Thanks to all of you who read and reviewed! And thanks to kasper for her help in this chapter. And in future chapters as well...she's the scientist, not me. lol

When Booth arrived at the Jeffersonian an hour later, Brennan was on the lab platform looking over the body, Cam and Vincent beside her, while Angela was to the side, quietly observing. She was glad to see that he had changed into jeans and black t-shirt and looked more relaxed than he had earlier. She noted he still look distracted, however, as he swiped his badge and stepped up onto the platform.

"Got anything yet?"

"Nothing new yet. The findings confirm a white female in her early twenties." She made a note in the file before laying it down on the table beside her. "Hodgins took samples to see if he can identify the acid that was used on her, and Cam's finishing up the autopsy."

"Damn." He was staring at the body, lost in thought.

"What about you?"

He looked up at her question. "I've got them checking missing persons reports from the last 48 hours, but nothing so far." He walked closer to the body, his features tight as he looked down at the victim. Most of the skeleton of the upper body was exposed, though not from decomposition. Some of the regular tissue was still intact, but other parts of the skin appeared to be sloughing off the body. "What the hell did the bastard do to her?"

Cam looked up and shook her head. "It looks as though someone threw some sort of chemical on her, with particular focus on her face, hands and upper torso to make sure she's not identified immediately."

"Or else they wanted to make sure a certain forensic anthropologist was assigned to the case."

Brennan looked up sharply. "What are you saying?"

"Bones, face it. You're famous, and there are some sick bastards out there that thrive on publicity. Cases like this make headlines."

"That's crazy."

"Is it? He destroyed her face and hands, but he's got to know that we can use the dental records to identify her."

"Sure, if we have a possible victim. But..."

"I'd be willing to bet that if she hasn't been reported missing yet, she will be soon. We'll find out who she is. What's the point in delaying ID? None."

"Maybe you're giving the killer too much credit."

"Okay, fine." Booth threw her an exasperated glare before turning and stalking off. "Call me when you've got something more."

Brennan watched him go, fighting the urge to call him back to apologize, though she wasn't exactly sure what to apologize for. They always talked through the cases this way. Whatever it was that was bothering him was making him act this way, she knew. Shrugging at Angela's confused look, she turned back to the body.

"Aren't you going to go after him?"

"Ang, I have a case to work on."

"Sweetie, you've done all you can right now. Cam can finish. But there's obviously something wrong with Booth, and he needs you right now."

Looking around, she noticed Cam and Vincent both looking at her curiously. She sighed, knowing Angela was right. "Mr. Nigel-Murray, when Cam's finished her examination, clean the bones. I'll be back shortly." Stripping off her gloves, she made her way down the steps and to her office, oblivious to the looks that followed her.

xxx

Booth took his time answering Brennan's knock on his apartment door; she had almost turned to leave when he finally opened the door cautiously. "Bones? What are you doing here?"

"I thought maybe you could use some company." She studied his face as he stood aside and waved her in. His hair was tousled, as though he had been running his fingers through it, and his eyes were tired. "You look stressed."

"I'm fine, Bones." He collapsed on the sofa and rubbed a hand over his eyes. "You didn't have to come here."

Instead of answering, she walked behind him and put her hands on his shoulders. It was a testament to how tired he was that he didn't even flinch as she began gently rubbing his shoulders. His head dropped forward in his hands as he succumbed to her ministrations. "Bones, what are you doing?" he muttered.

"You're so tense." Brennan was surprised at the tightness of his shoulder muscles. Using her fingers, she massaged away the knots, feeling pleased as her actions elicited groans of appreciation from him. "So, are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"

"Bones, you don't want to go there."

He tried to keep his voice firm, but she knew he was weakening. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know." She stopped what she was doing and walked around the sofa to sit down beside him. "Where were you this weekend?"

"I was in Philly." He sat up and leaned his head back against the sofa, closing his eyes. "For my father's funeral."

Brennan sucked in a breath, shocked. His father had died, and he hadn't even told her. "Booth I...I'm so sorry. I don't even know what to say..."

"Don't worry about it." He opened his eyes and looked at her. "I only went for my mom anyway."

"But Booth..."

"Look, I appreciate the sympathy, Bones, but I really don't wanna talk about it right now."

"But you shouldn't just..." Her words were cut off at the ringing of her cell phone. Glancing at the display, she saw it was the lab and she knew she had to take it. Sighing, she answered. "Brennan."

Hodgins didn't bother with hello. "The material used to burn the victim was sulfuric acid."

"Interesting. Not something you find in your average home." Her brain was whirling, trying to focus on the case while her mind was still on Booth's revelation. She was aware of his eyes on her as she talked. "Did you find anything else?"

"A few particulates I need to look into. But I thought you'd want to know about the acid."

"Yeah. Thanks Hodgins." She closed the phone and turned to Booth. "Hodgins identified the acid used on the victim."

"Great." Booth's voice was less than enthusiastic. "Well, that eliminates the 'crime in the heat of passion' scenario. I doubt the perp just happened to have acid in his pocket for just such emergencies."

"That doesn't mean he didn't kill her first, then come back later to cover his tracks."

Booth shook his head. "One of them had to have worked in the museum. I mean, they were in there after hours."

"Not necessarily. They could have found a way in, or maybe they were looking at the exhibits and hid until they closed."

"What, he planned to kill her and hide her in the museum? That's a stretch, Bones."

"It's not any different than you suggesting she was killed and disfigured to make sure I'd be the one investigating the case. It is a crime museum, after all. Perhaps to the killer there was significance in that."

"Then why hide the body? He could have just put it on display." He rubbed a hand over his eyes. "There's too many scenarios. We need evidence. And an ID."

Brennan regarded him sympathetically. "We'll get it." She reached out and tentatively put a hand on his arm. "You look exhausted. Maybe you should forget about the case for awhile."

He smiled knowingly. "Nice try, Bones. But I'm not discussing my father. End of story." He stood and stretched. "But you're right. I am tired."

Brennan sighed and took the hint, standing with him. "I guess I should get back to the lab and see if Mr. Nigel-Murray's finished cleaning the bones."

Booth smiled as he walked her to the door. "Are you ever gonna call that kid by his first name?"

"That depends," she said cryptically as she walked out, pulling the door shut behind her.