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Listening to Brennan while she slowly moved from one bone to the next, Booth smiled at the way she was trying to teach him about bones and forensic anthropology. He adored her determination to find the cause of death in the skeletons lying before her and he loved that she wanted to include him in what she was doing because she loved him so much and wanted him to be part of her world.

Carefully standing, Booth made sure his right knee was rested enough before he moved over to the table where Brennan was currently standing. Curious, he leaned over the table with his hands behind his back and asked her, "So . . . so far you've found no signs of plague?"

Amused at Booth's continued worry over the cause of death, Brennan tried to hide her smile, "No, I haven't. I don't think these people died of the plague. Actually, there are indications that they may have been murdered."

Surprised, Booth stood up and stared at his wife, "Murdered? You think these people were murdered?"

Pointing at the hyoid bone on the skeleton lying on the table before them, Brennan remarked, "The hyoid is broken. The hyoid has been damaged on all five victims and that leads me to believe that they were all strangled. I'll be curious to see if this is also true of the skeleton they're still uncovering in the cave."

His gaze moving to what he knew was the hyoid bone Booth leaned closer and stared at the cracked bone. "Maybe they were killed in some kind of ritual. You know . . . human sacrifice."

Shaking her head, Brennan responded, "No, when the Maya did human sacrifices they were violent affairs. They usually involved cutting the heart out of the sacrifice with a flint knife. Some sacrifices were drowned or beat to death and some were used in an arrow sacrifice. They wouldn't have been strangled."

A shiver running down his spine, Booth shook his head, "Damn. . . . So someone murdered these people and buried them in the cave? Wouldn't the people living around here have noticed that their people were disappearing? Six healthy adults . . . I'll bet the victims didn't live here. It would make more sense if they were from somewhere else. . . . Well, of course it's also possible that the murderer was stupid and he could have killed people from this town and whoever the killer was was caught. I mean, how would we know?"

"Either scenario is possible." Picking up the hyoid and staring at it, Brennan replied, "I think I'll try to get some DNA from the teeth of each of the skeletons. If Pat and Hector are able to find skeletons in the floors of the houses them I'll compare their DNA with the DNA of these victims. It's possible these were outsiders, but I won't know until we've done more research."

Disgusted with the turn of events, Booth sighed, "Damn can't we ever get away from murder? I mean if these people were murdered we'll never know who did it or why. These guys are never going to get justice and that just pisses me off."

Somberly, Brennan nodded her head, "Unfortunately you're probably right. All I can do is determine how they died and perhaps discover if they were related to the people in this area. If they aren't then perhaps someone may be able to match their DNA with people in another area of the country, but that will be done at the University and not by me."

Placing his hand on her shoulder, Booth rubbed it a little, "Well you're doing all you can and that's all anyone can ask for. No one expects you to solve 1,500 year old murders. It's not like that murder you solved of the Egyptian kid with the ruby heart. There was a lot of documentation left behind so you knew how he died and then you were able to prove that he didn't kill his brother. This . . . well, all we have are skeletons and pictures of plants and animals painted on walls."

In agreement, Brennan smiled, "Yes, it was very satisfying to prove that Anok hadn't killed his brother. At least we were able to correct the myth that Anok was a murderer."

Releasing her shoulder, Booth looked at his watch, "I think we should go and get some lunch. You need a break and I'm hungry."

Removing her latex gloves, Brennan tossed them in a bio-hazard bag and removed her handkerchief from her pants pocket. Wiping her face, she commented, "Alright, if we see Hector, I can tell him my suspicions." Placing the damp piece of material back in her pocket, Brennan smiled, "I'll bet you wish you were home in the snow now."

His hand resting on the middle of her back, Booth followed Brennan out of the tent, "Nah, my bones hurt when it's really cold. I can deal with heat although I wouldn't mind a fan."

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His coffee cup almost to his mouth, Hector exclaimed, "Murdered, really?" Placing the cup down on the table, Dr. Guerra shook his head, "Sacrificed?"

Shaking her head, Brennan assured him, "No, each of the victims had a cracked hyoid. They were strangled."

Lost in thought, Hector stared at his cup of coffee. Finally shaking his head, he sighed, "Well that's disturbing, but it might also explain why we didn't find any burial goods in the cave so far, just the skeletons. . . . Damn."

Spooning up some pozole, Booth watched Miguel walk into the tent and over to the coffee urn. Once the intern filled a cup, he walked over to their table and sat down, "Have any of you seen Marco lately? I saw him this morning, but that was about three hours ago and I haven't seen him since."

Swallowing his soup, Booth asked, "Have you checked over at the houses or the cave?"

