Disclaimer: I don't own Bones or any of the movies I mentioned in my summary

I have forgotten to mention this in my last two chapters, so i'm going to say it now. Thanks SO much for all the reviews. It means a lot.

Oh, there is some cursing in this chapter... just a warning if it bothers people...

Anywho, on with the story...

Chapter 4

Friday May 22 – Brennan's Apartment – 1:39 pm

Booth had never seen the place more crowded. Dozens of people were milling about at the entrance doors. He was completely engulfed in his musings. The fact that there were police officers swarming the apartment building where Brennan lived had made his heart stop earlier, but that didn't seem to penetrate his thoughts now. It was as if he lost his concentration--his grip--on reality whenever the concept of Brennan going missing occupied his mind. For some time now they were partners. Before Brennan, he had never imagined how intertwined his life could become with that of a squint. Now she was with him twenty-four seven--half the time physically, most of the time mentally.

Trouble, he had thought when Zach told him the news. Trouble, had crossed his mind again when he had 'rescued' her from airport security. Double trouble, his conscious shouted nowadays whenever their hands accidentally brushed or a look lingered too long. It was all accidental of course because, after all, they were only friends--best friends actually, but still just friends. An occasional spark set them on fire every now and then, but they had mutually and silently decided not to let that spark engulf their friendship.

Now, he was longing to touch her again. But she was missing. Gone. Booth groaned. He desperately prayed that this wouldn't be like the Gravedigger. He couldn't go through it again. Not again. If he lost her…

He couldn't lose her. No. He just couldn't.

"You realize how this looks. Don't you?" a voice broke him from his thoughts.

Booth glanced up slightly and found the geeky looking 'kid' he didn't want to see. "What do you want Sweets?"

"I'm just saying…"

Booth turned to him sharply; the anger burning in his eyes. "You think I did this?" it came out raspy; pain was etched into his voice.

The young Doctor sighed. "No. I don't think you did it, but others aren't so sure."

"What do you mean?"

"How did you know where to search for blood?"

Booth frowned. "When Bones didn't come to work… I got worried. So I had Zach check."

"But how did you know where to look. Zach says it was the first place you told him to check."

Booth was at lost for words. No one would believe him. Hell, even he didn't believe it. How could Parker possibly have known? Unless…

No. It couldn't. Ghost aren't real.

"You wouldn't believe me…"

Shoving his hands in his pockets and a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, Sweets shrugged. "Try me."

"Parker told me."

Booth could see disbelief and confusion play across the young man's face. "Your son?"

He nodded. "It wasn't just that. He told me he could see her."

"See her? You mean you couldn't? Like an imaginary friend?"

Booth shrugged. "That's what I thought, but…"

"But…?"

"He told me things only Bones and I knew. Tell me how that's even possible?"

"Someone must have told him. It could have been –"

Booth shook his head in protest, cutting Sweets off promptly. "No. Only Bones and I knew those things. He said he could see and hear her. At first I thought it was an imaginary friend, but when I asked him why she didn't come into work…. Parker told me she was attacked."

"Parker told you she was attacked?"

Booth nodded. "He knew exactly where to look. He –"

"They're going to have to question him, Booth."

Booth paled and covered his hands with his face. He knew this was going to happen. "He's five, Sweets."

"I know. I'm just saying he might know something."

Suddenly angry, he turned to Sweets sharply. "He did know something. He knew things only Bones and I knew. Now tell me how that's possible?"

Wide eye with shock and disbelief, Sweets took a brave step towards his client. "You can't possibly believe –"

"I don't know what I believe anymore."

Sweets had helped many people in his life, but he had never once helped someone who could see something that wasn't there. Usually, the hospitals were the ones who helped the mental cases out, but Booth wasn't crazy. He knew that much. "Look, I think you should go home and sleep. Then –"

"How the hell am I suppose to sleep when I know my partner's missing?"

Sweets took a deep breath. "Look, you're tired and upset. Just go home."

Booth shook his head sharply. "No, I'm going to the lab. The squints deserve to know." Before Sweets could protest any further Booth turned his back to the young man and walked out the door.

--

Friday May 22 –Unknown location – 1:40 pm

Even in the middle of the day it was dark and dreary. A perfect location for a horror movie. The middle of nowhere, and yet a house covered by a thick vegetation of trees laid within the dark forest. It was almost invisible, hidden from light and its dense surroundings. And to make the setting even more eerie a thick fog had just settled in, making seeing nearly impossible.

