Hi everybody again,

Here is the seventh chapter of my story. I promise you the action is about to start... but I have to string the story...

Disclaimer: as always, Bones is not mine…

ATTACK

Booth laid on his couch as soon as Brennan left and put the TV on. He felt a lot better knowing that Agent Harmon escorted her to the lab. He preferred himself to be with her, but he also knew that he wasn't in good condition to protect her properly if something happened. He fell asleep a few minutes later.

Ten minutes had passed when his door opened with no sound. A man, dressed in black with a balaclava on his face and a gun on his hand, walked in silently. He thought that Booth would be sleeping, but he entered aiming his gun to where Booth was. He was pleased to see that Booth hadn't waked up. He came close to him and stuck a syringe in his neck, making Booth wake just a second with the feel of the shot. He fell unconscious in a heartbeat. The man dragged Booth out of the house and took him on his shoulder. With a big effort he walked in the elevator with Booth to the top floor, and then walked up the stairs to the flat roof of the building. He kicked the roof door and then dropped Booth on the floor. He was tired, this man was heavier than he had guessed, he thought.

His plan was so simple that it had to work, he thought, although it had been about to fail miserably, because Dr. Brennan must be at the Jeffersonian this afternoon. He thought that Booth was going to be alone at home. But he knew that Dr. Brennan was going to go to the Jeffersonian and went on with the plan. He had paid a teenager 100$ to send the second package with a false name and without questions. The kid had to give precise instructions to the courier to deliver the package on the Jeffersonian not before 7 pm. This way, he had time enough to do what he had come to do before Dr. Brennan had time to come and find it. He had injected Booth an overdose of tranquilizer that could kill a man in one hour or so. So he thought he could leave him there, in the flat roof to die, and run away through the main entrance without arouse suspicion. When someone found Booth's body he would be far enough. And so he did.

But chance wanted to play in this game too, in Booth's favor this time. The courier delivered the package at 6 pm, because that day he had less packages to deliver and wanted to go home early. The package was delivered 10 minutes after Brennan arrived to the Jeffersonian with agent Harmon. Brennan read the note in the same time the killer dropped Booth to the roof floor. But they didn't know anything about the tranquilizers running through Booth's veins. They ran to Booth's place and found the main door opened and the apartment in order.

Desperation filled Brennan, sitting on a chair in the middle of the living room, when she saw something on the floor that attracted her attention. The doormat was moved to the right and there was a trace of dust from it that ended four meters away, straight to the elevator. She thought that this was strange. Calming a little and washing away the tears she stood up and went toward the door. Agent Perotta saw her walking out and told her partner to follow her, just in case.

"Dr. Brennan! Where are you going?" The agent asked her.

"I think that someone dragged something up to here. But there're no more traces. And bearing in mind that the trace seems to go to the elevator…" She said, and stopped a moment to think. "What if the killer hasn't gone down but up? Maybe he has thought that carry with Booth through the main entrance in broad daylight wasn't an option…" She began to think what this possibility could mean and a shiver of pure fear ran her spine. Booth could be dead in any place of the building. "We must check the building now, Booth could be…" She couldn't finish this sentence, but she headed to the elevator to call the elevator.

"Dr. Brennan, please stay behind me!" He said grabbing her elbow and passing before her in the elevator. He drew his gun. They went up to the next floor, but found nothing, nor the next. They finally arrived to the top floor and saw the flat roof door opened. And when the two went out to the roof they found Booth lying on the floor, unconscious. Brennan ran to him as fast as she could, almost yelling at agent Harmon to call for help.

"Booth! Oh, my God! Booth! Please, wake up!" She knelt down, calling to him, but he didn't wake up. She searched for his pulse and found it, weak, but there it was. "Booth, please, I'm here! Hold on, please!" She said sobbing.

She didn't notice but agent Harmon called Perotta to come to the roof, and the other agent that had arrived there first was waiting in the apartment. He also had called for an ambulance for an injured agent. Brennan was by Booth's side, checking his pulse, and then noticed a little red point on his neck. She remembered that the killer had injected anesthetics to his first victim, the same way he had done to Booth.

The paramedics arrived in less than five minutes. Brennan explained to them about the mark on his neck and that she suspected that the killer had injected something to paralyze him, some tranquilizers or anesthetics. She couldn't be sure, of course, but the paramedics could work with that information too.

