I'm back with another story. I've been working on this for a while now, and I've debated posting it because I don't know if it's any good. But, I am seriously considering not writing anymore once all my stories are completed, so I wanted to post this and finish it before that happens. Anyway, I hope you like it. There is a small graphic scene, but that's it otherwise.

On a side note, this story is going to be like a 007, Mission Impossible, or any other action film that you see where the hero manages to survive all sorts of beatings, falls, wounds, or any other unbelievable stunt they pull, so if it seems unrealistic, that's the point lol XD

Seeley Booth sensed the turbulence long before it even happened. Then, right on cue, the plane rustled and shook, making Cleo gasp and clutch the armrests. Her eyes were squeezed shut.

"It's all right," Booth reassured her.

"I don't think we're ever going to get back safely," Cleo said, her eyes still shut.

"We will."

"And then what?"

"We'll figure it out."

Cleo had no response to this. She turned to look out the window instead at the inky blackness of the sky. They had four more hours until they reached America. Four more hours of this horrible flight. Booth didn't know what to say to reassure her. Instead, he put his focus on Brennan. This would be his first time seeing her in seven months. They had had no correspondence at all, and he didn't know what she was thinking or feeling. They had left on an awkward note. He had recently professed his feelings for her, and she had shot him down flat. Being back over at war took it all away for a little while, but like everything, it started to creep back in no matter how hard he tried not to think about it.

"I'll stay with you?" Cleo asked, confirming.

"Yes. You will live with me," Booth answered. Cleo nodded slowly. He could tell she was still processing everything that had happened in the last 30 hours.

"Will we be safe?"

"Of course."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I just am."

Cleo finally stopped peppering him with questions and leaned back in her seat. Booth closed his eyes then, resting his head on the back of the headrest. How had he gotten here? What had he gotten himself into? These questions swirled around in his brain. The most important one was: What was Brennan going to think about this?

30 Hours Earlier

"Sargeant Major," a voice said, making Booth open his eyes. His boss was standing in front of him. Thomas.

"Yea?"

"I need a favor. A big one."

"What's that?"

"There's this family from the US here on their way to an important meeting. They need security."

"Who are they?"

"It's Ambassador Lavine. And his wife and child."

"What? Why would he bring his family here?!"

"They're going on holiday after this. He was doing a favor for back home before embarking to Italy."

"I see."

"Can you do it?"

"Of course I can do it. I believe the correct way to ask is..."

"Will you do it?" Thomas asked, cutting him off and getting impatient.

"Yes," Booth smiled. He stood up from his seat. It beat sitting around and thinking about Brennan all day. Things were winding down as it was, and he was anticipating going home within the week.

"I've got Jenkins, Rodriguez, and Simmons going with you."

"Perfect. They out front?"

"Yes. Ready to go."

"I'm on it," Booth said, collecting his weapons and to-go pack sack. He settled his helmet loosely on his head for now until he was ready to tighten it in place. He met the three boys out front.

"Does this seem like too easy of a mission to you?" Jenkins asked.

"So what if it is?" Simmons challenged. "It's better than going out hunting for land mines."

"All right, listen up," Booth said, taking charge. "What's the game plan?"

"We don't have one," Rodriguez admitted. Booth sighed loudly.

"Great. Give me the details, and I'll whip something up."

Now

Booth mildly wondered if things would have gone differently if he hadn't been asked to do such a simple mission. Cleo was trying to self-soothe beside him. She hated flying. She made that very clear when they boarded and warned him that he was in for a long flight. She hadn't been kidding.

"Are we still doing okay over here?" the flight attendant asked kindly. Booth looked at Cleo, who nodded sullenly.

"Seem to be," he answered. "Thanks."

"If I can get you anything, let me know."

"We will."

Booth felt Cleo shift in her seat so that she was facing away from him. He understood why she was so upset. Hell, he was still upset. None of this felt real. Every time he shut his eyes, all he could see was the chaos. The blood. He was going to have to talk to Sweets a lot to get over this one.

25 Hours Earlier

"Hello, I'm so pleased to have you as my security," Ambassador Lavine smiled. Booth shook his hand.

"Glad to be here," Booth nodded. "So, who are you meeting?"

