A/N: Thanks again to all who are reading and/or reviewing. Sorry for any mistakes in this chapter but it's very late and I'm too sleepy to proofread any more.

Chapter 15 - War and Peace

The silence between them lasted a while longer as Brennan settled on the couch next to her partner, each of them sipping their drinks as they tried to find the words to restore whatever sense of normality they had before the argument.

Booth was the one to make the first, rather literal, move as he leaned forward to put his empty mug on the coffee table, before dropping his eyes to the floor and saying quietly, "I'm sorry, Bones."

"Booth-" she began quickly, not wanting to go into a discussion of who was to blame for their fight.

He interrupted her, glancing back at her as he sat forward, forearms resting on his thighs, "Just hear me out? Please?"

She hesitated for a moment before realising that talking about what had happened was what he needed to feel settled again. Nodding slowly, she put her mug down, listening silently as he continued, "What I said to you before... I didn't mean it. You know I didn't mean it. What happened before wasn't your fault; I know you did all you could to help me and I'm so sorry for throwing it in your face like that."

He paused, and Brennan opened her mouth to speak but was cut off as he moved on, "I shouldn't have yelled at you for wanting to go back to DC either. You were right; it's your choice and I should respect that." He sat up and looked over at her, his tone serious, "I don't agree with your decision, but if you want to go back, I'll take you whenever you want."

Her mouth involuntarily fell open at this statement and she murmured in disbelief, "Booth..."

"I think you'd be safer if you stayed here, but like you said, you can look after yourself." He gave her a half-hearted smile, rubbing his cheek ruefully, "Well, if that slap you gave me yesterday is anything to go by." Sobering up again, he met her eyes. "Anyway, it's your choice. It's my job to look after you and all your squints, but I overstepped the boundary and I apologise."

"No," she said firmly and his shoulders involuntarily slumped, thinking he'd said something wrong. Before he could give the apology another shot, Temperance continued, "You didn't overstep any boundaries. We're a couple now, and looking after each other is a part of that." Her voice became quieter as she admitted, "I never should've given the cell phone number to Angela. I'm not the only one in danger if anyone traces that call, and you had as much right to be involved in decisions about our safety as I did." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

He nodded in acceptance, grateful for the apology, and gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay. Besides, we'll be back in DC soon so you won't have to worry about contacting Angela."

She didn't return the smile, instead looking at him seriously and stating, "I don't want to go back to DC."

Booth's eyebrows shot up. "What? But I thought... Yesterday you said..."

"I know," she interrupted confidently. "But you were right. It's better for us to stay in hiding until the Dellatos slip up and are found by the FBI. Going back would only make it easier for them to find us, so logically it would be better to force them out of their safety zone instead of exposing ourselves to unnecessary danger."

Unable to stop the grin spreading across his face at her choice, he asked teasingly, "Is that Bones-speak for "we should duck and cover"?"

She sighed, a smile playing on her own lips as she complained half-heartedly, "Why do you always feel the need to simplify what I say? I speak perfectly eloquently and then you just want to shorten it for your own amusement."

Enjoying the sight of a playful pout on his partner's lips, Booth nodded with mock-solemnity, "Yes, that is exactly why I spend time with you; I just love to abridge."

Making a valiant attempt at glowering at him, she eventually gave up, a relaxed smile on her face as he pulled her toward him, both of them reclining back on the couch in each other's arms as Booth said sincerely, "I wouldn't change a thing about you, Bones."

Snuggled up against him, she asked, surprised, "Really?"

"Yep," he answered simply. "I'm happy with every little bit of you."

"Even though you think I speak in a long-winded fashion?"

"Like I said, I love to abridge," he replied, smirking at her need for affirmation.

"Even though I keep asking you for a gun?"

"Hey, I get to come up with new and varied ways to say "No" every time. You're a constant source of entertainment."

"Even though I slapped you yesterday?" she pressed, sure that actual violence would be one part of her he didn't like.

To her disbelief, she felt him shrug, his breath brushing over her hair as he answered, "I can't say I enjoyed it, but I needed to have some sense knocked into me, and you're apparently good at doing that." She frowned slightly, perplexed by this sudden attribute of perfection, and his fingers stroked her cheek gently as he reiterated, "I wouldn't change you for anything, Temperance. Even if you do drive me crazy from time to time."

She smirked at his last statement, reassured to hear that he wasn't about to start worshiping the ground she walked on, and curled her legs up underneath her, nestling comfortably into his side as she whispered, "Thank you."

Booth shifted his position slightly to accommodate her before asking curiously, "For what?"

"For what you risked to come with me," she answered frankly. "I was only thinking about myself-"

"Because you were the one who was nearly killed," he interrupted firmly, hoping to correct her priorities.

"But I didn't even think about what you'd lose by helping me get away. Your safety, your job, your access to your son..."

With her head resting on his chest, she heard him swallow hard before replying quietly, "You shouldn't worry about that."

"Yes, I should," she said simply, sitting up and looking him in the eye. "If you're risking everything to help me, the least I can do is show concern for the things you're worrying about."

