Trial by Fire

This is the follow up, to my first fic entitled Under Oath. It picks up right where Under Oath left off.

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Trial by Fire

He took a deep breath, and opened his eyes. Yes, she was here, curled into his side, her hand lay upon his chest, rising and falling with every breath he took. He looked around, they were in her bedroom. Their clothes lay scattered on the floor. His mind, drifted over the events of the previous day, and then the night. It had all happened, it was no dream.

Her teary confession on the witness stand, had left him stunned. She loved him. She had said it on the stand, and later, when he had confronted her, she had also admitted. They had confronted each other, with their feelings, and had spent the most glorious night together.

He didn't want to move, his body was tired, but his mind was alert. "Bones," he began to kiss her all over her face. "Wakey, wakey, Bones." She opened her eyes, and he loved that sleep tasseled look she gave him. She sat up, holding the blankets to her chest.

"I'm going to my apartment to change, I'll be back to get you, don't go anywhere, without me, Bones." and with his trade mark smile, guaranteed to melt any girls heart, he was gone.

He unlocked the door to his apartment, and let himself in. Looking around, everything looked the same, but it seemed so different. Maybe, everything would seem different now.

Quickly, he showered, and got dressed, left.

After a brief visit to the local coffee shop, where he picked up, two coffee's, he was back on Brennen's door. She opened the door, looking beautiful, perhaps more so, to him, than ever before. "Good morning." He bent and gave her a whopper of a kiss, he made her smile.

Within in a few minutes they were riding down the elevator, together. "So, Bones, you ready to testify, again?" he asked, as he opened her door. She slid in to his truck. "I'm ready, Booth." He bent and gave her another kiss.

"Glad to hear it, Bones." He started his truck, and pulled out of the parking lot.

"Bones, you know, I'm pretty sure, after your dad left here, yesterday, that he has a clue, about us." a pause. "I mean, he pretty much told me, it was about time."

"He didn't say that Booth." she argued back.

"Not in so many words Bones, and Ang, she called yesterday, and there's no telling, what she thinks..............." he left off.

"I've been thinking about this Booth. I think we should just tell them."

"Bones, I'm pretty sure, they already know. In case you haven't noticed, Bones, I have a hard time, hiding things, especially from Angela." he smiled, "I think they will all be happy for us"

He reached out and grasped her hand, his thumb caressing her fingers. "almost as happy, as I am."

He pulled into the parking lot for the courthouse. It was a hotbed of activity, satelite trucks were parked everywhere, news crews were setting up cameras, ready to deliver any new information, that would come out of today's events. Crowds of people were walking towards the double doors, that led into the court house.

"You ready for this, Bones?" he looked at her, as he opened her door.

"Let's do this."

can't wait for the court scene.

Braving the mad pack of reporters, they finally made it, to the doors, where the guards led them thru. Bones, stepped thru the metal detectors. Booth, showed his ID, and they let him skirt around.

"I'm sorrry agent Booth, but you will not be allowed to carry your gun into the courtroom, today. You'll have to check your gun in. You can pick it up, after court is adjourned for the day." Booth, never liked being without his gun, but conceded. He looked around, there was more security here, today, then in any other trial he'd been involved with. There shouldn't be any problems, he told himself.

Taking Brennen's arm, he led her into the courtroom. Looking over, he saw his friends, and collegues already seated. He led Brennen over, and let her sit, next to Angela.

"Well its about time, you two, where have you been?" Angela gave them both a wide eyed smirk.

"We're here, Angela, that's all you need to know." Booth answered.

"Hello, Booth", Max looked at Booth. Booth for the first time, was at a loss with words.

"Hi, Dad," Brennen said, and gave Booth a meaningful look, hoping that Booth, took the hint, "Um, hi, Max."

Max smirked, and turned to Brennen, "Hi, honey," he kissed her cheek. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, Dad, just ready to get this over with."

The courtroom doors closed, and two guards stationed them selves on either side of each door. The side door swung open, and in walked a smirking Heather Taffet, led by two security guards, and her attorney.

