Chapter 2 - The Plan in the Meeting

1 week earlier -

"Yes?" Temperance Brennan said brusquely as she picked up the phone. She was trying to get through the last edits to her latest book and didn't need any interruptions.

"Dr. Brennan? This is Assistant Director Cullen. How are you today?"

Brennan immediately stopped what she was doing and devoted her full attention to the call. "Director Cullen? Is something wrong? Is Booth alright?" she demanded, beginning to stand, her voice concerned.

"No, no, he's just fine, Dr. Brennan. Listen, there's something I need to discuss with you. In private. Can you meet me in about 30 minutes?" Cullen replied.

She paused and sat back down at her desk. His tone was off, somehow, but she didn't really know him well enough to try to guess what it was. "Uh, yes, certainly. The diner won't be busy just..."

"No, not there, Dr. Brennan," Cullen interrupted. "We need to meet somewhere more private. I'll send an address to your phone. Please be there in 30 minutes and don't tell anyone where you're going. I'll be waiting."

With that cryptic response, Cullen hung up the phone, leaving a very confused Brennan staring at her phone.

Thirty minutes later, Brennan stepped into the bar Cullen had texted her. She scanned the tables as her eyes adjusted to from the daylight to the darkened room. She located him at a fairly private table near the back and moved quickly towards him. Cullen stood as she approached the table, and pulled out a chair for her. Once she was seated, he motioned the waitress over, gesturing to Brennan to order. She asked for a glass of the house red, then turned with a questioning look to Cullen.

"Look, I know you're wondering why I brought you here and why all the secrecy, so let's just get to it, shall we?" Cullen asked. At a nod from Brennan, he continued. "Do you remember the disgruntled fan of yours who killed those two women while stalking you a few months back?"

Brennan nodded again, remembering the case. In an apparent effort to impress his favorite author, a man named Daniel Lockton had killed two young women some two months ago. While they knew his name and where he lived, they'd been unable to catch him and he'd been in the wind for the last six weeks. During that time, Brennan had received a series of disturbing notes that had evolved into serious threats on her life. The FBI had put considerable resources into tracking him, but he'd proved quite elusive. "Yes, I remember," she said, finally. "But what...?"

Cullen took a sip of his scotch and continued. "Based on the notes he's been sending and Dr. Sweets profile, we've determined that the threat Lockton presents to you has become unacceptable and we need to take him down." He waved a hand as she started to interrupt. "Yes, yes, I know you're capable of taking of yourself, but the threats have been increasing in frequency and violence and we're taking this very seriously."

Brennan sighed. "I take it seriously too, sir, but what is it that's different now? You've had multiple agents tracking down lead after lead and we don't seem to be any closer to locating him."

Cullen swirled the scotch in his glass, watching the whirlpool it formed in the center of the glass. He wasn't really sure how she would view the plan he was going to propose. It was, admittedly, a long shot and it could backfire on them painfully. But they had to do something, or they were going to lose her and likely Booth as well. "Well, the team has discussed it at length and we've come up with something we think might work to lure him out."

"You're beating around the tree, Cullen, can we please get to the point?" Brennan replied impatiently, taking a swallow of her wine.

Cullen snickered. "I think you mean beating around the bush, Dr. Brennan. And yes, you're right, I apologize." He sighed and decided the direct approach was always best with Temperance Brennan. "We think your death would bring Lockton out of hiding so we can capture him."

Brennan almost choked on that last swallow of line. "What?" she gasped. "My death?"

Cullen smiled grimly. "Your faked death, of course, Dr. Brennan. We need your services too much to actually kill you off."

Brennan smirked a little at that. "Of course, you do," she said. "I'm the best in my field." She shrugged a shoulder and said, "Ok, so we fake my death, he comes out of hiding and Booth takes him down. I can understand the logic. But I still don't understand all the secrecy."

This was the part Cullen had really been dreading. She wasn't going to like this part at all. He took a deep breath and plowed ahead. "It won't be Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan. He won't be involved in this at all. As far as he'll know, you're really dead." He leaned back in his chair as he finished, bracing himself for her reaction.

"No, no, absolutely not," she huffed. "There's no way I could do this without Booth. I can't let him think I'm dead. Especially not after..." she stopped then, realizing how much she was sharing.

"I understand your reluctance, Dr. Brennan," Cullen said. " I know you and Agent Booth are quite...close, but it's important his reaction be real. We know that Lockton is watching Agent Booth as well; the latest notes have referred to him and his relationship with you. Lockton will suspect a trap and look to Booth. If Booth knows it's fake, his reactions won't be sincere, Lockton will make the whole operation and we'll be right back where we started."

Brennan was silent for several moments, processing Cullen's words. While she didn't want to admit it, she knew he was right. If Booth was in on the plan, Lockton would know instantly. He'd had plenty of time to observe them and set a baseline for their behavior. If Booth couldn't "sell" his grief appropriately, Lockton would see right through the charade and who knew what he might do next. She couldn't help but consider that Lockton might blame Booth for the sting and come after him as well. She couldn't bear the thought of putting him in any danger.

On the other hand, the thought of deceiving Booth made her stomach churn with anxiety. She shuddered involuntarily as she remembered her grief when she'd thought he was dead and her feelings of betrayal when it turned out to be a ploy to draw out a suspect. The thought of putting Booth through something similar was distinctly unappealing. Further, Booth was the "heart" guy, the emotional one in their partnership. His feelings would no doubt be even more intense than hers had been, particularly since his recent confession that he wanted to have a romantic relationship with her.

Cullen sat patiently, sipping his drink, watching her come to the same conclusion his team already had. Privately, he was not looking forward to putting Agent Booth through this any more than she was. Booth was a good man and an excellent agent and Cullen took no pleasure in his deceit. He was aware, even if they didn't appear to be, that Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth were much more than the partners they claimed they were. But he agreed this was the only way to deal with this issue and, ironically, to keep both of them safe.

Brennan finally sighed and straightened in her chair. "Alright, I concur with your assessment of the situation and I will cooperate. I do have one request, however. There's one person we need to inform to ensure the success of this charade."

Cullen raised an eyebrow. "And who would that be?" he asked. When she gave him the name and her reasoning, he agreed. "Alright, Dr. Brennan, I think we're ready then. I'll be coordinating the efforts for the FBI, with only a very small team. We can't afford any leaks."

He stood and tossed several bills on the table to cover their drinks. He met her eyes and smiled humorlessly. "Come this time next week, you'll be dead from extensive internal injuries following a car accident."


A/N: See, I told you all would be explained! :) We'll meet the person she wanted to be informed (and why) in the next chapter, as well as see more of Booth. Please review and let me know what you think! Oh, and by the way, I don't own Bones. Just in case anyone was wondering...