"Talking"
"Thought"
Regular Text
-Venus POV-
We arrived at the Directors office. "You're certain it's Cleo Eller?" I nod as Temp spoke, "The profile's dead on: age, race, height." I then pointed out, "The timeline fits. Cleo Eller did play tennis in college" "Talk to me about the Senator." It was Booth turn to speak, "Cleo Eller, the victim, worked for Senator Bethlehem. I piped in again "It was reported that they were involved sexually." "We couldn't confirm that." The director took the picture Booth handed, "Well, Bethlehem's a hound. Everybody knows that." Booth hands him another photo while speaking, "Ken Thompson, Cleo's boyfriend." "Thompson's still Bethlehem's aide. Thompson keeps Bethlehem's calendar. No way the Senator has an affair that Thompson doesn't know about. No sexual relationship, no motive. What about the nut case?" "Booth hands him another picture, "Oliver Laurier." "Do you like him for this?" "He's a stalker." "What's your first move?" I went and spoke up, "Excuse me sir, Booth. Would it be alright if we were to inform the Ellers that we found their daughter." The director scoffs "It's better to keep this quiet. It's been, what, two years? What's another few days?" Booth then cuts in, "All due respect, sir, I am with Venus here, I've come to know the family pretty well, especially the Major, and two years is a hell of a long time in limbo." I looked at the director again with a bit of sad eyes. "Booth is right sir, the Major already had seen his battles, the most we could do for him is tell them we found their daughter. They would appreciate knowing about this even if it will hurt." Temp then speaks up "We will have details of cause of death by this afternoon." Booth speaks up again, "That's where we'll get started."
We are in the car as I was sitting in the back and Temp is sitting in the front with Booth reading the examination report. "Hodgins identified the particulates embedded in Cleo Eller's skull as rolled steel -- most likely from a sledge-type hammer. Also, there's cement and diatomaceous earth." "What's that?" I extend my arm handing Booth a container. "Looks like that. Its made up of prehistoric sea creatures. It's used as an insecticide, filtering agent, cleaning abrasive, ceramics. It's very common. But it's a clue" "Yes, it is Blueberry, yes, it is."
We get to the Eller's house, and I start getting a little jumpy. Booth notice this "Hey Blueberry you alright there? You, don't need to go in with us, you could stay in the car and wait for us." "No, I am fine Ranger, just a little nerves. That's all, but I will be okay." "Okay, but if you feel like you are about to have an episode use the code word, okay. You remember the code word right." "Ya, I remember the code word Ranger, its bumblebee." "Alright, let's go in." Temp stops me for a bit and gives me a pat on the head with a smile causing me to calm down as well and smile a bit.
We are now talking with the Eller's as Major Eller speaks, "You're positive it's our Cleo?" I nod as Temp speaks, "We established 22 matching points of comparison ..." "Booth then intervenes "Yes, we're certain." Major asks "Did he do it? The Senator? One military man to another?" "Major Eller, we can't discuss the investigation in any way." Mrs. Ellar then speaks up, "Can you at least tell us if our daughter suffered?" Temp speaks, "Given the state of her skull ..." But I immediately cut in knowing what she was going to say, "Cleo never saw it coming." "Thank you." "Mrs. Eller, could you tell us what Cleo wore around her neck?" "Her father's Bronze Star. Ted won it in the first Gulf War, and he gave it to her for luck." I started feeling queeze and a bit short breath. "Hey, Booth bumblebee." I get up and quickly excusing myself as I walked out and into the trunk of Booths car climbing in and shutting it as I hugged myself crying a bit.
-Back inside the Eller's House-
The Major watched as Venus walked out and turned to Booth. "Is she alright? It looks like she has seen something." Brennan nods her head speaking, "She will be alright for now, she just needs some quite time by herself. She suffers from PTSD." Mrs. Eller gasps a little "Oh my, she seems too young to suffer from it. How old is she if I may ask?" Booth nods at this "She is young she is only 20, but she is still trying to get through life as she has been discharged two years ago." The major intervenes at this. "You're saying that she also served in the military." "Yes, sir. She was recruited at a very young age as a military experiment. She served five years in total. Three as a Navey SEALS DEVGRU and two in Delta Force." Major looked at Booth with disbelief and sorrow "She was only thirteen when she was recruited. No, child should've gone through what we did. She should've been with friends and hanging out with them, not going on missions dealing with criminals." "You are right sir, but she has been hanging in there pretty well. Thank you for both of your time we must get going. We are sorry for your loss." At this the couple both nodded at them as the wife started crying in her husband's shoulder.
-Back to Venus in the trunk of Booths Car-
I was sitting in the back feeling better as I looked for a blanket that I left in Booth's car for whenever I have episodes like this. While looking for it I hear Booth and Temps conversation. "You have to offer up something of yourself first." "What exactly did you do in the military?" "See? See what you did right there, Bones? You asked a personal question without offering anything personal in return. And since I'm not a skeleton you get zilch. Sorry." They walk inside the car sitting in the front seats. "I bet Venus knows what you did in the military. How come I can't know?" That's when I popped my head out from the SUV trunk with my famous smile. "That's an easy question sis. I am Blueberry his special berry squint, always on standby." They both looked at me with a small smile on their face as Booth speaks. "That's right. She is the one and only Blueberry the berry squint. I can also see that you're feeling better." "Yup, feeling much better, but I am going to stay back here for a bit longer if that's fine with you Ranger. Also, do you happen to know where my bumble blanket is at?" "That's fine with me. Also, it's in the compartment on your right." "Ah, okay thank you."
