Booths Are Us
Chapter 7
Susan H.
Three hours later, the surgeon stepped into the waiting room. He approached Brennan and Angie.
"Temperance Brennan, regarding Seeley Booth?" he asked.
Brennan stood up, "Yes, that's me."
"I'm Dr. Winger," he said and shook her hand, "Everything went extremely well. We were able to pull his appendix before it ruptured, so he shouldn't be here long. He is being admitted to recovery now."
"It didn't rupture? I am relieved."
"No, you got him here in time," Winger smiled.
"When can we see him?" Angie asked.
"Walk down this hall," he pointed, "and turn left at the green sign, you'll see the information desk. Give them a few minutes, and they should have all the information and tell you where to wait." Winger walked away.
"Well, that's the best news we could get Sweetie."
"Yes. We should call the lab."
"I'll do it. You go down to the information desk."
"Thanks Angie."
***
A pleasant gray-haired woman was talking on the phone when Brennan approached the information desk. She smiled and held up a finger indicating she would be 1 moment. Brennan nodded. She hung up and smiled.
"May I help you?"
"Yes, my friend Seeley Booth had surgery."
The woman tapped on her computer and nodded. "Yes, he's here. They are still getting him settled in. Have a seat right there," She pointed to a carpeted area in middle of the hallway, "and I'll let you know when you can go in dear."
Angie came around the corner a few minutes later.
"I called the lab. Everyone sends their hellos to Booth. Except Hodgins."
"Huh?"
"He just asked if they gave Booth his pudding yet."
"Hmm. Is this one of those things everyone else understands, but I don't because I don't understand these things?"
"No Sweetie. I think it's just Hodgins being weird."
"Oh good, I always feel so awkward when that happens. Of course, Booth does his best to educate me on pop culture. Without him, I might still sound like a foreigner."
"I think you mean alien Sweetie."
"Oh. Yeah."
The two friends sat in silence for a while, and Brennan felt a hand on her shoulder. The kind woman from the desk said, "Come this way dear. You can go in now."
"Brennan, you go in yourself, I'll wait for a while. We don't want to overwhelm him."
"Thanks Angie."
Brennan followed the woman to Booth's door. She looked at him still connected to monitors and tubes. He opened his eyes and turned his head to the door. She walked in and grabbed his hand.
"Things went very well," she said to him.
He nodded and croaked "yes".
"You'll be able to go home very soon. I think you only need to stay in the hospital a day or two."
He smiled.
"Everyone at the lab says hello, and Hodgins asked if you got your pudding yet. Oh, and so you know, Angie is in the waiting room. She didn't want to overwhelm you."
"Ok," he said.
Booth lay with his eyes closed for a while.
"Booth, I don't want to stay long. They will be moving you to a regular room by this evening. I can come back and visit you again. Is that okay?"
He squeezed her hand and nodded. She bent and kissed his forehead.
"I'll see you in a few hours."
He held her hand several more moments and let go. "Nice tie," he said.
Angie stood up when Brennan returned to the waiting area.
"Well, how did it go?"
"He is still extremely groggy. I think I'll come back this evening to visit when they move him to his regular room. I told him you were out here."
"It's enough for him to know I was out here. Let's leave him to rest. I'll give you a ride back to the lab."
At the lab, Brennan went directly to her office. She pulled a report from her in-box. She read the DNA results for the jerky and it was positive as human and positive as Eugene Samson.
Cam popped her head in Brennan's open door.
"So how is the big man?"
"Cam, thanks to you he's doing great. The appendix didn't rupture. He's groggy and in recovery right now."
"Wonderful news. Did you get a chance to look at the DNA report?"
"Yes, gruesome." Brennan sighed.
"Do we have any public health concerns that some of this jerky may have been sold?"
"I don't know. Delilah Samson said they didn't sell smoked jerky, but I guess there is no guarantee that her husband wasn't processed some other way."
"I think it will be best to confiscate all of the jerky still in-house, and to recall any jerky delivered after Samson went missing. I'm calling the health department now."
"Okay Cam. Will the FBI assign another agent to finish the case?"
"I'm sure they will. Maybe we can make a special request. Is there an agent you'd like to work with on this case?"
