Chapter 19
Everyone took seats around the office. "Have you come up with any ideas as to how we can get Dr. Brennan to open up to someone Booth?" Sweets asked.
"No, but we have to come up with something soon because she became very ill last night just thinking about it. When I woke up this morning she was already gone. I called the guard in the Lab and he said she came in at 6."
"Well I and my colleagues came up with an idea." Sweets said.
Sweets statement got everyone's attention.
"Early this morning I called my colleague, Winston, at FBI headquarters. I told him about the problem that Dr. Brennan was having. He told me that he had a patient that was having the same problem. His patient was his own personnel secretary though. After talking to Winston I thought there must be more psychiatrists that might have patients with the same problem. There is a web page that lists all psychiatrists in the Washington D.C. area. I sent a letter to everyone on that list and explained the problem a patient of mine was having. I asked them to send me an E-Mail if they had a patient with the same problem. I just checked my E-Mail and I have already received 10 answers.
"What I want to do Agent Booth is to take all of these women, including Dr. Brennan, to the prison where Ortiz is being held. At the prison I want to give Dr. Brennan the chance to confront Ortiz, one on one. Do you think you could help me to arrange it?"
"You're hoping that when Brennan faces Ortiz that she will be forced to face her fears and her memories of the rape." Angela said.
"Yes, and we all know, with a few choice words from Agent Booth here, that Ortiz will make the first move and attack Dr. Brennan. My only concern is that Ortiz will not play his part since he knows that Dr. Brennan has beaten him once already." Dr. Sweets said.
They all looked at Booth to see what he would say.
"What are your thoughts on my suggestion Agent Booth?"
Booth leaned back in his chair and was quiet for a minute while he thought about what Sweets had said. "Okay I'll set it up with the warden where he is being held. I take it that you'll need a large room to accommodate all of the women?"
"Yes, plus all of my colleagues. As soon as I hear from everyone I'll let you know how many people we will have."
Booth stood up and looked straight at Sweets. "I hope this works Sweets. I'm going over to the prison now and talk to the warden. Call me as soon as you know how many we'll have." He walked out without looking back.
Jack looked at Angela and Sweets. "Do you get the feeling that he also wanted to add "OR ELSE"".
Both Sweets and Angela answered with an "Oh yes".
Everyone got up and left. As Jack and Angela went to their car Jack put his hand on Sweets shoulder. "Good luck Sweets. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes right now."
Booth went directly to the Washington DC Federal prison. They were holding Ortiz here because of his inclination to contact his gang members and put a hit out on Brennan or Angela. The local city or county jails didn't have the facilities to quarantine Ortiz in a padded room where he couldn't get out a message. Prisoners could be very inventive and no one wanted to give Ortiz even the remotest chance to get a message out.
Booth knocked on the Wardens door and received an invitation to enter. The Warden rose from his chair and greeted Booth with an outstretched hand. "Booth, long time no see. What brings you to these neck of the woods."
"Warden Sanchez, how have you been?"
"I think we've known each other long enough for you to call me Gene. How can I help you?"
"I am here to ask you a special favor and it concerns one of your special prisoners that is being held in quarantine. His name is Ortiz." Booth proceeded to explain what had happened to his partner and the difficulties she was having in getting over the rape.
"If we do this are you sure that she could beat him?" Warden Sanchez asked
"Yes I am 100 percent sure that she can do it. She may be afraid at first but once she sees him I am positive that she will take him without any problem."
In the next moment Booths cell phone rang. "Okay Sweets. I am with the Warden right now. I'll see you at Headquarters as soon as I get through here." Booth hung up without saying anything more.
"How many can we expect?"
"We can expect 12 women and an equal amount of psychiatrists."
"Okay we can accompany that number easily. When do you want to do this?"
"Let's shoot for this coming Friday." Booth said as he got up. "Thanks Gene, I owe you one."
"I am sure that the opportunity for repayment will come up." The warden said as Booth left.
As soon as Booth arrived at Headquarters he went straight to Hacker's office and explained everything that was going on with Brennan and the gathering they were going to have at the prison. He bypassed his immediate supervisor because of Hacker's previous relationship with Bones. He thought he would be more understanding of her problem and give an okay for all that Sweets and he had planned.
"Okay Booth, go ahead with your plans. Dr. Sweets has already spoken to his Supervisor and Bob has spoken to me about it. Bob gives his full approval of the plan. He agreed with me that Dr. Brennan was too valuable to lose."
Booth got up to leave. "Thank you Sir."
Hacker stood up and walked around his desk to stand by Booth thus letting him know that what he was about to say was man to man and not as his Superior. Hacker held out his hand to Booth. "I am glad you and Temperance finally got together. She chose the better man."
Booth shook his offered hand and said, "How did you know?"
"I don't know who found out but it went through the building like wildfire."
Booth just smiled back at Hacker. "You know that you didn't stand a chance?"
"Yes, I figured that out when the rumor finally hit me."
Booth left to go and see Sweets and make the final arrangements.
TBC…..