I don't own Bones, I know I have 206 in my body, but the Bones from Fox isn't mine.

This one ran long but I wanted to finish it.

The Persistence in the Pursuit

Hodgins found him kneeling on the ground screaming her name repeatedly.

"Booth, Booth, look at me!"

He slapped him across the face.

Booth instantly jumped up and punched Hodgins.

"Whoa, buddy. Ok let's talk here."

Booth stopped his fist from contacting Hodgins' face again, and looked at him. His jaw was already starting to bruise.

"Sorry, man."

"It's ok. I would have done the same thing."

Booth laughed, "No you wouldn't."

"I know I just like to think I would. What's going on?"

"She's not here."

"What?"

"The transmitter fell out. The killer must have transferred her to another car."

"Well let's go find him."

"Jack look around you. How can we find anything here? I don't even know what direction they went."

"Are you giving up?"

Booth realized the implication in the words. He knew he would never give up. Never. He walked around the perimeter, noticing the tire tracks in the mud.

"No, I would never give up. I just jumped out of a helicopter, a little hiking won't stop me, but I want you to stay here."

"Why? I just got here. You said I could decide."

"I know, but I am not going to be the one to tell your wife that you're not coming home, and I sure as hell, am not going to tell your son about his father, so you are staying here. Besides I need someone with a phone that has reception in case we need more help."

"Here's the transmitter. I will signal you when we are in place. If I can't talk, I will use a serious of clicks. One means get help, two means we're on the way. Otherwise, I will talk to you. I can hear you, so if you have questions only yes of no answers. Got it?"

"Yes, like we did for Brodsky."

"You got it. See you, and wish me luck."

"Good luck Booth. Get in there and bring her home."

"All right men, just like the last time except this time's for real. Let's go get my Bones."

He led the group of four men into the woods. Booth was glad for the training he received in the army, because he was able to track anything. He knelt to the ground and found the tracks from the Jeep. He led them up the mountain in search of Bones.

Booth was thankful for the daylight, and at the same time, he wished for dark. He knew how to hide, whether it was light or dark, but his men weren't as skilled as he was. They didn't know how to stand so still, the person looking at them would think that they weren't there. That was something he learned as a sniper.

There were times when his target walked right by him and never saw him. That skill took a long time to learn. You had to be so confident that you didn't move no matter how close the other person was. Most people move too soon, and that's when they are caught.

Booth led the team, making sure everyone stayed behind him. He had confidence in Sweets' theory, that the killer was alone, so he knew there wouldn't be a lookout. He hoped this wasn't the first time, Sweets was wrong.

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B&B&B&B&B&B

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The killer took off the victim's shoes and socks.

"Temperance, I always start with the toes, because they are the part that touches the floor. I like to start at the bottom and work my way up. It is quite easy to cut off a toe. You just need to feel for the joint and squeeze the shears hard."

He picked up a pair of shears and showed them to Bones.

"See how sharp I keep them. I sharpen them once a week."

Mr. Plum had, had enough; he began to beg for his life.

"Please don't hurt me. I will do anything, just don't hurt me."

"Oh, Temperance, this is my favorite part, I love to hear them beg. Does it not sound wonderful?"

"Lee, why do you do this?"

He stood back up and looked at her, with his head tilted to the side.

"I must play the game Temperance."

She hated the way he said her name. He enunciated each syllable so it sounded like Tem-per-ance.

"Why?"

She was still trying to distract him, hoping that Booth would arrive soon. The sun was high in the sky by now, and she had been missing for over 12 hours. Where was he?

He stepped closer to her.

"Because it must be done, and when I die I must hand it down to my protégé. I was hoping you could provide that for me."

He touched her abdomen, caressing it.

"Is the baby a boy or a girl?"

She didn't want to tell him.

"We don't know."

"Temperance, do not lie to me. It will only cause more pain. I am capable of causing so much pain."

She wondered if he knew.

"A girl."

"A boy would be better, but if I teach a girl correctly, she could do it."

"Teach her?"

"Yes, Temperance, she would need to be taught the correct way to kill. You must always follow the order of things. Everything must be done in order. Order is very important."

"You want to teach my baby to kill like you do?"

"Yes Temperance. That is why you are here, so I could have the baby. Then maybe I will let you go, but I will probably kill you. I so enjoy killing. Like this."

He quickly turned around and took off four of the victim's toes on his right foot. He did it with such precision and accuracy, that it took seconds to complete the task.

Mr. Plum screamed in agony. Blood spurted out all over Bones, and the killer. She saw a look of ecstasy on his face. Before she could react, he reached over and took off three toes on his other foot.

Bones couldn't believe what she saw. The victim was bleeding all over the floor, he passed out shortly after his fifth toe was removed, and the killer just laughed.

"Now, Temperance, I am done playing games. I know you have been trying to distract me, and I was ok playing your little game, but now I need to get to work."

Bones started to cry. He saw right through her. He knew what she was doing all along. She tried to think of a way out of this situation, but her mind was blank. All she could see was Mr. Plum slumped in the chair with blood flowing onto the floor. Even closing her eyes didn't help.

