AN: Okay everyone, there's one more chapter to go. I know you all want to know what the heck is going on, so this chapter explains that. Could be a bit confusing, and if it is, I apologize. Other than that, there's just one chapter to go to tie up some loose ends.
"Would you state your name for the court please?" Caroline Julian stood before the witness stand, her arms crossed as she looked at the young woman there.
"Which name would you like?"
"Excuse me?"
"Which name would you like? For the past five months, I've been living under the assumed name, Delia Chase. My professional name is Dr. Temperance Brennan, but I was born Joy Keenan." Caroline raised an eyebrow at her.
"Which name do you prefer to go by?"
"My professional name."
"Very well then Dr. Brennan, can you please give us your account of what happened last year beginning on the twenty sixth of December?"
"I was on the front porch of my father's house watching my two nieces play in the snow. A friend of mine, Gavin came to the house to discuss some concerns he had about Agent Booth. As he was leaving, a car rounded onto the street and within seconds of seeing the vehicle, Gavin had me on the ground, protecting me from the gunfire originating from inside the vehicle. I was taken to the hospital for my injuries, which were minor and released that night.
"The next day, it was determined that there was still a threat against me, and after a discussion with Agent Booth, I made the decision to go into Witness Protection. We met with Deputy Director Sam Cullen to receive the details of my cover and, once we were in possession of them, Agent Booth and I left to go to my relocation.
"But you never made it?"
"No. On the Interstate, we hit a patch of black ice and were involved in a major collision in which the SUV we were in was hit by an eighteen wheel truck and knocked off the road. I hit my head on the steering wheel and was knocked unconscious, but Agent Booth received much more severe injuries."
"How long were you in the hospital?"
"Only a couple of days."
"Really? The reports we have state that you were there for two weeks."
"I was under a physician's care for the majority of that time. I was unconscious for two days after the accident, and when I came to, it was decided that I should still go into Witness Protection. My father and Salvatore Costello helped facilitate my disappearance along with Agent Annabelle Chastain of the FBI."
"Thank you Dr. Brennan, that will be all for now." Temperance nodded to Caroline and waited for the defense to begin their interrogation of her.
XxXxX
Angela stood outside the courtroom during a recess absolutely fuming. Surely Brennan could have found a way to get word to her that she was alive. As the doors to the courtroom opened and Temperance stepped out with Booth, his arm around her protectively.
"Temperance Brennan what the hell is wrong with you?" Brennan's eyes went wide at her best friends words. "You couldn't let me know you were back in town or find a way to let us know you were okay?"
"Angela, calm down," Booth said only to be cut off by the artist.
"No, you don't get to talk. All this time I thought you were with us, that you didn't know, and yet here the two of you are together."
"I found out yesterday Angela. I came home and she was there, okay?" Angela looked from Booth and back to Temperance.
"You couldn't let me know? I had to find out here?" The betrayal that was in the artist's words hurt Brennan down to her core.
"It was never my intention to hurt anyone, but I had more to think of than myself."
"Like what?" Brennan sighed and unbuttoned the long coat she was wearing. Angela gasped at the rounded abdomen that had been covered underneath the concealing jacket.
"You're...but you said you didn't want...how?"
"Well I'm assuming you know how, but I needed to protect all of you and my child." It took a moment amongst all of the gawking for Angela to react, but when she did, she pulled Temperance into a hug. Booth backed off to give them a bit of space as the two women reconnected with each other. Caroline sidled up next to Booth, keeping her eyes on the anthropologist.
"I'm assuming that baby she's carrying is yours?" Booth pulled his gaze from Brennan to look at the lawyer.
"Yeah, it's mine."
"Well then congratulations Cherie. I suppose the two of you deserve a little bit of happiness after this whole mess."
"Thanks Caroline." Booth squinted his eyes a little bit as he looked at her, trying to understand how much she knew before today. "Why didn't you tell me that Temperance was alive?"
