I apologise for keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.

Special thanks to those of you who took the time to review: kareneb (you'll just have to read on to find out), Nelapl, aadams00, Anon447, LJLanham, 554Laura, Lauwy, Robin and all other guests who reviewed. Thank you for your reviews and patience.

Brennan headed straight back to the Hoover to report that her cover had been blown. She knew with a degree of certainty that Booth would not come after her, but she couldn't say the same for the rest of his crew.

Assistant Director Hacker was clearly disappointed at her failure to complete her assignment successfully and did little to hide his displeasure at her failure. She had not been in contact for months and he had assumed deep cover meant she was in the process of getting what was needed for the FBI to build their case against Booth. Other than the one video she had recorded of Booth killing someone in the dark alley, she had little to show for. She knew his routine and had circumstantial evidence, but it wasn't enough. The ADA still wanted an airtight case.

Brennan knew she could kiss her promotion goodbye, but realised that she didn't really care. She had descended into a state of despair, numb to the world. With the large amount of vacation time she had amassed, she escaped work. She had lost her faith in the FBI and was unsure of what she was fighting for anymore.

Three days after her cover was blown, her partner Angela visited her one night after work, trying to lift her spirits and coax her back to work. Sitting in her dimly lit apartment, Angela patted her knee comfortingly.

"You need to get over him Sweetie."

Brennan shook her head sadly, the memory of Booth and the pain she caused him was too much and a stray tear escaped her eye.

"It was never my intention to hurt him. I loved him. And now he'll never forgive me."

"You can't be serious Bren. You know there was no future for the both of you together."

"He made me feel things I never felt before with any other man. Not even with Sully."

"So he was exceptional in bed. That probably comes from his wealth of experience since he's slept with so many other women."

"No Angela, that's not it. It wasn't just about the sex. Even if we didn't have it, we had this amazing connection, it's like we were meant to be together. He made me feel so loved, as if nobody else existed except me."

"You're trying to tell me that in a matter of three months, you found your soulmate, who happens to be a ruthless mob boss."

Brennan laughed bitterly at the irony. "The story of my life…"

"I suppose you can't help who you fall in love with. But you couldn't really have believed that the two of you were gonna live happily ever after right? Even if he was arrested, he would've gone away for life. Then what? Marry a guy who's serving life without the possibility of parole? You need to put this all behind you. You and Booth are never gonna happen."

"I just don't know if I'll ever find another man like him. Those three months, when I was lost in his world, it was the happiest I ever had been. He hadn't told me what he did and we were just two people in love. It wasn't about the money or power. I would have been happy to spend the rest of my life in that bubble."

"Well that bubble's burst. Hacker isn't exactly happy with you right now. Last I heard, he's putting together a task force, getting HRT to storm Booth's estate. It's going down soon."

"What? But I thought what I gave you was all circumstantial? He didn't want to convict on just a murder charge."

"I think Hacker's under pressure from the Director himself. Those gang wars are causing a lot of collateral damage. Innocent people are getting killed. Not to mention the amount of drugs Booth is responsible for that is circulating on the streets."

Brennan listened to what Angela said with growing trepidation. Booth being harmed or killed was now a very strong possibility. He had said he would go down fighting and she had no doubt he would. She knew he would rather die than go to jail. She could not bear the thought of that happening. She knew she had to do something about it. Even if it cost her job.

…

The next morning, Brennan walked into Deputy Director Hacker's office.

"I'd like a word with you Sir."

"It's been a busy morning, make it quick Agent Brennan."

"I heard that you're intending to send HRT after Seeley Booth."

"Who told you that?"

Brennan ignored the question. "I'd like to be part of the team."

"You already failed in your attempt to gather intel on him. You can see why I'm reluctant to include you in my task force. I even heard rumors that your feelings for him weren't entirely fake."

"I know Booth and I believe I can convince him to come with us without a fight, without the risk of any of our agents being hurt in the process. Booth has a strong following of gang members ready to give their lives for him, not to mention how secure his estate is. He will see us coming, there would be no element of surprise. I know the codes to his house. Allow me to go in alone, and if I fail, you can send in HRT."

"Your argument, Agent Brennan while convincing, was unnecessary. I'm not sending HRT after Booth."

"You're not?"

"There is no need to anymore."

"Why?" Brennan remembered Angela's words and wondered what could have made Hacker change his mind.

"Your information while accurate was outdated. I was just informed that before dawn the Broadsky and Booth gangs got into it. There was a bloody, violent battle. We were fortunate it happened at such an unearthly hour, when most people were still at home asleep. The possible number of civilian casualties could have been catastrophic. Metro was called in and when they couldn't handle it, we were called."

"So both mob bosses are in custody?" Brennan asked, now worried for Booth's safety.

"No. Again we were fortunate. They took each other out."

Brennan sank into the chair opposite Hacker's desk. Her voice now almost a hoarse whisper, she asked, "They're both dead?"

"According to reports from the field agents who responded, both gangs suffered heavy losses. The Broadsky gang was entirely annihilated. We have Broadsky on a slab in the coroner's office now. Took a bullet right in the head. James Aubrey, Booth's right-hand man is currently in custody. How he escaped that bloody gunfight without a scratch is a mystery. Jack Hodgins, Booth's other sidekick was severely wounded and undergoing surgery now. He'll also be arrested if he survives."

"And Booth?"

"Multiple eyewitness accounts report him taking a bullet to the chest and falling into the Potomac. The river's at its highest now and his body's probably washed downstream into Chesapeake Bay. We have divers attempting to retrieve his body now. If the bullet didn't kill him, the fall would have and even if he survived that, at this time of year, the water temperatures are freezing. He would have died either way."

Brennan fought back tears, refusing to allow the Deputy Director to see how affected she was by the news. She had spent the night trying to figure out how she could convince Hacker that she should be allowed to go talk Booth into turning himself in. She had convinced herself that even if he had to spend the rest of his life in jail, at least she could visit him, if he came to forgive her. Now all her hopes had been dashed. Disillusioned and sinking further into despair, she saw no more point in remaining with the FBI.

"Sir, I'd like to resign from the FBI. You'll have my letter later this afternoon."

"What? Are you sure? You failed in this one undercover mission but you'll have lots of other opportunities to redeem your career. Take all the vacation time you need, you can come back when you're ready."

"My mind's made up Sir."

"You sure I can't convince you otherwise? I can transfer you to a field office, a change in scenery might do you good."

"I'm sure."

"Alright then. It's our loss."

Okay, I have to admit, this chapter wasn't that much better in alleviating everyone's anxiety. But this isn't the last chapter, keep reading and reviewing!