Brennan was heading back to her safe place when a hand gripped her shoulder. She spun around, delivering a drop kick to her assailant's knees before slugging his stomach.

"Ohhhhh," he groaned, grasping her arm as he collapsed. Brennan's vision cleared then, and she saw who she had just assaulted.

"Mr. Nigel-Murray?!" she exclaimed.

"Uh huh," he nodded, moaning. Brennan pulled him to his feet and shuffled them both to a private spot to talk.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. Of all the people, she never expected this.

"Well, not that you care, but I won Jeopardy, and I've been traveling the world. Australia was on my bucket list."

"I see."

"What are you doing here? I thought you were in Maluku?" Vincent asked, confused.

"I was. Daisy and I were kidnapped. She escaped a while ago, and I just escaped recently. I'm trying to figure out my next steps."

"I should say call the authorities as a step," Vincent urged.

"No," Brennan shook her head. "That's not a good idea. My kids are still out there. The people behind this need to assume I'm somewhere other than at home. If I contact the authorities, my children are as good as dead."

"Do you...do you think someone in the authorities is involved?" Vincent asked, his voice hushed.

"You've spent too much time with Hodgins," Brennan snorted. Inside, however, it was one of her fears. She couldn't trust anyone anymore.

"Where are you staying?" she asked, changing the subject. He relayed the information.

"You're most welcome to stay with me," he said after.

"I'll take you up on that offer. How long are you staying here?"

"I leave tomorrow," he replied.

"Oh."

"I got it!" Vincent said, snapping his fingers. "You could pose as my girlfriend! It'll get you on the plane."

"How? I doubt there are any tickets left."

"Well, I already have a second ticket. The girl I was seeing dumped me and is staying here longer, so it's no trouble. They wouldn't think of you flying from here anyway, right?" Vincent finished. Brennan pondered this idea.

"I think it could work," she nodded after a moment.

"You could stay at my flat when we get home. I'm sure I'm the last person they'd expect you to be with," Vincent added smugly. He was proud of his quick thinking.

"I should have given you more credit, Mr. Nigel-Murray," Brennan said. "You're smarter than I realized."

"We should get out of the public," Vincent said, waving off her compliment. He was still blushing, though. Brennan followed him closely as he hobbled to his hotel room. This made her feel bad for hurting him earlier, but she felt very hopeful that their plan would actually work.

Sweets

He sat by Daisy's bedside, wondering what his life would be like if she had died. He didn't think he could stand it. The machines whirred and beeped to her heart rate and breathing. They had her on life support, and she was currently in a coma from the trauma she endured. The doctors explained it would help her recover and heal faster. He hated to look at the cut on her face and neck or the many bruises. It was horrifying. Sweets worried that she wouldn't wake up. He reflected on their relationship, and he hoped that after all this, they could move forward and live that happily ever after.

Booth

He rubbed his face and jaw hard as he stared at the scene before him. Agent Hoy was standing next to him.

"What a bloodbath," Hoy said, sighing.

"Yea. This was a pro job too," Booth added. "They knew their anatomy very well to know where to knife her."

"Fortunately they missed," Hoy nodded. "She must have been terrified."

"I believe she twisted away just before the knife got near her main artery," Booth said, gesturing. The spray was indicative of that as well as what the witness said. Booth wondered if the perpetrator knew he had been seen, and he wondered if they would come after the witness if he did know. Booth suggested protective custody for now, which the witness gladly took.

"Did you find the knife?" Booth asked. Hoy shook his head.

"No. He either took it with him or dumped it somewhere far away."

"No breaks on this one," Booth sighed. He was hoping for some kind of screw up on the perp's behalf, but there was nothing.

"She's in a coma," Hoy said, reading his phone then and seeing the message.

"I hope they don't try to finish the job there," Booth noted.

"Nah. She's got security there now. They won't touch her."

"Hopefully our guy isn't a doctor," Booth said. Hoy grimaced.

"I hope not either."

