OOM: Mid-Killer in the Concrete

[dr_temperance]

When her father had offered to help her find Booth, Brennan had had a pretty good idea that his methods would involve less reason and diplomacy and more intimidation and blunt force. Max Keenan does have distinct sociopathic tendancies, no matter what Booth said about the man's sense of honor.

But Brennan was scared enough for Booth that she was actually okay with that.

Ironically, Brennan was the one who had gotten truly violent, and her father had had to hold her back.

Finding the tooth was what had done it. Brennan knows in her gut that it is Booth's (not that she'd ever admit such a thing aloud). The same infected anterior molar she had harassed him into letting her examine. But they need evidence, not gut feeling. Which requires tests at the lab. Which takes time.

Waiting is maddening, but it does give her time to update a certain honorary member of the squint-squad.

Comments

[argyle_princess]

"Okay," says Hannah. She'll accept that answer.

This time.

"So you and your trusty sidekick found a bounty hunter who helped this Kennedy person fake his own death, and Agent Booth's tooth. But not Kennedy, and not Agent Booth?

"Is the bounty hunter, you know, alive?"

[dr_temperance]

"Yes."

Brennan winces slightly. She had left Ms. Miller with her father back in Baltimore. Max had the task of getting what relevant information that he could from the bounty hunter. Given what she had seen of her father's methods of persuasion in the last few hours, she didn't envy the woman.

But with Booth at risk she's willing to table some of her social mores for the time being.

"My...trusty sidekick is attempting to ascertain whether or not the bounty hunter is working with Kennedy now, and if she knows where Booth is."

[argyle_princess]

"And you and the squints are testing the tooth."

There's a knocking on the bathroom door which Hannah ignores.

"That's good, Brennan."

[dr_temperance]

Brennan leans back against her desk.

"It's something to go on. And something to work with."

Something to do except wait for the FBI to call.

Brennan's mind automatically calculates the hours that Booth has been officially missing. She reminds herself that it's not rational to dread something that may not have even happened yet.

[bringonthewonder]

There's a knock on the glass beside Brennan's open door.

"Sweetie? Cam sent me to get you. Results are back."

[dr_temperance]

"Hold on," Brennan says to Hannah.

She tucks the mouthpiece under her chin.

"Is it Booth's?"

[bringonthewonder]

"I don't know. We haven't . . . we're waiting for you, Bren."

It seemed to be the right thing to do.

"You need a minute?"

[dr_temperance]

"No, I'm coming."

Brennan turns back to the phone. It's not like Angela won't understand why she's talking to Hannah.

"Hannah, the results are back. I have to go. I'll call you when I know anything else."

[argyle_princess]

"Okay."

There's a slight hestiation.

"Good luck. And, you know, be careful."

[dr_temperance]

"I will. And thank you."

Even if she doesn't strictly believe in luck, Brennan will take whatever she can get right now.

"Bye Hannah."

[argyle_princess]

"Bye."

It's only after she's hung up that Hannah realizes she should probably have told Brennan about the new information on Henry.

Except Brennan has a lot already to deal with and it's not like the new information on Henry is especially urgent.

Agent Booth is potentially life-in-the-balance stuff.

She can tell Brennan later.

In the hallway, someone is still knocking on the door, more insistantly now.

Hannah looks down at her watch. Nine minutes till this week's appointment is over.

Hannah settles more comfortably onto the credenza and takes a magazine out of her bag.

Let 'em knock for nine minutes.