May 14, 2012
"She's gone, man," Booth said, trying not to cry. "She took our child and left."
"She's keeping herself safe," Bobby interjected. "You would do the same thing."
"She could have told me!"
"Then you would have to lie when they ask," Bobby pointed out. "She's with Max. She's safe. This thing has to blow over before she can come home."
"I miss her," Booth whispered. The ache in his soul was strong. He wanted to kill Pelant and get it over with. How could this man be framing his partner for murder?! It was insane.
"I'm sure she misses you too. Booth, I know this wouldn't be her first choice," Bobby said firmly. "But Max is right, if they get her in the system, she's doomed."
"I know," Booth nodded desolately. "I know."
Bobby stood there looking at his best friend. He felt unsure that Booth actually did know. Bobby had to hand it to Brennan for doing what she did. He thought about how he would feel if Tara had done this to him. He would understand and want to solve this mess to bring her home.
"You won't do anything stupid?" Bobby asked him, his meaning clear. Booth shook his head.
"The last place I need to be right now is in a casino," he said. "Bones needs me, and I need to keep my head on straight for this."
"Good man," Bobby nodded. He hoped Brennan was safe. If she wasn't and died from all of this, Bobby knew exactly what kind of path Booth would go down, and it wouldn't be pretty.
...
Tara ran her fingers through her hair. She felt sweaty and nauseous. She looked at herself in the mirror, seeing a scared woman looking back at her. She heard the door open and close, knowing that Bobby was now home.
"Hey, love," he said, coming into the bedroom.
"Hey. Any clues for finding Temperance?" Tara asked. She wiped her face with a cloth. She still didn't look well. She wondered why she was so afraid of what was supposed to be a miracle.
"None. Booth is going out of his mind. I honestly don't know what to do," Bobby replied. She heard him groan as he pulled his socks off. She walked out to face him, and he immediately noticed she didn't look well.
"Are you all right?" he asked, concerned. He got up and came over to her.
"I don't know," she said, pulling out something from behind her back and handing it to him. "You tell me." Bobby looked at the white stick with the plus sign on it. He was confused for a second. He looked at her.
"Are you...?"
"I'm pregnant."
September 2012
Bones was home. His Bones was home. The entire Pelant mess was behind them for now. The rat was still out there, but at least Brennan wasn't framed for murder anymore. Booth watched as she started to make dinner. He could hear Christine giggling at something. She was one and a half approximately now. Booth couldn't believe how much he'd missed her. He briefly thought about Bobby, who was going to be a father. He knew both of them were anxious about it since Tara was 39 years old. There were a lot of things at stake.
"What?" Brennan asked, seeing him watching her.
"Nothing," he smiled. "I'm just so glad you're home."
"Me too," she said, leaning in to kiss him.
"Don't ever leave again," he said. "Please."
"I won't," she promised.
Bobby
Tara was four months along now, and things seemed to be okay so far. The doctor had insisted on doing a screening for Downs Syndrome, and Bobby was anxious for the results. It didn't matter one way or another. He was having a baby, and he was going to love that baby with everything he had. Tara was doing her best to not be scared, but he could tell she was.
"It'll be all right," he reassured her as they waited for the doctor. "Whatever we get, we get. I don't care."
"It's not that I'm worried about," Tara confessed. She looked at him with wet eyes.
"What is it then?"
"What if our baby...gets a gambling addiction?" she asked. It hurt to say it out loud, but she had really been thinking about it. What if it was some weird gene that the baby would get, and they would watch him or her ruin their life because of an addiction.
"Tara," Bobby said, feeling surprised. "That's been bothering you?"
"Yes. I know it shouldn't, and you've been doing so well, but I just worry sometimes," Tara cried.
"Our baby will be just fine," Bobby repeated firmly. She nodded slowly, wiping away her tears. He felt a little hurt inside, but he could understand her fear. Managing two gambling addicts would be very difficult.
"Mr. and Mrs. Manning?" the nurse called. They stood and followed her to the back. "The doctor will be in shortly."
"I'm scared," Tara whispered. Bobby clutched her hand in return. Within moments, the doctor was there.
"Hello, folks," he said, sitting down. He looked unsure of what to say for a moment, and then he dove in. "There is no easy way of saying this. Our screening results have come back saying you have an increased risk for a baby with Downs Syndrome. I don't like to offer the diagnostic test to get a definitive answer because it can cause a miscarriage, but it raises the question of what you want to do from here."
