Author's Note: And here's what was going on while Sweets was in his own little world. Yay to my reviewers!

Chapter 14: Yeehaw!

Booth and Nate had been the first to leave the room. Booth still had his broom closet at the precinct and they decided that it would be the best place to talk undercover. "Sit down Mr. Ford," Booth sat behind the small desk and waved Nate into a folding chair on the other side.

"Nate, please call me Nate."

"Okay, Nate, you sent your team out," he had also sent Brennan out which Booth hadn't decided if he liked or not, "it seems like you know what you're doing." Booth was not at all rude during this exchange but he was still a bit on edge. (Yeah, he had made a decision, he did not like that Nate had sent Brennan out with Parker and Elliot.)

"Don't worry," Nate waved off as he sat, "I trust my team and your lady friend is in good hands." Now he began talking business, "Our part of the con –"

Booth stopped him here, "Can we please call it "plan" or something that sounds less illegal?"

"Fine, our part of the plan is to get as close to McGill as possible. Hardison can't find any proof that he is behind this murder or the drug cartel but if we can get close enough using your badge as an umbrella, then we could get somewhere. As for me, I will use Sophie's connections, the ones she is making as we speak, to get myself a job in his company." Nate leaned back and reached into his pocket, pulling something out and offering it to Booth, "As a show of good faith, here. It's one of the ear buds we use to communicate while on a job." Booth watched as the man lowered his head and tone, "Yeah, Hardison, give him his too." Back to Booth, "You will know everything that my team does at all times."

Booth looked at the ear piece before inserting it into his ear, as Nate said he could hear each member of the team, he only had to focus in on who he wanted to listen to. Right now it was Bones who apparently had an ear piece of her own.

"I was not told that I would be breaking into anyplace: I am afraid that I did not come prepared with any black attire." Brennan was sitting in the passenger seat of the rented Genesis, Elliot was driving and Parker was in the middle seat. ("Are we almost there?" she asked leaning forward. Elliot pointed to the built-in GPS, "Yes, and look, no traffic." *insert "ohhh's" and "ahhh's" here*)

Elliot reached into his back pocket and pulled out his toboggan, pushing it into Brennan's hand. He liked the doctor, she seemed like the gray between black and white, kind of like the rest of the team. But he had noticed that her world view was very black and white, mostly led by Agent Booth's view of right and wrong. He was glad that, at least for the time being, his team was in the "white" category.

"Thank you Mr. Spencer." Brennan slid it onto her head, "This is exciting."

Elliot grinned, "Call me Elliot."

Even Parker liked this woman. It could be because of their shared social awkwardness, though with that they shouldn't be able to function together (or they could communicate telepathically, Elliot couldn't remember which one worked that way.)

Parker leaned forward and poked her head between Elliot's and Brennan's shoulder, "Are you ready to break the law?"

Brennan's mind was instantly brought back memories of something Booth had said, "You have to be bad to develop your frontal lobe." This brought a smile to her face. "Just this once." They were pulling up behind McGill's offices, doing a drive-by to make sure that the vent the blue-prints showed was actually there. Confirming this, they drove off to circle back once plans were laid.

"Be careful, Dr. Brennan," Elliot turned off the car in a gas station parking lot, "this team can get addictive."

Parker pulled out her phone and brought up the schematics Hardison had sent her. "Okay B," Parker began, feeling clever at her new nickname for the doctor, "We're going to go up through the vent, once I get plugged into the server in the basement I'll be able to send information to Hardison. When we get inside we're going to go let Elliot in from this underground tunnel that runs from the old jail downtown." It was the longest shpeal the blonde had done in a while and she was proud of herself. When B didn't have any questions she put her right hand out, "Okay team, let's do this!"

"Yes," Brennan put her hand out on top of Parker's. This was getting fun.

Elliot balked, "I'm not doin' that Parker."

"Common E," this nickname was immediately dropped.

"Elliot," Brennan took her free hand and grabbed Elliot's arm, piling it on top of her own.

"Ready, break!"

"Howdy ya'll!" Southern drawl wasn't Sophie's strong suite but she liked the challenge. She was Kelly Harding from Fort Worth. Actually a little town called Paradise a bit away from Fort Worth but if anyone asked "where ya from?" it was much easier to say "Cow Town." Paradise sounded too much like pot-head heaven. She was a red-blooded American, Republican, card carrying member of the NRA, hell of a shot. Every winter she went hunting with her pa and she always brought home bigger and better game than him. (She was glad that she had brought her boots.) Today Kelly was going to McGill to set up a funding. Her pa and she had grown quite a ranch in Paradise and now were looking at bigger and better things to supplement what they weren't making on horse sales. As an added vendetta, Pa Harding (aptly named Bubba) wanted to get into politics. McGill came from similar origins and Kelly would bet that he wouldn't turn down a $10,000 back brace. A "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" situation.

Sophie bounced up the steps, her pig-tails bouncing on her shoulders and her rhinestone belt glinting. She had even donned a red-plaid flannel shirt and starched Rockie's.

McGill's secretary sat behind a large mahogany desk. "Howdy, errrr, Sarah," she had read the placard, "I was wonderin' if Mr. McGill was open to a chat?" It was hard to hide her English lit.

In her peripheral vision Sophie caught Bekka Carson see her and quickly scurry back down the hall.

The secretary had beaufont hair and small spectacles. "What can I tell you ya want, honey?" she seemed nice.

"A little business venture," Sophie leaned against the desk and slid "her" drivers license for the secretary to scan, "My name's Kelly Harding."

"Allrighty Miss. Harding, I'll let him know."