Booth felt Brennen's hand reach for his, which he grasped in a firm grip. He looked over, at the adjacent table, and he could see Miss Julian shuffleing papers, and looking thru her notes. Looking at Brennen, she was perfectly composed, no nerves showing on her face.

"All rise." The judge walked in, and sat.

"Miss Julien, are you ready to begin?" he asked.

"Yes, your honor, the prosecution recalls Dr. Temperance Brennen, to the stand."

Probably worried Booth will try and shoot someone once he hears what Tempe had to go through.

Brennen took a deep breath, and stood. Booth stood, and let her squeeze by him. He released her hand, after giving her a meaningful squeeze. Hopeing she got his silent message, he sat back down, and waited.



Brennen took her seat in the witness stand.



"Dr. Brennen, I am reminding you, you are still under oath." the judge looked at her.



"Yes, your honor."



"You may begin, Miss Julian." he nodded.



"Dr. Brennen. How many trials, and hearing have you testified in?" Miss Julian was looking at her.



"I am unsure, of an exact number." she answered.



"Just take a guess, Dr. Brennen."



"I'm not really comfortable guessing..........."



"Dr. Brennen, would it be safe to say, that you have testified, in more than a few?" she asked.



"Yes, I can agree with that."



"Dr. Brennen, would it also be safe to say, that you, are an expert witness, in testifying at trials of murderers, serial killers, and criminals of all sorts?"



"Your honor," the defense attorney, objected, "Where is the prosecution going with this, this has nothing to do with the guilt or innocense of my client."



"Your honor," Miss Julian interrupted ,"I am attempting to establish why Dr. Hodgins, and Dr. Brennen were taken by the alledged kidnapper slash serial killer, if I could continue?" she was looking at the judge.



"Please, continue, Miss Julian," the judge answered. "Dr. Brennen answer the question, please."



"Yes, I would be considered an expert." she kept her answer simple.



"So, when the alleged kidnapper, slash serial killer, took you, and Dr. Hodgins it was because you were working to identify the identity of the "gravedigger" correct, Dr. Brennen?"



"That would be my expert opinion, yes." she answered.



"And that would be, what some people, in law enforcement would call a motive?" Miss Julian asked.



"Objection your honor, the witness is not in law enforcement, and is not an attorney, she's leading the witness."



Miss Julian smiled, "Sorry your honor, I withdraw the question," but she had planted the seed, as she looked over at the jury.



"Continue, Miss Julian."



"Dr. Brennen, previously you testified, that Dr. Hodgins, and yourself, were trapped, buried alive, with no one, including yourselves, knowing where you were." Miss Julian was waiting for her answer.



"That is correct."



"So, we know, your alive, I mean, I looking at your right now, odviously you didn't die underground?" she seemed to want an answer.



"That is correct, we didn't die underground." Brennen didn't quite know what to think of a question, that states a fact.



"What happened, that your still alive." she asked.



"Dr. Hodgins, figured out from soil samples, the approximate location of where we were. "



"Keep going," Dr. Brennen.



"We thought we could get a single short message out, that would help our collegues narrow down our location." she took a breath.



"And did you get your message out?"she asked.



"We thought so at the time, but there was no way to know, if we were successful."



"But you were successful, weren't you Dr. Brennen?" arching he brows, at Brennen.



"Yes, we got our message out. It allowed them to know our approximate location."



"And then, Dr. Brennen, what happened."



"After a time, we realized that we were getting low on oxygen, and wouldn't be able to maintain our conscienceness much longer. If we were going to try to get out, we needed to do something, right then, or they wouldn't find us in time." she paused, "I rigged the explosive from the air bag to blow out the windshield in hopes of us escaping to the surface."

"So, Dr. Brennen, you decided to blow out your windshield, while you were underground? Wasn't that dangerous?" Miss Julian looked at her.

"There was a chance that it wouldn't work, yes." Brennen answered.

