Chapter 7

Friday May 22 – Booth's Apartment – 5:20pm

"That went well," Sweets told Ace sarcastically as they exited Booth's apartment building.

Ace smirked angrily. "Yes because people are going to believe that he saw Dr. Brennan, but no one else could."

Sweets shrugged, smiling foolishly. "You never know. Joan of Arc claimed to have visions from God."

"And do you remember how she ended up? Dead. Burned at the stake," Ace told him angrily as he lit up a cigarette. "In my opinion that little boy should stop calling wolf and tell us the damn truth."

Sweets gave him a crooked smile. "It doesn't matter how many times the boy calls wolf. Somebody will always come running."

Ace rolled his eyes at the young doctor's logic. A silence spread over them as they reached their cars. "So where are you heading?"

"Jeffersonian, Booth was admitted out of the hospital. I'm going to see how he's feeling. You?"

Ace nodded. "I'm going to head back to….," Ace trailed off as he pretended to search for his badge. A badge that was in his jacket pocket and not in the slightest bit lost. "Ah crap! I left my badge in the apartment."

"Go get it. I'll wait."

"No. No. You don't have to wait up."

Sweets raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

"Yeah. Yeah."

"Okay…"

Ace nodded and began to walk back towards the apartment. However, he didn't enter until Sweet's car pulled out of the parking lot and disappeared into the traffic. Ace gave a satisfied grin as he pulled out his gun and click off the safety. Finding Parker had been a piece of cake; now, he just had to kidnap him and bring him back to the Boss. With a faith and luck on his side, how hard could it be?

--

Friday May 22 – Jeffersonian – 5:30 pm

"No, no, no!" Booth shook his head violently, refusing to believe his partner. "It can't. No!"

"Booth," Brennan stated, unusually calm. "It's my earring."

"No." He didn't want to know that it was hers. If it was hers then that would mean that those bastards took her. It would mean that his little faith of finding her alive would vanish. It would mean that the Brennan standing in front of him was nothing more than a figment of his imagination. He cursed. "We can't be sure. We should test it."

"Booth…"

He looked up, snapping out of his thoughts. Glancing around, he saw that every eye was on him, including Brennan's. To them it must have looked like he was talking to himself or someone that wasn't there. He watched as Angela took a nervous step towards him. Her eyes were glistening with tears, and he immediately regretted his outburst.

"Sweetie, maybe you should lie down," she told him, somehow managing to control her emotions.

"No… I'm sorry. That's Bones's earring. It's hers. Oh God, Ang. They took her."

"Booth, I'm right here."

Brennan was by his side within seconds and he wanted nothing more than to shout and yell at her. She wasn't there! She was just his imagination. He wanted to know why she could be so stupid to get herself kidnapped… again. But he didn't yell any of these things because he was afraid she would run away. Even if she wasn't real, he didn't want her to leave him. Her invisible presence was the only thing keeping him from insanity.

"Booth, everything is going to be okay," Cam spoke up. "This is Dr. Brennan we're talking about. She'll be fine.

He turned on her, angrily. "How can you say that? How the hell do you know?"

"I…I…"

"That's right, Cam. You don't. She's dying and we're just sitting around here like a bunch -"

It was Brennan who cut him off. "Booth, please stop. This is not their fault. It's no one's fault."

Booth's eye's darted around the room until he found her glossy blue eyes. She was giving him her famous glare. A glare he knew so well, and yet he still found himself breaking eye contact with her. "I'm sorry…," he apologized to everyone, including his Bones. "I'm just stressed."

"We all are," Angela told him.

"We'll continue to look at the body. It may give us a lead," Cam assured. "maybe you should get some fresh air, Booth."

Booth wanted to protest with her, but to his disappoint he saw his favorite scientist heading out the doors. "Maybe your right," he sighed, and he quickly followed Brennan.

The cool air caught him off guard as stepped out into the parking lot.

"You're not the only one who's this case is effecting, Booth!" It wasn't until then did he realize why she came out here. To yell at him. He had a million answers to that, but he somehow managed to keep his mouth shut. "You can't take it out on everyone! You don't think I'm trying to remember? I'm trying, Booth. I really am."

"I know, Bones." He held out his arms, and when she didn't throw herself at him, he asked, "What?"

"I'll just go through you."

He huffed at her logic. "Then just stay close."

"We won't feel it."

"I don't care," he lied.

She hesitated, but nevertheless she walked over to him and he gently hovered his arms around her. They couldn't feel each other and though they would never admit, that hug meant more to them than the other would ever know.

But the moment was soon broken when Booth's phone rang, receiving the worst phone call of his life.

