The loud noises and clamouring of the journalists around her was overwhelming. She'd only just stepped out of her car to get to the Jeffersonian building when the mob got to her.
"Um... excuse me..?" she said loudly and ineffectually. The questions kept coming, the cameras stared her down, and the fluffy microphones invaded her space carelessly.
"Doctor Brennan!" shouted multiple voices, and the bright colours and jostling and noise increased in intensity as she tried to find a way out of the throng.
"Over here! Doctor Brennan, is it true that-" started one reporter.
"How do you feel, Doctor Brennan, about the punishment they received; do you think-" said another.
"Were you aware that two of them are still in hospital, or-" shouted another. They all competed for her attention, and some even elbowed each other to get to the front and stick their own microphones practically up her nose.
"The three men who jumped you in the park have all woken up, is there anything you'd like to say to them or would you rather to-"
"How is it you managed to fight off three assailants at once, Doctor Brennan-"
"Doctor Brennan, you've been dubbed Dr Ninja by some news programs, how do you feel about that?" shouted a particularly loud voice near her left ear.
"It seems fairly appropriate," she called back absently, almost tripping as she shouldered her way through the people. The fact that she actually responded to a question had the opposite to the intended effect; causing them to increase the fight for attention now that she had acknowledged them.
As the voices raged, she started to get slightly dizzy, and nothing could top the relief of what happened next when a warm, familiar face burst through the crowd and its corresponding figure slung a protective arm around her shoulder.
She had thought she glimpsed Booth's face nearby before, but here he was now and she gladly made herself as small as possible and stuck herself to his side. Shrinking and tucking under his arm secured her and she knew he'd pull the 'I'm a Federal Agent' card if necessary to get them away from the crazy mob.
"Heya Bones!" he muttered cheerfully in between calling for people to make way, and he used his free arm to wave his badge around and ward off the rabid reporters.
"Hi Booth," she responded in relief, ducking with him under microphones as the reporters unwillingly retreated slightly. The occasional question was still yelled, but she found herself able to breathe again. "Thanks for saving me."
"It's my job, Bones," he replied cheerfully as the security guard hastily hid his Playboy magazine and stood up to wave them through. "Besides, I'm sure you could have kicked their collective asses if necessary."
"But you told me I wasn't allowed to attack people unless I was in danger!"
"Kidding, Bones, kidding," he smirked down at her, giving her an affectionate punch on the arm as he removed his arm from her shoulders. Bones punched him back, but a lot harder.
"I'll kick your ass," she muttered under her breath, and he just grinned and poked her up onto the platform where a dismembered, smelly skeleton was waiting for some tender loving care.