This story is taking on a life of its own now. Things start to get intense here so hold onto your hats
Early the next morning Brennan is at the lab. The old saying 'Things always look better in the morning' rings true for her. After a night spent comforted in the arms of her partner, Brennan is feeling a lot more positive about her situation. She'll never admit it to anyone but there is something about having Booth's arms wrapped around her that makes her feel like whatever bad thing is happening will turn out okay. It's a strange power she doesn't understand but also doesn't need to. Awake through the night, she has had time to think things through, rationalise events and come to some conclusions. Just because the Gravedigger left her a note that doesn't necessarily mean he's about to try and kidnap her. That wouldn't really accomplish anything. After all, his note said he wanted her to investigate his latest victim. She can't very well do that buried.
After just a brief argument with Booth about how security at the lab has been stepped up and she'll be fine on her own for a few hours, he agreed to leave to catch up with the other agents on the case. He did insist on calling her on the hour every hour though and that is something Brennan can live with. What she used to see as Booth being over protective and undermining her, she now just sees as him being protective because he cares. He has shown her over time that he believes in her ability to look after herself and after Angela telling her how he didn't give up on her for a second, even after technically she and Hodgins had run out of air, she truly believes he trusts her to take care of herself when needed.
Despite the early hour, she is joined by Hodgins, Angela and Zach. Both men spent the night at Angela's apartment but none were really in the mood to sleep. The tiredness in their eyes matches Brennan's. She may have been lying in bed with Booth holding her but she didn't really sleep. He had finally drifted off but she remained awake, her mind churning with thoughts and ideas. She's pretty sure her friends had done the same.
The team begins the day by going over the evidence. The victim showed the familiar marks of a taser burn, identical to the ones Brennan received which have now all but healed. There were no other injuries and cause of death has been established as suffocation. So far the examination of the car has turned up very little. No prints other than the victims were found. The inside was clean, almost too clean, and the soil samples came back with no unusual properties. The team all feel the same frustration, knowing that they have nothing to help them find out who this man or woman is. Brennan finally gives up, snapping off her gloves and heading to her office for some peace.
As she sits in her office going through test results, Hodgins knocks on her door.
"Hey Jack." She smiles weakly.
"Hey." He walks in, his body tense.
"How are you?" she asks.
"I'm okay." He nods. "A little spooked. I heard what was in the note." Brennan nods. "Do you think he'll try again?"
"To kill us?" Brennan asks. "I don't know. I'm not sure if that's what he really wants. I mean he was happy to reveal the whereabouts of other victims when the ransom was paid so I don't think he's just out to kill." Brennan decides. "But…"
"But we got away without a ransom. He's bound to be pissed about that."
"Maybe." Brennan nods. "I don't think we should jump to any conclusions about what he meant until we have more evidence."
"Are you okay?" Jack asks, moving to sit in the chair opposite her.
"I've been better." She admits as she reclines back in her chair. "This is bringing back a lot of memories."
"I hear ya." Hodgins nods.
"Things are going to get tough Jack."
"I know."
"I just want you to know that if you want out at any point…"
"I want to get this son of a bitch. The only way I can do that is to do my job." He nods.
"I know."
"Dr Brennan." Hodgins leans forward. "I won't pretend that this is easy for me. The last month has been really difficult. I've had nightmares a lot and that parking garage still spooks me." He admits. Brennan visibly relaxes when she hears that Hodgins is not completely over his experience either. "But the only way I see I can truly get through this is to see him behind bars, paying for what he did to us and all those other people."
"I feel the same way." Brennan nods.
"So."
"So, back to work." Brennan sits forward and picks up a folder from her desk.
"Right, I'll let you know if we find anything." Hodgins rises from the chair and heads out the office. He pauses to look back at Brennan, his face softening as he sees a familiar look on her face. It's the same look he's had on his face frequently the last month. He realises then that she hasn't got over her experience either and the whole time he thought he was alone in that.
xxxx
Later in the morning, Brennan lifts her phone after the first ring, knowing exactly who it is.
"Brennan."
"Just checking in." Booth replies.
"I'm here and I'm fine."
"Got anything new?"
"Nothing." She sighs heavily. "You?"
"No foreign prints, no trace evidence left behind." He explains. "But we did find out how he got in. He didn't have a key. Forensics found tiny scratches on the lock. It looks like he picked it."
"Hmm."
"There were no prints on the note and the paper and ink came back generic." Booth continues. "Your doorman didn't notice anyone out of the ordinary but he did admit that he wasn't at the desk all night. A few maintenance problems needed his attention so the Gravedigger could have gone in while he was off doing that."
"That makes sense." Brennan nods.
"I'm heading off to see Sabrina Wilcox's roommate. Apparently she didn't have any family."
"Who was the ransom made to then?"
"No one."
"What do you mean?"
"There was no ransom demand."
"But that's his signature." Brennan doesn't understand why the Gravedigger would change his method of operation on this case.
"I know. It seems he's deviating from his MO and I'm pretty sure that's all to do with the note he left. He's challenging us to find him. This isn't about money or power anymore."
"Can I come with you?" Brennan asks hopefully.
"I think you should stay at the lab Bones." Brennan pauses, knowing that would be his answer.
