AN: I don't own Bones. If only, right?
Thank you all so, so much for the reviews, adding to your favorites, or for following. It means a lot.
So...been a bit, huh? Super sorry about that. I had a minor bout of writer's block regarding this chapter. I mean, I knew what I wanted to write, but I couldn't get it to come out how I wanted. But, here we are.
And...go! Read and enjoy!
"Bones?" Booth whispered, tears slowly falling to his cheeks.
"Agent Booth, I'm going to have to ask you to wait outside while I examine Dr. Brennan." Doctor Barrett said from his position on Brennan's right side.
"No, nuh-uh, not gonna happen." Booth said, shaking his head. "I'll stand back here, and keep out of the way, but I am. Not. Leaving. This. Room." he said in a voice usually saved for interrogating suspects.
Doctor Barret sighed, knowing Booth was serious. "Alright, alright. You can stay, just stay out of the way." he said. Turning back to Brennan, he continued his examination. "Dr. Brennan, do you know who I am?" he asked, wanting to test her brain function.
Booth, and everyone else in the room, didn't dare breathe as they waited for an answer.
"Doct...Bar..." she said in a raspy voice, coughing as she finished trying to say his name.
Booth tilted his head back against the wall, tears falling toward his ears as he silently thanked God. The whole time she'd been in a coma, he'd been wishing, hoping, and praying, to hear her voice again, and it had finally happened. Looking over as he heard a gasp, he saw Angela and Cam holding hands as they, too, cried in relief.
"Doctor Barrett, that's right." he nodded. "Do you know where you are?"
Brennan's eyes moved left and right as she tried to guess where she was. "Hos...pi...tal." she rasped.
Doctor Barrett nodded, smiling at Brennan. "Correct, Dr. Brennan. Do you know what happened to you?" he asked.
Brennan frowned at the doctor as she tried to remember, and couldn't. "I...wha...wh...no." she said, eyes welling up with tears as she began to panic.
"Okay, okay, it's alright." Doctor Barrett said in a soothing voice, trying to calm her. "It's to be expected that you don't remember, Dr. Brennan. You've been in a coma for a few weeks, so a slight case of amnesia is expected."
"So, it's normal that she apparently doesn't remember anything, doc?" Booth asked from his spot at the back of the room.
Doctor Barrett nodded, turning to look at him as he answered. "Absolutely. I expect she'll regain full memory in a few days or so, maybe a bit longer." he said. "Alright, Dr. Brennan," he said, turning back to his patient, "are you in any pain?"
"Ye...yes." Brennan answered, shakily. "My...my arm." she said, feeling her left arm throb a bit.
"Alright. I'll have one of the nurses give you something for it, and in the meantime, I'll let you and your friends catch up." Doctor Barrett said, grabbing the clipboard from the table and nodding at the small group as he passed. "I'll come check on her later."
"Thanks, doc." Booth said, not taking his eyes off Brennan.
"Sure." he nodded, closing the door behind him as he and the nurses left quietly.
"Sweetie!" Angela screeched, the first one to break and dart to her friend's bedside. "Don't you ever do that to me again, missy!" she sobbed, hugging Brennan gingerly so as not to hurt her.
"Ange...I...have you been here the whole time?" Brennan asked slowly, her voice still raspy.
"Of course." Angela said, pulling away slightly, giving her friend a watery smile. "Where else would I be?"
"Home." Brennan said, frowning. "You need to take care of yourself and the baby, Angela." she said slowly, still groggy.
"Honey, I have been. Trust me." Angela said, grabbing her hand. "I go home every night and come back in the morning, I eat several times a day..."
"More like several times an hour, babe." Hodgins chimed from his space behind Angela.
"...and Hodgie and I go for walks around the hospital, so I'm good." she finished, ignoring her husband. "Not to mention I don't spend very long on my feet, and when I do, Hodgie insists I wear sneakers or flats instead of my heels. Everything's good."
"And your prenatal vitamins?" Brennan asked.
"Taking them." Angela nodded, smiling at her friend and her worrisome nature. The woman literally just regained consciousness and she was more worried about her friend than herself.
"Good." Brennan said with a weak smile. "I wouldn't want you suffering because I'm in the hospital." she said.
"Here, Brennan." Cam said, handing her a cup from the bedside table. "Some water might help your throat."
"Thanks, Cam." Brennan smiled, taking a sip of the cool water, followed by another before she downed the rest. Clearing her throat, she smiled. "That's much better, thanks."
Hodgins, seeing Booth still standing against the wall staring at Brennan, instinctively knew the two partners needed a moment alone. "Hey, Ange, why don't we go out and call everyone and tell them Dr. B's awake, huh?" he asked, gently trying to guide his wife away from the bed.
"What? But...she...Hodgie..." Angela protested.
Cam, catching on, nodded as she joined the three. "Right. We also should call her family." she said, walking behind them.
"Well, why can't you two...I should stay..." Angela said, still protesting as Hodgins and Cam herded her out.
Smiling as the door closed behind the three, Booth slowly made his way over to Brennan's bedside. Locking eyes with her, the two just stared at one another for what seemed an eternity before Brennan broke the silence.
"Hey, Booth."
Those two words were all it took for Booth to crack, and he instantly felt tears begin to run down his cheeks, falling ungracefully into the chair beside her bed. Reaching for her hand, he grabbed it tightly in both of his and bowed his head, allowing the tears to drop onto the floor.
"What...Booth?"
"I was so scared, Bones." he said, lifting his head to look at her. "I was so scared you weren't going to...I didn't want to lose you, Bones, and I kept thinking 'What if', you know? Over these last almost three weeks, I just...I just..."
Giving it all the strength she had, Brennan squeezed his hand with hers that he still held in his grip. "It's alright, Booth. I'm alright now." she said. "I'm not going anywhere."
Booth gave a shaky laugh, pressing his trembling lips to her hand again. "I'm gonna hold you to that, Bones." he said seriously, his soulful brown eyes meeting her vibrant blue.
Review please.
Til next time!
XOXO - Onyx Obsidian
