BOAB EPILOGUE

Brennan sat on the wooden bleachers with Danni, Carrie and Mal watching the flags snapping as the riders carrying them made their horses go faster and faster around the arena. Just when it seemed that a collision was imminent each horse stopped in unison and on the proverbial dime, the Star Spangled Banner began to waft from the large triangular shaped speakers around the edges of the arena, quiet at first and then as the crowd joined in, the sound of a thousand voices in unison raised the music to the rafters. A lone rider entered from the far side of the dirt packed arena and riding sedately, presented the American flag to the crowd, the riders' eyes firmly on the end chute and her horse stepping with pride. As the last note echoed around the stands and settled into the night air a large whoop of encouragement, fueled by love of country and a lot of beer erupted from the still standing crowd, the riders began to file out one by one until only the bearer of the red, white and blue was left. She handed the flag to a small cowboy who'd run to the middle of the arena and in turn took a microphone.

Pausing briefly to wipe her eyes, Brennan sat with the rest of the crowd and focused on the lone figure. "Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all for being here today for the opening ceremonies." The woman began to speak, the crowd cheering and clapping momentarily drowning her, she waited patiently, letting them calm down on their own. Once it was semi quiet again, she continued, "For those of you who don't know me, my name is Stefanie Tyler." There was a brief hush as the people who actually knew her realized that was the first time that Stefanie had acknowledged publicly that she was one of the Tylers. Those Tylers, the rodeo gods. "My son Clayton was injured yesterday and is currently in serious condition at the hospital. I want to thank each and every one of you that was involved with his rescue. Without your quick thinking and reactions he'd," she paused to catch her breath, "He would have died. So thank you. I'm sure you are all wondering why I'm here if he's there. I'll tell you. I wasn't born here, I came here when I was very young and my family quickly fell in love with this area. My sister and I were very involved in the rodeo circuit at one time and even though we both left, we knew that this was our home and we both came back. However, it's true what is said, you can't always go home again and I had to learn that the hard way. I know that there are some of you who know what happened on the mountain yesterday, still more of you who think you know, and a good majority of you that have no idea what I'm talking about. All I can say, is the people that were there are the closest things to angels on earth there is and my family and I will always be grateful to them. I'm here today to fulfill a promise I made my son. I told him I'd tell everyone he is my son and that I love him and although I wasn't slated to make an appearance in this show and haven't done so for years, I knew that by coming here and presenting the flag and talking to all of you, I'd be able to make his dream of being a rodeo cowboy become a little clearer. You see, his dad is Jayson Keller." Another hush, this one much louder and longer greeted her statement.

Whispers of the name Keller drifted amongst the spectators. "Jayson is here today and he will be competing, he will be competing for the last time. He wanted me to tell everyone that without the love, support and encouragement this community has provided him over the years, he never would have made it as far as he did and although the next few weeks will be difficult, he wants you to know that he is home to stay, and he will do whatever necessary to regain that trust and support." She turned her horse to face the other side of the arena and resumed speaking, "There are three people that were instrumental in the rescue of my son, two of them are federal agents who were here initially under false pretenses, but now it seems they were meant to be here all along. These two men spent countless hours on horseback and on their feet learning to be a part of the rodeo scene, taking what usually amounts to years of training and cramming it into a few weeks time. Tonight, we welcome them and invite them to perform for you, Tony Scallion and Curtis Conway!" Along with her introduction a spotlight highlighted the two of them as they entered the arena from the opposite side, Gunn and Honey contrasting nicely as the two of them in full clown regalia waved to the crowd. Speaking out of the side of his mouth Booth said, "I'm going to kill someone for this."

Snorting Curtis responded, "Have fun with it, next week we're back to black suits and ugly ties."

