AN: Sorry for the delay, but I was having a motivational issue with getting this written. Blame Bella-Mi-Amore for that because she kept me distracted with other ideas for Bones stuff along with thoughts of David Boreanaz walking around in just a pair of socks. Dang, now you'll all be too distracted to read this. Oh well, c'est la vie I suppose.
Brennan woke up slowly as a ray of sunshine fell across her face. Feeling content for the moment, she snuggled back into her partner for the warmth, a smile gracing her face. The smile lasted a moment only as she remembered what it was she and Booth had to do that day. Today she would learn all the details about her time in witness protection. With a sigh, she moved to get out of bed, but Booth's arms tightened around her.
"Don't get up just yet." Brennan turned in his arms to look at him. She ran a gentle hand across his cheek, the stubble scratching across her palm. Booth leaned forward and captured her lips with his. "We still have some time."
"Booth, I want to say goodbye to my family." Booth sighed before placing a gentle kiss to her forehead and pulled her in closer to him.
"Okay, okay." He released his grip on her and they both sat up in the bed. Brennan ran a hand through her short hair and grimaced at the feel of it.
"Why'd I have to cut my hair?"
"Oh come on, you look adorable."
"I do not."
"Do too."
"Booth…"
"Bones…" Booth chuckled before kissing her again and climbing out of bed. Brennan allowed herself a moment of guilty pleasure watching him get dressed before she climbed out of the bed and into the cold of the morning. Grabbing the first shirt she could see, Temperance pulled it on as Booth turned around and looked her over. "You know, I really think you look better in that shirt than I do."
"Oh, I don't know. I thought you looked pretty good in it." Brennan approached him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Well thank you." There was a knock at the door and both turned to look as Max opened the door and peeked in his head. He looked at Temperance and frowned.
"So it is true."
"Dad…"
"You're going into hiding, aren't you? I know the signs…the new haircut, the dye…" There seemed something terribly odd in that moment to Brennan that her father was more concerned with the fact that she was going into witness protection than the fact that she and Booth were half dressed and in each other's arms. With a quick shake of her head, she pulled away from Booth to face her father.
"I'm not going to deny anything."
"You can't do that, it's not a life you'll like."
"Maybe not, but I technically have lived that life before, or did you forget that?" Temperance looked at her father and only felt slightly guilty at the look of hurt that crossed his face. "Look, dad I'm sorry but this is something that I have to do."
"Who do you have to do it for, huh? Are you doing it for yourself or for Booth?" Max looked at Booth knowing he was the one to put the idea into Temperance's head. Booth took a step closer to Brennan and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Max, the last thing that I want is for you and Bones to part on bad terms. I can't stay here, and I want to make sure she's safe. She'll only be gone for a few months, just until my case is wrapped up. After that she'll be able to come back."
"What happens if a problem comes up, huh? What then? I've known people who've been in for years because of a complication." Max turned his attention back to Temperance. "Please honey, don't do this."
"I've already agreed to it, and I don't go back on my word." She held her father's gaze with steely determination, and he knew there was nothing he could do to change her mind.
"What do you want me to tell Russ?"
"Nothing. I'll say my goodbyes in my own way."
"Okay baby." He held open his arms and Brennan moved forward into them for a hug.
XxXxX
While the ride into Flint didn't take long, it was quiet in the vehicle. Brennan stared out the window lost in her own thoughts, while Booth would glance over at her occasionally to make sure she was still doing okay.
"I'm going to miss them all," she finally said as she pulled herself back to the present.
"I know."
"How do you do it? How do you hide the truth for so long without going crazy?" She looked at Booth as he drove, watching as he clenched and unclenched his hands on the steering wheel.
"It's hard. The last thing I wanted was to hurt you when my assignment began, but that's what I ended up doing. You're a rock for me Temperance, and after you left I started to self destruct."
"You're not making this whole thing sound very appealing you know." Booth gave a quick smile, and then glanced at her for a moment.
"I was able to hold it together knowing that you would always be there for me. I knew that when the assignment was over and I'd have to 'divorce' Annie, you would be one of the only people to not judge me."
"Is that why you didn't invite your parents to the wedding?"
"I didn't invite them because I haven't spoken to them in close to ten years. My dad made it very clear to me that I'm a disappointment to him, and divorce will only add to that."
"Booth, I want you to do something for me, and I expect you to do this because you owe me for this whole on the run thing."
"What's that?"
