Holy Hannah!! I have over 200 reviews! Amazing, thanks to all of those who have reviewed and put me on alerts, I love you all!! This will be my last post for about a week probably. We are still packing and then we move on tuesday, so yah, we are a little busy. I tried to make this a long one!
Disclaimer: Really? Do I have to? Fine! Not MINE!
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Booth and Bones slept until it was time to switch positions with Cathy and Kasten. The quartet pulled into a rest stop just outside of Billings, Montana to plan how they would enter Hunter Peak Dude Ranch undetected. With Booth's Ranger training and Kasten's past military experience it was a treat to see the two men develop a plan down to the last detail. It was only a nine hour drive from Coeur D'Alene to Cody so they decided that Cathy and Kasten should get a rest before they arrived. Luckily for the group they would be arriving just after sundown and the plan would take effect almost immediately.
Booth and Bones crawled into the cab of the bus and assumed their usual, pilot, co-pilot postitions. Cathy and Kasten crawled into their bunk and were asleep quickly. The past two days had been very exhausting on Cathy and Kasten knew now was the time to sleep to keep his senses sharp.
"So, um, do you want to talk about anything." Booth sputtered.
Bones looked at him, and had no idea where to begin. "I don't know Booth. I don't know what to say to you. I don't know what you want to hear."
Booth looked over at her. "Just tell me what you think you want me to hear. I won't be mad Bones, and after what happened earlier today. You said it, we haven't been acting. Every time I've touched you, I've meant it. Every kiss, every hug, I just, Bones-"
"Me too." She interupted. "Booth, I want to find my family. I want to find my aunts, I want to know where I came from, but I also know, that for the last two years, you're all I've had."
Booth was stunned by her honesty. "I, ah, Bones, it wasn't just me. What about Angela and Hodgins, and Zach. They are your family too."
"Not like you Booth. Okay, Angela, yes. She's like a sister, and Hodgins and I, after the Gravedigger incident have a connection that will always be there, but Zach. Zach is like the weird cousin who you have to take with you because he is your family. Don't get me wrong, I am totally loyal to all three of them, and I am so proud of what Zach has accomplished, and I know without them, we wouldn't do what we do so well. But you've been my...my rock? Is that right?"
"It depends on what you want that to mean."
"You are always there when I need you, and you are the first person I look for in the morning, and I can feel you before I see you. Booth, you are my family. I just have a connection to you that I just can't explain, and I'm sorry if you are unprepared to listen to this, but since we are sharing a bed, I thought you should know."
Booth smirked and chuckled to himself quietly. "Thank you Bones. I'm glad that you feel that way. I think we will have to figure this out soon, 'cause crawling into bed with you is getting awfully uncomfortable for me."
"Well if you are so uncomfortable then why don't you sleep elsewhere." Bones snapped at him.
"No, Bones, physically uncomfortable." Booth raised his eyebrow hoping she would catch on to what he was trying to say.
As soon as she clued into what he was getting at, her face went bright red. "Oh, well why didn't you just say so, I could've helped you with that."
Now it was Booth's turn to blush.
They returned to uncomfortable silence trying not to think of what had been their most honest and sexually charged conversation ever.
They slowly pulled into a rest area outside of Cody just before ten o'clock at night. The sun had just set and Brennan went back to wake the sleeping duo. They had chosen this rest area for the simple fact that it was only half a mile from the Hunter Peak Ranch property line. They would go over one of the northern hills and stick close to the tree line. There was a lake in the middle of the ranch and if they could get to it at night then they could cross it in the open and be able to hide out the next day at one of the many small cabins spread throughout the ranch. The cabins were generally used by the cattlemen on long drives or when inclement weather came in fast and unexpected.
The men packed the bags that they would use and the girls got dressed into their warmest darkest clothes. As long as they stuck together as a group they could keep an eye out in every direction. Going through the dense forest at this time of night their chances were high of getting in undetected.
