The Nights We Stay Awake (TemperancexReader)

28. "A dark cabin in the woods"

Y/n pov

I wake up with a pounding headache, my body sore and disoriented. The first thing i notice is the cold, seeping into my bones, and the rough texture of the wooden floor beneath me. It's dark- so dark that it takes me a moment to realise my eyes are open. The air smells of damp wood and something metallic, like blood or rust.

I blink a few times, trying to adjust to the darkness, my mind racing to piece together where i am and how i got here. The last thing i remember is helping a man with a wheelchair- Parker in the back of the van- then nothing but blackness.

Panic threatens to rise, but i push it down, forcing myself to breathe steadily. I've been trained for situations like this. I need to stay calm, think clearly.

As my eyes begin to adjust, i notice a small figure huddled in the corner of the room. My heart skips a beat as i recognise him. Parker. He's sitting on the floor, his knees pulled up to his chest, his arms wrapped around them. He looks terrified, his small body trembling in the dim light that barely filters through a cracked window.

"Parker," i whisper, my voice hoarse. I try to move, but my hands are tied behind my back, the rope digging into my wrists. I manage to sit up, leaning against the wall for support. "Parker, are you okay?"

He looks up at me, his eyes wide and filled with fear. "Y/n? I... i'm scared."

"Hey, hey, it's okay," I say softly, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm here now. We're going to get out of this, okay? I promise."

Before i can say more, the door to the cabin creaks open, and a silver of harsh light slices through the darkness. A man steps in, his face shadowed but familiar. My mind races, trying to place him. His posture is tense, his eyes hard and filled with anger. He's tall, mid-40s, with a wiry build, dressed in dark, worn clothes. The way he carries himself, the bitterness in his expression- it all starts to add up.

He's someone who holds grudges, someone who's been waiting a long time for revenge. And then it clicks- the man who Booth and Tempe helped put away years ago, during another time we barely talked. I can't remember his name, but i remember the case. It was brutal, involving the murder of several innocent people, and Booth and Tempe were the key players in getting him locked up in trial.

"Look who's finally awake," the man sneers, stepping closer, his eyes flicking between me and Parker. "You're going to pay for what they did to me. Both of you."

I narrow my eyes at him, keeping my expression calm despite the fear gnawing at my insides. He wants us scared. He wants control. But i can't let him see that he's getting to me. I need to figure out a way to protect Parker and get us both out of here alive. They must have noticed we've gone missing by now, or has it only gone a few hours?"

He paces back and forth, his movements agitated. "That bastard Agent Booth and his little scientist girlfriend- they ruined my life. I rotted in that prison for years because of them, and now it's their turn to feel the pain."

He's fixated on Booth and Tempe, blaming them for everything. It's classic projection- he's transferring all his anger and failure onto them, and now he's dedicated that hurting their loved ones is the only way to balance the scales. He's desperate, which makes him unpredictable and dangerous.

I study him carefully, noticing the way his hands shake slightly when he speaks, the way his eyes dark around the room. He's nervous, unsteady, like he's not entirely sure of his plan. That could be an advantage if i can find a way to exploit it.

"You think this will hurt them?" I say, my voice quiet but firm. "Hurting a child, a federal agent- you think that'll bring you peace?"

His eyes snap to mine, and for a comment, i see something flicker in them- doubt, maybe. But then it's gone, replaced by a cold, twisted resolve. "Shut up," he hisses, stepping closer. "You don't get to talk. You're just like them, thinking you're better than everyone else. Well, we'll see who's better when i'm done with you."

He looms over me, and i hold my breath, bracing for whatever comes next. But instead of striking, he turns abruptly and storms out, slamming the door behind him. The heavy thud of a lock clicks into place, leaving us in the dark once more.

I exhale slowly, the tension in my body easing slightly as i turn my attention back to Parker. He's still in the corner, tears streaming down his face.

"Parker," I say softly, shifting closer to him despite my bound hands. "Are you hurt? Did he do anything to you?"

He shakes his head, siffling. "No, he just... he just yelled a lot. I don't know why he took me. I just want my dad."

"I know, "I whisper, my heart aching for him. "We're going to get out of here, and you'll see your dad again. I promise. But i need you to be brave for me, okay?"

He nods slowly, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "Okay."

I glance around the cabin, trying to assess our surroundings. It's small, with rough wooden walls ana ginle window that's bored up from the outside. There's nothing in here that we can use as a weapon, no way to free ourselves from the ropes. But i'm not giving up.

"Parker, listen to me," I say, keeping my voice calm and steady. "When he comes back, i need you to stay quiet and do exactly what i say, okay? We're going to find a way out of this, but we have to be smart. Can you do that?"

He nods again, his eyes wide. "I can do it."

"Good," i say, forcing a small smile. "You're going great, Parker. Just hang in there a little longer."

I lean back against the wall, my mind racing through possibilities. I don't know how long we have before this man decides to act on his threats, but i do know one thing- i'm not going to let him hurt Parker. I'll do whatever it takes to keep him safe, even if it means risking my own life.

As the minutes tick by the cold, dark cabin, i can't hep but think of everyone back home- Penelope, Temperance, the team. They have to be looking for us by now. They have to find us before it's too late.

I refuse to believe this is how it ends. Not for Parker, and not for me. Not until i get to tell her how i truly feels.

Not until i get to tell Temperance Brennan that i love her.