Chapter 13

Booth flung open the door to the 20th floor, and ran to the apartment door directly beneath his own. Just as he was about to kick the door open, the fire alarms began to wail loudly. Hopefully the fire department would be there shortly to prevent this fire from spreading.

Adrenaline pumping, heart racing, he glanced around the deserted hallway, and down at the floor, where smoke was beginning to drift out from the bottom of the door. Placing the palm of his hand on the door, he found that it was warm, but not intolerably hot.

Encouraged, he tried the knob, he found it was also not terribly hot, and of course was locked. Unwilling to take the time to pick the lock, he took one step back, and with one hard kick the door banged open slamming against the interior wall.

He hurried into the smoke filled apartment, thick fumes engulfing him instantly and pouring out into the hallway. Booth coughed, and made his way into the flame filled former home of Jenny Montgomery. Sending a silent prayer of thanks he thought of this before the place was charred, he continued.

"Bones!" he shouted hoarsely, his throat burning from the heat, from the smoke. Barely able to see his hand in front of his face, he went on instinct, hoping that the basic layout of her apartment was the same as his. His eyes watered, and he coughed again.

A trail of fire led to the master bedroom. He followed the trail, watching in horror as the flames licked greedily up the walls, devouring everything in site. A fire this fast, and this hot could only be fed by an accelerant. Knowing time was of the essence, he quickly moved on.

Fear gripped him as he approached the room where he knew Temperance was. Fire had drifted around the frame of the door, making it dangerous to enter. Taking one step back, he shielded his face as best he could and hurried in.

Heat seared him, causing sweat to pour down his face, making his hands slippery. He felt as if he were in an industrial sized oven, slowly cooking to death in his own juices.

Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, allowing him a moment of visual clarity, he finally spotted her. If the situation were different, he'd have a hard time believing it was Bones lying on that bed. She was dressed in very revealing sexy lingerie, the same lingerie that Jenny Montgomery had worn when she'd killed herself in his apartment the year before, he realized suddenly.

Booth was having a difficult time getting enough oxygen to his lungs, and he was momentarily dizzy. He coughed again, and made his way to her side. A circle of fire had been set around the bed, and incredibly, Brennan slept on. The only logical reason for that is he drugged her. Sweat was drizzling down her forehead, her hair damp with perspiration.

Slipping his arms beneath her shoulders and knees, he lifted her easily, and pulled her small frame close to his body. He gave her a gentle shake, and called to her "Bones….Temperance…Come on, wake up for me here…"

Unwilling to stand around waiting for her to awaken, his eyes quickly scanned the flame filled room. Incredibly, the flames had ceased somewhat, and he was able to exit the apartment without much trouble, although his eyes burned, as did his throat and lungs. He was concerned that Bones had severe smoke inhalation, and wanted to get her to a hospital ASAP. He knew that he would also require medical attention.

As he hurried to the end of the hallway, he let out a string of hard coughs, and pulled his cell phone from his pocket, instructing the FBI to do a search of the immediate vicinity for suspects in this crime.

After what seemed like an eternity, the fire department and paramedics arrived, whisking both Brennan and himself to the nearest hospital to be checked out.

He was grateful she was alive, but more determined than ever to catch who did this.

End this chapter.