Author's Note: I suffered slight WB recently. Felt a slight pressure since so surprisingly many responded to this story. I'm glad, though! Had 38 alert mails the day after I posted and I'm highly grateful for that. So thank you. Even to you who didn't review but at least read and had a good time. I hope this chapter will be as good as the previous one. Please review! You know how much that brightens the day of a ff-writer.

Chapter 2 – Patience is a virtue

He'd done it. He'd taken his cell phone, dialled the right number and actually explained the situation to his director with coherent sentences. He barely remembered what had been said but it involved something about immediate actions and that he didn't want Booth to work the case; it was too personal. At that Booth remembered that he'd snapped something and hung up. Now he was back in the hallway outside Angela's office. Booth glanced through the doors. Hodgins was in there, apparently trying to cheer her up but the artist seemed to ignore him. From what he could see, tears stained her face and Hodgins looked more and more dejected for every minute that passed. Booth sighed. The screen was still reading "What I dream of is an art of balance". What did it mean? Was it just a few random words to mislead them?

Booth couldn't bring himself to re-enter Angela's office. Not yet. He paced the hallway for a while, running a hand wearily over his face. He was once again back with his memories from the Gravedigger case. The helplessness, the frustration, the fear and the guilt. But now something was difference. When Brennan had been buried alive, two facts had made it possible to not break down. She wasn't alone. After all, Hodgins was there. No matter how many times Booth had made fun of her colleagues, he knew Hodgins was a competent scientist that might bring another perspective to Brennan's own ideas of saving their lives. And true, they had together come up with the crazy idea to blow themselves out. But he'd noticed and everything had slowly gone back to normal again.

And now they were back there again, in that emotional roller coaster that law enforcement inevitably granted some rides in. The difference from the Gravedigger case was glaring; she was alone and, he could see her. When she'd been trapped in the ground, he could only imagine what went on, how she was doing, if she was unconscious from the lack of oxygen. He couldn't know for sure. But know he could watch her, his nightmares would feature what the video feed featured; Brennan, somewhere where he couldn't reach her or protect her.

Hodgins came out from Angela's office, sighing deeply. "Man, I'm sorry…I-" Hodgins began but Booth held up his hand and interrupted the scientist.

"Yeah, I know. Do you think Angela can get something off the feed"

"It's a live feed, maybe she can get something from the servers, I'm not the computer person here. So technically yes, but if you're going to try and convince her to do it, good luck" with that, the entomologist left off. Probably to inform Cam and Zack about the situation. Booth sighed again and squeezed his eyes. How the hell could things go so wrong? He'd had a good feeling this morning, their latest case was successfully closed, evidence already brought to the prosecutor and he was looking forward to present the new case to her. After just one look at the file, he knew her mind was already processing the information. And then, bang. Everything had changed.

Taking another deep breath, he prepared himself to talk to Angela again. He found her sitting where Hodgins had left her. By her computer screen, staring at the words but no longer in some kind of trance but now looking like she was deep in thought. Maybe Hodgins had accomplished something by talking to her.

"I tried to research Henri Matisse," she said. "Nothing that seems connected to any of this" she said and gestured towards the computer screen.

"It's strange, that he the kidnappers hasn't made contact" Booth muttered, recalling the Gravedigger phone call. The digitally altered voice and the words "buried alive". "I have to get back to the Bureau," he said after a moment. "We have to get some people on this" Angela's spur of strength seemed to get out some of the agent in him. "Angela, do you think you can get something off the feed?"

"I can try. It was a live feed so I'm not sure. And I'm not really the computer type, only when it comes to image processing"

"Okay, but see what you can do, will you?"

"Sure"

Booth managed a half smile and walked for the door. When he was about to step out, Angela's voice called him back.

"Booth?"

"Yeah?"

"We'll find her"

"Yeah…" was all he mustered up. Cause he couldn't say "I know", be cause he wasn't sure. As he passed the platform, he immediately felt Cam intense eyes on him. But he pretended to not notice and without another look back, exited the lab.

--

At the Hoover building, Booth received several sympathetic glances on his way to his office. This was one of these days he wished that Cullen was still around. He'd taken a sabbatical when his daughter had died and now, a year later, no one still hadn't heard anything about him coming back. Booth wished that he would, someday. Sam Cullen was a good agent and on cases like this he was very supportive, but still, he hadn't been beating around the bush like his co-agents. Cullen would outright ask Booth on a personal level if he was okay. No glances.