Where was Booth? If he discovered her missing at seven a.m., which was when he got up, he would immediately get the task force together and turn on the transponder. She knew they were more than 200 miles from the Hoover.

He would need a helicopter, but Hacker would give him one, she was sure of that. Helicopters fly at about 200 miles per hour. That would mean he would take about two hours to find her. He would have to hike into the woods, and since she was asleep, she didn't know how far they were in. The average person walks a mile in about 15 minutes, but without all the variables, she couldn't solve the problem.

He should be here by now. Something must have happened. Maybe he's not coming. She had to do something, but what about her baby.

Mr. Plum woke up. He was crying freely now. She saw resignation in his eyes. He knew he was going to die. He had given up hope.

"Temperance, what do I cut off next?"

She turned her head and didn't answer.

"Answer me!"

"No, I won't play your sick game anymore. What you're doing is wrong, and I will not be a part of it."

"Temperance, I can cut off your toes next. You could still live without toes. I could still have the baby, but you would no longer be able to walk. That would be a shame, so I will ask you again. What do I cut off next?"

Just as he asked, she heard a bird singing outside the window. It was a beautiful sound, she thought about how beauty could be found even under the harshest conditions.

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B&B&B&B&B&B

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They had been running up hill for almost two hours. Both he and his men were exhausted they needed to rest soon. If they went on much longer, they wouldn't be able to take down the killer.

"Take ten, guys."

They stopped. The air was thick with humidity. They all took out their canteens, and drank. Booth could still see the tracks from what looked like a Jeep. He wondered how much further they had to go. All the men he chose were in great shape, but running uphill in high humidity for two hours would exhaust anyone. Just as he was ready to begin again, he heard an ear-piercing scream cut through the air.

He had had enough training to know not to rush into a situation.

"Everyone gather round."

They all huddled close.

"We have to be close, be sure to stay in formation. No one enters until I give the ok. First, we check out the perimeter, and then we look for the condition of the victims. I know that wasn't Bones who screamed, so he must have taken her and his next victim. Be careful. I don't have any idea how he is armed, but I do know he is insane."

They proceeded to ascend the mountain. Keeping low and moving slower. Booth knew they were close.

He saw the shack in the distance. He again signaled them to stop. Using hand signals only, he pointed to two men, and sent them around back, waiting for them to come back.

When they returned, they shook their heads signaling that there was no exit. There was only one window, on the side of the building. Booth crept up to it, and sat beneath it. He carefully lifted an object that resembled a periscope, looking around the interior of the building. He signaled to his men to reassemble.

Again not speaking he told them, two victims and one killer, both victims tied in chairs.

He went back to the window. He again looked and when the killer's head was turned, he tried to get Bones' attention. She didn't see him.

He sat down again waiting for him to turn around. He signaled Charlie to make a noise on the far side of the shack.

He waited, and watched. He heard him yelling at her. It took all his control, not to rush into the situation.

Then, Charlie sang like a bird. He was shocked; he never knew Charlie could do that.

It was enough to distract the killer again.

Charlie repeated the sound.

Bones looked at the window, and Booth placed his hand to his lips to keep her quiet.

He went back to his men.

They moved away from the shack.

"He has a gun. I saw it on the table next to him. Bones knows we are here, but she is tied to a chair. We have to get him away from the victims, and the gun."

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Bones knew he would come. Booth was here, and everything would be ok now. She looked around the room, and realized that there was only one entrance into the cabin. She saw the gun on the table next to the killer. If he came through the door, he would be shot.

How could she distract him, so Booth could get in?

"The fingers."

"Ah, yes, Temperance, the fingers."

Booth heard her talking. She was crying.

The killer went over to the victim and picked up his hand.

"They are coming to get you."

He stopped and looked at her.

"What did you say?"

"They are coming to get you."

"No one knows where I am, Temperance."

"Booth does."

Booth wondered what she was doing. Why was she talking to him?

"I have a transmitter in my ear, and Booth knows right where I am."

He approached her and pulled her hair forcing her head around. Booth again had to control his impulses.

"Where is it? I don't see anything?"

"It's in there, it's just well hidden."

Booth realized what she was doing. She had caused him to move away from the table to look in her ear.

He signaled to two of his men to go under the window, the rest were to follow him. He went to the door and slowly opened it, with his gun in his hand, pointed directly at the killer. The killer turned toward Booth pulling a gun and pointing it at the baby.

"Let them go. It's over now."

"Agent Booth, how nice to see you. I will not be letting anyone go. You see I have the advantage."

Booth saw Charlie in the window. He had a perfect shot, but Booth was in the way if he missed. Booth took one-step sideways giving Charlie just the clearance he needed. He pulled the trigger, and the killer slumped to the floor.

Booth approached him still holding his gun. He kicked the gun away from him, and knelt to feel for a pulse. He was dead.

Booth breathed a sigh of relief, and began to untie Bones.

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The hurricane is coming tonight, so if I don't lose power I will post on Monday morning, but if I don't have electricity, I will post as soon as possible. This is almost done, and I would like to thank all my reviewers for the support they have given me.

I may post tonight, if I finish the last chapter. Reviews will help.