Title: Amongst the Gravestones

Disclaimer: Language, violence; angst possible.

Chapter Three: Stay in Shadow

"Bones," he yelled, nearly charging into the mud, forgetting about his suit and the cleaning bill. But then he saw her move, dismissing him with a wave of her hand.

"I'm fine," she explained, as she climbed to her feet. Her back end was covered in mud. "The sound of gunfire scared me and I slipped. And now, if you don't mind, I'd like to get the hell out of here before I end up like one of those guys," she exclaimed, pointing at the skeletons.

She fought her way back through the soupy mud at a good clip, receiving help from Booth when she was within reach. A second gunshot rang through the air as he grabbed hold of her wrists and pulled her into an embrace. Then they were both quickly ducking behind the SUV for protection. Bones kept thinking about bullets flying under the car and through the windows. When had she become Miss Doom and Gloom? She wasn't one to run and hide; she had always been the type to stay for the fight. Lately though, lately she had been feeling vulnerable. Why, she hadn't yet figured out. It was a feeling she rarely felt. In fact, the last time she could remember feeling that way was when her parents died. The first time.

Another shot sounded. A hawk, the same one that had flown overhead previously, fell from the sky a few feet away from them. They both stood motionlessly as the silence began to settle once again. booth whipped out his cell phone, barking orders to someone on the other end, demanding for immediate back-up, preferably by helicopter, since it would be faster. As he slipped the phone back into his pocket they both watched a man emerge from the grass. He was wearing camouflage from head to toe and carrying a rifle in one hand. He approached the bird, a grim expression on his face.

Bones leaned over to the Booth and whispered in his ear. "Isn't it illegal to kill those birds? I though they were a protected species?"

"It's just a bird," he muttered back, praying the gunman wouldn't see them.

So much for that. Bones stood on her tiptoes, straining to get a better view of the now dead bird. "That's a falcon," she pointed out. "They're endangered. That man just committed a Federal crime. Arrest him, like you're supposed to."

"That man has a really big gun," he replied.

She gave Booth a little shove toward the man, who still hadn't noticed them. "What if he knows something about our bones? You can't let him get away, and since you don't allow me to carry a gun you'll have to apprehend him. Not me."

"Fine," he relented, knowing that she was right. He left the safety of the vehicle behind; making sure that his gun was ready, aimed at the rifle carrying hunter. "Drop your gun," he yelled in an authoritive voice. "Put it on the ground and step away from it."

The gunman's head snapped up as Booth's words were carried to him on a gentle breeze. He was startled to see anyone else around. He didn't drop his rifle. He didn't move. He stood there by the dead bird trying to figure out his next move.

"Sir, put the gun down," ordered Booth. "I'm an FBI agent. Don't make me shoot you."

The man's eyebrows shot up in surprise. His grip on his rifle tightened, his knuckles turning white. A thrumming sound could be heard in the distance. Brennan turned her attention in the direction she knew the city was. There was a dirt cloud as a vehicle approached them. Most likely Zack finally showing up, and at a bad time too. The thrumming she heard was from a helicopter that was advancing on them at a rather fast pace. Back up was already within range. It was amazing what the FBI could do with a single phone call. She loved watching Booth in action. Apparently Booth had also heard the thrumming of the approaching helicopter.

"Come on buddy, just put the gun down," he tried to coerce. "Right now you want to co-operate with me, not against me. You've just stumbled across a crime scene. Don't make things worse for yourself."

The man let his eyes take in the sight of the helicopter as it swung over the group before turning around to hover momentarily. Booth knew they wouldn't land unless he gave them the sign. If anyone looked close enough they would notice the sniper concealed in the black bulk of the looming machinery, ready to fire if necessary.

"That's a Federal helicopter. I can send them away. All you have to do is put down your gun," ordered Booth. Brennan could tell that he was feeling jumpy and uneasy. Even though he was a former sniper guns clearly put him on edge. Maybe it was because she was in range. And he would never forgive himself if he let her get hurt. The crunch of pebbles under tires drew ever nearer as Zack drove closer to the scene. He didn't seem at all bothered by the presence of the helicopter, probably thinking it was some special procedure.

The man slowly lowered the gun to the ground and backed away from it and the bird. Slowly, so as not to miss any movements on the hunter, Booth crept close to take the gun out of reach. Time passed slowly as he moved. Eventually he grabbed the rifle and stepped back, relaxing now that he had the gun in hand. With the ease of training he was able to empty the remaining bullet without firing the gun and with only one hand. He waved at the pilot of the helicopter, letting him know that he was now free to go. The situation was under control. As the helicopter flew away Zack finally pulled up on the scene. Brennan had come out from hiding behind the SUV and was walking toward Booth.

"You do know that I'm going to have to arrest?" Booth asked as much as he stated.

"Why?" the man wanted to know.

"Poaching," Booth nodded toward the dead falcon. "That's a protected species. You can't kill them."

The man frowned. "Well you guys are trespassing on my property. That's against the law. And if you hadn't been trespassing you wouldn't have seen me shoot that damned bird; which has been raiding my chicken house for a month now. It was a pest."

"This is your property?" Bones questioned. "May I ask why you have a large pile of bones on your property, Mr…?"

"You don't need to know my name," the man barked at her, clearly mad that he was being arrested. "And those bones belong to my family members."