"So, would you say, taking this chance, was your only hope, of escaping, and saving your lives?" she asked.

"Yes." her only reply.

"Tell us, Dr. Brennen, exactly what happened."

"We needed to be as far away from the explosives as possible, so, I climbed into he back seat with Dr. Hodgins. I fashioned a bandage for Dr. Hodgins leg, so to keep any particulates and any dirt, out of his wound. He got down as far as we could. I told Dr. Hodgins, to close his eyes, and hold his breath, and then I triggered the explosion."

"Go on, Dr. Brennen."

"We had previously discussed with each other, that when the explosion occured, we would need to push up, as quickly as we could. I was unsure about how far down we were buried, but I hoped that the explosion would either blow out all the dirt that had been placed over us, or it would loosen, it enough that we could push our way thru it, to the surface."

"And is that what happened, Dr. Brennen?" Miss Julian queried?

"When the explosion happened, it was like a million tiny rocks caved in on us. They surrounded us. Hodgin's was next to me, I tried to grab his hand, but I could no longer feel him. I tried to force my hand to the surface, but I couldn't feel anything, but more dirt. It seemed to cascade all around us, on top of us. It covered my face, and eyes, it filled my nose, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't see, I realized, we must have been further down, than I hoped." Brennen looked at Booth. Her eyes, just a touch watery.

"And then............" Miss Julian prompted her.

"I felt someone's hand, then two hands, were pulling me out. I was trying to keep my eyes, closed." she paused, "and then I felt someone grasp both my arms and pull me out, and I was there, and Booth, was there." she looked to Booth, who gave her smile. "He pulled me out. The other's were there, they began to pull Hodgin's out, he was still buried. They got him out, they had saved us. We made it." Brennen, looked to Booth, who gave her a nod, and a smile.

"Your honor, I am done, with this witness, for now."

"I have a few question for the witness." the attorney representing Heather Taffet, interjected.

"Did you see anybody in the parking garage, where you were taken from, that looked like my client?"

"No."

"Did you ever find any evidence that linked the previous kidnappings, or your kidnapping to my client?"

"NO."

"So, is it safe to say, at that time, you had no evidence of any kind linking anything at all, to my client, is that correct, Dr. Brennen?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Dr. Brennen, you've helped Agent Booth, put alot of people in prison, haven't you?" he asked.

"Yes, I suppose."

"So, is it safe to say, there are alot of former criminals, that have an axe to grind against you, so to speak?" he asked.

"I guess thats possible."

"Thank you, Dr. Brennen, that will be all, for now." he was done.

"Dr. Brennen, you may step down, and we'll take a short recess."

Brennen stepped down. She was caught up in the slow progression of people, making their way to the door. When she reached the door, Booth was waiting for her.

"You okay, Bones?" he didn't like her remembering that awful day. He didn't like remembering that day, either. The sheer helplessness he had felt, the panic of not being able to find her, and then the realization that she was going to die. This trial was bringing all those memories back.

"I'm fine, Booth," she gave him a smile, and made him feel a little better. He grasped her arm, and grabbed her hand, and led her out the door.

Her friends were gathered just outside, waiting for them.

"You two look good," Angela said, motioning, to their joined hands, "Somebody should have told you that a long time ago, huh?"

"Yea, yea, Angela," he gave her wink.

"Dr. B. you were great up there." Hodgins, sounded a little sad, "just wish, I could help. Caroline says, that they would call into question my testimony."

"They just want to put her away, Hodgins, with out any technicalities, getting in the way." Booth said.

"I know that, but it still sucks. "

"Come, on Jack, you can buy me a drink," Angela said, pulling him away, and distracting him.

"So, Booth, you and my daughter, huh." Max squinted his eyes at him. Max leaned in close to Booth's ear, and whispered, just loud enough for Booth to hear, " If you break her heart, I'll kick your azz, I know people," and then in his regular voice, he turned to Brennen, "I'm so happy for you honey." and he kissed her cheek.