Temp looks between Booth and I. "When have both of you been so close." "Hmm. We are always hanging out together sis, for the past two years. He has been helping me adjust, just like you and Angie have. We got each other's back like siblings." Temp just nods and I went back to my place and slept as we headed back to the lab."
Temp and I are back in the lab looking at the bones with Zack. Temp is pointing things out to Zack as I look at the suppose frog bone. "There are stab marks here. And odd markings on the distal phalanges. Nothing I've seen before." Hodgins comes in, "In a nutshell? Anxious, depressed and nauseous." Temp not even looking up from the bones says, "Take a sick day." "Not me. Cleo Eller. Pupal casing show she was on Lorazepam, Chlordiazepoxide and Meclizine Hydrochloride." It then hit me scaring the others in the room. "Oh snap, I knew these weren't frog bones. She was nauseas. Come over here and look at these bone fragments it shows that Cleo Eller was pregnant." Zack then pipes in, "Fetal remains?" I nod and point to each bone part, "Malleus, incus, stapes. These are fetal ear bones." Hodgins sighed, "The girl was pregnant." "Yah, but not very far along." Zack pipes in "Dr. Brennan do you want me to try and get a DNA reading, see if we can prove paternity?" Temp nods "You can try. Let's hope there's enough genetic material to test."
We all then look at Hodgins as starts talking, "This Senator, oh, he is smart. He gets an intern pregnant, then murders her when it threatens his career. And he has the connections to get away with it. " I just look at him as Temp chuckles and comments on his statement. "I hate it when you make paranoia plausible. It's like sliding off a cliff." "This special unit, no way your FBI pal heads it up, unless the dark powers in charge are convinced, he knows where his political bread is buttered. Either way, that's where this investigation ends." He leaves as I stand up. "Hey Temp, I am going to go and everyone's paperwork for this week and head to my office checking up on them. If you need me just call me up, okay." "Yeah, okay thanks Ven." I nod and leave.
I was sitting down with Temp and Booth as I got a call from the Director saying that Bones got in trouble. Booth was getting his heated rage "I own her, but she was your responsibility." "Yes, sir." "Send in Special Agent Furst. I warned you about taking squints out to the field, but you vouched for her, said they wouldn't screw up." "Yes sir." Temp then tries to step in, "No, no. Booth didn't know that I was going to see the Senator. I wanted to get a sample of his DNA." I then whispered to Temp, "You should stay quiet for now." The director spoke up again, "Exactly. Tomorrow morning I'm announcing the formation of a special unit to investigate the murder of Cleo Eller, at which time your investigation will be officially terminated. You will not head the new unit." Booth then speaks up to the man standing next to me. "Congratulations, Patrick." "No hard feelings. "Right." "I need the complete case files in the morning." "Of course. They will be ready." Thank you, Agent Furst." I then piped in facing the Director "Well, at least we found out that Senator Bethlehem was having sex with Cleo." Temp then looks up at me, "We did?" The Senator then pipes in "The report said there wasn't enough DNA in the fetal bones to determine paternity." Then Booth stood up supporting me, "Senator Bethlehem didn't want Dr. Brennan to take that gum. He's hiding something. " Temp then speaks up again, "He didn't know there wasn't enough DNA." The director takes a few seconds to think, "I suggest that you, uh, go back to your lab, Dr. Brennan and Venus, and get used to being there." "Come on, sis."
We exited the office and headed towards the elevator as Booth speaks up, "Okay?" Temp then interjects "Don't be nice to me after I got you in trouble." "Your heart was in the right place." "I'm not a heart person. You and Venus are a heart person. I am a brain person. You vouched for us." "Forget it." "No, I won't. Do you both think it was the Senator?" "Hmm, sorry sis, I was just trying to make the punishment lighter on Booth." "And I thank you for that idea, Blueberry. Look, the Senator's had sex with a dozen of these interns and he hasn't killed any of them. Our best bet is still the stalker." Temp nods at that "You want to check him out? We can, um, what do you call it, roost him?" I snickered as Booth corrects her, "Roust." I piped in "Well, the murderer snatched the Bronze Star from Cleo's neck, so ..." Booth nods and sighed "I got 12 hours before this case is over and I'm off it, so let's go roust him. Come on."
