Brennan discovers the body of a surgeon found in a tough neighborhood with multiple skull fractures, but no indication of why or how she was there. Brennan begins to identify with the victim after learning more about her past. The case leads Brennan to retrace the final steps of the victim's life to help solve the case. She also makes a discovery about herself and learns a lesson about taking chances with the help of a Jeffersonian security guard, Micah Leggat (Enrico Colantoni).