Ch.1

"Bones! It's Booth" Special Agent Seeley Booth was standing outside his partner's door. Although he had a key, he always felt like he was intruding when he used it. "Are you coming...what's taking so long?" He reached down and twisted the door knob to his surprise it opened. This was not like his Bones. Dr. Temperance Brennan wasn't very keen on things out side her precious lab. It was funny to hear her say things like, "Serious as a gas attack." Bones tried amuse him by using those types of analogies, but never seemed to get them right. But, to leave her door unlocked this was so unlike her. Booth pulled his gun and slowly entered the apartment. "Bones, are you here?" It was as he turned the corner to the kitchen that he saw her. Their eyes met and he could see the pure, unadulterated fear in her eyes. It was only then that he noticed she was tied up.

"Bones are you okay…what happened…who did this?"

She was trying to speak, but her mouth had been taped shut. He put his gun away and went to her. As he took the tape off her mouth she said, "Booth I'm fine, but we have a problem…he's here"

"Bones, what are you talking about…who's here? Are you sure you're okay? You have a pretty big knot on your head….here let me untie you."

"I'll be okay Booth, but we need to leave now" Brennan said as she held her head. The pain from being slammed against her marble countertop was almost unbearable.

"It's the gravedigger. He's here."

"What are you talking about, Bones? We caught her. Remember? Taffet is at a secure Federal prison in Maryland.

"Yes I know we caught her, but we didn't catch him…there was an accomplice"

Booth stood and retrieved his weapon. "Where is he now?" Booth said in a low raspy voice.

"I don't know…he heard you at the door and ran towards the bedroom" Brennan said as she hurried to his side. It was irrational for her to be feeling like this, but she wanted nothing more than to be close to him.

She felt her at his side. He wanted to take her into his arms and never let go, but he knew he had to protect her by finding the son of a bitch that did this to her. He wanted her to be safe so he turned put his free hand on her shoulder and looked into her mesmerizing eyes. He could get lost in those eyes. Booth knew he had to focus.

"You stay here…I'm going to see if he is still here"

"I'm coming with you" She replied with desperation in her voice

"No. Not this time. I need you to stay here" His voice was soothing.

"Booth…"

"Shh…" He said as he took his hand and put it to her mouth "Please don't argue. I need to know you are out of harms way, okay?"

"But Booth I don't want to be alone." She felt silly admitting that, but it was true. She wanted to be near him.

"Hey listen, its going to be okay…I'm not going to let anything happen to you, okay?"

As she looked into his eyes she knew it was true. Logically he couldn't possibly know that, but as he softly touched her cheek she knew he would keep her safe.

"Okay. I'll stay" She agreed half-heartily.

Booth smiled that crooked smile that she had always found quite pleasing before taking his FBI stance and rounding the corner.

Brennan never put much stock into gut feelings, but something didn't feel right. She could never really understand how people could make decisions based on feelings instead of logic. But, in this moment her stomach was in knots. It was then she heard the commotion coming from the back of her apartment.

"Booth!" Brennan said as she began to make her way toward the commotion. She came to a stop just inside the bedroom door. Her fears were confirmed. Booth was lying on the floor, unconscious. As she was kneeling at his side, she felt a sharp pain on the back of her neck. Her last though before the room went completely dark was, "He got us."