So here it is, the end! Ding dong this bitch is gone! I want to say, that this was such an intimidating story to write and it literally kicked my ass, but I want to thank those who stuck with me through thick and thin and encouraged me along the way. DaLiza, Krazegirl, 18lzytwner, Ilanaria, CaRiNeSs, bb-4ever,brennanmars, you guys were so loyal and I truly thank you for that. For all the rest who reviewed I truly appreciate every word, and I think I did respond to every review I recieved, at least I hope I did. This is chapter 30 and it is the last one. I think I might have a little epilogue and it will probably be up within the next day or two, so enjoy!
Disclaimer: If I don't have them yet, I won't ever get them!!
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Brennan stood in shock as she watched Kipper get loaded into the police cruiser. She was still trying to come to grips with the fact that her aunt could somehow be involved. Booth held back waiting for the right moment to go to her and reassure her. Charlie still had not come down even with all the excitement. Booth hadn't wanted to spook her off, and figured to go about his interogation a different way.
"Booth?" Brennan asked softly into the night air.
Booth walked up quietly behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Yah Bones."
"Is this what a real family is like?" Her voice catching the sob in her throat.
"No, no, Bones, this isn't what a real family is like." He soothed.
"Okay, can I still have my unconvential one, 'cause I think I like that one better." She turned and cuddled into his chest.
Booth chuckled softly in her ear. "You couldn't get rid of us if you tried." He continued to hold her and rub her back soothingly.
"Thank you."
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Charlie sat in her apartment and watched all the commotion down in the parking lot. Panic was starting to set in, but she was a quick thinker and she was devising a new plan. She paced the floor and spoke into the empty room.
"He wouldn't turn me in. Would he? No, 'cause he knows I can still get the money, he knows I'll share it with him. On the other hand, he's assaulted two federal agents, kidnapped a world renowned anthropologist, and my sister. He is going away for a long time. Jones has probably already told them everything anyway, I gotta get out of here. I can't stay, I am goin' down. I am goin' down hard. Max! He is the reason my life has gone to hell in a handbasket, and I can still take him with me. If I am losing everything, then so is he."
With that, a new surge of adrenaline flowed through her veins. She went to her closet and brought down the lockbox from the top shelf. She unlocked it and looked inside. Her .38 calibre hand gun, fully loaded and clean. She knew to keep her guns clean and loaded, that way they would never let her down.
She continued to pace the living room floor trying to work up the courage to make her escape. She figured if she burst out guns blazing and could make it to the barn where she had a good chance at her horse. She could make it up and over the rocky landscape pretty quickly and there was no way the cruisers could follow. At that point, that was the only plan she had and she was going to have to make it work. Self preservation was a powerful motivator. She took one last deep breath and headed for the back door.
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Booth made his way to the top step of the back door of Charlies apartment. He radioed down his position and waited for the other agents to make entry through the front. Everyone was locked in at their stations and it was time to 'rush the rabbit'. Booth steadied his hand on his holster and said a quick prayer that he wouldn't have to use his gun. Even if Charlie was the mastermind behind this whole charade she was still Brennan's family and he wasn't willing to risk her losing any more of it. Booth put his hand on the door knob and sat in complete silence the only thing he heard was the beating of his own heart. Brennan listened to him for once and waited with Criss and Donna in the lodge, to make sure they were out of the line of fire in case anything were to happen. Booth did not want a fire fight, Charlie would surely lose.
Booth's radio crackled. "Booth we're going in, be alert." The hair on the back of his neck stood up and he went into 'Ranger mode'. He was alert, his blood was pumping hard and he adrenaline was surging. He heard the door being broken and stood his ground.
The door flew open and nearly knocked him back. Charlie burst through and hit the top stair at full speed.
"F.B.I, freeze!" Booth commanded.
Charlie stuttered stepped but didn't look back. Booth started down the stairs after her.
"Charlie! Stop or I'll shoot." Booth warned. "Charlie!"
Booth had no other choice but to take a warning shot. Charlie stopped instantly. She put her hand on her gun and felt the cold metal trying to decide whether or not to take her chances.
Booth walked towards her slowly with the gun trained on her back. "Charlie, put your hands up, we just want to talk."
Charlie was fighting a losing battle with herself. "Yah, you just want to talk, I've heard that before." She still held the butt of the gun in her hand.
"Charlie, raise your hands." Booth urged.
"And what if I don't?" She challenged.
"I am an army trained sniper, Charlie, I won't miss." Booth warned.
Reality slapped Charlie cold. Was she willing to give her life for any amount of money. They didn't have anything concrete on her, they couldn't tie her to anything. She chose to keep breathing.
