A/N: It's short, I know. But I didn't want to leave you guys with that cliffhanger for too long. That being said...there's sort of another at the end of this chapter. Please forgive me :)
Booth pulled up to his house, somewhat blocked by other FBI cars. The siren lights were harsh on the brick house in front of him and his heart stopped when he saw Teddy Parker come out of his house. He ran to his friend.
"What are you doing here? You're in homicide! Bren and Drew…" He couldn't finish his sentence.
"Seeley," Teddy started, "They're-ˮ
"We're fine, Booth," Bren said, appearing in the doorway with Drew on her hip. Booth leapt up the stairs and ushered her back into the house.
"Don't go outside! Someone's taking shots at you. You need to stay inside."
"I'm not going to get shot with dozens of FBI agents and forensic techs around me," she countered.
"Hi, Dad," Drew said, breaking up their bickering.
"Hi, Bub. You okay?"
Drew nodded and stretched his arms out to his dad. Booth took him from Brennan and gave him a hug.
"Look, I just want you two to stay inside for a while. You're not going to work tomorrow, Drew's not going to daycare and I'm going to stay here with you to make sure everything's okay."
"That is unnecessary, Booth!" Brennan's temper flared.
"Sergeant," Teddy interrupted them, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Yeah, Parker, just a second."
He waited for Teddy to give them some privacy again. He set Drew at their feet, leaving their son to look up to get a good angle at what was going on.
"I'm worried. What if this was who broke in?"
She laughed skeptically. "I doubt my father would be trying to kill Drew and I."
"I don't mean that. I mean whoever trashed our house. They were looking for something."
"Agent Booth," Teddy butt in again, "I need to talk to you."
"Agent Parker, can I have a minute with my wife?" Booth growled though his teeth.
"Be nice. I requested Teddy when I called it in. I knew they wouldn't allow you to work this," Brennan said.
Booth nodded. The hardened scowl on his face disappeared and he kissed her, sending up a silent prayer that whoever shot at her missed.
"I'll be right back. Stay here with Mom, Drew."
Despite his father's directions, Drew followed Booth over to where he was talking with Teddy.
"What, Parker?"
"You're off the case."
"I never worked this case, Teddy," Booth said.
"No, I mean the one you're working on. The one on Bren's parents."
"Absolutely not! I told her I'd find them and that's exactly what I'm going to do."
Teddy nodded. "Look, Director Kirby already told me it's my case. Now, I'm willing to let you help. Full participation. But I'm taking the lead on this one. You're too close. You need to take care of Bren and Drew."
Booth knew he wasn't going to budge. And as much as he hated it, he knew things were getting out of hand. Booth agreed and told Parker he'd meet him at the office the following afternoon after spending the morning with his family.
"I'm sorry, Sarge. Just take care of your family, okay?"
"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow, Parker."
It was a while before all of the FBI personnel finally left. Drew had fallen asleep early, worn out from the scare and the excitement around his home. Brennan slept through the night, but Booth could barely shut his eyes. He was worried. Worried they'd never find the Keenans. Worried for Drew. Worried for his wife's life.
When morning finally arrived, he made breakfast for Bren and Drew.
"Chocolate chip pancakes?" Bren questioned as she and Drew came down the stairs, step by step at the toddler's pace, "I don't know if he should be having sugar this early in the morning."
"He'll wear himself out and he'll take a long nap," Booth promised. She hugged him and they shared a long kiss that caused a few pancakes to be a little crispy on one side.
There was a knock on the door and Drew ran to the window to peek out at the front steps to get a look at their visitor.
"I'll get it," Brennan said, releasing herself from his arms.
"No! Stay away from the doors and windows!" He followed her to the front door, but she had already opened it.
"Hi, baby!" The man looked familiar, Bren knowing him from her past and Booth recognizing the similarities to a mug shot.
"Dad?"
