Sorry it took so long, my Internet and computer have both been wonky lately... plus I had to say goodbye to my brothers and go shopping for dorm stuff.
"Where are the kids?" Angela asked.
"That's the million dollar question," Booth said, staring at photos of the four children, River Jacobs, Caroline's daughter Molly, and Darla's twins, Daniel and David, all of whom bore their fathers' last names.
"Cut marks to the bones on Darla and Caroline confirm that they were stabbed with the same knife," Zach said, swiping himself up onto the platform, "A Victronox Swiss army knife with a three inch blade." The image came up on the computer screen closest to the group.
"Ange, can you work on some scenarios for us?" Brennan asked.
"Sure, sweetie," Angela said, walking off the platform and trying to quietly sneak Hodgins off as well while Brennan studied the knife marks.
"Don't kidnap my entomologist just yet," Brennan called, her eyes still fixed on the skeleton in front of her, "Hodgins there are three bags of dirt waiting to be analyzed." Hodgins let out a frustrated groan.
"How many times do I have to say it, dirt means nothing!" Brennan smiled and Booth could tell she had said exactly what she wanted to, and he marveled at the woman he saw in front of him. Dr. Temperance Brennan was actually teasing someone!
"Alright then," she said, "Allow me to rephrase my last statement. Dr. Hodgins there are three bags of soil samples waiting to be analyzed." Hodgins threw Brennan a frustrated look before stalking off to his work area. He didn't look back and therefore missed Brennan's delighted smile at his reaction.
"Come on, Bones, focus," Booth whispered.
"There is nothing more I can get from these bones, Booth," she said, "As much as I hate to say it, these cases have me stumped." Brennan yawned and stretched.
"Go take a nap, Bones," Booth suggested, "You're having trouble sleeping because of that thing on your leg, and Parker's nightmares aren't helping any." The five year-old had crawled into there bed at two complaining of a nightmare in which he had been abandoned. He had spent the remainder of the night tossing and turning, rocking the bed and bumping Brennan's sore ankle.
"Maybe you're right," she admitted, allowing him to help her to her feet. "But just half an hour, I want to see Angela's scenarios."
"Half an hour," Booth agreed, escorting her to her office. They stopped when they realized that her office couch was already occupied. Booth looked down at Parker's sleeping form and smiled apologetically at Brennan.
"Still felt scared about taking him to day care?" she asked.
"Not scared… uneasy," Booth stammered, "I still need to talk things over with Becca and until I do, well, I want to keep Parker close."
"I understand that," Brennan said, kissing Booth on the cheek, "We, that is you, could put him in day camp you know."
"Day camp? Where?" he asked.
"Here. There's a good program set up at the Jeffersonian. It started last week, but I think I could pull some ropes and get him in."
"Strings, Bones, you pull strings. And if you think I'm going to send Parker to Squint School for the summer-"
"Could I go, Daddy?" Neither adult had noticed Parker waking up, but he had obviously heard their conversation. Booth looked to Brennan. She shrugged.
"Think about it Seeley," she said, "Parker would be close by, he could come to the lab after camp until dinner time, and we could make sure that we're the only two authorized to pick him up. It's a good situation."
"You're right," he conceded, to which Parker gave a whoop.
"Hold up, Bub, We have to make sure we can get you a spot." Booth warned. Brennan hobbled to her desk and picked up the phone.
"Lisa, can you get me the registrar for the day camp program please?" Brennan paused while the connection was made.
"Hello. This is Dr. Temperance Brennan from the Medico-Legal Lab. I have a request. I have a five year-old stepson, Parker Booth, and we would like for him to attend camp this summer. I understand he will be coming in late, but custodial issues have only just made it possible for us to…" she listened for a moment, "He can start Monday? Great. I'll send his father down to do the paperwork within ten minutes. Thank you very much." Brennan hung up the phone and Parker just about went through the roof with excitement.
"Can I come with you?" he asked Booth.
"Sure, Bub, let's go," he held out a hand for his son. "You," he said, pointing at Brennan, "need to sleep."
