Slice of Heaven
Chapter 10
A/N: Do you hate me? I wouldn't blame you if you did. I'm so sorry for the delay. I struggled with writing this chapter and so put it away for a while (a whole month) before coming back with fresh eyes. I think my writing is suffering because I'm over thinking. I write and rewrite and perhaps nitpick a better version of a chapter into something that is less pleasing to read. I wonder how other writers know when their work is "done." Any suggestions?
A/N2: THANK YOU to everyone who read and reviewed this story. I hope you've enjoyed it (my rambling author's notes aside) and I look forward to entertaining you again.
Booth grabbed his bag and raced out of the office, not bothering to notify anyone where he was going.
Once in his car, he broke several speed limits and perhaps misused his siren twice in his bid to get home to Brennan. Taking the stairs two at a time, he raced up to the apartment and quickly unlocked the door. Once inside, he expected to see Brennan waiting on the couch, bag in hand ready to go. Dread filled his belly, when the spot he expected to see her in was conspicuously empty.
Calling out across the apartment he shouted, "Bones?"
"I'm back here Booth."
Booth left the living room and entered the short hallway leading to the bedrooms, to his shock; Brennan was on her hands and knees in the hall way, apparently cleaning up the fluids from earlier.
"What in God's name do you think you're doing?" he asked, shouting unintentionally.
"Booth, bodily fluids are the perfect media for bacterial and fungal growth. I don't want that in our floors"
"Bones, you have enough money to buy two new buildings, screw the floor!"
As he spoke he strode to where she was kneeling and not giving her a chance to argue, lifted her up by the arms, ensuring that she maintained her balance with a steadying hand on the small of her back.
"Can I please get you to a hospital before you give birth right here?"
"If we're ignoring the potential biohazard in the hallway, then yes."
With a satisfied nod, Booth steered her toward the door and scooped up her packed bag as they passed the coffee table.
****Some 15 hours later****
The only sound filling the room was the words of an early morning infomercial flashing across the waiting room TVs. Individuals sat in small clusters intermittently talking or sitting in silence; all waiting for the same news for different people. That common anxiousness and anticipation forms an odd sort of bond between the various occupants of the room as they share in the waiting agony. At various times throughout the past twelve hours, jubilant family members would burst into the room, bringing tidings and quickly snapped pictures on phones or digital cameras and the tedium of the room would be momentarily abated, as pictures are passed around along with hearty congratulations. But eventually, as visitors were ushered back to view the new addition in person, the elation would dim, and the remaining occupants would return to their furtive waiting.
As the rays of dawn began strongly slicing through the pulled blinds; a tall man burst into the room, eager to share his good news. His friends and family could be found in one of the nearby corners all standing in eagerness for some news.
He stood for just a minute, as though savoring his next words, "She did it," and a look of pride and joy spread across his face.
Then he grabbed the camera he had stuffed into his back pocket and quickly turned it to show the newest Booth off.
"He's so small" Sweet commented as the camera passed by him.
"Six pounds," Booth replied confirming that assessment.
"I'm sure he didn't seem so small to Dr. Brennan."
Booth laughed softly, thinking back to just a couple hours ago when Brennan was suggesting just that thing to him.
After everyone had seen the pictures, Booth told the group, "They've already moved Bones and Daniel upstairs to the maternity care floor. Why don't you all come up to see them?"
Booth led the short distance from the waiting room to the elevator and then down the short hall to the room Brennan and Daniel now occupied.
When they arrived, Booth motioned for everyone to stand outside for a moment, while he made sure everyone was decent.
Once back in the room; he found Brennan seated up right on the bed, leaning heavily on the railing, with Daniel resting on the bed between her legs.
"You feeling up to visitors?" Booth asked, studying her still puffy and flushed face.
Brennan glanced up from studying her son's tiny features to answer his question, "For just a little while. The lactation nurse said I needed to try to feed Daniel one more time before going to sleep."
Booth blushed before turning back to open the door.
When Booth stepped back out into the hall, Angela took note of his heightened color and said cautiously, "If she still needs some time, we can come back later…"
"No, no she wants to see you all, we just need to keep it short."
Having gained permission, the Jeffersonian group filed into the room, trying to tread lightly so as not to disturb the baby.
In the moments it had taken Booth to usher them in, Brennan was swaddled Daniel and laid him in the small basinet next to the bed. They immediately surrounded him and fawned over him.
Angela turned from where she was standing and said to Brennan, "He's absolutely gorgeous sweetie. Can we hold him?"
Brennan nodded her assent and stretched out on the bed, to watch her friends with her child.
Angela was the first to hold Daniel, and cuddled him close to her chest. She turned to Hodgins, "I still want like a million of these you know…"
Sleepily, Brennan quipped from her spot, "I think you need to experience birth before making plans like that."
As she passed the snoozing Daniel on to Cam she replied, "That's what an epidural is for."
It wasn't long before Daniel began fussing and wiggling in his wrap, much to the consternation of Sweets who had just been handed the baby.
That small noise what all the indication Booth needed to end the visit and send their friends on their way, with the promise that as soon as they were rested and at home, all of them would receive a call and invitation to come over and begin spoiling Daniel.
Each said goodbye and soon Booth and Brennan were left alone with Daniel. Booth was standing next to the bed waiting for Brennan to get herself situated on the bed so she could attempt feeding Daniel again. After arranging the pillow around her waist and pulling the hospital gown partially off, Brennan was able to take Daniel from Booth and lay him across the pillow. He squawked and flailed his tiny arms as she tried to steer his head to what he wanted. After several attempts she was able to get him feeding.
The feeding didn't last very long; Daniel quickly lost his grip on Brennan and was so distraught he wouldn't latch on again. Seeing Brennan's frustration Booth quickly cross the room and held his hands out, "I'll take him honey. You get some rest and we'll try again later."
It was a testament to how tired Brennan was when she handed Daniel to Booth with only token resistance.
Booth pulled Daniel to his shoulder and gently patted the boy to sooth his temper. As he walked around the room Booth intermittently talked and hummed to the child waiting until the noises were replaced by soft breaths and the occasional twitch.
Booth cross the room and took his place in the rocking chair next to the basinet still humming to the boy.
As he sat in the chair, holding his son and watching his wife drift into peaceful sleep, Booth decided, for not the first time that day, that he was a truly blessed man. And before placing his son in the basinet Booth lifted a prayer of benediction to the Holy Father in thanks for the many blessings in his life.
In that prayer Booth make a fervent promise to God, to protect and give thanks for this little slice of heaven…
***This is the last chapter for the story. Let me know how I did. To be perfectly honest, I feel like the earlier chapters were of a far better quality than the last few; but of course I would love to know your opinion too. Let me know if this did the story line and show justice…