PART ONE
As the sun starts to set and a beautiful orange glow shimmers from the horizon, another more sinister orange glow lights up the city. Bright hot flames lick out of the shattered windows as dark clouds of thick black smoke fill the air. Red and blue sirens wail and flash in front of the building while rescue workers with dirtied faces tend to the injured and fire fighters tackle the blaze.
Dr Goodman looks around at the chaos surrounding him and a deep sigh escapes from his mouth. How did this happen? He asks himself. What am I going to tell Dr Brennan?
PART TWO
Temperance Brennan stares out the window of the SUV as Booth drives them back into the city to her lab. Neither of them has spoken for the last half hour, both too stubborn to give in. As usual, it all started with an innocent argument over him making her stay in the car while he interviewed a suspect.
"It's too dangerous Bones, for once just wait in the car." Booth is exacerbated. He likes working with Brennan but she can drive him to the point of frustration far too easily.
"I will not just sit here and wait. What can possibly be so dangerous about this guy?" Brennan asks.
"He's a known criminal with connections to the mafia Bones." Booth tells her. "You don't have the training to interview someone like him and anything you say could spark off something we don't want to happen." He tries to explain. In response Brennan folds her arms across her chest and sulks. Part of her knows he's right but she only ever agreed to work with Agent Booth on cases if she got full participation. Waiting in the car is not full participation.
"I shouldn't be long." He says as he gets out. "Don't move." He warns as he closes the door. As he walks towards the house Booth can see the look on Brennan's face. She isn't happy, not one little bit.
As Booth gets closer to the lab he spots some strange activity. He can see smoke billowing from roughly where the lab is and when he turns the corner there are flashing lights.
"Bones." He says.
"What?" she asks impatiently.
"Look." He turns her attention to the lab at the end of the street where there looks to be a scene of total chaos.
"What the…" Brennan trails off as she takes in the scene. Fire and smoke, ambulances and fire fighters. This can't be good she thinks. She feels Booth accelerate a little and he pulls the SUV to a stop as close as he can get.
Both are out the SUV in seconds, striding towards the Fire Marshall.
"What happened?" Brennan rushes forward to ask.
"I'm going to have to ask you to step back." The Fire Marshall says.
"Wait, I work here, what happened?" she asks again.
"This is a dangerous situation ma'am, please, I don't care if you work here, you need to step back." He holds his hands out in front to get his point across.
"I'm with the FBI, Agent Seely Booth, this is Dr Temperance Brennan." He says in his official voice with a tone that says 'I can get you fired if you don't let us through'.
"We need to see Dr Goodman." The Fire Marshall looks Booth over then Brennan then he steps to the side. "Thank you." Booth says. He places his hand on Brennan's lower back and steers her forward.
Dr Goodman is standing amongst chaos. But through the chaos he sees Agent Booth and Dr Brennan walking towards him. He hangs his head and takes a deep breath.
"What's going on, what happened?" Brennan asks frantically.
"There was an explosion." Dr Goodman tells her.
"What kind of explosion?"
"We believe it was a bomb." Dr Goodman tells Booth.
"A bomb, who would want to bomb us?" Brennan looks to Booth for answers he can't give.
"Dr Brennan." Dr Goodman lifts his head. "I have some bad news."
"What?" Brennan's eyes widen and Booth can see the fear in them. "Oh God, Angela, Zach, Hodgins?" she asks. Her right hand reaches out and grabs Booth's arm, her fingers digging into the cloth of his coat.
"They're not…" Booth can't bring himself to say the word 'dead'. Over the last few months he's really come to like the three squints and he knows how important they are to Brennan.
"No, but they are in a serious condition at the hospital." Dr Goodman explains. Booth feels Brennan gripping his arm tighter. "They got caught in the main blast." Dr Goodman explains. Brennan looks at Dr Goodman, her eyes filling with tears. Why? Why did this happen. Who did this? Angela, poor Angela. And Zach, he's so young. Hodgins too. Her mind is running faster than she can keep up.
