Wow, I'm sorry about the long wait for this chapter. I kept forgetting about this story what with the latest episodes and my other stories... Hope you enjoy this, even if it isn't very long :)

Booth POV

"What do you mean, the security cameras didn't catch anything?" I snapped furiously.

"I'm sorry, agent Booth," stammered the young man in front of me. "The cameras appear to have failed... I already explained this to the police... we're looking for the problem now..."

"You had better be," I growled. "Get me a key to her room, now."

"But sir, the police said-"

"Do I look like I care what the police said? FBI, pal. I'm taking over this case. Now, key."

His hand shook as he pulled out his key ring and nervously flipped through the keys. They jingled incessantly as he desperately went through them, sweat beading on his forehead under my furious gaze. At last he unhooked one and shoved it at me, looking more and more afraid by the minute.

"Thank you," I snapped, and then headed straight for the elevator.

Twelve hours. The words echoed in my head. Twelve long hours. That was how long my Bones had been unaccounted for. I glared at the elevator doors and tapped my foot impatiently. Hurry up... I need to see her apartment...

There had to be some sort of sign there, no matter how much the police had denied it. Heck, the stupid police seemed to do nothing but deny. I hadn't been allowed here at all while they sorted through the preliminary evidence... which there was none of anyways...

They'd been claiming it 'wasn't federal'. Well I'd made it federal, that was for sure. I'd done quite a bit of lying and such to get myself here, but Cullen had been sympathetic for the most part. My boss's main concern seemed to be that I wasn't able to handle this; that I might snap and beat somebody up for not doing their job thoroughly enough. That wasn't exactly out of the picture of course... if I found out that someone was at fault for missing some evidence or not being thorough enough... I'd beat them to a pulp.

I kept myself as calm as I could as the 'ding' signified I'd reached the right floor. The doors opened and I saw a woman standing there waiting for the elevator. I pushed my way past her roughly and she stared after me in flustered shock. I ignored her and headed down the hall, tracing the familiar route to Bones' apartment.

The key slid into the lock and a moment later I was through the door. Part of me was wishing that it hadn't fit or something so that I could have an excuse to knock down the door. That might help take out some frustration, certainly.

Her apartment was so clean it was infuriating. Yet, I knew I should be happy. Would it have made things better if her stuff was smashed and broken with clear signs of a struggle? No. There was no way I wanted that. Because that meant she might be hurt.

Clean was good, very good, I assured myself.

It was more than a little strange, being here without her. I felt like I was intruding, like maybe any second I'd hear, "What the heck are you doing, Booth?" and I'd turn to see her standing there, hands on her hips and her eyes blazing with her mouth half open in that unmistakable incredulously shocked look that I got so often from her...

But of course that didn't happen. I remained all alone.

I pulled on the rubber gloves that felt tight and uncomfortable over my skin and then began to dig through her stuff that appeared to have been placed in its locations most recently. Her mail... a few magazines on her living room coffee table... a few loose files on the edge of the couch... a few CDs lying on the table.

I picked up one and smiled softly. Foreigner.

But the smile vanished quickly and I moved on. I couldn't think back to past events with the future shadowing so dangerously over me. The future where I may never see her again.

I frowned. Stop that, I snapped angrily at my thoughts. That's not going to help anything.

As annoying as it was, the police had been right. There was nothing here. I sighed and dropped down onto her couch. I peeled of my gloves and then picked up the nearest pillow. I just sort of stared at it for a very long time, and then cautiously, as though I was still worried she may walk in and interrupt me, I lifted it to my face and pressed the soft fabric against my skin.

It smelled like her, I thought with another sorrowful sigh. I pressed my face deeper into it and attempted to pretend it was her soft auburn hair. It wasn't a very good replacement, when I compared it to the actual thing, but it would have to do.

I flopped back on the couch and gave up avoiding the past. Hey, it had already happened and there was nothing I could do but worry in relation to the future at the moment, something I was trying to keep myself from doing. I'd spent enough time worrying. The past twelve hours, to be exact.

I recalled my favorite fantasy, which I had started to imagine, quite guiltily, after we'd taken care of Andy. It involved a small house on the edge of D.C. and evenings in front of that flat screen tv with my arm around her and her head rested sweetly on my shoulder. Her auburn hair would be spread out softly over my shirt and I would be able to twist my head around and kiss her every few minutes without her getting scared or freaking out.

And more recently I'd started wishing for a little Andy of my own... with her. That would make that scene complete. The two of us cuddled up together on the couch with the small child between us, the perfect mix of both of us, with her eyes and her hair and my smile. Or maybe her smile. Actually, if our baby were to look completely like her I'd be more than happy.

Cut it out! I snapped angrily at myself, and then swore a few times out loud and got up from the couch. The more I wished for the completely impossible the worse pain I was going to cause myself. I ran desperately from the apartment, suddenly having a hard time breathing properly. My heart was throbbing painfully and my vision was blurred.

Outside, I gasped for air and then quickly blinked my eyes to clear them. I must have... must have gotten some dust in them...

I quickly locked the door and then made my way to the elevator feeling slightly dizzy and disoriented. I hit the button and waited for the elevator, not feeling like I could stay here a moment longer or I might not survive. My heart was already pounding at a ridiculous rate and I was sweating.

I had to find her. I had to.

I couldn't live without her...

Poor Booth :(

Oh, and sorry if anyone is finding Booth OOC, I guess writing in first person from Brennan's POV sorta makes him seem weird. I'll have to work on that.