Dear readers...we've got a lot going on in this very long chapter, but it will be worth the time it takes to read it. The bad guys are gonna be in trouble...

Booth made it back to the Hoover shortly after 11:00 and headed directly to his office, where Caroline was waiting impatiently for him. "Well?", he asked as he tossed his jacket on a chair and sat down behind his desk. "Did they get anything from the Croatians after they caught up with them?"

"Indeed they did. It seems those fellas had a lot to say. Your ASAC Chamberlain is with Aubrey's Agents Haggarty and Thompson at that bon de rein's house as we speak, with the search warrant from Judge Andrews. If they find what those Croatians said would be there, that Stephenson character is in a heap of trouble and I get to be the one who puts him away."

Caroline paused as her phone rang. "Tell me something I want to hear...oh really...bring them all to me, Agent Haggarty. We have that Stephenson fella for 72 hours. If there is anything good on those discs and we get his little friends to roll over, then we can talk to the piece of crap again. Thank you."

Looking up from his computer, Booth cocked an eyebrow at her. "Okay, spill it. What did Jill and Jerry find that has you wearing that 'gotcha' grin?"

"Videos...lots of them, and files containing lots of interesting information, along with several pictures found in his panic room. There's also a small room that may have been used for...certain unsavory things. While we wait for that group to bring those things back here to us, let's go over what our Easterns European buddies told us...and remember, they were nice enough to give us some 'special' videos, too."

"Sure. We can hold Craigie another..." Booth looked at his watch. "...50 hours or so. We have plenty of time to do some research."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Two hours later, Booth and Caroline, along with Agents Bower, Haggarty, Thompson, and Casper, exited a viewing room with expressions ranging from anger to nauseated. The US Attorney saw the group's exhaustion and called them to attention.

"Listen here. Y'all need to get yourselves together, people. I know what we just saw and read was vile and disgusting, but we have to get this piece of crap handled without our emotions getting in the way. Now, while Agent Booth and I talk to our Mouseketeers, each of you study your assigned areas from all that material we recovered from those Croatians and from Stephenson's house. I want all the dirt we can find so we can nail this son of a bitch for good."

After the group of agents left, Caroline and Booth gathered their folders together. "Ready, Cher?"

He nodded. "I am. Let's go"

Opening the door, the two entered the interrogation room where Andrea Clark sat with her attorney.

"My client has been inconvenienced enough, Agent Booth, especially with this forced trip to Washington. I expect both of us to be compensated for our driving expenses back to Morgantown when I get her out of here."

Caroline pretended to smile. "Actually, Ms. Clark, her husband, and her friends may be here longer than we first anticipated. Some more questions have come up in our...research."

Studying her nails, Andrea shrugged. "You have nothing on me. We didn't know anything about a drug ring, or the smuggling of computer parts. We're simply minority partners in a speculative venture. You should be talking to Mr. Thomas, who is the majority owner of the arena."

"Oh we did...and he's cooperating fully. Believe me, he couldn't wait to tell us everything he knows. It seems his name is on the arena's deed, but not by choice. Something about the mortgage on his business...that it had been bought out by Histavark and he was essentially given the choice of having his loan defaulted on or being the figurehead for Mountain View Arena Corporation." Booth shook his head in disgust. "You're a particularly nasty piece of work, Andrea."

The blonde's frosty demeanor didn't change. "Business is business…nobody got hurt in that arrangement, and he's made plenty of money on the deal..."

"How about these two DUIs you have?" Booth opened a file. "Wow...the second you blew a .19. You really like that fancy wine, don't you?"

Andrea shrugged as she glanced at the report. "Those incidents were over twenty years ago and both tickets were from overzealous state troopers. However, it was wrong to drive while intoxicated, and I've learned my lesson. I do still enjoy a glass of wine or two with dinner, but I haven't been pulled over in twenty years."

Booth continued to read through the file. "There was an accident in 1997 in Cheat Lake about a mile from your house. A young woman was run down and the suspected car was found in a ditch nearby. Luckily, an anonymous 911 call ensured the victim was found in time, although she now walks with a cane because her leg was crushed."

Andrea shook her head. "I had reported that my car stolen while I was out with my husband...I called the police before the trooper came to the door. They never found out who took my car. Of course, I felt responsible for the accident, so I've taken care of all her medical bills that weren't covered by her insurance. All that is in the report."

"We did see that information, but the report looked...altered." Caroline held up a sheet of paper. "When we talked to your friends, the Croatians, they were nice enough to give us this...the real accident report from June 12, 1997."

Clark's eyes widened, but she remained calm. "That's ridiculous…"

"According to this sheet of paper, which has the official seal affixed to it, when the WVSP trooper came to your door, you could barely stand up and were slurring your speech. He further wrote that he could smell alcohol on your breath, and you were holding a cloth to your temple."

"I fell down some steps outside my house. That's a fake report. You're trying to entrap me." She turned to her lawyer. "I want to sue them for slander."

Booth and Caroline laughed before the US Attorney spoke up again. "So somehow the Croatians got ahold of a fake police report and just had it sitting around for decoration? I don't think so, Cher'."

Booth closed the file and sat back in his chair. "Here's what I think. After that accident and your visit from the WVSP, you got your buddy Trooper Peters, I'm sorry, he's now Corporal Peters, to switch that report, because not only would you have lost your license if news of that accident had gotten out, but you would've been shunned in Morgantown society. In turn, you've used your connections to keep him moving up in the hierarchy to his current position, where he can keep your husband, the Attorney General for the state of West Virginia, abreast of any investigations that could cause your house of cards to tumble down."

Booth smiled as the woman turned white. "That's why you worked with them, isn't it? The Croatian mafia was blackmailing you..."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Twenty minutes later, the duo entered another interrogation room with Booth holding a cardboard box. "Mr. Winters…"

His female lawyer remained taciturn. "My client has nothing to say to you…he's very anxious to be with his wife and return home. It's been a long night."

"That's fine. He can just listen. That'll save time, since we have plenty to tell him." Caroline sat down and opened a file. "Monongala County DA election 1996...says here you won by .5% of the vote."

"Yes, it was close, but, of course, every vote helps in an election. It was the vigorous campaigning of my wife and our friends that helped me win, and it was my good work there that helped me win my election for Attorney General in 2012."

"Which you also barely won." Booth read from a file. "Back to that 1996 election. Says here there were issues with missing ballots from one of the voting stations. Rumor has it they were stolen by a poll worker…"

"An unsubstantiated rumor…my opponent was a sore loser."

