Disclaimer- I don't own Bones.


Paris November 3rd, 2001

Monday 4:00am

The shrill ring of a cell phone jolted the very awake Temperance Brennan out of her bed. She raced to the opposite end of her hotel suite to her purse in record time. She pulled out her cell phone. It was too dark to see the caller ID, but she guessed who it was:

"Brennan," Tempe indicated that she was on the line.

"Hey Bones! I expect you've been waiting for my call?" The voice of Special Agent Seeley Booth comforted Temperance more than he knew. For the first time in her career, Temperance was homesick and also terrified for her life.

She tried to calm her shaking voice. "I haven't been waiting for you to call! I was sleeping very soundly until you woke me up."

"Oh right! It's around 4am over there right?" Tempe could almost hear Booth smirking all the way in Washington D.C.

"Yeah, but it's ok. So ugh… what did you need?" she asked.

Booth instantly became solemn. "Don't play dumb, Temperance. I know you like to be all independent and shit, but this is serious! You asked for my help, reluctantly, I can tell, but I'm going to help you." He stopped, expecting a smart-ass reply, but the opposite line was silent except for Tempe's unsteady breaths.

Unknown to the FBI agent on the other end, a dark figure loomed in the window of Temperance's room. He was standing in front of the gauzy lavender curtains, backlit by a street lamp. He seemed to have just appeared out of nowhere. Tempe could see his upright, index finger slowly move to his lips as a warning. Temperance shivered and nodded slightly.

"Temperance?" Booth said after a few seconds. "Bones!"

She kept an eye on what she guessed was a man from his build as she replied, "I'm here, Booth."

"Good. Now here's what you need to do. When you get off the phone with me, I'm going to buy a ticket straight to Paris. The bureau is putting you under my protection again. I'm going to escort you back to Washington D.C. and keep you with me at all times until we catch the bastard that's been threatening you. Are we clear?"

"Y-yeah…" Temperance's eyes widened as she noticed the man inching closer. God…God… God… If I live to see him…

"Good. Now go back to sleep. I'll be there at 3:30pm your time. Just stay in the hotel until I arrive. Got it?" Temperance consented. "Please, Temperance. No vendettas. Do nothing that could jeopardize your life. I'd die if anything…" Booth sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow… or well… Today." Tempe heard the deafening click of the line as Booth hung up.

Despite the draft in the suite, she was sweating. Crouched on the floor still holding the cell phone to her ear and her hand in her purse, she watched as the man drew nearer. Not wanting to make any sudden movements, she was rigid. The second the man was within two feet of her, a loud BANG could be heard in almost every room of the hotel.

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Paris November 3rd, 2001

Monday 3:43pm

Temperance was gradually waking up from a very unsettling dream. In her dream, she began to feel relaxed as she found herself floating on her back in the open sea, staring straight at the sun without blinding herself.

It took a couple minutes for Tempe to come to, but she found herself staring into the warm, sympathetic eyes of her friend and partner, Seeley Booth who was softly rubbing her back.

"Booth?" His hand fell from her back as she sat up to look at the bedside clock, which read 15:43. "I slept the whole day away!"

Booth was silent, just staring at the woman oblivious to the crime scene going on outside, below her window. He was the one to tell her.

Tempe closed her eyes and ran her hands through her hair. Thinking back on her dream, the details beginning to disappear into fog, she looked at her hands and screamed.


AN- I'm worried I'm not doing this right. This fic may seem very horrorish and suspenseful… which means I'm doing my job! The tragedy will come soon, I promise. Just tell me how I'm doing so far. I hope these cliffhangers are actually well… cliffy! They seem so pitiful to me. Thank you for the reviews. I'm glad a few of you want me to continue this. That's what I'm doing. Please review some more! Thank you.