"Such an alpha male," she muttered, settling in on the couch. Booth just grinned at her as he followed Parker out the door.
After half an hour of sleep, Brennan rose with a new vigor. Her dreams had been haunted by the faces of those children crying for their mothers, crying for their fathers, and then those children became Parker. Trying to shake off the dream, Brennan walked to the platform and studied the first skeleton. Something caught her eye along the finger bones in the left hand. After sliding on gloves she gently lifted the finger bone and placed it under the microscope.
"Squinting pretty hard there, Bones," Booth joked as he and Parker returned.
"Booth, there are kerf marks on this phalange." Brennan set the bone back in its place and moved to the next victim. Then to the third.
"They all do," she paused, then turned back to him. "Someone cut off these women's ring fingers."
Brennan gathered the whole team to speculate on the newest revelation. Booth, however took Parker for ice cream.
"Did he remove the fingers pre or post mortem?" Zach asked.
"Lack of staining would indicate post mortem amputation," Brennan said, "Why couldn't Parker have started camp today, we need Booth for this part. We're no good with theories." She slammed her hand down on the table, her wedding band and engagement ring striking its metal edge. The resonating sound of metal on metal brought everyone's attention to Brennan's hand.
"What if she was wearing a ring?" Brennan posed the question, "a ring that could identify her killer?"
"Why cut the finger off for a ring? Why not slide it off gently?" Angela picked up on the thread.
"If the finger was clenched or swollen it might have been difficult, even impossible to remove the ring without removing the finger," Zach observed.
"But the chances of that being true for all three victims are slim to none," Cam continued. Brennan tried to figure out a way to get Booth's input and ideas. How would Booth see this? she asked herself.
"Killers get comfortable with a method of killing." The words even sounded like Booth's voice was saying them. Brennan thought for a moment.
"What if it was true for the first victim only?" she mused aloud, "It's like Booth says, people get comfortable with a method. What if the first body determined his method for the other two?"
"It would be possible…" Cam considered.
"Hodgins, I want you to study these bones carefully, search for anything you can find about that ring," Brennan's voice held a hint of pride at how her theory had panned out. Her phone rang.
"Brennan," she answered.
"Hey, Bones, Parker and I will pick you up in exactly 30 seconds. We have a lead on Molly's father."
Hank Sanders was a professional photographer. His office walls were plastered with portraits of all sizes, the largest one of an adorable toddler with short, dark brown hair in a pink sundress and hat standing next to a tire swing. Her eyes were sparkling and a smile danced on her lips.
"My favorite model," the artist's voice interrupted the couple's observations, "There she is again," Hank said, pointing to a slightly older girl in a black leotard, white tights and pink ballet slippers.
"She's beautiful," Parker said.
"So was her Mama," Hank invited them to take a seat, which they did, wit Parker gravitating towards the toys set up in a corner.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"Mr. Sanders, do you recognize this woman?" Booth asked, sliding the computer generated photograph across the table. Hank lifted the photo, looked at it, then closed his eyes.
"That's Molly's mom, Caroline. Why?"
"When was the last time you saw Caroline Fann?"
"Two years, three months and twelve days," the photographer rattled off the numbers fast, as if frightened that if he thought for too long he'd cry, "What about Molly?"
"We have no information about Molly, but I'm sorry to inform you that Caroline Fann's remains were recovered recently." The news hit hard.
"Where's Molly?" Hank asked.
"We don't know. When was the last time you were in contact with your daughter, Mr. Sanders?"
"Caroline and her boyfriend came to pick up Molly one of the nights I had her. I never saw them again. But, Molly, she is a smart kid. So I keep hoping." He looked down at a framed portrait on his desk.
"I know this is hard for you," said Brennan, surprising herself along with Booth, "But can you describe Caroline's boyfriend to us?"
The man thought for a moment. He closed his eyes for a long moment, and Booth and Brennan grew hopeful. But when the photographer opened his eyes he slowly shook his head.
"This was a pretty serious thing though. They even talked about getting married, so I'm sure her friends Tracey and Anna would know him." He provided them with that information, as well as a business card, begging them to call him with any news they had.
