This chapter begins to take this fic on a real story. I hope you like where its going because I'm enjoying writing it.
The rest of the night passes peacefully as Brennan remains asleep, cradled in Booth's arms. Booth finds it strangely easy to fall asleep despite his confused feelings about being in this position with Brennan. He doesn't wake up until the bright morning sunlight warms his face through the window. As he groans and lifts his head off the pillow he realises he is alone in the bed. The woman he held in his arms just hours ago is nowhere to be seen.
"Bones?" he calls as he gets up and pads through to the lounge. He finds her in the kitchen brewing coffee.
"Morning." She greets him. He picks up on a hint of tiredness in her voice and although she has a small smile on her lips, her eyes give it all away.
"You sleep okay the rest of the night?"
"Well I didn't wake up screaming but I wouldn't exactly say my dreams were comforting." She tells him. "Thanks for staying with me." She adds.
"I'm here as long as you want me to be." Booth says before reaching across the counter and lifting a piece of toast from a plate by Brennan's hand.
"Hey." She pretends to be offended that he stole her toast but she can't keep it up when Booth grins cheekily and bites into the toast. Her face softens and she begins to laugh before carrying on with her morning routine of showering, dressing and gathering her things for the day ahead. She is surprised at how easily she and Booth work around each other. They take turns in the bathroom and when they are both finally ready, Booth hands Brennan her jacket and holds the door open for her. If anyone were to observe them, they look like a regular couple, going about their daily business.
And as the next few days pass by everything goes just as smoothly. Booth spends his nights staying at Brennan's, sleeping in her bed but doing nothing more than holding her despite every bone in his body urging him to tell her how he feels. Brennan's sleeping pills remain untouched in her bathroom along with the Valium and no one is happier about that than Booth. But his happiness doesn't last long. Early one morning, he receives a disturbing telephone call from a fellow agent and he realises that Brennan's world is about to be turned upside down all over again.
xxxx
Booth hovers in Brennan's office doorway. She is hard at work, her eyes focused intently on the computer screen before her. It takes her a minute to realise she isn't alone but finally she turns her head to look at him.
"Hi." She smiles. Booth can't help but notice how genuine her smile is these days and he is upset that he has to be the one to take that smile away.
"Hi Bones." He replies, his voice heavy.
"New case?" Brennan asks, waiting patiently for Booth's response. He steps further into her office but doesn't answer. She takes in his worried eyes, pursed lips and sagging shoulders, immediately putting it together and realising that something is up.
"Is something wrong?" she asks. Booth's shoulders slump and he hangs his head.
"A set of mummified remains were was found this morning by construction workers excavating a site." He explains.
"Aside from the obvious Booth, that's nothing unusual." Brennan shrugs.
Booth walks over to her desk and stands at her side, staring down at her and the innocent look on her face. He really doesn't want to tell her what he came her to tell her and she senses it.
"Booth?" she presses, becoming a little impatient at his reluctance to talk.
"The remains were found inside a car buried beneath the ground. Our guys think it's the Gravedigger, Bones." He watches her face for a reaction, feeling his stomach twist when her eyes dart around then finally lower to her desk.
"Oh." She whispers as she rises to her feet.
"Bones." Booth follows her as she walks around her desk and over to the bookcase. "I'm heading over to the scene. I'll call you when I know more."
"If it's him Booth…"
"We don't know anything for sure Bones so I don't want you to worry."
"How can I not worry?" Brennan's voice rises, her emotions beginning to take hold. Booth remains calm and keeps his voice steady.
"Just stay here, do your work and I'll be back soon." He assures her.
"I want to come with you." Brennan blurts out. Booth isn't actually surprised but he has no intention of letting her come with him.
"That is not a good idea Bones." Booth shakes his head.
"You need me on this." She states, her voice coming out stronger than she thought it would.
"No Bones. I don't want you working this."
"Booth, I'm the only person qualified to identify the victim."
"And you're too close Bones." Booth adds. "You've been through enough. I'm not going to ask you to go back there."
"You're not asking." She meets his eyes. "Who else is going to help you on this?"
xxxx
As Brennan walks beside Booth towards the excavation site, she feels her heart rate increase and her breathing becoming irregular. She knew this would be difficult but she didn't think she would react so strongly. It doesn't help that she feels Booth glancing over at her every few seconds. His obvious concern makes her more aware that she really shouldn't be here and with every step towards the buried vehicle she grows more anxious.
An FBI agent begins walking towards the partners, ready to fill them in.
"Agent Booth." the agent greets him.
"Syler." Booth nods. "You know Dr Brennan." Slyer gives Brennan a weak smile, remembering her from a few cases he was involved in but mostly from her experience with the Gravedigger. Temperance Brennan and Jack Hodgins are the only two people known to have survived the Gravedigger without the ransom being paid.
"The car is about four feet below the surface. One set of remains are inside. The area has been unused for at least a year. Construction only began two days ago."
"Has anyone opened the vehicle?" Brennan asks.
