A/N: I would like to give you all my regrets that it took sooo very long to get this chapter up. I have been sick. And my mind was this green, mushy stuff that splashed around my skull like soup. I just couldn't write. I looked at my computer scene and watched my scenesaver. Anyhow, I am still sick cough-cough, (I'll try not to breath on anybody) but my muse is feeling better. Yeah! So I was able finish writing this chapter. And the next one! So look for it on Monday. Again, sorry to have left you all hanging for so long. But I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Brennan heard the door opened. Then she heard her name. That voice. She knew that voice. She struggled against the gag in her mouth. "Booth," she tried to say, but it came out as a muffled scream. She felt the bed she was on move as Booth sat beside her. Then there was light. He quickly got rid of the gag. He brought his hand up and cupped her cheek. Tears were forming in her eyes.

"I was worried sick about you," he said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pocketknife. In a few swift movements, Brennan's hands and feet were free. "Are you okay?" Brennan nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She felt the burn of tears. "Are you sure?" Booth ran the back of his fingers down her face. He knew that he was in her personal space, but he needed to touch her. To make sure she was really there. Suddenly Brennan threw her arms around his neck and held him close. Booth wrapped his own arms around her, and rubbed her back. "There, there," he said softly. "It's okay. I'm here." Brennan couldn't help it as the tears that she fought to hold back began to fall. Booth sat there, holding her, whispering soft words of encouragement, until she finally pulled away. She wiped her face with her hands. "I need to call Agent Penn," Booth said. "Okay? He's the agent officially assigned to your case." Brennan nodded. She listened as Booth quickly explained to the other agent what was going on. When he hung up, he again reached out and touched Brennan. This time on the arm. "Come on," he said. "Lets go into the living room. I'll get you some tea or something." Brennan allowed herself to be pulled up off the bed and lead out of the room.

Booth had just finished making them both some tea when Penn arrived. Along with four other agents and a line of squints. Brennan sat on the couch nursing her cup of tea. Angela sat beside her, arm around her shoulders. Zack and Hodgins stood off to the side, out of the way. There were agents in Booth's bedroom and in the hall looking for evident. Penn sat in a chair across from Brennan, and Booth paced. "Can you tell me what happened?" Penn asked gently. Booth had explained to Brennan as they waited, that Penn had been his trainer. And she could see where Booth had gotten his interrogation skills from. Brennan took a deep, ragged breath.

"I was," she stopped, and licked her lips. "I was walking to my car when someone grabbed me from behind." Again she stopped. "I tried to fight but was quickly subdued. When I woke up, I was blindfolded and tied up."

"Do you remember anything about where you were?" Brennan dropped her eyes to the cup.

"I remember I was sitting on a mattress or something. And that the walls were cold. Nobody was in the room with me. When they did come in, I heard a lock and the door squeaked. The floor was something hard. I could hear the feet hitting the ground." Penn nodded his head.

"Good," he said. "Do you remember anything about the people who took you?"

"There was at least two and one was a man. He's the only one that said anything." Again Penn nodded. Brennan looked up and watched Booth pace while Penn wrote down notes.

"And can you remember anything else?" Brennan shook her head no.

"I spent most of the time alone." She dropped her eyes back down and Angela squeezed her in a side way hug.

"Do you know how you got to Booth's apartment?" Brennan drew her brows together in thought. She had been trying to figure that out ever since Booth had found her. She knew that she hadn't been there the entire time, but why had they moved her? Why had given her back?

"I, umm…I'm not sure. I was sitting there thinking about…thinking, and they came in. Told me if I tried anything then I was dead. One guy threw me over his shoulder and carried me out. The next thing I know I'm sitting on a bed. I didn't know where until Booth came in." Penn nodded.

"And you, Booth. Do you know why Dr. Brennan's kidnappers would have brought her here? Why they would just release her, for that matter?" Booth didn't stop pacing.

