The Jeffersonian, Dr. Camille Saroyan's Office

[argyle_princess]

Hannah knows something is up.

Well, duh. Obviously. Escaped serial killer and all. But there’s something more to it than that, she thinks.

Dr. Sayoran had pulled her out of the lab, away from a cheerful, laughing conversation about a newspaper article, about two hours after Dr. Brennan left with Agent Booth. “Sorry,” Dr. Sayoran said, after she’d explained a little about Howard Epps and his escape. “I’m going to need everyone pretty focused right now.”

Hannah had nodded, yawning. (One of the workers renovating the apartment next to Dr. Brennan’s left his radio on last night, and it turns out hip hop is not exactly conducive to sleep.) “It’s okay. I mean, it’s more important and all. And I have a ton of stuff to read.”

Dr. Sayoran left her in the lounge. Two hours later, Dr. Sayoran asks her to gather up her stuff. “I’m going to have you relocate to my office for a bit.”

“Your office? Won’t I be in the way?”

“Not really. And we need the lounge for a bit. Just make yourself comfortable, and if you need anything, ask.”

Hannah’s pretty sure the person she’s supposed to ask if she needs anything is the security guard in the chair outside Dr. Sayoran’s office. She’s also pretty sure that neither the guard nor the chair was there yesterday.

She looks at the next marked article she’s supposed to read, and then closes the journal. “Screw it,” she mutters, and pulls out her laptop.

Fifteen minutes later, she’s skimmed the first four items that Google brings up on Howard Epps.

Something is definitely up.

Comments

[dr_temperance]

Brennan sighs and gives Hannah a look that pretty much says, Why am I not surprised?

She can tell that Hannah is scared. And she wishes that she didn't have to exacerbate that, but scary information is better and more useful than spotty information, or no information at all.

"Howard Epps has, that we know of to date, murdered or has been linked to the murders of six teenage girls," she says, matter-of-factly. "He also killed a firefighter in the course of his escape last night."

Her jaw clenches, betraying some tension. "And he made contact with us a short time ago. A phone call."

[argyle_princess]

Because Hannah is bright and curious? And would much prefer to have scary information than none at all.

She's also confused, now.

"He called you? Why? Shouldn't he be off vanishing into a new and equally creepy identity?"

[dr_temperance]

"Epps likes to play games."

And he really likes to play them with Brennan.

"He's intelligent, and feels the need to prove it by attempting to outwit us. Ultimately, it will make him much easier to catch than if he did the rational thing and simply disappeared. And we will catch him."

There's a big 'But' coming here.

"He knows about you, Hannah," Brennan says bluntly. "He saw you walking into work with me this morning. Which means until he is caught, you are not leaving the Jeffersonian."

[argyle_princess]

Hannah blinks.

"So he's appointed himself your arch-nemesis? And he knows about me? I guess that explains the security guard.

"So I'm . . . staying here?"

It's kind of an odd place to keep her.

Isn't it?

[dr_temperance]

"That's......actually not a bad way of putting it," Brennan replies. Appointing himself her arch-nemesis was essentially what Epps had done.

"There's something of a personal history between me an Epps--at least as far as he's concerned."

Brennan nods. "Security at the Jeffersonian has been heightened. You'll be safe here. If Epps is determined to play his usual games, it shouldn't take the authorities long to recapture him."

[argyle_princess]

Hannah nods. "Okay."

She'll assume Brennan knows best about this sort of thing.

"So you're gonna go all Holmes on his Moriarty. Is there anything I can do to help? From safely within the Jeffersonian?"

It's not comfortable, being threatened by a serial killer. Doing something is better than doing nothing.

[dr_temperance]

Brennan is relieved. Not that she really thought that Hannah would object or lose her head, but she's glad that she's staying calm and rational.

She shakes her head regretfully. "We're all going to be very focused on this for the duration. We mainly just need you to sit tight."

Brennan smiles sympathetically. "Which is difficult, I know."

[argyle_princess]

Hannah shrugs, and Brennan may recognize the gesture. "I understand. I mean, psycho killer has kinda gotta be the priority.

"Do I have to stay in this room?"

Does she have to take her security guard to the ladies room with her? 'cause awkward.

[dr_temperance]

Brennan smiles a little.

"No, but I'd like you to stay around the lab. There are plenty of guards, not to mention Angela, Cam, and the others. Stick close to someone."

Not that Epps can get into the Jeffersonian--not now. But Brennan will worry a lot less if she knows that Hannah will not be left alone.

[argyle_princess]

Hannah giggles, and it's a little nervous, but genuinely amused.

"Dr. Addy?"

Then she sobers.

"Are you staying here, or . . . ?"

[dr_temperance]

"Dr. Addy. Dr. Hodgins." Brennan grins.

She didn't think she'd be doing that anytime soon.

"I'll be working here in the lab for the moment. Epps left us a clue--a vial with some sort of organic matter inside. But I may be called out with Booth to follow up leads."

"Stick with Angela. There won't be call for her to leave the Jeffersonian."

[argyle_princess]

Who better to protect you from a serial killer than Zach Addy and Jack Hodgins? They have four and half doctorates, between them.

"Well, I guess Agent Booth will look after you, right?"

[dr_temperance]

"And vice versa," Brennan assures Hannah.

It'll be much easier to look out for Booth now that she finally has her own gun.

"I believe we'll have him in custody in twenty-four to forty-eight hours," she adds with certainty. "Epps wants to taunt us, and that will get him caught."

"If he's not in custody by the time you're scheduled to depart, you'll be escorted home by a federal agent." Or three. "And you'll remain under protection until he is caught. I've called your mother and filled her in."

[argyle_princess]

Federal agents? Her mother?

"You're that worried about me, huh?"

Frightening.

"So what did Mom say?"

[dr_temperance]

Brennan is quiet for a moment.

I want you to know that everything that happens from here on in is your fault.

"I'd rather not take any chances."

"She's concerned of course," Brennan says. But not hysterically so--it was clear where Hannah got her good sense. "I told her I'd have you call."

[argyle_princess]

"I'll call her," says Hannah.

She kind of wants to talk to her mother, anyway.

"You probably need to go figure out what's in that vial, don't you?"

[dr_temperance]

"You can call from here or in my office. Just dial 9 for an outside line."

She nods.

"I do. But I'll be nearby if you need anything. Okay?"

[argyle_princess]

Hannah nods.

"Just ask the security guard, right?"

It's what Dr. Sayoran told her to do.

[dr_temperance]

"Right," Brennan replies.

"We're going to catch him, Hannah. This is all just precaution."

[argyle_princess]

More nodding.

"I know," she says. "Ounce of prevention, pound of cure and all."

She stops.

"My dad says that."

[dr_temperance]

"He's right. On that anyway."

Brennan tilts her head to catch Hannah's eye.

"Would you like to call him too?"

[argyle_princess]

"Of course, he's usually talking about cosmetic surgery when he says it."

She would like to want to call him, but that's not quite the same thing.

"Maybe after I talk to Mom."

[dr_temperance]

Brennan nods. "Talk as long as you need to," she says, standing.

She's already begun mentally reviewing what data they have on the vial. The sooner they solve this case, the better for everyone.

"Are you going to be all right?"

[argyle_princess]

"Of course," says Hannah. "I'll be fine. I'll call Mom and you'll go figure out how to catch the bastard, and then you'll tell me how you did it."

It's a plan.

[dr_temperance]

A good plan.

Brennan smiles. "I will."

She will. Any other scenario is unacceptable.

Brennan turns and heads back to the lab. Time to get to work.