AN: Okay if y'all could do me a favor and reread the story, I've made a few changes to some of the chapters, mainly chapters three and four. You might notice them, or might not, but it's important little adjustments that are relevant to where I'm going with this story. Other than that, I hope you enjoy this, and I'd love to hear your input about Gavin. Do you think he's good, bad, charming, a little creepy…whatever.

And to those of you who asked before, I'm doing great and so is my son, Alex, who is three weeks old today. He's absolutely adorable and I love him to death.

Charlie hurried around his cubicle making sure he had everything in order before needing to go out of town. He was nervous as this was his first time dealing with a case like that of Max Keenan. When he'd gotten the call Thanksgiving night that someone was following Max he'd been shocked. No one was supposed to know where Max was.

He looked over his desk area one last time before gathering a few files and heading from the Hoover Building. As the elevator doors opened he ran headlong into Booth. The older agent steadied him before looking Charlie over.

"You okay? In a bit of a hurry there?" Booth stepped away from Charlie, smoothing down his own black tie down.

"I've got to catch a flight out of town. A witness for one of my cases is in trouble. I've got to go and sort it out."

"Well you have fun with that." Booth patted the agent on the shoulder and went on his way to his office. He had some paperwork to finish and a few leads to follow up on for the day.

"Agent Booth, you've done surveillance work before right?"

"Yeah, of course I have."

"Any advice? I've got to do some on my witness. He says he's being followed."

"Stay out of the way and don't get caught."

"That's it?"

"Absolutely. Now if you don't mind, I've got some work to take care of."

"No, of course Agent Booth." Charlie stepped into the elevator juggling the files in his hands. Booth watched as the elevator doors shut and shook his head. The kid was eager, but still had a lot to learn about working active cases. He headed to his office hoping the Intel on his current case was in. The case was wearing and in the two years along with other cases. Now without his work at the Jeffersonian he could concentrate on this case. Reaching his office, he was surprised to see his boss in the room.

"Sir, can I help you with anything?"

"Have a seat Booth." Seeley sat down behind his desk and watched as Cullen paced the office. "I've received some information regarding the Costello's."

"What about them? The undercover work hasn't been discovered has it?"

"No, but it looks like they've hired a hit man."

"Hit man? Who are they after?"

XxXxX

"Angela, I only met the man once, and he was a little arrogant for my taste." Brennan walked down the aisle of the grocery store gathering the items on her shopping list.

"You said that about Booth and we know how that turned out."

"Yes, we do." The answer was terse and Angela cringed on her end of the line.

"I only meant that you two became such good friends, that's all."

"How is he, you know…Booth?"

"You still haven't called him?"

"No Ange, I haven't. I don't see a need."

"Don't see a need? Sweetie…"

"Well what am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to say, 'Gee Booth, I'm glad everything is going so well in your life right now what with the wife and the white picket fence…?"

"And the baby on the way," Angela added.

"Baby?" Temperance rounded the corner in a daze, colliding with the man standing there. The sound of multiple cracks drew her attention to the busted carton of eggs dripping down the clothing of Gavin Maguire. "Angela, I've got to go. She clicked her phone shut and looked up apologetically. "I am so sorry."

"So should I send you the cleaning bill?" Brennan glanced down at his clothes and laughed. Gavin wore a white tee-shirt with a little angel on top of a tree as it sang. Above the angel were the words, 'Hark the Angel Harold Sings'. He also wore a pair of old faded jeans that hugged him in just the right spots.

"There has to be a way I can make this up to you."

"Well, it is the holiday season and a time for giving. You could give me the honor of joining me for coffee."

"Only coffee?"

"I'm not greedy, and I figure if coffee goes well then dinner and some holiday shopping at Bronner's is in order."

"Okay. Where should I meet you?"

"No, I'm a gentleman and insist on picking you up."

"Well no offense, but I'm really not into the whole alpha-male display."

"I don't know so much about that, but being gentlemanly just shows respect for the others around them." Brennan looked at him for a long moment as she contemplated what he said. Booth had almost always treated her that way as well as act protectively when she was in a relationship. Perhaps he was just treating her with respect.

"Fine, you can pick me up for a coffee date."

"I look forward to it," Gavin smiled at her before walking away, egg still dripping from his clothes.

XxXxX

Charlie sat in his car across from the Brennan household. He was extremely cold in the December chill, but kept the power off in his car to remain more inconspicuous. A rustling in the bushes and trees caught his attention because there was no wind to speak of. Curious, he got out of the car to investigate the movement. As he approached the copse of bushes, he blew on his hands to warm them. Everything looked quiet, the movement had ceased so he supposed there was nothing going on. He turned to head back to his car when he heard a noise behind him. Before he could see the cause of the sound, something hit him over the head and he collapsed into the snow, unconscious.

XxXxX

"Dad, it's just coffee. Don't worry about me. I can handle myself." Brennan checked her appearance in the mirror before turning to face her father.

"Honey, I'm just worried about you, that's all. You don't know anything about him."

"Which is why I'm joining him for coffee." She heard the doorbell ring and turned back to the mirror for one final check. "You will be nice and not threaten him or give him an interrogation."

"Whatever you say Baby." Max gave his daughter a smile as both headed to the living room. Temperance sighed as she took in the sight of Russ standing toe to toe with Gavin, both of them with crossed arms though the latter was much more relaxed.

"Ah Temperance, you look wonderful." He smiled at her before glancing at Max. The ex-con looked back at the younger man, a grim expression on his face. Brennan looked at her father pointedly and moved away toward the front door.

"I'll be back later dad." With that, she guided Gavin from the house. As the door shut, Max could hear Gavin ask, 'You live with your parents?' After a shake of his head, he looked over at Russ.

"I don't like him. Something seems off about him."

"I tend to agree with you. I'm sure she'll be fine though, it is Tempe we're talking about." With a shake of his head, Max reached for his coat on a coat rack by the front door.

"I'm going out for a walk, I'll be back later."

"Okay. And dad?"

"Yeah Russ?"

"Please don't follow Tempe; you know she won't like that."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Max patted Russ on the shoulder and left the house for the cold air of the evening. He stretched his arms a little and pulled the coat tighter around him. Quickly he glanced up and down the street. It didn't hurt to check for anything suspicious especially if he was being followed. Across the street sat a car, snow collecting gently on its surface. The way the snow was collecting didn't look right. Slowly, Max made his way toward the car, cautiously looking for any sign of danger.

As he rounded the corner, he noticed the driver's side door was open, and nobody was in sight. Looking around, he noticed footprints in the snow leading back to some bushes. As quietly as he could, he made his way to the small copse and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. There on the ground lay Charlie, a man he'd only met once, bleeding and turning a slight blue tinge. Max tried to rouse the agent, but to no avail. He was out cold.

"Damn," Max muttered as he pulled out his cell phone. The agent needed help and fast if he was going to survive the December chill.