"What do you mean?" Bobby asked.
"Well, some parents decide to terminate," the doctor replied. Bobby's back straightened tightly. He heard Tara inhale sharply.
"We are not terminating," Bobby said strongly.
"No," Tara agreed. "We're not."
"Okay. I have put together a package for you with some information about having a baby with Downs," the doctor said. "Any other questions for me?"
"How accurate is that screening?" Tara asked.
"Well," the doctor said. "Because you waited longer to do it, the percentage of accuracy does go down, but it's still about 60%."
"I see," Tara nodded. She swallowed hard.
"We got this," Bobby said to her. "I'll research. We'll get ready. It will be all right." Tara didn't feel so confident. She wished she was.
February 11, 2013
Booth felt badly about fighting with Brennan. He packed Christine all up and went over to the Jeffersonian where he knew she'd be working. He thought about what he'd say all the way over. When he got there, he didn't hear her working, so he called out her name. When he came to the examination room, he saw her on the floor next to a puddle of blood.
"Oh my God. Bones!" he shouted, dropping to her. She still had vitals. Christine started to scream in the background. Booth called for help, and he pressed his hand over her wound, praying to God that she wouldn't leave him. He couldn't live without her. He just couldn't.
Bobby
"Ah!" Tara shouted, gripping the railing. She was trying to get down the stairs. The contractions were getting harder and faster, and she was trying not to panic. Everyone said that having a baby was the one time pain went by quickly and was forgotten. She wasn't so sure of that right in this moment.
"I'm coming!" Bobby shouted. He was in a dither, grabbing their overnight bag and making sure everything was ready. He came up behind her and helped her down the stairs.
"It hurts," she whimpered.
"I know, love, I know," he said, kissing her cheek. "I'm here for the whole thing." They got to the hospital in record speed, and Bobby was waiting to be let into Tara's room when he saw Booth pacing the hallway.
"How did you know?" Bobby asked, laughing. Then he saw Booth's face. "What happened?"
"Bones was shot," he answered hoarsely. Bobby's heart dropped.
"What?" he asked.
"Yea. No exit wound. It's got us all stumped. She...she's having surgery. I'm freaking out, Bobby," Booth said, gripping his hair with his hands. Max had Christine at least. It was helpful.
"I...I don't know what to say except that Brennan is extremely tough and will get through this in one piece," Bobby reassured him. He heard Tara shrieking suddenly.
"Is she in labor?" Booth asked, realizing why Bobby was there.
"Yea..."
"Geez. Get in there, man!"
"I'm torn," Bobby admitted. He wanted to be there for his best friend but he needed to be there for his wife.
"Just go. You're right. Bones will be fine. Help Tara have that baby," Booth urged. Bobby tore off to be there with her. Booth sent a quick prayer for Bobby as well as for Brennan. He wanted everything to work out just fine.
Booth
Brennan was awake. It was the biggest relief he'd felt in a long time. She was telling him about her dreams of talking to her mother. Booth fully believed it was real despite Brennan fighting it the whole way.
"Knock, knock," Bobby said. They both turned to look at him.
"Is that him?" Booth asked, grinning. Brennan smiled as well.
"Meet Charlie Jack Seeley Manning," Bobby said, bending down. Booth swelled with pride that his name was in there as well as Jack's. He knew that Charlie was Tara's father's name.
"He's beautiful," Brennan commented, reaching to touch the baby's soft hair.
"Wait, wasn't he supposed to be...?" Booth asked, knowing that they had been told that Charlie was going to have Downs.
"Misdiagnosed," Bobby grinned. "Screening was off. We got lucky."
"Wow," Booth said. "Congrats you guys. I know it wouldn't have mattered anyway."
"Thanks. No, you're right. This is my boy, and though I'm grateful he's all right, I wouldn't have cared if he had it. Tara's pretty whipped. I know they are going to try to get him to feed soon, but I just wanted some bonding time," Bobby smiled at his little boy.
"Enjoy it now before he starts screaming," Booth laughed.
"How are you feeling, Brennan?" Bobby asked her.
"Better. Sore, but I'm all right," she answered.
"Good."
"I'm going to go get Christine because she's been upset," Booth said, kissing Brennan's forehead. "I'll be back."
