To all those who left me their thoughts, guests included, thank you. RobinAngelena, MstgSzy, GalaxieGurl (Booth'll find her soon, glad you appreciated the inclusion of Tom Corbin), Felinxx, ZinaR, kareneb, FaithinBones (were you right? About where Brennan is?), Monique Sampson, adorkablesalad (you might just be right), Lauwy, bookwormlady (you've caught on to the hint and I think you're going to be right *wink*), aadams00 (he will be), 554Laura, K785 (I did leave a clue and yes that issue/talk is addressed later on), Chyrs (thanks), jsboneslover, wentzer, Nelapl. Hope I didn't leave anyone out. Not sure if it's just me, reviews aren't showing up on the site. Maybe FFnet is acting up again.

Booth and Aubrey sprinted back to where they had started the day, back to the farmhouse.

"Show me, where you fell." Booth urged as Aubrey took the lead.

Aubrey led Booth to an area between the barn and farmhouse. "Right about here." He pointed to the ground.

Booth immediately dropped to his knees, his hands moving through the snow covered ground, as if looking for something he had dropped.

"He must have an underground bunker of some sort right? The women he took were just trial runs for the real thing. He wanted to take Bones and keep her with him, alive. Keep her for himself."

Aubrey dropped to his knees too, now understanding what Booth was looking for.

"He knew there was a possibility we might find him, so he had to have stashed her away so he could come back to her later." Booth explained his thoughts.

"So you think whatever I tripped over – "

"Here!" Booth yelled. His fingers dug at the snow that had covered what appeared to be a padlock.

Aubrey joined him, brushing away the snow.

"Stand back."

Aubrey took a few steps back as Booth unholstered his gun then took aim. A single gunshot rang out as Booth pulled the trigger. The padlock broke. Booth and Aubrey griped the handle, pulling to open the door that would have easily been missed if one wasn't looking for it. The two agents were confronted with a set of stairs that seemed to lead into a dark abyss.

Booth and Aubrey with guns and flashlights in hand, slowly descended the wooden stairs. The air was dank and both agents shivered involuntarily in the cold. Booth's flashlight swept the ground, finally falling on a motionless human form on the ground. He instantly knew it was her.

"Bones!"

He hurried to her side. "Aubrey – "

"EMTs already on the way." Aubrey replied. "I called for an ambulance when I called Dr Saroyan to get the team here."

Booth gently gathered Brennan into his arms. The scene reminded him too much of how he had found her on the floor of the lab that had been blown up.

"Bones, c'mon, wake up." Her body felt stiff and cold and he struggled to find a pulse on her neck. "I'm here Bones. Just please, open your eyes."

Unlike that day in the destroyed lab, her eyes did not open to his prompting. His eyes roamed her body, trying to figure out why she wasn't waking up. He heard Aubrey approach them, stopping next to him.

"Is she?"

"I – " Booth inhaled deeply, trying to fight the rising panic. "I think I've got a weak pulse." She felt so cold to the touch. He shrugged off his jacket and Aubrey offered him his as well. He wrapped her in them, then cradled her gently to himself.

"Stay with me Temperance. I love you, just stay with me."

Booth heard the sound of sirens in the distance. He hoped they were not too late.

"Booth."

Booth looked up from his seat in the ER. "Max."

"How is she?"

"They're still in there with her. I don't know."

Max nodded, a hand on his son-in-law on the shoulder, he took the empty seat next to him.

"Kids are with Angela." Max explained. "They think they're having another sleepover."

Booth nodded. "Thanks. Not just for watching the kids but you know, for finding out where he kept her. Without you…"

Max nodded. "She's gonna be okay Booth."

"Yeah." Booth sighed. "Look I'm sorry. These things keep happening to her… it's like I can't keep her safe." He buried his face in his hands.

"It's not your fault Booth."

"Kovac was my fault. If it wasn't for you… I'd have lost Hank and Christine… and I could've lost her today." Booth laughed bitterly. "Some husband and father I am."

