A/n: Sorry for the long delay in update but I've been focusing on my Ugly Betty fics, I hadn't realized how long its been since I updated and since I have a little vacation time, I'm going to try to update regularly, and to clear up the ages of the kids , Parker is 14 and is just starting 9th grade , Mira is nine and just starting 4th grade, Logan, Lynna and Seanna are five and starting kindergarten and Jake is four but, starting school early so he is also starting kindergarten, enjoy the new chapter, its a long one.
-Pessi Rom
Thanks to: Torchwoodtechgirl , laura-az , mustanggirlz07, hockeystick and h,kfls for reviewing, I hope you enjoy this new chapter.
Chapter Two : Changes/Mass Grave in the Junkyard
The parents took one last glance at their children then reluctantly walked back to their cars and headed for the Jeffersonian to start their first day back to work after two weeks vacation. The squints, sans Booth, who dropped Brennan off ,because he had a meeting at the Hoover building, entered the Jeffersonian. The sight they saw before them as they entered the medico lab left them speechless.
They were about two dozen or more metal tables some with a few bones and others with full skeletal remains and what looked to be grad students were setting them up on the tabls. Brennan walked forward more confused then shocked by the sight in front of her and the rest of the squint team.
"What's going on here?" Brennan asked no one in particular. Usually she went to the site before any remains were sent to the Jeffersonian.
"I can explain that." A redheaded woman, who they'd never seen before , suddenly appeared and said.
"Who are you, where's Cam?" Angela said wondering where their boss was.
"I'm Dr. Kelly Marshal, your new boss , If you'll follow me into the conference room , I can get you all up to speed on the circumstances surrounding these remains." Kelly said .
"What happened to Cam and why weren't we told she was getting replaced?" Brennan asked not moving an inch.
"I'll explain it all in a moment , Dr. Brennan." Kelly said knowing exactly who she was.
"Why can't you explain now?" Angela said not ready to trust this women.
"Because this case is more pressing, Mrs. Montenegro, now will you all please follow me." Kelly said growing frustrated.
"Booth usually brings us FBI related cases , why isn't he briefing us?" Brennan asked confused.
" Agent Booth has other matters to attend to, there's alot of work to be done, so please hold your questions and follow me." Kelly said.
Brennan and the other's reluctantly followed Kelly into the room used for meetings and conferences. She motioned for them to sit down, once they were all seated , she began to speak.
"At 5:45 this morning remains were found in an old junkyard , in Baltimore Maryland, that was going to be made into condo's, when the crew dug further another full skeleton was found, FBI was called in and it seems they've uncovered a mob burial site, so these next few days will be spent identifying and linking these bodies to the Mercado crime family."
"Who examined the remains at the scene, why weren't we called in when they were found?" Brennan asked angrily.
"I was called to the scene and made sure they were securely transferred, I've bought in some of your graduate students to help with the load,but you should get started right away." Kelly said.
"You still haven't told us what happened to Cam." Zach said.
"The Jeffersonian has come under new management and Dr . Saroyan has been moved to another posistion." Kelly explained
"Shouldn't we have been told about these changes before today." Angela said.
"What do you mean new management, my family is the major donor to the Jeffersonian, I'm on the board why wasn't I informed of this change." Hodgins asked confused.
"As of yesterday, you are the second major donor, the agreement for their donation included a spot on the board and some changes in the way the Jeffersonian is run."Kelly explained.
" Dr . Saroyan has been running it just fine for the past nine years, why change her position now?" Angela said. Cam was more then just a colleague she had become a good friend.
"They felt that this department needed some changes and would be better run by me." Kelly said .
"And what exactly are your qualifications?" Brennan said trying to process why they would replace Cam.
"I've got a Doctorate in forensics,MD in biology and pathology, and I was the head at Maryland General for five years." Kelly said nonchalantly.
Brennan didn't know what else to say, It was obvious this woman was qualified for the job. They obviously had alot of work to do, so she would get to the bottom of this sudden change, and any other surprises this woman might have , after the case. The first of which would be why Booth wasn't involved with this case.
"Me and my team should be getting to work now, they are still my team?" Brennan said with a little bit of attitude.
"Of course ,my being your boss doesn't change that." Kelly said.
They all walked out and got to work. Brennan and Zach started on the oldest of the remains, while Hodgins gathered particulates and Angela got to work on drawing faces to identify the victims. Brennan had hoped to be home by the time Seanna and Parker would be out of school,but with this case she knew there was no way She'd be able to leave. She hadn't heard from Booth since he dropped her off and she was beginning to get worried .
At twelve her phone started to ring and she was relieved to see it was Booth. She exited the examination area, for some privacy and answered her phone, but when she spoke it wasn't Booth on the line but an unfamiliar male voice.
" Booth.." She began, but a voice interrupted her.
"This isn't Booth, this is Agent Graham, Booth asked me to call you." The agent said.
"Where's Booth, whats going on, is he alright?" Brennan asked worried.
"He's fine , hes been in a meeting with the director and some other agents, he told me to call you so you wouldn't worry and that he'll fill you in , tonight." Agent Graham said.
"Ok, well can you let him know I've got a big case at the Jeffersonian ,so the kids will be with my Dad after school." Brennan said still a little worried about Booth.
"Will do Dr . Brennan." Agent Graham said then hung up.
Brennan went back to examining her remains ,but she couldn't help but think that Booth's meeting had something to do with the appearance of Dr. Marshal and the changes at the Jeffersonian.
