Hey everyone! I'm so sorry for how long this took, but this chapter is lengthy to make up for it. I hope you all enjoy!
~AG13
Brennan walks quickly into her friend's office, holding a folder full of X-rays.
"Hey Angela, can you scan these into the computer for me?"
The artist squints at the folder, unhappily examining its contents.
"You know, it's just so tragic. She struggled to make something of herself, doing everything she could to stay off the streets. And then she's murdered for a couple hundred dollars."
Brennan chuckles. "She was a secretary Ange. But I suppose you're ri-Woah!" The scientist inhales sharply then yelps as another powerful kick is thrust into her ribs. Grimacing, she leans over and grabs the desk, one hand wrapped underneath her belly.
Angela moves in close, supporting her friend. "Painful kicks?"
Brennan exhales slowly and straightens up. "Booth doesn't believe such small fetuses could be so strong. I have to keep reminding him that not only are they inside of me, they're also our children."
The artist laughs. "You too are indeed quite the strong pair. Besides, if there actually are two of them, the kicks will be twice as painful."
Brennan smiles, rubbing her fingers over the foot pressed against her skin. Glancing at her watch, she turns to leave the office.
"Can you have those in before lunch is over? I have an appointment with Hannah."
Ange sighs. "Yes they'll be in by the time you return. But you've already caught the killer. What's the rush?"
But Brennan is already gone, her hair flowing out behind her as she practically jogs through the lab. Angela shakes her head and turns back to the computer.
"Hannah and Brennan. Those kids are going to be an inseparable, trouble-making disaster."
Hannah sits silently in the car, staring out the window. Brennan glances at her friend, it's unlike Hannah to be so quiet.
"Are you alright?"
The blonde sighs and turns from the glass. "The baby has just been really quiet lately. My doctor wasn't really concerned. She said to wait it out and try eating sugar. But I know something is wrong." The journalist pauses. "Where are we going anyway?"
Well Booth said you had concerns, and I've had a few of my own. So I found a specialist in high- risk and abnormal pregnancies. We both have ultrasounds scheduled for today."
"Oh Temperance, you didn't have to do that." Hannah protests. "Why are you concerned?"
Brennan takes a hand from the steering wheel and rubs her stomach.
"My doctor refuses to acknowledge that I'm having twins. She claims a 3D ultrasound would not have missed such a detail, but they were only looking for the sex of one baby. The entire process was very fast, there was not enough time to notice another baby. Especially if it's hiding behind the first."
The journalist laughs. "How can you be so sure you're having twins?"
Brennan knits her brow. "I often feel two sets of hiccups, and there's simultaneous movement in areas of my abdomen too inconvenient for one baby."
Hannah only shakes her head, chuckling softly.
"Booth didn't insist on coming with you to find out if it's twins?"
"He wanted to, but he got pulled into a meeting with Hacker last minute. Apparently some people are really upset that we arrested a CEO."
"He knows it's his baby then?"
Brennan nods. "He's known for a while. I'm not as accomplished at lying as I thought."
Hannah smiles. "He hasn't been sleeping at his apartment lately, so I figured you were close enough to tell him."
"I brought it up the day after New Year's. He wasn't at all surprised, and to my astonishment, not at all angry. He was happy."
The journalist smiles. "He was angry when he first figured it out. But he quickly realized that secrecy was what you needed. After that, he was just excited and anxious to be with you."
The anthropologist chuckles. "I was foolish. I didn't need to hide from him, and I know that now."
"So… you finally caught up to what we've all been telling you for 22 weeks?"
Brennan gives her friend a sarcastic look and rolls her eyes.
"That's what I thought" Hannah laughs.
The technician runs the wand over Brennan's stomach, positioning directly over top of the baby. The image on the screen shows only one baby, and a clear heartbeat resounds from the machine. But with Brennan's concerns in mind, the woman squints and mumbles to herself. Sliding the wand down Brennan's side, she holds it parallel to the ground.
"There. Just as you thought. A second heartbeat."
Brennan sits up and stares at the machine. The second baby is nestled snugly against her spine, hiding behind the first.
"Booth is going to be surprised."
Hannah laughs. "He's going to kick himself over not being able to see this."
The nurse prints out a couple pictures then takes the wand to the other side of Brennan's body, trying to gauge the sex of the baby. She bites her lip and carefully slides the wand around.
"Congratulations Miss Brennan, it's a boy."
The two women smile and Hannah chuckles. "Parker is going to have a brother and a sister."
Brennan gets up of the bed and leaves the room to talk to the doctor.
The nurse turns to Hannah. "Alright honey, your turn."
The journalist sits gingerly on the bed, taking a deep breath to calm herself.
"So Miss Burley, you said the baby has been really quiet lately?"
Hannah nods. "I haven't felt any movement since yesterday evening. My doctor told me not to worry and to eat something sugary to wake up the baby."
The technician nods, staring at the screen as she places the wand on the blonde's stomach.
"And that didn't help?"
The journalist shakes her head.
The screen is silent, and the nurse purses her lips as she moves the wand to a new position. She presses a button and picks up a phone.
"Dr. Gates? Can you come to room 213 please?"
The nurse pauses, cupping one hand over the speaker. "Would you like your friend in here?"
Hannah nods, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.
Almost immediately, the doctor and Brennan walk through the door. The anthropologist takes her friend's hand.
