May 2010
Booth was clenching his rifle tightly in his hand. It was taking time, making an escape plan with Cooper. They had to be ultra cautious and not give anything away. In the meantime, Booth was left taking out targets he no longer felt needed to be taken out. He hoped God would forgive him for all of this. He knew God had sacrificed His son for the greater good, but Booth knew he couldn't sacrifice Parker. He just couldn't. Every time he came close to thinking of a way to save Parker, it would become unrealistic, and Booth knew he was trapped here despite all the continued planning he was doing with Cooper. He knew Cooper could sense it too. He refused to give up hope, though. Someone somewhere had to help him. He just needed to know who to contact. Booth also wanted to know why there was a woman with brilliant green-blue eyes plaguing his dreams. He felt as though he knew her, but he couldn't think of a time where he had met her. He had weird dreams about a psychologist too, but Booth knew he'd never seen a psychologist in his life, so he dismissed that as nonsense. Parker was still not writing him back, so Booth now knew for certain that Church was not sending his letters. This made Booth suspicious. He wanted to use a computer, but Church always seemed to know where he was at all times and what he was doing. Using a computer was absolutely off limits unless it was theirs in their cabin, and Booth knew it was a controlled internet. Something somewhere had to give.
November 2010
Booth was looking at the note in his hands, asking him to be here at this restaurant. It was from Rachel. He figured it was another target request. When she arrived, she sat down a table away from him carefully.
"Don't look at me," she said when he went to face her.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Just trust me," she replied. He looked straight ahead instead. She sighed.
"Why did you summon me here?" Booth asked.
"Always to the point, aren't you?" she laughed.
"It's how I'm still alive," Booth answered.
"Well, since you asked, I will answer," she said. "I do not agree with what Church is doing." As startled as he was by this, Booth still didn't look at her as per her request.
"Then why do you go along with it?" Booth asked.
"Same as you. I had a family to protect," Rachel answered simply. Booth picked up on the past tense.
"And now?"
"I no longer have a family, so the obligation to help Church is gone. He can do whatever he wants to me. He's already taken away everything I love," Rachel said softly.
"I'm sorry," Booth said.
"It's my fault. I questioned Church when I shouldn't have," she responded. Booth waited a beat before asking his next question.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you need to get out of here, and you still have a son. I have connections. I can protect him," Rachel urged.
"Can you really?" Booth said, sarcastically.
"I can," she said more emphatically. He met her eyes then. They were on fire.
"Okay," he agreed. "You can help me."
"First thing's first," she said, sliding over an envelope towards him. "You need to see this." She stood up then, heading out the door. Booth opened the envelope slowly, pulling out the piece of paper. He stared, not believing his eyes.
Seeley Booth: February 5, 1971 to May 7, 2009
Loved by All
Wonderful Father
Best Friend
His photo glared up at him. He read the poem about being in a better place and no longer suffering. He turned it over and saw nothing on the back. He was dead? That's why Parker was not writing him back. Church didn't send the letters because his son believed he was dead. What a cruel, horrible, satanic thing to do. Booth was beyond furious. Church was going to pay. He needed to wait for Rachel to stick to her word. Then he was going after his next and last target.
February 2011
Booth almost gave up hope when Rachel finally gave him the word that morning. Parker was being supervised by trusted friends. Out of sight, of course. No one would be able to touch him. Booth wanted proof of this, so Rachel let him talk to the men firsthand. It made him feel slightly better.
"Church will be alone this afternoon," she told him. "You can take your shot then."
"Thank you," Booth said. "Now, what are you going to do?"
"What I do best," she replied. "Disappear."
...
Booth told Cooper the plan, and they both geared up and headed towards the abandoned building. When they got there, however, Church was nowhere to be found.
"She two timing us?" Cooper asked, afraid. He hadn't trusted Rachel at all despite Booth's promise she was on their side.
"No," Booth shook his head. Suddenly, Cooper was yanked back, choking, and Booth swung to see Church holding a gun to Cooper's head.
"Stand down," Church ordered, gripping Cooper tightly. "Or Cooper here dies."
"Don't," Cooper begged Booth. "Get out of here. Don't worry about me. I have nothing. You have everything."
"Shut up!" Church bellowed.
"I'm not letting you die, Coop," Booth said, his gun still aimed at Church. He knew that Church would kill Cooper anyway even if Booth did stand down. At least he had a gun in his hand and had a better chance of saving Cooper.
