5 Weeks Later
Booth was hurrying to get ready. They had a party to go to that was celebrating Cam's success as a coroner, and he was going to pick up Brennan. He put on the watch Parker had given him and smiled at it. His son always knew just what to get him. He answered his ringing phone.
"Are you ready?" Brennan asked.
"I'm almost ready. I'll be there in twenty minutes."
"No need. I'll be there in ten."
"What?"
"I got a GPS for my car."
"Okay..."
"I want to drive."
"But...I'm the boyfriend. I'm supposed to pick you up."
"We live in the 21rst century, Booth. It's okay if the girlfriend picks you up," she teased. He sighed.
"All right. It just feels weird."
"You'll get used to it."
"See you soon."
He hung up and put the finishing touches to his tie when someone knocked on his door.
...
Brennan made her way up to Booth's apartment smiling to herself. She couldn't wait to see him. When he dressed up, he looked extremely handsome.
"See? Ten minutes, just like I told..." she broke off upon seeing his door ajar. She paused, unsure of what to make of it. "Booth?" Panic gripped her then when he didn't answer. She gripped her phone, dialing Cam.
"Hello?" Cam's voice asked. There was music in the background. "Dr. Brennan?"
"Cam," Brennan said. "Something's happened to Booth."
...
They all sat in a circle, Brennan, Cam, Hodgins, and Dr. Sweets. Hodgins was gripping his chair very tightly, his knuckles pure white. Cam was staring at the floor. Sweets kept fidgeting and getting up to pace before sitting back down.
"Is someone going to tell me who the Gravedigger is?" Brennan asked.
"A bastard who suffocates children for money," Hodgins growled.
"Dr. Hodgins was also an unfortunate victim along with..." Cam started.
"Don't," Hodgins cut her off. She shut her mouth quietly. Brennan looked back and forth between them.
"So he has Booth," she said instead.
"Yes, so it seems," Cam nodded. They'd listened to the message over and over again since Dr. Sweets had the smarts to record it on his phone when Cam played it.
"I came as soon as I could," Angela said, rushing up the stairs. She sat down beside Brennan and hugged her tightly. "What's happened?"
"Booth has been kidnapped by a serial killer," Brennan answered. Angela gasped, clutching her mouth.
"We have 21 hours to find him, and we have to give up the evidence we collected from...from...before," Cam finished without looking at Hodgins. She knew he had stolen it. She wasn't completely stupid.
"So give it to him," Brennan said logically.
"Are you crazy?! That evidence is going to take the Gravedigger down! That's why he's doing this. He's scared, and he knows we're this close to getting him!" Hodgins exploded.
"Dr. Hodgins, go cool off," Cam ordered. He obliged without arguing. He slammed his fist against the railing as he went, making Sweets jump.
"What's with him?" Angela asked. Cam leaned in, whispering.
"He was a victim. He got buried alive with our former anthropologist, Dr. Cheyenne Johnson. Unfortunately, when they blasted their way out, Dr. Johnson did not survive," Cam said, biting her lip.
"Oh no," Angela said.
"He's never really gotten over it. Then the whole Zack thing erupted and made things worse. I never thought he'd have feelings for someone ever again until you came along," Cam said, gesturing to Angela, who blushed.
"You mean, he had a romantic interest in Dr. Johnson?" Brennan asked.
"Yes. Madly in love," Cam answered sadly. "It was cut so short..."
"Poor Hodgins," Angela whispered. She had no idea. He'd never told her about it. She wondered why.
"To him, giving up that evidence means that Dr. Johnson died in vain, and it's killing him," Cam said.
"But we need Booth," Sweets said, reminding them all that he was still there.
"I know. Let me talk to him," Cam responded, getting up. Brennan watched her go down the stairs and over to Hodgins's office area. She couldn't hear them, but she saw the wild gesturing and the shouting behind the glass. Eventually, he handed her a folder.
"No law enforcement or Booth dies," Sweets said, shaking his head. "This is gonna be hard."
"We will save him," Brennan said fiercely. Angela turned to look at her friend, and she noticed something Brennan did with her hand that could have just been her imagination, but she didn't think it was.
...
Cam blew out air in frustration when she realized there was something missing from the evidence. She marched back to Hodgins's office and found him staring at a vial.
"Dr. Hodgins, I know this is very difficult for you, but all evidence means all evidence," she said, holding her hand out.
"Give me ten hours, Cam," Hodgins begged. "I can find Booth."
"What's going on?" Brennan asked, coming in then. Angela was behind her.
"Dr. B, I know we haven't known each other long, but you have to trust me. I need this evidence to help find Booth," Hodgins said.
