
Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist who works at the Jeffersonian Institution and also writes books, has an impressive ability to read clues from victims' bones. Consequently, law enforcement calls her to assist with investigations when remains are so badly decomposed, burned or destroyed that standard identification methods are useless. Brennan is teamed with Special Agent Seeley Booth, a former Army sniper, who mistrusts science and scientists when it comes to solving crimes but who has developed respect for Brennan, both professionally and personally.

Booth and Brennan investigate when a man is murdered for the undisclosed contents of his briefcase; the team looks for alternate funding for Wendell when he loses his scholarship.

When the liquefied remains of a wedding planner are found in a tanning bed on Valentine's Day, Cam pressures the team to work fast so she can spend the holiday with her boyfriend; Clark helps Hodgins realize the best gifts come from the heart.

Sniper Jacob Brodsky takes out a victim who escaped from the justice system; Booth uses his military training to try to stop Brodsky before he strikes again; Angela's father visits the Jeffersonian.

During a blizzard that causes a citywide blackout, the team must solve a murder case that could be connected to a possible viral outbreak; Sweets starts a touchy conversation about Brennan and Booth's relationship.