Fifteen
Dr. Temperance Brennan-Booth paced the floor, nervous anticipation building with every footfall. Years ago she had done the same thing, in this same place, and had received the worst new since the social worker had informed her that she would be placed into foster care. Booth had died- or so she had been led to believe that night. They had lied to her- or at least Sweets had- and she had left with a pain in her heart that had not healed until Booth's "funeral" two weeks later when she learned that he was alive and well. Now she was back in that hospital- she wondered how similar the results would be this time.
Things certainly were similar; but the differences were there as well. Sixteen years ago she was not married to him. She had not had a three year-old daughter and an eight year-old son to answer to; not to mention twenty year-old twin daughters and one very nervous twenty-four year-old stepson. The last time she had also not been given hours to pace the halls, wondering what had become of the man she had so thoroughly integrated her life with. She could not decide if having a family now was more of a help or a burden. All she knew was that this was not how she had intended to celebrate their fifteenth wedding anniversary.
A black, government-issue sedan had pulled into her driveway just as she was putting dinner on the table. Two men in expensive black suits had exited the vehicle and informed her that Deputy Director Seeley Booth had been injured in the line of duty and was en route to the hospital. They were there to transport her to him at once.
She nodded calmly and went to inform Jenny what had transpired. Jenny had told her to go. She would take charge of Jake and Hope, as well as get in touch of Julie and Parker while her mother went to the hospital. Now, four hours later, she had still not been informed as to Booth's status and her anxiety level was beginning to peak.
"Mrs. Booth?" a stout, balding man came out into the lobby, gaze sweeping the room.
"Yes?" her voice was breathless and her heart rate accelerated.
"Hello," he held out his hand, "I'm Dr. Fretz, your husband's surgeon."
She accepted the man's firm handshake and waited for him to expound.
"Well," he explained, "We were able to remove everything without incident; though, I must say I was afraid for a few minutes there that we would have to open him all the way up."
Temperance momentarily blanched, but composed herself before asking, "Will there be any long-term consequences?"
The doctor nodded, "His diet will have to change in some respects. Also some patients report a lack of bowel control. And walking upright will be a problem as well, for quite some time."
"Is he awake? Can I see him?" she didn't care whether he would be whole again or not; she just wanted him alive.
"Not yet," Fretz shook his head, "It might be a while before he's awake and up for company."
"Days?" she asked, warily.
"Oh, no! Certainly not that long," the doctor's eyes met hers, "Several hours perhaps. Gallbladder surgery might be considered an outpatient procedure these days, but it's still no walk in the park."
"Gallbladder surgery?!" came the incredulous reply, "All of this secrecy over gallbladder surgery?!"
"Mrs. Booth," the man regarded her suddenly, "What were you told about your husband's condition prior to my explanation?"
"Nothing," she felt like throttling the man, though her rational mind convinced her that would not be in her best interest, "I was picked up at my house by two government agents, informed that my husband had been injured on the job, and was left here four hours ago with no further information."
"Ah," understanding dawned in the man's eyes, "No wonder you were so concerned. Please," he motioned to one of the chairs, "Sit down."
She complied.
"Now," Dr. Fretz said calmly, "From what I was told by the FBI, Deputy Director Booth collapsed in pain in his office at the Hoover Building. He managed to get to his secretary before passing out. A superficial head wound was sustained from him hitting the floor. He was rushed here, where we ascertained that his gallbladder was severely inflamed and in danger of rupturing.
"As I said before, we were able to complete the removal process non-invasively; however, we did come close to having to do some serious surgery. We removed seven gallstones the size of a bouncy ball from him, as well as the gallbladder himself. He'll be sore for several weeks, but after that he'll be as good as new. His level of pain will determine whether or not he needs to be kept overnight for evaluation. The surrounding tissue was very badly inflamed."
"Thank you," she managed, shaking his hand again, "When may I see him?"
Fretz looked at her and a compassionate and gentle smile spread across his face, "I would take you back right now if you were a doctor, but it would be against protocol otherwise."
"I am a doctor," she blurted out, "I'm Doctor Temperance Brennan-Booth."
"Well then," the man's countenance lifted, "Let's go visit your husband."
"I need to update my children first," she said suddenly, "They need to know it's not as serious as we all thought."
"Of course."
She hustled off as quickly as she could and found the three older ones playing with the younger two out on the hospital playground. Relaying the doctor's words, a collective sigh went through the group- old and young. Parker volunteered to stay at the hospital with her since he had been at work at the time and had come separately. The twins agreed that they would take Jacob and Hope home. It had been a long night and they were all weary. Goodbyes and hugs were exchanged as they went their separate ways.
"This truly isn't necessary," Temperance told Parker as they walked back into the hospital, "I could've easily taken a cab out to the Hoover Building and picked up Booth's SUV."
"I want to be here for my dad," Parker waved her off, "And besides, we Booth men have to take care of our Bones, you know."
Parker slipped an arm around his step-mother and gave her his very best Booth charm smile. It worked and she leaned into him for support, knowing that Booth would be proud of the man his son had become.
"I'm afraid I can only take you back, Dr. Booth," Dr. Fretz said sympathetically when they arrived back in the lobby.
Parker nodded his understanding, "Go be with him, Dr. Bones," he said softly.
Doctor Fretz led her back through the double doors and into the flow of doctors and nurses who were making their rounds, prepping patients for surgery, and whispering in soft tones while huddled over patient charts. He introduced her to the head nurse and acquired a visiting doctor's badge that would allow her to remain in the restricted area unquestioned. They headed toward the surgery recovery rooms.
