Author's note: Thank you again to everyone who has reviewed. They mean a lot to writers. As always, please read and review. And enjoy the new episode thursday!

CHAPTER 3

The hills were alive with gorgeous red flowers blooming everywhere. The burgundy sun slowly disappearing over the horizon made the scene even better, if that was possible. Booth continued driving in silence, not paying attention to anything but where he was headed. Brennan sighed, the Cosienes family had taken the news pretty hard. Unfortunately, she had also apparently not given the details in a very "nice" way. Personally, she didn't believe there was a nice way of telling someone their child had died after hours upon hours of torture. Booth had given her a small lecture, too tired to dwell on it for very long. She kept shifting her gaze over to him every once in a while, checking to make sure he wasn't going to pass out at the wheel. She hadn't seen him like this before, and truth be told it worried her. She looked back out the window; by now it was almost pitch black out. The flowers were barely even visible. Landscape wasn't something she usually noticed unless it was that belonging to a crime scene. After driving south into Virginia for so long, it was hard not to notice her surroundings. Hopefully the Alloy family didn't live too much farther; her legs were getting stiff.

Booth's voice broke through her daydreams, "You could rest you know. We still have about an hour before we get to their house."

His partner gave him an incredulous look, "I'm not the one who needs it."

"I know you think I am running myself ragged, but--" before the agent could finish his sentence, a large white SUV bumped into their car from behind. "Shit!" he cursed. Booth had been watching this vehicle for a few miles, but it had seemed harmless until now. The FBI car jerked again when struck for a second time. "Bones, hold on tight." She didn't have enough time to question him before he slammed on the brakes, swerving off to the right while the SUV kept heading forward. Booth tried to get a view of their assailants as they whizzed by. He was able to gun it to the left before the SUV tried to back up into its target. "Bones, grab the extra gun I keep in the back. If you can get a clear shot, take them down."

"But Booth, you always tell me-"

"Don't argue with me right now. I'm not going to put your life in unnecessary danger," He cut her off sternly. Brennan looked over at him with a mix of concern and comfort. Booth threw the car back into motion, watching the speedometer reach 95mph. His main priority right now was to keep Bones safe. He immediately regretted his choice of running away once the SUV reappeared in his rearview mirror. It was gaining on them. A bullet broke through the back window. He could barely hear Brennan's cry of surprise over the shattering glass. "Bones! You okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. You?" As soon as the word "yes" left his mouth, she turned around in her seat, taking aim. The shot echoed through the cab, effectively taking out one of their pursuer's tires.

"Yeah!" Booth laughed. "Nice shot Bones!" She gave him a smug smile that clearly said 'I know.' The SUV swerved before continuing riding on the rim. Another gunshot took out Booth's rearview mirror. "Damn it! These guys don't quit!" It wasn't long before a bullet lodged itself inside the tire of the FBI issued car, blowing it to shreds. "Hang on!" He yelled, trying desperately to avoid the ravine off to the side of the road. Booth yanked the wheel to the left just as the white SUV pushed their car forward into the ditch.

Slightly disoriented, Brennan reached over to her partner. "Booth! Booth!" She tried to shake him awake. Looking out her window, she saw dirt. She shuddered a moment, remembering the last she looked out a vehicle's window and saw nothing but dirt. She quickly shook off the feeling, focusing on logical explanations. The car must have rolled onto its side. "Booth! Come on, you have to get up!" She turned, watching two guys jump out the sides of the SUV. The anthropologist quickly undid her seatbelt before trying to extract Booth's. He moaned against his injuries. She winced at his pain. The steering wheel broke two of his ribs, but from his breathing they seemed to have missed puncturing a lung. Red liquid oozed out of the corner of his mouth.

The agent's eyes opened, readjusting to his surroundings. Remembering what had just happened, he bolted upright, "Bones!" He squeezed his eyes shut against the pain he had accidentally invoked upon himself. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just some bruising. Booth, they're approaching the car. We have to get out of here now." He nodded to her. His hands fumbled with his seatbelt. She refused to move out of the way incase he couldn't support his own body weight; he didn't want to fall on her when his restraint was released. "No, you'll just hurt yourself more. Here, I got you." She supported him, helping him move to the blown out back window. He removed his weapon from its holster, scanning the area for immediate danger. If they went out in the open, they could be shot dead but if they stayed in the vehicle, they would also be easy targets. Once he was out, his hand extended to pull her outside with him. Turning around, his gun took aim but their attackers were nowhere to be found. Even their car was gone. "Okay this is weird." Booth nodded once again. Talking hurt his chest. He fell back up against the car, using it to stand. Brennan's eyes worriedly watched him, making sure he wasn't going to fall unconscious.