We get to the stalkers house as I knocked on the door. Mr. Laurier opens it and I smiled a bit, "Good evening Mr. Laurier, we have a warrant to search your apartment ..." He closed the door on my face as I scoffed and faced Temp. "Well, wasn't that rude. I even greeted him before telling him the bad news. People these days don't know what nice is." Then we hear a thud and next the door opens revealing Booth. "Hey there Ranger, it's been a while the last time I saw Ya. How've you been lately." Brennan had a confused face. "Ven, we came here with him two minutes ago." I chuckle as Booth sighs, "That was a joke Bones." We walk in seeing Mr. Laurier sitting on his couch. "Hello again Mr. Laurier, I forgot to introduce myself to you at the door. I am Dr. Venus and what a lovely home you have here."
Booth and Temp were looking around the apartment as I was on watch duty, making sure Mr. Laurier doesn't escape us. I speak up breaking the silence. "So, Mr. Laurier, Agent Booth is under the impression that you might have something pertinent to a case he's working on." I hand him a photo. "You're looking for a Bronze Star? Like the one Cleo wore?" I smile at him nodding my head. "Yes, exactly like that one, Mr. Laurier." "I don't have it." Temp pipes in "Sometimes stalkers retain keepsakes." Booth then adds in, "What the hell are these things, huh?" "Miniature Lives of the Saints. I hand them out ..." "Heads up, Blueberry." "I got it. Don't worry Mr. Laurier, what were you saying." "I hand them out for donations. I'm not a panhandler. Help yourself. I never stalked Cleo." I pipe in "Oh my, then how come she got a restraining order?" "Okay, okay, no. First of all, no. Ken Thompson, her supposed boyfriend, got the restraining order, with his boss, the Senator, but Ken is only concerned with his job and his tropical fish. They colluded to ruin my reputation with this specious 'stalker' label, when, in actuality ... I was Cleo's close friend."
"I see, but what bothers me is why you disregard my friendly greeting and why'd you run from the warrant I presented you?" "My fight-or-flight response is heavily weighted towards flight. If there's anything I can do to help you catch Cleo's killer, just tell me." Booth pipes in "Oh, a full confession -- that would be great." "I love Cleo. Why would I hurt her?" "I see. Well thank you for this lovely talk. If you don't mind, could I keep one of these little books. Also, the ones that Agent Booth and my sister has." "Whatever you need ... Dr. Venus." I turned towards the door walking away giving Booth a look saying to keep an eye on him, as Mr. Laurier watches me walk out of his home. Booth watches him for a brief second and we all make our way back at the lab.
We are in Angie's workspace as she debriefs us. "This is a rough composite, but you get the idea." Temp steps in "Skull trauma was not the cause of death. Cleo was stabbed first." I then take over from her with a sad look "She was stabbed five to eight times with a military issue K-Bar knife." Angie then pipes in, "I just completed this rendering. The defensive wounds to the bones of her hands suggest that it wasn't until the third or fourth penetration ..." The 3-D hologram shows a fatal stab wound as Temp points out. "That's likely the fatal stab, right there." Angie then cuts in "... that Cleo stopped fighting back." "I believe that the distinctive damage to her distal phalanges -- the tips of her finger bones -- was caused by the murderer using the knife to remove her finger pads. Cranial fragmentation suggests a 20-pound hammer striking four to five times while the victim's head rested on a cement floor containing traces of diatomaceous earth. That's the best explanation for the particulates found in her skull. This was not a crime of passion."
Angie speaks out, "Cleo never saw the first stab coming. It didn't arise out of an argument. Why smash Cleo's face? Why whittle away her fingertips, remove her clothing and jewelry?" Zack adds in "Sink her body ..." Brennan then pitches in "The murder put more effort into hiding the victim's identity than he did into the murder itself." Hodgin joins in, "In case Cleo was identified, the murderer planted evidence. The little book Venus got from the stalker matches the cellulose found in Cleo's hand. Angie then adds in, "Military cemetery, military knife, implicates her own father, more misdirection." Hodgins then speaks, "Sound like any conniving son-of-a-bitch senators you know?" We all look at Booth as I was a bit upset that someone tried to put the blame on the Major. "You expect me to declare war on a United States senator based on your little holographic crystal ball?"
Temp cuts in, "It's not magic. It's a logical recreation of events based on evidence." "It's no more valid than my gut." "Zack speaks in, "A good hypothesis withstands testing. That's what makes it a good hypothesis." "This is not a hypothesis -- you have a dead girl and a United States senator." I finally spoke up, "Sadly, this is why we aren't FBI agents." Booth nods in agreement, "Blueberry is right, you guys don't know anything about the real world." Temp then turns walking away telling the others to follow her out. I stay in place as they all leave. "I don't like it either Booth but weren't you a bit tough on them." "I know blueberry but sometimes they need it to understand. Also aren't you a bit soft on them." "Yah, I am but that is how I am trying to make amends for myself. You understand right." "Yeah, I understand really well. We all try too in different ways." "I will see you later Ranger." "Ya, see you later blueberry." I walk out of Angie's workplace going to my safe place that Dr. Goodman provided me two years ago, as Angie walks back in giving me a little smile.
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DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN "BONES". IT IS OWNED BY JOSEPHSON ENTERTAINMENT, BY HART HANSON. I ONLY CLAIM MY CHARACTER VENUS BRENNAN. I ALSO DON'T OWN ANY OF THE IMAGES. THANK YOU.