The two men circled the stands and then came to stop next to Stefanie, "The third person to help is Dr. Temperance Brennan of the Jeffersonian in Washington DC. Dr. Brennan was invaluable in her assistance and I know that without her being with my son he almost surely would have died, scared and alone. Dr. Brennan, I know you didn't want to be acknowledged publicly, and I will respect your anonymity." Mal leaned down and whispered into her ear, "I didn't make any promises Doc." Brennan turned and smiled at him, "Tell anyone Doc and I'll make sure that Cordelia knows exactly how you feel about her, as will everyone in the tri county area." Coughing and nodding, his face flushed he leaned back and murmured, "You win Roxie."

"I'm going to leave the rest of the announcing up to the talented staff of WCKX radio, and hope that you all enjoy the show, thank you again to my friends," Stefanie paused as she caught the eye of the cowboy leaning on the chute directly across from her, "and to my family." The crowd stood and cheered as the three of them headed out of the arena. The two DJ's from the local station began to introduce the events and sponsors and also reminded the crowd that the main competitions would start the next today, and that tonight were just expeditions and the first go around. They also made sure to mention that drinks would be half price at the Longhorn tonight to all competitors of age and anyone that brought in a ticket stub.

Carrie, Danni and Roxie made their way down to the chutes where they met Stefanie, Jake, Jayson, Tony and Curtis. "That was a real nice speech you made there Steff, it was a good thing that you did." Jake said, holding the reins of her horse as she dismounted, "Thank you Jake, I didn't know what I was doing, I just wanted to do something for Clay and I know this is being videotaped, so even if he can't be here, he can be a part of it right?" She hugged the girls individually and took off her hat, her blonde hair tumbling around her shoulders, "I'm going to go back to the hospital, Jake can you get him home?" She nodded at her horse.

"Sure thing Steff, I'll be up there when I can tomorrow, in between events of course." Jake said and Jayson nodded too, "Me too Stefanie, I want to be there for my s s son." Although seriously diminished in just the one day, his stutter was beginning to steal his speech again much to Jayson's chagrin. Stefanie stepped into his embrace and held him tight, "Thank you Jayson, I know we have a lot to talk about and at first I was mad and scared and worried when you showed up, but I'm not now. I know that we'll figure it out." He leaned into the hug and stroked her back. His heart on his sleeve, he wanted nothing more to have the talk that they so desperately needed right then and now, but it was neither the time nor the place. Watching without looking Jake tried to avoid the family scene as best he could, even though a blind man could see his heart was breaking. Stefanie smiled, wiped a tear from her cheek and kissed Jayson on the cheek and then moving to Jake took his hand in hers and said, "Walk me to my truck Jake?" Jake's eyes lit up briefly as he and Stefanie began to walk away, leading her horse between the two of them.

"Well, that's just as muddy as the Mississippi, isn't it?" Danni observed dryly. Jayson watched them walk away and then turning back to his new and old friends alike said, "I d d don't blame her, if she's happy th th that's all I care a ab about." He clapped Booth and Curtis on the shoulder and said, "Come on, C C Cowboy's let's go p p put on a show!" Curtis leaned over and kissed Danni chastely on the cheek, "Going to the 'horn tonight?" He asked.

"Sure am Cowboy, I'll see you there, after I see you there." She pointed to the arena and they all laughed, "Well, yeah, um…okay." He said, hitching his belt up slightly and attempting to loosen his collar. "Let's get there Jayson."

Roxie put her hand out on Booth's shoulder and said, "You don't have to so this Booth, I know you hate that make up and attire." He turned and looked down at her, "I'm going to do this Bones because I promised Clay I would and because the only way to get over a fear is to embrace it. You taught me that."