"What's going on?"
Hannah stares intently at the screen. "She can't find a heartbeat."
After a few agonizing moments, the doctor turns from the screen. "I'm so sorry Hannah. But your baby's heart has stopped."
The journalist buries her face in her hands and lets the tears form. Brennan, placing a hand on her friend's back, tries her best to comfort. Pulling out her phone, she dials an all too familiar number. The agent picks up on the first ring.
"Is it twins?! I'm on my way right now!"
"Hannah miscarried Booth."
He is silent for a long time. "I'll be right there."
The couple hangs up, and Brennan offers outstretched arms to her friend. Hannah falls into them and cries harshly. The doctor speaks quietly, explaining her options, but the blonde can only think of her precious child. She curls in on herself, the belly pressing against her legs. The rest of the world is blocked from her mind until the doctor asks a question. Hannah sits up abruptly.
"What did you say?"
"Do you want to know the sex?"
Hannah untangles herself from Brennan's arms and the scientist steps away, uncomfortable in the emotion filled silence.
"Yes."
"You have a baby boy."
Hannah nods and bites her bottom lip, trying not to cry. Suddenly, a shout is heard from the nurses outside the room.
"NO I HAVE TO SEE HER!"
Brennan rolls her eyes and opens the door to reveal Booth being restrained by several nurses. The doctor nods. "Let him in."
He rushes over to the bed, addressing both women at once.
"Are you okay? What happened?"
The doctor pulls up a chair but Booth refuses to sit.
"Generally a late miscarriage is due to a genetic abnormality. We could be certain with genetic tests, but that's a choice you'll have to make."
Hannah shakes her head. "I just… I just want him out."
The doctor hesitates, then continues with a slight waver in her voice.
"With a miscarriage at 22 weeks, we generally induce the mother and the baby is delivered naturally."
The journalist nods, tears sliding down her cheeks, and her voice choked with emotion.
"How long?"
"We can do the induction today, or you can choose to wait a little while or until labor starts on its own."
Hannah curls in on herself and falls into Brennan's arms while Booth stands protectively at the foot of the bed.
"She'll wait a little while."
Dr. Gates nods and lays a hand on her crying patient's leg. "I'm so sorry Hannah."
The nurse and doctor exit, leaving the three alone in the room. Eventually, Booth helps Hannah to her feet and they leave the building. The car ride home is silent as the blonde sits in the back, staring straight ahead. Emptiness fills the void left by her child. A heart does not beat inside her chest, she's dead, unable to feel. As the car stops, she looks at her friends, her tears long dried on her cheeks.
"Booth, stay with Temperance tonight."
The agent turns slowly, noticing the darkness in his former's girlfriend's eyes.
"There's no way I'm doing that. Bones will stay here tonight."
Brennan nods, knowing better than to argue. Hannah just hangs her head, allowing Booth to assist her out of the car. The agent holds her shoulders and Brennan places a comforting hand on her back. They walk up the steps to Booth's apartment and lay Hannah down on the bed. She curls into a ball, not caring about a thing in the world. Brennan backs out of the room and sits nervously on the couch. Booth eventually exits, closing the door quietly.
"She's asleep. Thanks for staying here Bones."
"It's no problem. Hannah is currently going through the first stage of grief: denial. Generally, people experiencing this find it easier with friends around them."
Booth nods and sits on the couch, wrapping his arm around his love.
"What are we going to do Bones?"
The anthropologist leans against her agent and sighs.
"We will support Hannah however she needs us to. The body will need to be buried. She'll need a place to stay until her recovery."
Booth is silent for a long time, and Brennan begins to drift off. As her eyes close heavily, Booth watches her tired form. With her hair falling softly over her shoulders, and a loving glow surrounding her, Booth has never seen someone so beautiful. Her arms are wrapped protectively around her belly as she lays her head on his shoulder. Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the agent wonders how he ever got so lucky. She supports him, helps him, and is happily, lovingly carrying his child. Booth rubs a hand down her back and leans down to whisper something he's felt for years.
"I love you Bones."
Brennan's eyes open slowly, and she tips her head up to match his lips with hers. They kiss slowly, just finding comfort in the touch of the other. Finally, Brennan pulls back, eyes shining in the dim light of the apartment.
"Is this what you want Booth?"
His heart skips a beat at the loaded question. For once, it's not him asking. A grin pulls at the corners of his lips.
"Yes."
Brennan nods, completely serious. "Good. Because I love you too."
Booth's head reels and he immediately lays his hand on the scientist's stomach. Before he can speak, she moves his hand to feel the little kicks.
"It's twins Booth."
His eyes light up and he chuckles softly.
"You were right after all."
Brennan shifts so her head is on Booth's lap. Her eyes droop closed, but she fights the exhaustion.
"It's really quite unfair."
The agent sighs, knowing what she means. "Why do we get two babies while Hannah loses hers? Fate can be cruel sometimes."
Brennan yawns, fighting a losing battle against her body. "There's...no... such thing...as fate..."
Her voice fades away as she drifts off.
Booth smooths down her hair and pulls a blanket over her body. Looking at the closed door to his room, he mumbles softly to himself.
"I'm not so sure Bones."
So Hannah is facing a calamity that I wish no mother ever had to face. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. As always, I love reviews
~AG13