Don't freak out on me, okay? Promise? I am not responsible for people shouting or stuff. Be warned.

You'll understand the above statement after reading the first few paragraphs.

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CHAPTER 24

I woke to darkness, an uncomfortable sitting position and the sound of my breath, too loud. For a moment panic gripped me, because I didn't know where I was. But I looked around and saw lights, so I wasn't trapped inside with hours to live… or die.

I was safe, and Booth's voice was close to me.

"Where is she! Where the fuck is she!"

"Booth?"

Was it my voice, sounding so child-like and frightened? It couldn't be, surely. I was still groggy from sleep.

Suddenly I froze. Booth's voice was tinny, as though he was speaking on the phone… I looked around, confused, and felt a painful pressure against my wrists and ankles. I couldn't move.

The first thing I saw was the big plasma screen right in front of me. This was the only source of light in the room, and it gave everything a ghostly, blue-white light.

My breath caught in my throat. Booth's voice came from the screen because he was right there. The video feed was the Jeffersonian platform, busy as always. On it, a digital Booth was shouting, calling my name, pushing people out of the way…

And I was tied to a chair, bound feet and hands, in the middle of a room I'd never been in before.

"Where is she, God dammit? Temperance! Someone answer me! Where is she?"

*

Nine hours earlier

"Anything, Bones?"

"Yes, we have a confirmed DNA match. The hair is Anne Stoker's."

I spoke as I paced my office, feeling trapped.

"I'm coming this way. All we found in Mrs Stoker's apartment was a partial footprint on the broken glass of the window, so the kidnapper kicked it until it shattered."

"She didn't hear him?"

"She had to, it was the window to her room. Bones, Mrs Stoker knew he was coming for sure. She probably went willingly."

"You said she had her daughter's best interests…"
"Because she does. The man probably threatened her with hurting Anne unless she went with him. No mother would argue."

"Fine. Do you know anything about Mr Stoker's killer? Cam finished the autopsy and claims asphyxia is the cause of death. Probably smothered by the pillow, like I'd thought. Was it the roommate?"

"Yeah. He confessed to the murder two hours ago, Keller just gave me a copy of his report. Bones, they think someone asked him to do it. The motive just wasn't clear."

"Who?"

"I don't know. Keller is still working on that angle. I think they're still keeping the guy here for interrogation before moving him to a different cell block, if you know what I mean."

"Yes, he's to be given Security Level 1 now, isn't he? He's a murderer."

"Yes, Bones. A murderer. Trial will begin in a few months, I suppose."

We were both silent for a moment, and then I sighed. "What do we do now, Booth? I mean, we've got nothing. No prints, no DNA, a partial on the shoe won't help if we have nothing to compare it to, for God's sake even when he commits murder this enigmatic man leaves nothing behind!"

"Then what does that mean? Interpret the facts, Bones."

"There are no facts!"

"Of course there are. The fact that he leaves nothing behind means something too, doesn't it?"

"Oh." I considered this, but try as I might I came up with nothing. "But all this means is that he wore latex gloves, disposed of the murder weapon far away from the scene or still keeps it with him, and didn't move the bodies. The murders all happened in the victim's homes… he'd stolen the keys to Lily's house, he picked the lock in Sandra's, he called Helen's house and killed her when she answered the door, and Jeanie is the only one who was murdered outside, walking her dog. All we have is the knife."

"And no DNA on any of the women? None of them fought back hard enough?"

"He was too strong or he surprised them. I'm sorry, Booth, but in this case we've only got your stuff. Mr Stoker's killer has answers. My stuff isn't enough."

"Then for now, that will do. Frank Bram is a dead end. Dan, that guy we met the day of the party… Agent Duncan, anyway, conducted the interrogation and concluded that there's no way in hell this guy can keep two women trapped in his home. Plus, he has an alibi for yesterday night and four of his friends to back him up. He agreed to come quickly, asked about you every five seconds, and even forgot Anne's name twice. Keller says he's not our guy, and for now I agree."

"Okay. So I'll repeat my initial question, Booth. What do we do now?"

"I was thinking about the lock of hair, actually. You found nothing, not a single trace of smoke or dirt or anything?"
"Hodgins hasn't finished his examination of the particulates. So far, he says there's shampoo for sure, he can smell it."
There was silence on his end of the line, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. The sick man had let her shower. I prayed it was by herself.

"Then that lock of hair is what's going to give us more information right now. I'm almost here, tell Hodgins to hurry with his exam. This guy made a serious mistake sending me this, because you're going to nail him."

"That won't make Hodgins go any faster."

"I know, but ask him anyway."

"See you now, Booth."

"See you, Bones."

I hung up and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to remain calm. Talk to Hodgins. Get information. Find the killer. Rescue the innocent.

"See you, Bones."
See Booth.

"Brennan?" Angela stood at my door, leaning against the frame.

"Hey, Angela."

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm…" How was I? "Tired. But calm, and determined, I think. I'm… confused, in many ways, but that can wait. I don't… that's not important. I'm worried and tense, but that doesn't matter. I'm frustrated because I want logical truths and it's been so long since I last felt like I was thinking logically. I want answers. Rational, solid answers."

Angela gave a small smile and walked over to me. "Care for a friendly hug?"

"Sure."

We stood hugging for a while and then I drew back. "Thanks, Ange. How are you?"

"I've got nothing to do. I feel… useless."

"What? Just because you haven't got any work doesn't mean you have no purpose! Angela, we always need you here."

"I know. That's why I'm not at home sleeping like I should be."

"Dr Brennan!" Hodgins interrupted us by running inside. "I've got the results and there are two anomalies!"

