Chapter 17

Friday

3:52 PM

"She's alive," Booth said, barely above a whisper. He was sitting beside her, her head resting on his leg. He put his hand against a deep cut that was still oozing blood from her forearm. He was trying to stop the bleeding by putting pressure on it. Somehow he knew that with every cut and bruise he could see, there were two more that he couldn't. He tried not to think about it. All he could think about was that she was alive.

"She has a pulse?" Casey questioned, obviously surprised. Seeing the state Brennan was in, she had assumed that they were too late.

"She's alive," Booth repeated. "Her pulse is faint, but it's there. We don't have much time."

He wiped a tear from his cheek with the back of his free hand. He concentrated on Brennan's face. He couldn't bear to look at her bruised body any longer. He fixated on her face, willing her to open her eyes. He wanted to look into her amazing blue eyes just one more time.

"Come on, Bones. Stay with me. Please stay with me," he whispered. "I need you."

Two medics, dressed in bullet proof vests and carrying medical bags and a backboard, came down the stairs and walked over to Brennan and Booth. They both knelt next to her motionless body.

"Sir, step aside, please," one of them commanded.

Booth didn't step aside. He shifted, giving the medics their space, but he was not about to leave her. Being careful of her wrists, Booth grabbed Brennan's hand and didn't let go. He made himself a promise that he would never let go again.

"Sir," the medic said strictly.

Booth looked up sharply at the medic, giving him an evil glare. "I'm not going anywhere," he stated.

The medic didn't push it. He and the second medic began working quickly. Within seconds, Brennan had an oxygen mask on and they had secured her neck with a neck brace.

"She's a mess," the medic who had spoken to Booth said to the other. "She's lost a lot of blood. She's got contusions and lacerations and it looks like some broken ribs and her wrists…I don't know how she's still alive."

"She's barely alive," the second medic added. "I don't think she'll even make it up the stairs."

"She is alive," Booth snarled. "She's alive and she's going to stay that way. She's strong. She's a fighter."

"And who are you?" The medic asked.

"You don't need to ask questions," Casey stated. She had been quiet, letting the medics do their work and letting Booth do what he needed to do. But she wasn't about to let someone else take over her case and start telling her people what to do. "Just save her life."

The medics both worked on Brennan in near silence. They spoke to each other about blood pressure and pints of blood lost and her heart beats per minute. Booth ignored it all. He just concentrated on her face.

"Let's get her on the board and get her out of here," the first medic suggested.

"Is she stable enough?" The second medic asked.

"We don't have a choice. We need to get her to the hospital or she'll have no chance." He positioned the backboard beside her. "On the count of three. One, two, three."

As the medics rolled her body onto the board, Booth never let go of her hand. They strapped her down safely, constantly checking the portable monitor they had brought down that was monitoring her vitals.

"Her hearts not beating fast enough," the second medic stated. "Looks like one of the ribs might have punctured a lung. She's bleeding internally."

Booth winced as they spoke.

"Just save her," Casey said, standing back. Neither the medics nor Booth needed her crowding them.

"Alright, let's take her up to the rig," the first medic instructed.

On the count of three, each of the medics lifted an end of the board, hoisting Brennan into the air. Booth noticed Casey talking to the members of the SWAT team as he walked up the steps with the medics. It was a tight squeeze on the steps, but he stayed next to Brennan the whole time. Casey followed them up the stairs, keeping her distance.

As they ascended into the mall, Booth noticed that a group of people had gathered around the door. Yellow crime scene tape had been set up, blocking off an area of about twenty feet in all directions. Even though they were far away, it didn't stop the people from trying to see what was going on. Booth tried his best to shield Brennan from the prying eyes. She didn't need to be subjected to people staring at her in her condition.

"Her stats are dropping," the first medic announced.

"Come on Bones," Booth pleaded. "Stay with me."

They walked through the mall. Casey stayed in control, barking orders at officers as she went by. She looked over at Booth, seeing the sadness in his face. Two officers opened the mall doors as they rushed out of the mall to the waiting ambulance. The medics placed Brennan onto a stretcher. One of the medics looked from Booth's face to his hand that was still gripping Brennan's hand.

"Sir, you're going to have to let go," one of the medics said.

Booth knew the medic was right. He was going to have to let go, but he didn't want to. He brought Brennan's hand to his lips and kissed it lightly before gently placing her arm beside her on the backboard. The medics continued to spew out medical terminology that Booth didn't understand, but he knew it couldn't be good.

Seeing that Booth had finally stepped back from Brennan, Casey chose to finally address Booth.

"Where's Collin Brown?" Casey asked.

Somehow Booth managed to tear his eyes away from Brennan's face to look at Casey.

"What?"

"Collin Brown wasn't down there. I had my guys check the whole basement. There was no other exit. He wasn't down there. So where is he?" She asked. Casey had debated on whether or not to even mention it to Booth that Collin Brown was nowhere to be found. She knew he needed to concentrate on Brennan. But she also knew that he would want to find Collin Brown more than anyone and he would hate himself if he somehow let Collin Brown get away with what he had done.

"You're right," Booth said. "Where is he?"