Brennan suddenly lets go of Booth's arm and she just walks away from the two men. Booth's first instinct is to go after her but Dr Goodman shakes his head. Booth looks over at Brennan who has come to a stop beside a fire engine. Her back is to him but he can see from her hunched shoulders that she is deeply upset. Her arms are wrapped around her chest tightly, as if she's holding herself together.
"Which hospital?" Booth asks Dr Goodman.
"County." He states. "I have to stay for a while yet, procedures." He nods.
"I'll take her." Booth says. Turning away from the older man, Booth starts the walk over to Brennan.
Brennan feels a warm hand on the back of her neck and it sends shivers down her spine. She knows exactly who it is. Booth's hand slides across her neck and finds its way to that spot between her neck and her shoulder. He holds his hand there for a moment before he lifting it awayand moving it to her arm. He knows he's taken a big risk touching her this way. Friends don't get this close but it felt natural and she didn't resist. He nods towards the SUV, indicating that they should go. She turns and walks beside him, her arms still clamped across her chest.
PART THREE
As Booth drives quickly to the hospital he can imagine everything going through her head. She's wondering why it wasn't her, why her friends had to get hurt. He thinks. She's terrified they're going to die and she's going to be alone again. Booth doesn't know much about Brennan's past except her parents disappeared when she was young, she ended up in foster care and she was separated from her brother. She's lost a lot of people who are close to her. She doesn't want to be alone again. He lowers his head momentarily and glances sideways at her. You'll never be alone Bones. If your world falls apart I'll be there.
PART FOUR
Booth waits patiently in the hallway, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Brennan is in with Hodgins. Of the three squints, he has been the luckiest. Escaping with a gash to his head and lots of cuts and scratches from the broken glass and bones thrown around during the explosion, Hodgins is only being kept in over night for observation. Booth watches Brennan sitting with Hodgins. She is holding his hand and talking to him, probably trying to find out what happened. The sad look on her face cannot be hidden.
Booth stands up straight and places his hands on his waist when Brennan emerges from Hodgins room.
"How's he doing?" Booth asks softly.
"He's okay. He doesn't remember much about what happened." She folds her arms and starts walking down the hall.
"What about Zach and Angela?" Booth asks.
"Zach's in a room down here somewhere." Brennan looks at the numbers on the doors as she walks. "Angela is in surgery." She then states. Booth can hear the panic in her voice.
"You want some coffee or something?" Booth asks. He doesn't really know what else to do or say.
"No thanks." Brennan stops outside Zach's room and looks at him through the window. Her eyes well up with tears as she sees the young man bandaged up and lying still in the bed.
"I'll be out here, if you need anything." Booth says. He's being so nice Brennan thinks. I've never seen this side of him before.
Brennan walks into Zach's room and a light gasp escapes her lips. The young man is in a serious but stable condition. He has some severe burns to his arms and hands and a lot of cuts from the broken glass and shards of bones. He looks so small and weak in the bed and Brennan feels her heart pounding as she approaches.
"Hey Zach." She smiles down at him. His eyes blink open.
"Dr Brennan." He whispers.
"How are you feeling?" she asks as she perches on the edge of the bed.
"Like I got blown up." He says. Brennan smiles when she hears the sarcasm in his voice.
"Do you remember what happened?" she asks.
"We got a package." Zach says. "It was on the table then…" he stops when he remembers the explosion.
"It's alright Zach. You're going to be fine." Brennan wants to reach out and touch him but she's afraid of hurting him. "Booth will find out what happened." She states. She has every faith that the FBI agent will do anything in his power to help and bring the bastards who did this to justice. "I'll let you get some rest." Brennan stands up and backs towards the door. Zach's eyes close and he drifts off into a world of dreams.
Booth is talking with a Doctor when Brennan comes out Zach's room.
"Dr Brennan." The doctor beckons her over. "I'm Dr Harris." He introduces himself and shakes her hand.
"How's Angela?" Brennan asks.
"Ms Montenegro is still in surgery I'm afraid. The surgeon is doing a lot of repair work to her left leg and stomach which were severely damaged by the last." He says. Brennan feels like she's going to throw up and she hunches over. But strange relief is brought by Booth gently rubbing her back.