She stepped back and looked at him quizzically, "I did? When did I teach you that?" He reached out and took her hand, pulling her as close as he could without getting white greasepaint on her he leaned in and whispered into her ear, "That first night we made love, I was terrified." Kissing her as soft as a whisper he squeezed her hand and caught up with Curtis and Jayson. She watched him trot off, his ripped jeans bouncing off the back of his legs and flashing his red long johns underneath. Not hearing her name being called, she shook her head when Carrie pinched her, "Earth to Roxie? I know he's dreamy and all that, but you'll get a piece of him tonight I'm sure, so let's go get a beer and a big ole bucket of corn and go watch those two try not to get killed dodging 2000 pounds of pissed off bull okay?" Nodding at her, Roxie, Dannie and Carrie made their way to the concession stand.

~later that evening~

The gang was crowded around five tables that had been drawn together and Curtis and Booth were trying to dodge the multiple questions regarding the arrests. "We can't talk about it, really guys; we can't say anything that might jeopardize the case." Carrie, Danni, Roxie and Jayson all knew what the others didn't.

Chuck was the one that caused the fire in the barn that killed Jax and Stella. He'd been trying to get some of the barrels that he'd stashed in there out before the party Jax woke up and startled him. All the kids were asleep in the barn and Leo had started growling, thinking there was a mouse or rat in the barn, he'd gotten out of his sleeping bag and headed to the back of the barn. Seeing Chuck moving the barrels out of there seemed wrong so he started to ask him what he was doing when Leo charged Chuck, dodging the big dog, Jax tried to grab his collar and Chuck hit him hard, knocking the boy out. Chuck then started the fire to cover his tracks and had hid in the woods until the last of the cops had left, then made his way to the hotel to give his condolences, along with Jesse and the rest of them.

Jesse was the man behind the entire scheme, he made the contacts, and set the delivery routes, and until they'd figured out they could use empty barrels to transport the drugs, they had used horse trailers and just stuck the packages inside large bales of hay. He was the one that killed Elizabeth, she'd gone to the arena to surprise Chuck with lunch and nooner and overheard them talking about using the barrels and their next shipment. He told Chuck that putting her in the barrel would be the best way to get rid of her and that no one would suspect anything.

Things were going along fine when Tug was invited to join them since he owned his own tractor and could haul the flatbed trailers for less than a shipping company. Eventually, it got too risky for him to use his own truck, but he stayed with them because the money was amazing and he was able to buy his wife anything and everything she'd ever wanted. More than anything, he just wanted her to stay by his side and he thought that jewelry and fancy trips and clothes was the way to keep her there.

Once they'd discouraged the questions, they were able to talk amongst themselves a little more freely, "So what is the plan now Tony?" Carrie asked, absently stirring her drink with the plastic swizzle stick she'd swiped from the barmaid. "Well, my plan is to check out of the roach motel as quickly as I can, and then get back to DC. Once I get this case settled, I'm going to take a very long vacation."

"What's a matter, you don't like it here?" Danni asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Don't get me wrong, I like it here a lot, I like you all and aside from all the makeup and baggy clothes, gun fights and snot throwing beasts of burden, I've had a decent time here, I'm just not sure that it's where I want to vacation."

Brennan spoke up almost too quietly to hear, "I like it here."

They all looked at her and she took a drink of her beer, "I like working for Mal, and you girls are just wonderful and the closest thing to real friends I've had in a very long time, I love the weather, the smells, the horses, everything about this place makes me feel safe." Booth turned fully in his seat and looked at her, she didn't appear drunk, but nothing that she'd just said was typical Brennan. "Really Bones?" He asked. She took his hand and stood up, "Let's dance Booth." Tipping his beer back he settled his hat a little firmer on his head and nodded to the rest of them, "Okay Bones, let's dance."

Following her to the dance floor, they both began to sway slowly to the Rascal Flatts love song the band was currently crooning, Booth leaned in and whispered in her ear, "We still have to talk you know Bones."

She smiled into his neck and whispered back, "Why do you think I asked you to dance Cowboy?" Stepping back slightly he looked down at her and twirled her around, "Are you drunk Bones?"

"No, why would you ask that?" She questioned him.

