Author's Note: Thank you so much for the reviews!! Reading them is such a treat, and it definitely keeps me writing! This is a very pivotal chapter, and I reccommend that maybe you read chapter Seven again to get the whole picture - hope you like it! There will be 3 more chapters after this, so stick with me! Please review, I'd love to hear what you think!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones... Fox does...


Chapter Eight

The 15 second elevator ride seemed like an eternity to Seeley Booth. He had no gun, no badge, no plan, nothing. He was running on pure instinct and emotion – two things he had learned were dangerous to mix. The basement of the Jeffersonian was usually used for offices for those of 'less importance'. It was also used for storage of lab equipment, old case files, and everything else that a government institution needs to run.

He ran as quietly and quickly as he could down the hallway. It was when he saw the tiny drip of blood in the hallway that he finally felt he was headed in the right direction.


Brennan fought to stay awake, and was taunted by the man, who just sat there snickering at her. He stood up and walked over to Bones.

"You know? I never thought this would happen. I was in it for the money. Never once did I think that I would actually get pleasure out of hurting you – not until you arrested Cam. I cared about her. I lived to make that woman happy."

He slapped Bones across the face and she let out a raspy scream.

"You've ruined everything. You and that –" He was cut off as Booth burst into the room and came at the man with a pipe. Booth caught him by surprise and slammed the pipe across his head, knocking him to the ground with a thud. Booth dropped the pipe and ran toward Brennan, who was trying desperately to say something.

Booth dropped to his knees in front of her and grabbed her gently by the face. "It's okay. It's okay" he whispered to her as he pulled on her restraints with all of his might, yanking them free from the wall. Her arms dropped slowly and tears were streaming down her face – smudging the blood on their way. Her body, now unrestrained, swayed toward him. Booth's emotions got the better of him as he tried hard to find a way to embrace her without hurting her. A tear escaped from his eye and he kept whispering "It's okay. I've got you."

Moments later, a squad of FBI agents entered the room led by Cullen, taking in the scene before them. A broken doctor. A broken agent. Together they were whole.

The next moments were a blur to Temperance. She passed in and out of consciousness, trying to piece together the events that were happening around her. She heard the medical team arrive and they loaded her onto a stretcher. She felt Seeley's hand envelope hers. She heard his voice, bossing around the paramedics who were swarming around her.
The stretcher was being pushed out of the Jeffersonian, Booth running helplessly along side it, holding her hand. She knew she was safe, and finally succumbed to the enveloping darkness.


ONE MONTH LATER

Angela walked into the hospital room to deliver another flower arrangement, and paused to take in the sight before her. It had been nearly a month since they had rescued Tempe, and she was still in a coma. She had pulled through two surgeries on her legs, and clearly was fighting off the coma. Angela was still worried; her best friend was ghastly white and had lost so much weight. Her cheeks were hollow, and her dark auburn hair spilled over the white pillow producing such a stark contrast from her skin.

In the midst of all of the physical abuse she had suffered, Temperance Brennan was still so stunningly beautiful – an attribute Angela suspected was not lost on Booth, who had spent nearly every night by her side. Angela set the flowers on the window sill and ran her hand lightly over Temperance's head, moving her hair away from the large white bandage on her forehead.

"Goodnight, sweetie. I'll be back in the morning." She whispered to her friend. Angela then moved over and took the extra hospital blanket from the closet and draped it over Booth's shoulders – who had fallen asleep by Temperance's bed once again.


ANOTHER WEEK LATER

When Brennan opened her eyes, she realized she was in a hospital. Her eyes took a long time to adjust to the bright white lights. Everything was so clean.

After a few minutes, Brennan began to take in the sights around her. On her left, there were numerous vases of flowers, lots of cards, and framed pictures from her apartment by the window. Her favourite picture of her and Russ was sitting by her bedside, it was the one with them when they were little when they went frog catching. She moved her head slightly to the right, and noticed both her legs in casts, and slightly elevated above the bed by two metal holders. The steady "beep…beep…beep" of the medical equipment beside her was the only sound in the room, and Brennan could hear the low mumble of the hustle and bustle outside in the hallways.