Booth smirked as he opened the box and pulled out several ballots, watching the man turn a sickening pale color as the blood drained from his face. "Josip Dragovik provided these to us. He was keeping them as a sort of insurance policy to encourage your cooperation. Now, want to tell us how you became associated with the Drakulic crime family?"

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

John Higgins was sitting back laughing with his attorney as the two stern officials entered the room. "Agent Booth, it might behoove you to stop this stupid attempt to make an example out of me. I do know a lot of people-"

"You're a smug son of a bitch, aren't you?" Caroline leaned in before whipping out a photo of an African American woman standing with a young man. "Tell me about Edith Clark and her son Thomas."

Higgins looked like he was going to vomit. "W-where did you find those?"

"Josip Dragovik was nice enough to give us this picture of your mistress and your son to us, as well as an address to a house in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, that is in your name."

Caroline smiled as Higgins gulped visibly. "Now, tell me...why he would have these items and furthermore, why are you turning that sickening shade of pale green, Mr. Higgins? Was it something I just said?"

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Caroline set the files down in front of Alex Stephens and his attorney. "Payroll fraud...election fraud...insider trading...Josip Dragovik and his friends in the Croatian mob really have the goods on you, Alex."

Alex nodded slowly as he eyed the files. "Yeah, well...they went after Craig, too. He could never keep it in his pants when he wanted to get laid, and he picked the wrong bitch to sleep with. To make matters worse, they found out all this shit about us, which I can't understand because we all covered our tracks. To keep it quiet, they wanted us to help them get their drugs into the States and get cheap computer parts for their friends in the Russian Mafia."

"How do you think the Croatians found out about your little escapades?", Caroline asked.

Stephens sighed quietly. "I don't know...I really don't know…"

Booth looked at Caroline before turning to the man. "We know. We'll tell you all about it if you want, but then you'll tell me what we need to know about your cousin."

Alex Stephens looked up with irritation. "What did that whore get himself into this time?"

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Genny Shaw watched the numbers above the elevator door light up as they rose to the tenth floor. She felt the nervousness emanating from the man next to her, and hoped to lighten the mood. "Are you okay, Sweetie?"

Her husband swallowed hard before taking her hand. "I'm not happy that you're going to be involved in this…"

"It's part of my job. You know that." She ran her thumb over his knuckles. "Look, I know the last time we went to interrogate someone together, things went to Hell, but this guy is recovering from being shot in the abdomen and he's handcuffed to the bed. We know he doesn't have a weapon, and the floor is crawling with law enforcement personnel."

She paused as they left the elevator. "That's why Stark let me come. Normally, I'd be restricted from field work because of the pregnancy, but you're going to be the lead on this, and I'm going to be the back up, okay? I'll be there to make sure you don't take advantage of our suspect."

Hunter rolled his eyes as they walked down the hall. "Yeah, that's what I do, right? You know how us CPAs are...we're prone to deadly use of a calculator…"

"Trust me, Babe...when you meet this piece of shit, you'll want to use more than a calculator on him. I don't know how Aubrey dealt with him growing up."

After checking in at the nurses' station, they flashed their IDs at the agents standing guard by the door. Taking a deep breath, Genny gestured for her husband to enter the room. "After you, Agent Geren."

They walked in and found the room's occupant perusing a copy of the Wall Street Journal. Hunter cleared his throat to get the man's attention. "Mr. Aubrey, I'm Hunter Geren with the SEC. This is my associate, Agent Genevieve Shaw from the FBI. We need to talk to you about your involvement with Histavark and its overseas affiliates…"

Phillip Aubrey turned a jaded eye towards the agents before turning a page on the Journal. "What's the matter? Is my son too big of a wuss to confront his old man? The feds had to send some second rate agents to do his job, huh? Figures...I knew that boy would never amount to anything...wasting his life in the 'pursuit of justice' instead of using the brains I gave him to make some real money...what a self righteous little jackass..."

Taken aback by the venom in the man's voice, Hunter inhaled sharply before continuing. "The crimes you're accused of, sir, fall under the jurisdiction of the SEC as well as the FBI. You were convicted for your financial crimes, which is my territory. What I want to know now is how you were involved with Histavark and Maxco, and how that company is connected to CEP."

Phillip threw his paper aside and crossed his arms over his chest. "And why would I tell you that? If you're so good, figure it out yourself."

"Oh, I've got most of it figured out, alright." Hunter sat in a chair by the bed, crossing his long legs as he casually checked his nails. "Money was coming into your company hand over fist since you were selling computer parts on the sly to the bad guys. Those parts came from Histavark via their shell company Homco, which was a partnership between them and Maxco Enterprises, but they couldn't show a profit directly without raising suspicions and paying lots of taxes. The solution was simple...send the money back to Histavark via Maxco, for Maxco to invest...like they did with Pixler's Pig Out Palaces. They'd get a nice return on their investment, which could be put back into illegal drug manufacturing here in the States or more computer parts to sell overseas."

"How did you…" The older man was obviously stunned at Hunter's explanation. "Who squealed?"

Hunter merely shrugged as he regarded the man in front of him. "No one in particular. I was able to piece a lot of it together when we audited the books at Maxco. Once we informed Leonard Maxwell of what we suspected, he was a very cooperative CEO and was not happy to learn that Craig Stephenson ran a very sloppy accounting department."

"You're bluffing.", Phillip countered. "There's no way you could get through all the fail safes we had in place…"

"Oh, but I did...with the help of your son, FBI Special Agent James Aubrey. See, he knows how you think, Mr. Aubrey. He knows you're addicted to the thrill of trying to get away with breaking the law. Unfortunately, you didn't count on Stephenson ratting you out." Hunter nodded at Genny, who handed him a file. "It's all in here. We know how the racket worked, and we have enough to put you away even longer this time, but we may be able to help you out a bit."

Having lost all of his bravado, the elder Aubrey was visibly shaken. "I'm not telling you anything. I took a bullet for that rotten kid of mine and he's still working against me…so why would I assist you? What's in it for me? Are you two just trying to kiss the ass of my cowardly son? He's not man enough to face me, so he has to send his minions to do his dirty work...he's weak like his mother..."

Genny couldn't stand by as the old man insulted her boss...her friend. "Your son is a good man with a strong sense of integrity, something he obviously didn't inherit from you. He wanted to be here himself, but he's with his girlfriend Jessica, who was also injured yesterday because of your little friends, if you recall."