"Ah, I'm afraid I can't disclose that," Lavine said with a more grim looking smile now.

"Is your family here?" Booth asked, looking around.

"They are in the car. We're driving to the airport after this detour," Lavine answered.

"Mind if I ride with you?" Booth asked.

"I don't see why not. Come along, then."

Booth followed the Ambassador to his SUV.

"This is my wife, Shelley," Lavine said, grinning. "She's the one who keeps me in line."

"Damn straight," Shelley chimed in, winking.

"This is our daughter, Cleo."

"Is that short for Cleopatra?" Booth questioned, curious.

"Yes, but she does not like the full name. Just Cleo is fine."

"Pleased to meet you," Cleo said from the backseat. She was maybe eleven years old.

"You okay in the back with her? She doesn't bite," Lavine joked.

"We'll get along just fine," Booth grinned. He hopped in beside Cleo, and Lavine got into the driver's seat.

"No driver?" Booth asked as they started along.

"Nah. I actually enjoy driving," Lavine replied.

"What's your name?" Cleo asked.

"Sargeant Major Seeley Booth."

"Seeley? That's a funny name."

"That's why I go by Booth."

"Who goes by their last name?"

"Cleo," Shelley said sharply. "Be nice."

"It's all right. It's just something I've always done," Booth shrugged. "Why don't you go by Cleopatra?"

"Because I get picked on," Cleo answered. Booth saw in his team following behind them carefully.

"That's too bad. Cleopatra is a very nice name. It's also a famous one."

"Yea. I know."

"Any kids, Booth?" Lavine asked, looking at him in the mirror.

"Just one. My son, Parker."

"Is that his last name or first name?" Cleo asked, being a smart mouth.

"First."

"It sounds like a last name."

"It was. It's a long story."

"Then I guess I'll never find out."

"Probably not."

Cleo stopped talking then and looked out the window. Booth felt an unease in the pit of his stomach suddenly. He wasn't sure what it meant. He hoped it was nothing.

Now

"Tell me a story," Cleo whispered. Booth looked at her.

"About what?"

"Anything."

"All right. Let me think," Booth said. He had no idea what story to tell her. What was going to make an eleven year old feel better? He wracked his brain, starting to panic. How was he going to look after this kid if he couldn't even come up with a story?! He contemplated telling her about Teddy, but that was too much and too sad for this moment.

"I got it," he said finally. "There once was three billy goats..."

"Heard it," Cleo interrupted. "When I was like, five."

"You said anything," Booth argued. Cleo's eyes started to well up then, and he knew straight away who had told her that story before. She was very up and down with her emotions. That came with shock from the type of scene she witnessed.

"Okay, okay. There once was this forensic anthropologist who stole a man's heart."

"I'm listening," Cleo said, wiping at her eyes.

"She was smart and beautiful and knew very little about making jokes."

Cleo listened as he went on about this woman, but she was barely registering most of what he was saying. She could still hear the screams in her ears. She could still see what she saw. She knew Booth was trying, but she didn't know if she was ever going to feel better again.

24 Hours Earlier

"We are here," Lavine said, stopping the car. He turned back to look at Cleo while Booth unbuckled and got out.

"Do you have to go?" Cleo asked.

"Yes. Stay here with Mom. I'll be back shortly."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Okay, we're all clear," Booth said, listening to his team's area sweep report.

"Good. I'll be just a moment."

"I'm coming with you."

"That won't be necessary."

"You hired security," Booth argued. "I'm going in there with you."

"The security was for my wife and child," Lavine said calmly.

"Well, my guys have eyes on them. I'm with you."

"How kind. All right, then, you may enter with me." Lavine led the way, and Booth felt even more that he didn't like what was going to take place here.

"Who is this?" an armed man asked, gesturing to Booth.

"My security. Let us pass," Lavine ordered. The man moved out of the way, but not before giving Booth the once over. Booth stared back, not intimidated.

"Ah, Ambassador, you made it," a tall man said, turning to face them. Booth took in this man's appearance. He was a little frail looking with sandy hair and blue eyes.

"I did."

"We can finish these negotiations, no?"

"Absolutely."

