-Venus POV-
I am sitting down at the back as Temp is being interviewed about her book. I smile as I watch them start, "I'm Stacey Goodyear and joining me on Wake Up, DC! is Dr. Temprence Brennan. She is the author of the best-selling mystery novel Bred in the Bone. And she's also- now, tell me if I get this wrong- an anthropologist who works with the FBI to solve crimes?" "Yes, that's correct. I use the bones of people who have been murdered or burned, or blown up, or eaten by animals or insects, or just decomposed..." "Well, that's exciting. Uh, Dr. Brennan, your book has sold over 300,000 copies. How do you juggle twin careers as a best-selling author and crime-fighter scientist?" Well, I do one, then the other. Also, my sister Dr. Venus Brennan will also help me out with both." I smile at her giving her thumbs up. "Ah, yes. I see that your sister also helped you write the book as well. I suppose she is one of your biggest supports, right?" "Yes, she is." "And is the work enjoyable? I mean, the part involving rotten bodies?" "Enjoyable? Satisfying, yes, like cracking a code, but in general, when you're looking at someone who has been brutally murdered, it's complicated." "Cause I just thought, you know, ugh. Ah. Doesn't leave you much time for a personal life, does it?"
I look to see Booth come in and I jester him to sit down on the seat that I had there for him. He sits down and hands me a water bottle and as he watches Temp. "It's true I'm more focused on my career right now." Temp looks at us as Booth jesters for her to smile more and I just give her a thumbs up, letting her know she was doing a good job. I start to drink my water as they kept on talking. "Most of our viewers are parents, home with their preschool-age children. What will you tell your kids about the horrors that you see every day?" "I'm not going to have any children." I choke on the water trying my best not to cough and ruin their interview. Booth is trying to help me as they kept on talking. "Really?" "Yes, really." "Do you have any advice for budding authors out there?" "Well, the first thing they should have is an idea, and then... Well, first you need something to write with. They-they know that. Well, obviously, you need a writing instrument, and you need an idea." I was still trying not to cough out loudly as Booth was trying to help but looked at Temp with a really face as she continued. "I'm just not sure which should come first. " "The book is Bred in the Bone, by Dr. Temperance Brennan. Next up after the break, wicker, the new leather. But is it safe for your children?" At that it ends, and I started to let out my cough and calm down. As the news anchor walks away a bit annoyed.
Temp gets up asking us, "How was I?" "You were great sis, just drank my water wrong." Booth then speaks, "We'll talk about it on the way." Temp then asks, "On the way where?" We are then at a crime scene and Booth speaks. "State troopers called in the fire department to put out a burning car, and they found a body in the driver's seat. License plate and the VIN are missing." Temp then asks, "Why is the FBI involved?" "Well, one burned backpack, child-sized sneaker, plus the right-side rear seat belt went missing. Sliced away." I then ask, "You think it was a kidnapping?" "I have to act that way. The first 48 hours after a child abduction are crucial. You ID that victim; maybe that tells me what kid I'm looking for."
We are back at the lab as Zack gives a break down to us, "Shoe size four. It's a school bag, but the contents are burned beyond recognition." Temp then asks, "What about the human remains?" "Victim was female. Her skull shows combined Caucasoid and Mongoloid features. Also, preauricular sulcus to the pelvis shows the victim gave birth five to eight years ago." I then add, "The kidnapping victim could be her child." Zack continues, "Maxillary molars have been pulled and replaced with removable dentures, lots of gold." Temp then speaks, "In parts of the Caucasus, when girls from wealthy families turn 16, they are given gold teeth as a display of affluence." "I'll dissolve a bicuspid in nitric acid and do a chemical workup." Temp shines the light in the mouth, and I start to notice something. "Temp, there's something lodged in the larynx." Zack asks, "Part of her tongue?" He grabs some long plyers and the thing out of the mouth as I continue, "Not fleshy enough for tongue- this is cartilage." Boss then comes up to us, "Dr. Brennan, Dr. Venus, Mr. Addy this is Ms. Pickering. She's performing the State Department." I nod remembering that it was today she was coming as Hodgins speak, One man's security review is another man's witch hunt." Ms. Pickering then answers looking at Hodgins, "That would be Dr. Jack Hodgins." Boss nods, "It would be, yes." Hodgins continued, "You know us all, don't you, Ms. Pickering? Or is it Agent Pickering from the National Security Agency?" "I don't yet know you as well as I will, Dr. Hodgins. Is something burning?" Zack then answers, "Not anymore. She's pretty much extinguished by now."