"She'll be okay?" Brennan asks.
"We have the best surgeon on the east coast in there." Dr Harris tells her. "But it's going to take some time. You might want to go home and get some sleep."
"We'll wait." Booth announces. Brennan turns her head and looks at him. Did he say 'we'? she wonders.
"Alright, I'll be around the floor if you have any questions." Dr Harris nods and back away from the pair. Brennan sighs and walks over to the old leather couch. She sits down with a heaviness Booth has never seen.
"Angela's going to be okay. She's strong, you know." He tells her. When Brennan looks up at him her eyes are wide and glassy and Booth knows she is terrified Angela won't pull through. He doesn't know what else to do so he sits down beside her and takes her hand. He feels her fingers interlink with his and he turns his head, meeting her eyes and giving her a little smile. She nods and turns her head forward, staring at the wall. And that's how they remain for the next two hours; side by side, holding hands and silent.
PART FIVE
Booth is first to notice a surgeon walking down the hall towards he and Brennan.
"Hey." He whispers. She breaks her gaze at the spot on the wall and looks in the direction he is indicating with his head. Seeing the surgeon she stands up but she doesn't let go of Booth's hand. He feels her grip tighten as the surgeon approaches.
"I'm Dr Marlin." He introduces. "Ms Montenegro is in recovery and doing well." He breaks a smile. Brennan sags with relief. "She'll require plenty of rest and physiotherapy but she's young fit and healthy so I predict she'll make a full recovery."
"Can we see her?"
"Yes, but for a couple of minutes only. She needs rest." Dr Marlin says. He turns to guide Brennan and Booth down the hall and Brennan takes a step forward but Booth doesn't.
"Booth?" Brennan asks when he doesn't follow her.
"You go ahead, I'll wait here." He says. Brennan looks into his eyes trying to see what's going on but he hides it well. She relinquishes her grip on his hand and follows the Doctor down the hall. Every few feet she glances back at him. He stands in the middle of the hallway with his shoulders hunched and a tired look on his face.
Brennan stands by Angela's bed with one hand at her throat. Her best friend looks so ill and weak, she can hardly believe it's the same woman she saw just hours ago, healthy and happy at the lab. The tubes and drips she is hooked up to are pretty intimidating. As is the monitor bleeping at the side of the bed.
"You're going to be fine Angela." Brennan whispers before a nurse gestures that her time is up. Brennan nods and backs towards the door. Seeing Angela's chest rising and falling gives her some peace of mind. At least she's still alive.
When Brennan gets back to the waiting area, Booth is sitting on the old leather couch resting his head against the wall. He must be exhausted.
"Booth, you should go home, you don't need to stay." She tells him. He lifts his head off the wall. But he doesn't get up. Brennan realises he isn't going to go anywhere just yet so she sits down beside him. Booth lifts his left arm and places it along the back of the couch behind Brennan's head. Exhausted both emotionally and physically she leans into Booth and rests her head on his shoulder. She feels his arm slip around her and his fingers stroke her arm. How does he know just what to do? She asks herself. Stop analysing it Temperance, just relax. She tells herself. And she does. She closes her eyes and forgets that she's in Booth's arms. Quite possibly the most dangerous place to be.
PART SIX
When Brennan wakes she is lying horizontally. As she sits up she realises Booth's coat is covering her. Where's Booth? She snaps her head up and looks around for him but he is nowhere to be seen. He wouldn't leave me, would he? She wonders. Maybe she gave him too much credit last night. As she convinces herself he's abandoned her, she spots him walking down the hall carrying a paper bag. His shirt is un-tucked, his tie is loosened to the point that he might as well have taken it off and his five o'clock shadow is clearly visible.
"Morning." He greets her with a smile. "I brought bagels." He places the bag on the coffee table by the couch. "How'd you sleep?" he asks.
"Fine." Brennan replies as she lifts Booth's jacket off her and lays it on the couch beside her.
"Here, coffee too." He hands Brennan a cup of steaming hot coffee. Then his phone rings and she sees his face sink. Tessa she thinks.
