21. "I could have lost you"

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Temperance pov

I'm standing in the middle of the lab, my attention focused on the remains laid out on the examination table in front of me. The room hums with quiet activity, everyone around me moving with purpose as they work on their respective tasks. Booth is here, leaning casually against the doorway as he waits for me to finish up, and Angela is fiddling with something on her computer nearby, likely working on a facial reconstruction. It's a typical day at the Jeffersonian- until it's not.

The TV in the corner is playing the news on mute, something we usually keep on for background noise, but it's not until i catch a glimpse of the familiar headline - BAU Agents Involved in Hostage Situation - that my heart skips a beat. Without thinking, i turn toward the screen, my breath catching as i read the words scrolling across the bottom.

And then i see her. Y/n. She's running toward a building, the others holding back Emily as she tries to follow. Her movements quick and deliberate, and before i can even process what's happening, the building goes up in flames.

Everything around me fades away. The words die on my lips, whatever i was about to say to Booth completely forgotten as i stand there, frozen, staring at the screen. The flames are engulfing the structure, and Y/n... she was right there. I saw her go in.

"Bones?" Booth's voice is a distant echo in my ears, but i can't tear my eyes away from the TV. The camera zooms in on the chaos, the reporters shouting in the background, her team staring in shock and Emily breaking down crying, but all i can focus on is the burning building. There's no sign of her. No sign of anyone.

"Bones, what's wrong?" Booth's voice is closer now, laced with concern, but i can't responds. My mind is spinning, my chest tight with fear. She went in there, and now it's on fire, and there's nothing-  nothing but flames.

Angela is at my side in an instant, her hand on my arm, grounding me. "Sweetie, what's going on?"

I swallow hard, trying to find my voice, but it's caught somewhere in my throat, tangled up with the rising panic. "Y/n... she was... she was in that building," I manage to whisper, my eyes still glued on the screen.

Angela gasps, her grip on my arm tightening as she turns to look at the TV. "Oh my God, Tempe..."

I fumble for my phone, my hands shaking as i try to call her, but it goes straight to voicemail. Again and again, i try, but there's no answer. Each time, the silence on the other end of the line feels like a blow to my chest, and the fear inside me grows sharperm, more suffocating.

Booth steps closer, his expression darkening as he realises what's happening. "Temperance, let's not jump to conclusions," he says, but even he looks worried. "She's smart. She knows what she's doing."

But all i can think is that i saw her go in, and now she's not coming out. The flames are so intense, consuming the building with a ferocity that leaves no room for hope. And the TV isn't showing anything else, no updates, just the same horrifying images of the fire raging out of control.

"Tempe, we need to go to your office," Angela says gently, guiding me away from the TV. I let her lead me, my legs feeling like they're moving on autopilot, my mind still stuck in that moment, watching Y/n disappear into the flames.

We reach my office, and Angela closes the door behind us, trying to create some sense of privacy, but it doesn't matter. Nothing matters except knowing if she's okay. No matter how she's broken my heart, i'd rather have her alive than a whole heart.

My phone is still in my hand, but there's no point in calling anymore. I can't think, can't breathe, until i know she's safe. Angela pulls up a chair next to mine, her expression a mix of concern and determination." We're going to wait here, okay? We'll wait until we hear something."

I nod numbly, my fingers gripping the edge of my desk as if holding on to something solid will keep me from falling apart. The minutes tick by in agonising silence, each one feeling like an eternity. I don't know what i'll do if-

The phone rings, cutting through the silence like a knife. I grab it, nearly dropping it in my haste to answer. It'a Penelope. I press it to my ear, desperate for any news.

"Pen?" My voice cracks, betraying the fear i've been trying to hold back.

"Tempe..." Her voice is trembling, and i can hear the tears in it, which only makes the dread in my chest worse. Because even though she knows me and Y/n aren't on the best of terms now, mine was the first number she'd dialled. Because i didn't just grow up with Y/n, i grew up with Penelope too, became a part of their little family. "We don't know anything yet. They haven't found her..."

The world feels like it's closing in on me, the walls of my office suddenly too tight, too close. "Bu they're looking, right? They're still looking?."

"Yes," Penelope sobs, and i can picture her crying, her heart breaking just as mine is. I didn't even know it still could. "They're doing everything they can. I'm so scared, Tempe..."

I want to comfort her, to say something that will make this better, but i can't. I don't have any words left, just hollow, aching fear that's eating me alive.

Minutes feel like hours, every second ticking by with no new information, no relief. Angela stays by my side, her presence a small comfort, but it's not enough. It won't be enough until i know she's okay. Not until i know she's okay, see that she's okay, only so i can scream at her of her stupidity.

And then, finally, the phone rings again. I answer it before the firs ring is even finished, my heart pounding in my chest.

"She's alive," Penelope's voice bursts through the phone, relief and tears mixing together. "They found her, Tempe! She got out- she got people out! She's hurt, but she's alive."

The relief that floods through me is overwhelming, so intense that i feel like i might collapse. "Where is she?"

"She's being taken to the hospital," Penelope says quickly, her voice thick with emotion. "They're taking her to Washington General."

I don't wait for more details. I'm already out of my chair, heading for the door. "Booth?" I shout, my voice stronger no, more urgent. "Washington General."

He's there in an instant, ready for anything. "Let's go."

The drive to the hospital is a blur of lashing lights and racing thoughts, Booth driving like a man possessed, and i'm grateful for it. I can't think about anything except getting to her, seeing her, making sure she's okay. Nothing else matters.

We arrive at the hospital, and i'm out of the car before it even comes to a full stop, running inside with Booth right behind me. The waiting room is chaotic, people moving in every direction, but i don't care. I push through the crowd, desperate to find her.

"Where is she?" I ask the first nurse i see, my voice trembling with urgency. "Y/n Garcia- where is she?"

The nurse directs us to the trauma unit, and i don't wait for Booth, don't wait for anything, just keep moving until i find her.

When i finally see her, lying on a hospital bed, bruised and battered but alive, i feel like i can breathe again.

"Y/n", i whisper, rushing to her side, my hands trembling as i reach out to touch her, to make sure she's real.

She opens her eyes, her gaze finding mine, and even through the pain, she manages a small, tired smile. "Hey, my Tempe..."

I can't speak, can't do anything but hold her hand, tears blurring my vision. She's here. She's alive. And that's all that matters. I don't care if i can't have her in love, i will keep her in my heart as my best friend for the rest of my life.

"I was so scared," i finally manage to say, my voice breaking. "I thought i'd lost you."

She squeezes my hand, her strength surprising me. "I'm okay," she whispers, and i believe her, because she's here, and that's enough. "Please stay, stay."

I don't care that i haven't seen in her almost a month, don't care about anything except the fact that she's alive and i'm here with her. Everything else fades away, leaving just the two of us in this moment.

I lean down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, my heart full of relief and love. "I'm here," i whisper, "and i'm not going anywhere."

And as i sit beside her, holding her hand, i know that nothing will ever be the same again.

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