38Once again, thanks for the feedback and the alert adds...hope you enjoy!
~Dee
Patience had never been a virtue for Temperance Brennan, so sitting in a hospital room waiting for a nurse to return with the papers that would give her her freedom, she was well past her limit. To his credit, Booth had tried to distract her by filling her in on the details of his undercover assignment and how he had ended up with a black and blue face. She had a feeling he was softening some of the more disturbing details so she wouldn't worry. The more she heard though, the more she worried. It was always a tricky thing with undercover assignments. Always having to wonder what would happen when or if those you helped put in prison would come looking for you one day. They had helped put numerous criminals in jail over the last seven years, so the odds were their luck would run out one day. She had always prided herself on living in the moment, but something about becoming a mother had shifted her way of thinking. Suddenly, the future became something to worry about.
"Are you even listening to me, Bones?"
Drawing her away from her thoughts, she looked to Booth who was calling for her attention. She didn't want him to worry even more by telling him her train of thought, so she gave a halfhearted smile. "Sorry. I think Angela calls it 'pregnancy brain.' I was just thinking about what all we needed to do when the nurse finally returns with my release papers."
"Looked like you were thinking hard," he frowned. "Maybe too hard."
Shaking her head, she tried to reassure him. "I'm just ready to get out of here. That's all."
Before he could respond, here was a knock at the door and in walked who he assumed was the long awaited nurse with a stack of papers in her hands. "Sorry about the delay, Dr. Brennan. Nurse Johnson was called away to deal with another patient. I'm Linda Allen, Nurse Manager for this floor, so she asked me to get everything ready for your dismissal. I spoke with Dr. Larsen and he has signed off on your chart, so I have your get out of jail free card right here."
Booth could see the confused expression cross Brennan's face, so he stepped in before she could voice her question to the nurse. "She just means your hospital release papers, Bones."
"Yes," she chuckled as Brennan finally nodded her head in understanding. "Most patients view this place as a jail. I surely can't think of any other place people are so anxious to get away from." Setting the papers aside, she reached for her arm, untangling the IV line that was wrapped around her. "Now for the really fun part."
Watching as she began to loosen the tape that had been holding the IV line in place, Brennan unconsciously grabbed for Booth's hand. He let her squeeze as much as she needed, noticing the grimace cross her face as the needle slid out from under her skin. Nurse Allen quickly wrapped a bandage around her arm, taping it in place.
"Ok, that's all done. Just keep that bandage on for the rest of the day to ensure the bleeding has stopped." After unhooking the last of the monitors that were attached to her, she handed Brennan the clipboard and a pen, letting her finally sign for her release. "And this is the prescription Dr. Larsen wrote for your antihypertensive medication. You should get this filled as soon as possible because he wants you starting on it today."
"I'll take that," Booth reached forward to grab it before Brennan could get her hands on it. She opened her mouth to protest, but one look at Booth's stern glare, she knew it was useless to argue. "We can stop by the pharmacy on the way home."
"Home?" she questioned. "Do you mean my home or yours?"
Sensing this was about to become a private conversation, Nurse Allen hurriedly grabbed the signed papers and gave them both a quick smile. "Let me get these papers turned in and I'll be right back. You can go ahead and get changed, if you'd like." They both watched as she closed the door behind her, making a speedy exit.
When they were alone again, he gave a heavy sigh as he answered her. "I meant your place, Bones. I thought you would be more comfortable in your own bed, since you're going to be seeing a lot of it in the next two weeks."
"Oh," she hesitated, her eyes avoiding his. "I just assumed I would be staying with you. I mean, I thought you would be staying with me, but at your apartment. But that's fine. I'm sure Angela will be by quite a bit when you aren't there, and my Dad will be by when he gets back in town, so there will be someone with me. And there's really no need for someone to stay with me all day and night anyway. I am perfectly capable of managing on my own."
"Ok, I'm confused." There was almost a sadness in her eyes that made him feel like he was missing something. As he watched her fidget with the edge of the blanket covering her, it finally hit him. "You don't think I'm letting you out of my sight, do you?" When her head jerked up to look at him, he saw the wetness shining in her eyes. He couldn't help but let out an exasperated breath, realizing what she was thinking. "Bones, I am staying with you. You're going to be on bed rest, so there's no way I'm leaving you alone. You're stuck with me 24/7 for the next two weeks."
