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Booth drove slowly along the street. He had been down this road so many times before, each time pounding the pavement one step behind his beloved. His eyes combed the sidewalk. Still no sign of Bones. His search brought him to the parking lot of a park nearby that they would jog into then double back to go home. His heart rate quickened when he noticed two MPD patrol cars parked there.
He got out of his car, hoping desperately that whatever the local police were there for, it wasn't because something happened to Bones. He walked briskly along the path that they always took.
As he walked up the rise of a small incline he saw crime scene tape and several police officers talking to various people. Crime scene techs gathered evidence, although there seemed to be no visible signs of a victim or any suggestion of what crime had taken place.
Booth ducked under the tape, only to be stopped by the nearest police officer.
"You can't be in here sir."
Booth flashed his badge. "What happened?"
"Park Snatcher attacked another woman. I wasn't aware the feds were called in on this."
Booth remembered reading and hearing on the news about this serial rapist the media had dubbed the Park Snatcher.
"We aren't."
The police officer cocked his head, waiting for an explanation.
"My wife went for her morning run and never came home. I got worried. This is the route she always takes."
The MPD officer seemed to realize the gravity of the situation. "I was the first responder on scene. Guy walking his dog found a woman, naked and unconscious. Called it in."
Booth swallowed. "Did you get a look at the victim?"
Everything inside Booth was screaming that it couldn't be his Bones. He felt strangely detached, as if still unbelieving this could happen.
The officer nodded. Booth reached into his back pocket for his wallet, removing a photograph of Bones and him taken while they were on vacation.
"That her?"
The patrol officer's eyes widened, "Yes. I'm sorry."
Booth's breath got caught in his throat. His knees weakened.
"Where is she?"
"The paramedics took her, not long before you got here."
"Where?"
"DC General."
"Thanks." Booth managed, running for his car, not waiting for the "Good luck man," the police officer called after him.
Booth ran the sirens on his SUV, speeding all the way to the hospital. The cop in him reviewed the facts he had heard about the Park Snatcher. So named because all his victims were attacked in secluded areas of parks. He had attacked and raped five women to date. The initial three had not been seriously injured. The fourth victim had been beaten and bruised but she recovered. The fifth fought back. She was apparently choked and beaten, and was currently lying in a coma in the hospital. This only meant that the Park Snatcher was escalating.
There has to be some mistake, she's gotta be fine. The baby, what about our baby? Was she seriously hurt? What kind of husband am I? She was alone, and attacked.
Booth pulled up at the hospital, running into the reception area at the ER.
"I'm looking for my wife." He approached the desk clerk.
"Got a name?"
"Dr Temperance Brennan."
He tapped the counter top impatiently as the clerk typed away on the computer.
"No record of anyone by this name in here."
"The assault victim, from the park?"
"Try trauma room two."
"Thanks."
Booth headed down the busy hall and found trauma room two. He pushed the swinging double doors open. The group of doctors and nurses looked up from the exam table. He couldn't see the patient lying there. He didn't have the courage to step closer. He didn't want the patient lying there to be Bones.
"Sir you can't be in here." One of the male nurses spoke up.
"I'm looking or my wife." Booth flashed his badge again.
"I don't care who you are – "
"Please. I've got to find her. She didn't come home from her morning run. I went to the park, where we always run. I showed her picture. They said the paramedics brought her here."
A bespectacled doctor started to walk towards Booth.
"Mr – "
"Booth."
"You understand we don't have an ID on our patient yet. She's in a vulnerable position now we can't let you just come in here claiming to be her husband – "
"Look, I understand." Booth's heart raced wildly.
He just wanted someone to tell him if his Bones was alright. He suddenly understood how the family of the victims in the cases him and Bones worked felt. His eyes caught the pair of running shoes still on the patient's feet.
His heart stopped.
"Those are her shoes." He pointed to her feet. "They've got her initials, T.B. inside."
Booth remembered laughing when he found out she initialed her running shoes. She said they tended to get lost in the gym.
"T.B." The male nurse had removed her shoe and was holding it up.
The bespectacled doctor walked towards, Booth, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Let's talk outside. Don't worry we're taking good care of your wife."
Suddenly numb Booth nodded and allowed the doctor to lead him out of the room.
