Welcome back everyone! Sad to say, this is almost the final chapter. So, enjoy!

Chapter 29

After that first night, things were slowly getting better. Their home was being emptied out by friends and family. Booth's colleagues had let him know that the word on the street was that the big fish were going to let the little ones fry, now that Booth would be out of their city, which made Booth feel better. At least their troubles wouldn't follow them to Washington. His partner, who'd failed to show up, turned out to have been called to a family emergency.

It did irritate Booth endlessly that he couldn't actually do anything. So, the first few weeks were spent almost completely with only his daughter's company as Brennan was busy setting up their new life. She had applied to the Jeffersonian, she coordinated with Angela, Russ, Amy and her father about the upcoming move and generally kept him out of the loop so he had time to heal.

His princess was ever so careful with him, but he made sure not to shut her out, remembering all too well how hard it had hit her when Russ had had hardly any time for her. They enjoyed reading books together, and making up fairy tales that they would tell to Brennan.

After two weeks, Booth was finally able to move his arms without it being accompanied by a sharp pain in his ribcage. So, that was how he'd spent the past week. Online, trying to find a job. He'd already applied for several, but most required an actual interview, so he wasn't sure yet where he would end up. He knew, however, that as long as he would be going home to his wife and daughter every day, he could consider himself a lucky man.

Brennan had faced the physical demands of this challenge before. When she'd been alone with Elena, Russ at the hospital with Hayley, and her finals coming up. This time, it wasn't finals she needed to prepare for, but a new life. It was painful that she wasn't able to let her friends and family - even Max - in on the details yet. They'd have to wait a mandatory three months after they'd moved away to let things settle down. The police would monitor the drug gang like hawks during those three months, and only if there was no indication of threats at all would Booth and Brennan be allowed to contact their family members and friends, and allow them to visit.

Booth, Elena and Brennan, of course, would not be able to visit them back. Elena had written notes to all of her friends and teachers at school, and also to her beloved coaches and team mates at gymnastics. Brennan had helped her write the notes and they arranged fitting postcards. Elena was being very brave. She always was when she needed to be. Brennan knew that, once things had settled down, Elena would need some time to process everything. For now, she was doing fine.

Brennan, like Booth, had been sending out applications. She'd applied to the Jeffersonian to get Booth off her back, not believing she stood a chance with her part-time lab experience. There were a few nice universities she could go to, as well as the museum part of the Jeffersonian Institution.

Nearly a month passed, and Brennan felt fairly confident she'd made all the arrangements she was capable of making. The new house and neighbourhood had been approved by the FBI, no less, and they'd be moving within a week. Brennan felt tense, but also relieved to be escaping this even tenser situation.

Now that his ribs were slowly healing, Booth was allowed out of bed more and had a pressurised bandage around his ribcage to divide the pressure evenly. It still hurt, but at least he could move a bit more than simply breathing and sitting up and lying down. That day, Booth had just taken a hot bath, which helped to keep his muscles relaxed, when his chief walked into the house. Booth could tell by the look on his superior's face that something was going on.

"Agent Booth," Chief Hardy nodded towards his former employee. "Can we have a word, in private, please?"

"Yes, sir. This way, please." Booth guided him to the bedroom and closed the door behind his former chief. "What's going on?"

"You and your family will be evacuated today. We've received notice of a threat towards Miss Brennan."

"What kind of threat are we talking about? I need all of the information, Sir." Booth could already feel his blood pumping faster as his adrenaline kicked in. Chief Hardy's posture was tense, his facial expression serious. This was bad.

Chief Hardy cleared his throat. "Ronald's little brother uttered threats of kidnapping Miss Brennan and having her raped by the entire gang, then delivered to your doorstep."

"God damn it!" Booth paled and he had to hold on to the bedpost for support. He had seen crime-scene photos of some of the girls who had tried to escape that particular gang and unwanted, horrible, terrifying images flashed through his mind. "Don't tell her."

Chief Hardy gave Booth a look of sympathy. "That'll be up to you, Agent Booth. Make sure everyone's ready. You'll be leaving in two hours."

"I will tell her. Why in two hours? Why not now?" Booth checked the clock. It was still relatively early in the morning, but this crew had a reputation of being ruthless. Which had been the reason why he had gone after them when he had the chance, on his own, almost a month ago. It was the same reason why he now wished that he hadn't.

