31CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

Jack Hodgins had followed Seeley Booth's SUV the entire way up to the woods location. Apparently once they hit a certain patch of trees and point in the river Parker was able to guide the way by pointing and shouting (they had been on the phone with Seeley Booth the entire way so to avoid getting lost). When the small little shelter came into view they all parked, by making a makeshift 'parking lot' in the wilderness and piled out. Apparently only Temperance and Seeley plus a few of the FBI's chosen crew were allowed to enter. This meant that everyone else had to wait outside with the other FBI agents, a few cops, and soon an ambulance.

So all they could do was wait. Parker in the passenger seat of his dad's SUV, sitting behind two standing FBI men. Lance Sweets pacing back and forth between Hodgin's car and one of the many FBI SUV's that were gathering. Could time possibly move any slower? With how slowly the minutes were creeping by the psychologist was left only with his thoughts and his own worries: Would she be alive? Maybe she was hurt? Maybe there was something else going on that made him sick just to think about... Worst case. Jack Hodgins had said worst case scenario, what would be worst case in this situation? Lance wasn't sure. However, luckily for him Hodgins stood in front of him stopping his pacing.

"You're going to make yourself dizzy." The scientist warned, his arms crossed over his chest. Lance gave no response as he looked toward the shack where the earlier shooting sounds had come from. Jack couldn't bare to see him like this, though he always had a rough exterior with the young psychologist. "Sweets, listen. You have to stand still. All of this pacing is going to make you even worse. Right now there is nothing else you can do but wait." Lance's eyes locked on Jack's who inclined his head forward seriously. "Trust me. I know." Yes, one of the many things the Gravedigger experience, being trapped in a car, had taught him.

"No one's coming out." Lance noted nervously as he glanced over his shoulder at the shack. He just couldn't help himself.

"They will!" Parker called out from the passenger seat as the big men kept him from getting up and going over to the two Jeffersonian employees. Now being kept in his seat the dirty faced boy continued on very sure of himself. "My dad will get her Doctor Sweets. He always gets the bad guy."

"Thanks Parker." Lance forced himself to give the little boy a weak reassuring smile, too bad he didn't buy it. Jack Hodgins figured this out rather quickly and cleared his throat which caused Lance to look back toward him but with his eyes directed at the grassy ground.

"Listen, everyone knows how you feel about the girl that's in there." Jack spoke up, nodding toward the car. "Even the kid knows it. The only people who don't seem to realize it are you and Krys. And trust me, I've been there. You know that... Angela and I.. It wasn't so easy to get to that point and it took me being buried in a car to know for sure."

"Why are you telling me this?" Lance frowned, all of his psychology knowledge long gone from being as worried as he was. Now there was only confusion.

"Because we've all been there. Not to the same capacity but in one way or another, we've all been there." Jeffersonian's bug guy went on softly yet with a firm tone that showed he knew what he was talking about. "You just have to wait Sweets." Jack told him quietly, reaching out his hand rested on the taller man's shoulder causing him to look at him. "Either that or go back to pacing back and forth and dig a hole halfway to China." A small little smile pulled at the corners of his lips and for a moment, though fleeting, Lance returned the look. "Tell her." Jack emphasized. "You will be able to tell her. I promise." He reassured still smiling and Lance swallowed, giving a little nod.

In hearing the door of the shack open everyone turned around just in time to see two cops holding Harold by his arms. There was a cotton wrap around his arm which had a large splotch of red on the outside of it. He was bleeding but they had at least fixed it enough to push him into a cop car. Their patience with the serial killer wearing thin, for now they were just glad to have him captured. Parker watched with wide eyes from the passenger seat but only after closing the door so there was a barrier between him and the killer and he didn't release his breath until he saw the cop car door close.

Lance was also holding his breath as he took a few steps forward toward the shack in hopes of getting a better look. Just to see her. Just for a second. Just for a little while to at least see her face. With worried eyes he looked back and forth as cop and FBI agent walked out of the shack and into the open air. But no sign of her, or Agent Booth, or Doctor Brennan. He felt his pale fists clench as he stood upright, all along, not even Jack would approach him this time (he was also searching the emerging crowd). So far, it wasn't looking good.

Lance felt something wet in his eyes and shutting them tight he turned his face down toward the ground. This wasn't good, this wasn't good at all. He felt his heart sink and cringed inwardly. He should have told her, he should have tried, and now... It was too late.

"Medic!" Came Agent Booth's voice which caused Lance to look right up, blinking.

There was Agent Booth taking slow steps and there was a much shorter, dirtied Krys leaning on him as she hobbled out. There was blood on her cheeks, dirt, mud, tears, everything and yet she wasn't crying, not anymore. Instead she looked more dazed and in her own little world, as if confused, as she hobbled out. On the other side of her was Doctor Brennan trying to be as helpful as possible, holding her up as she walked.

Lance felt his breath become stuck in his throat and took a step forward, but something stopped him so instead, he remained where he stood. While Krys didn't see him, Seeley did and gave him an acknowledging nod watching him for a few moments before looking straight ahead as he assisted Krys toward one of the ambulances.

The doors to the ambulance popped open and out came two medics who pulled out a rolling cot and carefully reached for Krys lifting her onto it and strapping her in. All the while Seeley rested his hand on her shoulder to give her some comfort. Krys blinked looking around slowly, probably from lack of sleep on her own part until one of the medics announced: "Alright. Lets get her there." Which caused Krys to quickly turn her gaze on Seeley worriedly.

Seeley gave her shoulder a light squeeze. "I have to bring Parker but I'll see you there after everything else gets sorted out."

This didn't seem to ease Krys' thoughts any for soon her eyes looked even more worried and her hands moved to squeeze the material of the cot tensely.

"I'll go with her." Temperance spoke up causing both Seeley and Krys to look at her in surprise. Temperance seemed unphased. "I'll go, and then meet you there."

Seeley stared at the anthropologist for a good few moments before giving her the go ahead nod. "Alright then. See you there." And turning around he walked away just as the cot was lifted into the ambulance, Temperance stepped inside right after it.

Meanwhile from where Lance stood he looked to the ground and shoved his hands into his pockets. Nothing he could say, nothing he could do. Then it hit him. There was something he could say. He had to before he never got the chance again, like Hodgins had said! Swallowing his pride and any fear he turned around and began to hustle toward the ambulance.

"Wait." He called out, very quietly at first but no one heard him with so much going on. "Wait!" He tried again but to no avail.

The doors closed and the engine started and soon they would be on their way. Krys tilted her head to look at Temperance, taking her in.

"Thank you."

Temperance looked to her rather seriously. "Nothing to thank me for."

Lance Sweets stood in the midst of chaos as still as could be, like in a movie, as he watched the ambulance drive away. A sudden weight upon him he felt his chest grow heavy and could only stare into the distance. Another lost moment.