"But you haven't been home in almost three weeks. I assumed you want to sleep in your own bed," she tried to explain around the lump in her throat. "And what about Parker? I know you're going to want to see him. And there's work. Surely the FBI is not going to let you miss another two weeks of work."
"First of all, of course, I want to see Parker." Bringing their joined hands up to his lips, he pressed a soft kiss to her fingers. "There's no reason he can't come see both of us at your apartment. And two, I've been working for three weeks straight and helped bust a drug ring, so Hacker owes me some time off." He smiled as he saw the wheels turning in her head. "As for Parker, you know he even left a message on my phone while I was gone that he was missing you too. You've got a spare bedroom anyway, so he'll be fine. We can let it be a trial run before we get our own place together." She had seemed distracted enough that he thought he could slip that last part in, but he saw the look cross her face when his words finally sunk in.
"Booth, I'm not sure about trying to sell my place in this market," she complained. "I am not necessarily opposed to us cohabitating, and since we're already going to be at my place, why don't you just move in with me. My place is much roomier than yours and you even said there is a spare room for Parker."
"So Parker has a room, but where are we going to put the baby?" Not giving her time to respond, he shook his head. "No, it's fine on a temporary basis, but we're going to start looking for a place that is ours. We are about to have plenty of time on our hands, so looking at real estate listings will be at the top of the agenda, along with baby names." Before she could protest, he quickly cut her off again. "Now, if you really want to get out of here, let's get you up and changed. Angela went by your apartment to pick up some clothes for you and dropped them off this morning. Wouldn't want you to grace the outside world in this," his fingers lifted the sleeve of her hospital gown. "Of course, I think you look sexy in anything…or nothing."
Despite her best attempt, she couldn't stop herself from smiling at the mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "And the fact that I am carrying your daughter has no basis on that statement." Rolling away from him, she swung her legs down off the bed, trying to scoot forward until her feet hit the floor.
"Would you wait a minute?" His voice was full of panic as he rushed around to the other side of the bed. "Let me help you get up, okay?" She rolled her eyes at him as he practically lifted her off the bed, carrying her toward the nearby bathroom to change. "And for the record, I'm not biased and it has nothing to do with you being pregnant with my kid. I thought you were sexy the first time I met you. You do remember the bar, tequila…"
Turning around, she surprised him by planting her lips firmly on his in a not so gentle kiss. When they separated, she grinned, "I remember vividly." Extracting herself from his arms while he was momentarily distracted, she grabbed the bag out of his hands and slipped into the bathroom.
Shaking his head, he couldn't help but smile at the closed door in front of him. Even after all these years, she could still surprise him. As he made his way back to sit on the edge of the bed to wait on her, he started thinking of the next couple of weeks ahead of them. Though he would have rather it have been under other circumstances, he was looking forward to it being just the two of them. Angela and Max, whenever he decided to return from wherever he had disappeared to, were sure to make their presence known, but he was prepared to lock the door if he had to. The three weeks he had been apart from Bones was the longest stretch since they had both made their ill-advised trips out of the country over a year ago. So they were due for some alone time with no well-meaning friends or family hanging around.
Stretching his neck from side to side, he could feel his tight muscles pulling in protest making him long for a very hot shower followed by lots and lots of sleep. He only hoped that he could get her to do the same. Suddenly looking down at his watch, he realized it had been almost ten minutes since she had slipped from his arms and entered the bathroom. Worry started to creep back in so he slid off the bed. Listening at the door as he knocked, he could hear water running, but didn't hear her moving around. "Bones?" When he didn't get a response, his heart started to race. His hand reached for the handle just at the time the door came swinging back toward him. Stumbling backwards, Brennan reached for his hand to steady him.
"What are you doing, Booth?"
"Why didn't you answer me?" he questioned, ushering her back to the bed. "You need to be off your feet."
"I didn't hear you with the water running." She turned as he pushed her back down to the bed, seeing the worry in his eyes. "Booth, take a breath, okay? I'm fine. You are going to be the one with the high blood pressure if you don't relax."
Taking a deep breath to slow his heart rate back to normal, he sat down beside her, reaching for her hand. "I know I overreacted, but I just…I just don't want anything to happen. I can't stop thinking about walking into this room last night and seeing you lying in the bed, so pale and so still. It's hard to get that image out of head. It scared me seeing you like that."