Boss then speaks, "Ms. Pickering will of everyone's timetes to perform a routine security review. I expect everyone to be cooperative." Hodgins pipes in again, "I'm not swearing any damn loyalty oath." I then add "And civil." Temp then speaks, "Send this in Pathology. Dr. Chen. Ask him to identify it as soon as possible." Boss then speaks, "Dr. Brennan?" "Yes, security check, civil. Zack will grind a segment of the femur, so you can perform trace element analysis." Hodgins nod as Ms. Pickering asks, "Didn't I see you on television this morning, Dr. Brennan?" "How could I possibly know what you watched on television? Booth, I have to talk to you." We watch as she leaves, as she adds, "Yeah, it was definitely her." I come down to the two, "You might want to work your way up to her Ms. Pickering." Boss nods as I look at them, "I will try to keep them under control if I can Boss. But you do understand that it won't be an easy task." He sighs, "Sadly, I do Dr. Venus." Ms., Pickering then speaks, "You must be the other Dr. Brennan." "Ah, yes, that's me. But do call me Dr. Venus, it makes it easier on all of us here to not confuse me with my sister." "Yes, I can see that you are different from your sister as well." "Yup, we get that a lot." "I read your file and I haven't gotten that much information on yourself, so I am more excited to question you out of everyone here." I nod, "Yes, well... just as my sister you must work up on me as well. But I will tell you this as a nice treat. I work here as the second director of the Jeffersonian." "Oh my really?" Boss nods, "Yes. She is also great at her job, really makes my day's so much easier." "Why thank you Boss. But you mustn't tell the others Ms. Pickering, they don't know. It makes watching them much easier as they don't suspect anything, and I get to see everyone's true nature. From that I am able to make evaluations on what's good and not good for this institution." "I will, keep that in mind."
I then left and walked up to Temp and Booth as he asks, "How close are you to IDing the burn victim?" Temp answers, I may be jumping the gun, but..." "That's music to my ears." "Well, considering this 48-hour thing, we should be looking at Eastern European immigrants going back, say, ten years." "I can get that information for you. Angela doing facial reconstruction?" I nod, "Yes." "You know, if this works, I'm gonna buy you both a puppy." I jump in eagerness, liking the sound of that as Temp speaks, "That would be inadvisable. You never told me how I was this morning. I asked you, 'How did I do?' and you said, 'We'll talk about it in the car,' but we didn't." Booth and I look at each other as he asks, "This was your first TV interview?" "Yes." "It was fine, you know... for your first interview." "Well, that was a qualified response." "What? No. It was lively, yeah." "Lively? What kind of word is that?" "It's an adjective, though, ironically, most words that end in 'ly' are adverbs. Like 'ironically.'" "Okay, what did I do wrong?" "Maybe next time, tell a funny story. Oh, and never say you don't like children." "I didn't say I don't like children. I just said I don't want any." "On TV, it's the same thing." Booth then left towards the Angelator as I put my hand on Temps shoulder. I sighed, "It's alright sis, I thought you were good. Just keep on taking me to your interviews." She nods and we make our way over to Booth and Angie.