Yes. It was perfect for a horror movie. One that accurately described the time of day when a lonesome figure pulled the front door shut. He didn't bother locking the door. No unexpected visitors would dare cross into his territory. Not into these dark woods. After all, no one was foolish enough to cross his path.

Silently, he made his way through the small shack. It was an old house. One with spider webs, creaky floor boards, and dust drowning everything it touched. No one had lived in the house for years. The house had been set on fire once, long ago. Two people had died. He would know. After all, he was the one that killed them.

He had only been fifteen, but his parents were torturing him. They thought he was a troubled child. They took him to therapist and doctors, but none of them could help. His parents were going to send him away. He didn't like the idea, so he had no other choice but to set the house on fire.

Yes.

He did it late at night when they were asleep. It was a perfect night. Dark and foggy. No one around. Quietly he had drenched the entire house with gasoline and with a single match the house had engulfed in flames. Unfortunately, the fire company had arrived and they had saved part of the house, but they were too late for his parents.

It had been so long ago - nearly twenty years -, and yet he could still hear their screams through the walls and he could still smell the repulsive odor of their bodies burning in hell, but none of this bothered him now. In fact, he enjoyed it. He enjoyed the fact that they were dead. He enjoyed the fact that he had gotten away with it – he always did. And he enjoyed that almost everything was going as plan. But almost wasn't good enough.

He had everything planned out perfectly. They were going to get away with the money and the murder. That is, until she stepped in. That doctor had no right creeping around and she deserved what was coming for her. But then again, the doctor wouldn't have been an issue if Ace had just finished her off – like he had ordered.

But no! Ace didn't do the job. Now, the whole plan was ruined because of Ace. But luckily he had a plan. Yes, he always had a plan, and Ace… well, let's just say there wasn't room for him. As if on queue the front door swung open and the corners of his mouth turned upwards in a satisfied and slightly sadistic grin. Ace was right on schedule. He hadn't expected anything else from him.

"Ace."

Surprised by the sudden voice, Ace recoiled backwards, slamming into the wall. "God damn it!" he gasp. "You sure know how to scare a guy…"

He rolled his eyes. "Stop fooling around. Where's the girl?"

"The same place she was last time you asked," Ace answered smugly.

"Don't get smart with me! Is she dead yet?"

Ace shook his head. "No. The bitch won't die. She keeps mumbling things, but she's like unconscious… I don't know… it's weird."

"What's she saying?"

"I don't know. Something like… tell him Parker. Parker… believe."

He glared at him, his eyes becoming cross. "Who the fuck's that?"

Ace shrugged, showing that he oblivious didn't care. "Do I look like I know?"

Without warning he pulled out a hand gun, and clicked off the safety. Ace scared for his life, held up his hands and back against the wall. The man across from him gave a condescending laugh. "So, Ace. Would you like to change your answer?"

Ace nodded, never taking his eyes off the barrel of the gun. "I…I… I'll find out. Ok?"

"Good." He smiled, and gently placed his gun back into his jacket pocket. "Now what's for lunch?"

--

Friday May 22 – Booth's Car (Somewhere on the road) – 1:46 pm

Brennan eye Booth speciously from the passenger seat of the car. She could see lines on his face that were engraved by anger, fatigue, and worry. She wanted nothing more than to reach out her hand, and smooth those lines away. But she knew that was impossible. But then again… a lot of things she couldn't describe had been happening.

"You look like hell," she finally said.

Booth stared blankly at the cars in head of him. "Bones, where are you?" he muttered to himself for the fifth time.

"Stop asking!" she told him crossly. "Because neither of us know. I'm trying to remember, but you are not helping." She honestly didn't know why she even bothered.

Booth tapped his fingers impatiently at the car in front of him. "Oh. Come on! Can't you go any faster?"

"He's going the speed limit," she pointed out to him.

Booth let out a frustrated sigh. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out his cell phone and started to dial the Jeffersonian number. However, as Booth dialed he didn't see the light ahead of him turn red. Brennan looked up and she felt her stomach drop. Instinctively, she shouted out, "Booth!"

It happened so fast, Booth barely had time to react. He dropped his cell, looked at the passenger seat with wide eyes, and then snapped his head towards the road. He was heading straight for the intersection and he didn't have to time to slow down.

Without warning he turned his car sharply to the right, causing the car to careen off the road.

I don't have the next chapter written yet, but i'll try to write it and post it by next Sunday.