"Dr . Brennan ,these remains and seven others have the same pre-mortal fractures on the back of the skull and temple." Zach said.
" They were probably struck with the same weapon, we could be dealing with one murderer, tell the grad students to check the others for the same fractures." Brennan said.
" I've identified the first victim with my facial recognition software, his name is Quentin Thomas, no known affiliation with the Mercado family, but he does have a few priors for assault and dealing. Sweetie are you alright, did you hear from Booth." Angela asked sensing something was wrong with her best friend.
"Yeah,sort of ,another agent called said he was ok, hes in some big meeting with the director, I made arrangements for my Dad to pick up Parker and Seanna from school, I didn't want them close to the lab with all the remains, so Dad said he'd watch them so they don't have to go to the daycare." Brennan said trying to hide the bad feeling she had.
"I'm sure everything's fine, sweetie , they're probably discussing some stuff about the case." Angela said to put Brennan's mind at ease.
"Yeah, your probably right, you should probably give your findings to Dr . Marshal." Brennan said changing the subject.
"I don't trust her Bren, she may be the new boss,but this sudden take over doesn't sit well with me, when this case is over, Jack and I intend to get to the bottom of this." Ange said.
She then left the area and went back to her office to identify the other remains with the skull markers.
6:45 PM
"Dr . Brennan, can I speak to you a moment." Kelly said suddenly appearing as Brennan was finishing a reconstruction of a skull.
" This skull belongs to remains 22." Brennan said handing one of the grad students the finished skull, she then turned her attention to Kelly.
"How can I help you , Dr . Marshal?" Brennan said in her serious tone.
"Call me Kelly, I noticed in your file that you have two children." Kelly said.
"Yes, Dr . Marshal, I do." Brennan said ignoring the invitation to call her by her first name.
"I want you to understand that I'm not the enemy, I believe the grad students and my self can handle the rest of the remains, you and your team should be home with your children." Kelly said.
"Why would you offer that, I conject that part of your job is to make the staff more efficient, why would you let us go home early?" Brennan asked confused.
"I'm also here to make sure my staff are happy and I'm sure you'd want to be with your children after their first day of school." Kelly expained.
"So this is your way of trying to get into our good graces." Brennan said bluntly.
" Well, I wouldn't put it quite that way, but yes." Kelly said not at all surprised at Brennan's bluntness, having read her file.
"You won't earn our respect that way, but I acknowledge your consideration, despite it's selfish motivation, excuse me ." Brennan said then left the lab.
She changed then caught up with Ange, Hodgins and Zach who were also headed toward the exit and toward the parking garage.
"What do you think her game is, I"ve tried calling Cam, but I got no answer,I think there's more to her hiring." Hodgins said, mind going straight to conspiracy theory.
"After this long day I don't care, I just want to go home to my kids and forget about those bodies in the lab, for a few hours." Ange said.
" I too am feeling the need to be with my son, I hope his first day was eventful." Zach said.
"And I miss my children and Booth, he hasn't called me yet." Brennan said.
"My ears are burning." Booth, who suddenly appeared said.
"Booth!" Brennan said walking over to him and hugging him.
"Bones, it's ok , we should go get the kids, then I've got to talk to you about some stuff." Booth said tone serious.
"Ok, I'll see you guys tomorrow." Brennan said then she hopped into their SUV.
Zach got into his car and so did Ange and Hodgins. Zach on his way to pick up Jake from his Grandmother, Hannah's mom, and Ange and Hodgins to their home where the babysitter was waiting with Mira and twins.
" Mama!" Seanna said spotting and running over to her Mother, who'd just arrived at her Grampa Max's.
"Hi baby girl, how was your first day of school." Brennan asked.
"Great mama, we went over the alphabet and colored and had recess and nap time and Grampa Max made us cookies after school!" Seanna said excitedly.
"Thanks Dad, for watching them, work was pretty hectic." Brennan said to her dad, Booth had to make a phone call so he was in the car.
"It's no problem, I love spending time with her and Parker." Max said.
"Where is Parker?" Brennan asked.
"Hes probably still on the computer, I'll tell him your here." Max said going up the stairs while she listened to Seanna tell her more about her day.
Parker came down the stairs, backpack in hand , with Max, who had become an adopted Grandfather.
"Bye Grampa Max." Parker said hugging Max. The others said there farewells and headed to the SUV.
" Hi Daddy!" Seanna said when she got into the SUV and into her booster seat.
"Hi sweetheart , did you have fun at school and Grampa Max's?" Booth asked changing his serious tone so he wouldn't worry his kids.
"Yep, school was so much fun, Grampa made us chocolate chip cookies, I saved you and Mama some." Seanna said as they drove off.
Parker was also asked about school and he offered as much information as a teenager starting high school ,shared.
They got home, ordered in for dinner and after they tucked in Seanna and Parker had headed to bed. She told Booth what was going on at the Jeffersonian and what she and the other squints thought of Dr. Kelly Marshal.
"So what do you know about all this?" Brennan asked as they sat on the couch in their living room.
"I don't know where to start." Booth said sighing.
"Is it really that bad." Brennan asked worried.
"Yeah, the meetings I had today, were with the director and the new majority donors, they said we can't be partners anymore." Booth reluctantly said.
A/N: Sorry about another cliffy but, it was already pretty long, I'll try to have another chapter up next week, thanks for reading,let me know what you think, a review and or constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.