Brennan's on a mission to track down Dr. Brooks. Of course, the simplest solution would be to have the surgeon paged, but she's not thinking clearly at the moment. She's worried about Parker and preoccupied with her plan. She finally finds the doctor in the lounge. She barges in, despite the 'Hospital Personnel Only' sign on the door window.
The four other occupants in the room, excluding Dr. Brooks, look at Brennan, clearly annoyed and with 'You can't be here' on the tip of their tongues. She ignores them, stalking over to Dr. Brooks, who's at the coffeemaker listening to music, oblivious. Brennan taps on her shoulder and waits.
Dr. Brooks jumps and turns around. She removes her right earbud, then her left, and smiles. "Oh, Dr. Brennan, hello, uh, what are you doing in here?"
"I need to ask a favor. It's about Parker."
Dr. Brooks nods. "Is everything okay?" She sits on the couch and motions for Brennan to join her.
Brennan sits down, crossing her ankles and twisting her body towards the surgeon. "As you know, he's starting to get up and walk around. He's gotten a little bit farther each time he's attempted to make it down the hallway, which is to be expected. Today he made it more than halfway, farther than he's ever walked, but his legs gave out on him and he appears to have re-fractured his clavicle."
"Oh my."
"He's going for x-rays at the present moment." Brennan pauses. "I'm wondering if there was any way you could discharge him early. It's a lot to ask and I know there are a lot of factors that determine whether Parker can be discharged; however, I believe his recovery has been satisfactory so far and he's improving daily. He's standing for longer than two minutes and has walked a total distance of five and a half meters since he took his first steps six days ago. I am not a medical doctor, of course, but to me, given his minimal mobility for the past two months, that is sufficient progress and warrants the consideration of an early discharge."
Dr. Brooks just sits back and listens.
"I ensure you that Booth and I will continue Parker's recovery once he's home and he will return to the hospital for physical therapy twice a week as recommended by you, Dr. Hunter, and Dr. Reagan. I just fail to see the need to keep him here longer when he's recovering quite remarkably. Sure, he has yet to finish walking the full length of the hallway, but I don't see how that will prove anything new than what he has already showed you." Brennan pauses. "I'm done."
"I'm sorry to hear about Parker's clavicle. I hope it's nothing serious."
"Dr. Reagan seems to think it is not too serious, but only the x-rays will tell us for sure. For Parker's sake, I hope she's correct. He's been through so much already."
Dr. Brooks nods.
"I need to get back to Booth and Parker, so if you could just respond to my request, I can go find them."
Dr. Brooks smiles. "I will consult with Dr. Reagan and take another look at Parker's most recent tests and scans. I'll get back to you, Dr. Brennan. You'll know my decision by this afternoon."
Brennan stands up and shakes the surgeon's hand. "Thank you." She offers the surgeon a smile and leaves the lounge, not bothering to shut the door behind her.
Dr. Brooks returns to the coffee station and finishes making herself some coffee.
Brennan finds Booth in Parker's hospital room. She knocks and walks in. "How'd the x-rays go?" She asks, casually.
Booth looks up and raises an eyebrow. "Where did you go?" He knew she wasn't going to broach the subject, so he decided to just come out with it. He's over-thinking things...again, so he just wants answers.
She sits on the arm of the chair. "I needed to have a short conversation with Dr. Brooks. I'm back now."
He nods. "I see tha—wait, what kind of conversation? What did you talk to her about? Is this about Parker? Did you see something on his scans that she missed? That Dr. Reagan missed? Bones!"
She places her hand on his shoulder and presses a kiss to his lips to calm him down. She pulls back and smiles. "Relax, Booth. The motivation behind my conversation with Dr. Brooks was indeed about Parker, but it has nothing to do with his scans."
"Huh?"
"I see how hard Parker's been working and all the progress he's made, so I felt compelled to talk to Dr. Brooks about letting him come home early. I don't think it's right that he has to stay in the hospital until he can walk the length of the hallway, which by the way, will not prove or disprove a damn thing. It's just causing him more pain. He's frustrated and I feel that his frustration will only deter him. I asked Dr. Brooks to reevaluate. Parker's already proved that he is well enough and has progressed enough to leave the hospital."
Booth smiles. "You asked Dr. Brooks to let Parker get discharged early?"
"Yes. His hospital stay was necessary in the beginning, but now, I don't see any real benefit to it. There is nothing they can do for him here that you and I cannot do for him at home. We've proven to be quite excellent coaches and caregivers. He can continue his dose of antibiotics at home and he already takes his pain medication by mouth when he feels he needs it. There is no need for him to still be in the hospital."
Booth stands up and cannot resist kissing her. He cups her face delicately in his hands and leans down, his lips brushing against hers. He gives her a soft peck and then intensifies the contact.
She kisses back, parting her lips ever so slightly.
He moans and deepens the kiss further.
She pulls back a little and mumbles, "Do you forgive me for running off without explaining where I was going?"
"I was never mad, Bones, I was confused, and your reason for leaving more than makes up for not telling me where you were going or why," he mutters back, still kissing her.
"I'm awake, you know. That's gross. Get a room," Parker groans.
Booth jumps back and looks at his son. He swallows and wipes his lips. "Sorry, Parks." He sits back down and glances at Brennan, smiling. "Thanks, Bones."
"That kiss was quite satisfying, but you don't have to thank me for that."
Booth laughs. "I didn't mean 'cause of that. I mean 'cause of what you asked Dr. Brooks."
"Oh, yes, well, don't thank me yet, Booth. She said she would consult with Dr. Reagan and take a look at Parker's scans and test results again before she makes her final decision. She informed me that she'll tell us what she has decided by this afternoon."
"It doesn't matter what she decides, Bones." Booth flashes her his trademark smile. "Sometimes I think your heart muscle is ten times bigger than mine."
She shrugs. "I simply saw a problem and devised and executed a plan to solve it."
Parker groans. "Are you two gonna make out again? 'Cause if you are, warn me beforehand, so I can cover my eyes."
Booth laughs and looks at his son. "How's the pain, bub?"
Parker sighs. "It's better with the medicine, but this sucks."
"I know, but the good news is you might be able to come home today or tomorrow, thanks to Bones."
"I'm never going home again, dad."
"Of course you are, Parks. You're not terminally ill. You won't be stuck in the hospital forever."
Brennan nudges her partner because for once, she understands what Parker's trying to say. "He's not being literal, Booth. He is speaking metaphorically. I believe he means that our home is not his home and may never be a place he considers home."
Booth sighs. "Oh." He looks at Parker. "Is that what you mean, buddy?" He knows the answer, but he asks anyway.
Parker doesn't give a verbal answer. He just blinks and looks away, adjusting his sling.
Booth turns to Brennan. "I'm losing it, Bones," he says, referring to the fact that he took his son literally and Brennan, of all people, understood the metaphor.
Brennan nods. "That much is true."
"Not helping."
Brennan lets out a soft nervous laugh. "We'll make it work."
"I love you."
"I know." She pauses and adds, "I love you too, Booth." She lets out a breath and drapes her arm across his shoulders. The two of them make light conversation until Dr. Brooks knocks on the door at three, holding a clipboard.