Hey, guys! Ok, so this whole fanfiction thing is kinda confusing for me. It's a little weird. But maybe that's just me! It's taking me a while to get used to this whole thing so that's one reason why it took so long to update, cuz I'm having trouble with uploading my chapters…mostly because I don't really know how to do it, lol. But, I'll figure it out sooner or later. But anyways, this is my next installment to my story and I hope you guys really like it! Please R&R! I love hearing what you guys have to say. Constructive criticism is welcome, too! I want this story the best it can be! And plus, if you have any ideas on where you'd liked to see this story go, I'm open to any ideas. So if you got anything, just let me know. And who knows, maybe your ideas will end up in my story! But enough ramblings…let's get on with the story!

Booth groaned as he reached down to his pant leg to retrieve a gun. He handed it to Brennan, but as she reached out to accept the gun, Booth held onto it. And he spoke, as he looked into her deep blue depths.

"Be careful, Temperance." He said, simply.

"You too, Seeley." Brennan replied just the same.

They both got out of the SUV and started for the back entrance of the building. Booth, automatically guiding Brennan behind him when he pushed open the door. He stealthily entered, checking his right and left, then allowed Brennan to follow him. She stepped across the threshold, obediently following Booth. They had wound their way through various hallways and rooms before they came upon the main room of the building. The room was fairly large, filled with various different pieces of machinery. Some small machines, while others were very large with cranks, wheels, and buttons across their surfaces. What they were used for was unknown.

Booth and Brennan were steadily walking through the room to get to the doorway on the other end. They had yet to come upon their killer, but knew he was there.

"Booth, I don't think he's here." Brennan whispered to her partner, while letting her gun fall down by her side.

"Bones," Booth started, turning to his partner, "We shouldn't talk right now. We'll give our position away."

"But if there's no one here, there's no one to know our position, therefore we cannot give it away." Brennan stated matter-of-factly.

"You know, Bones, even in the most bizarre cases, you can still find time to be so literal." Booth mused.

Brennan gave him a small smile, but before she could retort, the sound of gunshots filled the air. Crouching down on the floor behind a machine, both Booth and Brennan took cover. Neither saw where the bullets came from, but the sound of scurrying footsteps confirmed the location of the shooter. The location of Michael. There were more shots, and Booth fired back, popping up from his perch behind the machine. Booth saw Michael. He was about twenty feet away from him and Brennan, and armed. Booth fired again, trying to get a good shot, but failed. Instead, Michael was the one to get the shot. Booth cried out when the bullet connected with his skin. Luckily it just grazed his upper arm and didn't go through all the way.

Brennan had stayed down upon demand of Booth's commands. But when Booth was grazed with a bullet, Brennan knew she couldn't just sit and wait till the bullets ran out. Or worse…when someone got killed. And she really didn't want to think about that. She would never forgive herself if something happened to Booth. So she did all she could do. She popped up from her position behind the machine and started firing with Booth. Even against Booth's persistent protests, Brennan stayed obediently by his side, swearing that Michael wouldn't injure her partner further. Bullets were flying every which way. It was hard to distinguish what bullets belonged to whom. Amidst all the noise and bullets, there was one heart-stopping moment when Booth heard Brennan gasp beside him. Then, she fell to the floor. At that moment, everything seemed to go into slow motion. Booth momentarily stopped shooting to look at his fallen partner, lying on the floor, gasping for breath. That was all it took for Booth. He turned back to Michael, aimed his steady hand, and shot, hitting Michael square in the forehead.

Making sure Michael was indeed dead, Booth went back to his partner who had perched herself up against the wall. She looked ghostly white. Much paler than her normally ivory skin color. Brennan was pressing against her lower abdomen, eyes squeezed shut. She had broken out in sweat and her breathing was coming in short, labored breaths as she tried to calm herself. Booth couldn't believe it. She had put herself in danger to try and save him. How would he ever forgive himself if she died? How could he go on knowing she dared her life to help save his? He wouldn't let that happen. He couldn't .

"Booth…" Brennan gasped.

Booth shook his head. "Shh…you shouldn't talk. You need to conserve energy. Back-up's on the way." Booth stated, sounding much calmer than he felt.

He looked down to Brennan's blood-soaked hand covering her lower stomach. He moved her hand to the side to examine her wound. It had definitely gone through. It wasn't just a graze, like his had been. It was worse. And it hit just below the protection of her bullet proof vest. Hers needed medical attention…and fast. He dared not to think about what would happen if she didn't get it soon. He, instead, applied his own strong hand against her stomach to help stop the blood flow. He knew about first aid, being a Ranger, so he knew to keep applied pressure. He looked to Brennan's face and saw her eyes open and focused on his.

"Booth…how bad…is it?" Brennan half whispered, half gasped out, pain evident in her voice.

Knowing he couldn't lie to Brennan, and knowing she knew better, he told her the truth. "The wound looks pretty bad on the outside. I don't know about the inside, but I think it missed any major organs. If not, you'd probably be…" He trailed off, not wanting to think about it. "You'd be in worse shape."

Then, he heard the sound of sirens off in the far distance. They were a few miles away.

"Booth…" Brennan started again, her eyes drifting shut ever so slowly, even against her attempts to keep them open. Booth noticed this and started panicking slightly. He knew sleeping was the worst thing she could do right now. Knowing there was the slightest chance she wouldn't wake up.

"Bones, hey," he started. "Bones, open your eyes, huh? Open your eyes for me, okay?" He was slapping her cheek slightly to get her to stay conscious. He was trying to sound calm, even though his heart was beating so fast he thought it was going to jump out of his chest. But he knew he had to stay strong for her. So that's what he was going to do.

Brennan's eyes fluttered open and connected with Booth's. And for a minute, that's how they stayed. Just staring into each other's eyes. Then another wave of pain shot throughout Bones' entire body. She squeezed her eyes shut and grabbed for Booth's hand. Booth took her hand in his and squeezed, letting her know he was there and wasn't going to leave her. Brennan squeezed his hand as if it were her lifeline. As if it were the only thing in this world, keeping her connected. Booth couldn't believe his Bones' strength. Not just physically, but mentally as well. Throughout this whole event, not once did he hear her cry out or whine. He knew her stubbornness was playing a big role in her not breaking down or being seen vulnerable. Especially in front of Booth.

The emergency vehicles had just pulled up. Booth heard the emergency team climbing out of the vehicles and running up to the building.

"Bones, they're here." Booth said, calmly, reassuringly. "Just hold on a few more minutes, okay?" Booth asked, as he looked into her eyes.

They were no longer pinched shut, but were looking deep into his eyes. His soul.

"Seeley…" Brennan started. Her grip slackened a little bit.

"Temperance…" Booth started, panic rising in his chest and conveying in his words. "Temperance, stay with me." He pleaded, squeezing her hand.

Against Booth's pleads for Brennan to stay awake, she felt the wonderful feeling of sleepiness taking over her whole body. And how good that feeling felt. Brennan's eyes were drifting shut ever so slowly. Booth's words were inaudible and far away to Brennan's ears. Then, they finally closed, and she gave into the slumber of darkness.