(The knight on the Grid)

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I don't own Bones.

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The taxi abruptly landing on its tires, Booth and Brennan were momentarily dazed and confused. Booth, frightened for Brennan, struggled to get out of the car by sliding out of the driver's side open window, falling to the ground below. Struggling to his feet, he staggered around the damaged car and over to the front passenger door. Reaching in, he unbuckled her seat belt and with her feeble help, pulled her through the window and out onto the street. Half carrying her to the curb, he helped her sit down and then fell on his butt, wincing as he did so.

Trying to calm his icy fear, he turned to look at Brennan, his eyes racing over her body trying to see if she was hurt or just stunned.

Brennan, aware of her surroundings felt a stabbing pain in her arm and her forehead. Looking down at her arm, she swallowed and shakily called out to Booth, "My arm."

His worry spiking, Booth got on his knees and pulled her left arm closer, trying to see what she was seeing. Spying a tooth sticking out of the gash on her arm, he carefully pulled it out and looked at it closely, "It's a tooth."

Carefully taking the tooth from Booth's hand, she looked at it, trying to understand why a tooth would be in her arm.

Glancing around, Booth shook his head, "Gormogon must have used teeth as part of the shrapnel in the bomb. He knew us moving his silver skeleton was a set up." Disgusted with the situation, Booth realized that Brennan had probably blown it with her bad acting at the Jeffersonian but there was no way he was going to mention it. He knew it would just lead to a fight and he didn't want to deal with it, not when Brennan was hurt and Gormogon was still on the loose.

Standing, he noticed a fire engine racing down the street toward him and several FBI agents converging on where he and his wife were now standing. His anger growing, Booth asked one of the approaching agents, "Did he get away?"

Agent Dodson, making a call on his phone, nodded his head, "Yeah. He didn't go anywhere near the truck. He dropped his bomb and then just drove away as fast as possible. His follow car couldn't keep up with him and lost him."

Kicking the damaged taxi next to him, Booth seethed with rage, "Damn it. Damn it all to hell." Glaring at the taxi, Booth suddenly made a realization, "Gormogon used this to try to get close enough to us to kill us, Bones. He knows that we know who his next victim is . . . the corruptor, he's going to go after Ray Porter." Running towards Agent Dodson's idling car, Booth called out to his partner, "Stay here let the paramedics look at your arm."

Alarmed that Booth was leaving without her, Brennan tried to stop him, "Booth, wait for me."

Ignoring her, Booth slid into the car and took off leaving everyone behind. Worried that Booth didn't have any backup, Brennan glared at Dodson, "Booth has gone to try to protect Ray Porter. You need to send someone over to Porter's house to backup Booth." The paramedics arriving beside Brennan voiced their concerns over the blood on her forehead and her arm. Shaking her head Brennan tried to downplay her injuries, "I'm fine . . . it's . . . I'm fine."

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After chasing Gormogon through the neighborhood, Booth was disgusted that the serial killer had escaped from him. Returning back to Porter's house to untie him, he found three FBI agents already there freeing the lobbyist from his bonds. Angry with the entire situation, Booth borrowed Agent Dodson's car again and drove back to the Hoover to try to coordinate the manhunt for the serial killer. Once he arrived at the Hoover, he paused long enough to call Brennan, "Hey, are you okay?"

I'm fine, Booth. I have a minor gash on my forehead, a few bruises on my chest where the seat belt held me . . . oh and the gash in my arm is not really serious. I did have to take a tetanus shot as a precaution. The techs are at the site of the explosion and they're collecting evidence. Hodgins called me and told me that it would appear that there were a lot of teeth in the bomb.

"Damn, Bones." His disgust coming to the surface, Booth sighed, "This serial killer is a damn freak. I almost had him, but he grabbed a child and dove into a swimming pool with the kid. I had to rescue the boy so Gormogon got away."

You didn't have a choice, Booth. You did the right thing. We'll get him. Sooner or later he's going to make a mistake and we're going to get him.

Calming down, Booth responded, "Yeah, we are. I think he's already made his big mistake. He went after us and now we have more evidence to look at it. Those teeth had to come from someone. We can use them to see if there is a link to this bastard."

