Yay! My first fanfic! I'm putting this chapter up hesitantly. I plan on revising and making it better, and longer. I'm putting this up as a short chapter first so you good people can tell me if I've made any ghastly mistakes. I love Bones, but I haven't seen every episode (yet) and want to make sure I didn't miss something big. Also, tell me if the characters don't seem like they do on the show. I'll try and fix it, but I'm new to the world of fanfiction, so…
Without further ado…
The Fun in Dysfunctional
Parker sat outside the room, waiting. The sterile white walls and beepy machines creeped him out. He remembered coming here before, when he broke his arm. It hadn't seemed as creepy then, but you can't really notice these things while someone asks you would you like the red or the blue cast? If only, he thought, Mom just had a broken arm.
But he knew Rebecca's arms were fine. It was the rest of her that was broken. Parker hadn't been told too much, but he figured it was bad. Rebecca hadn't left the hospital for a week, and she'd just called his dad over. Parker turned his head a little, so he could see Seeley Booth in the room. His big, strong dad looked crumpled. Like a piece of paper tossed at a wastebasket. Quickly, Parker pulled back. He didn't want to think about his dad being scared.
Inside the room, Seeley watched Rebecca. Her skin looked sallow, unhealthy. She was limp, too. Rebecca – Parker's mom, Booth thought – looked like a china doll; too delicate to touch, just sitting and collecting dust.
"Seeley," Rebecca rasped. "This is it. My story ends here, in this room. Probably in a week or so, they say. I think it's less."
"Rebecca, don't talk like that. Think of Parker."
"I am. That's why I called you here. He's your son. When I go, he's yours. I know…you've got someone now, but don't let him forget his mother."
Booth's eyes widened. His head spun. If Rebecca did die, he'd have his son all the time. But his son would also be missing a parent. "God, Rebecca…"
"Seeley. You aren't the one dying. I don't want to die in this hospital, so I've requested a transfer to my own home. Parker and I will have a few days together, knock on wood. But I don't get moved till tomorrow, and who knows…I'm just saying, be prepared, okay?"
An hour later, Booth sat at his kitchen table, listening to Bones go on about sciencey things. She didn't notice Booth's quietness until the meal was almost over. "Booth. You haven't spoken all dinner."
"Uh, yeah. I'm just…really tired. I'm, um, gonna go to bed. Now. G'night." He shuffled past her into the bedroom. Bones was lost. She could tell Booth had been jarred by something, but she couldn't imagine what. She didn't know how to comfort him, either. Bones had always lost herself in her work to deal. She wished people were easier to read, that there was a formula to memorize. Sighing, Bones rubbed her large stomach and got up to clear the table. After a moment's hesitation, she started down the hall towards the bedroom where Booth lay, still awake, staring at the ceiling.
Booth, in the other room, lay thinking. He didn't know why he hadn't told Brennan everything. After all, she was his best friend. But she was sometimes hard to reach, like the time when she'd thought it wasn't a big deal Booth missed the ultrasound that determined his daughter's gender. Still, Booth thought, she knows what it's like to lose someone. She's not a rock. Bones had gotten a DVD of the ultrasound. Booth looked up as the door squeaked open, revealing Bones' very pregnant frame. "Hi."
Rebecca kissed Parker goodnight and sent him off with the babysitter she'd hired. These days, she took extra long to say goodbye. Tonight, especially, she'd kept Parker close longer than usual. She had felt awful all day, worse than the week before. Or the month before she'd even known there was a name for what she had. Rebecca smiled inwardly, though, knowing at least Parker would be cared for by Seeley, and not some orphanage. Try as she might, she couldn't imagine Parker's future. She knew he'd be safe, and loved, but other than that it was a mystery to her. Good, she thought, nobody likes a predictable story. She shut her eyes, falling fast into a deep sleep.
This is my 2nd version of this chapter, as I got a bunch of reviews in only a few days. That was great, and thanks for the advice! I actually think I'll leave this chapter this length, but I'll (hopefully) have a new one up soon. Review!