Reaching his office, Booth gratefully closed the door. Okay, one thing at the time. There were already agents on the case, but without leads, they had practically nothing to go on. They probably searched her apartment by now. Booth couldn't help but smile; if Bones knew crime scene investigators were going through her personal stuff. Poor people…

An agent stopped outside his glass door and with a slight wave of his hand, Booth gave him permission to enter.

"Agent Booth, the crime scene report" the young man said and quickly dropped off a folder on Booth's desk.

"Thanks, James" the younger agent nodded and a bit relieved left the room. He hadn't worked with the FBI for very long but he'd heard about agent Booth and his partner, who's also a best-selling author. Yes, people indeed talked about special agent Booth and dr Brennan. Their success, the odd cases they worked. And of course, the definition of their relationship. James was slightly confused about that matter. He knew some of the female agents noted agent Booth's looks and the guys hadn't been to quiet about how much they wondered why Booth hadn't made a move on his pretty partner. Not that he was so keen on workplace gossip, James couldn't help but notice the weary expression on Booth's face when he'd delivered the file. Shrugging, he walked down the hall to find something else to do.

--

Booth stared at the report for a moment before even opening the file. One single paper. He didn't have to be prepared for the worst. He knew she was trapped somewhere and that some bastard was so sick to send a video feed to Angela. They didn't know much and the crime scene report didn't add anything further to go on. No signs of forced entry. No signs of a struggle. Her cell phone and other personal belongings had been found as well. After reading the reports three times, he tossed it aside and tried to focus on what to do. Going over all their previous cases didn't seem so appealing but what other choice did he have?

He booted up his rarely used computer and clicked forward into the archives and began to pull out casefile after casefile, noting down suspects they'd interviewed and arrested. After an hour of writing down names and recalling cases, his phone range and he wasn't surprised to see Angela's name on the caller ID.

"Got anything off the video?" he greeted her.

"A hello would be nice but I won't press the issue today. And the answer is, no. I'm sorry, Booth"

He kept silent. Nothing. One of their vague leads lead to nowhere.

"It's not much we can do about that, huh…" he said. "I'll stop by the lab if we come up with anything. Thanks, Ange"

"No problem" she replied and they hung up.

--

During the day, Booth had contact with several agents, everyone trying to track down Brennan. But with her apartment and car untouched, there wasn't that much to do. By late afternoon, Booth's long list was reduced to 42 names. The rest had alibis or were still behind bars. Neither Angela nor anyone else from the Jeffersonian had contacted him again. Neither had the kidnapper, which was odd. Feeling useless where he sat with his stupid list in one hand and phone in the other, Booth sat back and ran a hand through his tousled hair. His stomach growled, he hadn't eaten since…well breakfast. Thinking of food immediately reminded him of all the meals he and Bones had spent at Sid's or at the diner. No, stop! Why was he thinking of her like she was dead? Why did he feel like he was already on the verge on giving up? He never gave up. And he certainly would never give up on Bones. So, why?

Groaning out loud at his own thoughts, he picked up the list and began to dial another number. But he was interrupted as his phone began to vibrate and the display told him it was Angela again.

"Ange?"

"Booth! We got something!"

"From the video?!" he knew he sounded chocked.

"Not really. But he sent another code. Probably to a new feed on another server or something"
"I'll be there in five"

Angela was about to point out that it took at least fifteen minutes to reach the Jeffersonian from the Hoover building, even if you drove as fast as Booth did.

Ten minutes later, Booth ran through the lab and burst into Angela's office where he now found the whole team gathered around Angela who held a new piece of paper with random numbers and letters. A pop up window was displayed on her screen.

"No message?" Booth asked. Angela shook her head. "Only an envelope, like before"

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Booth said eagerly and felt a bit guilty for sounding slightly rude. But now he didn't have time to worry about that. Angela quickly typed in the new access code and true, another video feed was shown.

You could practically see how everyone in the room held their breaths. The screen showed Temperance again. She wasn't' pacing the small space anymore. She'd sunk down on the dirty floor, back against one of the walls.

"This is recorded" Angela remarked. "It's not a live feed…" Booth's heart sank slightly. It was recording. He had no idea if she was still in the same place, if…something had happened to her. The team watched the clip in silence, watching the seconds tick by. The recording was almost eight minutes long. Suddenly a loud click erupted from the speakers connected to the computer and Angela jumped slightly in her seat and turned down the volume.

