Ander parked his car not much farther than the shop and silently walked towards it. This was it. This was the moment he'd make that bastard-

A lady bumped into him, her heels tripping her.

'Good heavens! When did I turn into a clumsy lad?' he thought to himself as he lowered down to help the lady.

Even on a hot day, she was wearing a beanie and a scarf, her eyes hiding behind her sunglasses. Ander lent her a hand which she took.

"I'm sorry. I was -" Ander began.

"I know you!" She said with a smile. Her voice was vaguely familiar. So was her face. "You're Andy. No, Ander, right?"

He nodded with a frown.

"Abigail." She introduced herself. But it didn't ring a bell.

Maybe Ander knew her from a century ago. She could be a witch.

He remembered why he was here. 'Dammit!' He cursed as he zipped around to look for Rick. He wasn't there. 'Dammit! Dammit!' He rushed towards the old shop. Abigail followed him.

An old lady sat at the counter, her eyes lazily skimming over a torn book. The shop was filled dying shelves of various sorts of bottles, ornaments, and ancient books.

"Ah, Abigail. The usual?" She asked.

"Yes. Just 2 bottles this time." Abigail chimed beside him.

The lady stood up to fetch it, "Just 2?"

"Yeah. We won't need more."

Ander interrupted, "Excuse me?"

The old lady went inside the store without answering.

"She's a little grumpy." Abigail whispered, "Hates men. Bitter past experience." Ander didn't respond. He didn't care, to be honest.

The old lady came out with two tiny boxes in fluorescent colors and handed to Abigail. She handed her some coins and thanked her.

"It was nice meeting you. See you around." She said as she walked out while Ander turned towards the old hag.

"What's your business here, eh, pretty boy?" She snarled.

"I was just um... You know the guy that came here a few minutes ago?"

The lady inspected Ander with sharp eyes before saying, "I ain't giving information I shouldn't but he's a regular customer."

"What did he get? A potion? That's all I want to know. It's important."

The lady didn't believe him. Ander took out the bottle he'd found near the lake and showed it to her.

"I found this. I want to know what it's for!" He added.

The lady sighed and gave up. She craned the neck to see the bottle, "797" she murmured, "Reviving Potion" she said out loud.

Reviving Potion? Ander waited for more explanation.

"Most witches use this potion to contact with ghosts of dead people. The lady that came with you? She bought them too for the same. But, some witches use it for dark purposes too. Replacing souls in body and such. The runes and spells.." The lady was explaining but Ander's doubts were finally answered. Ander was right.

That bastard was going out to pay for this! He thought as he rushed out of the shop to his car.

He was driving over the limit as he zoomed through a jammed street. He knew the neighborhood in which Rick lived. Finally reaching there, he asked a pedestrian if she knew him. She did and gave him the address.

Entering the lane, he parked his car at Rick's house. He slammed the car door and rushed up the house, gritting his teeth hard.

He knocked, rang the bell, banged it but there was no answer.

"God dammit, open the door!" He screamed.

And then the door opened. An old guy opened it, "Why are you shouting? My knees aren't -"

"Is this Rick's house?" Ander asked.

"You are?" he asked back.

"Where is he?" Ander asked calmly. He needed to know before Rick acts his plan.

"He's at his friend's house. Jake Hunter? You know that guy?"

"Yeah. Mutual friend." Ander replied dryly as he rushed back home. He didn't go to his house, of course. As he was walking up to Claire's house, he saw him.

Rick was sauntering along the shoreline. Although he was far, Ander knew it was him as he stomped down to the lake. With his hands in his khaki pants' pocket, he wandering alone.

Ander sent a knocking fist even before Rick could realize his presence.

"I told you to stay the fvck away from Claire," Ander shouted. "I caught you! I caught your sneaky ass!"

Rick stumbled, trying to stay on his feet, while his hands inspected his torn lip. Ander felt relief seeing his blood. If he didn't speak up, it was going to get messier.

"Good God. You're strong for a 100-year old guy-"

"Why are you doing it? Why are you working for Gabriela? Are you her bastard child?"

"What-wait. Rewind dude. Am I her child? Are you serious?"

Ander was debating whether to listen to him or severely injure him. He chose latter but then Rick spoke again.

"And why would I be working for Gabriela? She ain't my fiancé! I should be the one asking that question! Why won't you let that poor girl, Claire live for God's sake?!"