"I warned him about those redheads. She'll get tired of his Dudley Do Right routine eventually. I still don't get how my kid scored a cute Mensa genius like her...she's obviously got more balls than him, shooting Brinton like she did…"

Exhaling slowly, Genny managed to regain her self control. "If you cooperate with our investigation, we may be able to get you assigned to a medium security prison...not as plush as the accommodations you had at Hazelton, but…" She flicked her eyes towards her husband. "...if you choose to ignore Agent Geren's request, I'm thinking there might be a room for you at the SuperMax Federal Prison in Florence, Colorado. That's not a fun place to be...solitary confinement for 23 hours a day and no internet or phone access for twenty to thirty years might make a fella a bit unhappy…"

"But all that unpleasantness can be avoided, Phil...all you have to do is tell me what I want to know." Hunter sat back in his chair and shrugged, ignoring Philip's angry grunt. "Personally, I don't care where they put your sorry ass, but Agent Shaw is right. We might be able to work a deal, so tell me...who ordered the hit on Louis Vacchio?"

"It wasn't me…", the old man sputtered. "I was here in West Virginia. I didn't know about that chump until after he was dead. How the hell would I know who he was to put a hit on him?"

"Yeah, but you know who made the plans, right?" Seeing Phillip nod, Hunter pressed on. "Who was it?"

"If I tell you what I know, I want immunity from everything-", Phillip growled. Seeing Hunter not reacting, the man ran his fingers through his white hair. "It was Craig Stephenson, when some encouragement from the Drakulic boys. He was afraid that Vacchio was close to figuring out our system, which would cost us a fortune. I just wanted to bribe the guy, but Craig was afraid the guy was too honest to take it, so he had the poor sap killed by his own brother-in-law. I swear, I had nothing to do with that. I'll admit...I've done some other shit, but not that...you can't get me on that…"

"Thanks. We'll send someone around to take your statement shortly, and I'll put in a good word for you with the federal prosecutor." Rising from his seat, Hunter smoothed his jacket. "Do you have everything you need, Agent Shaw?"

"Yes, Agent Geren."

"So am I getting immunity or not? I saved an FBI agent's life."

"Is that why you're doing this?" Genny was furious. "For a reward? He's your son!"

"I know that, Sweetheart, but the bottom line is, I deserve to get something in return for my information. He's my flesh and blood...pain in the ass or not, and I don't want him dead, but he owes me for busting me and putting me in here."

Ignoring Philip's bellowing, the two walked out of the hospital room shaking their heads. As they arrived at the elevator, Genny glanced at Hunter. "What do you think? Is he telling the truth?"

"Yeah, I think so. I've dealt with his kind before, you know? They're like high stakes gamblers...in it for the thrill and to make oodles of money, but not out for blood. They rarely kill in their 'line of work'. I think it was that Craig guy who ordered the hit, but we'll have to get the FBI to prove it for us. At least we know approximately how it went down, and I'll be able to give Mrs. Vacchio some sort of closure."

"Ms. Julian is still going to nail his ass to the wall for Aubrey and Jessica, though. Yeah, he took a bullet for his son, but there wouldn't have been a bullet in the first place if he hadn't played with the wrong people." Pushing the elevator button, Genny could sense that her husband was upset. "What's wrong, Honey? We're going to get justice for Vacchio, closure for his widow, and both Phil and Craig are going to pay for their crimes. That's probably the best outcome we could hope for considering the circumstances..."

As they stepped into the elevator, Hunter shook his head dejectedly. "I know...it's just...I mean, I can't believe that any asshole would talk about his own son the way he talked about Aubrey, you know? I've only had Danny in my life since last fall, and I cherish him like he's my own flesh and blood...but this clown...he acts like he's disgusted that his own son is related to him. I can't imagine how Aubrey must feel, knowing that his own father despises him like that…"

"And yet, Aubrey turned out well. His mother did an amazing job of raising him, right? Besides, he's got Jessica and they'll be alright.", Genny said as they rode the elevator down to the ground level. Taking Hunter's hand, she smiled. "Our son has an amazing father...he's a lucky little boy."

Hunter couldn't help but grin as he reached down to give Genny a kiss. "He's not nearly as lucky as I am…." Putting his hand on Genny's abdomen, he smiled again. "Definitely not as lucky as I am."

oooooooooo

It was early afternoon when Craig Stephenson and his lawyer were led into a small interrogation room at the Hoover by an agent. Confident that he had all the answers, Craig wore a smug expression as he settled at the table.

"Piece of cake." He turned to his lawyer and grinned. "I mean it, Dave. They've got nothing on me. We'll be out of here in no time. You'll see."

Unconvinced, David Trumble looked at the arrest warrant again. "Don't get too comfortable, Craig. Things may become really complicated if we're not careful…just keep your damn mouth shut, okay? Now, is there anything I need to know?"

Trumble was interrupted by the door opening abruptly, and two grim people seated themselves on the opposite side of the table. After clearing her throat loudly, the woman greeted them. "Good afternoon, Mr. Stephenson...David Trumble, it's been a while…"

"Yes, the Marshall case about five years ago…"

Caroline sat back and nodded at the man next to her. "Forgive my manners. This is Agent Steve Bower. Do you have the file, Agent Bower?"

"Yes, ma'am." Steve handed a thick folder to Ms. Julian. "It's all in there."

"Good." Caroline pursed her lips in disgust as she skimmed through the pages. "My, oh my, you're quite the nasty padoo, aren't you, Mr. Stephenson? And a busy one, too."

"My client is innocent of those money laundering charges, Ms. Julian.", Mr. Trumble sputtered. "He doesn't know anything about that sort of thing. The company he works for is run by several unsavory characters who are higher up the food chain. Leonard Maxwell is merely continuing what his father started. They are his superiors...he was merely following orders."

Caroline scoffed softly as she shook her head. "That's all well and good, but, you see, I'm not really too concerned about what went on at that company. I figure that's somethin' for the RICO agents and the SEC to handle. I'm afraid we've got somethin' a lot more serious to discuss."

Stephenson went pale. "Serious things? I don't know what you're talking about…"

Trumble held his hand up to quiet his client. "Let me handle this, Craig…"

Ms. Julian sat back in her chair, smiling faintly at the man's protests. She was going to enjoy this one. Taking a page out of the file, she pointed to it. "Well, for starters, Mr. Stephenson, you broke into Ms. Warren's hotel room with the intent of sexual assault…"

"I did no such thing! I was just being friendly." Craig brushed his attorney's hand from his arm. "I can't help it if she took it the wrong way…"

"So showing up uninvited and in the nude in her hotel room after getting her roommate out of the way in is just your way of being friendly? I'm glad I'm not your friend." Caroline focused on the file in front of her. "However, the truth is that the assault charges are small potatoes. I've got much bigger fish to fry...like conspiracy to commit murder. You know, those kinds of charges can get you in a lot of trouble…"

"You have no proof of any conspiracy! You're bluffing!", Craig said frantically. "I did no such thing."