"Hey, Tessa." Booth answers awkwardly. He turns his back to Brennan and starts to walk. Brennan strains to hear what he's saying and from his words she can judge the conversation. Tessa is berating him for not coming home last night. She must have been expecting him.
"What did you expect me to do?" Booth asks angrily. "Leave her here on her own when her best friends are in critical condition?" He listens for a minute. "They're more than that Tessa, they're my friends too." He states. Brennan smiles when she hears Booth admit that he actually likes them. "Yeah, maybe I should have called but with everything that was going on it slipped my mind." He explains. Tessa has probably just demanded to know why he didn't call her. He had plenty of chances to, why didn't he? She wonders. As Booth finishes the call Brennan snaps her attention to the bagels.
"Sorry about that."
"Is Tessa mad?" Brennan asks.
"A little." He replies as he sits down next to her.
"You don't have to stay Booth. You didn't have to stay last night either." She tells him.
"Come on Bones, I wasn't going to leave you here on your own." He smiles. "What would you use for a pillow?" he laughs a little and Brennan feels a smile tug at her lips.
"Thanks." Brennan says meaningfully. "I really mean it." She adds. Booth can't resist tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers linger on her cheek longer than they should and both know it. Brennan lowers her gaze and Booth stares at her.
"I'll always be here when you need me." He says. For some reason Brennan absolutely believes it. She and Booth share a strange bond and she doesn't doubt for a second that he wouldn't come to her aid if she asked.
PART SEVEN
Brennan and Booth are sitting around the waiting area when Dr Harris comes to find them. Brennan jumps to her feet to meet him. Booth stands stiffly behind her. Sleeping upright on a couch does nothing for his back.
"Dr Harris." Brennan greets him.
"Dr Brennan, Agent Booth." He replies.
"How's Angela?" Brennan asks hopefully.
"I'm afraid there have been complications." Dr Harris says. The last time someone told me that, my Grandfather died Brennan thinks. She feels her knees weaken and everything around her goes grey and fuzzy. The last thing she hears is Booth calling out her name.
"Bones, come on, come back." She hears Booth's voice again. She blinks her eyes open and she sees his fuzzy face hovering above her. Why am I not on the floor? She wonders. She knows she passed out but she isn't on the cold hard floor, she's on something warm and soft. As she blinks and her vision clears she realises she's in Booth's arms, her neck resting safely on his arm.
"Next time you're going to do that, give me some warning okay." Booth smiles. "You almost cracked your head on the floor." He tells her.
"Sorry." She mumbles.
"Perhaps she needs some rest." Dr Harris suggests.
"I'm alright." Brennan insists. "Angela, what about Angela?" Brennan asks. Booth sits her up then pulls her to her feet with him. He slips his left arm around her waist and holds her right arm with his hand. He can feel her shaking.
"We were expecting her to wake from the anaesthetic already but she is so far still unconscious." Dr Harris says.
"But she's still alive?" Brennan needs to know.
"Yes, but she's in a coma and we are not sure when she'll wake." The news shocks Brennan and she feels her knees going weak again.
"Uh Booth, I think I need to sit down." She warns him.
"Right." Booth walks her over to the couch and she practically falls onto it.
"How much worse can this get?" burying her head in her hands she asks this rhetorical question. Booth sighs and looks at the floor. This really isn't the time to tell her that the package containing the bomb was addressed to her and that someone is obviously out to kill her.
PART EIGHT
Brennan sits nervously in the passenger seat of Booth's SUV.
"Are you sure?" she asks.
"Positive." Booth replies. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to have to tell you but…"
"It's all right." Brennan glances out the window. "I'd have to find out sometime." She sighs. Booth brings the SUV to a stop outside her house.
"Make this quick Bones." Booth tells her. Brennan nods and gets out. Booth follows her to the door which she unlocks and pushes open. Booth steps in front of her, his gun drawn. He proceeds to check the house for intruders or anything suspicious. Seeing nothing he waves to Brennan to go pack some clothes.