Was he suffering from a concussion? Ander made sure not to hit him too hard before he could spill the beans. Rick wasn't making any sense.

"Oh, I know it all, Ander. I know you and that bitchy witch of yours want to be together and all that bullshit! I won't let you harm Claire again. You've done enough damage."

"What?" Ander barked.

"Oh, now you're acting delusional. Gosh, get your act together. You're caught!"

Ander dryly laughed, "I have no idea what you're talking about and that makes me want to beat the shit outta you."

"You've caught up with the new generation slangs!" Rick mocked, "Too bad. That won't help you bring back Gabriela!"

"I just saw you at the witch's shop buying a revival potion or something. The lady said-"

"And now you stalk me?"

"Tell me what you're up to man, before I-"

"It wasn't a revival potion!" Rick interrupted, "It was a rejuvenation potion. A counter potion for revival one."

"A counter potion? You're making things up!" While Rick was composed, Ander was getting angrier. "The lady said -"

"Oye!" Rick shouted, "Can we stop having this tiara fight already? It seems like you're as confused as I am. Why don't we discuss like grown up men?"

Ander buffed like a child, "Alright. You explain first. The old lady said that this bottle" he presented the empty potion bottle before Rick and continued, "Code 767 was a Revival potion. A potion to help you talk to ghost or soul replacement or some bull like that. And I know you're using that on Claire. I saw it in the restaurant. I felt Gabriela on the party night."

Rick was silent.

"I did mix this potion in the restaurant." Rick finally said, "But this potion is rejuvenation potion. There's some misunderstanding. Today, when I met Claire for our date, I knew she wasn't herself then. It was Gabriela acting in her. That's why I used the potion. Back at the party too. I knew that bitch conjured her so I mixed the potion in the drink. She passed because well, I don't know. Side-effects/ Gabriela trying to fight the spell - it could be anything. But you know Claire was back herself when she woke up."

"You're.." 'lying', he wanted to blame but he remembered: that feeling of suffocation as if being trapped in something that morning. The same thing happened at the party too. Both times Claire's soul was replaced with Gabriela's.

If Rick was telling the truth then it would mean he was helping not harming Claire. But who's harming her?

"Yeah? I know you, believe me, Booth." Rick smiled a little, "But don't you want to know how I know about you, your past and Gabriela? I even know she has a child. And it's that child that is helping her not me. And somehow, I now believe you're not working with Gabriela either."

Ander scowled, not understanding what Rick meant.

"Ever since Claire told me about the house and the curse, I was determined to help her out. She wasn't the only one who suffered, you know." A wave of sadness passed over Rick's face, showing his vulnerable side. Of course, Ander thought, Rick was talking about his father, Eric.

The one who Ander killed.

"And then I found you unconscious with Claire in that room on the day she almost died. When Monroe's daughter didn't recognize you, I knew who you were. Ever since I kept an eye on you. And your sister. I researched about everything and anything that would help me understand your case. That's how I learned about Gabriela and what she was trying to do. Her coven is pretty big, you know. Up until now, I thought you were helping her too. Reuniting with your soul mate and shit. But, I see you care for her. You care for Claire."

It was too much to take in. Ander was processing all this, "Why should I trust you?"

"You shouldn't!" Rick replied blatantly, "We both care about Claire and I don't trust you either. In that way, we can keep eye on each other while trying to find a way out. We both know we don't have much time."

Ander tilted his head, "What are you getting at?"

Rick smirked, shoving his hands in his pocket, "While you were getting jealous like a lovesick pup, I found something that might be helpful. Forget that. The information I have can turn the tables for Gabriela."

Ander hated himself for getting impressed by Rick's confidence. Rick was up to something. That guy was stubborn and it might come in handy.

"Now you know I'm not Gabriel's child. How did you even come up with such stupid conclusion? Anyway, I know it's not your child. He or she is as old as you! But, we can reach the child. And once the child is captured, game over for Gabriela."

Ander nodded. He didn't trust Rick completely but he was right. They can investigate each other's actions while trying to save Claire.

He didn't believe he was going to say that, "Fine. So, where do we start?"

"Rivera," Rick said with a prideful smile. "There's someone who knows the whereabouts of Gabriela's child."

"You mean we're both going to Rivera?"

"Oh! I'm dying to go on a road trip with you, Booth!" Rick deadpanned.