(The Signs in the Silence)

I don't own Bones.

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Back at the Lab, the bodies of Dorothy Schooley and Chester White were laid out on examination tables and both Cam and Brennan were studying the bodies.

Rubbing the side of his face, Booth felt tired and knew his people must be feeling the same way. "Why don't we wait and look at the remains tomorrow? It's been a long day and I think we all deserve some down time. It's after eight and no one has eaten dinner yet."

In agreement, Cam nodded her head. "Hodgins get Tommy and Clyde to help you put the bodies in my autopsy room. Drawers C and D are empty at the moment. Dr. Brennan, I know you'd like to continue, but I think it would be best if we start our examinations when we've had some rest."

Reluctantly, Brennan straightened and removed her gloves. "Yes, I suppose you are right . . . I will be back tomorrow at around seven. I really want to examine the bodies as soon as possible. I think they are the key to Pelant's murder."

Seven sounded early to Booth, but he was willing to take what he could get. "Okay then. Bones, I'll meet you back at home. I'm going to stop by Mama's for some lasagna." He saw the look on her face. "Vegetable lasagna and bread sticks too . . . I'm too tired to cook tonight and I know you are too."

Slowly nodding her head, Brennan felt that Booth's plan was a good one. Glancing at her watch, she sighed. "Alright . . . I'll call Max and let him know why we didn't meet him at the restaurant tonight. I should have called him earlier, but I didn't . . . He'll understand."

Booth had forgotten about Max's dinner invitation. "Sounds like a plan." Leaving the platform, he heard Hodgins call out to Clyde and Tommy asking them to help him move the bodies to the autopsy room. I need to know how Pelant knew where those bodies were. I also need to see if that map with the circles on it we found in his house means more bodies. I really hate this case.

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Their meal complete and the dishes in the dishwasher, Booth followed Brennan into their bedroom. While he prepared to take a bath, he glanced at Brennan and smiled. "Hey, it's been a long day so if you want to go in at eight instead of seven I'll understand."

Ready to take a shower, Brennan shook her head. "No, I need to examine the bodies as soon as possible. I need to work on the remains being sent over to the Lab by the Pentagon this weekend, so I want to help Cam as much as possible now." Before she entered the bathroom, she turned back to look at Booth. "Angela is still examining the files on Pelant's computers, but she says she has a lead that might give us the answers we need about Taffet's victims and how Pelant knew where they were."

"Good. I hope those files will give me a clue that I can use to find Pelant's killer. Pelant may have been a serial killer, but we need to find his killer. We don't know what that person's motive is and to tell you the truth, I think this has to do with Taffet. He may have found one of her accomplices . . . We know she had to have had at least one. One small woman couldn't have done the things that were required to get me on a boat and stuffed in a submarine . . . She had help and I think Pelant found him. How I don't know, but he did and that someone found out that Pelant was on to him and took care of him. I've thought about it and I don't think Brodsky knew about Pelant and even if he did, why kill him? No, this has to do with Taffet and we need to find him. He's out there thinking that with Taffet being dead that makes him safe and if I have anything to say about it, he won't be safe for long."

"Your logic appears to be sound and I am inclined to believe that you're correct." Brennan sighed. "I thought Taffet's death would be the end of the Gravedigger's reign of terror . . . If she had an accomplice and I think you are correct . . . she did have at least one . . . it would appear that person is actively killing people and we need to end his reign of terror too."

"Yeah." Booth moved across the room and placed his hand on her arm. "Come on, Bones. Let's take a shower and go to bed. We've had a long day and tomorrow probably will be longer."

Turning, Brennan entered the bathroom, Booth following her. "I think we should shower together. It will save time."

Amused, Booth laughed. "It hasn't yet, but I'm willing to give it the old college try."

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His sleep interrupted, Booth moved his hand to his left. Finding cool sheets and Brennan gone, he opened his eyes and sat up. Listening, he looked around, noticed the light in the bathroom was off and wondered where Brennan was. A sound coming from the bathroom made him leave the bed quickly and enter that room. Spying Brennan leaning over the toilet and throwing up, he moved across the room and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Hey . . . Bones are you alright?"

Wiping her lips with a wad of toilet paper, she shook her head. "My stomach is upset. I may have picked up a stomach virus . . . I really despise regurgitating."

Concerned, he knelt next to her and stared into her sad face. "Want me to make you some hot tea? When my stomach is a mess that seems to help me."

Grateful for the offer, Brennan smiled. "Yes, please. I'm going to stay here for a while. I feel that I have thrown up everything that I can, but I still feel nauseous."

"Yeah, you stay here. I'll be back as soon as I can." Standing, Booth smiled at her and left the room. Once he was in the kitchen, he found the Earl Gray tea that Brennan loved, placed a cup of water in the microwave and waited for the water to heat up. She's not sick very often . . . I hope this is a short stomach thing and not something else. The water ready he removed the cup from the microwave, dunked the tea bag a few times in the water then carried the cup into the bathroom. "Here you go, just dunk the bag until it's strong enough for you. I like it strong, but I don't know if you're stomach is up to that . . . I didn't put any sugar in it."

"Thank you." Taking the cup from his hand, she drank some of the tea and waited to see if her stomach would behave. "I was fine when I went to bed, but a little while ago, I felt an urgent need to regurgitate and came in here . . . This is very annoying." Sipping more of the tea, she stood up and sat on the edge of the tub. "I have too much to do tomorrow. I cannot stay home."

Since the tea seemed to be helping, Booth moved the lid down on the toilet and sat down. "You can make that judgement call later. Finish the tea and let's go back to bed. It's after two so we can still get some sleep."

Slowly rising from the tub, Brennan stood still for a moment, nodded her head and walked over to the sink. After she placed the cup on the sink, she left the room and returned to bed. Following her, Booth was relieved that the crisis seemed to be over.

Once they were settled in bed, Booth sighed. "It might have been a mistake eating lasagna so late. We should have just eaten soup. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, Booth. I don't think it was the lasagna. I think it's just a stomach virus." Brennan moved closer to her partner, moved onto her side and draped her arm across his chest. "I'm feeling better and you didn't do anything wrong. In fact, that cup of tea helped me."

His hand on her arm, Booth slowly moved his hand up and down her arm. "Well, eating a heavy meal late at night really is dumb. The next time, we'll eat light . . . I'm not a fan of regurgitating either."

"No, it is quite unpleasant." Her eyes closed, Brennan finally fell asleep.

The room quiet Booth sighed once more and closed his eyes. You got to take care of Bones better than that, dumbass . . . Lasagna after nine at night. We're not 18 anymore.

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