((Lady Sinirial - Thanks for readingཀ I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.

Bond Jane - Thank you for your wise words of encouragement, so here's another chapter.

Cassiopeia823- Thank you for your kind review! Vincent is actually from the show (one of many) and I'm borrowing him. Krys is an original I threw in there and I promise she's anything but perfect. You'll see in this fanfic and ESPECIALLY in the second one if I continue writing.

All - This chapter is a bit longer but another character is introduced, and important information for the other chapters to follow. :) Tell me what you kids think!

-Leah))

6CHAPTER SIX

Doctor Temperance Brennan had just stepped into a hot shower when she received the phone call from Agent Seeley Booth. It was everyone's worst fear (even Temperance had managed some natural, human worry): Another body. She finished her shower in what must have been a world record time and barely had time to dress herself on the way out to her car. In fact she drove the entire way to the Jeffersonian with her top five buttons undone showing the black fabric of her bra and her skinny upper chest.

Though Temperance relished as much as she could in the idea that she could disconnect herself from the victims and the worries over the violence and focus solely on the professional scientific facts, not the emotional. But today something was different and she wasn't sure she liked it. Her skinny fingers clutched the harsh, cold material of the steering wheel as she drove. She found herself holding her breath several times, and it wasn't from the still damp and newly combed hair atop her head that was dripping water onto the black pants suit.

But Temperance Brennan could remain focused on one thing for a prolonged period of time, even if it was with her thoughts. Her brain racked as many things as it could manage on the topic, tossing out all of the plausible explanations and deep down hoping the body that had been discovered was not related. Not that she didn't enjoy the scientific pursuit for knowledge and facts, but the idea of some person seeking out numerous people just for the sake of killing them was more than an inconvenience. To many, the very thought would be terrifying, let alone if it became a fact itself.

Slipping out of the car she kicked her toes against the parking lot in order to fit the shoe on her slender feet. Grabbing her blue lab coat from the backseat she shut the door, slinging it over her arms she walked across the parking lot at a quickened pace toward the Institute. Her blouse was still undone and she had only managed to do up a button by the time she reached the doors to swipe her card and enter the building. Then again what did she care for modesty? Booth certainly didn't when she walked in on him in the bathtub reading his 'graphic novella' or something or other. She saw it all, and under questioning she had to admit, he certainly wasn't that bad off.

Temperance bowed her head to clip on her ID card, feeling the cool metal between her fingers as she pinched when she heard the familiar shout.

"Bones!" Agent Seeley Booth immediately cut her off at the door, holding out a folder which she took and opened, her eyes scanning it. Even though she hadn't spent a prolonged time looking at her partner she could see that he wasn't in his usual FBI attire. Seeley wore a brown leather coat, a green rocker t-shirt with a faded design, and blue jeans. Definitely not protocol. His light brown hair was a mess and it looked as though she wasn't the only one called in last minute and on a Saturday.

In catching the look Temperance was giving him Seeley wiped at his eyes as he was sans his usual cup of coffee from the local bodega, and sighed tiredly. "I have Parker this weekend." He explained, holding out his hand in a lazy 'hold your horses' type of gesture. "We spent all last night watching some cartoon marathon and chowing on junk food." Another breath as his vision sorted itself out and he looked to Doctor Brennan. "I couldn't find a sitter so short notice. Don't worry, he's in Sweets' office sleeping on the couch." He shrugged, still waking up and having some difficulty without the aid of a heated beverage.

"I didn't ask." Temperance informed him, flipping one of the pages of the file as she walked, her heels clicking over the tiles.

Booth narrowed his eyes at the woman. "Well sorry for thinking that you'd be capable of a human emotion." Temperance lifted her eyes and Booth cringed under the very gaze, waving his hand in the air to keep her from speaking. "Sorry. Sorry. It's early. And Rebecca is going to kill me if she finds out I brought Parker here when I was supposed to have it off." He sighed, he obviously had a lot on his mind and Temperance could see that, even if Lance Sweets claimed she wasn't capable of connection at times on her own agenda. With Seeley, for some reason, she always knew.

"That's why you called me? So that you have an actual physical manifestation alibi for Rebecca when she calls? Cam can do that." Temperance looked to him, not exactly a ray of sunshine herself in the wee hours of the morning. She knew it hadn't been the 'right' thing to say, but it was all her logical brain could currently allow.