"Oh, so you didn't order your friend the late, unlamented Lawrence Brinton to murder Agent James Aubrey, Jessica Warren, and Philip Aubrey yesterday at the Mountain View Arena in Morgantown, West Virginia?" Seeing Craig sputter, Caroline smiled. "That's what I thought had happened…we have eyewitnesses, you know..." She paused as Booth entered the room.

"Agent Booth, do you have that information we needed?", Caroline asked in her best lawyer tone.

"Right here." He pulled up another chair as Bower moved out of the way. "You picked the wrong people to trust, Craigie. Those Croatian guys from the Drakulic crime family sure like to talk, and since they're leaving the country under diplomatic immunity, they were bragging about everything they'd done while they were here. Agent Dingle managed to get statements from your buddies Josip Dragovic and Ivan Horvat…"

"You're lying!" Craig leapt out of his chair wildly. "You've got nothing…besides I didn't kill Larry. It was that little slut Jessica Gordon...or whatever the hell her last name is."

"Because he was going to kill them on your orders. It'll all in this statement, Craigie." Booth spread papers out on the table so Mr. Trumble could see them. "Those guys think they're untouchable, you know? They don't give a rat's ass about taking you down, Stephenson. They're on a plane for home, and they won't give you a second thought because there's always someone else to make a sucker in their schemes."

Pointing to the pages, he continued. "It says here that, according to them, you put a hit out on myself and Agent Aubrey, and also on your former girlfriend, Alma Nelson. That's three counts of conspiracy to commit murder. Then ordering Brinton to murder Aubrey, Ms. Warren, and Philip Aubrey as he lay dying from a gunshot wound...damn, that's six counts."

"That's certainly interesting, Agent Booth." Caroline pretended to be surprised. "Conviction on conspiracy to murder a federal agent comes with a life sentence, including Ms. Warren, since she was an FBI contractor...and conspiracy on Ms. Nelson could get a body thirty years…you're a naughty boy, Craig."

"By the way, Craigie, Alma had a lot to say about you and some of your...financial dealings on behalf of Maxco...including things unknown to Harold and Leonard Maxwell.." Booth paused as he read further through the file. "Oh, and you've been implicated as conspiring in the death of a West Virginia State Police Officer, Michaela Reedson. Unfortunately for her, your friend Ivan, at your behest, enlisted some goons to take her out permanently, and they were successful."

"Hmm…murdering a police officer", Bower mused to nobody in particular. "That's a life sentence because West Virginia doesn't have the death penalty…"

Booth held up a finger to interrupt. "But, remember, Agent Bower...they dumped her remains in Virginia. Now, crossing state lines in the commission of a crime...that falls under FBI jurisdiction."

"...and that sort of murder qualifies for the death penalty.", Caroline replied with a sneer. "Why Craig, you're looking awfully pale…"

"You can't give me the death penalty!", Craig said desperately. "I'm a Canadian! You have to extradite me back home."

"You were naturalized as a US citizen on August 10, 1987...right here in Washington, DC. Once you renounced your Canadian citizenship, we could do whatever we want to you." Caroline smiled. "Try again, you little couillon."

Booth shifted in his seat as he glanced at a page in the file. "Here's something else you might be interested in, Ms. Julian. When Agent Dingle questioned Josip, the guy painted an unflattering picture of our buddy Craig."

Handing her the file, he continued. "It seems Craig was the one who pressured Vinnie Sipolleti, a part time hit man with the Corzone crime family when he wasn't working at Histavark, into murdering Louis Vacchio. Apparently Vacchio was getting too close to Craig's side ventures at Maxco, and it was making certain people nervous. Vinnie was in deep shit with the Croatians...he'd had some flings with a couple of underage girls provided by the Drakulic organization as well as fooling around with Mia Corzone…"

"Granddaughter of his boss, Angel Corzone…rumor has it he doesn't like it when the Croatians try to move in on his turf..."

"Yes, that's the one. Craig blackmailed Vinnie into taking out his own brother-in-law. Seems he was hesitant to do the job, but then our friend here said the Croatians would take out his sister, Vacchio's wife, if he didn't do it. Either way he went, the poor fella was screwed."

Bower suddenly interrupted. "What about that guy that tipped off Agent Aubrey about his father? The one who shot at Agent Shaw and her husband?"

Booth tapped the file in front of him. "Yeah, Craig threatened him in order to keep his mouth shut, but his conscience got to him. He got spooked when Agents Shaw and Geren visited him, much like Vinnie did when Aubrey and I confronted him about killing Vacchio."

"Hmm...arranging the murder of an SEC employee...that's another life sentence." Caroline raised an eyebrow at Trumble. "You sure you want this case, Dave?"

"You're bluffing.", Craig barked as a bead of sweat formed on his temple. "Josip wouldn't tell you that shit. He and I were partners."

"Oh...I almost forgot." Booth licked his lips in anticipation as he pulled some papers and photos from his jacket pocket. "Mr. Stephenson also appears to be involved in some child pornography. Agents Thompson and Haggarty found some videos of Craig enjoying some nasty play time with a couple of underaged boys and girls in his sex room...I mean, his panic room at his house in Alexandria…."

"That's...that's not me…", Craig stuttered. "I...it's not…I'm not into men...or kids..."

Booth opened up a tablet and played a video. "Oh, so that's not you in this video? This is obviously you forcing this teenage boy to perform fellatio on you, right?" He stopped it and found another one, this time featuring a young girl who was crying out in pain. "This isn't you raping an underage girl on the couch?"

"There was also one of a boy no older than fourteen you had handcuffed while you raped him, you sick bastard." Bower growled.

Booth cued up one more video and showed it to Craig. "Josip was really happy to show me this one. It's you with another curler from the bonspiel Sunday afternoon, who also happened to be his cousin Tomas. See, that's you getting a blow job from him...and now you lift him up and bend him over on that desk and screw him. You may like the young ladies, Craig, but you also like young boys…that will make you a popular boy in prison until they find out just how young you like them."

He glanced at Bower, who looked like he might vomit. "We found all your little videos today and, unfortunately, we had to watch all of them. You're in every single one, Craig."

