"That goddamn son of a bitch!" Booth raged furiously as he stomped around his apartment, wildly waving his chopsticks and stringing a wide variety of curses together to describe his feelings for Deputy Director Hacker. "What the hell does he think he's doing? He's trying to make you look like shit, Bones! He wants to ruin your reputation because you ended your relationship with him. That vindictive no good bastard! And then he wonders why you don't want to see him any more. I'm gonna kick his skinny goddamn ass all over DC!" He stopped and gripped the kitchen counter, heaving with anger. "Where'd Hacker find a goddamn judge stupid enough to sign that warrant for your work computer? I don't care if that shit for brains idiot Hacker is my boss….I'm damn sure gonna set him straight on how to treat you right!"

Brennan sat serenely across the counter from Booth as he ranted, concentrating on her dinner as she waited for the storm to blow over. She hadn't intended to tell him about the warrant for her work computer, having already vented her ire on Hacker and the unfortunate technician assisting him, but Angela had run to call him when she discovered what was happening. Booth had charged into Brennan's office demanding an explanation and was promptly escorted out of the lab by two museum guards as he employed his extensive hockey swear word vocabulary. It was three hours later, and he was still enraged by what had happened.

Brennan waited for Booth's tirade to ebb a bit before offering an explanation. "Hodgins said that Judge Walton is a conspiracy buff. I'm sure the Deputy Director explained the situation so that it seemed like I'm involved in some sort of criminal conspiracy." She chose her next words carefully. "Your alpha male display was quite impressive, Booth...", Brennan grinned as she winked at him so he'd know she was teasing him, "but really, ….there's nothing to be concerned about…"

Booth was having none of it as he started in again. "I can't believe Cullen went along with this shit. I bet Hacker didn't even say anything to Cullen about it. He could just get a warrant on his own as deputy director. I didn't recognize the name of the prosecutor listed on the warrant. Who knows who that jackass is." He jabbed his chopsticks angrily into the box of Thai food. "And what the hell do you mean there's nothing to be concerned about? Hacker wants to arrest you for criminal conspiracy, dammit!. I have no intention of allowing you to go to prison, Bones….no goddamn way that bastard puts the woman I love in jail for something she didn't do!"

"I mean there's nothing for them to find concerning Greg that will cause a problem for me." Brennan gave Booth a small smile. "There's an email from him asking me who to contact about providing security for Jeffersonian functions, which I forwarded to the office that takes care of those things, along with a personal message to the head of that office from me. There's nothing else about Greg on that computer, and very little from him on my personal laptop, should they choose to serve a warrant for that." She ate another bite of rice. "Greg was always extremely careful about how he contacted me. Occasionally he'd send me a short text, but most of the time it was a handwritten note that I would read and destroy quickly. He's a covert operative, Booth. He knows how to avoid being found out."

Booth nodded. The more he thought about it, the calmer he became. What Bones had said made perfect sense...Greg was too experienced in keeping himself hidden to allow himself to be exposed via electronic communication. "What I don't understand is why now? What happened? You said you hadn't heard from him in years. Why did he contact you again?"

"Greg sent me a letter asking me to meet him in New York City last October. When I met him there, he said he wanted to tell me goodbye...that I would probably never see him again." Brennan brushed a tear from her cheek. "Of course, I was quite upset….we had been close friends for a long time, so I asked him for an explanation."

"Wait...you went to New York last October?" Booth was surprised. "I don't remember that." He usually knew about all of her trips...being overprotective, he always liked to know exactly where she was at all times.

"I went twice in October and twice in November." Brennan averted her eyes from Booth's steady gaze. "I didn't tell you because it wasn't really necessary….and you were otherwise occupied, Booth."

Shit. He'd been occupied with Hannah last October and November. He hadn't even realized Bones had been gone. "Jesus! Bones, you should've told me what was going on. You didn't have to handle this problem alone. I've got experience with special ops guys. I could've helped."

"There was no need for assistance, Booth. I've taken the train the New York many times, and I trusted Greg. When I went to see him the first time in October, Greg told me he needed to tell me goodbye, because he would probably be dead soon. Of course, I wanted an explanation, so I pressed him on it." She sniffled and wiped her eyes, upset by the memory of that conversation. Booth reached over to cover her hand with his, trying to comfort her.

"You don't have to tell me about this, Bones, if it makes you unhappy."

"It's alright. I need to tell you everything." She exhaled slowly to compose herself. "Greg had met Kelly, whose real name is Amir al Ghaheni, while he was on a secret mission in the Middle East. Greg said it was love at first sight. Amir wanted to come to the United States, but his father was a leader in some sort of terrorist group, and he couldn't get a visa."