"Let me know if I can get you anything," Dr. Fretz said as they reached the door to Booth's room, "And ring for the nurse when he wakes up. I'll come by and check on him in a while."
She nodded wordlessly, took a deep breath, and opened the door.
He was flat on his back, face a bit ashen, forehead bandaged from where he had hit his head. The monitors read that his heart rate and blood pressure were steady and his chest rose and fell in a soft, even pattern. A soft snore was emanating from his open mouth and she released the breath she had been holding unconsciously in relief.
There was a plastic chair up against the wall and she pulled it over to the bed. She took his hand and laid her head down to rest for a moment. It had been a long day.
"Bones," a raspy voice pierced through her sleep and she raised her head slowly.
Brown eyes met gray.
"Booth!"
"Bones," he tried to sit up, but grimaced in pain, "You okay?"
"Me?" she yawned, "Yes. I'm fine, Booth. How about you?"
"I'll live," he smiled, "The kids okay?"
"Yes. Julie and Jenny took the younger ones home and Parker is waiting out in the lounge because they would not allow him back here."
"Why not?" he grunted as she help him into a sitting position, "You're back here."
"I told them I was a doctor," she smiled slyly.
"Well you are," he pointed out, "I mean, you might as well get the perks since you worked so hard for it."
"I'm not a medical doctor, Booth," she muttered, as though someone would overhear her through the closed door.
"Doesn't matter to me, Bones," he grinned, "Your better than any medicines these MDs could force on me."
"I'm supposed to alert the nurse now that you are conscious," she told him matter-of-factly, reaching for the call button.
"Wait," he stayed her hand, pulling her close, "I need something first."
"What?"
"This," he drew her head closed and drank deep of her lips.
"Well," Dr. Fretz's amused voice sounded behind them, causing the couple to break off the kiss abruptly, "I see you are recovering nicely, Director."
"Call me Booth," the other man muttered, furtively wiping his wife's lipstick off of his mouth, "So when can I go home, Doc?"
Fretz looked at his chart and took his vitals, then probed in a series of different places around Booth's abdomen. Booth tried his best to hide his pain, but gasped when the doctor reached a particularly tender area near where his gallbladder had been. Next, the doctor took hold of the bandaging that covered Booth's bellybutton and pulled it off in one quick stroke.
Booth swore.
"Was that truly necessary?" Dr. Brennan-Booth said in defense of her husband.
"'SOkay, Bones," Booth wheezed, "Better this way than the slow way, honest."
"Everything looks good," the doctor stepped back from the bed, "Now, Mr. Booth as I was explaining to your wife this is normally considered an outpatient operation. However, given your pain level and the fact that I doubt you could walk more than four of five steps on your own right now, I'm going to recommend that you be admitted overnight," he held off a hand to stave off both Booths' protests, "You came dangerously close to having your gallbladder rupture on you today and there is a lot of soft tissue inflammation as a result. You may not like it, but I'm sure you can see it's the wisest decision."
"It's our fifteenth anniversary," Booth said weakly, clinging to his Bones by her hand.
"Then Happy Anniversary to you both," Dr. Fretz said congenially, "However, my opinion remains the same. I can get you a private room, of course. Your status as Deputy Director alone merits you that much and your wife is welcome to stay with you. I'll see to it personally that she is given a proper bed to sleep on," he put up his hands, "That's the best I can offer."
"We'll take it," the lone female in the room spoke up calmly, "And thank you, Dr. Fretz- for everything."
"Bones-" Booth started to protest.
"No, Booth," she laid her hand gently on his shoulder and met his eyes, "He's correct in his assessment of your condition. It would be unwise to take you home at this juncture."
"Alright," Booth acceded grudgingly, "But I want pudding too."
Both doctors chuckled.
"I do have a favor to ask of you, Dr. Brennan-Booth," Fretz said.
"Yes?"
The MD produced something from under the stack of charts that he had been carrying, "Would you sign your latest book for me? My wife is a huge fan and she would kill me if I didn't get your autograph while I had you here."
"Bus-ted," Booth snickered as his wife turned a deep pink and signed the book.
"Thank you again," she said as the satisfied doctor turned to leave, "Truly."
"You are truly welcome, Doctor," he winked and left them alone in the room again.
An hour later Deputy Director Seeley Booth had settled into his private room with his wife resting comfortably beside him in an adjoining bed. Parker had stayed until visiting hours were over and had promised to come and retrieve them the next day. Their Bones had walked him down to the lobby.
"Hey, Bones," Booth nudged his wife, "Look what the Doc sent up for me while you were gone," he held up a sealed plastic tube.
"Booth," she wrinkled her nose, "Are those your-"
"Yup," he cut her off, "My babies!"
"Seeley Booth," she reproved him, propping herself up on one elbow, "Gallstones hardly count as children."
"Felt like I gave birth to 'em," he said in mock earnestness.
She shook her head, "We'll talk birthing when you push something the size of a watermelon through something-"
He put his finger on her lips, "You know, what, Bones? You win, okay?" he grinned mischievously, "I'm still taking them home with me."
She rolled her eyes, letting them convey far more than any spoken word.
"Sorry my gallbladder had to go and ruin today for us," he said softly.
She shrugged, "You are alive. That is all that counts today, Booth."
"Love you, Bones."
"Love you too, Booth."
They turned out the lights and were asleep within minutes.