"Is this true?" Brennan asked, looking at Cam.
"It's possible," she nodded. "He is the best."
"Ten hours," he repeated.
"Eight, and Dr. Brennan stays with you at all times," Cam said, stalking off.
"She doesn't trust you?" Angela asked, surprised.
"It doesn't appear that way," Hodgins answered, getting to work.
"Angela!" Cam called. Angela hurried after her.
"Yes?"
"How good are you at computers?"
"Um, fairly good, but I don't work here..." Angela started.
"Well, you're hired," Cam cut her off. "Contract employee. I'll write up a contract later."
"O-okay."
"Come with me," Cam said, leading her to an empty office.
...
"I found something," Angela said after a while. She had played both ransom recordings to death and did her magic to find anything they could use. It had unnerved her to hear the Gravedigger say Hodgins was buried alive.
"What is it?" Cam asked. Brennan and Hodgins joined her after hearing Angela call out.
"Seagulls," Angela said proudly, playing it.
"Vega lives by the boardwalk," Hodgins said, grabbing the author's book.
"Who's Vega?" Brennan asked.
"The guy who writes about the Gravedigger."
"Then we should start with him," Brennan urged.
"Way ahead of you," Hodgins said, grabbing his car keys. Brennan hurried after him. On the drive, he finally confessed.
"I stole that evidence, Dr. B," he sighed. "That's why the Gravedigger took Booth."
"You what?!" Brennan exclaimed. She was suddenly angry. The man she loved was most likely going to die because of Hodgins.
"It was inevitable, Dr. Brennan. If we'd gotten close in any way, he'd have kidnapped someone," Hodgins reasoned. "I'm...I'm really sorry it's Booth."
"This Dr. Johnson, she was the love of your life?" Brennan asked. She watched as a single tear leaked out of Hodgins's eye. He reached to wipe it away and nodded.
"She was," he answered hoarsely.
"Then you know what it's going to feel like for me when Booth doesn't come home."
"I'll do my damndest to make sure he comes home," Hodgins said fiercely. He stopped at a parking garage, and Brennan left their conversation where it was. They approached a car with someone sitting in it.
"It's Vega," Hodgins whispered. Brennan peered into the window.
"He's dead," she responded. Her heart sank. Now how were they going to find Booth? Car tires screeched, and a woman agent flung herself out of the car and aimed her gun at them.
"I'd leave him there if I were you," she ordered.
"Agent Perotta," Hodgins said. "Hello."
"You're coming with me," she said firmly.
...
"That was too close," Hodgins said as they drove back to the lab.
"We have to give up the evidence," Brennan interrupted. Hodgins twisted to stare at her.
"Are you crazy?!"
"The Gravedigger is gonna know we talked to the FBI. As much as I hate to do this, and I really hate it, we have to."
"They talked at us, not us to them," Hodgins argued.
"Look, it has to be done. It'll give us Booth. That's what the agreement was," Brennan urged.
"All right, but you're not going alone," Hodgins said. Brennan called Cam and told her what their plan was. Cam insisted that she come with Angela, and Sweets insisted he come as protection, which made both Cam and Angela roll their eyes. They all met up around the corner from where the Gravedigger wanted them to hand over the evidence. Angela hooked up her computer and scanned for signals.
"Hey," she said after a moment. "Something is broadcasting here."
"What?" Sweets asked, peering at her computer. Then he looked outside, and he spotted a camera in a tree. He nudged Angela and pointed.
"You guys, look," she said, alerting Hodgins, Brennan, and Cam.
"That's how he knows we've dropped it off," Hodgins informed her.
"I'll hack into it," Angela said smugly. Brennan stared at her.
"I had no idea you were this good at computers," she commented.
"There's a lot you don't know about me, Brennan," Angela replied, typing furiously.
"Let's get this over with," Hodgins said. "A part of me really hates to just give in and minimize our chances at finding the Gravedigger, but I also don't want Booth to die."
"Let's go," Brennan urged. They walked towards the stone together.
"You tell me if anything on that screen changes," Angela ordered Sweets.
"A-anything?"
"Anything," she repeated. He watched it carefully as she hacked into the monitor.
"I really hate this guy," Hodgins said as they neared the stone. He turned to the camera and shook his fist. "This isn't over! I WILL FIND YOU!"
"Enough, Dr. Hodgins," Brennan said, unnerved. She set down the evidence, and they turned to walk away.
"Um, Angela?" Sweets said, tapping her.
"What?"
"Something just got real pointy on the screen."
"Pointy how?"
"Look," he said. She looked.
"Oh shit," she gasped. She opened the van door and started screaming.