Booth watched as Lavine and the man sat down together, dropping their voices. Booth stood guard at the door. He wasn't sure just what exactly he was watching here. He didn't have much time to think about it.

"Shots fired!" Simmons's voice shouted in his ear.

"Watch your six!" Rodriguez shrieked. The gunshots echoed outside, causing Lavine, the tall man, and his security team to look in the direction of the outdoors.

"What is going on here?" Lavine demanded.

"A negotiation that was too late in the making," the tall man whispered.

"Wha-?!" Lavine started when the tall man fired his hidden pistol into Lavine's chest. Booth sprang into action, but it was too late. The doorman had come up behind Booth and hit him hard in the back of the head before firing a round into Booth's torso. The bullet proof vest did well to stop most of the damage, but Booth was still stunned and knocked to the ground.

"Get the girl," the tall man ordered. "Dispose of the rest."

"Yes, sir."

Booth heard the screaming outside then, and he knew it was Shelley and Cleo. Every instinct told him to get up, to defend, but another instinct told him to play dead.

"FRANK!" Shelley screamed, now in the building and seeing Lavine on the floor dead.

"What did I tell you?" the tall man asked, annoyed. "I said the girl."

"This is only girl," the one soldier responded, confused.

"Got her," the second soldier said, hauling Cleo into the room. She was crying and swearing and screaming.

"You see, Mrs. Lavine," the tall man said. "This is what happens when you don't listen to me."

"NOOOO!" Cleo howled then, finally seeing her father on the floor. Booth's mind was racing. He had to get up. He had to do something. His head was throbbing something fierce, though, and his gut was very sore from the shot. He calculated four soldiers plus the tall man. He had a very sinking feeling that his three men were outside dead. It was all up to him.

"Silence, girl!" the tall man roared, making them both shake.

"You can't have her," Shelley said, getting worked up. "Over my dead body!"

"That can be arranged," the tall man said, aiming and firing. Booth would never forget Cleo's reaction to this. Ever. He was trying to stay focused, to not become emotional himself. Save the girl. Save the girl. Save the girl.

"Come along then," the tall man said, gesturing. The two soldiers had to pick Cleo up kicking and screaming to follow him. Booth caught the two stragglers. They were unprepared since they thought he was dead. He made quick work of them and hauled ass after the others. He shot one in the leg, making him howl and drop his half of Cleo. Booth shot him again quickly, killing him. The other soldier whirled around to face Booth, and Booth managed to shoot around the squirming Cleo and strike the shoulder in the chest above his heart. Cleo hit the ground hard as he collapsed dead, and Booth raced over to her. The tall man was nowhere in sight, but that didn't mean he wasn't far away.

"Come on," Booth urged, moving to pick her up.

"No!" she shrieked, yanking away. He clapped a hand over her mouth.

"If you want to get out of here alive, you'll stop screaming," Booth said harshly. "That's an order." Cleo nodded finally. Booth took her hand in his and ran back to where the SUV was. If he was lucky, it might still be intact. When he saw the car sitting there untouched, he threw a prayer of thanks to God. He hurriedly got Cleo into the backseat and jumped into the driver's seat. Bullets hit the back window, shattering it as they pealed away. Cleo screamed again.

"On the floor!" Booth ordered. "Now!" She obeyed, curling up in a ball on the floor of the car. The bullets stopped as he got farther away, and Booth knew that he only had so much time before the manhunt for this girl would begin. He had to get her out of the country.

Now

One hour to landing. Booth felt his palms sweating. He had no idea what he was doing. All he knew was that some terrorist wanted Cleo. For what, he had no idea. It was going to take some FBI work to figure it out. He didn't even have any names to go on. He hoped Caroline had gotten a team to Lavine's home to collect evidence.

"Does it hurt?" Cleo asked, pointing to his torso. He had been looked at by a medic and wrapped up, but the bullet wound wasn't very bad. It would heal.

"A little, but it's not my first time getting shot," Booth answered.

"I still see them," Cleo said, her voice barely a whisper. Her eyes were far away.

"I know you do. I know a great therapist when we get to D.C.," Booth promised. "He'll help you get through this."

"You're not going to leave me are you?" Cleo asked, getting panicked again.

