Streamers of dust and dirt hung in the air over the stairwell down to Limbo. DC Metro firefighters had been called in and were working feverishly along with the Jeffersonian security team to clear the stairwell so they could get into the storeroom, where they expected to find Brennan.
Everyone else had been accounted for. The oldest part of the building had sustained damage, but the newer parts had survived mostly intact. The stairwell had held up well through the earthquake. It was just a matter of clearing the way.
Booth paced like a caged tiger. He was frustrated with what he perceived as a lack of progress. The firefighters couldn't work fast enough to satisfy him. He wanted his wife out of that room yesterday.
After several hours of work, the stairwell was cleared enough to get to the door. The firefighters pushed hard against the door to open it through the debris piled behind it. They were unprepared for what they saw.
Hundreds of bones and bone fragments were scattered across the floor. The rolling wave had caused some of the shelves to twist, jarring bone drawers out of place. Two minutes of shaking had created years of work.
Booth followed the paramedics as they slowly made their way through the mess. "Bones? Bones, where are you?"
"Booth? Over here!" They found her sitting against the back wall of the storeroom. "I'm so glad to see you."
"Thank God you're okay. Don't try to talk now. Let's get you to the hospital."
"I'm sorry I didn't have my phone. I know you must have been worried."
Booth rolled his eyes. "Trapped in Limbo after an earthquake and all you can think about is your phone? Really?"
Brennan held his hand and smiled. "No, Booth. All I could think about was you."