Seeley was too busy looking around, constantly on guard. He'd die before he let something happen to Bones. She wasn't an agent, she didn't sign on for this shit. A small part of his mind told him it was her choice to be here with him. She's the one who wanted to work in the field. Besides, it's not like she would take no for an answer. Stubborn woman. He sighed, pushing all his thoughts to the side. Why she was here wasn't important, it's the fact she's here in the middle of danger that he needed to concentrate on. A reflection caught his eye. He quickly reached out, dragging Bones to the ground with him. He heard the air fly out of her as she hit the dirt. Two fresh bullet holes pinpointed where Booth and Brennan had been previously standing. He was so focused on the marksman off in the distance, Booth didn't hear the man behind them until it was too late. "Bones!" He shouted. The attacker pulled her out of the agent's grasp, slamming her up against their crashed car. He held her hands tight behind her back. Something pointy appeared in his other hand. Booth charged the man, shoving his body away from her. The two collapsed to the ground. Their assailant punched Booth square in the jaw. Booth landed a few jabs to the guy's abdomen, all the while trying to knock the object out of his hand. Temperance pulled the man off her partner.

A gun cocked behind Brennan, her breath catching. She flung around, using the guy she was holding as a human shield. Booth began getting back up, "Stay down Booth, or I'll shoot her." He instantly froze, not wanting to be the reason Bones got injured. "Good boy," he spoke condescendingly. "Now Dr. Brennan, I would highly advise you to drop the man you're holding."

Her eyes were hard with resolve, "I would highly advise you take that gun off of me if you want your guy unharmed."

Booth spoke his agreement with that fact, "I wouldn't make her angry. You wouldn't like her when she's angry." The Incredible Hulk reference went right over her head as he knew it would.

"It doesn't matter to me one way or another." He barely got out the last word before the gunpowder ignited.

"BONES!" Booth screamed, jumping up to catch her as she fell.

"STAND DOWN BOOTH!" The gunman forced him back to the ground with his foot. Temperance slid down the side of the car. Her captive fell to his knees before face planting in the dirt. The bullet had pierced through his lung before stopping in Brennan's shoulder. Her hand tried to staunch the bleeding. Blood leaked out between her fingers. Booth growled, twisting the shooter's foot. He crashed down hard on the agent's ribs. Booth couldn't stifle the pained yell. Brennan attempted to aide him. "Stay still Tempe," the man warned. He had taken advantage of Booth's injury, pushing forcefully on the area. The agent bit down hard to keep from giving the man the satisfaction of a scream. Brennan's eyes stayed glued on her partner. Anger rose within her at the treatment of Booth and this man's nonchalant use of her nickname. At least he hadn't called her Bones. Her foot shot out, kicking the man's hand away as he tried to grab the object from his fallen comrade. "I said stay still! Do you think I won't kill your partner?! I don't care either way, the decision is all yours Temperance. Do you want him to live or die?" She remained quiet. "Dead or alive Temperance! Your partner, your call!" Their attacker was losing his patience quickly. Apparently he didn't expect this much trouble from the two.

Her voice came out in almost a whisper, "Alive." The alternative was unthinkable. Her mind screamed at her not to play this sick man's game, but what choice did she really have? She couldn't risk Booth's life. Her own life was one thing, but she wouldn't bring Seeley down with her.

"Bones," Booth moaned. He immediately had her complete and undivided attention. "Don't listen to him. This asshole can't kill me." His last comment earned him another jab to his ribs. Seeley's breathing became shallow.

Brennan had to stop this. With all of the force being applied, a broken rib could still puncture a lung. She couldn't believe he was goading their assailant. Booth, please shutup.

"Don't tempt me Seeley. You're lucky I made this your partner's decision or you be lying in a pool of blood right now." The man smiled to see Dr. Brennan shudder. No doubt his wording had brought horrid images into her mind. "Now Tempe, do as I say and hand me the object laying next to you." Her gaze drifted to the item on the ground. Her free hand sought it out, bringing it up to examine. The syringe contained some sort of liquid, but what was it? "We don't have all day." She glanced at Booth, conveying a silent 'I'm sorry' before handing over the syringe. The man instantly stuck the needle into the side of Booth's neck. His body went slack within seconds.

Temperance's heart stopped. "What did you do to him?!" she yelled, horrified she had handed over the syringe that had knocked him unconscious. Her mind screamed to check his pulse, but her body couldn't move after the blood loss she had suffered.

A smile appeared on their attacker's face. "You'll find out soon enough Tempe." He stalked towards her, removing the other syringe from his deceased friend's pocket. Brennan's foot flew up towards his groin, but the man was too quick. He caught it with ease, twisting. She cringed slightly. Taking the opportunity, he plunged the needle into her exposed leg. Her eyes shifted towards Booth one last time before darkness overcame her.