A/N: You guys are the best, I shamelessly begged for reviews and you delivered. Thanks so much. I'm glad everyone is enjoying the story so far. We should be getting some Booth action in about two chapters time so I hope you can hold on until then.

To compartmentalise meant that one literally locks away the 'bad' thoughts or memories in corners of the mind in order to keep the pain associated with such trauma out of consciousness so that a person does not feel overwhelmed by it and therefore can go on functioning to some degree. Brennan often prided herself on her ability to shut off her emotions and concentrate on the facts. She was well aware that it was a coping mechanism she had developed over the years when the trauma of her abandonment threatened to take a hold of her and while Angela and Booth often chided her for the fact that she ran from emotions and pain that she couldn't comprehend she had found it extremely useful and comforting.

Try as she may there was no way she could shut out the horrific sounds filtering into the small room they were being held in. The screams of their co-workers echoed off the walls as they were forced to endure a torture the occupants of the room could only guess the nature of. They had stopped trying to wriggle out of their restraints the moment the screams had started and all stared in open mouthed horror at the door. Earlier their captor had mentioned the possibility of a show and they now knew the sick reality of what he meant.

"What are they doing to them?" Jackson asked his voice trembling as another pain filled scream echoed down the hall.

"We can't possibly know what they're doing to them," Brennan said, "We can't see them to ascertain the torture they are enduring."

"What Dr. Brennan means is that this is all part of their plan to use the unknown as a way to make us fearful," Daisy said interrupting the tirade of outraged protests that had started at Brennan's seemingly heartless comment.

Brennan didn't mean it to sound heartless but her brain often compensated for stress or fear by relying on logic which was frequently construed by others as her being a cold fish. Early on in their partnership even Booth had misread her bluntness but now he was one of the only few who understood that she was often at her most direct when she was hurting the most. Her vision swam with images of her partner and as a woman's scream sounded through the hall she concentrated on trying to think of sounds of him. The way he spoke, the way he laughed, anything that would distract her from the horrors she knew were happening just through the door.

"Keep trying the ropes," Daisy encouraged the rest of them who had been shocked into stillness at the sounds of their colleagues pain, "If we can get them undone while they are still...busy," she audibly choked on the word, "We can use my phone to call for help before anyone realises what has happened."

There it was. That glimmer of hope again that spurred them all to work. Despite the overwhelming odds the group clung to that hope like it was a lifeline.

The heat was stifling in the small room they were being kept in and the salt from the sweat that dripped down her face stung as it ran into the cuts on her cheeks and lips. It had been hours without food and water and Brennan's stomach grumbled noisily in protest as she licked her dry lips. Her joints screamed for relief and her head pounded and she wanted nothing more than to give in to unconsciousness that would be a welcome relief to the horror going on around her but she wanted to stay as alert as possible in case their kidnappers came back so she fought valiantly against the darkness that blurred at the edge of her vision.

"Dr. Brennan once we get our ropes untied and get you out of that chair I'm thinking it would make a pretty effective weapon," Dr. Andrews said breaking the silence.

"I'm quite positive the steel in this chair would cause significant damage if used against someone's maxilla or zygomatic bone," Brennan replied.

"I used to play cricket when I was younger," Jackson piped up, "I'm pretty good at whacking things and I would give my left nut to hit that cocky bastard in the face."

"I don't know what that means," Brennan said eliciting a snort of laughter from Daisy.

"Dr. Brennan, you don't know how good it is to hear you say that," the younger woman said giggling.

"I don't know wha..." Brennan stopped short when the unmistakable sound of a gun shot rang through the room.

"Oh my god," Daisy whispered.

They could hear their colleagues pleading for their lives as more shots rang out until there was silence. Brennan felt the blood drain from her face and her world swam as her brain tried to keep up with what was happening. She didn't allow conjecture in her lab but her brain was already formulating stories with what had happened. Without even seeing she knew that they were dead. It was too much. Everything that was happening was because of her and the gravity of that sunk her into the blackness that had been threatening to take hold of her all day.

He always bought her Chinese food when she was sad. Somehow he thought egg rolls and Kung Pao chicken after midnight made everything better. In reality she knew it was simply his presence that soothed her but she was happy to pretend it was the food. They sat close together on the couch, his arm around her shoulders and her head resting against his. They breathed in sync, their chests rising and falling as one and the tranquillity of the moment was enough to make her consider his theory about magic.

"Booth," she whispered feeling his chin move from where it rested on top of her head.

"Yeah Bones," he said just as quietly.

"Something feels wrong," she said shifting so she could look into his eyes.

"What do you mean?" he asked his chocolate brown eyes crinkling in confusion.

"This feels too right," she said trying to clarify.

Her partner chuckled loudly and pulled her close so he could kiss the top of her head.

"Bones you're a character," he laughed, "How can something be wrong if it feels too right?"

"I would imagine drinking that soda you like so much feels right but in reality it is wearing through your intestinal tract and could possibly lead to a rather painful death," she said matter of factly.

"That's not what you meant is it?" he asked crooking his finger under her chin and tilting it up so she was looking at him again, "What did you mean Bones? Why does this feel wrong?"

"You're not really here," she said confidently, "You're not real."