Sophie knew Sarah would be Googling the name. She also knew bogus hits would come up that Hardison had planted.

While she waited, Sophie asked herself, "What Would Kelly Do?" The answer was to excuse herself for a smoke break."

Note and Booth had come to the consensus that it was best to allow Sophie to work her magic this first day and allow the two men to the test the waters with each other and perform "trust falls."

This of course, meant going to a saloon down the street.

They didn't have much time to goof off. As soon as Elliot put the car into park, Parker jumped out and Elliot hefted her onto his shoulders under the vent. Deftly, Parker popped open the vent and wriggled inside. "Your turn B," Elliot decided it was best to go along with Parkers nickname (after getting a subtle threat form the thief). He took a knee but Brennan paused.

"Elliot, you were in a fight not that long ago and judging by how you are carrying yourself you must have hurt a rib (the third one on your right side). For one with my mass to climb onto your shoulders would exacerbate your injuries and cause you much pain." Brennan put a hand on the suspected injury. When Elliot flinched, it was proven.

"You talk too much Doc, I'll be fine just stick close to Parker," he helped Brennan onto his shoulders before standing and lifting her into the vent. Once the door was closed, Elliot got back in the car and drove off; waiting for Parker to tell him they had the door open for him.

In the vent, Parker had made quite a bit of headway, not used to having a gosling following her. Brennan caught up easily enough but It was being quiet that gave her problems. She had to pause and watch how Parker glided before she realized how to barely lift her appendages and move.

"This way B," Parker hissed, waving Brennan to the Elevator shaft they would use to get to the basement where the tunnel was. Parker was the only one with a harness so she had Brennan lay on top of her as she eased her way, feet first into the shaft. The elevator was at the top so they were able to easily slide down to the bottom floor and Parker detached herself and they headed to the tunnel entrance.

Brennan, of course, had loved the drop. Again, Parker and she had a lot in common, both had no fear.

"Okay, Elliot, are you in the tunnel?"

At the old jail it hadn't taken an extensive knowledge to pick the skeleton key lock and make his way into the tunnel. "I'm here," he coughed, that rib screamed in protest, "man, it's dusty down here. I don't think it's used much anymore."

Parker popped the lock and let Elliot in.

"Let us go and steal some useful information!" B almost squeaked, scurrying after Parker in the basement.

Elliot shook his head, he was on baby-sitting duty and he knew it. "Keep it down Parker; you don't want everyone to know we're here!"

Sophie had been given an audience with McGill, well Kelly Harding had been granted an audience.

McGill was intrigued by her father's land holdings and even more whetted by the thought of the general "back brace" Mr. Harding had to offer. Like fellows should always stick together (so long as neither encroached on the other's territory).

"Good morning, Miss. Harding," McGill met Sophie at the door (A/N: I will continue to all her Kelly so don't get confused. If I mean Sophie I'll use her real name, now they are two different people.) with a hand outstretched.

Kelly took the hand firmly: McGill would and did appreciate that, "Hello Mr. McGill, I recoin' ya'll already know why I'm here, so no use wastin' time on pleasantries." She smiled wryly. "I'm here to form a coalition of sorts, between my pa and you, Mr. McGill."

They sat and the man ordered them a picture of sweet tea while Kelly lined out her plan. "That sounds great to me Miss. Harding." ("Call me Kelly, please Conan.") "Of course I will have to view your financial statements."

"What I know, you will know," Kelly shot him that Southern Bell smile Sophie had been practicing all night. "I'll have my people call your people. Goodbye Mr. Conan."

McGill saw her to the door, "You do that Kelly, I look forward to a lucrative partnership."

A few shots in, Booth and Nate were getting along fine. They had even made plans for Nate to come up and meet his Parker. The mastermind had quelled as many of the agents fears about the team as he could and now Booth wasn't listening intently for any sound of trouble: the team had it under control. Anyway, Sophie was out and soon Bones, parker and Elliot would as well.

Down in the basement server, Parker wasted no time setting her tap, first allowing Elliot to scan for cameras. "This will take a few minutes," she said to Brennan, then, to Hardison, "Hey are you getting this?"

"Yeah baby, totally gold, girl,"

"I'll guard the door," Elliot went back outside, this had been too easy, something didn't feel right. If it were just him down in the basement, the hair on the back of his neck wouldn't be standing on end but the fact that he was responsible for Parker and B worried him. "Hey, Nate, you getting any buzz on this?"

The only thing he heard was slightly drunken banter.

"Damit."

No sooner had the curse left his mouth, then he heard noises form the direction of the stairwell.

"Ladies, we better be packing it up in there," Elliot hissed into the com, rapping lightly on the door.

"I'm hurrying Elliot." Parker.

"What is wrong Elliot," having been caught up in the moment, Brennan was surprised to hear the worry in Elliot's voice.

"We got company." Shadows were being cast and by the sounds of the men they knew the team was there. "Let's go!" Now he opened the door and shuttled them out. Parker just had time to grab the drive and slide it into her pocket.

They made it to the tunnel entrance before their pursuers came into view. Elliot hauled open the door and ushered Parker through it. Just as Brennan made it to the doorway, and before Elliot had a chance to shut the door to protect her, a guard leveled his gun at her.

The gunshot violently wrenched Booth out of his comfort zone. What name had Elliot shouted? It was Bones. Right before the gunshot and now the three in the tunnel said nothing. Nothing intelligible anyway, just shouts.

Nate had heard this too and his alcohol-flushed face paled. He wished he had put a button camera on someone.

Author's Note: Ha ha! Cliffhanger! Review little goslings!