The four of them headed out over the hills behind the rest area. They had cleaned out the bus of what they could and called the local field office to alert them of their location. The group made pretty good time in the full moon light. They didn't even use their maglights. The detailed maps that the FBI had provided for them proved to be invaluable. They hit the lake just after one o'clock in the morning and the dingy that Booth and Bones had picked up on their shopping spree came in handy. The four adults loaded into the 'boat' carefully so they wouldn't capsize it. The two tiny fold away paddles did the job slowly but they accomplished their task in just under an hour. They decided that they would hike for another two hours and find a cabin just before sun-up. Even though it was the middle of the night they made good time over the rolling desert hills. They stopped when they found a cabin at about the half way mark. They had made better time than had been figured into and they made quick work to set up beds.
"Well I don't know about the rest of you, but I think I am getting too old for this sort of adventure." Kasten stated as he rolled out his mat and sleeping bag. "Sleep is going to feel pretty good on these old joints. Booth you've got first watch?"
"Yes sir. I'll give you four hours and then you can take watch. If we can leave here at around noon tomorrow we can duck into that wooded area for the rest of the day. I don't think anyone is anticipating our arrival from this direction and we can sneak into the ranch tomorrow evening and hopefully catch Charlie."
"Sounds like a plan, Booth. Sounds like a plan."
Cathy was laying beside Kasten on the floor of the cabin and was already asleep. Bones chose to stay up with Booth to keep him company. When he slept she would sleep but for now she figured two sets of eyes were better than one. Kasten laid down and was asleep in minutes. Booth and Bones let the two of them fall into a deep sleep and went outside to see the sunrise.
"Booth, are we going to be okay?"
"I think so Bones. We made great time. I am glad that aunt of yours is in such great shape and at least these were hills, that was an easier hike than we did the other day. I think we're okay, Bones, I think we're gonna be okay." He smiled his signature Booth charm smile at her for reassurance.
Bones slid up beside him, their backs against the cabin's exterior wall. "It is so beautiful out here. So peaceful. I can see why people live here."
Booth looked over at his partner. Her face was illuminated by the moonlight and her profile was perfect.
"Are you holding up okay?"
She nodded. Booth wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to his side. "Why don't you get some sleep Bones, I'll be okay."
"If you're up, then I'm up, we're partners." She snuggled into his chest and watched over the hills as the most beautiful sunrise she had ever seen commenced in front of them.
Booth woke Kasten up just after eight and Cathy awoke with him. The two of them took position inside the cabin, not wanting to be seen from the outlying hills. Booth and Bones took their beds and quickly fell asleep.
"Booth, we've got company." Kasten announced.
Booth didn't need to hear anymore. He was up and out of his sleeping bag in a matter of seconds. He crawled along the floor of the cabin and met Kasten at the window he was sitting at. Bones stayed asleep and Cathy was ordered to lay down beside her niece. She did without saying a word.
"Who is it?" Booth asked.
"I don't know, but he's alone." Kasten answered. "He's on horseback, and it looks like he might be a ranch hand. I haven't seen anyone else, just him, but he is making a bee line for this cabin.
Booth checked his sidearm and Kasten did the same. "Okay, we hold our position. If he moves on, then great, if he's deciding to bunk down then I guess we ambush him."
Kasten only nodded, but grabbed his pack and checked for restraints. Booth nodded at Cathy who quickly woke Brennan. She put her finger over her mouth to tell Bones to be quiet. Bones shook the cobwebs from her mind but clued in quickly to the situation after looking at Booth. The cowboy continued his route straight towards the cabin and he was holding his arm like it was injured. He pulled up and dismounted his horse, tied up to the cabin and made his way onto the porch. The cowboy was a lot bigger then either of the men had anticipated. He stood about 6' 3" and was built like a wall. He had dark hair and eyes and a dark tan from many days spent in the sun. Booth scooted towards the women and got them into the corner behind the door. Booth stood on one side of the jamb while Kasten held down the other side. They all watched as the doorknob turned and the door opened.
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Okay so please let me know whatcha think, I love to hear from you all!! Thanks again for all the support!