Chapter 25.

Booth knew that time was of the essence. The pain he was in was nothing compared to the pain he would feel if he lost her. She was his whole life and he had to make sure he was going to be able to tell her that for himself. He could see Donovan's finger starting to get trigger happy and that meant he had no time to lose. He soon forgot the pain in his ribs and now was just concentrating on the task at hand. So with every ounce of strength he could muster he dived at Donovan, reaching for the gun in her hands. He managed to get a grip on it desperatley pulling it away from Brennan's direction.

Donovan shrieked "You SONOVABITCH! i'm doing you a favor can't you see that!"

Booth ignored her as he continued the struggle for the gun but when the shot rang out he froze. No! was his only thought. He couldn't bear to look. He had been too afraid that the bullet had hit Brennan.

Donovan elbowed him in the stomach winding him. He collasped to the floor gasping for a breath.

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Brennan had watched in horror as Donovan aimed the gun at her. This is it i'm going to die. I'm never going to get the chance to tell Booth how I really feel. Those were her last thoughts. Then she saw Booth struggling to direct the gun away from her. He had been so close, but he couldn't prevent her finger pulling the trigger and the gun went off. The last thing she remembered was drifting into total darkness.

Booth didn't care what happened to him now. He had lost the only thing in this world he cared about. "Bones" he cried, as he crawled up next to her. He hurriedly checked her over and to his amazement he found she was still breathing. It was labored and shallow but she was still alive. He carefully inspected her more intensely and was horrified when he did notice some blood oozing through her shirt on her right side. He gently pulled up her shirt and was almost relieved to see although the bullet had hit her it was only a graze and did not seem life threatening. "Thankyou god" he whispered "Thankyou" He had always known that one day all his hours in church would finally pay off.

Donovan snickered "Booth. You really are so sensitive and caring it sickens me. To think that she would have this kind of hold on you. That she has this power that would reduce you to such a quivering wreck."

Booth had just about had enough. He turned to face her but was only welcomed by a six inch carving knife in his face. "What the hell! Come on don't you think this is gone far enough? Does this really excite you to torment peope like this?"

"My father tormented me! My father liked it. He got off on it. For as long as I can remember my father would beat my mother. Then when she was black and blue he would turn on me. He held a knife to my mothers throat once just to see the fear in her eyes." She stepped closer to Booth waving the knife in front of him and then began swiping it every so often. "He took me swimming here in the lake once. He told me it was time to get out, but I didn't want to go and because of that he held my head under the water until I couldn't breathe. When he finally let me go I was choking and spluttering for air. You know what he did. He just laughed."

Booth listened intensly. He now understood what a traumatic childhood she obviously had.

She then continued "When I turned thirteen my father sneaked into my room one night when my mother was asleep. I can still feel his hot breath on my neck as he lay next to me in the bed fidding with my night clothes. Donovan then began sobbing hysterically.

Booth gasped as he heard this "He didn't you know.."

"Yes Booth he did. He raped me! and I was powerless to stop him. He told me it was a special thing between a father and his daughter and had to be a secret." Donovan took a tighter hold on the knife still swiping it at Booth.

"Louise listen to me!" He held up both hands in an attempt to calm her. "What your father did was wrong, very wrong. The pain he caused can never be erased. You don't have to be like him."

"SHUT UP!" she sobbed harder, tears running down her cheeks. "Yes I do! he enjoyed it and now I know why. It feels good to be in control. To be able to decide if someone lives or dies. My father continued to rape me until I was fifteen. My mother was oblivious to it, even though she knew what a bastard he was. I decided to tell her one night and do you know what she said?"

Booth shook his head. His eyes so full of empathy now. He could never understand what she had gone through. A father doing those terrible things to their own child was beyond belief and understanding.

"She said Louise, you lying little whore. How could you tell these vicious lies. Yeah thats right. My own mother would rather defend her abusive husband then her own daughter. So that was it. I couldn't help myself. One night I took some gasoline and I set fire to the house with them in it. I became the poor little victim. I had made it look like I had barely escaped with my life and then everybody took care of me. I was put with a lovely foster family. I finished school, went to college. I worked my way up to where I am now."

Booth could only imagine what she had endured. However, it did not give her the right to do what she did. To take another human life. If he had a dollar for every criminal he had arrested who had blamed childhood extremities on their actions he would be a very rich man.

"Louise listen to me. Please just put the knife down and we can get you some kind of help."

Donovan locked eyes with his "NO! I control what happens here not you!"

Booth stepped backwards not noticing the coffee table behind him and and as his foot caught on the table leg he went crashing to the floor, landing heavily on his arm. This caused him a cry of pain as he heard the crack. He could only watch as Donovan loomed over him. The knife about to plunge into him.

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Brennan awoke slightly dazed and feeling quite nauseous. She pulled herself up wincing at the pain in her side. More importantly she was wincing at the fact Donovan had just raised a knife at Booth and was about to stab him. Looking around frantically she became aware of the gun lying there right on the floor. It was well within her reach. She managed to make a grab for it. With it now in her trembling hand she aimed at Donovan. Her hands were shaking more violently and just as Donovan was about to deliver the fatal blow Brennan pulled the trigger.

Donvan jerked back as the bullet penetrated her chest. Her eyes were wide with surprise and then shock as a surge of pain rushed through her body. She looked down at the hole in her shirt and then instintively put her hand over the wound. Blood was trickling slowly from the bullethole. It had hit her chest and it was going to prove fatal. She gasped for air before collasping to the floor. She lay there eyes wide open taking in the last few breaths she would ever take. The only sounds now were the heavy breathing coming from both Booth and Brennan.

Booth scooted over to Brennan carefully taking the gun from her still trembling hands. "Its okay" he told her, aiming to keep his voice as soothing as remotley possible.

"Is s-he- d...ead?" she stuttered.

Booth checked her for a pulse and was now able to confirm that she was "Yes Bones she is." He took her in his arms. Rocking her, stroking her hair. "It's all over now."

"I shot her! I killed her!" This was the second life she had taken and it never got any easier.

"You did what needed to be done Bones. You saved my life." He hugged her more tightly. He had almost lost her and he did not want to let her go - ever.

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Detective Corby had floored down the highway enroute to Maple Grove lake. He was adament that Booth and Brennan were both in danger. Even though Booth was an FBI agent that didn't mean to say he was any less likely to be fooled then the next man. His siren wailed as he was now only minutes from his location. Four other patrol cars followed closely and he had even called EMT just incase. He was rather hoping that Booth had the situation under control but he just couldn't afford to take any chances. Screeching to a halt Corby exited his vehicle shouting instructions to his men. The other officers drew their guns and began to silently surround the cabin and surrounding area.

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Booth had heard the movement outside. He had seen the dark figures passing by the window. "Hey Bones! It looks like the calvary has finally arrived. Well better late then never eh?" Not recieving any response from her his blood ran cold. He pulled her away from her current position which had been buried in his shoulder. He layed her back down using his arm for support. "Bones, Bones! he shook her harder, stroking her face. "BONES"! Her eyes had rolled back in her head and she started to jerk violently in his arms. It looked like she was having some sort of seizure as she began convulsing. "No Bones please don't do this to me!"

The door then flung open and two officers stood there aiming their guns at Booth.

Detective Corby followed witnessing the scene in front of him. "Put your guns down!" He commanded to the officers.

"I need help!" Booth screamed.

Corby caught the attention of another officer "Get the EMTS in here quick..."