"That's a fake. I was framed!"

"By who, Craig?", Booth asked as he turned to his partners. "My guess is Josip initially lured you in with jailbait and then initially blackmailed you as leverage but since he doesn't need you anymore…"

Caroline's face was scrunched up in horror as she caught sight of the videos. "Good Lord...you really are a filthy couillon." Scribbling some notes on a legal pad, she did some quick calculations. "Let's see here ...assaulting two federal agents...that's a year and a 100,000 dollar fine each...aggravated assault against Ms. Warren...5 years…attempting to arrange the murders of Booth and Aubrey...two life sentences, and thirty years for Ms. Nelson...a life sentence for Vacchio...and possibly a death sentence for Officer Reedson."

She cast a cold stare at Stephenson. "Add child pornography and multiple counts of sexual assault on a minor to the mix, and you'll never see the outside of a prison wall again."

Craig shrank back into his chair, appearing to practically deflate as he realized the Croatians had left him to take the brunt of the charges. "Surely ,we can work out a deal, right? I mean, I know things...about Histavark and Maxco... about money laundering…how they sold drugs and bootleg computer parts...and the human trafficking...Alex, Andrea, John, and Harold were really into it from the beginning and they dragged me along. Philip worked with us too along with Brinton."

"All of them, huh? And you were just the poor guy forced to go along." Booth scratched his chin. "That's interesting, because when we talked to your friends Clark, Winters, Higgins, and your cousin, they all said they didn't know these scummy clowns until after you'd introduced Josip to them. They didn't want to be associated with your friend, but when he found out information about them that would ruin them if it got out, they had no choice."

"Very interesting how each of them got blackmailed to participate…", Bower mused. "Wonder who gave that Josip guy the goods?"

"They got all of us!", Craig said desperately. "It wasn't my idea…"

"You know, Harold Maxwell was a pig and an asshole, but never did he seem stupid enough to let himself get blackmailed by mobsters." Booth crossed his arms and stared at Stephenson. "I couldn't figure out how he got involved...until we found this at your house today."

Bower found another video and played it. It showed a woman being choked during rough sex by a young man revealed to be Gerald Maxwell. Stopping the video, the federal authorities turned to Craig and his lawyer, both of whom looked ashen.

"They got to Harry through his disgusting son, didn't they? He could have been stopped years ago and Harry is the one who covered it up, but tell me, Craig...how did the Croatians get this video and find out about all your other friends? Gerald wasn't going to pick up just any woman off the streets to live his perverted fantasies on."

"I don't know, Agent. Gerald never had any self control. They wanted us on their side, and were determined to get us to assist them even when we refused them. We had no choice."

Caroline smiled faintly. "No, you had a choice. A person always has a choice."

"Everyone covered their tracks very well, but the Croatians still found out, didn't they?" Booth smiled. "You see, there's only one way they could've found out all this stuff on your friends...because you...and probably Philip Aubrey with the help of his fixer Frank Kwiakowski...sold out your friends."

Craig's eyes widened but he held steady to his denials. "You're full of it. Why would I do that to my friends? My cousin...he's family. His uncle sponsored me coming to the US."

Booth shrugged nonchalantly. "Because they all grew up with something you didn't...money."

Caroline pursed her lips as she studied Stephenson. "You didn't have two beans to rub together up in Canada, did you? You came here on your uncle's dime, jealous of everything your cousin had growing up. Then you met his friends and resented them as well...oh they were your friends, but they were also snobs who grew up in the lap of luxury."

"You met Philip Aubrey while attending Baruch College and found a kindred spirit.", Booth added. "You two were always the odd men out but you rolled with the punches. Josip lured you in...and probably Philip Aubrey, too, with the promise of all the different kinds of sex you could handle from his stable of workers, and then, when he had you trapped, he made do his bidding or he would out you as the pervert you are, so you sold out your friends."

"That is ridiculous…"

Booth chuckled. "But after a while, you enjoyed being part of the Croatians' group, didn't you? You got one over on your friends and enjoyed the power you had from having one over on them, especially your cousin Alex. However, it came back to bite you on the ass, right? That's what happens when you play with fire.

"I agree with Agent Booth. Philip Aubrey was in it with you in the beginning in some way. If he's slimy enough to try conning his son out of money, he'd play with you and those criminals without a second thought." Caroline shrugged at Craig. "Aubrey Senior messed up when he was ripping off his clients, but you were able to get him out of the country to run CEP."

"But you didn't trust him to not sell you out to save his ass.", Booth joined in. "You got to him early and appealed to his sense of greed and arrogance. You conned him into thinking he was getting off on all the charges related to his illegal financial schemes."

"When he was found guilty, you knew you had to get him out of the country to keep him quiet, so you arranged for his escape to Clarksburg, where he could take a car to Dulles Airport with a fake passport and money so he could skip the country before he could be found.". Bower said angrily. "The bastard left his wife and kid behind broke and holding the bag."

Wrinkling her nose in disgust, Caroline puffed out a loud sigh. "Too bad the statute of limitations on the accessory to an escape after the fact charge has run out, but I have enough on you to make sure you rot in a prison where they don't like child molestors. I'm sure y'all will have a grand time in the showers looking for the soap..."

Craig stood up, even more desperate as he began to pace the room. "But I've got contacts...names...I can help you nail the Croatians…"

"They had diplomatic immunity, remember?", Bower yelled. "That means-"

Caroline put her hand on Bower's arm to stop his angry tirade. "I'll have to see what information you're willing to offer us." Gathering her belongings, she stood up and shook her head slightly. "I'll send someone in here to take your statement..." Nodding at Bower and Booth, she turned toward the door. "Goodbye, Mr. Trumble."

The agents followed her out into the hallway, trying to keep their emotions in check as they heard Stephenson railing at his lawyer. Bower turned to Caroline. "Are we really going to cut a deal with that perverted piece of shit? Those things he did to those teenagers...he needs to rot in hell."

"No, but I'm curious to see what he gives us, but it's probably dirt we already have. However, I'm going to enjoy letting him squirm for a while. If I have anything to do with it, he's still going away for a very long time."

As Bower relaxed, Booth cleared his throat. "Do you really think you can get all those charges to stick?"

"We'll be able to get the assault charges to stick...and maybe the murder of Louis Vacchio. Unfortunately, the Croatians might not be seen as reliable witnesses by a jury. I'll have to work on that angle a bit. Either way, we've got enough to put him away for years, and he'll be anxious to squeal on his compadres. I figure that'll have to do for now."

