Brennan couldn't determine how long she had sat in despair. She hadn't noticed that the heavy rain had slowed, or that it had turned to flurries of snow. Could it get any worse? She thought to herself. She then mentally reprimanded herself, taking the place of Booth in her own mind. He would have lectured her that it would jinx you saying something like that. Logically no matter how bad things were they could very well get worse.

She deduced she had but 2 choices. Sit here and hope someone would eventually come or head down the country road toward the nearest town and hope someone would pass by. Her body told her to stay, but her brain told her she must keep moving.

The cold temperatures had penetrated her body. She struggled against it, the pain and her exhaustion to rise to her feet. Ever slowly she began her journey. She was a fighter and this would prove to be the most difficult task she had yet to face. She wouldn't give in. She would keep going until her willpower failed and her body gave out.

Brennan could see the dawns light nearing the horizon. She cursed herself for the time she had wasted. She admonished herself for traveling so slowly. She inched her way along the icy roads. As childish as it sounded she just repeated in her mind one foot in front of the other. This helped to distract her thoughts from wandering to her partner. Those thoughts would surely driver her to insanity. After all he had done for her, she was sure she had failed him; that if she herself was found alive, it would surely be too late for him.

The sun was now high in the sky; the weather had once again changed from snow to sleet. Though not nearly as heavy as it had been yesterday, it was still discouraging. Brennan's head began swimming, her vision fading. She willed her legs to move but nothing occurred. Her knees buckled and she crumbled to the ground.

The team all arrived early, each hoping that one of the others had heard news from their two friends and colleagues. Not one spoke a word as their eyes and faces told each what the others needed to know.

"We need to get to Bath County Virginia." Cam finally announced.

They all nodded in agreement and began making their plans. They decided upon Angela's vehicle, it being the largest. Cam contacted Caroline to let her know what they were doing. Within 30 minutes they were on the road.

Thanks to Hodgins' radar detector the 3 hour drive was decreased to just under 2. They stopped at a local diner to get directions to the ranger station and some lunch to go.

At the ranger station the argument began. The ranger, Banks it said on his name tag insisted he was under orders to keep the area undisturbed. Cam could see the fear in his eyes every time Booth's name was mentioned. She wasted 30 minutes trying to explain that they were esteemed colleagues of Dr Brennan and just needed an escort to the site as they were unaware of the location. Completely flustered Cam stormed from the building. Outside she grasped her cell phone and called the only person that she considered more intimidating then Booth.

"Caroline, hey, we need your help. This ignorant excuse of a human being is refusing us escort to Booth and Brennan… yes… Ranger Banks… yes… ok… thank you, Caroline." She turned to the rest of the group as they heard the phone ring inside the building. "She is on it" Cam said with a smile.

Within a minute Ranger Banks was out of his office and escorting them to the cave. The team kept to small talk and idle chit chat during the drive. Concern written over all their faces, they refused to speak their worries. They weren't just friends and colleagues, they were family. In the scientific field they relied on facts, but each of their guts screamed the conjecture that something was very wrong.

Ranger Banks paid little attention to his surroundings as he drove. He fumed over the humiliation all these people made him experience: threatened by Special Agent Booth, scorned by Dr Brennan, harassed by the group behind him and again threatened by a US Attorney. He couldn't wait until these people were gone and out of his life. Then he could lick his wounds and go back to the peacefulness he enjoyed from the forest.

He was so lost in his own thoughts he barely noticed that 15 miles into the 20 mile journey the vehicle behind him came to a screeching halt. It wasn't until he hear them holding down the horn that he looked into the rear view to see them scrambling out and to the side of the road. He took a deep breath, stopped his truck, put it into reverse and backed up to where they had stopped.

Angela had been staring out the window, lost in thought when she saw a red and blue mound on the side of the road.

"OMG! STOP!" She screamed.

Cam slammed on the breaks looking to where Angela's shaking hand was pointing. She saw the distinct shape of a human in a very familiar coat. She hit the horn hard when she saw that numb nuts hadn't even noticed they had stopped. The whole team jumped from the van and ran to what they had seen.

Hodgins was quick to dial 911 and request a emergency transport. He yelled to the ranger to contact local law enforcement and the FBI immediately. His heart jumped into his throat as he saw his half hysterical wife turn over and reveal the face of their dear friend. Cam checked Brennan's pulse.

"Very weak but there." She declared voice trembling. "Everyone give me your coats. Jack, get a bottle of water." Cam used all her medical knowledge to help her friend. Once she was securely wrapped in their outerwear. Hodgins scooped her up and laid her in the van and turned the heat on high.

Wendell searched the area and was the first to voice the question in the back of all their minds. "If Dr Brennan is here, where is Agent Booth?"

Booth floated in the darkness. Her voice was the only thing he felt that kept him anchored. He could see the light in the distance. It still beckoned to him. Part of him wanted to go, the other needed to stay. His only fear was that his indecision would keep him in Limbo, make him an earth bound spirit.

He tried with all his will to escape the darkness, but he was held firm where he was, wherever that is. He could feel pain. He couldn't help but think that was a good sign. Pain meant life.

The light grew closer, the closer it got to him, the less pain he felt. He heard many voices coming from the light. He could see human forms. Mom brought friends, he thought.

Closer… closer… closer… the light almost overpowered the darkness now. Bones' voice now almost inaudible was being muted by the other voices. The figures now became distinguishable.

There just a few feet away y stood his mother, his grandmother and 6 army buddies he had lost in battle. Their voices were just whispers; the only recognizable word was his own name.

They waved to him to come with them, His mother and grandmother held their arms out to him. He wanted to go. He wanted to be with them, but the one faint whisper speaking the words of love caused him to stand his ground.

"I can't leave her. I promised I would never abandon her." He whispered to his family and friends.

It would be one thing if death came swiftly and took him to his destination. But this, this he seemed to have a choice in. He could never choose to leave Bones.

As long as he had a choice, it would always be her. He would rather feel the pain, struggle through life and take his lumps to be with her, rather than revel in an eternity of peace without her.

The figures blurred out as the light faded back. It didn't leave; it just lingered off in the distance.

He clung to her voice, struggled to bring her face to his mind's eye. It was getting harder now. The harder it became; the stronger the draw to the light.

He was getting weaker.

Hurry Bones, I don't know how much longer I have.