It was another week of murderers being caught, families receiving closure of a loved one taken from them too early and unkindly, and justice being served. Special Agent Seeley Booth took a long deserved coffee break in the tea room. It was late in the afternoon and almost time for him to head home, where he was particularly looking forward to taking a relaxing bath with his beer hat on and his music blaring.

'Hey Booth'

Booth looked towards the door where a man in his late thirties entered. He was of average height and height with a muscular build, jet black hair and moustache and brown eyes.

'Hey Bobby, what are you doing here? I thought this was the FBI building, not the local cop shop where doughnuts are being passed around?' Booth asked with a playful smirk.

'That was a lousy shot, Booth. Very stereotypical. Everyone thinks that's all we do. Don't expect me to save you any next time. You didn't complain then, did you?' He said with a pointed nod.

'They were horrible anyway. So what does bring you here?'

'Just had a meeting with Carolyn about an ongoing case. Man she's –'

'Bobby, we've got to go. Backup requested for a suspected arson attack on an apartment building,' Bobby's partner said as he rushed in.

'Alright, catcha later Booth. Where is it?' Bobby asked as they headed out.

'Elmsworth NW, it seems it started on the sixth floor, not sure where about yet.'

Booth's eyes popped out of his head, 'Wait, what did you say?'

Bobby's partner looked confused but answered the panic stricken Agent anyway.

'There's a fire at Elmsworth NW apartment building.'

Booth felt like his heart had been taken out of his chest. He knew Brennan had gone home early for once because she had worked twelve hours straight trying to solve a case, to which she was successful, before Cam had ordered her home.

'Bones,' he uttered a panicked whisper, 'We are going now.'

'We? Booth this isn't your jurisdiction!' Bobby told him

'NOW! My partner is in that building!'

Bobby seemed to have accepted this, 'Let's go!'

Even though the car ride only took ten minutes, it felt like a lifetime to Booth. Every minute that ticked by could be a minute too late for Brennan.

When the car pulled up in the ever so familiar street, all Booth could see were fire and ambulance trucks along with there flashing lights. Then Booth saw the fire. It was indeed on the sixth floor, the same floor Brennan lived on. Before the car had even stopped, Booth hopped out and ran for the entrance of the building.

'Sir you can't go in there!' A nearby policeman yelled out to him.

'I'm FBI, try and stop me!' Booth growled at him.

Booth didn't wait for a reply; he pushed passed everyone and ran into the burning building.

Brennan chucked her keys in the tray near the door, fuming that she had been sent home. Cam even went to great lengths to make sure she didn't take any paperwork home with her.

But by the time she sat down on her couch wondering what to do with herself, Brennan's eyelids began to droop, and before she could resist, she was fast asleep.

Hours later, Brennan started to stir. She looked up at the clock on her living room wall and realised she had been asleep for nearly two hours. Getting up to stretch, Brennan heard something that had her confused and curious. She heard screaming coming from everywhere, outside the building and inside. Looking out the window she knew what must have happened. Somewhere in the building was a fire, and by the sounds of the screams, it wasn't just a little one. Then out of no where the smell of smoke hit her full force, bringing on the assumption that it was close. Racing towards her front door, Brennan yanked it open. The heat was unimaginable, and the smoke made it hard for her to breathe or see very well.

Brennan ran around making sure all her neighbours were safely out. An old widowed lady lived in the last room at the end of the hallway. Brennan ran into her room, and found her hurriedly shoving all her worldly possessions into a small bag.

'Mrs. Hoover, you've got to go. There's a fire and it's coming fast!' Brennan yelled at her urgently.

'But my husbands-'

'I care about your life, Mrs. Hoover; I'm not going to let you risk it for possessions. You've got your memories and I'm sure your husband would've said the same thing. I'll push you out of here if I have to.'

Mrs Hoover nodded when she realised Brennan was right.

'You go, I've still got a few more rooms to check,' Brennan urged her.

'Please don't take too long, dear,' Mrs. Hoover pleaded.

'Go.'

While Mrs. Hoover made her way downstairs, Brennan checked other rooms, making sure everyone had made it out. After her check was complete, Brennan thought it best to get out quickly, the smoke was making her cough violently and her eyes stung so much her eyes started watering. Brennan headed directly for the exit, when she had to stop due to another violent coughing fit that had her gasping for air. It felt like her lungs were on fire. Finally her body couldn't take it anymore and as Brennan tried to greedily gather air for her lungs, her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she collapsed in a heap on the floor, not far from where the fire was headed.

Booth ran like he'd never run before in his life. His muscles ached but he refused to admit defeat, instead he climbed the stairs two at a time. Booth stopped suddenly when he almost ran into someone, an old woman.

'Excuse me, do you know Dr. Brennan? Have you seen her?' Booth asked, now almost out of breath.

'Yes, she went to check if everyone else had made it out.' The woman responded.

'Thank-you. Now get yourself to safety.'

'Bring her back, please. She's a great woman.'

Booth nodded and continued running up the stairs to the sixth floor. After what seemed like hours, Booth finally reached his destination. The smoke hit him with such force, Booth had to pull out his handkerchief from his pocket and put it over his mouth to prevent smoke inhalation. Booth ran in the direction of Brennan's room, when he noticed a dark figure lying face down in the hallway, and getting a little closer, Booth realised it was Brennan.

'Bones!' He yelled, running towards her side, 'Bones! Can you hear me? Wake up!' Booth yelled, crouching down beside her and gently tapping her cheek, with no answer.

Placing his handkerchief over Brennan's mouth, Booth quickly felt for a pulse, which he found was very faint, before he picked her up and ran to the exit, back down the stairs.

Booth finally made it out of the burning building carrying Brennan in his arms.

'I need some help over here!' Booth yelled out to the paramedics, who rushed over with a stretcher, which Booth carefully placed her on.

'What's wrong with her? Is she going to be ok?' Booth asked in one breath, very concerned for his partner.

'Sir, you're going to have to step back, calm down and let us do our job.' The paramedic warned, to which Booth complied, for Brennan's sake. She looked so small and fragile lying there, covered in black smudge marks, her life hanging by a thread.

A/N: Ok, let me know what you think guys. Any compliments and criticism are more than welcome (hopefully more compliments than criticism lol) R & R please! Virtual cookies for those who do! =p