"You've pushed me to reconcile with my father, and I have a good relationship with him now because of it. I want you to do the same with your parents."
"Why?"
"Because you're the one who talks about how important family is, and yet you shun yours."
"You and Parker are all the family I need." Temperance smirked at that.
"You talk a big game, and I know you've said you don't need marriage and all that, but it's part of who you are. You said those things to me to keep me from running away, but the reality is you want that life. You want it because your parents want that. Why else would you have chosen to be married in an undercover assignment?"
"I'm married in this undercover assignment because it's a way for us to close in on the Costellos. The family is after me, and this way my 'wife' can pretend to be dissatisfied with the relationship and put a hit out on me. The only problem is that it's backfired."
"It backfired because of me, right?"
"No. This case could fall apart because someone lapsed when they were doing background checks on their employees."
"Ah, that leak you were talking about."
"Yes." Booth pulled into an underground parking structure and Temperance looked around in surprise.
"This isn't the FBI building."
"I know that Bones, but Cullen doesn't want anyone to know that we're meeting. He's set up a private meeting for us in the McCrea building, and afterwards, you'll be on your way into the Federal Marshall's hands." As he pulled into a parking spot, Booth killed the engine and turned more fully to face Temperance. "At that time, you'll be taken to your safe house and start your new life."
"Do you know where I'll be staying?"
"That information hasn't been released to me, no." Booth got out of the car, followed by Temperance. He led her through the cold parking structure and into the building, making their way to the room arranged by Cullen. The Deputy Director was already there when they stepped into the room.
"Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan, please have a seat." He motioned to two chairs in the room as he leaned back against a conference table. Booth shut the door behind him before he sat down. "First off is damage control. How much does Dr. Brennan know about your assignment?"
"She knows that I'm working to stop the Costellos, and that Annie is in the FBI and our marriage is a cover."
"That's all?"
"Yes sir." Cullen looked from one to the other, deep in thought for a moment before turning his attention onto Temperance.
"I'm about to break some serious protocol here Dr. Brennan, but seeing as Booth has already compromised his position, it seems only fitting that I inform you of recent developments. A member of the FBI, Michael Randall is the stepson of Luca Costello."
"Michael Randall… He's one of your pathologists isn't he?"
"Yes, he is. He's the one who took a shot at you Dr. Brennan, and we believe he's heavily involved with the inner workings of the Costello crime family. Unfortunately the only proof of his involvement that we have is his name on a rental car contract."
"So you need Booth to find the evidence to show his involvement."
"Exactly. Having worked with you on several occasions in the past, Randall knows that Booth won't leave your side unless you're safe, so as long as you're alive, you're a target. If they kill you, they have Booth exactly where they want him. We're going to make sure that you're safe and we have a head start on what they have planned."
"Okay, so where exactly am I going to stay while your investigation goes on?" Cullen handed an envelope to her with all of the information inside of it. Brennan opened the envelope up, surprised at the thoroughness of the cover. Inside was a birth certificate, driver's license, passport and various other papers that she would need along with a set of keys. Brennan pulled out the driver's license and looked at it, shocked to see herself with a style similar to the one she currently sported. "How…?"
"I called in a little favor outside the bureau to keep down suspicions. Booth told me about your hair while you were getting it cut, so I had a little artistic license added to an existing photograph."
"Booth said something about a teaching job?"
"Yes, you'll be teaching biology at a very small school in Mackinaw City. The school has kindergarten through twelfth grade with only eighty seven students currently enrolled in high school. You'll be able to keep a low profile, and they'll gain one hell of a scientist." Brennan blushed a little at the comment, surprised that Cullen would have said anything to begin with.
"When does she go into custody?"
"She goes in as soon as you get her up there. Once she's settled then you'll be on the first flight out to DC."
"Thank you sir."
"Of course Booth. Now you two get going. It's a four hour drive up there in good conditions." As the pair stood up, Cullen moved toward them and shook their hands. "Good luck."
"Thank you," Brennan answered as they followed the deputy director from the room. As they headed down the hallway, Booth tossed the car keys to Brennan. She looked up at him in surprise. "You're actually letting me drive?"
"Call it a reward for agreeing to do this."
"A reward huh?"
"Absolutley." When they reached the elevator, Cullen called to them from down the hall.
"Booth, when all of this madness is over, we'll be having a chat about your romantic involvement with your partner." Before Booth could respond, the elevator doors opened and Brennan pulled him inside. Neither spoke, but only shared a glance at each other, not knowing how much their lives were about to change.