Booth saw the inner struggle she was having but was relieved when he saw her raise her hands above her head. He kept his weapon on his target while advancing on her.
"Are you armed?" He asked.
She nodded in response. "It's a .38, it's in my waistband."
"Keep your hands up, but I'm going to retrieve it."
She nodded again. As soon as Booth had her weapon of her, he patted her down and placed the cuffs on her wrists. "So was it worth it?"
"You have no idea." She stated icely.
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Brennan paced the lobby floor waiting for word from Booth. She had started pacing when she heard the one shot and Donna and Criss could only see the inner turmoil working.
"Everything will be okay." Donna urged, trying to convince herself as much as Brennan.
"You don't know that for sure." Brennan squeaked out.
"He will be okay." Donna stated gently.
Brennans head shot up. "I know he will be okay, he has to be, he's my partner."
Donna smiled to herself, knowing the double meaning of the last statement. "Yes, yes he is."
Brennan continued her walk to no where, waiting for any news.
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Kasten made his way over to Booth who watched while they loaded Charlie into the car.
"You okay?" The senior agent asked.
"I will be, I'm just worried about Bones."
"From what I've seen, she'll be okay. She is one tough cookie, and hey let her use your shoulder." The elder man advised.
Booth raised his head to look Kasten in the face.
"Just be there for her. From what I've seen, there is a whole lot more there than just 'partners'."
"She's my best friend."
"She's more than that, and I think she's beginning to realize it." Kasten interjected.
"I hope so old man, I hope so."
"You drew the line didn't ya?"
Booth's head snapped up. "How would you know that?"
"We all do boy-o, just forget that, go get her, and let her know you're okay. That's all she cares about."
Booth extended his hand to Kasten, who took it. "Maybe you should go find Cathy. You two looked awfully comfy in that bed."
Kasten smiled. "Yah, maybe I should. Retirements coming pretty quick and Leavenworth is a nice place."
Booth shook his head and started off towards the lodge. His step a little lighter than before, he had a partner to tend to.
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Brennan could feel him even before he walked in the double doors. She turned anticipating his entry. As soon as the door opened her heart stopped. He waltzed in, dressed in his dark denim jeans and his official FBI jacket. He had it opened and she could see his bullet proof vest across his broad chest.
"Booth." She exhaled the breath she was holding and ran towards him with open arms.
The sight before him stopped him in his tracks and he barely had time to square himself before she was in his arms.
"You're okay, you're okay." She wimpered in her ear.
He hugged her back just as hard as she held him. "I promised you I wasn't gonna leave you. I promised."
"Thank you. Where's Charlie?"
"She's going into town. They'll call." He didn't want to ruin this moment with talk of more family abandonment.
Brennan looked in his eyes and could see his inner turmoil. "Okay."
"Okay? That's it, just okay?"
"What else do you want me to say Booth? I give up. I had a family, I have a family and that should be enough for me. It is enough for me. I just want to go home."
Booth saw where she was coming from. "Alright, let's go home then."
Criss and Donna got up from their seats. "You can't leave now. It's eleven o'clock at night. There won't be anything open in town, just stay here and start fresh in the morning." Donna offered.
"She does have a point Bones, we aren't going to get a flight tonight. Let's just go back to the cabin, hit the sheets and head out in the A.M. Plus one of your aunts isn't nuts, and I think she'll want to say goodbye."
"This is why I don't do family Booth, I am not good at it."
Booth pulled her back into his chest. "You are just fine at it, and we aren't going anywhere. Let's go to bed." Booth turned back to Donna and Criss. "Thank you both so much, you have been wonderful helps. We'll head back down and we will see you two in the morning."
Criss stood up and shook Booth's hand. "You bet. We would love to see you off and hey, it's been a real adventure, thanks for spicing it up around here."
Booth laughed out loud. "Well I would say no problem, but I can't. Thanks again Criss, you too Donna. Now get some sleep, we'll catch up to ya in the morning."
Booth and Bones turned and headed back out the double doors and back down to their cabin. They saw a light turn out.
"Cathy and Kasten must have the same idea. I think they hit it off. Kasten is talkin' about retirement and he likes Leavenworth."
"I'm happy for them, I like him." Brennan stopped in her tracks. "Booth, I meant what I said, I should have been happy with the family I have. I really truly do love you all."
Booth smiled. "Hey, don't regret this. You met Cathy and she didn't want to give you in for a reward, something good did come of this. And hey," Booth lifted her chin to look her in the eyes. "We love you too."
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Well I hope you all enjoyed it, and I hope I didn't dissapoint anyone. I think I am taking a hiatus from writing for a while and going back to what I am actually good at, reviewing! Hugs and Boothy-Boo kisses to all, thanks so much for reading!
Bellabun!