Cam

Nora was finally asleep when there was knocking on her door. Not usually one to be suspicious, Cam decided to go for precaution. She gripped her handgun tightly as she checked who it was.

"Max?" she asked, opening the door. "What are you doing here?"

"I have reason to believe my grandkids are in danger. I'm here to disappear with them," Max answered. "You know I'm right, and you know I'm good at hiding."

"You are not taking these kids, Max," Cam argued.

"I heard about Brennan's colleague. If my daughter has escaped and running around, they will catch up with her or else they will use her kids as bait. Come on, Cam. They need to be protected."

"They live with an FBI agent," Cam spluttered. "They are as safe as they are going to be."

"I disagree."

"You need to leave," she ordered, shutting the door firmly in his face.

"You know I'm right, Cam," he said through the door. After a few moments, she heard a car start and drive away. She exhaled, leaning against the door frame. She hated to admit that a small part of her did agree with him, but she knew Brennan would never forgive her for handing Dominic and Nora over to her ex criminal father.

Booth

He got home later than he anticipated. He found Cole finishing up the hockey game alone in the living room.

"I'm sorry about this," Booth apologized, coming in. Cole turned off the TV and stood up.

"It's fine. I understand the work you do. Was it bad?" he asked.

"I can't really discuss it," Booth answered.

"Of course," Cole nodded.

"How was he?"

"Good. I think we made some progress on talking to his sister. He only said 'no' three times instead of ten," Cole chuckled.

"Thanks for watching him," Booth said gratefully.

"My pleasure. He's a good kid. We did some math homework and played cards. He went to sleep pretty fast. I know he's worried about his mother."

"We all are."

"Well, I hope this nightmare ends for you and for them sooner than later," Cole said, smiling grimly. "Call if you ever need me, okay?"

"All right," Booth agreed. He shook Cole's hand, and he was gone. Booth sighed and went to check on Dominic. The boy was sleeping peacefully at least. Booth tried not to think about Daisy as he climbed into bed himself. If they were willing to do that to her, he could only imagine what they would do to Dr. Brennan.

The Next Day-Brennan

"So far so good," Vincent said as they sat in their seats. Brennan fidgeted with her fingers as the plane got ready to take off. She was anxious to get home, to find the people behind all this, but she was also afraid of how to go forward. How would she do this on her own? Could she trust Sweets? He might accidentally give her away to the wrong person and not know it. As the plane took off, she took deep breaths and trusted that an answer would come to her between here and the US.

Nora

She had overheard Cam and Max arguing the night before. She knew her grandfather wouldn't be asking to protect them if he didn't think they were in danger. On the ride back to Booth's, she didn't talk much. Cam was quiet too. Nora had a feeling that Cam was probably thinking Max was right too.

"Thanks," Nora said after Cam stopped.

"Call if you need me, okay?" Cam said as Nora hopped out.

"I will," she promised. She walked inside, dreading seeing her brother. She knew he was incredibly betrayed and angry with her. She feared he would never talk to her again.

"Did you have a nice time?" Booth asked, seeing her come in. Dom was nowhere to be seen.

"I did," she nodded.

"Your brother is at the library," Booth said, noticing she was looking around.

"Is he still mad at me?"

"What do you think?"

"I know what I said was thoughtless and mean, but is he going to hate me forever?"

"Actions are louder than words, Nora. What exactly have you shown your brother lately that proves you even care about him?" Booth asked pointedly. Nora stood there staring, unsure of how to answer. She was always calling him a name or being snide with him. Booth had a point.

"Well, I could say that about you," Nora sniffed. "You're my father, and what have you done to show me that you care about me?"

"Nora," Booth started. She didn't give him a chance to finish. She stalked past him and slammed her door shut. Shaking, she knew what she was going to do next. If her grandfather didn't think she was safe here with Booth, then she didn't think so either. She grabbed her bag and starting packing. She knew Max would be around the corner somewhere. All she had to do was escape from Booth first.