Angie starts speaking, "The victim's skull was in good shape, no real shrinkage from the fire. Okay, I'm running a comparison between the facial reconstruction and the photos in the immigration database. I hear we're all going to get grilled by some mysterious government chick." Temp then speaks, "I've been through this before. It's so we can work on classified cases. CIA, military..." Booth then asks, "You have something to hide?" Angie then answers, "Better believe it, bucko." "What kind of something?" "The best kind." I chuckle at the two when Temp turns around and looks at some pictures then speaks. "There, that one." Angie nods and brings the picture up while we go to the computer. I nod, "It's a good match." Angie then speaks, "Polina Rozalina Semov, born 1970, Cherdyn, Perm district of the Urals. She immigrated to the US in '94 with her sister Maria, married Carl Decker. They live in Cleveland Park." Booth then asks, "Children?" "Donovan Dimitri Decker, born 1997. He's eight years old."
We are in the car as Temp speaks, "Polina and Carl separated three months ago. Separate addresses for Mom and Dad." Booth then adds, "Well, we know that Mom is in a drawer in your lab. Let's go find Dad." I shake my head not amused at his joke as Temp speaks, "You arrest someone really small lately?" I looked at her confused when she continues, "Car seat in the back." I look next to me as Booth speaks, "Oh. I had Parker for the weekend." I pipe in, "I heard, you both had a lot of fun." "Where did you hear that?" "Hmm, from Parker... Why?" "I haven't seen you this weekended." "Oh, no, he called me, telling me everything you guys did." "What? He doesn't have a phone or your phone number?" "No, he used your phone... Are you getting him again this weekended?" "Yes, why?" "Nice, then I will be seeing you this weekend. Parker and I have an important meeting we must discuss about." Booth was going to ask something when Temp cuts in, "Don't know how you do that." Booth asks, "Install a car seat in an FBI vehicle?" "Bring a kid into this world, knowing what you know. Oh, but Parker was an accident, right? Because his mother wouldn't marry you?" I wince as Temp asks, "What?" Booth then speaks, "It never occurred to you that that might be a sensitive topic?" "Well, you could have gone with the very small felon story." "I'm better for Parker being in the world. Someday, you will see that." "No, I won't." "You'll change your mind." "I don't do that." "You will." "Yeah, maybe after I see how Carl Decker reacts when you tell him his wife is dead and his child has been kidnapped." "Well, statistically speaking, we're going to find Donovan with his dad."
I looked confused, "What? Why?" "Why? Because most kidnappings happen by estranged spouses." I nod as Temp speaks, "Ah, you're certainly making the whole domestic scene more and more attractive." Booth and I both looked at Temp. We then make it to the father's home as Temp asks, "This is it?" Booth nods, "Yep, this is the correct address. You both hang back and let me do all the talking, okay?" I nod staying put as Booth knocks at the door and Temp goes around looking through the window. I don't pay attention as Booth tries to scold Temp as I notice some people in a car looking at us. I whistle a bit getting Booth's attention and I nod my head over to the car. Booth looks and sees what I was getting at and starts to walk over to them as Temp asks where he was going. The person starts to start his car and Booth runs over and breaks the car window. A man then comes out from the back of the car window, and I pushed Temp behind me and grabbed the man taking him to the ground face first and I twisted his arm back and immobilized him from getting up as I kneeled on one of his knees from behind.
Booth throws out the man in the drivers seat and takes out his gun as the man takes out his gun as well. "FBI" "US Marshals!" I checked the man as he had a gun and took it out tossing it to the side as Booth asked, "US Marshals?" Temp then speaks out making me chuckle as I still immobilized the man from underneath me, "Forensic anthropologist! That's why no gun. I mean she does but she's also Forensic anthropologist. Booth lowers his gun as he looked at me giving me a nod to let the man go. I did so and helped him up with a apology and picked up his gun and handed it back to him.
