A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed!!! I absolutely love to hear from you all, and please let me know how you think I'm doing!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones or any of the characters... just this storyline:)

Enjoy!!


A string of black SUVs raced along the nearly vacant midnight roads of DC – like black ants scurrying back to their fortress. Booth sat in the leading SUV with several other agents. His hands clutched the steering wheel tightly and not once did he tear his eyes away from the road.

"We have to assume this is a trap. Two tactical teams are en route to the address and are awaiting our arrival to enter" the agent said to Booth after getting off of the phone. He continued, "A medical team is also en route in case Dr. Brennan…" the agent trailed off, glancing at Booth and assessing his anxious demeanor.

"If they touched her…" Booth said with clenched teeth. Thousands of possibilities about Brennan's situation had been haunting him and were literally driving him crazy. He wanted to protect her, he wanted her to be safe… he wanted her.

The SUVs located the warehouse in a nearly deserted area about fifteen minutes outside of the city. A single streetlamp cast a sickly yellow glow against the dilapidated building. All four cars screeched to a halt and the agents jumped out. Clad in Kevlar vests the Primary tactical team, lead by Booth, collected behind one of the vans.

"We enter the building from the door on the right side. You two go around back and cover all exits. Everyone else follow my lead. Go!" Booth ordered, making his way to the door.

His gun leading him, Booth took a glance over his shoulder, signaling the other agents to get ready to enter. His mind cleared of anything but the task at hand, Booth kicked the door in with a resounding, splintering kick. "FBI!" Booth bellowed as the agents swarmed out from around him. The room was completely dark and an agent flashed a flashlight around the room.

"Booth!" a woman's voice called out pleadingly. Booth's heart rate quickened exponentially.

"Temperance" he called out, his voice breaking slightly on the last syllable. "Bones you're safe now, we've just gotta get the lights."

Booth heard a dry sob from Brennan. "Booth you have to go. Get out." She whispered.

"Bones I'm not going anywhere. The building's clean. You're going to be fine –"

All of a sudden the lights flickered on in the warehouse. Booth's heart surged at the sight before him. Temperance was sitting in a chair, staring at him with bloodshot eyes. Her face was deathly pale and streaked with paths left by stale tears. Around her torso there was a black device whose tell-tale red numbers ticked by – imprinting a memory in Booth's mind that he was sure he would never forget. Brennan's mouth was drawn in a straight line and her piercing blue eyes spoke volumes to him.

"Get out." She whispered.

Booth's arm dropped to his side and he stood frozen in that moment, barely conscious of the frenzy that erupted around him. Agents were yelling and retreating to maintain a safe distance from the lethal woman.

"Bomb squad!" an agent yelled, "This is Code 1 – requesting bomb squad team to 194 Wharf Street, Warehouse #2D. Explosive device…"

"Temperance" Seeley said through shuddered breath. He took a step toward her, causing her to wince.

"Booth I need you to do something for me. I need you to get out of here. Right. Now." She said slowly, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears.

"I'm not going anywhere, I won't leave you." Booth said, trying to hide the fear in his voice. Brennan slowly closed her eyes; her eyelids pushing out her tears and encouraging them to drip down her face.

Booth holstered his gun and walked another step closer. "The bomb squad is on its way, I promise you'll be fine."

"Booth don't make that promise." She shook her head, her voice wavering. "The man who did this…" she began, "I should have stayed off the case, I should have listened to you…"

"Shhh don't say things like that. We'll get you out of here and catch the bad guy like we always do."

Brennan tried her best to smile at his remark, but in her heart she knew this would not be that simple.

The screeching sounds of tires and more sirens could be heard coming towards the warehouse, marking the arrival of the bomb squad. Brennan closed her eyes again – wanting this nightmare to end.

Her eyelids fluttered open when she felt a warm hand grasping her own. Booth was kneeling right in front of her – much to the shock of the agents observing from afar. "Look at me." He said, searching deeply in her eyes. "Temperance I'm here."

She paused for a moment before responding, "You always are."

The bomb squad burst into the room.


"Sir you need to move away" Bomb squad agent Daniels said as he calmly approached Booth and Brennan.

