A/N: Wow! I just wanted to thank everyone who has read this far and reviewed. Thanks so much guys!! The story will be coming to an end soon, but don't worry this isn't the last the chapter.
Chapter 11
Friday May 22 – Unknown Location – 7:48pm
"Get up! We have to get out of here!" Parker's panicked voice was so close and at the same time, it felt so far away. He had been shaking her, violently now. "Get up… Please, you have to…" She knew she had to, but it felt so much easier to ignore the voice and to give up. "It's him, it's the bad the guy. He's moving."
Brennan blinked open an eye and she silently wondered how long she had blacked out for. She was covered in dust and wood, and she felt hopeless as Parker pushed the rubble off of her. The flames had extended upward, and were now indestructible, but somehow Parker and her had been left untouched, with no burns. She grunted as she felt him give one hard tug, and somehow she managed to stagger to her feet. She slumped against the nearest wall, catching her breath. Her clothes were plastered to her body, glued to her from the sweat and blood in which she was soaked in.
"Come on, Dr. Bones."
For a moment she imagined that it was not Parker standing before her, but Booth, and the fact that she could rely on him was all it took for her to open her eyes. She gasped in shock as she took in her surroundings. An oven – they were in an oven, and the flames were growing hungrier and hungrier, feeding their way towards them. And then she saw the slightest movement from under the pile of wood and debris. It was them. The one laid unmoving – probably dead from the fall, but the other was very much alive.
"Son of… a… bitch," the man shouted, as he struggled to crawl out from under the rubble.
"It's him!" Parker screamed, cried. "It's the bad guy. We have to go!"
Brennan nodded and quickly she grabbed his wrist and pulled them to safety. "This way."
Parker pulled back. "But, Dr. Bones. The door is that way."
She shook her head as she eyed the door that was now engulfed in flames. If they went that way they would die. "No, we have to go up." She motioned to where the ceiling had collapsed, leaving a giant whole in the center– their only way out. "Come on." She crawled up onto one of the remaining bookshelves.
"Molly," a voice called from behind.
Brennan looked back, confused and Parker burst into tears as the bad guy burst from the debris and rubble, completely covered in blood. "Dr. Bones, hurry. Hurry, Dr. Bones," Parker cried.
She held out her hand and he gripped it without question. "I'm going to…" she trailed off in a cough, but she managed to finish the rest of her sentence. "Push you, up." He nodded, and with great effort and a lot of help from Parker, she managed to push him up onto the first floor. She swayed as her mind and sight became clouded.
"Molly, stay there. I won't hurt you."
Brennan snapped out off her stateless mind, only to find Agent Ace slowly making his way to where she was standing, with a gun in his hand. It was as if she was frozen, couldn't move, and silently she wondered if this was hell – unable to move as your attacker and the fire made their way closer to you. And just as Ace held up his gun, a hand was shoved in her face and a soft voice broke her everlasting spell.
"Come on, Dr. Bones. Grab my hand." She did and together they pulled her to the floor above. She grunted, screamed and just as she was about to give up she imagined that Booth would be waiting outside the house. She just had to stay awake for a few more minutes and then she would be back in Booth's arm. And with one last shove, and to her relief she collapsed on the floor, with Parker heaving beside her.
"Parker, go… save…"
But Parker wouldn't move. Instead, he violently shook his head. "No, Dr. Bones. I can't leave you."
Brennan looked around, her vision blurred by tears. Couldn't he see that she couldn't move? Couldn't he see that there was no energy left inside her? Couldn't he see that she wanted to die? But then it hit her hard. Parker wouldn't be able to understand or see any of this. He was just a kid. To him everything would be fine and the only thing he saw was an adult who needed saving.
"Come on, Dr. Bones," Parker pleaded as he put her right arm around his shoulder. "I'll help you."
"Molly!" an ominous voice shouted from below, and to her horror they realized that Agent Ace was still following them.
"Okay," she huffed. "Okay."
Her head was spinning, she kept stumbling, but Parker led the way out of the house and into the fresh air, and never in her life had she been this thankful to be alive.
--
Friday May 22 – Unknown Location – 7:59pm
The sun had set and Booth cursed as he slammed the car door shut. They should have gotten here sooner, but it didn't matter now. What mattered now, was that they had arrived and they were going to save Parker and Bones. Booth couldn't see the house, for it was hidden by trees and the dark night, but he knew it was there. Booth would lead the way and he was going to kill the bastards who did this. He wouldn't even hesitate. Anger, it was an emotion that could turn you into something you weren't. With the blink of an eye you could become someone you hate, but the feeling of hating yourself vanishes when your child is taken from you. In reality, yes, you are willing to kill to get him back.
"Booth, here."
Booth looked up to find another F.B.I. agent holding out a bullet prove vest. "Thanks."
"Are you sure you want –"
He sent the F.B.I agent a look that could kill and without question the man nodded, backing up.
"Okay," Booth called out to them. "Let's get my son and partner back."
With a quick flick of his wrist the other eight guards fanned out across the small yard. They moved gracefully, not making a single noise. If anyone were to look out their window, right now, the eight figures would be invisible, hidden by the shadows. However, Booth could see every single one of his men. They had been trained and well taught. They had planed everything out perfectly. Three would sneak around to the back, two would spread out over the lawn, and the remaining three would enter through the front door. It was perfect, but as Booth rounded the corner and up the hill all of his hopes vanished as the house before him was now burning to the ground.
