A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I've been trying to update as quickly as I can but I've been waiting for every five. We're nearing the end. Chapter 29 out of 36 chapters. I hope that you guys are enjoying the fic and will stick around for the second one.
29 CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
On the way to the Jeffersonian Lance Sweets dialed his two favorite patients and was relieved to discover that they hadn't yet arrived at the hospital. That relief was soon replaced by a few seconds of fear when Agent Booth practically roared into the phone when Lance informed him that he had 'borrowed' Zack for the day from the mental institution and was bringing him to the Jeffersonian lab. Luckily it was somewhat hidden as Temperance excitedly spoke into the phone so to speak to her old intern whom she missed dearly. This whole situation wasn't made any better when Zack informed Seeley over the phone that he'd need Parker for testing and therefore he probably shouldn't be admitted right away.
"This is my son we're talking about Zack, not some bug or a bit of brain matter!" Agent Booth yelled into his phone, tightly grasping the steering wheel.
"We realize this Agent Booth, but I'm sure you're also concerned about your coworker as are we all.. And this may be the only chance we get to find her in time.." Lance spoke as he grasped his own steering wheel, squeezing it about three times as he turned into the parking lot. He found himself praying over and over again in his head that for once this man would listen.
A long silence on the other end which was soon interupted by Temperance Brennan who was clearly leaning rather closely to the phone. "With Zack and myself together we'll find something Booth." More shifting on their end of the line led them to the belief that Booth was growing increasingly uncomfortable. "What? It's true. You know it's true."
"I don't know anything Bones." Seeley frowned trying to shrug her off. "We might not find anything..."
"Dad." Came Parker's voice from the backseat which caused his dad to turn around with a frown, as though the words hadn't settled in. "I want to help." Parker said very innocently, even behind his dirt streaked cheeks and messy hair.
"Parker, you don't have to..." Seeley began, not even looking where he was going on the street but luckily they were at a red light.
"That is a true observation but the ultimate decision is left ultimately up to the individual." Doctor Brennan explained as she looked at the little boy who stared back at her, taking in her words. Agent Booth meanwhile gave her a little warning look though there was nothing he could say in argument. "Meaning you, Parker. It's entirely up to you."
"It is?" Parker blinked before turning his gaze onto his father as if awaiting his approval.
Agent Seeley Booth swallowed. He always ended up in these messes. While he knew his son needed to go to the hospital, time was running out, and if his son was ANYONE else they would have hung them up by the heels to find Krys. This is where Temperance's ability to rationalize instead of emotionalize came in handy. "Yes, Parker. It is."
Parker looked down at his lap for a moment and then right back up. "I want to help Krys."
Lance found himself slamming his fists down on the rubber of his steering wheel in triumph. This was a step going somewhere, maybe breaking out Zack from the institution, though a felony, would have the ultimate pay off. Speaking of, his hostage had decided to speak up right then and there into the phone.
"Sweets is pounding his fists against the material of the steering wheel as though in a fit of rage but he has a look on his face that resembles a smile." Zack stated what he was witnessing from where he sat in the passenger seat as he admired the driver's reaction (which had now turned to startled, even accusatory). "What does it mean?"
"I'd assume celebration Doctor Addy." Temperance spoke up already back into teacher/student mode even though they were separated by many streets and things in between.
"Don't get too excited. You've got him for an hour. That's it." Seeley cut them short as he turned the wheel. To the Jeffersonian they'd go.
"Hodgins will be allowed to assist me, won't he?" Zack asked totally unaffected by the moment.
"Listen kid, you're not in the position to request anything-" Seeley began before Temperance interupted him once again.
"Whatever you need." And she hung up the phone for Seeley who could only sigh dramatically in response.
Upon reaching the lab Lance and Zack hurried in. Zack was greeted by hugs from everyone: Cam, Angela, Hodgins... Even though he had escaped they didn't seem all that alarmed, deep down they figured it'd be like the last occasion that he appeared on their lab steps, all would be right in the end even though it shouldn't be. Soon Booth, Bones, and Parker also arrived, just as Zack was pulling on his gloves alongside Hodgins who was doing the same.