"Not happening. I want to help." Booth said, hardly taking his eyes off Brennan's face – refusing to drop his gaze down to the bomb around her chest.

Daniels ignored Booth and focused his attention on Brennan. "Dr. Brennan my name is Agent Brent Daniels and my team and I are going to stop this bomb, alright?"

"Yes" she replied tersely, glancing around at the rest of the hard-faced team. Booth and Brennan watched Daniels as he slowly circled around the chair. As he reached for the device to touch the timeplate, Brennan exhaled and turned her head away. Booth's grip on her hand tightened fiercely – trying to comfort her the best he could. Booth himself as terrified, with just under four hours left on the clock he prayed that the bomb would be easily diffusible.

After thoroughly examining the bomb, Daniels' expression was unreadable. "Agent Booth, may I please speak with you for a moment?" he said evenly.

"What? No – no way. Anything you can say to me, Bones can know too." He said, drawing emphasis to each syllable.

"It is in the best interest of this procedure that I talk to you alone."

Booth was silent for a moment and then gently squeezed Brennan's hand. "Bones I'll be back in three minutes okay?"

"Booth –" she began, her voice raising.

"We have to do what he says. I'll be right by the door, you'll be able to see me the whole time."

Brennan nodded her head and stared at the ticking numbers while Booth and several members of the bomb squad headed to the door.


"What is it? What can you tell me that she can't know?" Booth demanded.

"Agent Booth, I'm afraid the situation is more dangerous than we originally assessed."

This was exactly what Booth hadn't wanted to hear. His worst fear coming true, he hesitated before asking the obvious question, "What do you mean? How is it more dangerous?"

"The explosive attached to Dr. Brennan is connected to a remote detonator. This means that in addition to the countdown clock, and assuming that her assailant has a remote in his possession, the bomb could go off at any time."

Daniels studied Booth's expression carefully -- he needed to know that if Booth was willing to risk his life in that room that he could remain calm. Taking a moment for the reality of the situation set in, he continued, "And there is more. Removing the bomb from Brennan's body may trigger a hidden detonator – sometimes these are touch sensitive, or they may respond to light. We won't know for sure until we remove the faceplate, but I would hypothesize that the removal of the bomb will have to occur in the dark to avoid excess photosensitivity."

Booth turned around and took a step back from Daniels, his back facing him. He glanced through the doorway to Brennan, who was staring straight at him.

The men were silent for a moment, each taking time to think to themselves. Daniels finally broke their silence, "Booth you need to question your position in this case. The odds are not good, and this is extremely dangerous. Though Dr. Brennan would be comforted by your presence, you need to think about your safety. And I'm sure she would agree."

At this, Booth turned around to face the man, "I'm not leaving" he said simply. "If it were me in that chair, she wouldn't hesitate. I won't hesitate."

Daniels nodded. "I'll give you some time to break the news, then we need to start the procedure."


"Booth I know something is wrong." Brennan said, studying Booth's face as he walked carefully toward her. He knelt back down in his original spot and rubbed his eyes exhaustively.

"Bones, before I tell you this I want you to know that we're gonna pull through this. I'll be right here and –"

"Booth, just tell me."

Booth explained everything that Daniels had told him, choosing not to spare details because if he were in that position he would have wanted the same honesty. When he was finished, Brennan simply nodded her head, her eyes not meeting his.

"I think that you should go." She said finally.

"No, I told you I'm not going anywhere. We're a team and –"

"Booth don't make this harder. You have a son, you have Parker. You have parents that love you, siblings that adore you. I won't let you risk that for me."

"Bones this is my call. The thought of losing you…" his voice trailed off. "I'm staying."

He lifted his hand and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. He left his hand there, slowly rubbing the pad of his thumb over her pale cheek. She sighed and closed her eyes, letting her mind ponder all of the things she wanted to say in this very moment. So many missed opportunities that they had created – so many words and feelings they should have shared. With four hours left on the clock, she tilted her head and gently brushed her lips against his open palm. If ever there was a time for honesty, it was in these last few hours.


Aaaaand bring on the "heart to heart" (and angst, of course...)! Please let me know what you think of this, and I will surely write more!