Booth had almost forgotten about Collin Brown even though he was the whole reason he was watching Brennan being loaded into an ambulance. The minute he had laid eyes on Brennan hanging in that basement, the name Collin Brown had slipped through his memory. With the mention of his name, though, Booth's rage began to overflow.

"That's what we need to figure out."

"I'm going to kill him," he threatened. Casey could see in his eyes that he meant it.

"First we have to find him."

Booth glanced over at Brennan as they loaded the stretcher into the back of the ambulance.

"I…" he began.

"Go."

"But we need to find him."

"You need to be with her. I'll find him. Don't worry. You go."

"But…"

"Trust me. I will find him. Go."

Booth took another quick look at the ambulance. One of the medics was hanging a bag of blood while another was trying to find a vein in Brennan's arm in order to start replenishing the blood she had lost.

"He came back to where his old house was," Booth stated. As much as he wanted to be with Brennan, he needed to find the man who hurt her, which meant he needed to work through the facts. He knew the only way they would find him would be if he and Casey put their heads together, much like he and Brennan always did to solve their cases.

"Being here means something to him," Casey continued.

"He always chose to take his victims to different places. They were usually deserted and held no meaning for him, but this time he chose to take Bones to his home in a sense. Why would he do that?"

"He knew this would be his biggest triumph. He wanted it to be personal. He went against his MO and took Dr. Brennan because it was personal for you and he took her to the location of his house because it is personal for him."

"So he has to be nearby."

"Yeah, if we haven't scared him off yet. He probably ran the minute he saw the flashing lights."

"No. He's here. He likes playing this game. He thinks he's smarter than us. That's why he sent us the photos and video. He thinks he can get away with it."

Booth quickly scanned the crowd, looking for Collin Brown's all too familiar face. Booth was no psychologist, but he knew Creepy was out there. He could feel it.

"We're taking her to County," one of the medics called out.

He hopped into the driver's seat while the other medic stayed in the back with Brennan. He was checking her pulse and shaking his head. It wasn't a hopeful sign.

"Go," Casey insisted. "I'll find him."

Booth nodded and got ready to climb into the back of the ambulance when he turned to take one last look around. That's when he saw him. Less than fifteen feet away, Collin Brown, wearing a baseball hat and brown coat over a plain white T-Shirt and Jeans was standing in the middle of the crowd. He blended in with the crowd easily, but Booth knew it was him. Collin looked straight at Booth and smiled.

Booth didn't have time to think. He just reacted. He took two big steps forward, pulled out his gun, and pulled the trigger. It was one shot. One shot that hit Collin Brown directly between the eyes. He fell to the ground as the crowd around him began to scream. The SWAT team immediately reacted. Booth had two guys tackling him to the ground in an instant. Others surrounded Collin Brown, backing the crowd up. It was complete chaos, but all Booth saw was Collin Brown lying dead on the cold cement.

"Get off me!" Booth shouted, fighting against them.

The medic who was driving the ambulance scrambled out of the ambulance and rushed over to Collin, trying to see if he could help. He put his fingers to the side of Collin's neck, checking for a pulse.

"Get her to the hospital!" Booth screamed. "Forget him! Save her! Damn it! Save her!"

Startled, Casey stood completely still. With her mouth gaping open, she stared at Booth.

"You…" she began to say.

"Please," Booth begged, straining under the two men holding him down. "Get her help. Please. Save her."

Casey walked over to where Collin Brown fell.

"He's dead," the medic announced.

"Get Dr. Brennan to the hospital. Now," Casey commanded. "And he's going with you," she said, pointing at Booth.

"But…" the medic began to protest. "He just shot somebody."

"Go!" Casey shouted. "Go now before I arrest you for obstruction of justice." Casey knew she was bluffing. She would never really be able to arrest the man, but he didn't know that.

The medic made his way back to the ambulance.

"Call another bus. Get these people out of here," Casey instructed before walking back over to where Booth was still lying down on the ground with his hands being held behind his back.

"What should we do with him?" One of the SWAT personnel asked.

"Let him up," Casey answered.

"But…"

"What is it with you people suddenly thinking you can argue with the Federal Bureau of Investigation?" Casey questioned. "Let him up."

The two men got off of Booth and he scrambled to his feet. They stayed close by with their guns still ready.

"Go," she said.

"Thank you," he replied.

Booth hopped into the back of the ambulance. Casey put her hand on the door before he could close it.

"That was stupid, Agent Booth. That was really stupid."

He nodded. "I know, but I'd do it again."

"Go save her life," she said before slamming the door shut. Booth immediately sat down on the bench that ran along the side of the ambulance. He took Brennan's hand gently.

"How is she?" He asked the medic.

He looked a little scared to open his mouth, but finally he did speak. "Her pulse is weak. She could have internal bleeding or…"

"She'll make it," Booth stated. "She has to make it." He leaned over her, placing a kiss on her temple. "You'll make it," he whispered.

A machine started to beep loudly. Booth looked over at the machine. He knew immediately that the flat line was not a good sign.

"She's crashing," the medic said.

Author's Note: Well, I hope you enjoyed it. I debated on whether or not to have Booth kill Collin, but I think I made the right decision (I hope you think so, too!). I know this chapter is another cliffy, but I enjoy keeping everyone on the edges of their seats (I know, I'm evil like that)! Anyway, thank you for reading and don't forget to review!