"I'm guessing they brought her here because we're partners. As for as releasing her…I have my thoughts." Indeed he did. And all his thoughts settled on Diana Alexander.

"And would you care to share?" Booth shook his head.

"Not right now." Penn turned his attention back to Brennan.

"Thank you, Dr. Brennan," he said. "I'll have an agent escort you to…"

"Escort?" Booth interrupted. He stopped in mid-step and looked at Penn.

"I have to put her under protective custody," Penn explained, turning in the chair to look at Booth. "You know that."

"I'll take charge of her," Booth said.

"Now Booth," Penn said, standing up to face the agent. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"She's my partner, Penn," Booth defended.

"I know that, Seeley, however." Penn was cut off when Booth stepped forward, grabbed the older agent by the arm and dragged him to the corner. Brennan looked over at Angela, who shrugged. Harsh whispers reached Brennan's ears, but she couldn't make them out. The squints watched each other and the arguing agents. Finally Penn nodded and left the apartment. The other agents followed, leaving only Booth, Brennan and her team.

"What's going on?" Brennan asked. Booth sat down in the seat that Penn had emptied.

"Penn has to put you in protective custody," Booth told her. "I convinced him that I should be the one to stay with you."

"What can we do, Booth?" Angela asked. "How can we help?"

"Right now, why don't you three head home. Catch a few hours of sleep and we'll met back up at the lab." Brennan watched as Booth lead Hodgins, Zack and Angela out. She gave each of them a weak smile as they bid her good-bye. She heard the door close and lock. Then Booth came back and sat down beside her. "I'm glad you're okay, Tempe," he said softly. Brennan turned her head to look at him. "Why don't I find you something to wear and you can take the first shower?" Brennan dropped her eyes and nodded. Booth stood and held out a hand for her. She looked at it for a moment then took the offered hand.

Brennan took her time in the shower. The hot water felt good running down her body. Washing away the feelings of fear. She ran her hands over her wet hair, and turned her face up into the stream on water. Brennan let out a heavy sigh. She was thankful that Penn had allowed her to stay with Booth. She felt safe here…safe with Booth. Brennan smiled as she reached down and turned off the water. She pulled back the curtain and reached for her towel. Brennan died off, and slid one of Booth's shirts on. It hung to her mid-thigh. She then pulled on a pair of sweat shorts on, they went down past her knees and she had to pull the string as tight as she could. Still toweling her hair, she opened the door. Booth was laying on the bed- head propped up on a pillow. He turned his head and looked at her. "Good shower?"

"Yes, thank you," she said, walking over to the bed and sitting down on the edge. Booth watched her as she dried her hair. "What are you smirking at?" she asked.

"I have a fantasy that starts out like this," he teased, earning him a wet towel in the face. He couldn't help but to laugh. "Sorry." Brennan pulled her legs on the bed, and scooted back until she was up against the headboard. "And just what do you think you're doing?" he asked when she reached for the covers.

"Thought I would watch TV while you took a shower," she told him.

"You? Watch TV?" She snatched the remote out of his hand.

"Yeah. I do watch it from time to time. This is one of those times." Brennan looked at him out of the side of her eyes and smiled. Booth just shook his head and pushed himself up off the bed.

After his shower, Booth opened the door to leave the bathroom. His eyes landed on the figure of Brennan. The TV was still on, but she had fallen asleep. He stood there a minute and watched the sleeping doctor, before walking over to the bed. He pulled the covers up around her and let his hand smooth over her head. He picked up the remote and turned off an episode of Scoopy-Doo. "Night, Bones," he said, softly. He turned off the lamp and left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him as he went.

So what did you think? Did I answer a few questions? Let's see...this is chapter 22 and there are...dare I say it...25 chapters. So need I say that starting with the next chapters things are really going to move. Fast! I hope everything comes together alright.

Oh...and just to keep you all reading and reviewing...I do have the "kiss" that everybody has been wanting. But in what chapter? I'm not tellin'!

TBC...