17.
Might just get this done by Thanksgiving! Thanks to those who have reviewed, you are my reason to write! :)
"What now?" Sweets asked as he stood up but with his back still to Wittner. "You can kill me but you're done."
"And how do you think that is?" Wittner asked with a laugh.
Sweets stood up and turned around to face the man who had a gun Sweets assumed he had taken off Mahaffey.
"You chased the mouse but he cat left to play." Sweets explained to Wittner in a voice that made Wittner sound stupid. "You chased Mahaffey down here but he's not your concern. Sure he's quiet now but my team, they've got your number."
"Right and who's going to believe them?" Wittner asked with a laugh but Sweets could sense Wittner was a tiny bit nervous.
"You're right, no one will believe a pathologist, an intern and a conspiracy buying entomologist - even if they are the brightest in their field with a lab that was recently blown up …"
"Destroying the only evidence in this case." Wittner said with a smile.
"Not the only evidence." Sweets said reaching into his pocket slowly and pulled out the cypher he had grabbed from the table before the lab went up.
"Gibberish on a page." Wittner said.
"Not if you're the best in your field." Sweets said. "Then it's all pretty clear. I know what it means, they know what it means, and I'm pretty sure that anything else can be cleared up by Genevieve."
"She's dead." Wittner said.
"Not when she left with the nut jobs as you call them. And I'm pretty sure they've called in some bigger guns than you have." Sweets said looking at the clues on the page. The last one caught his attention, the one they hadn't completely solved, PATIENT MP WB.
"You're bluffing again." Wittner said.
"See, if you knew me you'd know I was a terrible lair." Sweets said as the sounds of sirens approached in the distance. "I wonder if those are my friends or your friends, hired guns anyway – I imagine you don't really have friends."
"Friends are useless, money is the key."
"I think friends come in when you need them the most." Sweets said, his mind slipping back to the clue for a second. If the unknown man was at Davenport when it was open years ago, why would he know about a patient there now? Sweets wondered as his eyes narrowed.
"What, what are you thinking about?" Wittner asked.
"Just the last clue. One last thing that the man left behind." Sweets said glancing down at it again. He noted that the one clue that set them all of was Iliam, the code word for the restarted experiment, yet it was also the only clue that was crossed out. Why is that one crossed out, was it maybe not what this is all about? Is he leaving a clue that something is more important? Was that one just done since he completed the equations?
"Look kid, if you have something to tell me then you'd better get out with hit." Witter said holding out his gun.
"It's nothing Wittner, it's over now, those are FBI sirens coming in, not your cops. Surrender and things will be easier." Sweets suggested.
"I'm the one with the gun." Wittner said.
"And I have the clue and the answer." Sweets said buying time. He hoped the approaching officers would make it his way soon, create a distraction, anything.
"Give me both." Wittner said pointing the gun at Sweets head.
"That's not a very good motivator, I know you will only kill me."
"There's a few different ways to die."
"I'm not interested as they all end in the same result."
"We seem to be at an impasse." Wittner said as his eyes narrowed. "You're bluffing again."
"You know me well enough now." Sweets smiled. "Do you think I'm lying about having the answer? Because there is one thing bothering you isn't there?"
Sweets could tell by the fact he hadn't been shot yet and the interest that Wittner had in the note that he was right. Patient MP WB, Davenport, Mahaffey, Genevieve, the unknown man, Bamsatt, Iliam crossed out Sweets ran the clues thru his head looking for an answer, looking for something more to buy time. The like parting clouds in the storm the answer came to him.
"That's it." Sweets said as it came clear.
"Damn right that's it." Wittner said taking aim again but Sweets dodged when he fired. Wittner lined up a shot to take another but Sweets had pulled out his gun and fried, taking a few threads off Wittner's jacket.
"Do you hear that?" Cam asked Hodgins as they stood at the gates of the shipyard research area.
"Cam I can't hear anything with all these people." Hodgins said looking around at the FBI agents on the scene, paramedics attending to Genevieve and Arastoo and the mass chaos that was going on.
"Gun shots." Cam said. "Sweets!"
Cam began to run to the shore where the boat was about to dock. She wasn't worried about the sailors being killed this time, they had enough FBI on the scene that she felt sure everyone was safe. She heard another shot and followed the sound as her pace quickened.