"Okay," she agreed. Bobby and Booth walked out together.
"So, what now?" Booth asked.
"I don't know, mate," Bobby answered. "I don't know."
October 21, 2013
Booth was getting married today. He felt proud as he watched Brennan come down the aisle towards him. Bobby was standing next to him as was Parker. Angela and Cam were on the other side. This was the moment he had been waiting for for so long, and it was finally here. It all went so quickly, but he was all right with that. In no time, he was allowed to kiss her as his wife, and he did so with gusto while everyone clapped and whistled.
"Good job, mate," Bobby said, nudging him. He looked over at Tara, who was holding their child. Charlie was now eight months old. They had been talking about their future, and he knew it involved moving somewhere else and enjoying the country. Bobby hadn't told Booth yet. He didn't want to upset him. Not today.
March 2014
"I can't believe you're leaving," Jack said, watching Bobby pack up.
"I know, mate, but it's time. On to new things," he said, smiling a little. He was sad, though. Booth had been devastated when he'd told him last month. Tara was excited. It was a new journey for both of them, and he knew Booth would be all right. He'd watched Sweets and Booth build a bond throughout the years. Bobby knew Booth was in good hands.
"We'll visit," Bobby promised. Jack bowed his head. He and Sue had their hands full with the twins and their other son, and Jack was going to miss having Bobby around to relieve him from stress.
"Vermont just feels so far away," Jack said. Bobby tucked the last thing into his box.
"I know. Who knows, maybe we'll move back once Charlie grows up," Bobby shrugged. "Or you might join us out there."
"Haha. I don't know about that," Jack laughed.
"It's closer to Tara's family. It's better than being in Australia to be close to mine," Bobby teased.
"I know, I know. I just...I'm gonna miss you," Jack said, feeling his throat tighten. Bobby pulled him into a tight hug.
"I'll miss you too. Keep an eye on Booth for me too, eh?"
"I will," Jack promised. Bobby picked up his box and headed out the door towards his new life.
Booth
He couldn't believe Bobby was leaving. It still gutted him. He was standing in Bobby's driveway with Brennan and Christine, helping pack the car and getting ready to say goodbye.
"Ah, mate, you'll be fine," Bobby said, clapping Booth's back. "Plus, you get to come to Vermont and visit us."
"It just sucks," Booth said.
"I know. It just is what's best for us," Bobby told him.
"I would love to see Vermont," Brennan said to him. Christine tugged at her arm. She wanted to play.
"Well, keep in touch. We'll be visiting soon I'm sure," Bobby said. He closed the trunk and looked at Tara. It was time to go. They all hugged one another.
"Why do I get the feeling you're gonna fall apart when I'm gone?" Bobby asked Booth.
"Nah. I'm tough. I'll be fine," Booth said, not feeling fine in that particular moment.
"Take care of him," Bobby instructed Brennan.
"I will," she promised. They climbed into the car, Charlie already having been buckled in. Booth and Brennan waved as they pulled away, and Bobby stuck his arm out the window and waved all the way down the street until they were gone. Booth felt a sense of impending doom, but he kept it to himself. No sense in jinxing anything. If Bobby was happy, then he was happy. Life would go on.
October 2014
Nothing was the same after Sweets had died. Booth found himself staring at walls and ceilings, lost in thought. Sweets had been his close friend aside from Bobby. He didn't understand why this had to happen. He felt like his life was falling apart. The urge to get lost in a casino was vast and looming. He had tried to get a hold of Bobby, but Bobby wasn't readily available. Jack did his best to help Booth get through it. After all, the entire office had come to know Sweets, and everyone was thoroughly devastated at his death. Booth knew they were doing their best, but he wanted Bobby. Things hadn't been the same since Bobby had left. Going to jail hadn't been helpful either, but that was behind him. The conspiracy was solved, and now Booth was left with the aftermath of the mess. He didn't know what to do, and he didn't know how to talk to Brennan about it. Instead, he suffered in silence, battling the gambling demon constantly. Booth knew that if this kept up, he would eventually lose, and he'd spiral out of control. He did his best to ignore it, but it was loud and large. If only Bobby were here.
All righty. I am getting close to wrapping up this story. I think maybe three chapters left. Thanks for reading. Please leave a review if you have the time. It's much appreciated and keeps me motivated to write. Cheers!