"I know what you're thinking," Church said. "But remember, I'm not the only one. After I die, another will take my place. Your son will never be safe. Stand down, Booth. You can't possibly beat this."
"Watch me," Booth said. Rachel was dragged in by another one of Church's goons just then, and Booth's heart sank. So Church had known all along. She simply stared at Booth with a resonated look on her face when Church aimed his gun at her and fired.
"NO!" Booth shouted. Rachel fell, clutching her chest, still staring at Booth. She didn't look scared. Just sad. Then she was gone. He wondered how quickly his bodyguards for Parker were going to bite the dust.
"I'm not stupid," Church hissed. "Now, the whole world will know you killed her, an innocent senator. You'll never be free." His goon advanced. Cooper quickly pulled a maneuver that freed himself, and he shot Church while Booth shot the goon. In the silence that followed, Booth only said one word.
"Run."
March 2011
Booth didn't know why or how, but he somehow remembered his friend Aldo from the war. He also remembered where his friend lived. He and Cooper had been on the run for a month, and they knew they were being hunted. Booth also knew who was hunting him, and as brave as he tried to feel, he was a little worried.
"You know this guy is solid?" Cooper asked as they headed to Aldo's place.
"Yea. He's saved my life a few times," Booth replied. "Aldo will definitely save us now." Cooper sucked his teeth.
"I hope you're right, man. I'm so tired of being shot at," Cooper complained.
"This will end. I promise," Booth said. He worried about Parker. He kept scanning the papers, but nowhere did it say that a young boy had been murdered. His son was safe. He guessed Rachel's help was still active or he was just extremely lucky. Maybe there wasn't anyone after Church to take over. Maybe it had all been a way to make Booth remain under his control. Booth wasn't sure, but after a recent close call, he knew Broadsky was after him. He knew Broadsky was another hitman, and he was very good. Booth was going to make sure that Broadsky never killed another person again. He had to because it was his own life at stake.
April 2011
Broadsky hummed to himself as he cleaned his sniper rifle. Seeley Booth was going to be executed today. He knew where he was hiding. Granted, it had taken him a while to find the man again. Booth was tough and extra sneaky, but Broadsky had figured him out. Aldo couldn't hide Booth forever. Broadsky had been furious that the FBI had managed to protect Parker Booth from being killed, so he put his focus back onto Booth. He would deal with the kid later. Church had specific orders written, and even though the man was dead, Broadsky still obeyed orders.
...
"So, Broadsky is coming for you. I heard through mutual friends he knows where you are," Aldo said, setting down the mug in front of Booth. Cooper was still sleeping.
"He won't get me," Booth replied. "I'll be leaving here as soon as I can."
"You can't hide from the CIA forever, Booth," Aldo said. "It's not hard to kill a dead man."
"I've done pretty good so far for the last two months haven't I?" Booth asked.
"Still, they're relentless. You killed two of their men and an innocent senator. They'll hang you for that."
"Aldo, answer me this," Booth said. "What did I do after the army? I can't remember. I've tried so hard, but it eludes me. I feel like I'm forgetting something." Aldo stared at him.
"You're kidding," he said.
"No, I'm not. What did I do? Was it construction? A salesman? A lawyer? What?"
"Booth, you're FBI," Aldo said. Booth sat there, thunderstruck.
"I'm what?" he asked.
"You're with the FBI. You're an agent. A dead agent, I might add," Aldo said.
"I gotta go there," Booth said, standing up quickly. "Cooper! Let's go!"
"Wazzgoinon?" Cooper asked groggily. Booth nudged him.
"Get up. We have to go."
"He found us?"
"Yea. And I found out I'm FBI. This is going to end right now," Booth said. Cooper sat up boltright.
"You're FBI? Damn. Church knew what he was doing bringing you aboard. He hated the FBI with a passion. What better way to screw them over than to take one of their best agents," Cooper commented. He hopped out of bed and grabbed his bag. They always slept ready to run. Pajamas were a thing of the past.
"You sure it's going to be as easy as that?" Aldo asked.
"I'm sure. How can I be blamed for murder when I'm dead? FBI won't be looking for me, and the CIA can't admit that they did this. Thanks for everything," Booth said, hugging his friend.
"Stay safe," Aldo said. Cooper bumped his fist on the way by.
"Freedom!" he started singing as they walked away. Aldo just shook his head. He had a bad feeling about it.
The next chapter will be Brennan's version of this timeline, so no fear! You will have answers about Parker and get to read about the birth of the twins :)