Suddenly she felt something stir beside her. She slowly glanced down to her right and saw Booth, sound asleep with his head down on her bed and the rest of his body hunched towards her while sitting in a chair by her bedside. His hand was on top of hers, and she gently grasped it. He woke up slowly and stared, half asleep, at her small white hand. He suddenly realized he hadn't imagined the movement and his head raised disbelievingly.

"Bones! You're awake" he said with a huge relieved smile.

"Don't call me Bones." To which he just grinned - she was back.

"How long have I been out?" Temperance asked with a strain. She hadn't spoken in so long.

"It's been 5 weeks. You've had two surgeries on your legs since then, and some pretty hardcore stitches to your head. With a little physio, you'll be up and running soon." He said reassuringly. "You were pretty beat up. Do you remember much of what happened?" He asked, hating to bring up the emotions around her abduction, knowing it was an uneasy subject for both of them.

"Bits and pieces. I remember being at the lab, being grabbed, and I remember being in that room." She began. "I was afraid you wouldn't know I was gone. I was afraid you –"
Booth frowned and grasped her hand with both of his. Over all of the nights Booth had spent in this room, he had planned different things to say to Temperance when she woke up. This planning didn't help him at all right now, he had no clue how to articulate what he felt.

"I'll always come for you, always. Never forget that. Bones – Temperance – when we figured out what happened…" He stopped, not knowing how to say what he wanted to without coming off as melodramatic or insincere.

He lifted his other hand and held it to her face, just gazing at her. She tilted her head towards his hand and kissed it lightly. Neither of them said a word, they didn't have to.

Several minutes later, the hospital door opened. "Booth, we brought you some – Oh God! Sweetie! You're awake!" Angela said happily as she shoved the tray of hot coffees into Hodgins' chest, nearly scalding him as she ran over to her friend.

"Dr. Brennan! We were so worried!" Hodgins said, unfazed by his near burn incident, who handed the tray to Zach Addy, who trailed behind them.

"Hey guys" Brennan smiled. "Sorry I scared you." She croaked.

"Sorry! If anyone should be sorry it's Cam and her…" Angela stopped mid-sentence, judging by Booth's face it wasn't really a great time to bring Cam into the conversation. "Sweetie, I'm so happy you're awake!" She repeated.

"Cam? What happened to Cam? And that other man in the uniform… I don't know his name."

"Camille and John – that was her accomplice – are awaiting trial. They'll go away for a long time, but probably not nearly long enough. If it hadn't been for your tape, we wouldn't have had a reason to arrest her at all." Booth explained.

"Plus Booth beat the crap out of John." Hodgins interjected, completely ignored by the rest of the group.

"Will I appear in court?" Temperance asked. Booth winced at the question, and wished that she hadn't asked. This wasn't the time or the place.

"If you're willing… but it's not for a week. They wanted to wait until you woke up, but I told them to leave you alone and they had a case even without your testimony. Don't feel like you have –"

"Booth, I want to testify. I want them to see me walk into that courtroom. We won."

"Dr. Brennan there is no way you will be walking in 7 days. You have multiple fractures on your – " Zach was silenced by a sharp nudge from Hodgins.

"Oh, well look who's decided to join the land of the living!" A bubbly nurse let out as she opened Brennan's file. "Look's like you got your wish Mr. Booth!" She added, causing Seeley to stare at the bed sheets, a little embarrassed.

"Dr. Conway will need to run a few tests on Dr. Brennan here. So I'll just have to ask you all to step out for a little while. Don't worry, it shouldn't take too long. I'm sure you are all very anxious to spend time with your friend here." That was the last thing the nurse said to the group as she proceeded to heighten Brennan's medication and prepare to remove her head bandage.

Booth was the last to leave. He stood, leaned over and brushed her cheek with his lips. "I'll be back soon." He said with a smile. She smiled back, and turned to the nurse to answer her questions.


Ta da! Did you like it? Please tell me what you think!
As I said, there will be 3 more chapters - and I promise they won't be boring!
;)