"No Bones." Agent Booth rolled his eyes in chiding, which he often did with the woman when she was being her usual brainiac self and wasn't comprehending the most simple common sense things. "The police think it's the same body. Your squints are looking into it--" Seeley massaged his temples with his fingertips as they walked.

"That's speculation." Temperance corrected him firmly, though she was dreading the same thing. Before entering the lab she handed Booth her lab coat needing to adjust before she entered the room so that she looked professional in front of her team. In doing so the black fabric of her bra was clearly visible along with quite a bit of flesh as she hadn't finished buttoning up. She lowered her brown eyes and continued her work, as Booth's eyes followed her sight line making contact with her chest.

"Whoah Bones!" Booth exclaimed in surprise, bringing the blue coat she had handed him in front of his eyes, preventing himself from looking at temptation though he'd try to pass it off as modesty. Hopefully Temperance wouldn't see through it.

"What?" Bones demanded, looking up as she finished the top button, not understanding what his alarm was for, at least until she caught him peeking out without speaking, pointing toward her neckline. Brennan rolled her eyes and even found herself becoming a bit annoyed when she realized how childishly he was behaving. "You see flesh and bone all day. You have a child. It's not like you haven't seen this before!"

"That's not the point Bones." Booth shook his head as she took the lab coat from him and began slipping her arms through.

"You have to be from another planet." Bones shook her head, reaching into her pockets and pulling out her earings which she clipped on with a tilt of her head to each side.

"Just call me Your Favorite Martian." Agent Booth teased with a bit of a smile, practically hopping through the door that led to the lab and even from where he stood he could see the large number of labcoat-ed and suit-ed bodies hustling about.

"I don't know what that means." Bones frowned with a furrowed brow, but she didn't have much time to get the explanation for another shout came from across the lab.

"BOOTH!" Came the voice of Krys Robin. The partners looked up and spotted a right hand with a yellow folder that clearly belonged to the five foot three data analyst.

They saw her just in time to see her bumped into by a much bigger man that neither one recognized and she nearly toppled right over. Temperance noticed Booth straighten and tense up and on instinct she reached out her hand, lightly touching his wrist with her cold fingertips. Booth often acted on instinct and passion, he never thought things through and that meant getting riled up when there was no need for it. People could handle themselves whether it be herself, Cam, or this Krys girl. She felt his wrist muscles relax somewhat and she looked back to Krys watching her adjust herself and continue coming toward them, covering the distance of the lab weaseling in and out of the moving

"She shouldn't be out in the lab without supervision." Bones rationalized, though she was secretly glad for the distraction than thinking on the idea that there might be an evil serial killer on the loose. Her eyes caught glimpse of Krys spinning around rather quickly to glare at a suit clad figure whom had bustled by rudely.

"She doesn't need a chaperone Bones." Booth hushed her loud voice, slowly guiding her down to a whisper. Last thing he wanted was people hearing her, let alone the subject of her dismay though he figured she was just taking out her frustration about the case out on anyone she could that wasn't a part of her team. He turned his dark colored eyes on Bones, tilting his head forward as he exchanged the conversation like one might a secret. "You don't like her, do you?"

"And you do?" Temperance studied Booth's face as he seemed occupied with now adjusting the sleeve cuff of his leather jacket. Bones continued on regardless. "Her methods are unorthodox." She admitted quietly, though she knew from a scientific, logical reasoning that it was a poor excuse and the only reason she didn't like her was because she wasn't, what Booth would call, a 'Squint'.

"This whole lab is unorthodox." Seeley spoke up, his eyes suddenly very harsh, yet passionate. Something Temperance could accept and even enjoy about the man. One thing was for sure, when he looked at her like that, she simply could not look away.

"Hodgins is unorthodox, Angela is, I am." His words hung in the air, and closing his eyes he shook his head. "You don't like her, you don't like me Bones." He laid it out there, though he wasn't sure why he was on the defense. Maybe it was because he had chosen Krys to be the one to come to the lab because he actually loved it there, and had informed her of such. Now Bones' attitude was making him out to be some sort of liar! Booth was many things, but a liar? No. And there was more to the story than Brennan knew. "You don't know everything Temperance."

