Disclaimer: Bones belongs to Kathy Reichs, Hart Hanson, and Fox.

A/N: To everyone reading this, your fortitude to put up with my negligence, humbles and elates me. So as always, this one is for you.

Chapter 34

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Part 6

Angels and Demons

With the highway endlessly stretching out before him, Booth didn't have to wonder why the cool reserve that had carried him through countless battle zones had vanished.

Hollowly, he glanced over at the empty passenger seat.

It had been less than ten minutes since Joe had started searching for his Bones and their baby, but it might as well have been an eternity.

Swallowing hard, he forced his attention back to the road.

But as he continued to drive, every few seconds his gaze shifted to his cell phone, willing it to ring, only to be summarily denied.

"God, Booth began as his grip on the wheel tightened. They mean the world to me. So please…"

He paused as emotions too strong to be suppressed surged up.

For a moment he couldn't breathe.

After a slight cough that did nothing to alleviate the pressure in his chest, he continued…

"Please just keep them safe."

Three minutes later Booth's cell phone rang.

"Booth," he answered on the first ring.

"Booth she is eight miles north of the George Mason university, in a warehouse district, within a two hundred meter radius of lot numbers 2355, 2356, 2357, and 2358."

"Great work Joe, I owe you," Booth replied as he hit the gas and began to weave in and out of the traffic!

"There's one more thing Booth, Joe added with a clear note of trepidation in his voice. "I'm going to have to tell Cullen."

Immediately Booth was aware of two facts. First, Joe had no other choice but to inform Cullen, and second, as soon as Cullen got that call he would be obligated to pull him off of the case.

Most likely better than anyone else, Booth knew that personal involvement got you benched. However, he also knew that nothing in this world, or even the next, would stop him from getting his family back.

"Joe you do what you gotta do, and I'll respect that, but before you do, just give me a head start alright?"

Joe had never strictly been a by the book kind of guy. In fact, he had always believed that bending the rules for a good cause, fell on the side of the Angels.

All Booth was asking for was a little time to save his family, and to Joe, there was absolutely no greater cause than protecting one's own.

"You got it Booth," Joe solemnly replied.

"Thanks Joe, for everything, and if you ever need anything in return…"

"I know. Good luck my friend," Joe said, leaving unspoken the fear that he would actually need it.

Seconds after Booth snapped his cell phone shut, thirteen car lengths ahead of him, a truck drifted over into his lane, resulting in a seven car pileup.

An: Is it considered cruel and unusual punishment to end in a cliffy when updates are so few and far between? If so perhaps with some reviews I'll know not to do so in the future…