-Chapter Eleven-
"The bruising to his face suggests that someone beat him up pretty bad." Cam told the special agent the next day.
"Bones?"
"I'm running DNA. We'll know shortly." As if on cue, the computer beeped and the results popped up. Cam turned around and studied them for longer than Booth liked.
"Well?"
"Patience is so not your virtue Seeley." Booth shot her a glare. "The results confirm that Dr. Brennan was the one who gave Mena his beating. It also tells me that he gave her a beating as well." Booth let out a breath. "You already knew that." She took a step closer to him. "What aren't you telling me?" Booth glanced at her, wondering if he should tell her everything or just parts.
"I went to see Max." He began. "She wasn't there. She had been. I know because I found this." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the toy of Emma's. Cam looked at it sadly. "Max told me that she came to him wanting help. To disappear."
Cam let out a small, sad sigh. "Oh Booth." She made to pull him into a hug, but Booth quickly stepped back and put a hand on her shoulder.
She chuckled "Oh right. I'm a little…autopsy-ish." She made her way back over to the table and put the sheet over Mena. "When are you going to tell Angela, Dr. Hodgins and Dr. Sweets?" Booth glanced at her. "Yeah, you're that transparent."
--
"Why are we here?" Angela asked minutes after the rest of the group had been assembled.
"Yeah. And where's Dr. Brennan?" Hodgins added.
Sweets sat quietly. He could tell by Booth's body language that something was up and that it was stressing the agent out immensely.
Cam shushed the three and Booth took a deep breath. "Bones, well, she's, she's gone."
"Gone where, exactly?" Angela questioned.
"I don't know."
"How can you not know? You're FBI! You and your buddies at the CIA have tabs on everyone." A skeptical Hodgins pointed out.
"Dr. Hodgins," Sweets began, feeling the need to intervene, "I think what Agent Booth is trying to say is hard enough, maybe you should let him speak?" He suggested. Hodgins glared suspiciously at him, but closed his mouth and turned his complete attention to Booth.
"Thanks Sweets." Booth nodded at the younger man and Sweets grinned.
Booth took a deep breath and began again. "One of Ortez's men came after Bones." He continued talking through the gasps and murmurs. "He's dead, she's missing. And so are Parker and Emma." More gasps and murmurs. "Max helped her disappear, her bank account is empty. I don't know where she is, I don't know when she's coming back. I don't know if she's coming back."
Silence filled the room. Angela slowly got up and made her way over to Booth, pulling him into a hug. "Of course she'll come back. Brennan wouldn't…" She trailed off.
--
"Aunt Bones?" Parker asked from the back seat.
"Yes Johnny?" She asked, making sure to use Parker's new name.
"Where exactly are we going?"
Brennan sighed. "I don't know."
They rode in silence for a few minutes longer. "Aunt Bones?"
"Yes?"
"I think Mila needs a new diaper."
Brennan glanced back and laughed slightly at the sight of Parker with his nose scrunched up in disgust. "It's pretty late. I'll look for a hotel and we'll stay there for the night."
"One with a pool?" He asked hopefully.
"Yes." She grinned at the little boy. Earlier she had explained to Parker why they were running away. She'd also told him the tale of her receiving her new identity when she was a younger. Parker had had some questions, but ultimately agreed that leaving town for a little while would be best for the three of them. He only wished that Booth could go with them. Brennan silently agreed.