It's 1:15 in the afternoon and Brennan's sitting on her office couch, staring at her phone, at her background image. It's a picture of Booth asleep on the living room rug with Christine asleep on his chest, her little hand wrapped around his shirt collar, his hand resting on the infant's back.

She smiles through tears and sighs, continuing to stare at the picture. She remembers exactly when she took it. It was after dinner a week ago. She was cleaning up in the kitchen and Booth had just walked into the living room with their daughter. One minute they were on the floor, he was reading her a story and she was giggling and pointing at the pictures, and the next, they were knocked out. He was snoring and she was blowing bubbles, her little feet twitching as she slept.

She's swept away by the memory so much so that she fails to realize she has a visitor. She jerks when a hand lands on her shoulder, and slowly turns her head. She sucks on her bottom lip and looks up, trying to smile. "Hey, Booth," she chokes out, cutting a glance back at her phone screen. She can't help it. "Any new leads?"

He shakes his head. "But the best people are working on it. They've got agents at the park, looking. They've got agents perched at the house. They've got agents all over the city." He pauses. "But the ransom, um, the FBI won't—unless there's proof of life from the kidnapper."

She holds up her hand. "I've already got that covered, Booth. I took care of it earlier." She stands up and walks over to her desk. She pulls out a black duffle back from under her chair and swallows. "Five million dollars, cash."

"Bones."

"It's just pocket change," she reasons, "but I'd empty my entire bank account for her if I had to."

His lips curve into a smile and his eyes twinkle a little at that, but a second later, he's sighing.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"It's not nothing. What is it, Booth?"

"I don't have that kind of money."

"Well, I do, so I don't see the problem."

"Half, remember?"

"Our daughter is missing and you're worried about that? The ransom is paid. That's all that should matter right now, Booth."

He nods. "I know."

She steps closer to him and links their fingers together. She looks at him and leans against him.

He drops a kiss on the top of her head and closes his eyes. For a moment, it's silent, his forehead resting against hers. "I thought spending the morning at the gun range would help. It only made me angrier. I missed the target a few times—completely missed it."

She nods. "I thought spending the morning identifying ancient remains would help. It didn't. I couldn't focus. After a while, the skeletons just looked like piles of bones." She drops her hand and wraps her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. She lets out a breath and closes her eyes.

"We'll find her. We'll get the money to the FBI and we'll—." He's interrupted by the phone ringing.

They freeze and separate from each other. She turns around and walks over to her desk. She picks up her phone and keeps her eyes on Booth while she answers the call, putting it on speaker phone. "Dr. Brennan."

"Tick-Tock," the mysterious voice says, followed by a cough, the sound of a hand against flesh, a high-pitched cry, and what sounds like the scraping of metal against metal, then click and finally…silence.

Brennan slams the phone down and falls back against her desk.

Booth swallows and kicks the couch harder than he expected to. "Ow." He limps over to his partner and brushes away her tears. "It's just a game he's playing, Bones. That's all it is—a game." It's his attempt to make them both feel better. It's failing—at least on his end.

She looks at him, her eyes swimming, and nods. She feels his lips against hers shortly after and she can't bring herself to break the kiss. She finally steps back and swallows. "You should, uh, you should get the ransom money to the FBI."

He nods and tucks her hair behind her ear, skimming his hand against her damp, pale cheek. "Faith, not logic, Bones. We'll find her alive." He pauses. "I love you."

"I love you too." She squeezes his thumb just as he walks around her to grab the duffle bag.

"Come with me."

"I—."

"I just want to be near you right now. I need to be with you." He gives her one of his charming smiles, but this one is different. It's covering up pain. She can see it in his eyes and in the way his lips twitch as they curve into his famous smirk, as if he's unsure of it.

She caves and grabs her coat.

"Are you hungry?"

She shakes her head. "No."

"Me either," he confesses and hooks his arm around hers. He kisses her temple and they walk out of her office.

Thanks for the reviews and alerts. They keep me writing.

A/N: A little teaser for the next chapter: A body is found...