"Bones, Temperance," he said using the finger still under her chin to pull her face closer to his, "If I wasn't real would I be able to do this?"

His lips were soft and gentle against hers and she moaned as she opened her mouth to grant him access. His tongue caressed hers and she moaned as the kiss deepened. It wasn't the first time they had kissed but it was the first time they hadn't been drunk or acting on the impulses of a romance deprived federal prosecutor.

"Booth," she gasped as she pulled back to take a breath.

"Dr. Brennan," he replied pulling her towards him harshly. She gasped as her head began to ache from where his fingers were pulling at her hair, yanking her head back to expose her neck.

"Booth," she gasped again, "You're hurting me."

"God you're pretty," he growled tightening his grip in her hair, "Pity," he sighed.

"What? Booth? What's going on?" she asked fear gripping her stomach as she tried to pull back from his grasp and look at his face.

"I'm teaching you a lesson Dr. Brennan," he said harshly, "I don't like to be lied to."

"Booth, I don't understand," she cried out as his lips crashed painfully against hers. Gone was the gentle caress of the earlier kiss. This was rough and she gasped as her whole body seemed to come alight with pain.

She was pushed back and her ribs burned in protest. She was disorientated and her eyes blinked hurriedly as she took in her surroundings. Her apartment was gone and in its place was the stark room they were being held in. The events of the last days rushed back at her at once and Brennan gagged when she realised whose mouth had been pressed against hers not moments before. Their captor grinned maliciously down at her licking his lips in glee as he watched the horrified realisation pass over her face.

"Welcome back Dr. Brennan," he grinned, "I wonder who this Booth is you call for so longingly?"

It was cruel that not moments before she had felt safe in Booth's arms and now she was looking into the face of pure evil. Her body swayed in her restraints but she looked back at him with as much defiance as she could muster. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing he had gotten to her no matter how embarrassed she was that she had been calling out Booth's name.

"I trust you enjoyed our little show," their captor smiled indicating vaguely for the door, "You know its funny how we all look different on the outside but somehow we all bleed red."

"You sick bastard," Dr. Andrews growled from his spot on the floor, "We've done nothing wrong. Dr. Brennan is telling you the truth," he shouted, "What will it take to get it through that thick skull of yours. If she knew anything she would have told you by now. You can stop this unnecessary death."

"Unnecessary!," their captor roared, "If the stupid bitch would just tell me what she knew then this whole thing could be over," his fist collided with the side of her face and Brennan cried out in pain as her cheek split open and warm blood began to trickle from the wound.

"I didn't tell anyone," Brennan whimpered as he pressed his fist angrily into her side, "I promise I didn't tell," she gasped.

"Don't lie to me!" he roared hitting her again. This time she couldn't control herself and a sob burst from her throat as tears spilled from her eyes. She was sure if he pressed any harder on her side her broken ribs would puncture her lung.

"Stop!" Daisy cried, "Stop it you're hurting her."

"I'd keep my mouth shut if I were you or you'll be next," their captor whirled around to face Daisy.

"Miss Wick," Brennan gasped, her breath coming in short pants, "I'm fine just keep quiet."

"Do what the good Doctor says," the man snarled, "Now in case you didn't realise your friends are dead," he said turning back to face Brennan, "They died because of you," he said almost gleefully, "So I'm going to ask you one more time," he grabbed her chin and leaned in close so she could smell his putrid breath, "Who. Did. You. Tell?"

"Nobody," Brennan whispered, tears choking her, "I didn't tell anybody. Please. I didn't."

"This is getting old quickly," their captor growled, "I suggest you do some thinking because next time I come back I might not be so friendly."

"Take them," he pointed to the British grad student and the archaeologist next to her.

"No, no, please no," the younger woman cried out as she was yanked to her feet, "Please Dr. Brennan do something, please."

Her screams and sobs echoed off the walls as she was dragged from the room, her colleague going quietly beside her. Those left in the room watched on in horror as their co-workers went off to what was more than likely a painful fate.

"You should listen to your friend," their captor said to Brennan, "Do something and this could all stop. Tell me what you know and no one else will have to die."

She could hear someone throwing up as the men left the room but Brennan couldn't concentrate on anything but the roaring in her ears. Everything seemed to spin around her as more and more tallies were added to the body count. Her body felt like it was being stretched and crushed at the same time and she couldn't distinguish one source of pain from the other. She had been violated and she felt dirty, not only from the monster who had stuck his tongue down her throat but because of the blood of those innocent people that felt like it was all over her hands. She knew that no matter how hard she scrubbed she would never feel clean again.

She tried to focus on one corner of the room, if only to give herself something else to think about. In one corner she knew lay the bodies of Charlie and his daughter and she couldn't bear to set eyes on them. This corner seemed safe and inviting and her tired mind seemed to conjure up an image of the one person she longed to see. As his form took shape she knew what she was seeing was impossible but still she couldn't stop the glimmer of hope that sparked inside of her that maybe he was there to rescue her. He smiled warmly at her and she fought to keep her head up. She could hear someone calling her name but she couldn't take her eyes off of him.

The last thing that passed through her lips before she gave into the welcoming darkness was his name.

"Booth."

A/N: Again I'd love to hear from you. I reward with metaphorical cookies to everyone who presses the little button and sends me a review.