"To give you time to get your ladies ready and for us to make sure we know the gang's current whereabouts. Agent Booth, it's been a pleasure to work with you." Chief Hardy extended his hand. "You've got a talent for law enforcement. I hope you won't let it go to waste."

"Right now my family's safety is my first and only concern, Chief Hardy. In a friendly way, I hope to not see you again anytime soon." Both men shared a look of understanding and Chief Hardy left. Booth showed him to the door, knowing that he was not okay with Brennan doing it under these circumstances. He closed and locked the door quickly behind the Chief. "Bones? We have to go!"

Brennan looked up from the book she was reading to Elena. "Go where?"

"Washington. You need to get Elena ready. We're leaving in two hours." Booth was still not allowed to lift anything, so he couldn't help her pack. Instead he decided to stand guard. Whatever room she would go into to gather their stuff, he would be with her, standing close to the window, keeping an eye out, making sure she wouldn't be taken. Making sure they wouldn't slip past him and get to her. He would die protecting her. Both of them.

Brennan immediately noticed something was very wrong. She told Elena to get her books and toys together and took Booth out of the room. "What's wrong?" she demanded. "Don't deny anything, I can see it in your eyes."

"You have to pack," Booth repeated, took her hand and pulled her along with him into Elena's room. He wasn't going to let his daughter out of his sight anymore than he would leave the love of his life out of his sight.

Brennan gave him a look but decided to let him cool off and pack first. She helped Elena, who seemed to accept the situation without asking questions, and then Brennan went into Booth's bedroom to pack clothes for both of them and other belongings. In one hour, she was done. When Elena went to the bathroom, Brennan stopped Booth again. "What's wrong?" she asked him seriously.

The bathroom didn't have a window, so he didn't follow his daughter this time. "A threat has been made against our family, so we are moving now. We need to go."

"What kind of threat? By whom?" Brennan wanted to know, a tight feeling in her stomach.

"The gang of drug dealers." Booth didn't know how to tell her this. How he could look her in the eye and tell her what they were planning to do with her if they ever got their filthy hands on her? He wasn't going to let that happen, though. And the worst part was... it was all his own fault. He wrapped his arms around her waist, his hand resting gently on the small of her back. "Chief Hardy came over to tell me that Ronald's little brother wants to kidnap you and... and so we really have to get going," he chickened out at the last moment.

"Okay, I see. Is it - is it too horrible to tell me?" she asked him gently as she placed her hand in his neck.

Gratefully, he nodded and rested his forehead against hers. "I won't let them hurt you. I promise, baby."

She slightly shook her head. "I'm not your baby," she tried to make him smile, but failed. She kissed his lips. "Nothing's going to happen. I promise, darling."

"I need you to take something, anything, you feel comfortable with that you can use for protection, should push come to shove," Booth told her.

Brennan thought about it. "I took self-defence classes with Angela, but that was years ago. I don't want to walk around with a weapon..."

Booth realised she wouldn't take anything with her to defend herself if he didn't give her an extremely good reason. Ignoring the strain it put on his ribs, he pulled her into his embrace and held her tightly against him. "Ronald's little brother wants to kidnap you and have you -" Booth closed his eyes and steeled himself as he continued in a whisper, "gang-raped." He nearly chocked on the disgusting word. "I need you to take something with you, just in case. I've seen crime scene photos, Bones. Nobody survives that kind of treatment and I think most of them would choose not to. So please..." he swallowed. "Take something with you. Anything."

As she listened to him, she didn't try to tease him into a smile anymore. Her own smile vanished as well. She carefully wrapped her arms around him. "What do you suggest?" she asked quietly.

"I still have my gun. In case that they get past the security, I want you to run. Take Elena. You have Chief Hardy's phone number, right? Make sure your phone is charged. I will stall them as long as I can. It just might not be as long as usual. That's why I want you to take something with you. Something small. Something you can easily conceal. You need the element of surprise on your side."

Brennan got an idea. "Do you remember Jack Hodgins? The guy with the curly beard Angela dated? He made her a small taser gun for protection. If they're available in a store anywhere, I could fit one in my purse."

"I don't know if we..." Booth changed his mind, "You know what, I'll ask one of the uniforms to go and buy one. And maybe some pepper spray."

"We're going to have to tell Elena to stay out of my purse," Brennan noted.

"Good point. Well, we will make sure she doesn't get her little fingers in there. We will explain that there are some dangerous things in your purse and that she is not allowed to touch it, just like she knows she's not allowed anywhere near my gun."