Yes, we'll find out who the teeth belong to and that will move us one step closer to finding him. I . . . I'm going to be late coming home tonight. I have to go over to the prison to see how Russ is doing. When you arrested him, he blamed me and I need to make sure that he understands that you didn't have a choice arresting him and that this wasn't my fault either. I don't know what Max told him to get him to come back, but I will straighten this out.

Worried about her, Booth asked her, "Do you want me to go with you?"

No Booth. Let me handle this. I'll be alright.

"I love you, Bones. If you need me you let me know. You don't have to handle these things by yourself. I've got your back."

I know Booth. I love you too. Just work the case and I'll see you tonight.

Ooooooooooooooooo

Entering their house, Brennan smelled a heavenly aroma coming from the kitchen. Placing her bag down on the couch, she entered the room and found Booth setting the kitchen table with plates and flatware. Moving over to where he was standing, she placed her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

Concerned, Booth placed his arms around her, "It's okay, Bones. We're going through some weird shit, but it's okay."

Nodding her head, Brennan kissed him and then stepped back. Studying his face, she moved her hand to touch the bruises on his cheek and on his temple, "Are you alright? Did you have anyone look at you?"

Booth trying to down play his injuries, kissed her again and assured her, "Just bruised up that's all. Nothing serious. Did you talk to Russ?"

Walking over to the fridge, Brennan retrieved two bottles of beer and turned to face Booth. "Dad lied to Russ and told him that you wouldn't arrest him if he came back. I told Russ that you did what you had to do and that he shouldn't be angry with you or me. He wasn't happy with me but he understands that Max is responsible for his incarceration, not us." Carrying the beer over to Booth, she handed him one of the bottles, "I don't know what to do about Max, Booth. He lied to get Russ to come back and he created a small riff between us. He killed a man and he's going to go on trial and I . . . I don't know what to do. I don't understand Max at all. He lies . . . he's a murderer . . . he robbed banks . . . I don't understand him at all."

Taking the proffered beer bottle from her, Booth twisted off the cap and drank some of his beer. Thinking about his father-in-law, Booth sighed, "I don't have an answer for you Bones. Parents have secret lives, granted most parents don't have secrets like Max does, but . . . he is who he is. You have to just forgive him and accept him for who he is if you want to have a relationship with him. If you don't think you can do it then just walk away from him. It's up to you, but I wish you would just forget the past and let him be your father."

Curious, Brennan stared intently at Booth, "Why is it important to you that I forgive him Booth?"

Placing his beer bottle on the table, Booth took her bottle from her hand and placed it next to his. Stepping closer he placed his hands on her waist and stared intently at her. "Right now, I'm the only family you have. Just me. If you can forgive your father and brother then you'll have more than just me. I want you to . . . I love you, Bones, but you and I both know I have a dangerous job. If something were to happen to me, I'd like you to have family that you can trust to help you. I know you have Angela and she's a good friend. . . "

Fear flooding through her, Brennan threw her arms around him and pulled him closer against her, "Don't say things like that Booth. I know anything is possible, but you aren't leaving me."

Her trembling body a warning that he was treading on dangerous territory, Booth held her in his embrace and tried to assure her, "I'm not going to leave you, Bones. Not if I have any say in it. I just . . . I just . . . "

Her lips finding his, Brennan kissed him long and hard. After a little while, she separated from him and shook her head, "You and I are married. You promised me forever and I'm going to hold you to that promise. Do you understand? You are not allowed to die."

Smiling, Booth nodded his head, "I understand." Releasing her, Booth motioned for his partner to sit down, "Russ's parole hearing is tomorrow afternoon. I have a couple of ideas I'm working on to help him out. They may not pan out, but they're worth a shot."

Hungry, Brennan pointed at the stove, "Alright . . . do you need some help with dinner?"

His glance moving over to the stove, Booth checked his watch, "Nah, it's almost ready. Let me get the salad on the table and the casserole out of the oven and we'll be all set. Just relax it's all taken care of."

Feeling emotional after such a harrowing day, Brennan asked her husband, "Why are you so good to me?"

Puzzled, Booth leaned against the table and kissed her lightly on the lips, "Because it's not hard to do. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me and I want you to know that I love you."

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