Two seconds later, a voice was heard. Quickly, Angela turned up the volume again. The kidnapper. He wanted something.

"So, Booth…Even if I sent this little movie to one of your lab rats I know you're there. What does it feel like? Seeing your pretty scientist on that dirty floor?" Booth wanted to lunge at the voice, shoot the person whom it belonged to. But that was the problem. As most kidnapper, also this one had altered his voice and well, sounded like someone taken straight from a sci-fi movie.
"She's truly beautiful, Booth. You're lucky to work with her"

"Bastard…" Booth muttered under his breath and clenched his fist.

"This is how we're going to do this. You know Booth, I like a balanced life. I've had a balanced life actually. Until you messed it all up. You see, you took away a very important person to me. Just like dr Brennan means a lot to you. This is easy, really. You give her back to me, and I'll return your precious partner. Sounds fair, doesn't it?"

Another click. The kidnapper wasn't going to say anything else. Booth stared blankly at the screen. Revenge was the motive here. He had 42 vengeful people on his list at the moment. It could be any of them but it was likely that it was a man. Had he taken away someone's sister? Wife? Daughter? Before his mind flashed faces he'd met during these cases. It could be any of them…The video clip ended two minutes later, now replaced by another sentence. Another quote.

" A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains." Zack read, who was the one to break the silent spell.

"He's mocking us!" Hodgins exclaimed. Upon seeing Booth's annoyed face he shut up. Booth re-read the quote. It was true. The kidnapper told him to just wait, there was nothing the team could do about this. And that realisation made his heart sink deeper.

"It's a proverb," Zack then said. "I've heard it once before…" he continued, now most to himself.

"Booth, you still have idea who it might be?" Cam spoke up, stepping forward a few steps. He shook his head. "What does it feel like? Seeing your pretty scientist on that floor?" Yeah, how did it feel? Booth swallowed. He felt sick. Seeing Bones but still not being able to talk to her, know where she was, not touching her to make sure she was there.

But this was so disturbing. He'd heard Brennan being mentioned along those terms before. His buddies at the Bureau constantly teased him about Brennan's look and if she was as smart as she was good looking. He'd heard those words before…Pretty partner…Lady scientist. But where?

Then it dawned on him. How could he have missed it? It was so obvious. He wanted to punch himself for his own stupidity. Without further thought he stormed out of Angela's office, leaving the squints to look after him.

--

He had no idea where was going but wasn't really surprised when he ended up on Brennan's empty office, on the couch, where he'd spent way too many late hours of paperwork and Chinese food. It all seemed very distant now.

It was weird to be in her office without her. But now he pushed that thought away. He'd been so incredibly stupid. He should have thought of it the moment Angela announced that she hadn't arrived at work that morning. Why hadn't he thought of it? He should have! A small voice then entered his mind, it sounded suspiciously much as the Bureau deputy director: "Booth, I want you to lay low on this one. It's too personal" Booth had been fuming when he left the director's office. Of course it was personal, Bones was his partner. They had worked together nearly every single day for two years. Then you automatically became more than just work partners. The fact that he'd broken out of the hospital to save her life several times and that she'd broken several laws to save his, just strengthen the fact that the two were friends. Good friends.

He leaned forward and rested his head in his hands, letting his elbows stay propped up on his knees. His eyes were fixated on the hardwood floor of Brennan's office. A wave of guilt washed over him. She'd indirectly told him that it made her feel uneasy. Their latest case. Now, looking back at it, Booth wondered how the hell he could have missed it. Was the director right? Did their close relationship actually affect his work? Were the higher powers somewhat testing his competence to separate personal and professional? He squeezed his eyes shut, using the little child's trick; "if I close my eyes, the world will disappear just like my vision." But for Booth, the reality was still too real and so were the footsteps that were slowly approaching Brennan's office. Judging by the heels clicking and the tentativeness, Booth knew it was Angela.

"Booth?" she lingered in the doorway. The tears on her face had dried and she looked somewhat determined. He saw the determination on her face that he knew should be shown at his own as well. But he knew it wasn't; now was one of the moments when Brennan would simply and honestly state that he looked like hell. He sure felt like hell.

