A/N:

Hi! Another update! Just like promised ;).

Enjoy!

In the meantime:

Hodgins answered the door and relief fell over his face as he saw Sweets was in fact accompanied by Booth. "Hey man." He clamped Booth on the shoulder with his hand. "I'm really glad you came. Just hear 'us' out okay?" He said as he began to lead them into his living room, where the rest of the team was waiting. He was still nervous about what might happen when the G-man saw Brennan, but he was hoping he could at least control himself long enough to hear her out.

Booth felt extremely self conscious and on display as he entered the room.

Sweets made his way over to the couch where the rest of the team, sans Brennan, were siting. Brennan stood beside an armchair on the other side of the room and he noticed the intense pain that showed on her face as Booth walked further into the room. He could see the tears brimming her eyes. He watched as her eyes did not leave Booth, but simply followed him across the room instead.

"So, are you guys ever going to tell the rest of us what's going on?" He asked as he skimmed over everyone there, with his eyes trying to gleam who knew what was going on and who didn't. He could tell Angela and Hodgins knew more than the rest and his gaze settled upon them for a moment before finally landing back on Brennan. He then waited, knowing she would need a moment to compose herself well enough to speak. This is going to be bad. He thought as he watched her.

Brennan took in a shuttering breath and glanced over at Hodgins and Angela for support, at which they nodded encouragingly at her. She took in one more breath and opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. A sense of panic overwhelmed her. She then pushed those feelings away as best she could and cleared her throat, now looking at Booth she began to approach him and spoke up in a small childlike voice, revealing the fear that she felt. "Can I talk to you for a minute before I begin? There are a few things I would really like to discuss in private and not announce. Please." Her eyes pleaded with him as they began to overflow and a single tear glided down her cheek.

Booth felt his anger rise, but the sight of her in front of him, made him want to try. At least once. "Fine." He spat out, not being able to hold all of his anger back. When he saw the shocked looks on their faces, he turned around and stormed out of the room.

Brennan took a step back when he walked past her and wiped the tears, that were now falling freely from her cheeks, fiercely as she turned to follow him to the foyer.

He was leaning on the front door with his fists clenched and wouldn't look at her.

She once again opened her mouth to speak and couldn't find the words. Temperance Brennan at a loss for words was not a regular happening. She couldn't determine what she should start with. She closed her eyes a moment to get her thoughts straight and then took in a deep breath as she opened them again. "Booth, I..." She started, desperately searching for his eyes which remained averted. "I know what it must have looked like but......"

"Yeah... I know what I saw. No need to repeat it, unless you want to show off your new boytoy!"

Anger boiled within her at what he was saying, but she quelled it quickly, knowing that he knew nothing of the situation. "Boy toy?" The words came out in sobs. "You don't understand. It wasn't what you think...." She ran her hand through her hair in frustration, trying to find the right words. "He…"

"He WHAT, Brennan? He WHAT??? I SAW what happened. YOU didn't fight him!!! You were NOT fighting him as I recall, no you were.... GOD! I don't know what I'm doing here!" Booth turned around, turned the knob, walked out and slammed the door.

"BOOTH!!" She screamed in both fear and anguish as she jerked the door open to follow him out. She could hear the scuffle as the rest of the Jeffersonian crew rushed to follow as she slammed the door behind her and ran after him screaming out his name in anguished sobs. "BOOTH.......BOOTH WAIT" She screamed as loud as she could manage as she chased him, taking in breaths when she could. "DAMN IT SEELEY STOP!!!"

Nick grinned widely as he watched the drama, he had caused, play out. "This is just to perfect to pass up." He grabbed his gun and got out of the car.

Booth stopped when he heard her use his first name. He turned around. "Don't call me Seeley!"

She caught up to him quickly and was about to speak when she saw a figure approaching from the darkness behind him. She saw a tiny glint and her mind reeled when she realized what it was. She reached out for what looked like Booth, but she grabbed his gun from his holster instead as she saw the figure raising up his gun in turn. She was shaking but still managed to push Booth to the ground just as she heard the loud pop that signaled the sound of a weapon going off and for a brief moment she wondered if she had been too late in pushing Booth away, that is, until she felt a sharp pain in her left shoulder and she knew she had kept Booth from harm. She let out a sharp cry as the bullet intersected her shoulder, but kept her right arm raised with the gun pointing at the approaching man. She aimed as best she could as he redirected his gun towards the man now lying on the ground. She squeezed the trigger and watched as the man dropped his weapon and clutched his own chest for a moment before crashing to the ground. Brennan then sunk to the ground herself, losing her composure completely as her body was wracked with sobs, the pain in her arm forgotten as the adrenaline surged through her body.

Booth felt dazed. He watched her fall to the ground in slow-motion. The world sped up again when he saw the blood staining her blue blouse and her pale skin. "SOMEONE!!! CALL 911!!!"

The sound of the gunshots had drawn out the rest of the Jeffersonian crew and Hodgins had immediately pulled out his cell phone at Booth's frantic scream.

He quickly put pressure on her wound and was instantly reminded of the day when Pam had shot him. She had killed to protect him, then too. Just like she had now... But why? "Stay with me Bones... Please don't leave me!!!" The pain of her betrayal felt nothing compared to the fear of losing her. Really losing her.

As more blood trickled from her wound she felt a tingly sensation come across her body, she felt dazed as well and her thoughts were becoming fuzzy, as she tried to open her mouth to speak, to tell him everything would be okay, she would be fine, the blackness took hold of her and her body fell limp in his arms.

It's been a long time since we've had a nice cliffie, so here it is ;)

We hope you enjoyed it!

ISAQ and SSAQ