Frustrated, Miguel nodded his head, "Yes well I checked at the cave and he wasn't there. I'm worried. Marco is very conscientious and he's always where he should be, at least most of the time. I think maybe I'll go and try and find him."

Curious, Booth asked, "Would you like me to help you look for him?"

Shaking his head, the intern frowned, "No, it would be better if you stay here and keep an eye on the tents. Maybe you could sit outside while I'm gone. I talked to Señor Delgado and he said that he was going to help me look for Marco as soon as he can. He's over at the caves right now, but he said he'll ask one of the men he hired to watch the caves while we look for Marco. Those new men should be here in a few of hours. Once they're here you can let them handle watching the tents."

Concerned, Hector remarked, "Marco has been checking on Maria and Victoria periodically during the day. He told me that he was afraid that the men I hired to watch the houses won't check on the interns often enough. You may check over there."

Thankful for a place to start looking, Miguel smiled, "Thank you Dr. Guerra. I'll check between here and there first and see if I can find him. Maybe he's busy flirting with Victoria. I think he's interested in her and he's been trying to get her to go to town with him the next time we need supplies."

Spooning up more of his soup, Booth responded, "I hope he's okay. If you need my help looking for him, you let me know."

Appreciative, Miguel drank some of his coffee and stood up, "Thank you. I appreciate your offer."

Finishing his coffee, Hector stood up and said, "If it's not one thing it's another. I guess I'll go look for Marco too."

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Sitting outside of the tent that Brennan was working in, Booth swatted at a few mosquitoes that were trying to make a meal out of him. "Damn it. That insect spray I used doesn't seem to be working."

A muffled voice coming from the tent replied, "Go to our tent and use the spray I've been using. It's much better that the spray you're using."

Standing, Booth leaned into the tent, "Okay, I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere."

Ignoring Booth, Brennan continued her examination of the skeletal remains.

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Walking back towards their tent, Booth heard a commotion in the woods along the path a few yards from where he was standing. Waiting, he soon spied Miguel and Marco walk around the bend in the path and come into view. Miguel his arm around Marco's waist, was helping the older man walk on unsteady legs.

Moving quickly down the path, Booth placed his arm around Marco's back and asked, "What happened?"

His breath a little ragged, Miguel gasped out, "I found Marco half way between here and the houses. Someone hit him on the back of the head and left him there. He's a little out of it, but I was afraid to leave him where he lay."

Feeling the strain on his right knee, Booth gritted his teeth and helped Miguel half carry Marco to the older man's tent. Once they were inside the tent, Booth called out to the guard currently sleeping on the cot along the back wall of the tent, "Hey Arturo, wake up." Helping lower Marco on to the unoccupied cot near the entrance, Booth told the now awake security guard, "Miguel found Marco in the woods between here and the houses. Could you go and tell Jorge that we found Marco? I'm going to go get Dr. Brennan and ask her to come and look at Marco."

Quickly putting his clothes on, Arturo rushed out of the tent while Booth walked rapidly over to where his wife was working. Entering the tent, he paused to catch his breath and then informed her, "Marco has been hurt. Can you go look at him? He's in his tent. Miguel is with him."

Rushing across the room, Brennan paused at the entrance to the tent. Concerned, she placed her hand on his arm, "Booth, sit down and catch your breath. You seem to sweating more than you should be and your color is too pale."

Sitting down, Booth wiped his hand across his forehead, "I'm alright, I helped Miguel get Marco back to his tent and Marco isn't exactly a little guy. I don't know how Miguel got him back to the camp by himself."

Placing her hand on his forehead, Brennan shook her head,"You don't have a fever, but your sweating too much. I need you to go our tent and lay down. I'll go check on Marco and then I'll come back and check in on you. Booth, I . . . go lay down and I'll be back as soon as I can."

Patting her hip, Booth smiled, "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Go look at Marco."

Hesitant, Brennan finally left and hurried down the row of tents until she arrived at Marco's tent. Entering, she found Marco sitting on his bed with Miguel kneeling behind him trying to apply a bandage to the injured man's head, "Wait Miguel. Let me look at it first."

Standing, Miguel shook his head, "I think it was just a glancing blow. Marco said he didn't pass out for long. He said he didn't try to come back on his own, because he felt dizzy and he was afraid to walk back by himself. Isn't that right Marco?"

Irritated, Marco growled, "Yes, that's right . . . I can talk for myself you know."

Her hand lightly moving around the gashed skin on Marco's head, Brennan commented, "We need to find who ever is hitting our people on the head. Sooner or later that person is going to hit his victim too hard and either kill them or seriously injure them." Turning to Miguel, Brennan remarked, "As soon as Jorge returns ask him to take Marco to town and have the doctor check this wound. We need to make sure it's nothing worse than a concussion."

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