Great, Booth thought, I have a reformed murderer threatening me. Booth actually liked Max, he even understood him. He thought Max had crossed a line, but given the same circumstances, Booth was unsure of what he would have done, to protect his own.

"So you and DR. Brennen, huh?" Sweets was smiling at him, with that annoying, knowing smile, that he always had, when discussing Brennnen with him.

"Not now Sweets, you can disect it later, under your toy microscope." Booth enjoyed the digs that referred to Sweet's age, it was the only thing that got under his skin.

"Hey, Sweetie, I was heading to the ladies room, want to join?" Angela motioned with her shoulder to the restroom.

"Sure, Ang."

Once they were out of earshot, "How was it, was it as good, as I thought, spill Brenn, you know, I deserve this" she paused, and took a breath, "ahhhh, Sweetie, I'm so happy for you two."

"Ang," Brennen looked at her, her voice sounded a little odd, "it was everything that I ever thought it could be, and more." she gave Ang, a teary smile.

Ang reached out and pulled Brennen into her embrace. "I'm just so happy for you Bren, its everything I've always wanted for you." she sniffled.

"I'm still processing it, myself, Ange." she looked at her, "me and Booth." she was at a loss for words...

"So, this means, your together?" Ang prompted her for an answer. "together together, right?"

Brennen nodded her head, and Ang hugged her again, "I just can't believe this."

Brennen still couldn't believe it either. Booth. Booth, and her, together. It should seem odd, but it didn't. They had fit perfectly in each other's arms, as if they had been created to be together.

"Well, believe it, Angela." it was Booth. After waiting with Sweets, and Max a few minutes, he had decided to look for Brennen, he thought she'd been gone too long.

He'd found them sitting on a bench, outside the ladies room. Their heads were bent close to each other talking. Angela was giving Brennen a teary hug.

He reached out, and picked up Bones' hand, and pulled her up. Putting his arm around her, he bent and gave her a sweet kiss. "you okay?" he asked, her eyes were teary.

"Fine, Booth."

"Awwwwwwww[Only admins are allowed to see this link] Ang was looking up at them, "I'm just so happy for you, two." sniffleing, she reached up and gave both of them a hug.

Booth is such a cutie! I love the comment about Max.

"I'll let you two love birds have a few minutes, before the recess is over." Angela gave them both a watery smile, "I'll go find, Hodgins."

When Angela had disappeared around the corner, Booth sat down next to Brennen. "You know, you keep kissing me all the time, your going to get tired of it." Brennen looked into Booth's eyes.

"That," he brought her hand up to his lips, "is never going to happen. I will never be tired of kissing you." and he kissed her again.

"Well, now, what do we have here?" Caroline had come around the corner. Its about time. She knew from the first minute she saw Booth and Brennen together, that they had "something" going on. She'd been in New Orleans working on a case, when Booth had contacted her, those years ago. He had literally begged her for help.

When she had met Dr. Brennen the first time, she hadn't understood how their relationship worked. Dr. Brennen had seemed aloof and cold, not the kind of woman she would have thought would have attracted Sealy Booth.

The more she got to know Dr. Brennen, the more she understood their friendship. She had seen first hand the kind of woman Dr. Brennen was. She'd knew that Dr. Brennen and Booth relied on each other, not only as partners, but as something more than friends, too.

She had even manipulated a few circumstances, to get them together. She had been disppointed when it hadn't worked. But hadn't given up the thought, that these two were meant for each other. Cupid wasn't her ideal role, but she was game, if need be. Now, it looked like, they had done it on their own. Of course, making Brennen read those letters on the stand, seemed to help. Considering there was nothing relevant in those letter, that had anything to do with the trial. Just a little tweak here and there, and the rest they did on their own. Yes, she was good attorney, but she was an excellent manipulator.

"Recess is about over." she looked at her watch, almost time to go back to work. She raised her brow at Booth, and walked around the corner.

"You ready Bones?" He stood, and offered her, his hand.