"You can't control everything Booth. We do what we can to keep those three safe. I know you did your best this time. Tempe was stubborn. Like we both know how she can be."

Booth was not quite convinced. Before he could say another word, a nurse in scrubs appeared. "Mr Booth?"

"Yes?"

"Your wife is awake."

"Is she okay?" Booth stood, feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"Dr Nolan would like to speak with you."

"Go on, I'll wait." Max told Booth.

Booth allowed the nurse to lead him to a room down the hall. And then he saw her, lying on the hospital bed. Her lips no longer had the bluish tinge when he first found her and the color had returned to her cheeks. She turned her head and smiled sleepily when she saw him. Booth couldn't help but smile back. He hurried to her side. He felt tears of happiness prick his eyes. He had been afraid he had lost her.

"Bones." He whispered as he gathered her into his arms, mindful of the myriad of tubes running in and out of her, holding her tightly to him, feeling like he never wanted to let go.

"I'm okay Booth."

The doctor who had been patiently watching the reunion before him, cleared his throat.

Booth straightened, still holding Brennan's hand in his as he turned. "How is she?"

"Hypothermia. You got to her just in time."

"And she's okay? I mean there's like nothing broken?"

"My x-rays are clear. I don't feel any physical pain other than the weariness which I assume is just my body recovering from hypothermia." Brennan replied.

"Right he didn't hurt you or anything?"

"I don't have any visible cuts on me."

"That's good." Booth remembered what Eric did to the other three women before he killed them. He felt his anger grow at the possibility. "Did he ah –" Booth couldn't continue.

"I've requested a rape kit. Dr Nolan took samples." Brennan knew exactly what he was thinking.

Booth swallowed, clenching his hand that was not holding hers in a tight fist.

"The physical exam I conducted showed no signs of sexual assault." The doctor assured Booth.

"I don't think he raped me Booth." Brennan squeezed Booth's hand.

Booth nodded feeling a measure of relief.

"We'll keep her overnight. The rhythm of her heart had been erratic, but that is expected with hypothermia. If nothing changes, you can take her home tomorrow."

"Thank you Doctor." Brennan said as Dr Nolan exited the room.

Booth turned his attention back to Brennan. "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm tired. But, I'm okay."

Booth leaned in to press a kiss to his wife's head. "Max is here. Think you're up to seeing him for a couple of minutes?"

"Hank and Christine?"

"They're safe. With Angela and Hodgins."

"Okay."

"I'll go get Max."

"How you feeling honey?" Max asked as he entered the room.

"I'm okay Dad."

"I'm glad you are. You had us worried." Max glanced at Booth. "I'll leave you to get your rest." He kissed Brennan on the head before nodding to Booth and leaving the room.

"Get some sleep Bones. I'll be right here." Booth gently cupped her cheek with his hand, smoothing her cheek with his thumb as he stood next to her bed.

"Booth, I'm sorry. You must have been worried."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. I mean if anyone's to blame it was me."

"No, it wasn't your fault."

"Hey I'm your husband right? It's my job to protect you. Fine job I've been doing."

Brennan placed her hand on his that was resting on her hospital bed. "You warned me. You told me not to go anywhere without you."

"Yeah." Booth sighed. "He was smart, using Christine."

"But he's been caught and I'm fine so there's no need for you to feel guilty."

"I just – " Booth sighed. "We've been through so much in the past year."

"You think we should stop what we do?" Brennan asked. "It wasn't too long ago when we left and then came back."

"Nah. This is what we do right? But the toil it takes on us… what if I'm too late next time?"

"I wish there was something I could say to guarantee something won't happen to us in the future."

"Yeah but you can't. I mean I'd like to think I can stop anything bad from happening but truth is…"

"What's important is that you try."

"Yeah. I guess." He wondered if he was trying hard enough. "Look, you need your rest. Get some sleep Bones. We can talk tomorrow."

"Okay. I love you Booth."

"I know. I love you too Bones."

This isn't the last chapter. December is a crazy, busy month for me, so I might be posting less frequently.