(After The Bones That Weren't)
I don't own Bones.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Sitting in Brennan's office helping her fill out reports for the last case they'd worked on, Booth suddenly felt nauseous. Launching himself from his chair, Booth ran into Brennan's private bathroom and threw up in her toilet. Retching, Booth held his hands propped on the bowl afraid to move from where he was.
Patiently, Brennan watched from the doorway and waited until the retching started to slow down.
Certain that his stomach was empty, Booth became very concerned when he couldn't stop heaving. "Something's wrong Bones. I can't seem to stop."
Grimly, Brennan assured him she would be back and left the office. Soon she was back and handed him a bottle of Emetrol and a spoon. "Take a spoonful Booth. This should stop it."
Gasping, Booth straightened up and poured a spoonful of the liquid onto the spoon and then swallowed it. Placing the bottle on the sink, he leaned over the sink and stared at the bottle. Soon his stomach calmed down and he found that the nausea had diminished. "Wow that was bad."
Nervous about his health, Brennan bit her bottom lip and considered what was going on. "Has this happened before?"
Nodding his head, Booth leaned on the sink and ran some water onto his hands. Splashing it on to his face, he grabbed at glass from the back of the sink, filled it with water and gargled. Once he was sure the vile taste was gone from his mouth he responded. "Yeah, four days ago. I threw up and just couldn't stop. I must have stayed in the bathroom for a couple of hours before my stomach quit heaving."
Concerned for him, she crossed her arms against her breast. "Did you go to the doctor?"
Grabbing a paper towel, Booth shook his head. "What for? It's just a virus? I don't go to doctors unless I'm really sick."
Brennan stared at her partner while he rinsed his mouth out once more. The cup he used trembling in his hand, made Brennan anxious. "I think you should consider going to the doctor. I think you are sick."
Shaking his head, Booth threw the cup away and checked his face in the mirror. He looked a little pale, but he definitely wasn't sick. "Nah, it's okay."
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
He'd finished eating twenty minutes earlier when he suddenly found himself nauseous. Running into his bathroom, Booth found himself throwing up. His head pounding, he held onto the toilet bowl and shuddered as he heaved and heaved.
Hannah, following Booth into the bathroom, worried about the desperate retching and started to worry. "What's wrong?"
Trembling, Booth swallowed and weakly waved one hand at her. "I just have a bug, it's okay. Don't worry about it."
Not sure she liked the pale pallor of his skin, Hannah pressed on. "Did you go to the doctor?"
Reaching over and grabbing the new bottle of Emetrol he had brought home earlier, Booth broke the seal on the bottle, poured some in the cap and swallowed the liquid.
Puzzled, Hannah picked up the bottle and read the label after he'd placed it back on the counter. "What are you taking?"
Booth held his hand against his sore stomach and rubbed it in slow circles. "Something to help me stop throwing up."
Alarmed, Hannah stared in disbelief at her boyfriend. "Wait . . . this has happened before?"
Swallowing hard, Booth leaned over the sink and rested his head on his arms. "Yeah . . . three days ago."
Not liking the sound of that, Hannah insisted, "I think you need to go to the doctor."
Shaking his head, Booth muttered. "It's just a damn virus. I'm not going to the doctor."
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The next evening, Booth went through the same agonizing evening that he had the previous night. After spending a couple of hours in the bathroom, Booth walked out of the room on trembling legs. Making his way to the living room, he collapsed on the couch and closed his eyes.
Hannah, watching Booth as he struggled across the room and fall down on the couch. "I really think you need to do go to the doctor, Seeley. Something is wrong with you."
Swallowing, Booth opened his eyes and sighed. "Yeah . . . I made an appointment with a neurosurgeon this morning. Bones called and talked me into it. I'm going to see him tomorrow."
Shocked at his announcement, Hannah shook her head in confusion. "A neurosurgeon? Why are going to see one of those?"
