Chapter 9

Booth cheered, and pumped his fist in the air, as the baseball team he was watching on television made another home run, putting them in the lead. A commercial came on for some new vacuum, and still smiling about the game, he rose, and walked into his kitchen to grab a beer before the game came back on.

Stopping a moment, he frowned and glanced at the front door. Where in the world was Bones anyway? She said she was going to get her laptop, but that was over 10 minutes ago, he realized checking his watch. Opening the refrigerator, snagging a beer, he popped the top, took a long swallow, and head back to the living room.

Not bothering to sit down, he slid his cell phone out of the charger and called Bones' cell phone. From somewhere in his apartment, he could hear it ring. Great. She left it here.

Sighing heavily, Booth put the beer and phone down, and strode over to the door to go find her. He really didn't want to miss the game, but he was beginning to get worried. He knew this building was secure; there were security cameras everywhere, and a front doorman, so nothing could have happened to it? He thought uneasily. His mouth dry, he swallowed, and took a breath.

Worried now, he quickly left his apartment, and jogged down to the elevators, where he impatiently pushed the call button for the elevator to come to where he waited. The floor indicator showed it was on the 2nd floor. Pacing in the corridor, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and finally heard the ding, as the doors slid open.

Taking two fast steps, he entered the empty elevator. He had been hoping that his partner would be coming up from downstairs, and was more concerned than ever when she was not there.

There was a folded piece of paper on the floor of the elevator though. Curious, he crouched to pick it up, and unfolded it as the doors swept shut. The elevator didn't move, awaiting his response as to which floor he wanted to go to.

The paper was thick, almost like photo paper, he noted absently, concentrating on unfolding it carefully. His heard nearly stopped when he saw the picture. It was a copy of the 4th in the series of pictures Jenny had sent him last year….of Brennan in the shower, and on the back it read on the back, as it did on the original "Time is running out". Swearing he punched the wall of the elevator, shattering the mirrors that surrounded him. He felt blood trickle down the back of his hand. Ignoring the pain, wiping the blood on the side of his black shirt, he stood a moment, closed his eyes and gathered his thoughts. How could he have been so stupid to let her go, to let her out of his sight for even a moment!? What was he thinking! He raged inwardly

After a moment, he pushed the "open doors" button and quickly head back to his apartment. His mind racing at the implications, he entered his apartment in a rush, ignoring the baseball game and beer. He snatched his keys and cell phone and left his home in a rush, hoping he could find her before it was too late.

Tears of anger and fear burned behind his eyelids as he recalled finding Brennan incased in ice, the paramedics telling him she was gone….

His resolve strengthening, he refused to let that happen again. And when he found whoever was doing this, they'd pay.

End this chapter.

A/N: Okay – I am not getting very many reviewers – are you guys even out there reading this? Should I continue?

-R-