-No One POV-
Booth is in his office distress as Vega comes in his office, "There's no negotiating with the Grace Digger." "You've been through this, what, five times with this guy?" "Exactly. So I know him. And he does not negotiate." "What? What? No chat room action with him?" "Are you nuts? I hate the son of a bitch." "Why? He's made you rich." "You know what? You just need to deal with the facts. If you can't put the ransom together in time he gave you, your partners are dead." Booth gets mad and grabs him by the shoulders and drops him to the table holding his neck. "Here's the deal, all right? You have a relationship with this guy- what you call symbiotic- you benefit from each other. So know this, huh? That deadline comes around, and my partners is still underground, I will end you, you understand?" "Yeah?" Booth lets him go as Vega gasps for air. as Booth says, "Three hours to live... Better hurry." Vega leaves quickly as Booth sighs and sits on his desk.
-Venus POV-
I am helping Temp with the wiring as Hodgin says, "This thing you found in my leg is anodized plastic film and coated metallic tape with dried-out adhesive. I think it's a bumper sticker." Temp asks, "You mean like, 'If you can read this, you're too close'?" "No. Like a prepaid toll road pass. Someone ran me down with a car." I chuckle, "We already know that Hodgin." "Yeah, but now we've proved it, and I find I'm really annoyed." I shake my head as I look over the phone that has been wired, "Four to six seconds to enter message and hit speed dial."
I then says, "I figured out a text message using eight key strikes. Zack would be able to figure it out." I look at Hodgins, "How's your text messaging?" "Thumbs like lightning. I can do it." "Alright. Here you go." I hand it to him as I explain what to put as Temp gets ready, I then asks them both, "Are you both ready?" They nod as I say, "Okay start honking now Temp." She does it and Hodgin types and send right as the phone bursts. Temp then asks, "Did it go?" Hodgin then says, "I think it went." I nod, "Me, too."
-No One POV-
Booth is still in his office as he gets a text from his phone, and he checks seeing it was from Brennan's phone. He quickly gets up and heads to the lab. He gets there and goes to the platform where the rest of the team is and sets the message up. He then asks, "Does it mean anything to anybody?" Cam suggests, "They're getting low on oxygen." Zack adds, "Hypoxia leads to mental confusion." "It's Bones. This means something." Angela asks, "Did you try just dialing the number?" "I tried all the dumb guy normal stuff. okay? That's why I'm here talking to the brain trust, all right?" He then hits the screen, "Think, eggheads! Work it! Come on find your Boss and coworkers!"
Cam then says, "Booth, they're not cops. Plus, I am here, not with them." "No, not you you're boss Venus. Look, we're running out of time." Zack then says, "Minor correction. Dr. Brennan, Venus and Hodgins will run out of air in four seconds... We are out of time." They all look at the time in devastation.
-Venus POV-
We cut open a hole that leads to the trunk as we all gasp for a bit more oxygen. I am in the back set with the other two as Hodgin asks, "How much extra time?" I answer, "A little. Four other tires, but we can't get to them." Temp then asks, "Is there anything else?" Hodgin then says, "If the ransom was paid, we'd be out by now. Why prolong the inevitable?" Temp then says, "Booth will find us." "You have a lot of faith in Booth." "No. Faith is an irrational belief in something that is logically impossible. Over time, we seen what Booth can do. It's not faith." I chuckle, "Temp sorry but that's faith. Don't worry I also have faith in him. We should stop talking to conserve air." Hodgins then looks at me, "I need the camera batteries and the preservative powder from your kit." I ask, "Soda ash and lithium?... You're going to make a carbon dioxide scrubber?" "If you can perform surgery out of thin air, then I can pull a little thin air out of thin air." We all chuckle as I say, "You are brilliant Hodgins, count me in."
-No One POV-
Cam was the first to speak, "Okay, First things first, Zack figured out what stun gun the Grave Digger uses, and how it's modified. Thanks to Angela, we know that the Grave Digger has a customized aluminum case in the back of his vehicle." Booth then says, "I got about 100 agents working that angle. What does this mean right here?" Zack then says, "You're forgetting something. Brennan, Venus and Hodgins are out of air." "Great, you want to give up? Huh? This is Bones, Blueberry we're talking about, and Hodgins. Especially that one of them is all of your Bosses. You really think they didn't find a way to extend their air supply? Hell, they found a way to send us a message, ask us for help, and you want to give up because of math?"
