So sorry for the wait, but as some of you who have read my other stories would know, I am catching up on my updating. I have just finished my story 'Need You Now', so if you haven't already, have a read and let me know what you think.

Just a recap of what happened in the last chapter, Booth was outside Brennan's apartment and the police were refusing him entry.

Enjoy!

(This is where the line break should be)

Booth had always been pretty strong, even as a kid. He'd once won an arm wrestle with a kid two year levels above him and was probably twice his size. But despite that, he was still not able to break free from the firm grasp the two policeman had on his forearms.

"You don't understand," Booth grunted. "My partner is trapped in that building and I need to find her!"

"Once again, you cannot go in there. It's a dangerous structure at the moment and until further notice, we cannot allow anyone to enter at the risk of any more people getting injured..."

"That's all the more reason!" Booth exclaimed. "I need to save her. I have to!"

Spontaneously swinging back his arm, Booth swung it loose from the policeman's hold and took it as an advantage and punched the officer square in the jaw. The shock of this outburst caused both policemen to loosen their grip on Booth enough that he could break free from them.

Ducking under the security tape, Booth ran towards the building so fast that he was already inside before anyone had come close enough to catch him.

Inside the apartment building the effects of the earthquake were far worse than it appeared on the outside; perhaps the police were right to try and detain him from entering.

There were large cracks, some large enough to be deemed crevices, right across the tiled lobby floor. The elevator was presumably out-of-order, and even if not, too dangerous to travel in. Deciding the stairs were the safer option, Booth ran toward the doorway leading to the stairwell. Bits of the stairs had crumbled to nothing, leaving large gaps in Booth's path. They did not phase him. He stepped across them – leaping the one's larger in size – until he reached Brennan's floor.

Opening to door to the corridor outside Brennan's apartment, Booth sank to his knees. Rubble, bit of plaster, furniture, even bits of plaster from the roof, littered the pathway leading to Brennan's door.

But he climbed over it all. He got scratched and bruised along the way, but he made it to her door. In a way he wished he hadn't. If the destruction out here was so bad, what did that mean for her apartment? He didn't want to know what he may see.

Brennan's furniture and books and photo frames and pretty much everything not nailed down, were scattered across her living room. China plates and glasses had smashed to pieces and lay on the kitchen floor, while her laptop lay sideways on the floorboards, the screen broken right down the middle. Looking up, large cracks disturbed the perfect white paint of the ceiling.

It was silent. Well, apart from the sirens of emergency vehicles and the screams of worried people on the streets. Apart from that, it was silent.

Walking through her ruined apartment, almost brought him to tears.

After today, the countless memories he had of her apartment would be altered. Like when he was blown up – not that that was a good thing – but before then, when they'd been mucking about and playing air guitar. That was the first time he's seen her let loose. The first time he'd seen the side of her that wasn't entirely work related. The side that he loved to no end.

And then later at the hospital, when she'd blown off her date to stay with him. Back then he'd really thought she felt something for him; supposedly he'd been wrong. If she had really felt something, then she wouldn't have turned him down that night outside the Hoover.

Although her rejection had hurt more than any punch in the gut or any bullet wound he'd received, she still somehow managed to make him love her. That she rejected him because she was afraid of hurting him.

"Bones!" Booth called out, walking down her hallway and poking his head in each of the rooms, trying to find her.

She wasn't in her study, or the spare bedroom, or the ensuite. Walking into Brennan's room, Booth stopped in the doorway.

Her bedroom.

The last time he'd been in here was when they crossed that stupid, imaginary line he'd drawn between them. It had been amazing. He couldn't remember a night in his life that had been filled with more joy and excitement and happiness. As much as he hated himself for betraying Hannah, if given the chance, he would not take back any of it. Not matter what he was presented with, he'd always choose Brennan.

"Bones?" he called again, no longer really expecting a reply.

Sinking down on the end of her bed, Booth put his head in his hands and began to cry. He was not normally one to cry, but what else could he do.

"Bones," Booth sobbed." I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was with Hannah tonight instead of being with you. I know that even if I'd been here, there was probably nothing I could have done. But at least I would be with you. At least I'd know if you're alright. Where are you, Bones? I need you. I love you. And if I knew where you were right now, I would tell that to your face, and I promise I will. But I just want to say I'm sorry. About leaving after we – after we made love. I'm just sorry I even met Hannah. Maybe if I hadn't, when we'd both gotten back, we could have been together. Who knows? But I'm sorry. Where are you, Bones?"

And then out of nowhere, a shaky whisper from the corner of the room said, "Booth?"

(This is where the line break should be)

Please review and let me know what you thought.

EM xXxXxxx