yep. Snap your wrist more," he corrected as Parker's shot fell short. He caught the rebound and quickly put it back in the hoop. "Park, the older you get the more you are going to want certain girls to like you. It can be pretty confusing. I want you to know we can talk about it, ok? If stuff is happening, you can ask me for help."

"Maybe I should have asked you before I gave Miss Elkins all that stuff."

"Maybe, but it wasn't so bad. She was flattered you know."

"Really?"

Booth tried not to show how amused he was at the smile his son was sporting. "She was definitely impressed. And I don't blame you, for a teacher she's pretty nice looking."

"She's pretty," Parker agreed his cheeks tinting from a blush that had nothing to do with their game. "I like her hair."

Booth wondered when he had stopped being fearful as he realized this conversation was flowing without hesitation. "You like long dark hair, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I never really thought about it before. I didn't really notice her hair at first."

"What did you notice?"

"She's a switch hitter."

"Huh?"

"We were playing baseball and the teams weren't even so she offered to play with us. She batted right handed in the first inning but when we were up in the second she switched to left."

"Wow."

"Yeah!" Parker grew excited as he continued. He cocked the ball on his hip, forgetting the game as he explained. "And not only can she hit left, she knocked in a three-run dinger!"

"Nice!" Booth exclaimed to show he was impressed.

"I didn't really notice her hair and stuff until later. I just really liked that she could hit."

Booth grinned as he knocked the ball from Parker's grasp and chucked it at the hoop. "I like strong girls too."

---

Join us next week when nothing is as it seems as Sweets' subconscious explores one of America's most notorious crime sprees in The Meanness in the World by NatesMama.