--

Friday May 22 – Booth's Apartment – 5:55pm

"When did this happen?" Booth screamed at no one in particular.

"About an hour ago, Agent Booth," the man replied to calmly for Booth's likely.

"Then why the hell haven't you found my son yet?"

The man hesitated, clearly afraid. "We're trying, sir."

Brennan let out a cough, to which Booth ignored. "Try harder."

The man nodded and quickly returned to Mrs. Richmond, who was tied to a chair with a red rope and white ribbon tied firmly around her right wrist.

Never in his life had he seen his apartment so crowded. Dozens of C.S.I. and agents were milling about his entrance doors. The fact that these people were here because Parker was missing sent Booth into a world of hysterics. All his life he could never imagine the feeling of losing a child, but know he knew. The pit of your stomach freezes, while your legs go to jelly. There's one single thud of your heart. The shape of his name, sharp as metal filings, gets caught between our teeth even as you try to force it out in a shout. Unanswered questions repeat in your head: Where did I see him last? What was the last thing I said to him? Was it I love you? And then, finally, your throat shuts, as you've realized that you've made a mistake you will never be able to fix.

The other police men wanted him to sit down, so that they'd know where to find him if necessary, but how could he when he knew that his son was missing? He needed to find him now.

Booth cursed. "Why!? Why Parker!?"

"I don't know, Booth," Brennan said between coughs. "But we are going to find him. I promise."

"Booth!" he turned around sharply and found a very depressed Sweets. "This is my entire fault."

"What is?" he asked him sternly.

"I should have stayed longer. I shouldn't have left."

Brennan coughed again as Booth gripped Sweets shoulders and shook him. "What happened," he forced out through gritted teeth.

Sweets closed his eyes and let out a deep breath before speaking. For the first time in his life he was afraid that Agent Booth would actually kill him. "Agent Ace and I drove over here to question Parker. He had a warrant, so he was going to go with or without me. Since Parker knows me I went with him."

"And you did this without telling me?" Booth hissed.

"He had a warrant, Booth. We left and Agent Ace said he forgot his badge. Oh, God... if I wouldn't have left…"

"You would have ended up like Mrs. Richmond," Brennan finished.

"Find Agent Ace, now!" Booth shouted to the nearest Agent. "He has my son!"

"I already told them, Booth. I… I'm so sorry, Booth."

Booth nodded, but he couldn't help but feel a strong hatred towards Sweets. He shouldn't have questioned Parker, but if Sweets hadn't had been there then they never would have known about Ace. Booth cursed inwardly. It was odd knowing that the world you knew yesterday was different from today. Knowing that the walls around you were caving in and there was nothing you could do to build them back up.

Brennan's violently cough brought him back to reality. He gave her a nervous glance as her cough grew worse. "I am…" but she never finished her sentence. Within in seconds she dropped to the ground, shaking violently and there was nothing he could do but watch.

Screw that.

Booth dropped down to his knees and tried to grip her shoulders, but to his frustration his hands just went through her. "Oh, God. Bones… no!" He was very aware of the people staring at him and whispering at him, but he didn't care. He just had to save her. "Bones, can you hear me?"

If she did hear him, she gave no sign whatsoever. Instead, she continued to shake and cough violently. Booth gripped his hair as her breathing became more rapid, struggling to breath. Never in his life had he felt so helpless, utterly alone. How could someone be less than two inches away from him and he couldn't even save her. "No… Bones. Shhh. I'm right here. Take deep breaths. Everything –" He was cut off by a hand being placed gently on his shoulder. He looked up and found Sweets standing over him with a worried expression scrawled into the features of his face.

"Booth." The young doctor looked around nervously, well aware of the people staring. "Could you come out in the hall… please?"

Booth violently shook Sweets hand of his shoulder. "No! We have to help Bones." He turned back to her and he let out a muffled cry when he saw that she was only getting worst. And was it the light or was she really fading? No.

"Booth, please. I think we need to talk," Sweets said sternly.

"No. We have to help Bones. We have to help her."

And that's when he felt Sweets beginning to tug on his arm, surprisingly hard. Sweets pulled him to his feet, towards the door and away from Brennan. Without thinking, Booth punched Sweets in the face, blood immediately began to flow from the young doctor's nose, but Booth couldn't apologize now, he had to help Brennan. However, as soon as he released his punch, he was tackled by two other FBI agents.

Booth fought and struggled against them as they pulled him away. He could see her, still shaking and he screamed for her. And then with the blink of an eye she disappeared and Booth gave up entirely.

Sorry for the cliffie.

Please tell me what you thought!