Thanks for reading this story. I hope you've been enjoying it.
A little note: The comments that Max made to Brennan and Booth about the fact that he and the others were down the hallway was Max's idea of a joke. A very dry and a very bad joke apparently. Brennan took it seriously and made her comment to Booth not her father. No one else was supposed to take it seriously. Sorry for any misunderstanding. Now moving on:
I don't own Bones.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooo
Booth finally realized that they needed to leave the room; so, looking at Brennan, Booth said, "Ok, let's go out there and get this over with."
Giving Booth a sad smile, Brennan said, "Yes, the sooner this is over the sooner we can go home. You have no idea how much I've missed our home Booth. I've missed you, I've missed our friends and I've missed our home."
Biting his lower lip, Booth said, "I know what you mean, Bones. I've been living in a house since you've been gone. That house hasn't been a home since you and Christine left. Never leave me again, Bones. Promise me. I mean it. Promise me on whatever you hold most sacred."
Putting her right hand on Booth's chest, Brennan said, "I promise Booth. I don't believe in God; but, I believe in you. I make my promise to you, Booth. On your life and mine that I will never leave you again."
Moving his right arm from around Brennan's waist, Booth moved his hand to her left hand and held it. Bringing it up to his lips, Booth kissed her hand and said, "That's good enough for me Bones. I love you. I've always loved you."
Smiling, Brennan said, "I love you too Booth. I love you more than you can know."
Lowering their hands, Booth turned and pulled Brennan towards the door. Taking a deep breath, Booth said, "Ok, Bones. This isn't going to be as bad as you think it will be."
Ooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hearing the bedroom door open, Cullen walked around the couch and stood in front of the hallway. Watching Booth and Brennan walk down the hallway, Christine cuddled in Booth's left arm, Cullen felt like an ass. He'd known for a long time that Booth and Brennan were in love with each other and seeing them together, Cullen realized that the phrase "in love with each other" didn't quite cover it. His decision to keep Flynn in charge of Ethan Sawyer's murder investigation was looking more and more like a remake of "A Shot in the Dark". He obviously being Chief Inspector Dreyfus and Flynn being Clouseau. If the whole thing wasn't so tragic he would have laughed his ass off. "Maybe I deserve to be laughed at", Cullen thought. "God knows I've bungled this from the start."
Stepping back as Booth and Brennan got closer, Cullen nodded his head towards Brennan and said, "Dr. Brennan. On behalf of the FBI and the Director, I want you to know that we're sorry for what we've put you through. The Director wanted to make sure that no one could accuse the FBI of playing favorites and had me assign Flynn to the case because he had no history with you or Agent Booth. We didn't monitor the case as closely as we should have and we should have made sure that the investigation was being carried out in a neutral manner. We didn't and we've embarrassed you and your partner. I want to give you my sincerest apology and I hope that you'll forgive me and the Director for what we've put you and your family through. I know it won't change the past; but, I hope it will preserve the future. I hope that once this over, you'll deign to work with us again."
Looking up at Booth and then at Cullen, Brennan said, "Whether I continue to work with you will be up to Booth. If he wants me to quit working for the FBI then I will. I will never jeopardize his career or his life again. If he feels that it would be better for me to do the original work I was hired by the Jeffersonian to do then that is what I will do. I will not allow the FBI or Pelant or anyone else to ever jeopardize my relationship with Booth again."
Startled, Booth looked down at Brennan and said, "Really?"
Smiling, Brennan released Booth's hand and put her arm around his waist. Looking into his surprised face, Brennan said, "Yes, really. I promised Booth. That is part of my promise."
Smiling, Booth blinked his eyes a few times and said, "I won't do that to you Bones. I want you to still work with me. I want to make bad guys afraid of me and I do that best when you're working with me."
Nodding her head, Brennan looked at Cullen and said, "I guess I shall continue to work with the FBI. Do keep in mind though that I will change my mind if the FBI ever tries to come between me and my fiancé again."
Hearing the word fiancé, Hodgins stood up from the couch and hurried over to where Booth and Brennan were standing. "Oh my God. You're getting married? Wait until Angela hears about this. My God, you guys are going to have to elope or Ange will drive you insane. We didn't get the big wedding and she'll probably go insane planning yours."
Smiling, Booth said, "Hold on Hodgins. We're not getting married until next year. We'll talk about it later."
Nodding his head, Hodgins looked back at Max and said, "Well, Max, looks like you're not going to be able to escape the long arm of the law from now on. Your son-in-law is going to be FBI."
Smiling weakly, Max said, "I'm sure I'm going to be the envy of ex-cons every where."
Ooooooooooooooooooooooo
The day was a long one. Everyone in the apartment drove over to the Hoover where the Director of the FBI was waiting for them. Meeting in his office, the Director personally apologized to Brennan and Booth and let them know that the warrant for her arrest had been dropped. There would be no charges brought against her for evading arrest and a press conference was scheduled for Noon of that day. He planned to apologize publicly and then explain that the FBI was now searching for Christopher Pelant and once he was caught, he would be charged with the murder of Ethan Sawyer, Ezra Krane and Inger Johannsen.
The Director has asked that Booth and Brennan stand next to him during the conference. He had asked if either of them wished to give a statement to the press and both Booth and Brennan were adamant that they didn't want to speak to the press at all. They didn't want to give a statement or answer questions. The Director reminded them that sooner or later they would have to make a statement of some kind if they wanted the story to die down and the press to leave them alone. Brennan felt it best that she contact her publicist and handle the press through her.
Ooooooooooooooooo
The press had been wild and that surprised no one. After the press conference, Booth and Brennan had gone back into the FBI building and collecting Christine from Nancy, Cullen's secretary, had walked to Booth's office where they stayed for the rest of the day. It had been decided by Booth and Cullen that it would be best for everyone if the FBI had a chance to do what it needed to do to make sure that Brennan was no longer on anyone's wanted list.
Cullen also wanted to send a team over to their house and check to make sure that Pelant hadn't revisited their home. Once that was done, an agent was placed in the house and a schedule was created to make sure that the house was not left unattended until Pelant was caught. Booth's bodyguard would continue. Brennan had refused a bodyguard; but, seeing the look in Booth's eyes, had finally relented. She had told them that she would keep the bodyguard until she had time hire a private one. She didn't feel comfortable using taxpayers money like that.
Oooooooooooooooooo
As the hour of 8 p.m. approached, Booth and Brennan had decided that they had enough and with their daughter, drove home. Arriving home, Booth and Brennan laid a sleeping Christine on to her bed and wearily went to their own bedroom. With barely enough energy to change their clothes to shorts and t-shirts, Booth and Brennan collapsed into bed. Wanting so much more; but, too tired Booth held Brennan as they both fell asleep secure that they were together again and that they would see each other in the morning.
Ooooooooooooooooooo
What do you think? Let me know. Thanks. We're not done yet.
By the way, I don't own "A Shot in the Dark" or any characters in that movie.
Note: Brennan asked Booth to marry her in my story "The Smell of Death".