A/N: I am still overwhelmed by the response this story has generated. You all have given me such a confidence boost. I want to thank you for your great reviews. And I would like to thank a reader who pointed out a minor hole I had not elaborated on. I answered it in this chapter. This story will be wrapped up in another chapter or two. Bones in the Garden is the first part of a multi-story series. Thanks again for reading and without further ado....
Disclaimer: Same as the first chapter. I honestly don't think 3 tic tacs and some peanut M&Ms is going to be worth all those lawyer bills if you come after me.....
Chapter 4
Unlike the rest of the house, the basement was unfinished except for the floors which were cement.
"No wine cellar?'' Booth asked sarcastically as they stepped into the basement.
"Very funny, Booth. We need to start looking for the door. Bones was barely conscious when we left the room." Felicia stated. "Jer, can you tell about where the door in the perimeter wall is?"
He smiled at his wife's intensity. She was the same way when they were trying to catch his stalker. "We should start probably in that area." He answered pointing to a corner opposite from where they were standing.
The three walked to the area and began to look for any sign of the door. The wall was a combination of rock and old timber. This was not going to be an easy or quick task. Even when they find the door the cement that was now the floor would probably seal it and make it harder to open. They worked quietly as they searched for any sign of a door.
"So, Seel, when did you fall in love with your partner?" Jeremy asked, breaking the silence.
"What?" Booth asked, startled by the question.
"When did you fall in love with your partner? It's a simple enough question." Jeremy said, glancing at his grinning wife.
"We should be looking for the damn door, not worrying about my love life." Booth mumbled.
"Now, Seeley Booth," Felicia drawled, pushing on the wall in front of her. "I do believe you are avoidin' the question."
"Yes, I am." He said, becoming more engrossed in the wall before him.
Both of the Adler's stopped and stared at him.
"What?" Booth asked.
"I'll just ask Caroline. She'll tell me." Felicia shrugged and went back to examining the wall.
"Since I met her." Booth mumbled, sighing.
"Well, duh." Felicia answered.
"Why did you ask if you already knew?"
"We wanted to see if you admitted it to yourself." Jeremy answered. "Even a blind man can see you two have it bad."
"How the hell do you two do that thing where you have a whole conversation without even talking?" Felicia asked.
"What are you talking about?" Booth asked with surprise.
"You two just look at each other. Don't give me that look. We watched you do it all night." Felicia said with annoyance.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Booth answered. "Look, we have always had this connection, chemistry or whatever. It's what makes us such great partners. She anticipates me and I anticipate her. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love."
"Truly, that's great, Seel. You do anything about it?" Jeremy asked.
"We kissed." Booth answered with a shrug.
"What?" Jeremy and Felicia answered in unison.
"Technically, it was Caroline's fault. She was feeling 'puckish' last Christmas and she blackmailed Bones into hanging a sprig of mistletoe and kissing me under it. It just got out of hand before we knew what happened."
"How was it?" Felicia asked.
"Amazing." Booth answered before he could stop the word. "Did I just say that out loud?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As the Felicia, Jeremy and Booth left the room, Bones passed out. She had been holding onto that last modicum of consciousness for Booth. She had known he wouldn't leave her if she had lost total consciousness before. Sammy saw her pass out and quickly went over to check her pulse.
"Is she still alive?" Jackson asked fearfully.
"Yeah, she still has a pulse." Sammy answered, feeling for her own. "It is not very strong but she still has it."
"Are we gonna get out of this?" Jackson asked his sister.
"Yeah. Dad and Felicia are a great team but add Booth and we'll win the Super Bowl." Sammy told him with as much confidence as she could muster.
Jackson nodded and sat back down in the corner away from her. Truth be told Sammy was scared. If it hadn't been for Dr. Brennan, she would have been the one shot. Sammy always admired Dr. Brennan, now she really admired her. She had risked her life for Jackson and her. Dr. Temperance Brennan was her favorite author and now she was her hero.
"Booth!" Brennan exclaimed as she came to, suddenly.
"Its ok, Dr. Brennan. Its me Sammy. Booth is down looking for the door to get us out of here with Felicia and Dad. He'll be back."
"What happened?" Brennan asked weakly.
"You passed out." Sammy said, smiling.
"Oh." Brennan said. "It is probably going to happen more. I've lost a lot of blood."
"I know. You don't seem to be bleeding as bad as you were a few minutes ago." Sammy told her as she checked her wounds.