Brennan nodded. "I hate that we can't say goodbye to anyone properly."

"I know and I'm sorry about that, but when they hear what has been going on, you know they will understand." Booth released her. "I have to go tell them to get you a taser gun and pepper spray. I want to leave as soon as possible."

Elena skipped out of the bathroom. "Yes, I washed my hands," she said defensively as she noticed her parents looking at her. She looked back at them and felt uncomfortable. "What are you doing?" she asked them distrustfully.

"We were just talking, princess." Booth told her. "Mommy has a few things in her purse today that you might hurt yourself with, so you are not allowed to touch it today. Okay?"

"Okay," Elena said, thinking it was not a big deal. "Are we going in the plane?"

"Yes. And if you see anybody that you don't know who comes too close to you, you have to tell me. Also, you have to promise to keep holding Mommy's hand and listen to her. Also, if anyone scares you, you have to tell us, okay?"

"I'm not scared," Elena protested.

"I know, princess. I know you're brave, but you have to promise, Elena. Do you promise to listen to Mommy, hold her hand and tell us if anyone scares you or comes too close to you?"

Elena tilted her chin up, then dropped it to her chest in an exasperated nodding motion. "Yes. I promise."

"That's my girl," Booth praised her and caressed her curls as he walked past her and opened the door to talk to one of the officers. They agreed and promised him they'd have everything ready by the time it was time to leave. Soon, the two hours since Chief Hardy's visit had passed and as the officers entered, Booth took both Elena's and Brennan's hand in his and took them into the bathroom for a moment of privacy, as the officers stood guard in front of it. The officers who were to go with them were trusted colleagues and so he felt safe to step into the bathroom, to make sure that there would be no regrets, no matter what would happen next.

They were standing in a small circle together, and these would be their last moments in the vicinity of the dance hall where the masked ball had been, of the university campus where Booth and Brennan had experienced the night that had changed their lives, where Brennan had built an ever-lasting friendship with Angela, where she'd been pregnant, she'd given birth, found her family again. Where they'd had four good years with Russ, where Elena's favourite playgrounds were. Where she'd met Booth for the second time, and he found out he had a daughter after four years. Where their home got broken into, and where Booth had been there to save them. Where, eventually, they'd become a family and built a happy life for themselves, surrounded by family and friends. They were about to leave it all behind and start anew. It was immensely sad, but they had no choice in the matter. If they stayed, this might also become the place where they'd be terrorised, hurt, would maybe even find death... In order to save their family, they had to leave.

Booth sank down to his knees and kissed his little girl's cheek. "I love you so much. I'm very proud of you, princess." Booth hugged her again and let his little girl hug him tightly for the first time in a month. "Be a good girl and listen to Mommy the next few days, okay?"

Elena sensed the severity of the situation and started to feel apprehensive. Her tummy hurt a little and she nodded tensely to her dad.

Booth kissed her cheek and leaned back, smiling at her. "It's okay, Elena. It'll be okay." He kissed her cheek again and stood, wishing he could just pick her up and cradle her to his chest. He turned to Brennan. He didn't say anything to her, he just kissed her. Letting her feel all of the love he had for her. He embraced her tightly and whispered, "I love you. More than you will ever know."

Brennan kissed him back, letting him feel her love him. "I love you, too, Booth. We're going to stay together, I don't care where we have to go." Then, she spoke to Elena. "We'll be just fine. We're going to have an adventure, and we'll be all right. Elena, we'll find a new gymnastics club and a new school for you; you can pick them. Once we're in the new house, we can still have hot chocolate and a princess room. We can still do all the things we love. Plus, there will be playgrounds you haven't seen before," Brennan told her daughter, who held her hand very tightly. "Are we ready to go?"

"Yes," Booth looked at his girls and forced a smile on his face, softened by the love he felt for them, and soon it was a genuine smiled that curled around his lips. He took his daughter's other hand in his and together they left the bathroom, walked out of the house and into the car that was waiting for them. It left to drive them to the airport, where they would catch a flight to Washington DC on a private jet. Soon, they would be safe. And Booth was going to do anything he could to make sure that they would all arrive in Washington DC in one piece. Unharmed and untouched by the evil that was closing in around them.

We have one more chapter to go, followed by an epilogue, followed by a surprise... Please do leave your thoughts on this chapter and what this move will mean for their family!