014 || [audio, action]

[bonescientist]

[The audio feed turns on mid-sentence, broadcasting a seriously irate Brennan admonishing somebody.]

--looking after one mere suspect? Are you kidding me?

[A distinctly contrite male voice responds:] I'm very sorry, Miss Brennan, but this was--

[Impatient and unamused, Brennan cuts the police officer off, her tone sharp and flinty.] It's Doctor

Comments

you must forgive me for calling so late, but i really feel it's my duty;

[bonescientist]

[Brennan's just about to step over to the cabinet in the corner to fetch a fresh - or at least clean - shirt to replace the coffee-soaked one she's still wearing when the phone rings. She's half-expecting it to be chief Beckett about to reprimand her for reprimanding one of their officers in public. Blowing a harried breath of air through her teeth, she snatches up the receiver and only manages to sound mildly bothered when she answers.]

Brennan.

you must forgive me for calling so late, but i really feel it's my duty;

[bonescientist]

[Sour mood and pretty much everything else as well forgotten at the urgency in Angela's voice, Brennan feels her heart actually skipping a beat.]

Angela? [Wait, there was a question.] A good kick in the testicles should work. If you have anything you can use to hit him with, do. Aim for the head. Scratch at his eyes or, or spit, anything - where are you?

you must forgive me for calling so late, but i really feel it's my duty;

[bonescientist]

[Okay, Brennan's distress level goes down one notch at the levelheadedness in Angela's reply - at least she's not badly injured. Spooked, perhaps, but not hurt. Still, she's compelled to make sure.]

But you're alright? You're not hurt?

[Brennan grabs her keys and cell phone off her desk, half-way through the door when she speaks again.]

I'm coming to get you.

you must forgive me for calling so late, but i really feel it's my duty;

[bonescientist]

[Brennan curses under her breath as she tries to make her away out of the room, realizing she's speaking on the office phone and not on her cell - the whole damn phone almost topples off her desk, the cord stretched taut. She halts her steps abruptly both because of the lack of leeway with the phone cord and the alarming noises suddenly assaulting her eardrum over at Angela's end of the line.]

Angela?! What's happening, are you okay?

you must forgive me for calling so late, but i really feel it's my duty;

[bonescientist]

I will.

[Closing her eyes briefly and drawing in a deep breath, Brennan speaks in a calm voice that belies the frantic beating of her heart and nervously sweating palms.]

Ange, I will, but you have to listen to me first. I need you to hang up now and call me on my cell phone, alright? I'll leave right now, but I want you on the phone with me while I do so. Can you please do that?

you must forgive me for calling so late, but i really feel it's my duty;

[bonescientist]

[The moment she hears the click of disconnecting call in her ear, Brennan throws down the receiver and is practically running out of the office. She's clutching her cell phone tightly in one hand, willing it to ring - and it does, not a second after the wish occurs to her. Angela's name flashes on the small screen but Brennan doesn't even glance at it before pressing Send, answering right after the first ring.]

Ange? I'm already on my way, don't worry. Are you doing okay, still?

you must forgive me for calling so late, but i really feel it's my duty;

[bonescientist]

[Brennan slams her upper arm and shoulder against the front doors of the police department building with a little more force than necessary as she pushes them open, taking her impatience and dread out of the inanimate object. Taking off towards the Square, Brennan dodges panicked citizens and wonders when did things start to get this badly out of control.]

I don't know, it wasn't quite this bad when I arrived. But it's a complete anarchy out here, now.

[Damn, she wishes she had that gun right now. Or any weapon other than her fists. Well, nothing to be done to that, now: reaching Angela as soon as possible was her number one priority. Brennan estimates it takes her more or less ten minutes to get to the Square if she runs, barring any complications along the way. The various shouts and crashes ringing in her ears, she pleads breathlessly into the phone as she rounds another corner.]

Keep talking to me, Ange. Or at least let me know somehow you're still with me every now and then.

you must forgive me for calling so late, but i really feel it's my duty;

[bonescientist]

[Angela's confession grips at Brennan's heart, and her hold on the phone tightens convulsively. Despite having faced off with gang leaders and serial killers without breaking a sweat, Brennan would be lying to claim she wasn't nervous about the unpredictably of the situation.]

It's going to be okay. You-- [She cuts herself off at Angela's exclamation.]

What's happening? Ange?

[Redoubling her efforts, Brennan picks up her pace, but not before stooping quickly to pick up a random piece of steel pipe lying on the ground among the assorted debris. If push comes to shove, it'll be better than nothing.]