Sorry about the delay — thanks for your patience and kind reviews. I know this is a short one, but I'm hoping to finish another chapter today. (Here's to hoping today's rainy weather makes me stay inside and keep writing!)
Disclaimer: I don't own Bones.
She had survived being beaten numerous times, had a assortment of weapons (from a variety of tribes, villains, and armed forces) pointed, aimed, and sometimes fired or hurled at her, gone without food or water for days, had been strung from a beam by her wrists, escaped being buried alive, survived being hit by a car, and lived through countless other traumatic events.
Yet despite all of her history, Brennan was quite sure she had never felt so confused, frightened, and powerless. Hand trembling, she managed to hold the clunky prison phone to her ear for her sole phone call, finally granted to her hours after her arrest.
"Caroline?" Brennan's urgent and desperate tone wasn't lost on observant prosecutor.
"Cher, are you OK?"
"No." Brennan bit her lip and swallowed, trying to regain the tenuous hold on her composure. "Caroline, I don't have very long."
"I know. Tell me what you need."
"I need you to check on Booth. I …"
"I'm on it."
"OK." Brennan was losing the fight with her emotions, letting out a telltale sniffle. "Christine …"
"She's with Max tonight, right?"
"Uh huh."
"Have I ever heard an 'uh huh' come out of the good doctor's mouth before? That hit to her head must have been harder than she realized," Caroline silently mused before speaking into the phone. "How do you want me to help with her?"
A shuddering exhale preceded Brennan's question. "You've got our POA, right?"
"Yes."
"I think that explains everything. Doesn't it?"
"Yes. When would you like her to go to Hodgins and Angela?"
Tears began to roll down Brennan's face at the mention of her friends, mentally recalling Angela's hysterical and violent outburst at the hospital just hours ago. "Is Angela all right?"
"She's calmed down." Caroline was fairly certain she was telling Brennan a lie, but she knew it was necessary. "Hodgins and I have already spoken about Christine. They're prepared."
"She should just stay with Dad tonight … it's late."
Caroline murmured an affirmative, "Uh huh. They'll get her in the morning. Does that sound OK?"
"Yes. She's got enough clothes for a few days. Make … make sure Angela has access to the bank account."
"I will." Silently, Caroline wondered if all Booth and Brennan's assets had already been frozen, but she knew it was best not to bring that up for discussion.
"Caroline? My father … he …" At a momentary loss for what to say, and knowing her every word was being monitored, Brennan hesitated before admitting, "I don't know what he'll do."
"Will he fight for Christine?"
"I don't know." She sighed. "He's aware of our POA terms, and at the time we wrote it, he agreed to all of it."
"He'll honor your wishes."
"I don't know that he will."
"I'll make sure of it." Caroline wasn't afraid of Max Kennan, and knew the man well enough to understand that if he was going to do something reckless, he wouldn't involve his granddaughter.
"I have to go — they're saying I only have a minute left."
"Dr. Brennan, I'm sorry to ask, but did they read you your charges?"
"Yes."
"Did they Mirandize you?"
"Yes." Brennan paused, absentmindedly rubbing a sore spot on her wrist left by the handcuffs. "The charges — I didn't do …"
"Not a word. We'll talk about the charges later. Maybe tomorrow. I'm going to try to come see you if they insist on keeping you."
"OK." She sniffled. "Thank you."
"You can thank me when I get you out of there. Be safe and stay quiet."
"I will."
"Is there anything else I can do?"
Brennan's response came immediately: "Kiss Christine for me and tell her I love her."
"She knows, cher," Caroline murmured. "But I will. Don't you worry about her."
POA may not be a familiar term for everyone (especially readers outside the US) — it means "power of attorney." Basically, it's something you draw up with a lawyer authorizing someone to act on your behalf.