A/N: Thanks again to all who reviewed. You guys really make me want to write more. For my dear friends who failed to realize that kiwi birds don't have wings... I'm telling you now that they can't fly because they don't have wings. Thus, a flying kiwi bird would be pretty amazing. Oh, I forgot to mention earlier that I would like to avoid the whole Booth/Cam fiasco, as there is just no room to deal with it in this story. So pretend it never happened, which I'm sure you all are willing to do. Cam will not be making very many appearances.

Of course, thanks to rightersblock for being my beta. If you want some cool stories, go read her completed story, The Body at the Beach or her current work in progress, White Noise. She's a great writer.


The Jeffersonian Institute was not very inviting to late workers. Most of the lights were turned off, but a few were left on, casting an eerie glow over the lab. There were usually more people there at the relatively early hour of seven o'clock. It was a Friday night though. Some of the scientists did have social lives, despite the example set by one Temperance Brennan

Brennan entered the deserted lab with the confidence of one who is accustomed to being alone. Her keys jangled loudly in the silence as she searched for the key to her office. The door swung open soundlessly. Flicking on a lamp in the corner, Brennan deposited her things on one of the couches and closed the blinds. She moved to her desk and sank down into the comfortable leather chair.

There were four new files stacked neatly on her desk. A blue post-it was stuck to the top one drawing her attention to some minute detail within and signed by her assistant, Zach Addy. Sighing deeply, Brennan pushed the files to the corner of her desk and turned on the computer. When she told Booth she needed to work, she meant that she needed some emotional release. So Brennan pulled up her latest work and proceeded to immerse herself in her own imagination. It had been a few months since she'd felt any pull to sit down and write. Brennan wasn't sure of the significance of the observation and wasn't quite willing to spare a moment to think about it.

Her concentration was short-lived, however, when she found her mind wandering back over her day. The drive with Booth had been so beautiful, despite their occasional bickering. Brennan liked arguing with him. In a strange way, she felt profoundly alive when she was they were sparring. The days that she didn't see him, she found herself picking fights with everyone around her, trying to evoke the same emotions that Booth did. Sometimes, she felt that all she needed to be happy was a simple argument with Booth.

Brennan turned back to the half-finished page. The creative drive had returned and Brennan's characters found themselves thrust into an interesting, slightly romantic situation. A voice in the back of her mind kept reassuring her that reality had no influence on the story. A contradictory voice loudly accused her of denial.

Brennan wasn't sure how long she'd been writing when she was suddenly aware of a noise coming from across the lab. After listening for a moment, she decided it was the janitor and went back to writing. But as soon as she heard a distinct scraping noise, she knew exactly what was happening. Brennan took out her cell phone and hit speed dial two. The phone rang four times and went to voicemail.

"Damn." Brennan quickly made up her mind. She yanked open the third drawer in her desk and found the small taser that she kept there. Creeping out of her office, Brennan saw that the intruder was working on the lock to Hodgins' office. She stayed as low as possible and snuck around the platform in the middle of the lab until she was about thirty feet from the door. As she neared the black shape, she took a deep breath and clutched the taser tightly. Brennan was about ten feet from the man when a noise alarmed them both. It was coming from Brennan's office where her cell phone had come to life with Booth's impeccable timing.

Brennan shrank back into the shadows, but it was too late. The man had seen her movement and was now coming towards her. Brennan stopped her retreat and took a solid stance, ready to fight. She turned on the taser and made sure the man could see it. To her disappointment, the distinct shape of a gun in his left hand could be seen in the gloom. The gun was raised.

"Are you Dr. Brennan?" The voice was cultured. Not a petty thief, Brennan concluded. She had already figured that, but now she was sure.

"What's it to you?" Brennan held her head high and spoke with a defiance she didn't quite feel.

"Everything." The man stepped closer and Brennan moved back. "I don't want to hurt you. Let me into Dr. Hodgins' office."

"Who are you?"

"A friend of his. Now let me in there. It's for his own good, and yours too. Just trust me."

"Trust you? You're pointing a damn gun at me!"

"Just open it and you can go." There was a tone of frustration, but also one of pleading, which caught Brennan off-guard.

"No."

"Temperance." It was clearly a warning, but something was struck deep in her soul at the way he said her name. There were a few seconds of silence during which an obscure part of Brennan's memory made a profound leap.

"Dad?" Even in the dimness, Brennan could see his eyes widen. His mouth opened and closed several times then set itself into a determined line.

"Temperance, give me the keys."

"What are you doing?" Her voice was breathy and Brennan felt she was dreaming. There was no way this could be happening. The man suddenly lost his patience. He rushed at her, but she made no move to avoid him. Her convoluted thoughts and feelings only allowed her to watch as the butt of the gun came crashing down on the top of her skull.

"I'm sorry, Tempe." It was the last thing Brennan heard before unconsciousness carried her back to the wonderful peace she had experienced while driving with Booth only a few hours before.


Sorry about the cliffhanger. Sorry. Please don't let it stop you from reviewing. You don't even have to write anything, just leave your name or something. I'm getting greedy and want to know how big my audience is : )