"Show me."

We walked quickly and Hodgins spoke faster than usual. "I was examining the separate hairs when I noticed that one wasn't the exact same colour and I thought, dye? And it was dyed, but the rest wasn't. So why would she dye a single hair? No way, right? Turns out it's from someone else with slightly lighter hair! Probably older, right, if she has to dye it? Although not necessarily old. I mean, even you dye…" Seeing the look on my face he flinched. "Moving on, we can conclude there are hairs from two different people. So I though, must be from the mother, but Cam just told me the DNA doesn't match."

"Whose is it?"

"It can't be the killer's, it's from a woman and anyway it's too long…"

I interrupted immediately. "Let's not discard that possibility yet. No conclusions without a deductive process."

"Okay, sorry. But I don't know whose it is."

"The other anomaly, Hodgins?" Angela asked beside him.
"The particulates I found in it. Definitely washed with shampoo, like I thought, Dr Brennan. And a conditioner. I can probably try and get the brands…"

I nodded. "We'll come back to that, what else?"

"Okay, so I found traces wood, pollen, and minute traces of rust near the place where the hair was cut off."

"Rust? Someone cut the hair with rusted scissors?" Angela said, looking worried.

"That's my conclusion." Hodgins answered.

We'd reached his computer up on the platform, where a graphic displaying the quantities of each element could be seen.

"Angela, take a look at the other hair, see what you can tell me. Where's Cam?" Angela nodded and said over her shoulder as she left: "In her office, I guess."

I squinted (Booth would have loved this) at the graphic and found no other unusual anomalies. Except…

"Hodgins, can you identify the spores of pollen? Because there seem to be more than one, correct?"

"Yes. In fact, there's pollen from four different plants at least, none of which are usually found in similar regions

Many plants pointed to gardening. Bram again? "I have to call Booth."

"No need." Said Hodgins, pointing behind me. I turned and saw that Booth was walking toward us.

"Booth…"

"Bones, it's two in the morning. You are not a particulate expert. If you don't drive yourself home right now I'm going to take you by force, not kidding."
"Wait a second. Booth, I have information about the case…"

"Hodgins will tell me, thank you very much. Go home. Your job is the human skeleton. Not hair follicles. I'll deal with this right now and… you're not allowed to sleep on the couch in your office, either!"

Great. Before I even opened my mouth he knew what I'd say. I felt very annoyed.

"Booth, I am always an asset to the examination and investigation of…"

"You're not an asset if you're tired. You're less of an asset if you faint on us, or drop dead. I mean it, Bones, I'm not letting you stay. Go home."

I glared at him, feeling insulted, betrayed and angry.

"I need to work!"

"You need to work?" he gave a short, cruel laugh and I recoiled, wondering who this person was and where Booth had gone in the space of an hour. "I need to work. You need to rest, I think you're useless here."

Useless?

"You arrogant idiot. What makes you think I care what you think?" The words were designed to hurt, but I wasn't prepared for the way I ended up hurting myself much more. Booth simply snorted, but the emotion wasn't reaching his eyes. This was how I knew he was acting.

"I already know you don't care, Bones. I get it, okay? You're made it abundantly clear. You couldn't give a shit. Fine. But I do care. About our case. About what will happen if you're not on top form tomorrow. About the two women…"

"Don't pull that shit with me! Do you think I don't care about them? That's why I'm staying, Booth! For them! You don't get to decide what I do or how I organise my time! Leave me the hell alone, I mean it! You have no control over my actions!"

I was furious and hurt.

"I'm not leaving you alone." His voice was quieter but sharp and decisive. Final. "Get used to me being here, Bones, I'm the kind of guy who sticks around. And I am still the Agent in charge of this investigation and it's irrational of you to stay with nothing to do. Tomorrow I need you on top form, dammit! Go!"

I gaped. How dare he say 'irrational' to me?

He was partly right, my rational side said. If I stayed now I might hinder the investigation later. But conceding defeat felt so much like losing right now. I glanced around and realised an audience was watching our fight in rapt attention. There was Cam, leaning against the wall in silent disapproval and looking tired, with bags under her eyes… There was Angela, standing in the door to her office, whose kind eyes now had widened with concern… Hodgins, only two steps behind me, staring at the floor in frustration. Even a couple of late workers and the security guard at the entrance to the lab were craning their necks to see.

Time was being lost, and it was my fault.

Without another word I ripped off my lab coat and stalked away.

*

Eight hours later…

"Where is she?" rough, raw voice. The voice I love. Familiar, but so angry…

"Booth, calm down!" Softer. She is in control now.

"Oh my God…" Choked, crying voice. Don't cry, my friend.

"Ms Montenegro, get a grip on yourself! Crying isn't going to help…!" the soft voice is also scared, but she fights to hide it.

"Shut up, Cam, she's gone!" Don't be so angry, love. Don't be so sad.

"Booth, I mean it, sit down!"

"Angela, we'll find her…" He tries to help her, to help them all, but he can't. No one can. Not even the people running from one place to another, busy, bursting with activity, my true home where I work is brimming with movement as always, I miss my home, my work... I miss being busy. Not much to do, tied to this chair...

"You can't know that, Hodgins."

"Who was the last person to see her?" a new voice. A voice I don't know.

"We were." Love, sit down. Breathe, love. "She went home. Since then, nothing."

Nothing…

The tears ran down my face and I couldn't do anything but stare at them, wishing with every fibre of my being that I could talk to them, help them, anything…

But it was too late.

Too late, Temperance.

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That's right. Now tell me your deepest, darkest secrets. Or just your thoughts on this chap, whichever you prefer.