No one remains quite what he was when he recognizes himself. ~Thomas Mann
Twelve
Brennan paced outside of Booth's hospital room. She waited patiently for the doctor to come out and speak with her. The past two days, although brought a sense of relief, have been a whirlwind of emotions and facing feelings that she was foreign to.
She smiled as she thought about seeing everyone. Even though everything had changed over the past couple of years, it was a relief to know that everyone could seem to stop their lives and come together.
This was family.
Brennan allowed her mind to drift towards Parker as a smile grew across her face. He had been so brave and mature for a boy his age, it worried Brennan slightly. She hoped that he did not grow up too quickly, for she knew all too well that sometimes this would happen with the absence of a parent. He had seemed to be a fine young man, so Brennan shrugged it off and made a mental note to ask Parker about it later.
The doctor stepped out of Booth's room and smiled warmly at Brennan. He updated her of his progress, as he had seemed to double his healing since he had come to DC. Brennan asked a couple of routine questions and walked back into Booth's room.
She stopped at the entrance to his room and leaned on the door frame. She still could not believe he was here, right in front of her. Science had always been her love, her stability, but when Booth came into her life, things changed.
It was easier to love something tangible.
When Booth had gone missing, so did the foundation that she had built in him, for them. It took so long to build that life and with one phone call, it all went away.
Brennan watched Booth sleep and couldn't help but furrow her eyebrows. A panic arose within her core and she became very worried.
She shook her head and scolded herself instantly. This was not going to be about her.
It would be about Booth.
She had to do it, for him.
There wasn't anything that she wouldn't do for her partner, her best friend.
Brennan was brought out of her thoughts when she thought she heard someone crying. Looking over at Booth, she watched him sleep a restless sleep.
His hands tensed and his whole face contorted with looks of pain. He brought his arms towards his body and began to shake.
Brennan's eyes widened and she ran to Booth's beside. She allowed her hands to hover over his body, not knowing what to do.
"Booth?" Brennan leaned forward and whispered. "Booth, it's alright."
Booth continued to thrash about whimpering like he was in pain. Brennan tried to revive him from his slumber, but the nightmare seemed to consume every reason of his existence.
"NO!" Booth finally verbalized. He reached around and grabbed Brennan's hand like a vice. Brennan almost screamed in pain as he held on to her hand for dear life.
Brennan tried to wake Booth, with no success. He continued his terror and verbalized things uncontrollably.
"Please, don't…I need you." Booth threw his arms up. "Parker! Parker, I'm sorry. You need…DAD!"
Brennan didn't know what to do, or what to think so she tried to really wake him up.
"Booth! BOOTH!" Brennan yelled.
Nurses came into the room and held down Booth's arms, so he didn't hurt himself or others. Brennan placed her hand on his face and tapped it gently.
"Please Booth, I need you to hear-"
"AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Booth screeched throughout the ICU.
Brennan stepped back and placed her hands up to her face. Never in her life had she felt so helpless as she watched her partner struggle. The doctor ran into the room and frowned. He went over to the IV and upped the dosage currently running through his body.
Booth still moved around for the next minute. He began to settle down, but continued on with his rambling thoughts.
"Can't do…need rest…please…NO!" Booth cried softly.
Then he said something that shocked Brennan.
"Bones…should not have…left…me…"
Booth's voice trailed off as the meds began to kick in.
Brennan felt her heart leave her chest and felt extremely trapped. She looked at Booth, with his words ringing through her ears, turned and ran out of the ICU.