Cam then says, "What do you mean that one of them is our Boss. How is Venus our Boss? Who is Venus? And don't even try to give me some excuse, tell us the truth and everything." Booth looks over at Angela who only knows one of the secrets about Venus as she says, "Venus... She... Before she came to work at the Jeffersonian with us, she was discharged from the military." Cam looks at her, "What?" Booth sighs deciding to tell them, "Dr. Venus Brennan or also known as Major Venus Brennan was put into a military experimental program at 13 years old and has been part with the Navy SEALS DEVGRU for three years and Delta Force for two years. She served five years in total and was discharged at 18 where she started working at the Jeffersonian right away."
"What is her job description here?" "She was originally the second head of the Jeffersonian Institution but is now the current Director of the Institution." They were all shocked with the news as Cam then says, "So, what you're saying is that I threatened her and almost fired my own Boss? Oh, god." "Okay, but this isn't important right now. Let's find them, then you could ask her any questions you have?"
-Venus POV-
Hodgin and I are working with the machine that will help extract oxygen as Hodgins says, "Soda ash. Lithium. Reacts with high concentrations of carbon dioxide. Produces oxygen." We all laugh as it reacts as I jump over to the driver seat with a bit difficulty as sit down a grunt a bit as Temp and Hodgins looks at me and she asks, "Are you okay Ven?" I nod as I lift my shirt up seeing my injury as it has a large bruising.
They both look as Hodgins says, "Yesh, I thought you said that you were okay? How are you not in pain?" "I am, but like I said earlier, I am used to it. But this oxygen gives us just a long enough." "Just long enough for what?" "For my next idea, which will probably kill us. Air bags." Hodgin looks at me, "They aren't actually bags of air." "I know, I am not searching for something that will extend our lives underground. I am going to create an explosion for us." "Using the explosives from the air bags?"
I nod as Temp says, "That would definitely kill us." "Yeah... I know, but this is a better chance than not doing anything." I start working on the explosive as Hodgin rips a paper from the book and tries to hand it over to me. "Anyone you want to say good-bye to?" I stop and look at him and the paper. "Yeah... But I already have that written down, long before we got caught down here." "You seem prepared for this." "Yeah... I kind of was trained to be like that. Always alert and be prepared for anything." "Trained?"
I nod as Temp takes the paper and starts writing things down as I say, "Well, you could say that I am your ideal proof of some of your conspiracy theories that you like telling us?" "Huh?" "I guess it is time to tell you since we don't know what will happen." I look back at the wheel as I start working on it as I tell Hodgins everything about me and the military and answer his questions the most I know or tell him.
-No One POV-
Zack was first to speak, "It's not a numerical-alphabetical code or an equation." Angela adds, "It's not GPS coordinates or indications of topography." Booth asks, "Then what is it?" Cam then says, "Can I make a suggestion? See this is exactly why Venus sent me here. You guys are brilliant, but you won't make intuitive leaps." Zack asks, "You mean jump to conclusion?" "That's exactly what I mean. This is a message from one of them to one of us- specific, focused. Who was it meant to get to?" Booth then says, "Easy, Brennan's cell to mine, right? The message was for me. We have an understanding, we work together."
Angela then says, "We all work together. She and Venus are my best friends. And Hodgins... Hodgins..." Cam then says, "She is right. We should assume the message is from Hodgins or Venus, not from Brennan." Booth asks "Why?" "Because they're buried alive." Angela adds, "And Hodgins is all about dirt and Venus as well." "Okay, great, the message is about dirt, but who is it to?" Zack then says, "Angela. Hodgins is all about dirt and Angela." Angela then says, "It's from Venus. She knows that you know numbers Zack. It's for you. Hodgins would have written me a line of poetry or something."
Vega then comes over calling Booth out from down the platform, "Agent Booth. Janine used all her contacts and got me on all the local news shows. I explained that we needed more time. I asked him to call. I'm sorry, but he's completely consistent." Zack then finally got the message, "6-7-16. Carbon, nitrogen and sulfur on the periodic table of elements. They are buried in coal-rich soil." Booth says, "You gotta narrow it down, Zack." Angela adds, "Keep going, Zack." "The mineral components in coal are all the same. It's the organic components that provide a unique fingerprint. They're called 'macerals'. They fluoresce at different levels. A reflectance of 1.4 is quite rare, suggesting a high concentration of Inertinite." Booth then says, "Zack, tell me what that means." Angela says, "It means he knows where they are." "Zack?" "I know where they are."