Immediately after being dropped off by her guys at the Jeffersonian, Brennan was set upon by Angela.
"Sweetie, Just because I managed to hold it in before does not mean that I am not seconds away from screaming with joy. Tell me the truth about those rings I saw on your finger!" The forensic artist was jumping around like a kid in a toy store. Brennan smiled coyly and asked about the scenarios she had requested. Angela nearly growled at her.
"Sweetie, just tell me if you hooked up with your knight while we were gone, and how serious this thing is," she begged, "And if Super Agent Seeley Booth was not the one to put those rings on that finger, you need to tell me who was so I can personally meet him."
"And what?" Brennan asked, enjoying the time to tease Angela, "Tell him how wrong he is for me? How I should have married Booth and how he'd better look after me?" The look of horror on Angela's face was priceless. Brennan slipped the rings off of her finger and placed them in Angela's palm.
"Just read the inscriptions, Ange," Brennan whispered. She did, starting with the wedding band.
"Forever my love, very sweet," Angela handed Brennan the ring back and situated the engagement ring to read the inscription. Suddenly she squealed so loudly that Hodgins looked up from his work station and nearly came running. Brennan smiled as Angela hugged her, nearly making her lose her balance. Brennan took the ring from Angela and read the inscription before returning it to its place on the finger. Forever my Bones- TAB & SJB.
"I need details!" Angela said in the low tone which made it seem like she was conspiring with some one, "When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Angela, I promise I will tell you everything, after we solve this case. Right now, I need to see those scenarios."
"Hey, Booth, we need you to come stab someone." Booth laughed at his wife's strange words as he and Parker walked into the Jeffersonian.
"By someone, I am assuming that you mean someone made of cloth," he quipped.
"Of course," she answered, "I can't participate in the trial because of my ankle, so I'll take Parker to my office to play." Booth smiled as his wife and son walked off together, Parker chattering a mile a minute and Brennan simply listening and nodding in all the right places.
"Ahem," the sound of Hodgins clearing his throat broke Booth's reverie. The FBI agent turned and walked up to the platform where the apparatus was set up. Zach handed Booth a small Swiss army knife attached to three black wires.
"I believe you know what to do, Agent Booth," Zach said, still very uncomfortable around the older man.
"Yeah Zach, I get to stab someone with out them dying. Do you want me to focus on any specific region or just kinda hit it all over?"
"Most of the damage was to the upper left quadrant with some damage straying lower." Zach waved his hand to indicate the general target area.
"Let's go," Booth said, grimly.
When all was said and done, Hodgins was the closest match for their killer. Brennan joined the team in Angela's office to see the updated Angelator scenarios. Parker had been told to stay put, but had wandered out of Brennan's office and onto the platform. Once there, he picked up the knife. About thirty seconds elapsed between the time Parker started stabbing the fake body and Booth grabbing him and pulling him away.
"Parker, you can't do that. You have to obey me and Temperance when we tell you things. There's a very good reason behind everything we do. Give me your security card, Parker." Booth held out his hand, and Parker reluctantly placed the precious treasure in it.
"You have lost this for the rest of today," Booth said firmly, "Now, you need to apologize to Temperance for disobeying her." Parker walked over and did as he was told.
"Apology accepted," Temperance told him, solemnly. Parker walked back to his father. Only then did Booth notice the dark fear and deep sorrow which filled his chocolate brown eyes.
"What's wrong, Bubba?" he asked, pulling Parker into a bear hug.
"I'm scared," Parker whispered.
"About what?"
"Mommy," the boy said, "I want to see her, Daddy. Why didn't she come get me? Why did she put Teddy and Binkie in that box, Daddy?" the little boy cried and Booth wrapped his son in a huge hug.
"Everything is going to be alright, Parker. Just trust me for right now, Bubba," Tears were streaming down Booth's face as well. Brennan felt helpless and looked back to Angela for support.