Slightly disappointed, Booth sighed. "Yeah...I guess so." He glanced at his watch. "I need to go make a phone call. Call me when you get Craig's deposition."

"You got it, Cher'." Shuddering slightly, Caroline scowled as she walked away from the interrogation room. "I gotta get outta here. I need a hot bath and a bottle of bourbon to calm my nerves…" She narrowed her eyes at Bower's sly chuckle. "Don't get any ideas, Cher'. I'd be way too much for you to handle. Now get your scrawny ass back to work."

"Yes ma'am." Thoroughly embarrassed, Bower slunk back to the bullpen. Laughing to herself, Caroline nodded as she got on the elevator. Smoothing her dress over her hips, she smiled. "You've still got it, Miss Caroline...you've still got it."

oooooooooo

When Booth arrived at his office, his phone buzzed with a message from Aubrey. Jess is alright. We're home now.

"Thank God for that." Relaxing a bit, Booth sat down and made a phone call. "Yes...this is Special Agent in Charge Seeley Booth with the FBI. I need to speak to Alex Radziwell...no, I cannot leave a message and I cannot wait to have him call me back. I need to speak with him right now...yes, I'll hold for a few minutes…" Grimacing as the canned music began to play over the speaker, he drummed his fingers loudly on the desk as he waited. He wanted this taken care of today...

"Hello? Booth, listen...I know you're upset about those goddamned Croatians, but…"

"Yeah, I know, Alex...somehow they have diplomatic immunity and there's no extradition treaty between Croatia and the US. I get that. I mean, it sucks, but…I know there's nothing we can do about it."

Sounding surprised, Radziwell paused. "So...if you're not trying to bust my balls over the deal, why all the rush-rush on the phone call? My assistant dragged me out of an important meeting to talk to you..."

"Because, whether you know it or not, we're in a time crunch. I know those two jokers are on a plane home, but I have some information that the Croatian government might be interested in, and I want you to get their ambassador on the phone and fill him in so maybe they can arrange a surprise welcome home party for them."

Alex sighed dramatically. "What sort of information could you possibly have that will make a difference, Booth?"

"Those guys knew they had immunity from prosecution here, so they were bragging to an FBI agent about being part of the Drakulic crime family back home. It seems that not only do they use their positions at the US embassy to carry out all sorts of criminal activity here, but the family is working their way into the government over there, too. I guess they've blackmailed a couple of members of the Croatian Parliament into getting laws passed...my agent has a recording of the whole interview, okay? They run prostitution rings and money laundering set ups all ovder that country, too, and certain government officials are being paid to look the other way..."

There was silence on the other end of the call for a few seconds, followed by loud laughter. "So you want me to send that recording to the Ambassador? How do we know he isn't compromised as well?"

"We don't...but either way we win, okay? If he's a good guy, he'll arrange for those guys to get picked up by the law. If he's not…"

"Then he'll have his own guys pick up those bastards for bragging about their operations." Alex laughed again. "I like the way you think, Booth. I'm glad you're on our side. Send the recording over here as quick as you can. I'll put in a call to the Croatian State Department."

"Thanks, Alex. I knew you'd help me out. Talk to you later." Booth ended the call, satisfied that he'd had a hand in getting justice for those that had been injured by Josip and Ivan. Things were finally going to be wrapped up…

He sighed softly as he turned to his computer. There were still a couple of loose threads dangling, but they'd be tied up soon enough. It was time to head home.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

At the Mighty Hut, it was quiet as Skinner napped on the back of the couch, the cushions scattered haphazardly across the furniture and floor. A broken lamp lay in pieces nearby. Starting from the front door, a trail of damp coats, jeans, haphazardly tossed boxer shorts, and torn underwear stopped at the couch. A second trail of shirts, socks, and a bra led from the kitchen and ended at the foot of the bed in the downstairs bedroom nearby as the rain came down in a downpour outside.

Inside the bedroom, a couple napped contentedly on the bed, wrapped around each other under the covers. Just then, Jessica woke up with a sleepy smile and stretched while enjoying the cocoon of Aubrey's arm around her. Spotting her engagement ring, she smiled again as she admired the beautiful heirloom. Some would ask why she didn't have a large diamond instead, but she preferred the ruby ring on her left hand. Aubrey made a comfortable salary as a SAC, but no way would he be able to afford a rock like Daisy had gotten from Beau.

But she didn't want one, either. She never understood the need of some to show off with gauche jewelry and loud bragging, like her mother did. The intern had no doubt her mother would have something to say about her ring, but for now, she didn't give a damn. Deciding to nap a little longer, she was surprised to see Aubrey watching her.

"James Aubrey, are you staring at me?"

Pulling her closer to him, he took a second to admire his great-great grandmother's ring on Jessica's left hand. "I am. Not only are you my best friend, but one day, you'll be my wife."

"And you'll be my husband." Jessica chuckled as she glanced around the room. "We didn't make it upstairs…"

"Because we needed to celebrate, Jessica. It's not everyday we get engaged and we were wet. Body heat is always best."

The intern laughed again. "So that's why you practically ripped my wet jeans off when we walked in the front door?"

Aubrey remembered the two removing pants and underwear off each other before collapsing on the sofa for a rather energetic round. "Hell yeah...and the couch was closer."

Jessica laughed. "But we broke the floor lamp."

"We did…" Aubrey felt where Jessica's stitches were. "How's your head?"

"Fine, Aubrey. Please relax." Jessica cuddled closer. "Then we tried to have a snack in the kitchen…"

"…and then my horny fiancée pushed me into the bedroom while taking the rest of our inconvenient clothes off and shoved me on the bed, knocking the bedside lamp over here, too." Aubrey combed Jessica's hair from her forehead. "That is so hot."

"How's my lamp?"

Aubrey turned over and saw the broken appliance on the floor. Turning back, he held her close and nibbled her neck. "Your lamp is broken, Jess."

Jessica wrapped her arm around Aubrey. "We can buy another one…or ask one as a wedding present...", she purred.

"Two of them." Aubrey chuckled. "My fiancée is amazing… "

Jessica lifted her head up and kissed him. "We're getting married, Superman."

"I know…but this doesn't change things."

"We're still making love every Sunday morning…and maybe afternoon…", Jessica said.

"We're still having naughty food sex sometimes…just because we're married doesn't mean we can't still have fun…"

"We're still going to do cosplay with our Han Solo and Leia costumes...and whatever else strikes our fancy." Jessica said.

