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"It has become necessary for us to fake your death so that we can keep you and therefore, your team, safe." Broyles said and Olivia could almost hear a hint of sadness in his voice.

"But-"

"I'm sorry Dunham, but we're going to be relocating you into a safe house so you can be protected." Broyles said taking the seat beside her bed.

"But what about Peter, Walter, and Astrid?" Olivia asked, trying to calm her racing heart.

"They'll be safe in their ignorance of knowing you're alive."

"They think I'm dead?" Olivia interrupted.

"It's for their own safety. Your funeral was held yesterday and you'll be moved to your new residence in three days time and one of undercover specialist will be stopping by before you leave here to give you your new look. Unfortunately we can't move you completely out of the city, but we can't risk anyone recognizing you either." Broyles explained.

Olivia fell back from her partial sitting position back into the bed and let out a defeated sigh. "This isn't permanent though, right?"

"No, once this case is solved and over you can return to before all this happened." Broyles assured her.

Olivia nodded, her body and mind having gone numb. Her first thought was of Rachel and Ella. Her sister would be devastated after the scares she's already given her and Ella was still too young to understand someone dying. And then there was Peter.

A vision of him kneeling over her as her vision blurred. Seeing his eyes tear up and the press of his hands over her wounds. He had tried desperately to save her and he probably had with his quick thinking until the paramedics had arrived.

"You have to at least let Peter know I'm alive. He was there when I was shot and-"

"I don't think so, Olivia." Broyles interrupted.

"But-"

"It's for his own safety."

Olivia looked absolutely miserable at the idea of keeping this from the man who had been her partner for the last year and some months. They'd always had each other's backs and now she felt like she was betraying him in this.

"Who will work the case? Surely whoever takes it over will also be in danger." Olivia pointed out.

"That's why you're going to continue it from the sidelines and I've got someone in mind to continue in your place but he will be coming from a more subtle angle then we had you coming at."

"Who?" Olivia asked, genuinely curious.

"It's better you don't know." Broyles said as he got up from his seat. "Now you focus on getting better so this case can be solved and you can go back your old life."

Olivia nodded already feeling impatient to be healed and out of the bed but resigned to staying put for the time being.

**Three days later**

Olivia glared at her reflection in the hospital bathroom mirror as she finished getting street clothes on that had been brought for her. The undercover artist had come and gone, leaving a medium brunette with dark blonde highlights and side swept long bangs. Her hair had been cut to just past her shoulders and contained many layers. They'd even given her color contacts that made her eyes bright blue. She'd even grudgingly let them put make up on her to make her look more different than she normally would have. The clothes they had given her at least were of some comfort. Ratty jeans, semi-stylish blue top, and beaded sandals. Broyles had left her a watch complete with tracking, gps, and communications and she carefully did the clasp of it on her left wrist.

After one last look, Olivia left her room and without even a glance at the agent dressed in street clothes that was outside her door she led the way to the car awaiting her outside the discharge doors.

The car trip was uneventful as Olivia stared out the windows, watching where they were going so she new how to get to her new place. After a fifteen minute drive they pulled up to a maroon two story house that looked like it was built in the early 1900's with a classic Victorian look complete with bright white trim and flower boxes in the windows. It fit in well with the neighborhood of similar houses; all of them different colors. Her heart lurched as she thought of what Peter would say about the neighborhood and its history. It looked much like his old house that he had grown up in. Olivia swallowed the lump forming in her throat. Thinking of Peter wasn't going to help her right now.

Olivia straightened her shoulders and marched her way up the entrance stairs; the agent following close behind. The door opened before her hand ever came close to the handle to reveal another agent dressed in street clothes. His hair was either a very dark brown or a black – it was hard to tell from the change of lighting from outside to inside. He was taller with chocolate brown eyes and the look on his face was that of a mask devoid of any emotion at all. Olivia knew that look from being in the marines. It was one of pain and suffering tempered by the need to appear strong and capable. He gave her a once over not from a man's perspective, but from that of a well trained agent sizing up another agent. Standing to the side, he let her pass him and into the house, leaving the other agent outside as the man closed the door behind her.

"You must be agent Olivia Dunham." His voice was deep and held little inflection.

"Yes, but I'm afraid I have no idea who you are," Olivia said, sparing him a side glance as she looked around the moderately furnished living room.

"I'm agent Seeley Booth, out of the Washington D.C. branch. It seems we've both been placed here out of harms way to solve a common case," Booth took a seat on the long couch, for all the world looking relaxed, but his posture was slightly stiffened and the mask hadn't budged. All this, Olivia could read, but she said nothing because she was sure she looked the same.

Olivia wandered around the house, taking stock of her new surroundings. Once in the kitchen she noticed a rather large stack of folders on the kitchen island.

"Case files; from both of our sides." Booth said from a few feet behind her. "I don't know about you, but I've always been more of a field agent. This 'hiding away' and watching from the side lines rubs me the wrong way."

"I'm not exactly thrilled with playing dead either, but it was the hand we were dealt and in order to end this we need to put our minds together and figure this out." Olivia said, rather proud that she was keeping her emotions in check when all she wanted to do was rant on about how unfair it was that she was stuck here with another agent to solve a case and her team and family were just twenty minutes away convinced she was dead and moving on with their lives.

Booth glared at her for a moment before softening up. A hint of his inner turmoil spilled out onto his face and Olivia felt sorry for this man in this instant. Maybe he'd had a wife and kids he'd left behind for the time being. His situation could've been so much worse than hers.

"I'm sorry. I know you're right – really." Booth sighed and ran a hand through his short hair. "I have a son and my partner – well… we were close."

Olivia nodded in understanding and looked away from him.

"What about you?" Booth asked.

Olivia looked up at him to gauge his sincerity and after a moments hesitation she knew she could trust this man. "The only family I have left is my sister and niece, but there's also my partner." Olivia wasn't sure how to continue. Did she tell this man about Peter? What was there to tell? They were partners and friends. She was about to stumble through some vague explanation when she caught the look on his face; one of understanding. Maybe she wasn't the only foolish FBI agent to have fallen for their partner.