Author's Note: Sorry for the large gap in uploads! School got in the way. Here ya go!

Ch 20: On the Road Again

"So what do we do now?" Booth had asked.

Hardison shrugged, "There's only one place that we haven't checked. McGill's house. But I gotta warn ya, it's a long shot."

"Whatever shot it is we have to take it," Nate said, standing up. "So," he turned to Booth and Elliot, "are the two of you up to a bit of breaking and entering?"

Booth knew he wasn't going to like this.

The agent and hitter were at the back door of McGill's mansion, it was dark, and Elliot was dressed like a caterer. (The real caterer was unconscious in the back of his van.) The plan was for Elliot to sneak in, and then find a way to get Booth in as well. McGill knew Booth but, hopefully because of how much he had changed, not Elliot. That part went off fine; Elliot had started a mild kitchen fire and had evacuated the kitchen long enough to get Booth in the back door and down into the basement. This would have been fine except for Bones filed into the kitchen just after Booth had been hidden.

"What the hell B!" Elliot exclaimed. ("B's there!" it was Parker in the com's, "Oh man Elliot! You said that I couldn't come but you invited her!")

"I wanted to come to help; I always get to go with Booth!" Brennan was making what she hoped was a strong argument for why she should be allowed to stay.

"Damnit," Elliot growled. He was cut off as one of the sue-chefs came back in the kitchen. Before the man could see them, he pulled B and himself into the basement after Booth. Hopefully, no one would miss him. "Take her," Elliot passed Brennan to Booth.

"Bones! What are you doing here?" Booth asked as they started down the hall that lead to an underground network of servers . . . hopefully.

A few hundred feet away from the door Elliot stopped short. "Shh," he put a finger up to his mouth, "I hear footsteps." He ducked behind a corner, hoping that Booth and B would have the sense to do the same.

"I think I say them go this way," it was the footsteps Elliot had heard and now they were less than five feet away.

Booth had Bones by the elbow on the other side of the hall. They were hidden but if the advancer came any closer they would be spotted. He had to be prepared to make a move in case Bones needed him. He had to protect Bones!

Two more feet and Booth could now tell from the shadow that the man was alone, and that he held a gun. Booth checked his holster; empty. Damnit. He would have to –

Elliot saw the problem; Booth and B would be caught if the man got any closer. He sprang into action, keeping low to hopefully avoid being shot again. His shoulder collided with the man's gut before he could react and the gun went off into the air. The two tumbled backward into the hall, giving booth and B enough time to escape.

Booth only snapped out of his shock when Elliot and the attacker hit the concrete. He took a firmer grip on Bones' arm and pulled her further along the hall until they came to an alcove they could hide in. Once Bones was safe, he ran back to help Elliot.

And Elliot did need helping, though he had subdued the first man down the hall, three more followed, each with guns leveled on the hitter.

"Wow, guys, bad response time," he was jeering, "I took your buddy out at least sixty seconds ago."

In a flash Booth decided bolder would be best at his moment. He slid one hand into his jacket like he was reaching for a gun and pulled his badge out with the other. "Elliot, are you regretting that whole 'no gun' thing yet?" To the men he said, "FBI agent Seeley Booth, put your guns down."

"Damnit," Elliot growled, seeing the one of the men's attention turn to Booth. He couldn't have taken out all there men, but he still couldn't take out two at this distance. Booth had done nothing good for them. In fact, he had done the exact opposite. "Booth, they didn't know who we were before." Apparently it was a rule that every FBI agent had to have a lapse of sense at some point in time. Elliot didn't like this revelation; he had thought the agent cool.

Nate was talking into the com, asking if Elliot needed any back up. He growled in response, it was just subtle enough to not draw attention but Nate knew that it meant stay back.

Booth realized too late that he had made a mistake, Elliot couldn't get them out of this one and Bones was in danger. He had to find some way to get Bones down the hall and out of here. In his com he heard Nate say that they were on their way to the mansion, just in case. Then he heard Elliot growl again. Next he heard something that he didn't want to hear:

"Hello, I am Dr. Brennan," Bones had stepped out of the niche, hands raised.

'Stupid, stupid!' Booth wanted to face palm. Then one of the gunmen that were on Elliot shifted his gun to Bones. 'That's alota heart Bones,' this was not the first time Booth thought that.

This movement gave Elliot just enough time to launch forward again, taking out his gunman as Booth used the surprise to begin his own attack. Within ten seconds all three men were taken care of and Booth had a gun, Elliot still refused the weapon and instead went and helped B to her feet; she had ducked in the brawl.

"Let's go, Hardison showed me a door that leads out of the basement into another tunnel like at the office," Elliot had already started down the hall at a sprint, Booth caught up quickly and they were all three down into the basement before any of the crew in the van could say another word.

"Shit," Elliot pulled up short, holding his hands up, Bones followed suite and Booth dropped his acquired gun.

Waiting for them in the basement were at least ten armed men, and Conan McGill. They were royally screwed.

Author's Note: What do you think! Oh, I feel that I should say this, Elliot doesn't hate Booth and no, Booth is not stupid: he just had a slight lapse in judgment. Personally, I actually think that Booth is actually even more bad ass (if that is possible) than Elliot.

Hey! Look at it! It's like right . . . . . . . . . . . .HERE! . . .push it, you know you want to!