Sweets jumped down into the trench like area by the trail and spying Wittner fired another shot to which he ducked in return. The shots continued thru a few more rounds when Sweets heard the sweet clicking sound of an empty clip. He stood up from the trench to fire at Wittner who instead quickly jumped on him knocking the gun from his hand. The gun fell into the overgrown grass as the men began to roll down the incline together. Wittner ended up on top as they stopped rolling and landed a punch across Sweets face. The swing disoriented him but he was able to throw an arm up to block the second one. Wittner may have been well versed in giving a beating but Sweets was familiar with blocking against one, he would claw his way out if he had to and Wittner seemed surprised by the tall yet lean man's scrappy return.
Sweets got a leg up under Wittner and pushed him back standing up. Wittner fell back but caught himself and the two men barreled towards each other tussling in the grass again. Wittner got a punch on Sweets that sent him back into the grass but as he landed his hand touched something metal. With excitement Sweets grabbed it Wittner rushed forward to see a gun to his face.
Cam came rushing down the hill and saw two men in the distance, one had just pulled a gun on the other but she couldn't see more than two dark suits. In a panic Sweets was on the receiving end of the bullet she shouted out his name. "Sweets! No!"
In surprise both men turned to look but Witter turned back fastest, Sweets taking longer to make sure Cam was okay. It gave Wittner a second to knock the gun free. In a mad dash to recover it again Wittner found it first and pointed it towards Cam and fired three shots until the clip was empty. He then turned the empty fire arm and smashed it against Sweets face twice disorienting him. Sweets blindly threw a hand up and poked Wittner in the eye which he wasn't expecting sending the pair back to a tussle that landed them both at the foot of the water. Wittner flipped Sweets over and shoved his face in the water. He held the flailing Sweets head in until his body began to slow. Recalling the last clue he let him go and pulled him back, Sweets was unconscious but alive. Wittner looked up and didn't see the pesky dame partner anymore and figured he had got her. He pulled Sweets thru the water to a small boat he had used between the docks and the boats where he met Lumiere. He threw Sweets body in the boat and climbed in starting the small motor.
Cam sat up and felt a hot and stinging sensation in her arm. She saw the blood and immediately pressed down on it, taking a diagnostic run on the rest of her body, that was the only shot. The whir of a motor made her sit up quickly only to see a boat leaving with a figure lying in the back. Being sure that it wasn't Sweets fleeing the scene with Wittner in the back, she assumed it was Sweets being taken away.
"Sweets!" Cam shouted and began to stand but was wobbly. As she was about to fall she felt someone catch her.
"Whoa Camille." Booth said catching her into his arms.
"Sweets. He's got Sweets!" Cam said pointing to the water as she promptly passed out.
"Help here, I need help here!" Booth shouted as he arrived back at the scene where the paramedics and officers were trying to bring some sort of order to the chaotic scene.
"Cam!" Aratsoo said, anxious at the sight of blood.
"It's okay, just a flesh wound." Booth assured him. As a paramedic began treating it Cam came to. In seconds she recalled her latest concern.
"Sweets!" She said alerting the others.
"Where is he?" Hodgins asked concerned.
"Boat, there was a boat, it was leaving." Cam said sitting up as the paramedic continued to try and work.
"We haven't much time, Wittner's on the run now, he's not going to keep Sweets alive for long." Arastoo warned.
"Okay so where would he go?" Hodgins asked thinking out loud.
"The docks, the docks where the boat exploded." Cam suggested.
"What boat explosion?" Booth asked concerned.
"Later." Cam said to Booth then turned to the other two who were more current on the case. "Could he be taking Sweets to another boat?"
"He knows you will think of that." Genevieve said stepping forward though unsteady still on her feet.
"Who's she?" Booth asked.
"Genevieve." Cam answered quickly.
"Where would he take him then?" Cam asked.
"Wait, is she a good guy or bad guy that she would know that?" Booth asked.
"Later." Cam warned again. "Where Genevieve, Davenport? I know we can't get in there."
"He doesn't have a car though, he's by boat." Hodgins said.
"Right, so it has to be somewhere on the shore." Arastoo said. "Can we get a map?" Arastoo shouted and one was quickly brought to Booth.
"There's dozens of ports." Cam said. "Why would he want to take Sweets with him?"