"RUN! BRENNAN, HODGINS, RUUUUN!"
"Come on!" Hodgins yelled, grabbing Brennan's hand and sprinting to the van. Brennan managed to keep up, but the explosion knocked them to the ground.
"Are you all right?" Cam asked, hauling them up to their feet. Angela hugged Brennan tightly.
"Freeze!" Agent Perotta shouted. Brennan groaned. Not this again. She was really starting to dislike this woman.
...
After being berated by a judge and Agent Perotta, Brennan, Cam, Hodgins, Angela, and Sweets returned to the lab. Brennan was trying not to get upset.
"Why hasn't he called to give us Booth's coordinates?" she asked. Hodgins sighed.
"He's cleaning up, that's why. Almost killed me. Killed Vega. The evidence is gone. There's no reason to give us Booth back."
"I don't believe this," Brennan said, trying not to gasp for air. She couldn't believe she'd never see Booth again and that their last conversation was about her stupid GPS.
"Not all is lost," Cam said, getting an idea.
"What do you mean?" Brennan asked her. Cam gestured her to come away from the group to talk. Angela took Hodgins up to the lounge area to talk while Sweets paced the halls.
"Jared," Cam said. "He can help us get Vega's body. We can use that to get clues."
"You think he'll help? Booth isn't exactly on the best terms with him," Brennan said.
"It's our only play left," Cam told her.
"I'll do it," Brennan said.
"Good luck," Cam called after her. It didn't take Brennan long to find Jared in a bar. He was surprised to see her.
"Seeley's girlfriend," he said. "What are you doing here?"
"It's Dr. Temperance Brennan, and I'm here because I need your help."
"For what?"
"Your brother has been kidnapped by a serial killer, and I need you to get me a body so I can find clues to save him."
"There was a lot in that sentence," Jared said, trying to focus. "What?!"
Brennan filled him in on the details, and he frowned.
"I will lose my job," he started. Brennan grabbed his shirt collar and shook him.
"You'll lose your brother if you don't," she hissed. "And he would do it for you without caring about his job." He blinked at her before removing her hands from him.
"All right," he finally agreed. "Give me a few minutes."
"I'll see you at the lab," she said, walking away. She was shaking inside. If this didn't work, she would lose Booth, and the idea of that made her terrified. A wave of nausea hit her, and she stopped to throw up outside of her car. Feeling clammy and unwell, she got in and went back to the lab.
...
Jared delivered for once, and he stood back watching while Brennan and her team got to work. Cam and Brennan scoured Vega's body and found several clues. One was the fact that Vega had attacked his assailant, so the person they were looking for would have broken ribs. Hodgins started looking at the body for particulates when the alarms went off. Jared spun to see one Heather Taffet approaching. Hodgins shut off the alarm with his keycard, and everyone stared at her for a second.
"You were involved with the evidence," Hodgins said, staring at her.
"I am one of the lawyers, yes," she sniffed. "I am here to reclaim jurisdiction on this case. You can't shout National Security over one missing FBI agent."
"Where is your warrant?" Cam asked. Brennan watched carefully as Heather held it out a little ways from her stomach, her hand shaking. She nudged Hodgins.
"What?" he asked.
"She can't extend her arm," Brennan whispered. Hodgins whipped his head to look at her.
"No...it can't be," he said. "But then, she does have access to everything. And the Gravedigger case is a career killer."
"Have you hurt yourself?" Brennan asked Heather, cutting him off.
"That is none of your concern," she snapped back.
"You!" Hodgins snarled, lunging. Jared grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and held on fast. Brennan went closer to Heather, who had a flash of fear go through her eyes.
"Can I see the warrant?" she asked. Heather went to hand it over when Brennan reached forward and shoved her in the ribs, making Heather cry out in pain.
"Bitch!" Angela shouted. Cam stared. Sweets was in awe at what was happening right now. He'd come around to see what was going on when the alarms went off.
"It's her!" Hodgins shrieked. Jared released him and charged to Heather, securing her.
"You sure?" he asked Brennan.
"Not a hundred percent."
"Fine by me. Let's get her locked up."
...
"Brennan?" Angela said, finding Brennan in her office. She had thrown up again and was sitting at her desk trying to pull herself together.
"Yes?"
"Jared has information on Taffet, and he found her storage locker full of stuff. We got her."
"That's...that's good."
"Are you okay?" Angela asked, concerned. She sat across from Brennan.
"I'm fine," Brennan answered. Angela saw her take her hand away and put it back on the desk.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Well, Hodgins has figured out that Booth is on a Navy vessel that is going to blow up. Are you going with Jared to get Booth?"