Emotion flickered briefly in his eyes before his confident demeanor fell back in place as he gave her a tight smile, "You've got enough on your plate without thinking about me. My life will work itself out when this is over, but for now, all I care about is keeping you safe." He saw the anxiety in her face and squeezed her shoulder in reassurance, "We'll get out of this, Bones, I promise. They'll catch the Dellatos and we'll go back to DC and work everything out when we get there."

She visibly softened at his assertions, but before she could respond, the stillness of the surroundings was broken by the familiar sound of a car engine.

It took both of them a moment to process the city-like noise in the tranquil woods, but as the car came nearer, realisation quickly dawned and their wide-eyed gazes locked. Unconsciously holding their breaths, they both looked toward the window at the front of the cabin, watching the track outside in the vain hopes that it was a false alarm and just a lost tourist. However, the second they caught sight of an ominous black SUV coming to a halt outside, they were both on their feet instantly.

"Booth..." she whispered, hating the terror that crept into her voice.

The same terror was reflected in her partner's eyes as he pulled the pistol out of his ankle holster, his other hand gripping her arm and pulling her quickly toward the patio door. "Take this," he instructed firmly as they moved down the steps and toward the forest, sticking close to the edges of the small lawn in an effort not to be seen. "I need you to run, Bones. I think there's an old Park Ranger hut a few minutes in that direction which is the best chance we've got at hiding or making a stand-"

The sound of shouting was heard from the cabin, and Booth's grip on her arm tightened as he pulled her forward, whispering urgently, "Run."

Glass shattered down from one of the cabin windows, spurring them both to action as they began to run for their lives. Brennan's slippered feet slid precariously on the leaves littering the forest floor, but she pressed on forward, the tree branches scratching at the exposed skin on her arms and the unfamiliar location making it difficult to stay in the direction Booth had instructed.

Her pace quickened as she heard shouts reverberating through the woods from behind her coupled with the revving of engines as their pursuers realised that they weren't in the house. She hazarded a glance behind her, only to see the outlines of at least four black-clothed men tearing their way through the woods after her. Before she could fully estimate their number or their distance behind her, she tripped on the unseen rocks and grabbed onto the nearby branches to stop the momentum carrying her to the ground, her gun scraping against the wood as she did so. Lungs burning, she pushed on, desperately scanning the trees for some sign that she was near the hut and willing her legs to carry her faster.

However, as much as Brennan was struggling, Booth was faring a lot worse. Each time she glanced back, he was falling further and further behind, his healing ankle aggravated by the run and the uneven surface, making him barely able to stay upright as he stumbled forward.

Seeing him almost collapse against a tree, holding onto whatever he could find to support himself, she halted, looking back at him with concern and beginning to retrace her route when she was stopped with a gasping shout from her partner, "Bones, run!"

Chest heaving, she could only shake her head as she moved back toward him, aware that their pursuers were now getting closer. Booth stumbled on through the trees, calling pleadingly as he did so, "Bones, you have to keep running. Get to the hut and I can meet you there."

Struggling to catch her breath, she shook her head again. "Booth, I'm not-"

"Please, Bones!" he yelled, no longer bothering to hide his desperation. "Please, just run!"

Taking one final glance back, she did as instructed, making her way forward again through the trees and searching for the promised hut. Her ankles ached from the slips on the rough ground and she felt her body nearly give in with relief when the wooden hut finally appeared in front of her, flanked by trees with an unused track running beside it.

With an extra burst of adrenaline, she ran across the clearing, resting her back against the side of the hut as she gasped for breath, her hand gripping the gun tightly and her eyes scanning the woods for her partner or her attackers. The seconds seemed to drag pass, her deep breaths making every inhale and exhale last a lifetime, until at last she caught sight of movement coming in her direction.

She stood, gun and hopes raised, as the figures got closer, trying helplessly to make out her partner, but was distracted again by the sound of cars. Eyes wide, she stepped away from the hut as two SUVs pushed their way down the thin track, coming to a stop on either side of the supposed refuge of the hut.

Her gun now feeling heavy in her hands, she looked back and forth between the cars and the woods, hoping that some good would come from one of them.

All her hopes were slowly and methodically dashed, as the doors of the first SUV opened and Luca Dellato climbed out, flanked by two men dressed in the same black as their pursuers in the woods. The second vehicle was little better, and Brennan's mouth fell open in shock as Tony and Carlo emerged, pulling a terrified Zach out of the back seat and holding him firmly in place.

Finally, the four remaining henchmen made their way out of the woods, and Temperance's heart seemed to forget to beat when she saw a limping Booth being dragged with them, his hands fastened behind his back and a gun held to his temple.

Surrounded, she had little choice but to retreat back against the wall, aiming her gun shakily at Luca Dellato as he stepped forward, a dark smile on his face as he gloated, "Come now, Dr Brennan. Even you must know when it's time to admit defeat."

Reviews much appreciated. Next'll be up either tomorrow or Sunday (in theory). :)