"I gave you the witness list. Don't blame me for not telling you. That should have been Agent Chastain's job, so if you're going to be upset with someone, then let it be her." Booth opened his mouth to respond, but closed it when he saw Brennan look back at him and reach for him with her hand. He smiled at her and stepped up to join her and Angela, taking her hand as he approached.
XxXxX
"I got involved in this case several years ago up in the New York FBI offices. I was put in charge of collecting evidence against the Costellos for tax evasion and drug charges. I looked into their family connections to discover a possible 'in' for me. The best way for me to find out what I needed to know was to infiltrate the family. As I was looking over the information, I discovered that Michael Randall was related to the Costellos through marriage, and arranged a transfer to the DC offices.
"Once there, I met Michael and we became associates first, then we began seeing each other outside of work. Around that time, Agent Booth was involved in a case in which Michael's cousins Scott and Mary were accused of murder. By this point I had insinuated myself into Michael's life enough that he shared with me that his family was looking to go after Booth and his partner, Dr. Brennan.
"At that point, I couldn't blow my cover, but needed to keep another agent safe, as well as a civilian, so I had Agent Booth moved onto the case, gathering evidence from the outside. I knew the threat against him and eventually had it suggested that he bring me in for an undercover assignment. I was to pose as his son's kindergarten teacher so it would seem more natural for us to have met to his friends and family. I could have Agent Booth work from the office while I was gathering information from Michael.
"It was then I realized that my cover could be blown with Michael, so I began to offer little bits of information to him, then whatever information I gave him, I would report to my superiors."
"Is that how your marriage to Agent Booth came about?"
"Yes. Michael said he wished there was a way to off Agent Booth without it being obviously connected to his family. I came up with a faked marriage as the solution. I could marry Agent Booth and posing as his wife, would hire a hit man for the job. Michael set it up, but I had no idea he was the one who would do the job.
"Michael told me that he was visiting family in New York for Christmas, and I stayed behind to coordinate the next move when Dr. Brennan was shot at."
"What did you do at that point?"
"Deputy Director Cullen informed me that they were putting Brennan underground due to an attack. The next day on my way to work, I heard about the accident and began to make arrangements to go to Flint where they were admitted to Hurley Medical Center. Once I got there, one of Michael's cousins, Antonio made an attempt to kill Agent Booth, but was caught in the act."
"I don't recall Agent Booth mentioning any attempt on his life."
"I never told him about it. He had enough to worry about with his injuries. I made the decision, along with his parents to return him to DC where he'd have more protection. When Dr. Brennan came to, I sat down with her and had a discussion about her options. She could either chance another hit, or go back into protection. When she asked about Agent Booth, I informed her of the attempt. She agreed to stick to the original plan and go into Witness Protection. Her father and Salvatore Costello agreed to help."
"How was it that Max Keenan became involved in the first place?"
"He had past dealings with the Costellos, and Michael knew that he had connections to Agent Booth. The hit on Max was only an excuse to bring Agent Booth to Michigan so they could both be removed at the same time."
"That seems a bit far fetched."
"Well Agent Booth had a lot of evidence against the family, and we only had a few loose ends to wrap up when Max showed up at the wedding. Michael's cousin saw him and the plan was hatched."
"Why didn't you tell Agent Booth?"
"If I had, it would have been a giveaway that I was turning in all of my information to the FBI. I was in a very sticky situation."
"And did that include faking a pregnancy?"
"No. I'm due in a month actually. That is real."
"Thank you Agent Chastain, I believe that's all for now." Annie nodded to Caroline and rubbed a hand over her much expanded stomach. This was a tiring case and very confusing, and she was glad it was down to the testimony now.
XxXxX
"We the jury find the defendants guilty on all counts." Booth leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Thank God, it was finally over and he could get on with his life. Next to him, Brennan squeezed his hand and offered him a smile. He leaned over and gave her a small kiss on the lips. With a wry smile, he thought about the conversation he'd still need to have with his boss since Brennan was still alive, but that was nothing to him. What was important was that he had Temperance back and they were going to truly be a family.