"Hostage?" Arastoo asked.
"No he's in too deep for that." Cam said.
"The last clue, the one we didn't have an answer to?" Hodgins proposed.
"What clue?" Booth asked.
"Later!" Arastoo, Cam, and Hodgins shouted.
"He wants information from Sweets." Cam deduced.
"Someplace quiet then." Genevieve said stepping forward looking at the map. "Some spot right on the water that he can question him and then dump the body, make a getaway."
"Look, there's an old Marina, and boat slip and a little station on the water for boats to refill with gas on the edge of here." Hodgins said pointing at the map. "He's not going too far I'll bet."
Booth stepped forward to formulate a plan when Cam beat him to it. "Let's split up, we don't have much time."
"Right." Hodgins said. "Okay me and Genevieve will take this one."
"I'm going here." Booth said stepping forward.
"Then I'm going with you." Cam said having taken Cam's first choice.
"Dr. Vasiri and I will take the last one." Brennan said and the others quickly dispersed.
"Bones, you've been so quiet, why didn't you jump in?" Booth questioned her as the others gathered flashlights and such.
"They seem to have everything very under control Booth. They trust your decisions when you ask them to, it's time to do the same for them."
Booth had noticed their very organized nature but he was used to being in charge and this was different.
"Okay but I think you and I should go together." Booth said to Brennan.
"I disagree, we are not familiar enough with this case, we should split up and go with people who are more familiar with the case so that we are not put to a disadvantage." Brennan argued.
"Okay listen up people." Cam announced and Booth again felt like someone was stealing his line. "Sweets has done a lot for us these last few days, he needs our help, let's get him out of this one alive okay?"
"What's been going on the last few days anyway?" Brennan asked Booth.
He looked at her with a shrug. "Later." He said and jogged to keep up with Cam.
Sweets back arched as he was tossed into a room. He could taste old mucky water in his mouth and leaned forward to cough it out only to be pushed back as his eyes tried to adjust to the sudden bright light brought on by the single bright light bulb that flipped on overhead.
"Okay kid, here we are." Wittner said. "Time to talk. And this time, no one's showing up to help you."
"I can get out of this myself." Sweets said taking a quick swing at Wittner, drawing blood to his mouth. The men stood opposite sides of the room like two boxers ready to meet in the ring.
Wittner tasted the blood with his own tongue and smiled. "You are a scrappy son of a bitch. What's it going to take to bring you down?"
"You'll run out of energy." Sweets taunted him.
"You like to take a beating huh?" Wittner asked.
"You have no idea how versed I am at it." Sweets warned as his energy grew though his vision wasn't adjusting as quickly as he preferred. Wittner noticed that and decided to make a move to his advantage. He reached up and tapped the single bulb light so that it swung in the room. The distortion of the light against the beams made Sweets blink giving Wittner an advantage to push an old wooden table into Sweets, knocking him back against the wall. Wittner eyed an object and the ground and smiled as he picked it up. Sweets looked up in the distorted and confusing light to see Wittner coming at him with a large fishing hook. He dug it in Sweets back at the shoulder blade and used the hook to pull Sweets up to his feet by the metal.
"That might leave a scar." Wittner taunted.
"It's not the biggest one there you prick." Sweets said head butting the bastard.
Wittner fell back over the table he had just thrown towards Sweets who considered that instant karma and reached back to grab the hook out of his flesh. He may have done more damage removing it but he was glad it was out though he now felt woozy from the fight, the near drowning and the newest beating. He was resilient but he was still human. The light wasn't swaying anymore but room felt like it was. Sweets was afraid he would pass out but he didn't realize the room was on water and the rocking came from approaching boats.
Wittner got back on his feet knowing the boats were coming.
"Tell me what you know." He shouted at Sweets.
"No." Sweets said back trying to wield the hood like a sword but he was moving far more than the object was. Sweets knew he might pass out if he didn't do something soon.
"Where is he, I must know." Wittner demanded.
"He knows his name doesn't he?" Sweets asked. "He's the only one who knows who the unknown man is."
"Not even Genevieve knows his real name, trust me, I pressured her for it." Wittner said making Sweets skin crawl. "He kept everything secret, he didn't want anyone to know, but William Bryant knew, only I could never find him."
