This is my first foray into fanfiction and I have been nursing this idea for awhile. It occurred to me that in most stories involving the Bones season finale, the team brings Zach in as sort of a secret weapon against Pelant. But what if Castle was brought in instead...someone Pelant can't account for in whatever twisted game he is playing. This takes place 2 months after "The Past in the Present" and about 2 weeks after "Always" (May move this around) because in my head, the Bones timeline is ahead of the Castle timeline.

It had been two of the longest months of Booth's life. Two months to the day since Brennan had driven off into the sunset, carrying their daughter as she fled the arrest warrant. Booth was still stuck working desk duty, and all he could do was watch as Flynn searched high and low for Brennan, his Bones. It was sobering, knowing that the real criminal had gotten off Scott-free. And Booth couldn't help to blame himself. Pelant was still out there, and Booth was helpless to stop it.

"Damn it," he sighed, rubbing his hands over his tired face. He picked up the stuffed purple elephant off the coffee table, studying it. A small grin came to his face as he recalled the day he bought it.


"Look at this, Bones. It's an elephant," Booth exclaimed as he held out the stuffed to in front of Brennan. The two found themselves in a baby store. With two months left until her due date, the pair decided it was best to get much of the baby shopping done now, rather than later

"Elephants aren't purple, Booth. Letting our daughter play with one would give her the wrong idea." Brennan accompanied this statement with a pointed stare towards Booth.

"Bones, she's going to be a baby, I really don't think she's going to care about the color of her stuffed elephant." Booth proceeded to wrap his arm around Brennan, drawing her close. "Think about it...in two months, we'll have our own little bundle of joy...speaking of which, we really need a name for her."

Brennan leaned into Booth's embrace. "I'd like to name her Christine...after my mother." Her voice was soft, almost timid as she spoke.

"I'd like that, Bones. But what about her middle name. Unless we plan on hyphenating our last names." It occurred to Booth that this was a conversation they probably should have had sooner. But, he figured, at least they weren't waiting till the delivery as Angela had predicted.

"I think I'd like her middle name to be Angela."

"Angela would be honored." Booth found himself tearing up slightly, once again amazed by Brennan's open heart.

"She is my best friend, and she was going to name her baby after me. I think it's only appropriate that I reciprocate."

"So, Christine Angela..."

"Booth," Brennan whispered. "Christine Angela Booth." Looking at Booth's shocked expression, Brennan continued. "Without you, I wouldn't be having a child Booth. You're the only man I would want this with. And I would be honored to give her your last name."

Booth wrapped his arms around her back and hugged her tightly, Brennan reciprocating. He found himself awash in emotion. Booth managed to find his voice after a few seconds. "I love you Bones."

"I love you too, Booth." And in the middle of that toy store, Brennan and Booth shared a moment.


Booth's daydream was abruptly halted by a knock on his door. Booth sighed as he rose off his couch and made his way towards whoever was knocking. Booth figured he was receiving yet another surprise visit from Agent Flynn. But upon opening his front door, he discovered that wasn't the case.

"Kate Beckett?" Booth found himself stunned into silence.

"Long time, no see Booth," Beckett said as she pulled him into a hug. The two went back several years, to a time before her partnership with Richard Castle. Skeletal remains were discovered in an abandoned warehouse, and after coming to a quick dead-end, Booth and Brennan were handed the case. Beckett figured she wouldn't be on this case much longer with some pushy federal agent barging in to take over. But Special Agent Seeley Booth was different. He asked her questions, took her insights seriously, and when an arrest was finally made, she was in on the confession. After the case, Beckett and Booth developed a rapport and the two became good friends.

"Not complaining, but what the hell are you doing in DC?" Booth found himself truly smiling for the first time in a while. It was nice to see a friendly face, especially one that wasn't wrapped up in the investigation

"Castle had a book signing here in town and I figured it would be wrong if I didn't stop by and pay you a visit. You are still my favorite fed."

"Should I be insulted?" But Booth was quick to notice a change in Beckett's demeanor. He couldn't help himself. "Are you and writer boy..."

Beckett was quick to cut him off with a chuckle. "Yes, Castle and I are in a... a relationship." Beckett really didn't know what to call the thing between her and Castle quite yet. Whatever "it" was though, she liked it.

"Told you that you'd eventually would take the plunge. Care to tell me how it happened?"

The smile faded from Beckett's face. "Let's leave that for another day, shall we? How are you holding up, Booth?" Beckett had been following the news. It was a dream scenario for the press: Famous crime novelist on the run herself. And when the fact that her significant other was in fact a federal agent...well, that was the icing on the cake.

With the question, Booth's smile faded as well and his brown eyes took on a haunted appearance. "It's...hard." Booth directed Beckett over to the couch and he pushed forward. "I want to be mad at her...I should be mad at her, she took our daughter, she didn't even warn me. Damn it, Bones was supposed to trust me!" Booth paused as he collected himself. "But...right now I just want my family back. That's all I care about." Beckett caught the crack in his voice and she felt a pang of sympathy for Booth.

"Okay, Booth. Walk me through this" And over the next 10 minutes, Booth gave an abbreviated tour of the Christopher Pelant case. Beckett asked few questions, allowing Booth to talk mostly without interruption.

"...We're at a dead end. We can't makes heads or tails on whatever Ethan Sawyer left for us. The forensic evidence is pointing squarely at Bones and half of the team has been thrown off this case! I...I honestly don't know where to go from here, Beckett." Booth suddenly felt the rush of hopelessness overwhelm him. Beckett, on the other hand was silent, processing what Booth told her about the case. Then an idea struck her. Beckett jumped up, pulling her cell phone out of her pocket while making her way out the front door. Booth sat silent, his eyes watching the door intently, looking for whatever had her in such a rush. He got his answer a few minutes later.

"Booth, how do you feel about going back to New York with us?"

"Wait...what?" Booth was confused. Go to New York...now? In the middle of this investigation.

Beckett, sensing his hesitation began speaking again. "You need a break, Booth. Or at least a change in scenery. And I know someone who can help."

"Who?"

"Seeley, I think it's time you met my partner, Richard Castle." Booth sat silently, going over what Beckett had come up with. He'd heard a lot about the novelist from Beckett. Smart, creative, and very good at thinking outside of the box. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. Everything the FBI and Jeffersonian had tried so far had failed, maybe a new perspective was in order. One not skewered by the taint of Pelant.

"Alright, lets do it. Oh, and Kate?"

"Yeah."

"Don't call me Seeley."