Booth knew this was going to be a painful conversation. Hannah didn't really know much about his past. "I had brain surgery 17 months ago to remove a brain tumor. Bones is worried that it may have grown back and I think maybe she's right."
Stunned at the news, Hannah stepped closer to her boyfriend. "I don't understand, you had brain surgery 17 months ago and you didn't bother to tell me? That's serious, why didn't you tell me about it? Why would you keep something like that a secret?"
Booth was reluctant to answer the question, but he knew he had to answer her. "Because it was 17 months ago and I've been fine up until now."
Crossing her arms, Hannah tapped her foot on the floor., "Clearly you're not fine. How could you could keep something like that a secret from me? Something like that would affect my life not just yours. You should have told me . . . I thought . . . "
Staring at the ceiling, Booth placed his hands over his eyes and groaned. "God my head hurts."
Not sure what she should do, Hannah uncrossed her arms and moved so she was leaning over the couch. "Would you like some aspirin?"
Certain he was in trouble, Booth decided that an aspirin couldn't hurt the situation. "Yes, please. . . I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Hannah. I just didn't want to think about it coming back. It was bad enough the first time. I hope I don't have to go through that again . . . I guess I thought if I never talked about it I might be safe."
Leaning towards him Hannah was a little confused. "What do you mean it was bad enough . . . what . . . what happened?"
Rubbing the heels of his hands against his eyes, Booth groaned. "The headaches, memory loss . . . it was bad for weeks. I had hallucinations before the surgery. I saw stuff . . . cartoons . . . It was just bad. Bones was the one to figure out I had a problem. She just wants me to go see my surgeon to make sure I'm okay. She thinks . . . I need to make sure."
Hannah was afraid and not just for Booth. Grimly, she walked into the bathroom to retrieve some aspirin and a glass of water for him.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Nervous for most of the day, Booth drove over to the doctor's office at the appointed time only to find Brennan waiting for him in the parking lot. Approaching her, Booth shook his head. "Hey, what are you doing here?"
Waiting for him to get closer, his partner tried to smile and failed. "I want to be here for your tests . . . if that's alright with you."
Relieved that she was there, Booth nodded his head and sighed. "Thanks, Bones . . . You know I don't know what the hell those guys are talking about when they start talking about radials and Jurassic bones and stuff."
Studying Booth's face, Brennan nodded her head and chuckled. "Yes, I know."
Surprised that Brennan hadn't corrected him, Booth became more nervous than he had been previously. His hands trembling a little, he took a deep breath. "So, let's go in."
Placing her hand on his arm, Brennan squeezed it, trying to comfort him. "I think it will be alright, Booth and if isn't we'll get through this together. You're not alone."
Booth grasped her hand and walked with her to the office. "Thank you."
Oooooooooooooooo
Arriving at his apartment later that evening, he found Hannah waiting for him. "What did your doctor say?"
Calmer than he was earlier that day, Booth sat down on the couch next to her and explained what was going on. "Well, I have two tests that I need to do tomorrow morning. The MRI was acting up and they needed to call in a tech. Once I have that done I should know for sure whether or not it's back or not."
Her eyes boring into him, Hannah tried to remain calm. "And if it's back?"
Puzzled, Booth responded, "If it's back then more surgery. I don't exactly have a lot of options. You can't let tumors grow in your head. Even if they aren't malignant they can still kill you."
Rubbing her hands together, Hannah cleared her throat. "Seeley, I've accepted an overseas assignment. I know this is bad timing and all, but well, these things can't be helped. You understand don't you? I'll be leaving in the morning. I'll be gone for a year or two, so I think it would be best if we just ended our relationship. Don't you think so? You understand right?"
Staring at her, he realized that she was leaving and there wasn't anyway he'd beg her to stay. "Yeah, I understand."
Relieved that he understood, Hannah leaned over to kiss Booth. Furious, Booth leaning away and then stood up. "I'm not an idiot Hannah . . . I have someplace I need to be. I guess you'll be gone when I get back."