"I just want an honest conversation uninhibited by booze, and you're not acting like yourself." She smiled at him, "You know, I don't feel like myself. Ever since we've been here, I've felt myself slipping away. I've been taking things I normally wouldn't for granted, and I've been questioning things I've never questioned before."

"Like what Bones?" He asked, huskily, pulling her closer into his embrace.

"When I was on that ledge with that little boy, I knew that you were going to save us. I just knew it. I find that I was disturbed by that, because I had no tangible evidence or proof that you would, but for some reason, I had faith that you would. When I heard your voice, I just knew that no matter what I was safe. I realized right then and there that I couldn't explain everything with science, no matter how much I rationalized to myself or you or Angela, I wasn't able to explain my faith in you. I know now that I love you Booth."

He was stunned by her admission, both by the words, and by the fervor at which she spoke, "You love me?"

"I do, I love you and I trust you and I have faith in you and although love is intangible and what I thought was body chemistry and hormones, I know now that it's more. It's a touch, a word, it's a feeling, it's a scent, it's a memory, it's everything and anything. I love you Booth. I don't know what that means for us, our jobs, our friends; I just know that right now I love you. I also learned from Stef and Jayson, there were so many lies and half truths and misunderstandings, I don't want that. I want to be honest with you and I want to start now." She leaned up and captured his mouth with hers, a soft gentle no pressure kiss. He responded and whispered against her mouth, "I love you too Bones, always have."

Neither of them noticed the music had stopped and they were the only ones on the dance floor, lost in each other, they jumped slightly when someone yelled, "Get a room!"

Both of them flushed slightly when Booth leaned down and said, "How about it? I've got a room already?" The two of them walked off the floor towards their Wyoming friends, hands on each other's hips, "I've got a lot of rooms Booth, why don't we go back to my place?" She said.

"Well, your place for another day or so anyway," He said, "We leave on Wednesday, remember?" Grabbing his coat, he stopped with both arms extended and stared at her when she responded, "Actually, I bought it, the house, the land, and I'm staying here for a little bit longer." Slowly, Booth put his arms down and stepped closer to her, "Why did you buy it? Are you not coming back to DC?" He was panicked; they'd taken one step forward and now seemed to be taking two steps back.

"Don't worry Booth, I'm coming back to DC, I'm just not flying back, I'm driving and I'm going to be here for a couple of weeks or so."

"Driving? Why are you driving?"

"How else will I get the horses back to DC? I can't very well declare them as carry on with the airlines."

"Not with the fees they charge!" Danni said, clearly eavesdropping on their conversation.

She and Carrie, Dirk and Curtis were watching the two of them talk as avidly as fans of Wimbledon watched the Williams sisters.

"You bought the horses too?" He asked one arm in the coat and the other bereft of its warmth. "All three of them?"

"Four." She responded, pulling out her lip gloss and swiping her lips, also a very un- Brennan like thing to do.

"Four?" He gulped.

"Yes, I bought Gunn too, the FBI wasn't happy about it, but I really don't care what they are happy with, I've got plenty of money, so it wasn't a problem. I figured you'd want to ride him, or at least Parker might like to."

"Who is Parker?" Carrie and Danni asked in unison.

"My son." "His son." Booth and Brennan answered them both.

"Whoah, hold on, he has a son?"

Shaking his hand at them as if to tell them to focus on the current issue, he turned back to Brennan, "Where are you going to keep four horses?"

"Three."

"What? You just said you bought four of them." He sat down, not sure that this conversation was even real, but sure that he wanted to be seated for the remainder of it.

"I did, I'm giving Charcoal to Clay. He needs a horse now that he doesn't have Scoot. I also made sure that one of Mal's pups goes to him, when he gets out of the hospital. A boy needs a dog." Booth shook his head and just stared at her, unsure who this woman was and what she'd done with the predictable and rational scientist she looked like. Curtis handed him another ice cold beer which he accepted gratefully. "Is there anything else I should know about?" he asked.

