AN: Well here we are guys, the next chapter. It gets more intense and interesting from here. Also if you've seen 'Santa in the Slush' or if you just want a good shipper moment, go to the bones site on fox (dot) com. You'll love it forever. Check out the videos. You won't be disappointed. And hopefully you won't be disappointed in this chapter.

Brennan lay on the floor of the front porch stunned. Her head was pounding from its contact with the wood and her left bicep throbbed. She tried to shake away the fog and figured out what happened. There was the sound of gunfire and then she was on the ground with Gavin over her…the girls! Gasping, Temperance pushed Gavin off of her, mumbling an apology as he groaned in pain. She stood up a bit unsteadily and took a moment to gain her balance before racing down the stairs. Screams from frightened children filled the air as parents raced out of houses looking for their own brood.

"Emma? Haley?" Brennan looked left and right, trying hard not to panic. "Emma? Haley?"

"Auntie Tempe?" The voice was quiet and coming from behind some bushes. She turned and let out a relieved sigh when the two little girls crept out from their shelter.

"Oh thank god!" She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around the girls, both of whom were in tears.

"Are the bad men gone now?" Temperance looked down at Haley, who was looking a little pale. She tightened her grip on the young girl, pulling her in closer.

"They're gone now sweetheart. It's okay." She heard someone calling in the distance and looked up as Amy ran up to them.

"What happened?" She pulled the girls from Temperance, wrapping her arms around them.

"Drive by. You're okay?" Temperance put her hand up to her head, trying to stave off the pounding sensation. The ambient noise was merging into a loud roar to her.

"I was in the house and heard the gunfire. Tempe, are you alright? You don't look so good."

"It's just a headache."

"No, you're bleeding."

"Amy, don't worry about me I'm…" Temperance stood up and weaved on her feet before falling back to the snow unconscious.

XxXxX

"Booth, I wanted to speak to you about your relationship with my daughter." Max looked at Booth as they exited US23. Booth sighed before glancing over at the ex-felon.

"Max, spare me the concerned father lecture. You know I won't do anything to hurt her. What I want to know is that you're in this for keeps."

"Excuse me?"

"You have a habit of leaving her. I know you said you're planning on sticking around, but I don't know if I trust that Max."

"You're accusing me of running out on my baby again?"

"Yes. You've done it twice already. What's to say you won't do it again?"

"You know I wouldn't have left her if I could help it Booth, and I know you understand my reasons for doing it."

"Look, if you hurt her again Max…"

"I get it Agent Booth. I'm glad to know that you're that…what the hell is going on here?" Max looked at their street, surprise written over his features. The entire street was blocked off by State troopers and county Sheriffs. News vans and a couple of ambulances were also there.

"Whatever it is, it couldn't have been good." Booth pulled the SUV over and got out, followed closely by Max. They made their way over to the closest officer, looking out over the chaos and trying to make some sense of it.

"I'm sorry sir, but you need to back away."

"What happened here?"

"Sir, you need to back off." Booth looked at the officer and frowned.

"Look, we live on this street and I need to know what happened here."

"Regardless, we can't allow anyone down here right now. You'll have to wait out here until the scene is taken care of."

"Are you new at this? We have family down there, and you are not helping the situation." Booth took a step forward and into the officer's space.

"Step back."

"No, not until you tell me what's going on."

"Sir, if you don't step away, then I'm going to have to take action."

"Yeah, like what?" The officer pulled out his cuffs. Booth saw them and snorted. Max looked from one to the other.

"Booth, maybe you should back off a little."

"Max, just stay out of this." Booth turned back to the officer. "You can just put those away. You can't charge me with anything." He put his hands on his hips causing his jacket to spread open. His badge showed as it caught the sunlight. The officer looked at him in surprise.

"When was the FBI called out here?"

"Called out? No, I need to get to my house, on this street. Now what the hell happened?"

"There was a drive-by shooting 'bout half an hour ago. Two people were hit."

"Shit." Booth grabbed hold of Max and dragged him past the crime scene tape as the officer he'd been speaking to made a sound of protest. "Bones?" The two rushed over to the house, panic building in the FBI agent the longer he went without spotting his partner.

"Booth, over here," he heard Amy call out to him. She looked shaken as did the two girls.

"Amy, where's Bones?" Russ' girlfriend pointed to the side. Brennan lay on the ground, paramedics surrounding her. For one long, horrible moment, Booth felt his heart stop. He rushed over to her side, roughly knocking a paramedic out of the way. Her eyes were closed, and blood covered her clothes. "Temperance, please, are you okay? Look at me."

Her eyes fluttered open and she grimaced in pain. Booth brushed some hair from her face and looked her over, searching for injuries.

"Booth?"

"I'm here," His tone sounded relieved as tension began to slip from his frame. "What happened? Are you…how are you feeling?"

"I'm cold, wet and I have a splitting headache." Booth let out a strangled laugh and pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. His heart pounded as he clung to her, trying to both desperately shield her from hurt and remain professional at the same time. He pulled back after a minute and kissed her gently on the forehead. He slid his hands to her arms to get a better look at her and heard a gasp of pain.

"What's wrong?" Both removed his hands and saw one of them covered in blood. "Jesus, why didn't you say anything?"

"It's nothing. I would have been worse off if Gavin hadn't pushed me to the ground."

"Gavin?" Booth swung his head to look at the front porch. Gavin was being transferred onto a stretcher, his shoulder being compressed. The firing range owner was looking in their direction, his eyes glazed with pain. Booth turned back to Brennan as Gavin was taken off the porch and loaded onto an ambulance. "What happened Temperance?"

"Gavin came over…he had your list with him."

"My list? How the hell did he get the list?"

"He must have picked it up when he was over yesterday. Anyway, he brought over the list and made some accusations. When I asked him to leave, a car turned the corner and the next thing I knew, I was on the porch floor and he was on top of me. I didn't realize that there was gunfire until I heard the screaming." Brennan put a hand to her head and closed her eyes, fighting off another dizzy spell.

"Come on, let's get you to a hospital and have you checked out." He expected a fight and was mildly surprised that she didn't protest. She just nodded her head as Booth stepped back to allow the paramedics to do their job. Temperance glanced at Booth as they loaded her onto a stretcher.

"Booth, you've got blood all over your suit."

"Doesn't matter Bones. I'll see you there, okay?"

"You're not coming with me?"

"I need to stay with your father. We won't be far behind you, I promise." He offered her what he hoped was a supportive smile, and watched her disappear into the ambulance. As the door was shut, and the vehicle drove away, Booth ran his fingers through his hair.

"You okay Booth?" The agent turned to look at Max, then let out a tired sigh.

"I'm fine. This is just getting way too complicated. Come on, let's get to the hospital. I don't think Bones will want to be kept waiting."