It had been a month since they had received the news. Angela knew that it had affected Brennan more than she was letting on. She threw herself into her work, not talking or seeing anyone. Angela was pretty upset about it as well.

They all were. Booth was a part of their team and now he was gone.

Dead.

Never coming back.

Angela watched Bren clean up her office then switch off the light. She knew that Bren would be back later, when she thought no one else noticed. Angela sighed and turned back towards the art pad she was holding, and finished her sketch.

-------------------------

"Dr Brennan, we're glad you came on such short notice. We know this is hard," an old looking FBI Agent said to her from across a table.

"What is it that you want? I have work to be attending to," Brennan snapped.

"We have to put you into the witness protection program," Cullen said stepping forward.

"What?" Brennan exclaimed.

"Agent Booth and you were working on a very sensitive case about a month ago and it seems that the mob that you were dealing with has put out hits on both you and Agent Booth," Cullen said.

"Booth is dead, what does it matter?" Brennan replied bitterly.

"Sorry, to disappoint you Bones, I'm not dead," Booth said quietly from the doorway.

"Oh my God," Brennan exclaimed. "Booth…" she whispered.

"Agent Booth entered the program when it was confirmed that there was indeed a hit out on him. It was confirmed that a hit has been assigned to you last night. We have to move quickly. Your work colleagues and family will be notified of your death tomorrow morning. You will need to leave with Agent Booth and Agent Cooper straight away. You will be taken to a safe house until your new identities are confirmed and we can relocate you," The older agent spoke up.

"No," Brennan stated, then went to stand up.

The agents looked around at each other skeptically.

"Bones," Booth growled at her, walking forward and grabbing her arms. "This is bigger than you think and you will not pull some stunt saying that you can protect yourself because you can't, I won't let you,"

"But…Russ, no! I can't just...die," Brennan whispered.

Booth watched as Brennan's eyes filled with tears.

"I know, it'll be okay. I promise," Booth whispered.

"We need to move," Cullen said. Booth nodded and pulled Brennan to her feet.

Walking numbly beside Booth, Brennan tried to process what was happening but found she couldn't comprehend any of it. Making their way down a corridor she had walked many times before Brennan recoiled into herself, analyzing how she had gotten into this situation and a reasonable way she could possibly get herself out of it and back to her lab where she belonged.