"I'm Dr Eastman. The attending for your wife. What's her name?"
"Temperance."
"Temperance. She was brought to us about half an hour ago. So far her injuries look superficial, cuts and abrasions. Some bruising to the abdominal area. What worries us is that she hasn't regained consciousness. She appears to have been hit on the head. We're arranging for a MRI to make sure there's nothing serious."
"She uh… was she – " Booth choked on the words. He couldn't bring himself to verbalize it. The thought that she had been violated by another man made him want to vomit. Thankfully Dr Eastman seemed to understand.
"We've done a rape kit on her, as requested by the police. We've taken swabs for seminal fluid, blood to test for HIV, hepatitis, the works. Preliminary examination showed vaginal bruising and tearing of her labia. I'm sorry she was raped."
Booth sucked in a breath. He'd always known since the police officer at the park ID-ed her. But he didn't want to admit it. Now it was the undeniable truth. His throat felt dry. He clenched his fists in anger. Whoever did this to her would pay.
"She's pregnant."
"Explains all the bleeding she was having."
"Is my baby – "
"We suspected but never checked. How far along is she?"
"I - , we don't know. Her period was two weeks late. We did a home pregnancy test, found out a couple of days ago."
"We'll check, but chances are, this early in the pregnancy, with this much bleeding, it's probable she's had a miscarriage."
Booth tried to compose himself. The feeling of loss was overwhelming.
"I'll need to get back to your wife. Temperance. You can wait here. I'll come talk to you when we have more."
"Dr Eastman?"
"Yeah?"
"When can I see her?"
"After the MRI, we'll get her admitted to a room upstairs. Then you can see her."
"Thank you."
As Dr Eastman walked away, Booth felt his legs give way and he sat back down on the bench in the waiting area. His hands shook and he felt dead. He also felt like a failure.
I've failed them both, my wife and child.
Max would want to know. And Cam needed to be told since Bones wouldn't be going to work. And Cullen. Booth didn't feel ready to tell people, but he had to. He made the required calls, asking for them to respect their privacy.
Max arrived just as Dr Eastman came looking for Booth again.
"What happened? Where's Tempe?"
"Park Snatcher, Max. He attacked her."
"Sonovabitch!" Max cursed. "Is she okay?"
Max Keenan had also kept up with this case on the news. His face turned into an emotionless mask. Booth worried for a moment his father-in-law would take things into his own hands, go after the rapist who attacked his daughter. Booth couldn't blame him if he did. He wanted the rapist dead himself.
"Mr Booth?"
"How is she?"
"MRI shows no permanent damage to the brain. She has a slight concussion and a nasty bruise on the forehead."
"My baby?"
"Baby?" Max looked at Booth.
Booth replied apologetically. "We found out a couple of says ago. Bones wanted to tell everyone at Thanksgiving."
"I'm sorry Mr Booth, your wife had a miscarriage."
Booth spun round, punching the wall behind him in frustration. In one morning his whole world had come crashing down. He felt Max's hand on his shoulder.
"We'll get him Booth."
Booth turned his head to look Max in the eyes. A moment of understanding passed between them.
"Can I see her?" Booth's question directed at the doctor.
"Yes, fourth floor, room 16."
Booth and Max rode the elevator in silence. At the door to Brennan's room Booth paused.
"I'm so sorry Max. I vowed to protect her but I failed. I failed her."
"Nobody wanted this to happen. We'll get the man who did this. We'll get him. You hear?"
"I know. I just – if there was someway to turn back time…. can't imagine what she's been through…."
Booth choked on his last few words, fighting back tears. The thought of his Bones in pain was unbearable.
"I know Booth. I know."
He took a moment to compose himself before entering the room. Dr Eastman had said she should wake soon.
Booth walked slowly towards the hospital bed, the sound of each step thundering in his ears. She looked so small and fragile in the hospital bed. A bluish-black bump protruded from her forehead. An IV ran into her hand. Booth's heart broke thinking of what she had been through.
He pulled the lone plastic chair up to her bed. He picked up her hand, holding it tenderly in his hand. He brought her hand to his lips.
"Bones…."
Like I said, a long bumpy ride for BB. I must admit I feel pretty bad for putting Brennan through this, I love her to bits though I really do....