Prologue:

He had to feel something. Something had to come through the dull confusion that clouded his brain. He took another drag of his cigarette, looking out from the dark alley where he hid. His clothes were old, covered in holes and dirt, he was fairly sure they hadn't been washed in a couple of years, but he didn't care, they had a purpose, like everything else that was with him. His eyes scanned the street, looking for signs of something, anything that would help him feel, anything.

Then he saw her, a petite girl standing by the bus stop. He was sure she was alone, for she hugged her bag close to her chest, and looked around her with an easy sense of fake confidence. Her hair was brown, and hung just below her shoulders, except for the bangs which were cut just over her eyebrows.

Yes, he thought, Yes, she'll do fine. He took one more drag from his cigarette, and then pulled up the arm of his sweater. But first, I must feel. He crushed the lit end of the cigarette into his arm, the sudden swell of pain and the deep, rich scent of burning skin caused him to smile. Yes, he thought, I can feel it.

Seeley Booth looked out over the field and frowned. The rain that had fallen the night before had ruined the ground, making it soft and muddy. The long lines of Police tape had roped off as much of the huge field as they could, but Booth was still unsure of what they would find. He looked over to the police cruiser where two teenagers were sitting in the back. One of them was crying, her head on the shoulder of the boy beside her.

A night of young love, Booth thought, interrupted by a body. Booth took a step towards the tape. Or part of one, anyways. He looked at the hand that reached up out of the mud, like it was clawing for it's last glimpse of light before being buried. He watched as some of the forensics workers cleared away the dirt and mud from the arm.

"Is there more there than just the hand?" Booth called from the line.

Jerry, one of the forensics people nodded, "Looks like there's at least the radius and ulna, as well as most of the humorous, Booth."

"All I needed was a yes or no, Jerry.", Booth said as he turned away. "Stop digging, I'm calling Bones."