Booth screamed out, dropping to his knees and just as he was about to plunge into the burning house, a shot rang throughout the night. Booth didn't hesitate to follow that sound.
--
Friday May 22 – Unknown Location – 8:00pm
Brennan didn't know where Parker was going, and why she would let a five year old lead the way was beyond her, but frankly she didn't want to think about it. She tried to walk as fast as possible, but the faster she seemed to the walk, the slower and more unsteady she became. And as if Parker could sense her starting to give up, he gripped her arm tighter.
"Molly," the taunting voice came again, and she silently wondered why the hell he was calling her that. The voice called out again and Brennan whipped her head around just in time to see a vague figure holding up a gun.
A bullet rang throughout the night, sending them both flinging themselves behind a tree. Parker clung to her and it took all of her strength to pull him away from her frail body. "Parker, listen to me," she told him softly, but sternly. "You have to leave me. You have to save yourself."
"No, we'll run, Dr. Bones."
She nervously looked behind the tree and couldn't see Ace anywhere. Shaking violently, she turned back to Parker. "Okay. We'll run, but you have to stay in front of me."
"Okay, Dr. Bones."
She took a deep breath. "And if I fall, or…" she trailed off wondering how to tell five-year-old that she would get shot. "If… the bad guy catches… up… to me. Run. Go on without me."
Parker began to sob and Brennan tried to fight the tears that were escaping her own eyes. It's weird, knowing that your willing to take your own life for a person you hardly know. "Dr. Bones, I don't…"
"Promise me!" she shouted at him. "Promise me you'll go on without me if something happens."
"But… why?"
She closed her eyes tight and without hesitating she wrapped her arms around Parker's small waist. "You have to give your father this… for me."
"But you can give it to him yourself," Parker cried.
She frowned, wondering how a little boy could be this worried for her. "But if I don't Parker… Okay?" She coughed violently as a sheering pain ripped through her as she stood to get up. "Can you give that hug to your father…if I don't..."
Despite himself, Parker nodded. "Okay. Dr. Bones. I promise."
"Molly, come out! Now" an ominous voice boomed.
"Okay… ready?" Brennan asked softly, and Parker nodded. "On the count of three. 1…2…3!"
They both shot out and ran – well, stumbled in Brennan's case – as fast as they could. She could hear the shouts of surprise escaping Ace's mouth as she stumbled, tripped, and hopped her way through the dense and dark forest. It took all her strength to run – hell it hurt to move, let alone run. The only thing keeping her from stopping was Parker running in front of her. Her body had no strength in her, but she somehow managed to run on. It wasn't until they burst into a clearing adjacent to a sheer cliff did she stop. Frantically, she looked around for a way out, but they had come to a dead end.
--
Friday May 22 – Unknown Location – 8:05pm
Booth carefully made his way through the dense forest without making a sound. He followed the sound of the bullet, praying that it would leave him to Brennan and his son –Alive. His breath caught as he heard the vague sound of people talking. He strained to hear – and see – so very quietly he made his way to the whispering voices. It took him a few moments, but eventually he burst out into a clearing and he nearly dropped his gun in surprise.
"Daddy!" he heard his son cry out and it brought tears of joys to his eyes. And then his eyes landed on his partner and he choked back a sob. The blood, bruises, and cuts were too much for him to take. She looked dead and was leaning on Parker for support. And just as he was about to run to them an ominous voice spoke out.
"Come so soon, Agent Booth?"
Booth turned to see Agent Ace standing a mere five yards away, and holding his son and his partner at gun point. "Put the gun down," he called out.
"Why should I?" Ace asked. "I have nothing to lose."
"Your life and there's," he gestured to his partner and his son.
Ace leaned his head back and crackled. "Like I care about their life. That… that bitch… ruined my life."
"Put the gun down, or I'll shoot," Booth shouted ominously.
Ace watched Booth intently, so when Booth pulled the trigger, so would he. "You shoot and I shoot. But which ones life should I take? Your precious son who is perfectly healthy? or your partner who will die either way."
The voice that spoke startled them all – including Ace, who thought she was going to die with or without a gun shot wound. "Take me… let the boy live," Brennan called softly, raspy.
"No, Dr. Bones," Parker cried.
Ace thought this over and then a smile tugged at his lips. "Okay. Okay. Boy, run to your father." When Parker didn't move, Ace shouted angrily at him. "Now!"
"Parker, come on," Booth called. Hesitatingly, Parker ran to his father's side. "Parker, stand behind me and close your eyes." He would not have his son witness a shooting.
Ace smirked as he grabbed Brennan around the waist and held the gun to her temple. "You're going to watch her die, Booth."
"Ace, don't do this."
"Daddy," Parker tugged at his pant leg. "It's okay. I gave her the impenetrable cloak. She'll be fine. The bullet won't hurt her."
Booth ignored his son. "Let her go Ace. You don't want to do this."
"Let's make a deal. We both shoot at three," Ace screamed, stepping dangerously close to the cliff's edge.
"Ace. No!"
"One," Ace taunted.
And as if they could read each others mind they both shot on two. Booth watched in horror as Ace and Brennan both dropped to the ground and tumbled off the cliff's edge, to the rushing waters below.