-Venus POV-
I have everything set up as Temp and Hodgins are in the back as he asks, "Can this possibly work?" "Of course, I am an explosives expert. The dash will shape the charge enough to blow up the windshield. If we're less than four feet beneath the surface, this charge could blow is to freedom." "And if we're buried more than four feet deep?" Temp answers, "Then the concussion will tun our brains into jelly." "Well, then we can run for Congress, so it's a win-win." We all chuckle as I say, "You both should get as far away from the explosion as possible." Hodgin then says, "We already are. Care to join us?" They both take out their hands for me as I smile and join them as I sit between them. "Yes, I shall."
-No One POV-
Booth and the team are rushing to the location with backup as he stops and they all rush down. They all look at the plain big open area as Booth says, "Look, people, they got to be here. Just look for anything. Tire tracks, recent digging, mounds, depressions, anything." They all start searching for them looking all around. While underground Venus, Hodgins, and Brennan are gathered in the back with Venus between Hodgins and Brennan. Venus then asks them "Ready?" They both nod as Hodgin says, "Dr. Brennan, Venus... it's been a privilege." We all hug together for a minute or two. We let go as they watch me grab the wires as they don't want to look as I don't hesitate and put them together creating an explosion.
Up on the ground Booth is looking around when he sees dirt a small dirt flying in the air indicating and explosion. He starts running towards that direction as fast as he can as the others follow him. He gets there and quickly starts digging and finds a hand. He grabs it and pulls Brennan up from the ground as the other team members start digging. Brennan coughs a bit and then says, "Get Hodgins and Venus." He goes back helping them as they pull up Hodgins as they don't get anything from him then he suddenly coughs as Brennan tries getting up towards the dirt says, "Venus!"
Booth goes back and digs even more with the other team members as they finally found her hand and they pull her up as well. Booth pulls her to Brennan as they see that she isn't breathing. Brennan starts tearing up, "Ven... Ven... Venus wake up." The team looks at her when Booth gets closer to her and suddenly Venus coughs and sits up quickly grabbing Booth by the shoulder and flipping him over with her hand on his throat. Booth then says, "Whoa! Calm down Blueberry! It's me Booth!" She realizes that it was him and quickly lets him go trying to get up but the pain from her ribs hurt even more as she falls back down coughing. Brennan crawls towards her, "It's okay, we are safe know."
She nods as she falls back on her back, "That's good... Sorry Ranger... It was reflexes." "I could see that." Could someone help me sit up?" Zack goes over to Venus helping her sit up. They all see as Angela kisses Hodgins and Brennan and Booth smile at each other. The ambulance finally arrived as Venus said, "I was making a good streak of not going to the hospital... Oh well." She then looks at Zack who as sitting next to her, "I see that you figured out our message." "Yes, that was very clever." "Thank you. We only had about four to six seconds to send that out."
He nods as Venus groans from moving a bit. "I think the Grave Digger Fractured a rib or two." "Then you should definitely go to the hospital and get x-rayed." "Yeah... Wanna ride with me and order some food over there?" "Yes. Booth says I could ask you questions regarding your past with the military." "Huh? Oh... I see he told you guys about that... I guess you could ask some question, but I might not be able to answer them all." "Okay, he also said that you're our boss." "I see... He really spilled everything about me then. I guess it was time you all know. But I still want you guys to treat me the same not any different, okay. You got that Zackaroo?" "Yes, I understand." "All right, help me up to the ambulance." Zack helps Venus up as they were walking to the vehicle Venus spots Cam as she yells out, "Cam. I am taking Zack here with me." "Okay, you're the Boss. I am also sorry for threatening you and trying to fire you." "That's all right, I was having a blast, but I still don't mind if you have any opinions about anything, you could always confront me about it, all right?" "Yes, thank you." Venus waves the others goodbye as they entered their own ambulance.
In the end Venus and Hodgins had to stay in the hospital for a day or two. Hodgins was able to get out, but Venus was unable to as Booth had placed two guards there to keep an eye on her and made sure Zack stayed with her the whole time and keep her at the hospital as he is someone that she can't say no to if they ask and therefore was stuck at the hospital. Brennan had minor injuries as Booth had decided to take her to church as she wanted to earlier as she wanted to understand more about Booth and Venuses religion.
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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.