Doctor Brennan inhaled for the first time since Seeley had begun speaking before releasing her words on an exhale. "To be honest I am impressed with her credentials." Bones admitted quietly. It was like pulling teeth out of an alive being.

Seeley immediately brightened, now that they were off a rough subject and he could be eat ease. "There. You see? You're impressed." Booth pointed his finger at her. They both looked up and saw Krys hit someone on the side with a folder after being bumped into for the hundredth time. Very unprofessional, and yet amusing, though Booth knew he probably shouldn't have been. Oh well. It was early. "Well, you were."

"Agent Booth." Came a breathless Krys as she finally reached her destination, standing in front of the two partners. She looked a bit disheaveled herself, in blue jeans and a white shirt with a black pullover, spotting a bed head. In her right hand was a can of red Amp energy drink which explained the burst of energy she was sporting so early. Her brown eyes were also focused solely on Seeley, something Temperance couldn't ignore.

"I've got a question." Krys was looking up at the agent now and though Bones was standing beside him not once did she look her way. Why was this girl so damned difficult and wouldn't even address her? Then again, deep down, yes Temperance had a deep down, she doubted that she was helping by being so cold.

"What is it kiddo?" Seeley asked, doing his best to smile in spite of the circumstances involving another body. Temperance caught his name for the data analyst and couldn't help but wonder if he was still in 'Parker Mode' or if he gave everyone he worked with nicknames like 'Cam', 'Bones', and 'Kiddo'. She'd have to ask Sweets about the matter later. Either way the group of three were moving again, toward the center of the lab where the newest body laid along side the first three remains.

"Well, I was looking into the Jeffersonian computer system, you know, what I always do when I'm bored." By this point Krys was jogging beside Agent Booth, just to keep up as her legs were a tad shorter than theirs.

"Yeah. Just your usual thing." Seeley Booth shrugged her off though Temperance caught his amused chuckle, she would give the total opposite reaction, even if it was just to be difficult.

"That's not allowed." Doctor Brennan snipped, her voice low and yet stern, like a disapproving teacher. "You don't have the clearance..." She began again, trying to justify her own disapproval in the midst of her surprise.

"Who's Zack Addy?" Krys phrased outright, causing the two to stop walking and she too stood her ground. Perhaps the thing that shook Doctor Brennan the most was that the girl's eyes were focused directly on her, unmoving and firm for the first time. That look combined with the question was enough to cause Bones' mind and feet to come to a halt. Luckily Booth's voice kept her from responding.

"Well that sucks..." Booth's voice trailed off as his eyes landed on the third addition to the serial killer's tally.

Bones was all too relieved, in a weird way, for the body and immediately separated herself from Krys, not giving her an answer and immersed herself in her work. The gloves were on, Jack Hodgins and Vincent the intern by her side also looking a bit sleepy but never the less focused on their work. Angela stood off to the side, amidst the other doctors and agents whom were moving about at a panicked state. Now with the possibility of a third body, they had taken over the Jeffersonian.

The victim was a young boy, maybe 15 or younger, in nearly 'perfect' condition if you didn't count the acid burns around his mouth, the strangulation marks around his neck, and the burned pink patches on different spots on his skin. Near the body the boy's clothes, torn, dirtied, and tattered were folded on a silver table side. Her gloved fingers moved over the boy's lips, Hodgins was taking swabs, Vincent scribbling down notes as other interns poked the body from all angles.

"He's a kid." Booth sighed, his face serious, his strong eyes even pained by the sight. "He's not much older than Parker. This is someone's kid." He shook his head again in disbelief so to rid of the thoughts, Cam also looked away and to the floor. Sometimes this job was tough, and even the most harsh and closed off couldn't handle it. Angela reached up and rubbed the agent's back reassuringly before she returned to her own work with a heavy sigh.

After a long while of quiet as Bones and her coworkers poked at the body Doctor Saroyan came into view, toting her own clipboard as she fended off questions from two rather large suit wearing men. Looking totally exasperated she brought her hands to her hips. "Doctor Brennan, not to rush you but I have half of the Federal Bureau breathing down my back for answers because it's my Department and my people." Judging by Cam's face she was overwhelmed and less than pleased by the prospects.