They checked Booth's vital signs and took him to the ambulance. Brennan went with him, holding his hand and begging for some luck that could make Booth overcome this. Agents Perotta and Harmon waited for the backup and the FBI forensics, to inspect the scene and the zone.

Brennan was sat in the waiting room of the hospital when Angela and Cam entered the room.

"Hey, sweetie! How are you?" Angela asked.

"How did you know where I was?" She asked in reply.

"Agent Perotta called Cam and told her everything. Now, do you know something about Booth?"

"Not yet. The doctors are trying to stabilize him definitely, but that bastard has injected him an overdose of ketamine and diazepam, just as he did to Karen Lindberg. But this time he has used more. The paramedics were positive, and they thought that Booth could get over this. They thought too that the drug was injected about thirty minutes ago, and he would be dead if we hadn't found him when we did." She stopped talking for a second, trying to back the tears. "Ange, I should have been there, I shouldn't have left him alone. I-I w-was angry with him because I wanted t-to go to the lab for half an hour, and h-he didn't w-want me…" She could't finish. Angela hugged her trying to comfort her a little.

"Honey, you couldn't know this was going to happen. It's not your fault." Angela said trying to calm her down.

"Yes, it's my damn fault, because if I hadn't been so stubborn and stayed with him at home this wouldn't have happened." She replied.

"You cannot be sure of that. Maybe you'd be dead right now. You can't know that."

Cam was pondering and she said. "I don't understand something. How is, that the killer sends you the package to the Jeffersonian and then attacks Booth at his home? He has to be watching you, because it seems to me that he was waiting for you to go to the lab, to attack him. And how did he know that Booth was going to be asleep?" She asked, trying to put two and two together. Brennan stopped a moment and went over the last hour.

"I'm not sure, but I have an idea of how he did know it." She said. Then she dialed Perotta's number.

"Hello Dr. Brennan. How is Booth? Do you know something?"

"Agent Perotta…" She started without answer her question. "I suspect that the killer has been listening to us, maybe watching us. It's possible that there could be hidden microphones in the apartment."

"Why do you suspect that?"

"Because, who has done that, knew that Booth was going to be asleep. Think about it. He entered the house with a syringe? He didn't want a fight, he just wanted to kill Booth. I was arguing with Booth a few moments before agent Harmon arrived to pick me up. I was telling him that he need to rest, and when I finally agreed to go with your partner he told me that he felt a lot better knowing that I wasn't going to be alone, and that he was going to try to get some sleep. And besides, that bastard has to be watching the house from somewhere, because he has waited till Booth was alone to attack him. The paramedics have told me that the overdose was supplied thirty minutes before we found him." She explained.

"Let me make a few verifications here. I've already sent my partner to the hospital to escort you, because we suspect that he's going to try to do something to you. He has been able to leave Booth out for the count very easy, and he is a former Ranger. I'm sure he's going to try something. Don't leave the hospital, it's a public place and you'll be safer there than outside. I've spoke to Dr. Saroyan and she has told me she was going to go to the hospital too. Please, stay there until agent Harmon arrives. I'll keep you informed." And she hung up.

"What has she said?" Cam asked.

"They are going to check the apartment." Brennan answered absently.

"What more?" Cam insisted.

"She suspects that who has done this, will try to do something more, and she has sent agent Harmon here. He would be about to arrive."

"Bren…" Angela started, but the doctor came and Brennan sprang out of the chair.

"Doctor, how is he?" She asked doubtfully.

"He is ok, you don't have to worry. We have stabilized his respiration and cardiac rhythm. He's awake now, but we think that he's a little delirious, because he's saying something about some bones that we don't understand." He said, and Brennan, Cam and Angela sighed in relief. Angela answered to the Doctor with a mix of relief and fun in her face.

"No, he's not delirious. He is just calling Dr. Brennan. 'Bones' is his nickname for her."

"Oh, that is good! You could follow me, if you want to see him. But I have to say that he needs to rest, so please, don't stay long in there." The doctor said as the three woman followed him to Booth's room.

"Booth! How do you feel?" Cam and Angela said in unison. Brennan stayed a little behind them and looked at Booth, trying to calm the torrent of emotions flowing inside her. Booth was indeed awake and seemed to be ok.