She sat behind the table. She had noticed how the doctor kept looking over at her. She could feel the hate pouring from his eyes. Just to goad him on, she gave him a little smirk. She noticed the tightening of his jaw, when he clenched his teeth, the narrowing of his eyes, directed straight at her. It made her want to laugh. But, she would maintain her demeanor, she couldn't and wouldn't give in the temptation of bragging or laughing at them.

They thought it was almost over. She knew differently, she was just biding her her time.

**************************************************************
"There, Angela, did you see that?" Hodgins nudged Angela's shoulder. "She's laughing at us."

"Hodgin's your being paranoid." Angela leaned forward to get a view of the defendent.

Angela knew that Jack had personally been affronted by the gravedigger. He harbored alot of anger toward her. Brennen had been able to put it behind her, but Hodgins had not. She knew, he still had nightmares, about being buried alive. He'd even been compelled to see Sweets, about it. That alone, told Angela how troubled Jack was. Time, usually had a way of lessening ones' anger, but it had not been the case with Hodgins. His anger had driven him, to violate the law, and tamper with evidence. He had rationalized it by trying to convince himself, he was the victim. But, he had lost sight, of the other victims, that hadn't survived, at the hands of the gravedigger.

That's why it was so important that everything be done right, that they put away the gravedigger. If she got off, because of Jack, she wasn't sure how he would fare thru that.

They still had a few minutes before court resumed. Booth led Brennen into the courtroom. He saw Miss Julian, at the prosecution's table, she caught his eye, and motioned for him.



"Hey, Bones, " he was leading her to where Angela and Hodgins were already seated. "Caroline, wants to talk to me, be back, in a few minutes."



He walked over to where she was flipping thru her notes. "Caroline?"

"Hey, Cherie, just giving you the heads up, I'm planning on putting you on the stand."

"I figured."

"Glad to see you and the good Doctor, getting along so nicely." she looked up at him.

"Couldn't do it without you, Caroline." he smiled at her, referring to the letters.

"It was a little more subtle than the mistletoe, don't cha think, Cherie?" Booth just looked at her, mostly in awe. He had yet, to learn, to never underestimate, Caroline Julian.

"Go to your lady Doctor, I'l be calling you in a few minutes."

"Thank you, Caroline," for everything, he thought, and meant it.

He returned to her side, "Everything okay, Booth?" Brennen looked up at him, as he sat beside her.

"Yea, she was letting me knew what was up." he looked at her. Still, not quite believing, they were together. He picked up her hand, "she's going to put me on the stand."

Across town, at the local No-Tell Motel, a man sat. He was slumped in the only chair, a thread bare recliner, that has seen better days, a decade ago. A forgotten cigarette, was burning up in the ash try, his eyes glued to the TV.

A local reporter was giving her opinion about the trial going on, at the downtown courthouse. They showed a clip, of Dr. Brennen arriving at the courthouse. She was being led thru a gauntlet of reporters by her FBI Agent. Each reporter, sticking a microphone in their faces, asking them questions, trying to get them to comment on the Gravedigger case.

He picked up his cigarette, took the last drag and crushed it out. He leaned back and flipped open the recliner, putting his feet up. Laughing at himself, he thought back to how this all began, five years ago...................................................



He'd made a mistake, and now he was sitting in a police interrogation room. He looked up at the mirrored wall, and smirked at it.

The door opened, and a woman, carrying a sheaf of papers walked in. She sat down across from him, and flipped open a file, that had his name on it.

"I'm the assistant district attorney."

"I know who you are."

"Blackmail, extortion, bribery, attempted murder, "she ran down the list. "It looks like you will be going to jail, for a long, long time, Mr. Wallace."

She looked at him, studied him. Her back was to the wall. She looked down at the file, "former military, section eight discharge. I see you had a few problems," she commented, looking back up at him.

"So...............your point."

She reached into her bag, and pulled out a small device. She sat it directly in front of her, and flipped a small switch on the side. "Do you know what that is, Mr. Wallace."