"That's where Ivan Petrovich comes in?"

Brennan shrugged. "I don't know who that is. Amir was arrested in his own country as someone collaborating with an enemy because of his relationship with Greg, and was facing execution. A mutual friend got the information about Amir's imprisonment to Greg. I guess various negotiations and bribes were offered, but when there seemed to be no alternative, Greg made plans to go there and rescue him. That's why he was telling me goodbye. He would rescue Amir or die trying, and he didn't hold out much hope for his success."

Booth couldn't contain his shock. "Did he think he would just walk into that prison, unlock a door, and leave with Amir, all without a fight? That's crazy. He'd have to shoot up the place….it'd be way too dangerous for one man..."

"He has specialized training to undertake missions of that nature, but there was something else driving him." Brennan spoke softly as she squeezed Booth's hand gently. "Booth, I know you love me. If I was in danger, what would you do?" Her eyes filled with tears. "You'd put your life in danger if you thought there was any chance you could save me. Do you remember me saying that you and Greg are similar? "

She knew him too well. Booth nodded in agreement. "You're right. I would stop at nothing if I thought you were in danger…"

"Greg went on an unsanctioned mission to rescue Amir. Amir was freed, but Greg had to kill several high ranking people in the terrorist organization to accomplish that, and he became a wanted man among them. He has a price on his head. He was able to bring Amir into the US, on a forged passport, as Kelly Jones."

"Ivan Petrovich again." Booth grimaced, wondering what else Bones had gotten herself into. "So that should've been the end of the problem, right? And you don't have to be involved any more? Aren't they safe in the US?" He silently prayed for her to agree with him.

"Members of terrorist organization have been looking for both Greg and Amir in the US, and Greg is afraid they're closing in on them. Again, Booth, Greg is like you. If someone you loved was in danger, what would you do?"

"I'd worry about trying to protect them. I'd try to get them out of harm's way."

"Exactly. Greg and Amir need to disappear. They're planning on moving to some small island in the Caribbean, although he won't tell me which one. He's sold his business, and he'll stop working as a covert operative. They'll leave everything else behind and take on new identities. Perhaps this Petrovich person you've mentioned is going to help them with the new identities as well."

Booth began to pick up the empty Thai boxes. "What will they do for money? Don't they need some financial support? They'll have living expenses no matter where they go."

"That's another reason I've been in contact with Greg…." Bones bit her lip as she looked at Booth, afraid that he'd be angry with her. "I've decided to help him."

"God, Bones...what were you thinking? That could lead the terrorists straight to you!"

"No, that's not what I meant. Booth, do you remember that I gave Angela some money for her input into my books?"

"Yeah, of course. Why?" He stopped what he was doing and watched her intently. He wasn't sure he liked where this conversation was going.

"Well, since Greg was the inspiration for Agent Lister, I decided he was entitled to some money from the books also. He hasn't received any compensation from me, so I had my attorney draw up a contract pertaining to that issue. I'll transfer money into a numbered account of Greg's choosing in the Caymans until the amount specified in the contract is paid. Last Saturday night before the Gala, I gave Greg an envelope with his copy of the contract and a cash advance toward what I owe him."

Booth started to smile as an idea occurred to him. "Bones….do you have a copy of that contract with Greg's signature on it?"

"Of course...it's in my safety deposit box with my other legal papers." She couldn't figure out why Booth was so interested in the contract. "Why? Is it important?"

Booth heaved a sigh of relief. It appeared Cullen was right...there was a simple explanation for what was on the video from the Gala security cameras. "Did Greg know you were on camera when you gave him the envelope?"

"I think so...he said he wanted to record it. He also asked me to pretend to be surprised when I saw him inside, which I thought was strange."

"Yeah, I don't know why he did that. Maybe that was a show for someone else at the Gala...maybe for Petrovich."

Booth moved around the counter to where Brennan was sitting. "I think Hacker is gonna find out that he made a hell of a big mistake, and I want you to be there with me tomorrow when we make him look like a jackass, but we'll need that contract." He grinned as he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and kissed her cheek. "Things are gonna be just fine. In fact, I think things are gonna be great. So if you're finished with dinner…." He kissed her passionately…."I think I'm ready for some after dinner fun and games." Another kiss. "What do you think?"

She smiled back as she ran her hand down his chest before she kissed him. "I think, Agent Booth, that you are correct in your assessment." She smiled as he pulled her close. "Let the games begin…."