"Foster is the only one I can think of right now. He handled the Twilight Killer, and he has an unusual style. I'd like to observe him interview Bobby Samson if possible. How should we inform Delilah that the jerky is definitely her husband? I'd hate to just call her on the phone."
"Let me call the FBI, and the Health Department, and we will go from there."
"Thanks Cam."
"Brennan, on second thought, maybe you should call Mrs. Samson and tell her not to ship any jerky at all. I know you don't want to do this on the phone, but the bigger picture is my concern now."
"Of course Cam. That's the logical thing to do."
Brennan dialed Delilah.
"Hello, Samson Jerky."
"Hello, Delilah, this is Dr. Brennan."
"Well hello there. How is Agent Booth feeling? Any better?"
"That's kind of you to ask. He is better, but he is in the hospital. It turned out he had appendicitis."
"Oh my. Did he have one of them operations?"
"Yes, it went very well."
"Well you tell him hello from me, and I hope he recovers quickly."
"I will. Mrs. Samson, Delilah, I need to ask you something, and I'm afraid this will not be pleasant."
"The jerky y'all took out of here was Sammy, wasn't it?"
"Yes. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry I have to tell you this on the phone."
Delilah sniffed. "That's okay. I really knew. When I laid eyes on Bobby, I just knew."
"Delilah, I want to warn you that the Health Department will probably be there very soon to confiscate any jerky and to look over your shipping records. Have you filled any jerky orders since Sammy disappeared?"
"Oh, what a horrible, horrible thought. Sometimes, there just aren't enough tomatoes. No Dr. Brennan. Sammy handled that part of the business, so I'm sure none was shipped out. My poor Sammy. Wouldn't that have been an awful legacy to leave behind? Why do you think Bobby did such an awful thing? Sammy was always so good to him."
"I don't know yet Delilah. Agent Booth's illness delayed Bobby's interview. I'm sure a new agent will be assigned before the end of the day. Of course, there is always the chance that Bobby didn't do it. Is your mama with you?"
"Yeah, she's been here since yesterday. Thanks for your concern. You take care of yourself and Agent Booth."
"Goodbye Delilah."
Brennan hung up the phone and let out a heavy sigh, and rubbed her forehead. She smiled at the figure that appeared in her doorway, but then she realized it was Not Booth.
"Hi Tom. I'm sorry I haven't got back to you. We rushed my partner to the hospital this morning, and now I'm trying to catch up on some work."
"I heard. You've had a hard day. Have you eaten?"
Brennan had to think a moment.
"Actually, not since breakfast. No wonder my head is aching."
"May I take you to the diner for a quick bite?"
"You know, I think yes."
Cam stuck her head in the door again, "Brennan, you got Foster. And the Health Department is on the way."
"Great. Delilah says there have been no shipments since the incident."
"Good news indeed." Cam left the office.
"Tom, I need to make one call before we go."
"Actually Temperance, I just wanted to have a quick word with you," he sat down.
"Sure Tom. What's on your mind?"
"My ex-girlfriend and I have been talking, and today we decided to give it another try. It's nothing against you. You're wonderful. I just really thought Lilly was the one, and it wouldn't be fair for me to continue with you while I still had that doubt in my heart."
"Oh, I see. Well, thanks for your honesty. I hope things work out for you this time Tom. I really do." She said and walked him out.
When she returned, Angie jumped in front of her and blocked her path.
"So, what's the verdict Brennan?"
"He broke up with me."
"What!"
"The goal was achieved Angie. It doesn't matter how."
"The heck it doesn't matter. The nerve of him." Angie put her hands on her hips. "Let's key his car."
"Angie, no. He and his ex-girlfriend are getting back together. But you're a great friend. It's good to know I can count on you to vandalize in my honor."
"You betcha Sweetie" Angie said and marched off.
Brennan got back to her office, and her phone was ringing.
"Brennan."
"Dr. Brennan, Agent Foster here. How are you doing?"
"I'm well Agent Foster."
"And Booth?"
"He's recuperating."
"Good, good. Well, I just got the Jerky case passed to me. Can we meet at the diner soon and discuss the case?"
"Agent Foster, I'm starving. I can make it whenever you can."
"Well, we can't have someone as valuable as you starving. Meet me there in half an hour."
"I'll be there."