"Bryant knew the man." Sweets pieced together. "And he knew you had to keep him away from him, he could solve the equation, he could solve more, and he could make you tenfold in military secrets." Sweets said figuring out why Wittner wanted the last clue so badly.
"And you will tell me where to find him." Wittner promised.
"Mahaffey knew that the death of tens could save the lives of thousands. I may not have agreed with his methods but he is right, I will not tell you in order to save the lives of many." Sweets promised.
"You stupid martyrs." Wittner said rushing forward as Sweets slashed the hook across Wittner's face, the point slashing the skin but the barb being stuck in it. Wittner howled in pain as his face filled with blood. Sweets fell back as the waves rocked the floor unexpectedly as a boat grew closer. He scrambled to the door opening it to reveal the light inside.
"There!" Cam shouted seeing the bright light in the distance. Booth put the throttle down causing the boat to rush towards it. Sweets could hear a boat in the distance but louder he could hear Wittner behind him. He pulled the door shut, causing Wittner to be trapped in the room and the light visible to Cam & Booth to be gone.
"Where did it go?!" Cam asked their focal point gone.
"I've got it, straight ahead." Booth said concentrating.
The blood on Sweets hand made it hard to keep the door closed and soon it slipped from his grip as Wittner pulled it open. Sweets scrambled to his feet, the way only lit by moonlight on the dock slips. He ran forward looking back to see that Wittner wasn't behind him. He rounded the corner of the small shack in the all too quiet boat slip on the water. He turned to see Wittner had gone around the other way and stood blocking the way to the shore with an oar. He banged it on the steel posts that held the awning above. Sweets arm ached in pain as the blood dripped down his back, he tried to stay alert. Sweets tried to brace himself upright on the posts when he nearly lost his grip but Wittner banged the oar across the knuckles of his sore hand from the car door incident. Sweets pulled his hand back giving Wittner a chance to hit him in the side the with oar. Sweets fell back and continued to crawl back on his elbow and feet, looking up as Wittner looked down, dark blood dripping from Wittner's cheek.
"End of the road." Wittner said pulling Sweets against the wall, the water next to him below. Wittner thrust the oar under Sweets neck and pushed up.
"Tell me." Wittner said. Sweets tried kicking but the air was leaving too quickly. Wittner let go for a second a cruel promise to be broken when Sweets refused to speak the location of WB.
Cam jumped from the boat onto the dark dock slip and flipped it on while Booth was still in the boat, not having come onto the slip yet. With the illuminated dock the pair immediately saw Sweets and Wittner at the end. Booth's gut clenched as he saw Wittner choking Sweets. The pair were at the other end so Booth put the boat full throttle down, his feeling of helplessness growing as he saw the life slipping from Sweets.
"No, no, no Sweets." He said willing the boat to move faster.
Sweets swore he saw the light get bright and wondered if that really was true, as he was finding out. Wittner let go for a second as the lights came on. Sweets slipped from Wittner's grasp as he turned to see Cam at the other end with her gun. He looked at her and back at Sweets. Sweets eyes opened for a second as the white light continued in his eyes and he would have sworn he saw Cam in the distance. Wittner smiled as he turned towards Sweets one last time and fired a shot landing in Wittner's chest. He looked at it and then at Sweets. He pushed Sweets lightly sending his weak body off the dock.
Booth was almost to the end of the dock as he saw Sweets body fall back into the dark waters below. He watched where he landed and swore his heart stopped as his frame disappeared into the dark waters below. Booth didn't bother to stop the boat as he ran and dived near where Sweets had landed.
Cam stepped over the body and to the end to see the dark and empty waters below.
"No, no, no, no, no." Cam said as the seconds turned into a minute. Booth emerged to the surface and Cam's heart sank when she saw only one head. A second later Booth pulled another to the surface, his hand under Sweets chin. Cam let out a breath she had been holding for too long as he body shook from the result of it.
Booth wrapped his elbow under Sweets chin to keep his head above water and began to kick towards the shore.
Cam ran down the boat slip towards the shore and met Booth at the waterline pulling Sweets in. Booth was scared when Sweets body laid back on the sand, his hands were coated in watery blood.
"Cam, the blood." Booth said looking at Sweets.
"Not now Seeley!" Cam shouted. "He's not breathing."