"We're also still going to science fiction conventions and stuff, too, Jess. Marriage isn't going to make us boring."

"I don't want to change my name, Aubrey." Jessica exhaled. "It's not that I don't want to be Jessica Aubrey but it's just a pain in the ass, but maybe someday we can discuss me going by Jessica Warren-Aubrey-"

Aubrey chuckled. "I don't give a shit. Whether you're Jessica Warren, Jessica Aubrey, or Jessica Warren-Aubrey, we're still married. If someone doesn't like it, they can kiss our butts. Our kids will be Aubreys though."

"I think that's acceptable." Jessica rubbed his chest as she contemplated what she wanted to say. "I'm a little scared, Aubrey. Marriage is...it's a big step, you know…"

A pit growing in his gut, the agent forced himself to remain calm. "Do you want to postpone the engagement? I mean, if you're not ready-"

"Aubrey, I may never be truly ready, but I'm ready to be with you. The only thing that will change is that we'll have a license saying we're legally bound to each other. We will go on each other's health insurance...be on each other's bank accounts for an emergency...but no major changes. We'll still live in the same house...still raise Skinner...do laundry every Sunday...groceries every Saturday. Yes, it's a big step and I'm scared, but…"

"I have some things I need to say, Jess, and you need to let me finish, alright?" When his fiancee nodded, Aubrey continued. "I want you to get your PhD and I'll do whatever I need to do to ensure you do that, married or not. I know some people might wonder if I want you to quit school, but I want you to succeed…"

Jessica shook her head. "I know that, Aubrey."

"We're not moving out of DC until you graduate. If...you get an amazing offer away from DC, we're going. I can always transfer to another FBI office, demotion or not."

Jessica grew uneasy as the discussion moved forward. "Okay...but we have time…"

"I know we've discussed children here and there, but I'm alright with waiting until after you get your degree." Aubrey rubbed her back. "I don't want our marriage to take away from all that you've worked for. If we...get a surprise...then we'll still find a way for you to graduate. I don't want you to think you have to drop out and be a full time mom or give up your dreams just because we're married."

"Aubrey, I plan to graduate, just like I did when we started living together. I'm all for waiting until I get my PhD to try having a family, too. We will just be careful and whatever happens, I know we'll work it out." Jessica didn't understand the conversation. "Aubrey, why are you bringing all this up now?"

The lanky man took a breath. "I just don't want you to resent me or resent getting married. I mean...when I first told you how I felt, you panicked. Then we avoided the subject until I got the LA offer, and then I avoided you...I don't want you to feel like I'm pushing you...I know you're a free spirit about this stuff like Dr. B, while I'm like Booth..."

Jessica felt ashamed as she remembered that night in front of the Metro stop. "I was such an idiot, Aubrey...we both were. That's in the past, though. We're getting married, James Aubrey. This will be an equal partnership and whatever comes our way, being a job offer, children, or whatever, we'll talk it out and come up with a solution. While we'll have our bad times, our good times will make those times worthwhile."

The agent exhaled before his finger lifted her chin slightly so he could look into her lovely green eyes. "You sound pretty sure of that."

"I'm a genius scientist, James Aubrey. Duh.", Jessica joked before kissing Aubrey. Slowly they settled back into bed to make love again until the doorbell was heard. "Shit! Who's that?"

Not happy at the interruption, Aubrey sat up. "Not sure. Were you expecting anyone?"

"No. My family knew I was coming home today, but they were going to call me tomorrow so I could get some rest."

"Well, I'll go answer the door." Aubrey got out of the bed naked and made a realization. "Shit, our clothes were wet and all over the floor…"

"My panties are sitting next to your boxer shorts." A nude Jessica hopped out of bed and trotted out of the room. "I'll pick up the clothes. You have some clean jeans in the laundry room."

As his fiancee picked up their wet clothes, Aubrey ran out of the laundry room, stopping to step into his jeans. Hearing the doorbell ring again, he yelled. "Keep your shorts on, I'm coming."

After Jessica grabbed their clothes and the coast was clear, Aubrey came to the door and when he checked the video monitor he was relieved to see it was Booth on the porch. "Hey Booth, what's up?"

The older man took in his friend's disheveled hair and lack of shirt and chuckled. "Well, I wanted to check on you and Jessica before heading home this afternoon, but it seems you're both alright…and you're having a little celebration."

"Um…no...we were just taking a nap..."

"Come off it, Aubrey. I see your broken floor lamp over there, the cushions on the couch are all haphazardly tossed, and your SUV isn't even in the garage."

"Oh that...yeah…well, Skinner was hungry..."

"Whatever. Either you both are super horny after working a case...or you're engaged." Seeing Aubrey's eyes widen in surprise, Booth chuckled. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Don't worry...I'll let you tell everyone else. Just be prepared for Angela...she's going to want to throw a bridal shower for Jessica...and maybe even an engagement party."

"We don't need a damn engagement party…"

"Well, stand strong with Hurricane Angela." Booth leaned in the doorway. "Hi, Jessica. Congratulations on the engagement."

"Hi Booth, and thank you.", Jessica yelled from the back hallway. "You can tell Dr. B if you want. I'm sorry I can't come out and greet you."

"That's fine." Booth hugged his friend. "Kidding aside, congratulations."

"Thanks, Booth." Aubrey smiled broadly. "Think everyone will want to meet up at Founding Fathers' later tonight? I figure we can tell everyone at once."

"Sounds good. I'll call everyone. That way you can let her family know and Jessica can put some clothes on."

Jessica laughed from the back hallway as Aubrey turned beet red. "See you later tonight. Bye Booth." Shutting the door, Aubrey turned around. "Jess, you can come out now."

"Cool…" Jessica stepped out naked into the hallway, smiling at Aubrey's excitement. "I didn't see the need to get dressed. We'll have to do something about your jeans, though."

The agent walked up to her and threw her into a fireman's carry to her noisy squeals. "Good thinking, Jess."

"We should go tell my dad in person before calling my brothers."

"We can do that a little later." Aubrey lightly smacked his fiancee's rear end before walking her into the downstairs bathroom. "Right now, we need to get dirty and clean in the shower. Later on tonight, we'll break in your bed in the guest room."

"Maybe we can play tutor and student…" Jessica's laughter filled the halls as the couple celebrated their engagement once again.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

At 7:00, everyone gathered at their usual area at Founding Fathers. Hodgins grabbed his beer and sipped it before continuing. "So, Craig Stephenson started all of this, huh?"