"No, I'm sure anything else that comes up we can talk about at my place. You ready?"

"I thought I was." He mumbled under his breath, chugging the rest of the beer, he stood and finally got his arm through the hanging arm of his coat. "Good night." He tipped his hat to the rest of them and they all laughed and waved them off. Trailing after her, he wondered what other surprises she had in store for him.

As they exited the bar, a tall, slender cowboy began to enter, and then paused to hold open the door. "Thanks Man." Seeley said as they walked through the doorway. "No problem buddy." He said. Taking his time inside the entrance to allow his eyes to adjust to the dim light and smoke filled room he finally saw the table of people he was looking for. Meandering through the tables, single women all looked at the new man and wondered if he was available. Dark hair and eyes, dark stubble on his face, he was clearly an actual cowboy if the way his Wranglers fit were any indication. Her back to the dance floor and his approach, she was surprised to feel the tap on her shoulder, turning at her name she sat and stared, her mouth open in shock, "Carrie, would you like to dance?" he drawled.

"Tommy?" She recovered quickly.

"The one and only."

"Oh my GOD! What are you doing here?" She shrieked, jumping up and into the arms of her Canadian Cowboy. "I'm here for the rodeo darlin' and for however long you'll have me."

Shrieking again she covered his face in kisses and Dirk and Danni tipped their bottles together, "Well Dirk, looks like you're the only one left now." She said, as she and Curtis stood to go to the dance floor, "Well, don't you worry your pretty little self about me Danni; I've got plenty of options available." He said, smiling at her and then tipping his bottle at the young waitress currently behind the bar, "Plenty of options." He repeated again under his breath.

Brennan followed Booth to the hotel, where she helped him load up his belongings and then his horse, leaving the key in the drop box, he looked back at the hotel and said, "It's sick, but I'm going to miss this place." She looked back with him and then as he got into his truck to follow her to the cabin, she said "Don't worry Booth, you'll be back, maybe you could bring Parker out? I'm sure that he and Clay and Conner would get along very well. You could even stay here if you wanted to, that would be like an adventure to Parker." She smirked at the horrified expression on his face, "No thanks, I'll just stay at your place, thank you very much." He responded.

She leaned into the interior of the truck and kissed him, "Well, why don't you follow me to my place now Cowboy?" Kissing her back, their mouths and tongues both fighting for dominance, both eager to begin a night of passion, slowly they broke off the kiss and raggedly he agreed, "Okay Bones, I'm right behind you."

She walked away and got into her truck, it started easily with a powerful roar and she pulled out of the driveway and onto the road. Reaching down, he turned the key in the ignition with no response, trying it again; nothing greeted his efforts but the grinding of a dead battery. Leaning his head back against the seat, he fought the urge to shoot the truck through the fire wall, instead he dialed her phone.

"Booth?" She asked with a kitten like purr, "Miss me already?"

"Bones, my truck won't start, will you come and get me?" he pouted, embarrassed that the FBI would give him such a POS and once again she was the one he relied on to get him out of the situation.

Silence greeted his response almost too much silence, "Bones?"

Finally she giggled into the phone, "Sure Cowboy, I'll be there in a few minutes, but if I do, you have to do something for me okay?"

Thinking it was going to be something sexy he growled back, "Anything baby, anything."

"You still got the clown pants?" She asked.

Thank you all for sticking with it. It sure didn't flow as easily as other stories have for me, and for that I apologize. I hope it ended well enough for you Constant Reader. I'm on a BONES hiatus for now. Not sure when I'll return, until then though I'll be in Charming and sunny LA should you want to read more of my drivel or I'll be catching up on my reading of the hundreds of talented FF writers out there that I've been introduced to since starting this very fun and rewarding hobby. Thanks again and always remember, in the absence of light, darkness prevails.

MKAngelus

Live Fast. Die Never.

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