"Sorry for bursting out…" was all he said but he didn't mean it. Telling the squints that Brennan's disappearance was partly his fault would be too much. Because that would mean that he also admitted it to himself.

"You came to think of something. What was it?" Angela said. Booth recognized that tone; she was using her psychological skills on him. And even if he hated to admit it, Angela was good at it.

"I…-"

"What was it?"

Silence.

"Booth, if it has something to do with Bren you better tell me," she said firmly. "It can't be that bad" her tone turned gentle and compassionate again.

"It is, believe me" Booth said self depreciatingly.

"It's not your fault, you know" How did she do that? Could Angela see the guilt ridden thought float around inside his mind?
"Part of it is" he blurted out.

"Why?"

Booth sighed. What did you answer to that? Oh yeah, if I hadn't been so damn stupid and blue eyed, your best friend would be trapped in a room while some sicko was filming her.

"I know who has her" Booth said slowly. Angela sat back, a bit surprised.

"From hearing his voice?"

"Not the voice, what he said. What he called Temperance"

Uh oh. Angela swallowed hard. She rarely heard Booth call Bren "Temperance". He only did it when she was upset and he wanted her attention or if he himself was upset and wanted to tell her that he needed support on a personal level and not only as a partner. Funny really, only by knowing and observing them, Angela could tell a lot about their relationship, which in her opinion was very complicated, although understandable in some strange way. But one thing she could tell for sure now, Booth was worried out of his mind. It was eating him from the inside.

"Who is it, then?"

"Remember our last case, the Anderton children?"

"Of course I do"

"Stephanie's boyfriend, Ben"

"He has Brennan? You sure? Why?" she asked. Of course she'd remembered the case, who could forget really? A woman killing her foster kids. When the information had reached them, Angela's eyes had automatically travelled to her best friend. And true, Bren's eyes had looked both sad and upset and she'd swallowed hard to hide it from the others. But Angela had also noticed that Booth had, as well, spotted the expression on Brennan's face. Along with a slight emotional roller coaster, the knowledge that the two children on the slabs were so young and innocent, made the whole thing even more depressing. So no, that case wasn't one you forgot that easily.

"Booth, how do you know it's this Ben guy?" He let out a heavy sigh, contemplating how to answer the question.

"He came by the Bureau, last week. We had just arrested Stephanie and handed the case over to the prosecutor when he showed up. He looked so calm when he walked in there, actually seemed like a decent guy first. Then he started to say…horrible things. Before he left, he said that…I should be careful and keep an eye on…" he swallowed, holding back tears of anger. "…on a pretty woman like her, cause you never know what can happen to them"

"You didn't tell Bren about this?"

"No…I mean. I know I should have but…You know her, she would have gone after him, broken his wrist or maybe both"

Angela smiled slightly, remembering how Brennan had once told her that she'd snapped the wrist of serial killer Howard Epps.

"I should have told her" Booth clenched his fist. "With both wrists broken he wouldn't have been able to…do anything"

"You only wanted to protect her, Booth"

"Funny really, she always complains of how over protective I am and that she can take care of herself. Maybe I should have let her do that this time"

"Hey, no idea to dwell in the past, huh? You can't change anything, Booth"

"But I wish I could"
"Don't we all sometimes…"

They sat next to each other, staring into space, for another good while. Then Angela stood. "I'm going to try and get something off that video since it wasn't a live feed"
"Thanks, tell me if you find something"
"I will"

Silently, she left the office. A few steps away from the door, she stopped and turned. Booth had buried his face in his hands again and you could practically see the tension radiating off him. He was in an emotional hell. She just knew.

--

After Angela left, Booth remained on the couch for almost another half hour. He went over the past week in his head, replaying his conversation with Ben. The he'd had a mad expression on his face that made it somewhat hard to tell if he was actually serious. Booth absently tugged at the knot of his tie, undoing the top two buttons in the process. Maybe the director was right, maybe he should stand on the sideline this time. He'd already caused this mess, who said that it wouldn't just get even more screwed up if he kept working the case? Sighing, he recalled the quote; "A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains".

Maybe Ben was right; this time maybe he had to wait. Stand on the side, watching. Have patience.

Second chapter done. How was it this time? As good as the last one? OOC? Any ideas for following chapters? Anything else you want to share with me? You all know how, press the cute little button below and you'll see that everything will be fine :)