"Yes!" Brennan exclaimed, jumping to her feet. She passed Angela and hurried to find Jared.
"Oh, it's so gonna bug Seeley that a Squid saved a Ranger," he smirked as they jogged to the waiting helicopter. He helped Brennan into it, and they took off. Brennan's heart was pounding fast as they approached the boat on the water after a few minutes. Jared's face changed when they were getting closer, listening to the person in his ear, and she felt worried.
"What?" she asked when he finally looked at her.
"They couldn't stop the detonation. If he's not on the deck..."
"What? What Jared?"
"They are giving us five minutes to get him, and if he's not near the deck, we can't go find him."
"No!"
"I'm sorry, Temperance, but they aren't going to risk any lives," Jared said. He clenched his fists, angry. He wished he had punched that Taffet woman when he'd had the chance. Brennan was trying not to be scared. She knew Booth. He would have figured a way to the deck. He just would have. When they finally got close enough to the ship, she could see Booth on the deck, and she felt elated. She should never have doubted him. They hovered above the deck, and she flung the door open.
"Booth!" she shouted. He looked at her and back to something behind him.
"Hey, Booth! Come on!" Jared yelled. Booth slowly went towards them.
"Booth!" Brennan cried again.
"Faster, man! It's gonna blow!" Jared bellowed. Booth looked back again, confused.
"BOOTH!" both Brennan and Jared screamed. He finally snapped out of it and got to them, and they hauled him inside. Brennan clung to him, crying. Jared looked away, but he gripped Booth's arm just the same.
"You guys found me," Booth said after a moment.
"We never gave up," Brennan replied, kissing him. When they landed at the hospital, officers were waiting for Jared.
"Uh oh," Jared muttered. Brennan turned to him and gave him a hug.
"You helped us save your brother. Thank you."
"Like you said, he would have done it for me," Jared smiled weakly. "Now it's time to get fired."
"I'm sorry," Brennan said sadly.
"It's all right. I'd pay any price for Seeley's safety. Take care of him, Temperance," Jared said, getting off and being immediately handcuffed. Brennan put her focus back on Booth as they took him inside for assessment. It had been a terrifying 21 hours, but things were finally safe again.
...
"Hodgins?" Angela asked, finding him up at the lounge. He looked up at her.
"Hey."
"May I?"
"Sure," he nodded. She sat down beside him.
"I'm sorry about Cheyenne," she said softly.
"Me too," he said. "She knew it could be fatal, blowing the airbag like that, but she wanted at least one of us to get out alive."
"You loved her."
"I did."
"Well, you avenged her," Angela said.
"Yes, but I'd rather her be here," Hodgins replied. Angela put her hand on his.
"I know," she said. He looked at her then, and she leaned in to kiss his cheek.
"What was that for?" he asked.
"Just because," she answered.
"Are you...are you suggesting...?"
"Maybe," she said. "But I don't want to pressure you, especially now that I know about..."
"Ange, she's been gone two years now," Hodgins cut her off. "Yes, I still miss her and think about her, but she wouldn't want me to miss out on an opportunity of a relationship because I'm hung up on her."
"She sounds smart."
"She was, and she would have loved you."
"We can go slow."
"I know. Thank you."
"Drink?" she asked, standing up.
"Sounds good," he answered, taking her hand and walking out with her.
...
"I really think you should have stayed in the hospital a little longer," Brennan said. Booth had insisted on leaving, and they were at a graveyard now. They watched a young woman place a rose on a grave. Booth shifted on his feet.
"Just give me a sec, okay?" he asked, heading towards her. Brennan watched as he approached the woman, spoke with her, and then hugged her. He came back, and she was curious.
"What was that about?"
"I told you about Teddy, right?"
"Yes."
"That's the woman he loved but never got to tell her before he died. He asked me to tell her."
"When?"
"When I was on that ship."
"Teddy was with you?"
"Yes. I know it sounds crazy, and you'll say it was impossible, but he was there."
"I see," she said. They started walking, and Booth took her hand after a while.
"I was very scared I'd never see you again," Brennan said when they reached the car.
"I was too," Booth admitted. They got in his car, and Brennan couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Booth?" she said tentatively.
"Yea?" he replied, looking at her. Brennan felt a brief sense of worry, but she shook it off. He wouldn't abandon her. They loved each other, and they had already said they wanted to be together. This wouldn't change anything. It was time.
"Temperance?" he pressed, looking worried. "Are you okay?"
She breathed in a shaky breath and exhaled. Then she smiled.
"I'm pregnant."
I hope you enjoyed. I loved writing it. Cheers! ;)
