If in the last few years you haven't discarded a major opinion or acquired a new one, check your pulse. You may be dead. ~Gelett Burgess
Four
The word rang in her head over and over again.
Time stood still and everything around her went into slow motion. She became very aware of her labored breath and her heart beat roared through her brain.
Alive…
She slowly opened her eyes and found she had backed herself up to the counter stools. Parker still sat in the same position, staring at the table in front of him.
Brennan shook her head and tried to pull herself out of the trance she had put herself into.
Stop this, Brennan thought, think rationally.
She leapt over to Parker and placed her hand on his shoulder. He slowly shook his head and turned to see a pair of blue watery eyes begging for attention.
"Parker?" Brennan smoothed his hair down with her free hand. "I need to know who you were just speaking with."
Parker still in shock answered flatly, "Mom. She said they had just called and then…" Parker stopped to look at his phone. "Aww man! It's all busted up!"
Brennan smiled and pulled out her cell phone. "Let's worry about your phone later. Call your mom back. She is probably worried sick."
Parker took the doctors phone and dialed his mother's number. He stood up and walked up and down the diner, reassuring his mother he was just fine.
Brennan looked out the night sky of the diner window. There were very few people on the street and even fewer in the diner. She didn't realize that her hand was over the St. Christopher medal carefully protecting it, as it had protected Booth.
Booth is alive…
The realness had hit her hard and tears began to fall down her face. A new feeling spread throughout her body and she could not comprehend what was going on . Could this be, she had a new found sense of hope?
Parker placed his hand on Brennan's and brought her out of her own thoughts.
"Bones? Are you alright?"
"I am not sure Parker." Brennan answered honestly.
Parker smiled and leaned forward. He placed a cute kiss on her cheek and blushed.
"What was that for?" Brennan looked at the, now shy, young man before her.
"A thank-you," Parker cleared his throat, "for not giving up."
Brennan didn't know how much of his statement was true, but decided this was no longer the time or the place to get into that discussion. She stood up and wrapped her arms protectively around him. Parker buried his face in her shoulder and for the first time in many years, he wept.
Brennan was a bit uncomfortable with a sobbing teenager on her shoulder, but took great satisfaction in that she could be there for the young Booth.
"Parker, what did your mother say?" Brennan gently patted the back of his shoulder.
Parker stepped back, turned away, and wiped the tears away from his cheeks with his sleeve. He cleared his throat and turned to face Brennan.
"Mom said that he had been recovered about five days ago. He is in Germany at some hospital, but they got him stable enough to come back to the states." Parker smiled.
"Do you know when he will be here?" Brennan's heart began pumping in her chest.
"Tomorrow, sometime in the evening." Parker reached out and grabbed a visibly shaken woman. "Bones, we can see him tomorrow!" Parker whispered with glee.
Brennan pulled the boy back into a hug and this time, they cried together.