Once Temperance joined them Zack bent down on his knees and took Parker's shoe. Temperance immediately brightened, obviously thrilled to have her original and very intelligent intern back and Jack, without even speaking, knew exactly what they were going for and he moved briskly to his station so to test the bottom dirt contents for specific contents so that they could deduct what area of the woods that Parker had been in. If they found that, then they could find Krys... Hopefully, for all of their sakes, she'd be alive.
Lance ran a hand through his dark black hair from the seat that he sat in, hunched over he realized that he had been holding his breath. He attempted to shut his eyes for a moment and take in the moment, or just forget about it all together. The worry was just too much. Catching a glimpse of a bare foot and untied sneaker he looked up to see Parker in a chair that was far too big for him as he kicked his little legs.
"I really appreciate this Parker." Lance found himself uttering quietly doing his best to give him a smile equal to the greatfulness that he felt but he ended up looking ill.
"You're actually worried... Aren't you Sweets?" Booth asked rather seriously as he pieced it together. He originally thought that it had been a passing phase but now with how the kid looked from worry and lack of sleep he could only guess. And Lance's lack of response didn't help any.
It was then that Temperance attempted to make him feel better. "It'll be alright Sweets."
"You're lying Doctor Brennan." He responded with the usual weak smile that he sported with her when she tried so desperately to be helpful. "But as always, I appreciate the sentiment."
In hearing a gasp of excitement the group turned around just in time to see Zack and Jack Hodgins practically racing one another as they hurried up the steps and in front of the group, trying to push one another over. Everyone could see that Jack was holding something and judging by the expression on the two's faces... They had found something. And something big.
"Well?" Cam questioned not wishing to beat around the bush, they didn't have time for this. "What have you got peanut gallery?"
"They're not nuts." Temperance countered, she never understood certain phrases her team used.
"Speak for yourself." Angela spoke up shaking her head, living in the moment she found a little bit of light heartedness in all of the darkness they had been experiencing.
"We ran tests on the particles beneath Booth's son's shoes-" Zack began only to be interupted by his partner in crime.
"Dirt." Jack explained more so for the average joe's who didn't understand Zack's embelished lingo.
"Moving the particles onto the slide I gave them to Hodgins to analyze." Zack went on, only to have the topic picked up by his best friend.
"And then I looked at the tiny specks underneath a big lens." Jack gave a little smile, like Angela trying to make the best of things. In a rushed fashion he held out the piece of paper to Booth, he was the head of this operation after all, like it or not, and at least now Jack had gotten used to him, conspiracy theorist or not. "Judging by the erosion of certain particles they would have to come from a very certain part of the river that runs through the woods. More specifically.." As Jack spoke Zack moved to a board behind Cam and pulled down the map, Hodgins was soon to follow and lifted his hand to point at a certain point at the map. "Here."
No sooner than the exact pointing had been happening Agent Booth had nodded and was on the go. Everyone else could barely function due to the sudden rush of excitement of actually getting somewhere with this case and in finding the data analyst. Seeley walked right over to Parker and picked him up, the poor kid was growing too tired to walk anywhere let alone be stubborn and argue else wise.
"Parker, think you can do one last thing?" Seeley asked his son as he headed toward the door, Temperance not far behind. "If we get you into that section in the woods can you lead us to where you were?"
"I think so." Parker nodded.
"Good enough for me." Booth nodded again as he moved outside, Brennan on his heels.
"Booth! You have to wait for me!" Temperance called out in protest as the three exited leaving the team behind.
Meanwhile Jack and Zack looked at one another before announcing excitedly: "KING OF THE LAB!"
Cam couldn't help but give a tired little smile and shook her head. "Some things never change." And with that she walked away to make some calls. No sense in Booth going there by himself all willy nilly with no backup.
Lance had been left standing all alone in the middle of the floor with no where to go and yet he looked like if someone snuck up behind him and said 'boo' he'd jump about twenty feet. He wanted to go, he needed to go and yet couldn't budge. That's when he felt a hand on his shoulder so he turned his head around.
"Come on." Jack Hodgins nodded his head, appearing calm as he stood behind the psychologist whom he often seemed to loathe. "I'll drive."