Okay, chapter 3 is here at last. Sorry about the long wait.


I walked through my front door, dumping my bag on the table. Booth was still standing partially in the hall, and I sighed. "...would you like something to drink?" I asked, not really sure why I wasn't just telling him to go home already and get some sleep.

He smiled that cocky grin, "Sure, Bones, as long as your fridge doesn't blow up on me." He stepped in and shut the door behind him.

I didn't return the smile. He was trying to joke; to be friendly, but that memory wasn't something I could joke about, even all this time later. He'd been the one knocked unconscious while I'd been the one freaking out and desperately hoping he wasn't dead. Part of me was actually quite relieved he had been unconscious for that little episode.

He sighed softly and his smile faded. "Sorry, Bones," he murmured.

I shook my head, "It's fine, Booth, really. And I assure you that my refrigerator is not going to explode tonight. What would you like to drink?"

He followed me to the kitchen.

"How about a beer?"

I gave him a reprimanding look. "You're going to be driving home," I reminded him, and then shoved a can of soda at him.

"Thanks," he said, his smile returning as he popped it open and took a sip.

We stood there awkwardly for a minute; I had no idea what to say or do. I was actually kind of hoping he'd just leave now, so I wouldn't be so confused about my emotions. I felt far more anxious when we were both in my apartment; it was something I couldn't identify and something highly irritating.

"So... you want to listen to some music?" he asked, clearly remembering that I still hadn't replaced my tv.

I looked at him calmly for a moment and then shook my head carefully. "No, I need to get some sleep; we've got a lot of paperwork to do on that case; not to mention we still haven't identified the substance in the brain, and I'm still working the previous case as well. They both need my full alertness."

"I got it Bones, I understand... see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow. Bye."

"Yup, and... thanks for the soda..." He smiled at me again as he tossed the can across the room and it landed with a clang in my trash bin. Impressive shot, I observed.

He headed for the door, turning and giving me a farewell salute and another wide, cocky grin as he pulled it shut behind him.

Alone at last I sighed and headed straight for my couch.

I had not a clue that that was the last time it would just be me and him together and safe. I had no idea that this would be the last time I would sleep here in my own apartment, with my thoughts on a case and not on my own personal safety.

Who would have thought about it though, really? Hodgins maybe. But not me.

The following morning I got up a little later than usual; yesterday had been exhausting and I hadn't even been able to fall asleep for an hour at least after Booth had left.

I hurried through a shower and skipped breakfast, thinking that I'd get reprimanded for that later by Booth, who always seemed to care way too much about my eating habits. I snatched my bag from where I'd left it and then hurried down to my car, my keys jingling in my hand.

I was distracted by the time as I glanced at my watch and simultaneously unlocked the door. I climbed in, but didn't even get the chance to turn the key in the ignition.

I cried out as the needle stabbed into my arm, and spun, attempting to slug whoever it was in the face, but they easily dodged. And then whatever I'd been jabbed with took effect. I was vaguely aware that my mouth wasn't moving even though I was screaming in my head, and then I collapsed weakly and my eyes slid shut.

The world went black and stayed that way.

I groaned, lifting my head and looking around with bleary eyes. It was very, very bright, and I blinked rapidly, still feeling quite dazed. I got the impression I'd been out for quite a long time... perhaps days, from the size of my headache.

I tried to move but found that it wasn't actually possible. I managed a gasp of alarm as my eyes went wide and I fought to move anything. My neck appeared to be the only mobile part of me, other than that and my fingers, which could still twitch... nothing. I lifted my head as far as it would go until I could see what was holding me down. I was bound to a metal table with iron straps that went around my arms, wrists, legs, ankles, and waist. Completely immobilized.

"The patient is awake," a quiet and calm voice murmured.

I tilted my head to the side but couldn't get a good look at him. All I could see was that he was in a white lab coat, and he appeared to be rather tall. Another man came around the corner; this one I could see more clearly, seeing as he was in my direct line of sight.