'Go' the artist mouthed indicating with her head that Brennan needed to be with her family. Brennan did, slowly hobbling over to join Booth and Parker on the stairs. She had no sooner sat down then Parker reached over and hugged her. Her eyes met Booth's over the top of the blond head. She wished there was something she could do or say to make the pain her guys were feeling disappear, but she knew from experience that this kind of pain hurt no matter what anyone did or said. She took a hand off Parker's back and cradled Booth's face. His arm came around behind her and they just sat, both adults focused on the scared little boy trembling in their arms. Booth's cell phone interrupted the moment.
"Booth," he answered, "Who?" There was a pause, "I'll be there." Booth hung up the phone. "Someone just showed up at Parker's daycare center trying to pick him up. I need to go talk to them." He gently rubbed Parker's back, "Bub, I need you to stay here with Temperance, 'kay? Listen and obey her." He gave his family one more hug before striding out the door.
The someone was Rebecca's boyfriend Guy. He was sitting in the daycare administrator's office, waiting, when Booth arrived. Booth took a seat across from the principal's desk.
"What is all this about?" Booth asked.
"Mr. Booth, so glad you could join us. Mr. Kepler here was just explaining that you have kidnapped your son. I have alerted the proper authorities who are on their way." Booth turned to the man in utter shock.
"I have in no way kidnapped Parker!" he yelled, "I am looking out for his safety. How could I send him home with you at 4 in the morning after you admitted that you had been at a bar so long his mother passed out?"
"Please, Mr. Booth, save it for the authorities," Rebecca's boyfriend said, the picture of calm. Booth nearly blew his top at this. He crossed his arms and sat in a huff, the only image in his mind that of Parker's face filling with tears as they stood in his empty room. The police arrived moments later and escorted Booth down to the station "to talk."
"So, you felt uneasy leaving your son at his normal daycare facility because-" the cop left it up to Booth to finish the sentence.
"Because I need to talk to Rebecca and she can't avoid me if she has to come find me. Technically, I have done nothing wrong. It is summer, so Parker isn't required to be in school, and I haven't denied custody to Rebecca, just her pain-in-the-neck boyfriend."
"You just shut your idiotic federal mouth and don't say another word Agent Booth!" Booth was relieved to hear the voice of the tough prosecutor behind him.
"And who might you be?" the cop asked, irritated by the interruption.
"Assistant U.S. district attorney Caroline Julian, Agent Idiot's lawyer."
"Caroline, enough with the insults, please," Booth said, "What are you doing here?"
"Your wife, the good doctor called, thought you might need a hand. Turns out, she was right. You need to thank her when you get home." Caroline turned her wrath on the cops. "this man is a fine, upstanding father whose only care is for the welfare of his son. He has done nothing wrong by refusing to give Parker to a completely unrelated stranger. Had he refused the child's mother we would have a kidnapping case on our hands."
"What about the boy not being in daycare?" The cop challenged.
"It is June fifteenth, summertime. There is no harm in a boy spending summer days with his father." Caroline shot back, "Most people would see good in the concern Agent Booth demonstrates for his son's well-being."
"Be that as it may," the cop replied. Booth settled back, content to let Caroline fight his battles for him.
"Zach," Brennan called out, from the position she held in front of one of the computer screens, "What are these marks on the lower ribs?"
"Excuse me, Dr. Brennan?" Zach asked. He approached another terminal.
"See them?" she asked, increasing magnification. Zach nodded.
"I don't know how I could have missed those," he said, clearly feeling guilty. Brennan turned to him.
"It wasn't just you, it was me as well," she said, reassuringly, "So, what are they?"
"They look like knife wounds, similar to the ones in the upper chest," Zach increased the magnification, "that's strange," he muttered.
"What is it?" Brennan looked closer. She gasped too.
"Zach, pull up all of the data from the experiment."
"Even-"
"All of it."
Oh!! Cliffhanger. For those of you who thought Rebecca was going to be one of the victims... Gotcha!!
Seriously, even though I'm writing this for my own enjoyment, it is nice to hear whether you like it or not.
As for why Angela and Hodgins only just found out about the BB marriage thing, they were gone, then Brennan was kidnapped, then a new case came in, not a whole lot of time for chit-chat.
Next part coming soon, and probably some more "Dr. Booth" in that bit.
Cate