As his eyes focused on their joined hands, she reached her other hand to his face, softly caressing him. "Look at me, Booth," she pleaded, her voice drawing his eyes to hers. "I understand, okay? I have been in that situation with you more times than I care to remember and I know the anxiousness and worry that accompanies seeing someone you love hurt or sick. However, I believe in the science of medicine and if the doctor says I will be able to remain healthy and have a full term pregnancy then that is what I choose to believe. I want you to believe that as well."
Leaning his head down to rest against hers, he whispered, "I promise I'll try."
He took the hand that was still resting against his face, bringing it to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to the palm of her hand. They separated as they heard the knock on the door. Looking up, Brennan glared at the wheelchair the moment Nurse Allen rolled it into the room. There was no way she was leaving this hospital except on her own two feet. Glancing back to Booth for sympathy, she was not surprised to find none.
"It's hospital policy," he shrugged as he stood from the bed. Making his way over to the wheelchair, he took the nurse's place behind it, resting his hands on the handles. "If you want to get out of here, you're going to have to do the whole wheelchair thing."
"I'm perfectly capable of walking out of here on my own," she snapped with an irritated frown. "I'm not an invalid."
Reaching for the bag she had thrown on the bed beside her, she slammed her feet to the ground. She pushed herself off the bed, only to do so too fast as she felt a familiar wave of vertigo strike. It was an impossible feat to hide her weariness and the moment her feet started to stumble, Booth was by her side.
"See?" he said gently, reaching for her arm. "It's better if you're in the chair. We get to go home and everyone is happy."
She sighed, slightly frustrated, "Fine." Perhaps if she weren't in such a desperate rush to get out of this place, she'd put up a bigger fight. But as it is, it's been one of the longest days of her life, stuck here in this sterile hospital room, and all she wanted was to go home. The thought of sleeping in her own bed with him beside her was worth the temporary humiliation of being carted out of the hospital like an invalid.
"That's my girl," he smiled, his hand supporting her elbow as she turned to sit down in the offensive chair.
She rolled her eyes at him, but planted her feet on the provided foot rests without making an issue of it. The sight of these same four walls was driving her crazy and she wanted nothing more than to get out of here. The nurse seemed to sense her eagerness so she stepped aside allowing Booth room to maneuver the wheelchair into the hallway.
"Here is your copy of your release papers and an appointment card for your follow up visit with Dr. Larsen." Nurse Allen handed over the folder filled with papers with a small appointment card stapled to the front. "Remember, bed rest, Dr. Brennan. I do not want to see you back here again until it's time to deliver that baby."
"That's the plan," Booth smiled as he slung Brennan's bag over his shoulder. "Let's roll, Bones!"
They had been here for all of two hours when she felt the restlessness already start to kick in. Not even the latest edition of the anthropology journal she loved so much was holding her interest. Oblivious to her anxiety, Booth was lying in the bed beside her, remote in hand, flipping through the ridiculous amount of channels on the television. He had ushered her immediately into the bedroom upon their arrival home and had been so focused on getting her comfortable that he hadn't noticed the surprise she had waiting for him. Two weeks ago, she had made the purchase and had it delivered so as to surprise him when he returned from his assignment. She still was not keen on the idea of having a television in her bedroom, but at the time she had been so desperate to do anything that planned for the time he would be with her again, she caved. Given she knew very little about televisions or satellite systems, Angela had helped her pick out this monstrosity piece of equipment as well as the package of channels that Booth was currently enjoying, including the almost thirty various sports channels that seemed to peak his interest most. He had been excited when he plopped down beside her and grabbed the remote, rewarding her with a kiss for her generosity. Looking at him now, intently flipping from one channel to the next, she had obviously made the right choice. It was the first time she had seen him relax in the past 24 hours. Picking her journal back up, she tried again to read the article that she had started five times already, only to realize it was not going to hold her attention.
It was only when she slammed it shut, slinging it to the floor, did Booth seem to notice her discontent. "What's wrong?"
"I'm bored," she moaned, crossing her arms against her in frustration.
"Bones, we've barely been here two hours," he laughed as he hit the off button on the remote. "How can you be bored already?"
"I'm just not used to sitting her doing nothing," she pouted. "I need to be in the lab with my hands on a skull or identifying bones. And before you say anything, I know I'm on bed rest and I know I cannot work in the lab for at least the next two weeks. I'm just telling you how I feel. That's what you're always telling me, right? That you want to know how I feel?"