"I'm fine. A little dizzy, but it's passing quickly." He said looking directly at Brennan. He realized that she was upset by something. He'd ask her when they could be alone. Then he turned to the doctor. "Doctor, when will I be able to go home?"

"Well, I want to watch to your vital signs tonight, and if everything goes as I think you'll be free to go tomorrow morning."

"That will be great!" He replied

"Ladies, remember that he needs to rest a little, please. Don't stay long." The doctor said, and went out of the room. Brennan went after him. She asked him if there would be a problem if she spent the night here, but the doctor said that she could stay, as long as she made sure that Booth sleep properly.

She came back to the room and Angela and Cam were about to leave him to rest, as the doctor had said. Brennan followed them out of the room, and told them that she was going to stay with him. They understood her need, and left, making her promise to call immediately if something happened or she needed anything. She came back to the room and sat in a chair close to the bed. She didn't look at him, because she didn't know what to say. But Booth knew what was going on.

"Hey!" He said, putting his hand on hers. "Why are you so nervous? I'm ok, you don't need to worry now."

"How…" She was about to reply, but a knock on the door interrupted her, and she slipped her hand from Booth's. It was agent Harmon.

"Hello Dr. Brennan. Agent Booth, I'm glad you're awake. How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling better by the minute." He said sincerely. "I want to thank you and Perotta for the help. If it hadn't been for you I would be dead right now, I'm sure."

"You don't have to thank us. It was Dr. Brennan who found you."

"Really?" He said, turning to Brennan. He put his hand again on hers. "Thank you Bones!"

"You'd have done the same for me." She said looking at his hand. He noticed her really disturbed and didn't insist in talking to her right now. He'd wait until agent Harmon left to speak to her. But he needed to know what had happened.

"Could you explain what happened to me? I mean, I remember to wake up a second when I felt something sticking my neck, I saw a man with a balaclava, but I don't remember anything else." He asked.

"We don't know exactly, my partner was at your apartment with the forensics searching for anything that could help us. But I can tell you how we found you." Brennan was really nervous, and tried to slip from his grip, but Booth squeezed her hand, not allowing her to leave. He knew she was trying to build a shell and hide in it. But she really needed some fresh air.

"Booth, let me go. I-I need to go to t-the bathroom!" She said and she finally slipped her hand from his. Booth felt the distance growing from her, not physical distance, but emotional. He was sure that he'd need to get to her, because he knew she was blaming herself for what had happened. He knew because he would be feeling exactly the same if this had happened to her instead. He thought too, that she wouldn't talk about anything with agent Harmon here, so he let her go to the bathroom.

"Please, agent Harmon, continue." He encouraged.

"Dr. Brennan received another package at the Jeffersonian, 10 minutes before we arrived there. There was just a note in it. I don't remember the exact words but in short it said that he was going to clean the way to her and that he don't want to share her with you. She tried to call to your phone, but you didn't answer her and she was worried for you. She didn't know if you were sleeping or something had happened, and she came to tell us. We headed to your apartment but another agent arrived there first and called us. He told us that your main door was opened but there was nobody inside, and that the apartment hadn't any sign of violence. We arrived there three minutes after, and Dr. Brennan thought that the man couldn't go out carrying with you at daylight, and maybe he has gone up. She was right…"

"She's always right" Booth interrupted for a second.

"… and we found you on the flat roof, lying unconscious. We found no sign of anyone there, although Perotta is still at your apartment with the forensics searching for traces."

"I see…" Booth said.

"Dr. Brennan saw a little mark on your neck and told the paramedics that you could have been injected with some tranquilizer. They stabilized you thanks to her indications."

"Thanks for your help, anyway."

"You're welcome, agent Booth, but we have some suspicions that you need to know."

"Go ahead."

"We suspect that the man who has done this to you will try to do something, and we don't think he's going to wait long. He has demonstrated to be an intelligent man, and that makes him more dangerous than we thought."

"I agree. In fact I'm thinking that he has to be angry, because I'm not dead. If he was watching us sure he was somewhere near when you arrived to my apartment. I don't know what is he thinking, but, if the first time he tried to get her and couldn't he went to catch another victim, it's possible that he does something like that now, don't you think?" At this statement Harmon nodded in agreement. "But it's possible too that he tries to go after Bones very soon. Even if I'm not dead, I'm not able to protect her from here, and that leads me to think that he could try something this very night."

