Author's note: I do not own Bones or the characters. Enough said.

Too Close To Touch

Chap.1 Time Stands Still

The darkness swallowed her up like a black pool of ink. She felt herself sinking into the depths of the abyss as she slipped farther away from the edge. Where was she? She couldn't think straight. There was something she needed to do. But what was it?

"Temperance!" A voice called into the darkness.

Dr. Brennan tried to turn towards the voice, but she couldn't seem to remember how to work her body.

"Temperance!" The voice was now a shout.

Temperance knew the voice calling to her, but she couldn't find him. Where is he? She fought to bring herself to the surface of the dark pool drowning her.

"Temperance! Answer me! Bones!" The voice was now a desperate scream. She had never heard such emotion in his voice before. It was almost like he was reaching the edge of insanity.

"Booth…" Brennan's mouth formed the word, but only a slight whimper slid from her lips.

"Come on, Bones. Stay with me." Booth stroked her hair as he sat on the barn floor cradling her head in his lap. Blood stained hay mixed with dust and dirt from the old farm lay strewn, evidence of the struggle that had taken place only minutes ago.

"Please open your eyes, Temperance. Please…" Seeley rocked back and forth on the floor like a child trying his best to hold onto the last bit of his sanity. He gently removed a piece of hay from dark hair.

Tempe fought to open her eyes, but all she could see was the darkness. Cold, I'm so cold. If I could just break the surface. Her lungs were starting to burn.

Booth touched her cheek. "You have to fight, Bones. Open your eyes. Open your eyes!" His voice cracked. "Temperance…" Booth was now sobbing her name.

Through the muddy water, Brennan felt the warmth of his touch. It started on her left cheek and slowly spilled over her body. The waters seemed to part as the darkness of the abyss shattered around her. And suddenly she was looking up into Booth's eyes and her world came crashing down. The depth of emotions she saw swimming in his dark eyes threatened to drown her once more.

"Temperance!" The anguish in his voice matched his darkening eyes and the impact hit Tempe full in the chest. She fought to breathe as she reached out to touch him.

"No! Don't try to move. I called for back-up and help is on the way. Just stay with me."

Booth stroked her hair once more, trying to smile but his lips only trembled.

Anguish, fear, sadness, helplessness and desperation flickered across Seeley's face as he held her in his arms. She watched as one emotion dissipated in his eyes, only to be replaced by another.

Dr. Brennan shifted her eyes away from Booth's face and focused on his white button-up shirt. It was a dark crimson smear that had caught her attention. The blood soaked stain seemed to grow before her eyes. Booth was covered in blood, but he wasn't bleeding. The shock of realization knocked what little breath she had managed to take in from her lungs. And for the first time since opening her eyes, Dr. Temperance Brennan realized the pressure she was feeling in her chest wasn't from the panache of being swallowed into the darkness. No, the pressure was coming from Booth's hand pressing down on the open wound in her chest as he fought to keep her from bleeding to death before help could arrive.

"Booth.." Tempe's eyes raced from his face to his hand applying pressure on her chest.

"I know, Bones, but please hold on. Help is coming." Where the HELL is the damn ambulance? She's going to bleed to death in my arms! Booth caught the faint sound of a siren on the wind and touched Bone's cheek. And while he waited for the help Bone's so desperately needed to arrive, Seeley watched Temperance take a ragged breath as she looked into his eyes, cutting him to his very soul. And time seemed to stand still.