A/N: Another chapter! You'll be happy to know that for the next ten or so weeks, I'll be posting a lot. I plan on finishing this story up after 4 more chapters (yes, I'm sorry, so soon) and then starting a new fanfiction of mine that I also previously wrote and have now started to re-write. But anyway, enjoy this while it lasts! :) x
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Bones characters in this novel. They are the property of Fox and the Bones crew. :)
After a dramatic afternoon the day before, Booth and Brennan had said goodbye to Rebecca and Parker, returned to Brennan's hospital room for an afternoon nap before waking for dinner and returning to their peaceful slumbers. The following morning, they were both woken for breakfast.
"Come on you two!" A friendly voice chimed. "I'm under strict orders to make sure you both eat. You especially, Doctor Brennan. You need your energy for rehab."
Brennan yawned, rubbed her eyes and sat up, pulling her table towards her.
"Bones!" Booth exclaimed suddenly. "Did you just push yourself up?"
Brennan's eyes widened. "I…I guess I did." She replied. "I didn't even notice!"
Booth grinned, jumping out of bed and racing to her bedside, pulling her into his arms. "That's fantastic Bones!" He exclaimed. "We'll have to let Simon know this morning."
After breakfast, as per usual, Simon arrived.
"Good morning Doctor Brennan, Booth!" He greeted. "How are we today?"
"More progress has occurred over night!" Booth exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement any longer.
Simon raised his eyebrows. "What's happened?" He asked.
"Bones pushed herself up into a sitting position when she first woke up this morning." Booth announced. "I was still in bed, didn't even have to help her…"
Simon beamed. "Well done Doctor Brennan!" He praised. "I think you're well and truly ready to start learning to walk again."
Brennan nodded, pleased that it was time for the beginning of the home stretch.
"What's going to happen is we'll get you straight up on your feet." Simon began to explain. "You'll use the walking frame at first, and have someone behind you supporting you, preferably Booth, incase you fall. Your legs will probably be weak at first, since you haven't used them in a long time. Despite the fact we worked on strength exercises, you will still be weak."
Brennan nodded again. "What is this part of rehabilitation going to involve?" She asked.
Simon smiled. "I know it sounds boring, but it will literally just involve walking." He said. "What makes it so painful is how long you have to spend walking. I want you to aim for two hours a day in total."
"Two hours?" Brennan exclaimed, wide eyed.
"Two hours." Simon repeated. "You don't need to do it in one block, but by the end of each day, I want you to have spent two hours walking. In a month's time, I want it to be five hours a day."
Brennan sighed, but nodded. "And after a month if I'm at that point?" She asked.
"After a month when you're at that point!" Simon encouraged. "Be positive Doctor Brennan. You will get there. After a month, you'll move onto crutches. After another month, you'll be ready to go home. In time, you'll regain full movement and you'll be back to normal."
And at that moment, it sunk in. In two months, Brennan would be going home, after a serious car accident, and nearly three months in hospital. A lucky escape to say the least.
"Let's get started then!" Booth exclaimed, clapping his hands together.
"I'll just get a walker for you." Simon said. "Booth, get her sitting up on the side of the bed and on her feet. Let her lean against you."
Booth nodded, and as Simon left to find a walking frame, he helped Brennan sit up and slide of the bed. As he watched her put her feet to the ground and stand for the first time in a long time, he heard her gasp and watched her expression change from one of determination to one of pain.
"You okay Bones?" He said.
"I will be." Brennan replied, leaning into him. "I feel so weak."
"It's your first day Bones." Booth reminded her. "Things will get better."
After discussing with Simon what sort of plan they wanted to follow, Booth, Brennan and Simon decided it was best for Brennan to split the two hours she needed to spend walking per day into halves. An hour in the morning, an hour in the evening. Simon prescribed a hydrotherapy session which Booth could be involved in after the morning session, and a massage after the evening session. An hour later, Brennan was finished her morning session and more than ready for a relaxing wade in the pool.
"Dad!" A voice suddenly erupted from down the corridor as Booth and Brennan were returning to their room.
"Parker!" Booth exclaimed. "I thought you weren't able to come this weekend?"
"He wasn't." Rebecca interrupted. "But I spoke to the nurses here, and they said it's fine…Drew and I are busy this weekend, and we thought Parker might like to stay with you guys."
"Really?" Booth said, grinning. "It's fine with the nurses?"
Rebecca nodded. "They've already set a second bed up in Temperance's room." She explained. "Now, I really have to go! If you need anything, give me a call?"
Booth nodded. "Becs, is there a pair of swimming trunks in Parker's bag?" He asked.
Rebecca frowned. "I don't think so…" She said. "But why would he need them?"
"He'll probably be allowed to come in the pool with Bones and I for her hydrotherapy session." Booth replied.
"I'm sure the hospital will have something he can wear Booth." Brennan said. "There would be people who come to hospital without swimming trunks who are expected to undertake hydrotherapy. We'll talk to the nurses."
Booth nodded, knowing his girlfriend's logic was sound. "Let's go then buddy!" He said, wrapping an arm around his son's shoulders. "Thanks for bringing him over Becs."
"I'll come and get him on Sunday afternoon." She said before turning and leaving the hospital.
"Come on guys, let's go!" Booth announced, wrapping his other arm around Brennan's back to support her while she held onto the walking frame in front of her.
"Can I jump in Dad?" Parker shouted, excited at the prospect of going swimming when it was almost winter.
"No Parker!" Booth hissed. "This isn't just any normal pool. You have to wait for Simon to tell you it's okay."
Simon chuckled. "Parker, go ahead and jump in." He said. "Just be wary of other patients and of Doctor Brennan when she gets in."
Parker grinned, pinched his nose, sucking a deep breath in, and jumped into the water, splashing Booth, Brennan and Simon in the process.
Booth scowled, but Simon just laughed and told him not to worry about it. After all, they were in their swimwear.
"Okay Booth, I'll get in the water." Simon began, slipping down the stairs into the pool. "You help Brennan out of her wheelchair and down onto the side of the pool, and I'll help her into the pool while you get in. Parker, think you can hand me that ball over there buddy?"
Parker nodded and free styled towards a ball that was floating in the pool nearby. He went to throw it to Simon, but quickly realised that it wasn't a normal type of ball, and was quite heavy.
Simon chuckled. "This is a special type of ball that Doctor Brennan will hold onto. Because of the way it's made, it's very buoyant and will be very successful in keeping Brennan relaxed and floating. Booth, grab Doctor Brennan underneath the arms and slide her into the pool. I'll get her and take her from there once she's in."
Booth nodded and did as he was told before climbing into the pool where Brennan had already latched onto the solid ball and was floating successfully.
"I feel free." She whispered to Booth when he reached her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Booth smiled. "Freedom is good Bones, freedom is good." He said
A/N: There you go guys, another chapter! I hope you liked it. :) Reviews would be lovely, to let me know you're still interested.
