"So, Doctor Brennan. Cam's told me a lot about you," said Doctor Rawlings. Doctor Rawlings was a middle-aged man with white hair and very prominent frown lines. His office was very clean and white, and a little white examination area was curtained off at the back of the room.

"So she spoke to you about my results?" asked Brennan forcefully. She and Booth were seated in the two chairs opposite Rawlings' large desk.

"Yes, but I also meant she's spoken about you previously. She admires you and your work very much," he said, smiling at her.

Brennan half smiled out of courtesy, but she was more concerned about her results than anything else.

"Cam sent across the X-rays and the sample of the fine needle biopsy, but as I'm sure you are aware we need to do some further tests. I've had a look myself under the microscope, which I obviously don't normally do I might add, and have confirmed the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. We will however, and I'm sorry about this, need to take another sample to confirm with our own lab. Protocol, I'm sure you know how it is."

Brennan nodded, swallowing hard. Booth was frowning at him, not sure if these Reed-Sternberg cells were a good thing or not.

"This pretty much confirms though that the type of lymphoma you have is Hodgkin's Lymphoma, also known as Hodgkin's Disease. This really is the most curable of all lymphomas and has the best survival rate. We need to stage your cancer to determine the best course of treatment. That will involve a blood test, CAT scan, Gallium scan and also a bone marrow biopsy," explained Rawlings.

Brennan nodded. She had expected that. Booth looked over at her and squeezed her hand.

"We can do the blood test, CAT scan and both biopsies today, in that order. But you'll need to wait a day or so before the Gallium scan. That will allow the CAT scan dye and pain medications for the biopsy to leave your system. The Gallium scan dye is radioactive in nature, but at a safe level, so we'd rather do that one when your system is clean. Do you have any questions?"

"What about the treatment?" said Booth.

Bones cut in before Rawlings could answer. "Doctor Rawlings, if it's alright, I'd like to do these tests and have the disease staged before we talk about treatment. I'd like to know all the facts first." She squeezed Booth's hand reassuringly.

"Of course, Doctor Brennan. I'm sorry to rush to you out but I have another patient and I really can't tell you anymore until we get the next lot of test results back. If you take this back to the nurse, she will arrange your tests and instruct you on where you need to go," said Rawlings, as he signed and handed Brennan a piece of paper which authorized the different tests she needed.

"I'll see you back here in a few days," he said, smiling, walking them to the door.

"Thank you for your time, Doctor," said Brennan. They left the room, and Booth tried pulling her into a tight hug, but she pushed him off.

"I have to speak to the nurse, Booth," she said, not looking him in the eye.

He sighed and nodded, then followed her.


Please R & R :) A little note though, please don't flame me because Brennan may start pushing Booth away a bit. I think that in shock she turned to him because she feels so close to him, but as reality sinks in it will be hard for her to accept him seeing her like that.