Booth nodded. "Yeah. He enjoyed the benefits of luxury he got from being friends with Higgins, Clark, her husband, and his cousin, but he was also jealous of all of them since he grew up poor. Craig, who created the persona of a 'ladies man', also liked to play with teenage boys and girls provided to him by his friends in the Croatian Mafia. When they needed help in getting their drugs into this country and cheap computer parts to Croatia, they told Craig to either get them some help or they would reveal his private life."

"But his friends weren't that stupid, so Craig gave his Croatian friends tidbits to blackmail his local friends with and acted like he was being blackmailed as well to throw suspicion off himself.", Caroline chimed in, before chewing on a potato skin. "And being the bastard he is, he agreed.

"But Harold Maxwell didn't have anything to use against him, right?", Angela asked. "He was pretty careful…"

"Nope." Booth shrugged as he sipped his beer. "He was an adulterer, but his wife knew about it. She didn't care as long as he brought home the bacon. Craig knew about Gerald's perversions with women, so with the Croatians' help, they got Gerald on tape attempting to strangle one of their sex workers and doing other perverse shit that would destroy the family's reputation if it got out."

"My dad was friends with them and usually worked with Craig on the side in this stuff when he wasn't ripping his clients off, right?", Aubrey asked quietly.

Genny nodded as she sipped on ginger ale. "Craig and your dad used Frank Kwiakowski and the Croatians to trap their friends in this game. According to your dad's statement, it's also how he got his blackmail material for a couple of clients back in the day."

"Of course, my dad caused a wrinkle when he was arrested for securities fraud, but Craig fixed things so he could run to Croatia and salvage their operation." Aubrey grimaced as he sipped his beer again. "After my dad sneaked back into the US and I turned him in, Higgins used his connections to get him transferred to Hazelton…"

"Where Warden Brinton, who was already working with these guys by providing cheap labor at the arena, gave him privileges so he could run CEP from prison.", Jessica finished.

"They covered their tracks well, but when Louis Vacchio came sniffing around caused Craig to panic.", Booth said. "When Aubrey and I visited his dad in November, Aubrey Sr and Brinton knew they had to get us off the trail, so after consulting Craig, Brinton had Aubrey's dad enough information to sell out Sippoletti, who later killed himself with suicide by cop in an attempt to protect his sister again."

"With that case closed, they all thought it was over, it seems." Cam sipped her wine as she thought things over. "Boy, were they wrong.".

"Yep, all because Harold Maxwell died suddenly. An IRS agent conducting a routine audit of his estate and businesses saw some hinky things and brought them to Hunter's attention, who then came to Booth and me." Aubrey picked at the label on his beer bottle. "Of course, that Rivera woman was Craig's spy and when she revealed our investigation, the group tried bribing all of us, probably still spooked because of that West Virginia trooper and Vacchio to get us away from the case."

"But we weren't easily swayed by bogus job offers. That would explain Mr. Higgins' subtle threat to me at the luncheon I attended with Cam a few weeks earlier." Brennan nodded as she sipped her wine.

"Hunter spotted that curling team recruiting calendar which brought us to the arena…"

"Which they had under that Mr. Thomas's name by threatening him with calling in his mortgage and ruining in financially.", Caroline explained. "He heard rumors about the drug ring, but he was afraid of what would happen to him, so last year, he called in an anonymous tip to the State Police…"

"Which brought Trooper Reedson in undercover to Maxco and their curling team. Corporal Peters, Todd Winters' buddy in the State Police, got wind of the operation and let Todd know. Todd told his friends, including Craig, who let the Croatians know and they got her right after the bonspiel because he wanted her to compete before he got her killed."

"What an asshole.", Angela said. "Think Craig's friends knew they were going to kill her?"

"No, we don't." Booth sighed. "Craig had them convinced that Corporal Peters pulled her from the case and that her murder was unrelated."

"Or maybe they didn't want to see it.", Hodgins said.

"Yeah." Caroline sat back in her seat and shrugged. "We gave them immunity on the murder of Trooper Reedson and the charges related to the drug and the computer part smuggling…"

"But we're still nailing them on the payroll fraud with their scheme of using prisoners as workers at the arena and any illegal activities they were being blackmailed with. They weren't happy, but given a choice between a few years and life in prison, their decision wasn't that hard.", Genny said.

"Glad those bastards are all going down. Rich assholes." Aubrey sipped from his bottle again before coughing slightly. Turning to Jessica, she smiled before he looked at their friends. "So, we have some news, everyone."

"What?", Hodgins asked.

"Well, I hope you all enjoy weddings…" Jessica sipped her beer while wiggling her left ring finger, showing off her ruby engagement ring.

Angela was the first to see the ring flashing in dim light. "Oh my God, they're engaged! About damn time!"

"Thanks...oh…" Aubrey and Jessica were deluged by their friends hugging them.

"So, Skinner gets a new mom.", Wendell cracked.

"He's already my baby…", Jessica sighed.

"So, what kind of proposal did he come up with?", Andie asked.

"A very romantic...and perfect one.", Jessica answered, blushing as she remembered what had happened.

"Jess, you proposed to me. I just gave you the ring to wear when you were ready."

"Well, after what you said, I was…"

"So...when's the big day?", Angela asked. "What kind of ceremony are you having?"

"Oh...we haven't gotten that far yet." Aubrey and Jessica looked at each other. "I'm not sure…"

"Not a big one. Just you guys, a few other friends, and family. No big blown out fancy shit.", Aubrey said. "Jack and Greg offered the tasting room in Bethesda for the reception when we called them earlier. They want to try out their new menu on us before it opens this summer."

"Uh oh…", Wendell snickered. "Will Aubrey get real food?"

"Hey, the food is good. Aubrey will eat well...and there's unlimited wine.", Jessica snickered. "A gift from my brother and Greg as well."

"Well, if you want, I'm awesome at wedding planning." Angela smiled as she sipped her club soda. "Just ask Bren and Booth."

Brennan grinned as she patted Booth's hand. "Yes, as you already know, she was able to arrange our wedding in less than a day."

"Well, I want to ask my friend Rodney to officiate, so after that we'll have a better idea of when the big day will be." Aubrey sipped his beer nervously. "We'll let everyone know as soon as possible…probably later this summer because Jess has school."

"Well, don't make us wait too long...I don't want to go into labor at your wedding.", Angela laughed.

"We'll do our best, Angela." Jessica smirked at her boyfriend. "When we know, you'll know."

No, this is not the end of the story. After all, we have a wedding to plan...