He was of sturdy build with a clean shaven face and neat, short, blonde hair. A tiny pair of glasses made his eyes look beady and calculating, and he held a clipboard sturdily in his long-fingered hands. He observed me in silence, looking me up and down as though I were a piece of furniture.

I glared at him, but I knew the terror was showing in my eyes. I was so not in control of this situation, and it scared me, as much as I hated to admit that. I was briefly reminded of Kenton and that whole ordeal. Sure, I'd recovered well; trauma didn't have a lasting effect on me, but during the actual event... heck I'd been terrified. I didn't even want to imagine what I must have looked like to Booth as he came through that door and saw me with my hands bound and that gag in my mouth, my eyes wide and tear-filled.

"Relax, we aren't going to hurt you," he informed me as he set down the clipboard on a table to the side.

"Then what do you want?" I asked carefully, keeping my voice in check. I was relieved when it didn't quaver or break.

"You were simply getting too close to something far beyond your understanding. You needed to be... taken off the case, as you might say."

"...I don't understand. Tony Johnson killed Ms. Russell. We have his confession. Why would I be of any threat to you? Or does this have to do with Haley Martin?" I referenced the other case's victim, who Ange had identified last night and called me with the update. This man I was speaking to didn't have a weapon and he'd shown me no physical threat so far, so I was able to ask my questions without a large excess of fear lurking in the back of my mind. I was still cautious though, not wanting to suddenly upset my captors and turn them violent.

"No, this is about Ms. Russell," he assured me calmly. "You see, she was here not too long ago, right in this lab."

Lab. The word resonated in my mind and immediately I pictured the silvery substance swirling unnaturally in the container before me. This was about that, I realized. What did this place have to do with that? Had these people done that to Judy Russell, implanted that thing in her brain? What sort of place was this?

The table suddenly felt twice as cold and forbidding.

Did they intend to do that to me too?

Immediately I ran through all the ways to get out of this, analyzing and dismissing each one in frustration. I kept coming back to the same problem: the metal restraints that bound me to this table. My only options were talking my way out of this... not likely since these people were obviously highly intelligent scientists... or being rescued.

I recalled how I'd been so certain that Booth would find Hodgins and I when we were buried alive in my car. But there was a nagging part of my brain that was telling me that he wouldn't be able to do that this time. I wished it would be quiet, but I couldn't ignore reason, and being rational at this moment was highly important. After all, I thought logically, when I'd been captured by the Gravedigger, Hodgins and I had been alone in the car without enemies anywhere nearby, and we'd been able to get a message out to our friends so that they could locate us.

Here, on the other hand, Booth would have no clue where I was.

I felt my heart beat a bit faster at that last thought. Wait, I thought in sudden alarm, haven't I already concluded that I've been here for a long period of time? Booth must already know I'm missing!

Oh god, as if things couldn't get worse as it was. Now I had the guilt of Booth's worry loaded onto my already large troubles. He must be freaking out, if I knew him as well as I was sure I did. After all, when he'd been kidnapped, both times, I'd been in not the greatest mood. Angela had told me it was called 'complete hysterics with an added dose of rage'.

I was certain that right now, Booth, Ange, and the rest of my team must be gathered around in the lab. Booth was probably shouting at them and they were trying desperately to function under pressure. I knew they were probably having great difficulty focusing when a pissed off FBI agent was pacing around behind them looking like he wanted to smash things. At least that's how Ange had described the events after my Gravedigger kidnapping.

"What are you going to do with me?" I worked up the courage to ask. I needed to know what sort of imminent danger I might be in. I desperately tried to read his face, but he'd moved and now stood in a place where I couldn't get a good view of his expressions.

There was silence for a moment, and then he finally spoke again.

"All things come to an end, and some things come to a beginning," he said, his voice chillingly soft and airy.

I shivered involuntarily, and then winced as the door shut loudly behind the two men.

Fading footsteps in the distance from behind it were the last sounds, and then silence.


As with the last time, I'll wait until I get some reviews before posting more. I'm not going to update if I think no one's even reading this.

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed/given support. :)