He'd seen something like it before, in the army. It was a device designed to interrupt recordings.

"I know what it is." this is interesting.

"I have a proposition for you, Mr. Wallace."

"I'm listening." he looked at her.

"What if the evidence in your case, suddenly went missing." a pause, "what if the only witness to your crime, disappeared?"

"Sounds like, if those two things happened, then they wouldn't have much of a case against me."

"I would agree with you, IF those two things occurred." she gave him a tight smile.

"Hypothetically, of course, if those two events did occur, you could be released, as early as tomorrow."

This is too good, to be true, he thought.

"I see here, you like money."

"Doesn't everybody?" he asked.

"Not everyone, not like you do." she paused, leaned in closer, "and not like I do."

"Tomorrow, your charges will be dropped, Mr. Wallace."

"Just Wallace, and I'm guessing, I'm going to be hearing from you?"

"Most certainly, and soon." she took a breath, "I have some plans for you, Wallace."

He was definately interested.

She reached out, a flipped the tiny switch on the device, before sliding it into her bag.

"Mr. Wallace." she was taking her leave.

"Hey, didn't catch your name."

"Heather Taffett, and I will be in touch." and she was gone.

True to her word, the charges were dropped, when the evidence disappeared, and the only witness, turned up face down in the gutter. He was released the very next day.

When she called, he was ready. He listened while she detailed a plan. A very plauseable plan, that would make them both alot of money.

*******************

An announcement on TV, brought him back to the present. The reporter mentioned, that Special FBI Agent, Sealy Booth, was on the list of witnesses for the day.

Yep, it was all going according to plan. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation, he was ready.

"All rise." everyone stood.

"Miss Julian, are you ready?" inquired the judge.

"I am, your Honor. The prosecution call Special Agent Sealy ."

Releasing Brennen's hand, Booth stood, and made his way forward.

After he was sworn in, he climbed into the witness stand.

"Special Agent Sealy Booth." Miss Julian, began,"you are a man of much experience, in law enforcement?"

"I've been in the FBI, for over ten years." he qualified her question.

"Relevance, your honor?" the defendents attorney stood up.

"I'm getting to that, your honor."

"Carry on, Miss Julian, but get to the point." the judge looked at her.

"My point is, Agent Booth, you have dealt with kidnappers, and murderers, before the gravedigger case, correct Agent Booth?"

"Yes."

"So, when Dr.s Brennen, and Hodges, were taken, where
were you?"

"I was having dinner, at a restraunt."

"By yourself?"

"No, I was with a friend." He knew, Brennen knew, about his relationship with Cam, but he certainly did like talking about it, in front of her.

"Who, Agent Booth, were you with?"

"Dr. Saroyan."

"So, during a dinner, with Dr. Saroyan, you received word, that Dr. Brennen, and Dr. Hodgins were taken?"

"Yes, I got a call from the gravedigger, stating that he had Dr. Brennen and Dr. Hodgins."

"How did you know it was the Gravedigger?"she asked

"The gravedigger stated the demands, and said that it would be the final call, and if the demands weren't met, we would never see, Dr. Brennen, and Dr. Hodgins, again."

"So, Agent Booth, what did you do?"

"I immediately called the Director of the FBI,and informed him. I then, headed over to the Jeffersonian."

"And then..........."she prompted.

"We began intensifying our investigation, and looking over any existing evidence that we already had. I set up a meeting with the Board members of the Cantor/Lever group, hoping that they would put up the money, for the ransom."

"And did they, give you the money?"

"NO, they said it was against policy, without proof of life. They're hands were tied."

"So, Agent Booth, your saying, you did not have the ransom money, you did not know who the gravedigger was, and you did not know where Dr. Brennen, or Dr. Hodgins, was being held?" she waited.

"Yes."

"It was pretty hopeless, Agent Booth?"

"I never stopped trying to find them." He looked up at Brennen.

"Then what happened, Agent Booth?"