"Yes, that's what we are afraid of." Agent Harmon pulled out a gun from his ankle and handed it to Booth. "Take it, just in case. I'll be at your door all the time, and Dr. Brennan should be here too." Booth took the gun and put it below his pillow.

"I bet she is going to stay here all the night, don't worry."

"Ok, then. I'll be outside, if you need anything."

"Thank you very much, agent Harmon."

"Don't thank me yet. Wait until we catch that son of a bitch, then you'll be able to thank me all you want." He replied and opened the door. Brennan came in as he went out and sat on a chair right in front of the door.

She sat heavily again on the chair close to the bed and looked at Booth firstly since they were alone.

"You must rest, Booth. Try to sleep."

"You are repeating yourself, Bones!" He said jokingly while he held her hand again. He needed to feel her here, and he was sure she needed the same. "Agent Harmon has explained everything to me. You've saved my life, Bones."

"Yes, I suppose I've done it." She answered dryly.

"And now you're blaming yourself because you think that what has happened is your fault. Aren't you?"

"Of course it's my damn fault Booth!" She said, trying to stay in control of her emotions.

"No, it's not. You're a logic person, Bones. Tell me what's the logic that leads you to feel responsible for what has happened." He said squeezing her hand a little and caressing it with his thumb.

"I-I d-don't know, Booth. I s-should have been with y-you. If I hadn't been so stubborn nothing of this w-would have happened. You have almost b-been k-killed today! Maybe it isn't logic at all, but I can't help to feel guilty, and I don't like it!" She caught some air. "I-I'm trying hard to not feel b-bad, I'm trying to compartmentalize the feelings from the facts, but I can't, a-and I don't know why! I-I d-don't k-know what t-to do, n-now!" She hated to feel so vulnerable, but he couldn't help it. Two tears fell treacherously. "And don't tell me I don't have to feel guilty, because if this had happened to me, I'm sure you'd feel exactly the same way as me!" He listened to her, knowing that she was right. But he felt the need to comfort her, to show her that he was alright, and he was going to be perfectly fine in a few hours. He straightened up on his bed and grabbing her right arm with his left hand, he made her lean onto him, holding her tight. He put all his heart in that embrace. She let herself go in his arms, and grabbed him tighter. And cried. She only could break down this way with him.

"Shhh, calm down, I'm here." He said, trying to comfort her. But she grabbed him even tighter. He did the same. "Everything is going to be ok, Bones, I promise you."

"You can't promise me that, Booth." She replied, without releasing him.

"I know, but I can promise you I'll try my best to do it."

"I'm sorry, Booth. I don't mean to break this way. I hate to feel the way I do right now." She said, moving away slowly from his embrace. He cleaned her tears with his thumbs.

"You don't have to feel sorry. I understand you. You were right when you said that I'd feel exactly the same if it had been you who were in this bed right now. But we are going to catch this bastard before he could touch you, ok?"

"Or before he kills you." She replied.

"Yes, I'm not counting on letting him get to me so easily again."

"I'm not going to leave you alone again, Booth. You can count on that."

"That's great, because I don't want you to be alone too, and the best way to be sure is to stay with you all the time. I watch your six and you watch mine." He said.

"I don't know what that means."

"You cover my back and I cover yours. You watch for me and I watch for you. That means." He said.

"Ok. Yes, you're right." She answered. "And I'm going to start right now, even if you think I'm repeating myself. But you need to sleep now if you want to be ok to leave tomorrow morning."

"Ok, but promise me that you're going to be inside the room all the time. And if you want to go out, you wake me up, and tell agent Harmon, who has to be watching the door, to accompany you wherever you want to go."

"Booth… what if I need to go to the bathroom? Is he going to come with me to the toilet too?"

"He can wait for you outside the bathroom. Now promise me." He insisted.

"But who will be watching your room if we are not here?" She replied with worry.

"I'll do it myself." He answered showing her the gun that agent Harmon had given to him. "Promise me, please!"

"Ok, I promise you. Now, sleep!" She said.

To be continued...

I promise the real action will start with the next chapter...

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