With so much flesh and not enough bone Temperance knew she was out of her element, though she knew enough about the human body to deduct the obvious. "Time of death judging by the lack of decomposition is about 11 PM last night." Bones announced to Cam, though everyone else was leaning on her every word. Her fingers moved up toward the mouth, tracing the pink patches. "Forced acid intake by the mouth." Her hands made their way lower to the ribs, tracing them. "Bruising by the ribs indicate hard blows, enough to cause internal bleeding which eventually led to death."

"Examination of the stomach contents showed very little." Mister Nigel-Murray spoke up, cringing. The smell of stomach acid was still on him, and the Brit in him didn't like it one bit.

"Which means..?" Temperance indicated. Before this was a lab it was also a learning Institute and no matter the circumstance, serial killer or not, she'd treat it as such.

"If the internal bleeding didn't kill him first the malnutrition did." Vince looked up, his eyes moving across the growing crowd. "Did you know people can live up to five to seven days without food? Less than without water. The Japanese made a film about it which you Americans later remade. An impressive view of media.." And he had done it again.

Hodgins then took over saving the intern from further embarassment or tongue lashing from less than appreciative strangers, swirling more contents around in a vial. "Two different types of dirt on the body indicate the body was killed one place and dumped another. Traces of concrete on the soles of the feet."

Temperance looked up with a frown, giving a heavy hearted nod. She knew. "All signs point to the same conclusion."

"Bones. In English." Seeley spoke up quickly, in a rush himself to have some solid answers to cling to.

Temperance straightened, blinking as she simplified her conclusion: "Same killer."

"That's wicked stressful." Lance Sweets concluded appearing from behind the group, easily fitting between the ranks of the FBI Agent and the squints.

Booth shook his head with a heavy sigh. "I'll notify the bureau." He reached to pull his phone out from his leather pocket before looking to Sweets. "You're supposed to be with Parker." First and foremost he was a dad, even with dead bodies laying in front of him and a risk growing.

"Yeah. I'm a doctor not a sitter." Lance countered, the only one dressed to impress in his usual suit that was too large for him. His tie loose around his neck. Though he soon retracted upon receiving a glare from the agent. "He's fast asleep. Nothing to worry about." The doctor reassured him before looking to the body of the young man and cringing. Somehow a dead kid was less interesting than poking at a brain. This was no reward.

"I hate this. I hate this." Angela repeated, shaking her head she couldn't take it anymore and turned to leave, bumping right into Krys who stumbled back into a short, stout woman.

Caroline Julian, the ballsy lawyer whom often worked closely with the Jeffersonian, had made her entrance. Red hair cropped neatly atop her head wearing a black pants suit she upturned her nose, looking to Cam whom was supposed to be in charge. "Have you no control over these people?"

"None at all." Doctor Saroyan countered cooly, crossing her arms over her green dress shirt clad chest with a low dipped neckline.

"Well get some." Caroline sassed, the woman had always been quick to snap back and keep those in order. If she didn't no one else would. "We've got the press clamoring outside for any bit of information. I need to know everything that you people know and that your people's people know so that we can be ready to brace ourselves for any backlash." Caroline folded her arms in front of her, awaiting for someone to speak up but it looked like that once again, the responsibility fell on her. "I expect you all to act with professionalism in knowing this new information that has come to light. You will speak to no one outside. We don't want to cause an alarm." Looking to the group as a whole she warned seriously: "Professional."

"Like totally." Sweets announced with a lopsided grin trying to be reassuring. Caroline however seemed less than pleased, even more so when she glanced toward the data analyst. All she saw was Krys trying to blow her bangs out of her face so many times that it was comedic... To most anyways.

"Are we hiring straight from Home Ec. Or what?" Caroline phrased boldly, a jab at the young ages in the room to which everyone ignored. Except for Lance who sighed obviously tired of such judgements because of all of his degrees, while Krys was bold enough to glare. Since no one was speaking up Caroline took the liberty once more.

"Booth." Seeley tore his eyes away from the victim and looked at Caroline. "The Bureau wants you beside me as we address the new developments to the public... Selectively." Booth didn't nod but he didn't say no either, he seemed speechless, but he certainly wasn't happy about it. Today he had Parker. How would he handle this mess? "Meet me in thirty in the Conference Room." And without waiting for a response the lawyer turned around and walked away. Everyone meanwhile turned their attention on Booth whom, with a shake of his head, brought himself back to 'reality'.

"Someone get me some coffee." He grunted, before he too, walked away.