"The squints, kept going over the evidence,I had gone back to the Hoover, we had analyst going over, different scenerios, trying to find something, for us to go on."

"Yes."

"I was in my office, when I received a text message."

"Who was it from?"

"It was from Dr. Brennen's phone."

"What did it say?"

"It was just numbers. It didn't make sense to me, so I took it to the Jeffersonian. I had the scientist trying to figure it out."

"And did they, figure it out, I mean?"

"Dr. Addy, figured it out."

"What did he figure out, Agent Booth."

"He figured out the the numbers, hadn't come from Dr.Brennen, but Dr. Hodgins. Dr. Hodgins specialty is dirt, so he assumed it referred to that. He narrowed it down to a small area in Virgina."

"And that's where you found Dr. Brennen, and Dr. Hodgins."

"Yes, when they set the charge off, we were able to tell
where they were."

"And you saved them, Agent Booth?"

"We all saved them, all of us."

"So, Agent Booth, Dr. Brennen, and Dr. Hodgins, were safe."

"Yes."

"Fast forward a year or so later. To the night of Dr. Brennen's awards banquet, do your remember that night." Miss Julian looked at him.

"Yes, I remember."

"Tell us what happened, that night."

"Dr. Brennen, and I had just finished working a case. I had been at the Hoover Building, doing some paperwork."

"So you were not together, that night?"

"No, after I had finished with my paperwork, it was getting late. I called Dr. Brennen, and told her, that I would have to meet her at the banquet, instead of meeting up, with her at the Jeffersonian."

"She was at the Jeffersonian?"

"Yes, she was there, with the others. They were all going to go to the banquet, together."

"And then........"

"I had to go home, and get dressed."

"Go on......" Miss Julian prompted him.

"I was done getting dressed, when my door bell rang........and I don't remember anything after that, until I woke up."

"And where did you wake up at, Agent Booth."

"When I woke up, I didn't know where I was, except I was crammed into some kind of container." his voice sounded angry. He looked out, and saw Brennen, she gave him a little nod of encouragement.

"What did you do, Agent Booth?"

"The container, I was in, was pretty small. I couldn't stand, so I had to lay on my back, and was able to force open the container with my feet. "

"And what was the container, Agent Booth."

"It was a child sized submarine." he replyed.

"Ironic, given the fact that the defendent worked at a aquarium, isn't Agent Booth."

"Objection, your honor, she's leading the witness."

"Miss Julian, you will refrain, from doing that." he gave Miss Julian a hard look. "And strike that from the record. I am informing the jury to ignore that last statement."

"Sorry your honor, won't happen again." Miss Julian didn't do contrite very well.

"So, Agent Booth, you forced your way out of the child size submarine, and where were you?"

"I was unsure at first, but after a while, I figured out, I was on some kind of ship."

"So, having no idea how you got there, and having no idea, who put you there, you realized you were on a ship. Where was this ship?"

"I had no idea, but, I knew we were on the water."

"And how did you know that, Agent Booth?"

"In an effort to escape, I had turned some hatches, and had flooded the room, I was in, with water."

"So, now, after having escaped from the container, you were now in a room that was being flooded?"

"Yes, I managed to climp up to a higher level, where I found another hatch. I found I could open it."

"So you escaped thru the hatch,"she asked.

"Yes."

"And then......"

"I began searching for a way to get off the boat. I was trying to move upward, toward the deck. "

"and did you find the deck?"

"Eventually, but first, I found the ship was wired to blow up. I tried to diffuse the bomb."

"Did you succeed?"

"No." he sighed, "I knew, there wasn't alot of time, left. I knew that Dr. Brennen, was looking for me. I knew, I had to get to the deck, I figured I could take me chances in the water, I had a better shot at making it, rather than being blown up on the ship."

"And did you go into the water, that day, Agent Booth?"

"No, Dr. Brennen, discovered where I was. She came out on a FBI helicopter, and got me." He looked up at Brennen, and saw her wipe away a tear.

"Thank you Agent Booth. Your honor, I'm done with this witness."



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