"Fine. Call me later."
"In an hour." Booth smiles despite knowing Brennan can't see him.
Xxxx
Over the next few hours, Brennan continues her work at the lab. She returns to her office mid afternoon to find a pile of new mail sitting on her desk. Standing at the side of the desk, she begins to flip through the various journals she has received but just as she is intrigued by an article on the cover of one, her phone rings.
"Brennan." She replies, expecting Booth to be on the other end. The voice she hears is definitely not Booth's. It comes over distorted so it cannot be identified.
"Dr Brennan, it is so nice to hear your voice."
"Who is this?" Brennan asks, her voice shaking as much as her hands.
"I think you know."
"What do you want?"
"I'm going to give you five names. I suggest you write these down." Brennan grabs a pen, trying to steady her hand. "Michael Winters aged 54, Tina Vasquez aged 32, Jason David aged 26, Constance Wright aged 45 and Jackson Clements aged 36."
"Who are these people?"
"People who only have forty eight hours to live…from now." The voice pauses. "Can you find them?" he laughs, sending chills down Brennan's spine.
"Have you kidnapped these people? Did you bury them like the others?" Brennan asks frantically.
"That is for your and your team to find out. You did it once, can you do it again?" he laughs then hangs up leaving Brennan cradling the phone, her body rigid with fear. Slowly the phone falls from Brennan's grip and she braces both hands on the desk to keep her on her feet. Her breathing becomes sharp and her mind begins to race. For once, she doesn't know what she is supposed to do. A voice startles her from her frantic thoughts.
"Bones?" Booth steps into the room. "What's wrong?" Brennan spins around to face him, her eyes wide with fear. "Bones?"
"He called." She whispers, her fingers grasping at the paper she wrote the names on. She holds it out for Booth to take and when he does he looks at her curiously.
"What is this?"
"He said we only have forty eight hours to find them or they'll die." Booth is stunned and the expression on his face reflects this.
"When did he call?" Booth checks his watch, seeing it is now nearly three in the afternoon.
"Just now." Brennan leans over, finding breathing difficult.
"Okay, Bones. Take a deep breath." Booth steps over and places his hands on her shoulders. "That's it." He encourages her as she begins to regain control of her body. After a moment he pulls back.
"I need to make some calls." Booth steps away from her and pulls his cell phone out. Brennan leans back against her desk, not sure her legs will hold her up.
"This is all my fault." She whispers. Booth spins around, snapping his phone shut. "These people are all going to die because of me."
"Bones, this is not your fault."
"Yes, yes it is." She replies, her voice rising and growing in strength. "He's doing this because Hodgins and I got away."
"He's doing this because he's a sociopath."
"If we'd just died, these people would be fine." She lifts her hand a wipes a few stray tears from her eyes.
"You can't think like that. He would still be at this no matter what happened. If we'd paid the ransom you and Hodgins would just be like the other survivors."
"But because he didn't get the ransom and we still lived he's pissed off and now he's going to make us pay." Booth reaches out and cups her cheek.
"Bones, we're going to get to the bottom of this. I'm going to make some calls. Why don't you go get some water." He suggests. Brennan nods and lifts herself off the desk. Wringing her hands together she heads out her office, leaving Booth to contact the FBI.
Xxxx
Within an hour several more agents have arrived at the Jeffersonian. One interviews Brennan about the call while Booth discusses the names and the challenge presented by the Gravedigger with the others. All the while, Booth steals glances over at Brennan. She seems to be holding it together quite well but he's pretty sure that's only so she doesn't break down in front of other agents. Brennan has a hard enough time opening up to him, he knows she won't want to open up in front of strangers.
Word has also spread through the lab about the call and the rest of the squints are hovering near Brennan's office. Hodgins in particular looks concerned but that is to be expected. Booth heard through Angela how hard a time Hodgins had immediately after his kidnapping and burial. This is bringing back terrifying memories for them all.
"Okay, people." Booth claps his hands together. Gathering the attention of the agents and the squints. "Here's what we're going to go." He positions him self in the middle of everyone out in the lab.
"Bones, Hodgins, Zach, Angela. I want you to continue working on the Sabrina Wilcox case. Focus your attention on that. Guys." He addresses the agents. "I want you back at the office. Get a team together and go through these names. I want everyone on this list either accounted or not accounted for. Check every name in the phone book, check all our databases. Send agents to homes, businesses, what ever you need to do to establish where these people are. I want to know the minute you have anything." The agents stand around for a moment but after a meaningful glare from Booth, they begin to walk hurriedly to the exit.
"What about you?" Brennan asks.
"I'm going to talk to Sabrina's boss, see if I can find out more about her last few days. Apparently she was supposed to be on vacation so no one realised she was missing."
"I want to come with you."
"Bones, don't you need to be here?"
"I can't do anything more with the remains Booth. We have to wait on tests and forensics from the car." Booth sighs.
"Okay, get your things." He nods. As Brennan disappears into her office, Angela approaches Booth.
"She's taking this hard Booth."
"I know Ang."
"Make sure she's okay." Booth simply nods. Angela knows she doesn't need to tell Booth to look after her friend but somehow it helps her by saying it.
Xxxx