In her bedroom Brennan pulls out a large hold all. She throws some clean clothes, toiletries and other essentials into the bag, including a photograph of her family and of her friends. Looking around she wonders if she'll ever feel safe here.
"You ready Bones?" Booth booms from the hall.
"Coming." She replies. Heaving the hold-all over her shoulder she walks out and meets Booth in the hall. He takes her bag from her with a little nod and guides her back out the house. She locks the door and walks to the SUV, unsure whether she'll be returning. Whoever sent the bomb to the lab could send one to her house.
PART NINE
Booth is tired. The last thing Booth needs now is Tessa arguing with him about the situation. Brennan is asleep on his bed, exhausted after the last two days. It had taken every ounce of persuasion skills he has to get her to leave the hospital. Then, with nothing left he had to persuade her not to go home because she wasn't safe. Bones being Bones, she had refused and insisted she could take care of herself and didn't need him fussing like a mother hen. He had laughed at this. He has never seen himself as a mother hen. He isn't fussing over her, he's protecting her from someone or something.
Tessa paces the floor, a stern look on her face.
"You know what Tessa, her life is in danger. Someone tried to blow her up. She isn't even safe in her own home. If you have a problem with her staying here then I suggest you leave. And if you go, don't bother coming back." Booth yells. He knows he might wake Brennan but right now he's running on emotion and he's always had a hard time keeping those in check.
Tessa just stands and stares at him. She can't believe this is how it ends. She wanted to be the one to break it off with him for something he's done. He hasn't been perfect by any means; working late, cancelling on her, leaving during dinner for new cases. But this seems too sudden, unfinished.
She knows she's overreacting to the situation and that Brennan staying with Booth is for the woman's safety but she's been so worked up about their friendship lately that she hasn't been thinking straight. Booth is a good man and despite his faults she has always wanted to be with him. She's just threatened because Brennan and Booth seem to have a natural chemistry she doesn't have with Booth. He's slipping away and there's nothing I can do. She purses her lips, picks up her bag and her jacket and heads to the door. When she opens it she looks back at Booth, giving him a chance to change his mind but he just shakes his head and turns away, walking towards the kitchen. I've lost him. Tessa says to herself. I've lost him for good.
PART TEN
Brennan pads down the hall and to the den. She wraps her arms protectively around her chest and stands awkwardly by the kitchen table. Booth is lying on the couch with one foot on the floor and his head resting on a cushion on the arm of the couch. His shirt is creased and his hair is messed up. He hasn't shaved in at least two days and to Brennan, he actually looks quite a mess. And it's all because of her. This is my fault she believes. I've pissed someone off and now everyone around me is paying.
She walks into his kitchen and puts the kettle on to make some tea. As she waits for it to boil she looks down at herself. Not two minute ago she was thinking about how awful Booth looks but she looks just as bad. Her clothes are dirty and creased and her hair must be a mess it's been pulled back and not washed for two days. Suddenly she feels very self conscious about how she looks.
Booth seems oblivious to the noise in the kitchen. Brennan pours the boiling water into a cup and adds a camomile teabag. It surprised her that Booth had camomile. Maybe Tessa drinks it she wonders. Taking the tea, she pads back to Booth's room where her hastily packed bag sits on the floor. She places the tea on the table by the bed before lifting the hold-all and rummaging through for clean clothes and toiletries.
Booth snorts, rolls over and almost falls off the couch as he wakes up. He momentarily forgets where he is, what's happened and that Brennan is in his bed. That is until he hears the shower going. Pulling himself up he rubs his face and coughs. His face feels rough and he realises he hasn't shaved in two days. Tessa's gone he remembers yelling at her and telling if she walks out not to come back. He feels bad, not that they've broken up but that he yelled at her. He could have been more civil. Rolling off the couch, Booth stumbles to the kitchen. The kettle is still hot so he pours a hot cup of camomile tea and takes a sip. Rubbing his stomach he also realises he, and Brennan, haven't eaten for a long time. He begins searching the cupboards ad gathers together some ingredients for breakfast.