Embarrassed, Hannah tried to deflect his anger. "You're angry . . . I have a job Seeley. I go where the job takes me. You knew I was a reporter when we became involved. I don't have to leave until the morning. I thought we'd have one more night together."
Snorting, Booth rammed his hands in his pants pockets and walked down the hallway towards the apartment door.
Angry that he was walking away from her, Hannah called out. "When will you be back, Seeley?"
Not answering, Booth opened the door, exited his apartment and slammed the door behind him.
Oooooooooooooooooooooo
Sitting in Brennan's office, Booth laughed at his partner. "Ha, I told you it wasn't anything to worry about."
Relieved that Booth's tests had come back negative, Brennan beamed at Booth. "I'm so happy for you, Booth. Now that we know it isn't a brain tumor, we still need to find out what the problem is. Are you still throwing up?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Booth looked a little sheepish. "Well, uh, I talked to Dr. Burnside after he gave me the good news and he wants me see a food allergist."
Surprised, Brennan tried to understand the logic of that. "A food allergist?"
Nodding his head, Booth crossed his legs and stared at his knee. "Yeah, he was concerned about the nausea and the headaches and he was telling me that he has a food intolerance for fish, so he asked me if I'd eaten any seafood lately. I thought about it and . . . well, every time I've been sick, I'd eaten some seafood about thirty minutes before I started throwing up. He wants me to talk to an allergist, but he thinks I may have developed an intolerance for shellfish. He said it's common."
Embarrassed, Brennan realized that his surgeon was probably on the right track. "I was so busy worrying about your past medical history, I never considered the possibility that you may have developed a new problem."
Laughing, Booth uncrossed his legs and leaned back against his chair. "God knows I thought the worse too, Bones."
She realized that he was correct and smiled. "Have you told Hannah your good news?"
His face becoming an emotionless mask, Booth shrugged his shoulders. "Hannah left my ass the minute she heard the word brain tumor."
Angry, Brennan spluttered in rage. "She left you? That is . . . that is . . ." Getting a grip on her anger, Brennan didn't want to add to Booth's emotional pain. "I'm so sorry Booth. You deserved better than that."
Suddenly smiling, Booth leaned forward and patted her desk and then clenched his hand in a fist. "I found out who really cares for me, Bones. I want to thank you for insisting that I go to the doctor and then going in with me to see him. I . . . Thank you."
Still angry, Brennan stared at Booth's hand. "Booth, I'm sorry Hannah was a disappointment to you."
Shrugging his shoulders, Booth noticed Brennan watching his clenched hands and relaxed it. "Yeah, that's okay. At least I know the score now . . . So, want to go to dinner with me tonight to celebrate. Of course, we can't have any seafood, but I'm game for anything else."
Glad that Booth was taking Hannah's betrayal so well, Brennan nodded her head. "Of course. We should celebrate your good news."
Standing, Booth realized that Brennan was the best friend he'd ever had. "You're one in a million Bones. I'll pick you up at your apartment tonight." Walking towards the doorway, Booth stopped. Turning, he paused in the doorway and smiled shyly. "Bones, I'm just going to say this and then, well, I, uh . . . I love you . . . I just wanted to say that. I'll see you tonight."
Stunned, Brennan watched him leave her office. Finding her voice, she called out, "Booth, I . . . I'll see you tonight."
Relieved that Brennan took his declaration well, he smiled and sauntered down the hall towards the exit. He knew he should be sad that he'd been dumped, but . . . damn it, he felt so good.
Brennan, sitting at her desk, thought about Booth's declaration and decided that this time was the right time. No more running and no more denying. This time, she was going to handle the situation differently and make them both happy.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Reviews would be great. Let me know if you like this one. Thank you.
A/N: Food Intolerance: When a food irritates your stomach or your body can't properly digest it, that's an intolerance. You may have these symptoms: Gas, cramps, or bloating, Heartburn, Headaches, Irritability or nervousness, Nausea, Stomach pain, Diarrhea, Vomiting