"No ma'am. As soon as we realised what this looked like we taped off the area and called Agent Booth." Syler explains.
"You ready?" Booth places his hand on Brennan's lower back and urges her forwards. Brennan gives him a nod and takes a few steps towards the pit. As she moves, she pushes her own terrifying experience to the back of her mind and switches into scientist mode. Approaching the buried vehicle, Brennan turns to Booth. He gives her a reassuring nod and she continues on. At the side of the pit a ladder has been placed to allow access down to the vehicle. Brennan steps onto the ladder and begins the short descent. As her feet touch the hard soil at the bottom of the pit she signals for Booth to drop down her kit. He leans over the edge and lowers it down, finally letting go and allowing the box to fall. Brennan catches it and sets it down on the ground at her feet. She crouches beside it and removes a flashlight. Turning it on, she aims it inside the vehicle. Memories of her own burial try to push forward but Brennan forces them back, knowing the only way to get through this is to forget that she was a victim.
As Booth watches his partner work he can see her inner turmoil. Every few seconds her face contorts and he knows she's remembering her own experience in an almost identical situation. Yet she seems to be able to work as methodically as always. He watches her open the door as wide as it will go and peer inside, analysing the skeleton seated on the passenger side.
"Female. Caucasian." She calls out to Booth. "Approximately 25 to 30 years old." She adds. Brennan takes another deep breath and continues her analysis. "No obvious signs of injury. I estimate she's been buried for…two to three weeks. But Hodgins will be able to confirm that when we get her back to the lab." Brennan closes the door and steps back, making her way over to the ladder. With her initial analysis done the memories and feelings she pushed back are flooding forward and beginning to take over.
As soon as Brennan climbs over the top of the ladder, she brushes past Booth and hurries over to the SUV. Her heart is pounding, she feels like she isn't getting enough oxygen and her head begins to spin. She braces one hand on the side of the car and tries desperately to control the panic attack she feels coming on. Clamping her eyes shut, Brennan begins to take long slow breathes but it serves only to make her dizzier.
"Bones." Booth says softly as he places a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"That could have been me." She whispers.
"But it isn't."
"It could have been me." She repeats. "It could have been me." Her eyes are glazed over and she seems to be lost in her own world.
"Bones, look at me." Booth takes her shoulders and turns her to face him. He sees her pale complexion, panicked eyes and rapid breathing, and realises what's happening. A panic attack.
"Focus on me." He lifts one hand to her chin, angling her head up to try and get her to look at him. "Temperance, look at me." His voice is strong and commanding and Brennan's eyes snap to his, locking onto his intense brown eyes.
"It isn't you. You're safe." But his words don't seem to be getting through to her. Brennan feels her knees weaken and she slowly slides down the side of the SUV before Booth can catch her.
"You're okay Bones, just breathe." He soothes. "Just breathe." His hand cups her face and strokes her cheek as he crouches before her. "Just breathe." Brennan gulps and drags in several breathes. She keeps her eyes locked onto Booth's, finding his eyes providing her a sense of safety and security. With Booth she knows everything will be okay. As the minutes pass, Brennan begins to get her breathing under control and soon her body relaxes.
"I'm sorry." She whispers.
"For what? It's a natural reaction Bones." Booth's hand moves to her shoulder and gives it a soft squeeze. "How about we head back to the lab? I'll have our guys send the whole car over."
"Good, that's good." Brennan nods and begins to get to her feet. Booth grasps her hands in his and as he rises he hauls her to her feet. Once standing, Brennan brushes off her clothes and tucks a loose hair behind her ear.
"Thanks Booth." She nods and walks around the SUV to get in. Booth nods to himself as he walks over to Agent Syler to explain the procedure.
Xxxx
Back at the Jeffersonian, Brennan calls Angela, Hodgins and Zach to her office. They all seem a little worried because Brennan doesn't normally call meetings like this.
"Sweetie, what's going on?" Angela asks, her eyes drifting from her friend to Booth who is hovering at Brennan's side.
"Booth and I were called to a scene this morning." Brennan begins. "The evidence is being transported here as we speak."
"What's the big deal?" Hodgins shrugs.
"The remains were discovered…inside a car…buried." Brennan turns her attention to Hodgins, watching as his eyes widen.
"The Gravedigger." Zach sighs.
"We can't be positive yet." Brennan reminds them. "But it certainly looks that way. I understand if any of you want out. I'm not going to force anyone to participate on this case." Angela reaches out and grasps Hodgins hand, clasping it tightly, the memory of almost losing both her best friend and boyfriend all too clear.
"I know this is going to be difficult." Booth states. "But you guys are the best at what you do and if anyone can find anything to get this guy, it's you." Hodgins looks over at Brennan, the pair sharing a silent moment, acknowledging what this means for both of them.
"I'm in." Hodgins says.
"Me too." Angela chimes.
"Zach?" Brennan asks, looking at the youngest member of their team.
"I'm in Dr Brennan." He replies.
"Okay, so let's get started." Booth claps his hands together.
Xxxx