"If I don't come to and something happens, the gun is here." She said, pointing to the gun between her and the couch cushion. "You know how to use it, right?"
"Yeah, Felicia and Booth took me to the FBI shooting range when I wanted to try it." Sammy answered. "Dad wasn't thrilled but he was happy Felicia and Booth were the ones to take me."
"Booth is a very fine marksman." Bones told her as her eyes shut. "Cold."
"Here use this." Sammy said, throwing a blanket on her.
"Thanks." Brennan mumbled, as darkness took her.
"Is she ok?'' Jackson asked, again.
"She's in shock. I hope they hurry." Sammy said glancing over.
"She's gonna live, right?"
"She's strong. I …What was that?" Sammy said at the sound of breaking glass.
"I don't know, Sammy. I'm scared." Jackson said as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I want Dad."
"He said to stay here. Hide in the closet. I'll stay here with Dr. Brennan." Sammy ordered.
"I don't want to."
"Go, you'll be safe." She told him as she heard a single set of footsteps in the upstairs hall near the attic door. "They must have come in the attic."
"Sammy."
"Now, Jackson." She ordered as she pushed him toward the closet. It was hidden from view coming from the hall. She knew he would be safe there.
"Just be quiet. No matter what you hear. Got me?" She said as he nodded. "I love you, squirt."
Closing the door, she moved closer to Dr. Brennan. She needed that gun. Booth had been right about one thing; there was more than one shooter. There was no way the intruder in their house was still shooting. The shooting was still going on outside. She wished the army of FBI agents would save them but she knew better. Felicia had said they wouldn't come near the house with all the shooting. Looking at the clock on the wall, she realized only a half an hour had passed since the shooting had begun. Not enough time for the FBI to form any kind of plan of attack. Sammy knew what she had to do. Dr. Brennan had saved her life. She was going to save hers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Are you sure your squint knows what he is talking about?" Felicia asked with a frustrated sigh.
"What the hell is a squint?" Jeremy asked.
"A scientist, geek. You know, they squint all the time." Felicia answered.
"Oh. I can't imagine what you call politicians." Jeremy said.
"You don't want to know." Felicia answered. "I think I found something."
"Its about time. I was beginning to doubt Hodgins." Booth said coming over. "Looks like it."
The crack in the wall was barely discernible. Looking at it with the flashlight Jeremy brought over, you could definitely see the outline of a door.
"Remind me to kiss Hodgins when we get out of here." Booth said. "So how do we get it open?"
"Force is not going to work. A secret switch or something?" Felicia asked with a shrug.
They started checking the rocks around the wall for any loose ones. Booth and Jeremy were relieved to see the cement was thin around the edges on the floor. For once, they were all relieved the contractor cut corners. It wouldn't be hard to push it.
"I got it." Felicia exclaimed as the rock in her hand shook loosely.
"Before we open this door, what happens if the gunmen found this tunnel too? There could be someone on the other side." Jeremy said, stopping his wife.
"Good point." Booth said, pulling his gun. "Jeremy, turn the rock. Felicia and I will cover you."
"We'll tell you when." She said pulling the gun from her leg holster. "Just turn it and pivot away from the tunnel entrance."
They all took their positions. Booth and Felicia were on either side of the door while Jeremy was in front of the rock.
"Ready." Felicia told him quietly.
"I hope this is the tunnel and not some other secret room." Booth mumbled.
"Now" Felicia told him.
As Jeremy pushed the rock, the door groaned open. With their guns drawn, Booth and Felicia disappeared into the darkness. Jeremy stood waiting. With the occasional sound of one of them saying clear, he felt better. He was worried that whoever was targeting his family had found this tunnel. He stood tensely waiting for his wife and Booth to return.
"Look what we found." Booth said as he exited the tunnel a short time later. Between him and Felicia stood a very frightened Julia.
"Oh thank god." Jeremy said as Julia launched herself at him.
"I was outside when the shooting began. Jackson had told me about the door. I just ran into it."
"She scared the bejesus out of us." Felicia said. "I'm just happy she's safe and….."
"Shhhhh." Booth said silencing her. "You hear that?"
"What?" Felicia asked.
"That." Booth said as the sound of footsteps echoed around them from the hall upstairs.
"Kids?" Jeremy asked.
"Unless they are in combat boots, no way." Booth said heading to the stairs, gun drawn.