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

[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.