Brennan lets the hot water flow over her. With her hair now washed and feeling clean again she finally shuts the water off and steps out the shower. Wrapping a large towel around her body, she takes a smaller one and towel dries her hair. When she wipes the steam off the mirror she notices an immediate improvement in her face. Hr skin is brighter and her cheeks have a light flush to them. All that remains is to get dressed and face the day, whatever it holds.
Booth is busy scrambling eggs when Brennan emerges. She looks nervous as she walks into the kitchen and slides onto a stool at the breakfast bar.
"Feeling better?" he asks.
"Much." She replies. "
"Well you look better." He tells her with a smile as he turns around from the stove and faces her. Wearing blue jeans and a vest she looks very casual. Her damp hair hangs around her face in waves.
"You look like hell." She comments.
"Thanks Bones, way to make a guy feel good." He retorts. "You hungry?" he asks. She shakes her head. "Bones, I don't want you calling me a mother hen again but you need to eat." He says. He opens his mouth to give her a speech about healthy bodies meaning healthy minds but she stops him before he can even start.
"Okay, okay." She raises her hands in submission. He carries the pan of eggs over to the breakfast bar and scoops some out onto the plate in front of her.
"There." He looks pleased that the eggs came out okay. "You eat while I go make my self a bit more presentable." He carries the pan back to the stove and places it down, making sure the gas is off. Brennan lifts the fork and tests the eggs. Booth hangs about for her to nod that they are okay before he wanders to his bedroom. He makes good eggs Brennan thinks as she makes her way through the plate. Hmm, he even added ham and onions, I'm impressed.
After eating, Brennan tidies up the kitchen and washes the dishes. She needs something to keep her mind occupied or she'll just start worrying again. There's so much to worry about; Angela, Zach, Hodgins, the lab…me. Lost in her tasks, she doesn't hear Booth walk up behind her.
"Bones, you listening?" he asks. She spins around, surprised. She looks him up and down before answering.
"Sorry, I was thinking." She replies. "You scrub up well." She adds. Wearing a fresh suit, shirt and tie, Booth has shaved and fixed his hair.
"Thanks Bones." Booth smiles at her. "You didn't have to do that." He nods at the dishes and the clean kitchen.
"It's the least I can do." She replies. She places the last pot down on the stove and leans back against the counter.
"So what now?" she asks.
"I can drive you to the lab, or the hospital." Booth says. Brennan shakes her head.
"No, I mean with me and this psycho." She says. "How o we catch him?"
"We don't catch him, I catch him." Booth states.
"Booth, come on." Brennan protests.
"No Bones, not this time." He states.
"Booth." She stands up straight.
"I'm serious Bones. This is serious stuff. You're in enough danger without you going looking for this guy." His face hardens at the thought of Brennan being put in further danger.
"Exactly my point Booth." She places her hands defiantly on her waist. "He can find me anywhere, I'm safer with you than anywhere else." She states. Booth is surprised by her words. She feels safe with me? He shakes his head, unsure of what to say.
"You know I'm right." A small smile tugs at her lips when she realises she's winning.
"I don't know Bones, if anything happened to you…" he trails off.
"It won't. I'll be careful, I promise." She sends him a pleading look and when he meets her eyes he knows he's lost.
"Two conditions." He states.
"Name them."
"One, you do what I say, when I say it with no arguments. If I ask you wait in the car you wait in the car, got it?" Brennan nods. She knows this is the only way she'll be involved.
"And the second?" she asks.
"You carry this." He turns his back and walks to the dresser. He pulls out a gun and walks over to her. He holds the gun in his hand and checks the safety is on.
"You're giving me a gun?" she is shocked. "I thought…" he cuts her off.
"This isn't official and I'll lose my job if you so anything stupid with it." He warns her. "But I can't guarantee that I can protect you every second so I figure…" he cocks his head to one side. "Since you know how to use one of these you could hold onto it, just in case."
"Booth." Brennan sighs with appreciation.
"Not a word about this. No one knows you have it." He raises his eyebrows, his face conveying his seriousness.
"Not a sole." Brennan takes the loaded gun and holds it in her hand. It's heavy but she doesn't care. Booth trusts me with a gun she smiles to herself.