We were at the FBI department in Booth's office as I was sitting on my bean bag in the corner as Director Cullen speaks to us. "Well, at least nobody got shot. Probably cause she didn't have a gun." He directed towards Temp as I try to hide my chuckle as Booth speaks, "Sir, why is Carl Decker's home being watched by US Marshals?" "Carl Decker is a federal witness under Witness Protection. He is scheduled to appear before a grand jury in two days." I then ask, "Is it a mob thing?" "Decker designs body armor for KBC Systems. He says they knowingly sent defective armor to Iraq. The Justice Department believes him, so they moved him to a safe house." "Does the Justice Department think that Decker's in danger from the company?" "He thinks he is. They want him to testify; they play along." Booth then asks. "Well, does Decker know that his wife has been killed, and his child's been kidnapped?" "No, and they don't want him to know." Temp then asks why as Booth answers, "Because it might prevent him from testifying." "Their point of view: there's nothing to be gained from him knowing." I sigh as Temp speaks, "Except, maybe Decker chooses not to testify, and they don't kill his son. Shouldn't that be his decision?" "Justice estimates that KBC Systems is directly responsible for 30 deaths and hundreds of injuries. They're taking the larger view. It's complicated." Booth cut in, "His wife is dead, and his child is missing. That's not so complicated." "No one's stopping you from investigating those crimes." "He's a material witness, I need access to him." "Well, we know Decker didn't kill his wife. He was in custody of US Marshals. So start looking someplace else. Harsh reality, Booth. Deal with it." He then leaves and Temp then speaks, "What, does he not like me?" I shrug as Booth answers, "I don't know."
We are back in the car as Temp speaks, "We'll stay on Polina Decker's remains, see if that leads somewhere." I nod as Booth speaks, "Yeah, I'll talk to the victims' families. At least the ones who aren't under federal protection." "You think a corporation would actually kill a woman and kidnap her child?" I nod "Temp they have billions in dollars, plus civil suits if they're found guilty? People would do anything to not lose any money." Booth nods adding, "I've seen people killed for 50 bucks." Temp then asks Booth, "You believe the boy is already dead?" "I have to assume that he isn't." "Why make that assumption?" "Because it gives me something to look forward to instead of dread. Given the choice, I avoid dread." "Okay, that's logical." "Is it?" "Why dread something that hasn't happened yet?" "Yeah."
Temp and I were walking to her office as Zack come up to us with information. "That piece of cartilage we found in Polina's mouth? Antihelix and meatus remnants." Temp then asks, "It's an ear?" "Chen says it was bitten off." I chuckle, "The victim bit off one of her attacker's ears. She had a lot of guts doing that." Zack then adds, "I heard someone found a fingertip in their chili once. Dr. Chen also found vestiges of earwax." Temp then speaks, "Okay, get that wax to Hodgins, see what he can find." We are in Temps office with Booth watching a recording of the father and his son learning to ride a bike. Temp then stops and I look at her, "Why'd you stop?" "What are we hoping to learn from this tape? We know Carl Decker didn't kidnap his own child. The mother is dead, and the boy..." Booth then finishes for her, "And the boy might be dead, too." "Well, I'm just wondering, what is the benefit of watching this tape?" "You put faces to names, you get a sense of human beings. Oh, come on, Bones. You're the anthropologist. What does this tape tell you?" "Learning to ride a bicycle is a kind of rite passage. It has anthropological significance." "Really?" "It carries meaning beyond the simple mechanics of learning to ride a bike." "Are you being psychological?" "Definitely not. Psychology is about the individual. I'm speaking to a set of cultural praxis and mores." "What the hell are you talking about?" I then answer, "What she is saying is that the father is tight- he's holding his arms, touching his mouth." "So he's nervous. So what?" "Well Ranger look at the boy. He's relaxed. He's not afraid." "Well, so, then why was the boy stalling, huh?" "He's not Ranger. His father is." Temp then continues, "The son understands that on some level. And he's enabling his father to reach some level of comfort. It's a symbiotic relationship." "Relationship. Ha! That's psychology." "The boy trusts his father absolutely. He's confident. The father wishes he didn't have to do this, but he accepted that he must in his role as the father. What?" "Probably the same way Decker felt about being a whistle-blower." "That's psychology, and it's of no use to us in this current investigation." "Just push play, okay?"
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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.