"Yes," he smiled softly, scooting closer to her to pull her into his arms. "I always want to know how you feel, Bones. No matter what you're feeling, I always want you to tell me." Brushing a stray hair away from her face, his heart broke when he saw a single tear slip down her cheek.
"I feel like I did something wrong," her voice cracked. "I am used to being in control and now I have absolutely no control over anything. I don't know what I'm doing anymore."
"It's not your fault, Bones," he tried to reassure her. "If anything, I blame me for adding more stress on you by leaving."
"No, it wasn't that," she shook her head. "It's me. Though I do accept Dr. Larsen's prognosis and I know our daughter will be born healthy, I still feel like it's my fault that she was ever in danger at all. I am her mother, Booth. She is going to look to me to take care of her and I do not appear to be equipped to do that."
"Bones, you are already an incredible mother." Wiping another tear from her face, his finger lingered against her lips. "I've heard you the past couple of months reading to her or playing her music even though you tell me that it is not possible for her to hear us yet. I think you just don't want me telling her the ins and outs of hockey," he teased. "And the music? We seriously need to talk about the musical influences we introduce to her. But I know why you do all of it. You are already so connected to her and you want her to be smart and happy and beautiful and she will be because she has you for a mother."
"I really don't know what I did to deserve you," she whispered, staring intently into his eyes.
"You love me," he whispered back. "That's all I need." Pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, his arms pulled her even closer. "And the three of us are here together and right now, that's what matters. Whatever else comes our way, we'll deal with it together."
"I've never had someone to depend on before, but I'm finding I like it very much." Her lips curved into a slight smile as he leaned forward to kiss her again. "It makes me very happy to have you here. You make me happy, Booth."
Before he could tell her he felt the same, he was interrupted by her growling stomach. She looked at him sheepishly as he laughed. "I bet I can make you happier. How about I go in the kitchen and make you some dinner? That is if you have any decent food in there."
As he twisted his body to roll off the bed, he felt the sting of his bruised ribs, but tried to hide his grimace from her. Nothing escaped her though and he felt her pulling on his arm to get him to turn back toward her. "Booth, you are still recovering and you need your rest too."
"You need to eat, Bones," he objected. "And you are supposed to take the first dose of the medication the doctor prescribed."
"Then why don't we just call and order some take out?" she reasoned. "That Thai place down the street will deliver."
"What? No, they don't," he argued. "In all the years we have been going there, they have never had a delivery service."
"Well, let's just say they do for their best customers," she smiled with a wink. "The past couple of weeks, I have been craving Tai food quite extensively and after the third night in a row, Mr. Hong must have thought I looked tired because he said he would refuse to serve me if I came back in there again. He insisted I call in my order and he would have someone bring it to me. I thought maybe you had bribed him before you left to keep an eye on me."
"So my daughter is going to inherit our love of Thai food, huh?" Rubbing his hand against her belly, he thought she must have known he was talking about her because she rewarded him with several swift kicks against his hand. "That's my girl."
"Booth, my craving a particular kind of food during pregnancy has nothing to do with the baby or what type of tastes she may acquire in her life span. That does not make any biological sense."
"Just go with me here, Bones, okay?" he asked. "With us as parents, I'm just saying there is a good likelihood that she will like Thai food as much as we do. I know you will want to teach her to experiment and try all of that weird wacko organic crap that you like to eat, so I will have to teach her the joys of eating a hot dog and pretzels and popcorn and nachos." He smiled at the scowl that crossed her face. "You know, all the staple foods at every sports stadium and arena in the country."
"You call my healthy, nutritional food crap when you want to feed our daughter the most fattening foods ever processed?" Shaking her head in protest, she turned away from him, swinging her legs to the floor in an attempt to get up off the bed.
"Where are you going?" he questioned as he rolled off the bed to walk around to her side. "Bones, you're supposed to be staying off your feet. That is what bed rest means."
"Your daughter is sitting on my bladder right now, Booth," she groaned, reaching for his hand to help her up. "So unless you want me to urinate all over this bed, you'll help me up so I can get to the bathroom."
Placing a supportive hand around her back, he let her pull up on his shoulder so she was finally on her feet. "Okay, I'll go order the takeout and then you are right back to this bed. No stalling, you got it?"
"Fine," she waved him away. "Just go order the food."
Slamming the door behind her, he took a deep breath as he turned to head toward the kitchen to look for the takeout menu. "This is going to be a long two weeks," he muttered to himself.