"No, no, no. I'm not leaving you. I made a promise. Hey, look at me," Booth said, making her look at him. "I made you a promise that I will keep you safe until this is over."

"And then what? I go into the system?" she asked, tearing up again.

"Let's not cross that bridge right now, okay?"

"But I will..."

"My best friend is a foster parent. I'll get her to take you in."

"Why can't I just stay with you?"

"I'm not a foster parent."

"So adopt me."

"We're getting way ahead of ourselves here," Booth said, putting on the brakes for this conversation.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"It's okay. One day at a time, all right?"

"'Kay."

Booth desperately hoped that the FBI found something. He needed to hit the ground running on this one.

18 Hours Earlier

"We have to get the hell out of here," Booth said angrily, jabbing his finger in the direction of his shelter. "She is wanted here. They will be looking for her. I need to get her on a plane and away from here."

"She won't be safe anywhere, Booth," Thomas said, furrowing his brow.

"She will. She's staying with me."

"You can't do that..."

"I can. Watch me. I'm FBI. We use evidence, and right now, she is evidence. She's also in danger."

"How are you gonna fly out of here? They'll be watching."

"So take me to a private jet and fly me to a different country so we can leave from there. I don't know! I don't care how it's done, just do it," Booth ordered, slamming his hands on the table. His eyes were fierce. He'd just left a hysterically crying eleven year old on his bunk with the promise that he was going to keep her safe, that she could trust him.

"All right. Leave it with me."

"Thank you."

Booth went back to Cleo, who was now sitting up and hugging her knees.

"What's going to happen to me?" she asked, afraid.

"You're coming to D.C. with me," Booth answered. "I work with the FBI. I'm going to solve this case, keep you safe, and end this terror for you."

"You're making some really big promises," Cleo pointed out, still sniffing and crying a little.

"I need you to trust me," Booth said. "Can you do that?" There was a pause for a moment while Cleo took this in. Then, she nodded.

"I can."

"Good. I'm very good at my job."

"You're bleeding," she said suddenly, pointing. Booth looked down.

"Ah, shit," he muttered. In all the adrenaline rush, he'd forgotten he'd been shot.

"Are you okay?!" Cleo asked, panicking. "Are you going to die?!"

"No, no. It's a flesh wound. I'll got get fixed up, and we'll get out of here. Okay?"

"Okay."

Booth went to the medic tent where he was immediately looked at. As they bandaged him up, he couldn't help but wonder just what he'd gotten himself into.

16 Hours Earlier

It had taken them almost two hours, but they had made it to an airport in one piece. The plane was swept and was clean. Booth boarded with Cleo, who was shaking like a leaf.

"It's going to be all right," Booth promised.

"I h-hate flying," she stuttered. "I get really s-sick. You're in for a long flight, Mr. Booth."

"Just Booth is fine," Booth said. She promptly threw up.

"Oh dear," the flight attendant said, coming over quickly. "Nervous are we? Here, let's get you cleaned up." She went to pull Cleo when Booth stood up.

"I'll take her," he said.

"Sir, I'm quite capable of cleaning up a child..."

"I don't care if you're the damn pope. You're not going anywhere alone with her," Booth said, giving her a steely glare.

"Okay. Come this way then," the woman said, shooting him a fearful look.

"Don't let go," Cleo said, gripping his hand.

"I won't. I'm right here," he reassured her. The flight attendant's eyes softened a little then, taking in this sight.

"You really do care about her," she noted.

"Of course," Booth said. "You can't trust just anyone with your kid." She nodded knowingly.

"I'm sorry for being inconsiderate," she said.

"I'm sorry I snapped. Can we clean her up now, please?"

"Of course."

Now

"My ears," Cleo moaned as the plane descended. They were here. Booth braced for impact, and once they hit the landing, he relaxed his muscles a little. Then he tensed again. He had to keep this girl safe, and he didn't even know from who. Everyone was a suspect. He wasn't going to let her out of his sight. He was going to find that tall man and learn the truth. It was the only way Cleo would ever stand a chance at having a semi normal life again. His last thought as the plane slowed to a stop was of what Brennan's reaction to his decision was going to be and whether or not she was going to help.

Should I continue?