CHAPTER 53. Doctors & Nurses
When you're in love you never really know whether your elation comes from the qualities of the one you love, or if it attributes them to her; whether the light which surrounds her like a halo comes from you, from her, or from the meeting of your sparks.
- Natalie Clifford Barney
Angela and the squints bundled into her car as Booth and the paramedics helped Brennan into the ambulance.
The journey to the hospital was painstaking, and if you had tried to cut the tension with a knife you would find the blade irrefutably broken.
Goodman had to drive; Angela was weeping on Hodgins' shoulder and Cam and Zach could only stare blankly out of the windows.
No-one dared to speak, not that there was much that they could say anyway; except for Hodgins who was desperately trying to console his wife.
They stormed through the doors, frantic for an update on Brennan's condition. The receptionist gave them the directions to Brennan's room but refused to tell them her status. They followed her instructions and were in the waiting room within minutes.
When the arrived they found a restless looking Booth; pacing outside of the door to the delivery room. At the sight of his tearstained cheeks, Angela immediately reverted to crying again.
Cam gathered Angela up in her arms and Hodgins walked over to Booth's side, slapping his back gently as a silent offering of his support. Zach and Goodman sat down anxiously.
"How is she?" Hodgins asked, trying to hide the grave tinge in his voice, unsure of the right thing to say.
"I don't know. They won't let me in to see her, Jack. I promised her I'd be there," Booth mumbled, swatting at his tears with the back of his hand.
"Dr. B knows you're there for her. She'll know you put up as much of a fight as you could to be in there with her," Hodgins uttered, sitting Booth down in one of the stiff, plastic chairs the hospital so thoughtfully provided.
Booth shook his head before dropping it into his hands, a look of defeat spread across his face. "This is all my fault. It's all because I was an idiot after our stupid fight. What the hell is wrong with me?" he cursed, glancing up at Hodgins as if he expected him to provide the answer.
"Come on, buddy, we all know that Bren is a workaholic. That is probably more of a factor than the exchange of a few harsh words," Hodgins said, attempting to calm his friend.
"That's not fair," Booth snapped, a little too angrily, "true; she is very task oriented and often gets wrapped up in her job, but she has got a lot better. If it wasn't for her, there is no way your team would function. This is not her fault; don't even dare to put any of the blame on her."
Hodgins smiled wisely. "Sorry, man," he whispered.
"Why are you smiling?" Booth frowned, finding the grin from Hodgins a little disturbing considering their situation.
"I'm just grateful. Dr. B really got lucky when she found you," Hodgins explained.
Booth found an equal grin spreading to his own face and he shook his head. "I am so incredibly fortunate to be married to her," he said, pausing to sigh, "somehow I always seem to mess it all up though."
Hodgins looked at Booth sympathetically. "Well, you must be doing something right. The good doctor is head over heels for you," Goodman murmured quietly.
After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, one of the nurses emerged from the Brennan's room. Booth jumped out of his seat and went over to her.
"How is she?" Booth quizzed, shaking like a leaf but desperately trying to regain composure.
The nurse offered him a tender glance, resting her hand on his shoulder. "Both mother and daughter are healthy and stable. They'll have to stay in for a few nights for precautionary observation, but the baby is a satisfactory weight and therefore an incubator will not be necessary," the nurse informed them.
The others gathered around as she spoke. "One person may go in and see them. The others will have to wait until tomorrow morning I'm afraid," she said regretfully.
Relief filtered onto Booth's face and he squeezed Angela into a hug.
"Go make sure that our girl is alright," Cam whispered, gesturing for Booth to go inside.
"Congratulations, dude," Hodgins cried, slapping him on the back enthusiastically.
Booth thanked them, then pushed through the door; past the delivery room and into the second room down the corridor.
Brennan's eyes were closed when he entered and his heart thumped vigorously in his chest.
He padded over to the bed, smoothing his hand over Brennan's ruffled tresses. They were slightly damp still, and her face was glowing. Her lids shot open in reaction to his touch and she pulled herself up in the bed.
Booth's eyelids were straining against their watery contents and when she saw his face above her, her diamond blue orbs found themselves filled with their own tears.
"Seeley," she whispered, the sound of her voice revealing her exhaustion. Her lips curved up into a delighted smile.
"Hey, Bones," he replied, settling into the visitor's chair beside her bed. He pressed a soft kiss onto her forehead and beamed at her.
"I thought you hadn't come," she confessed quietly, biting her lip.
"I'm sorry, Tempe. I tried everything I could to be in there with you but the staff wouldn't let me. I even flashed the good old FBI badge; they wouldn't budge," he explained.
"But what about the thing that I said," she choked, "I thought I had lost you." He reached forward and clutched her hand firmly between his clenching fingers.
"Bones, I completely overreacted. I've had a lot of issues with Rebecca recently and I just flipped. I didn't mean to take it out on you. I will never, ever stop loving you, or being in love with you. I'm so sorry. I'd have never forgiven myself if something had happened to you or our baby because I was so selfish," he said, his words dripping with guilt.
Brennan shook her head in protest, drawing his hand up to her lips. "You and Angela were right. I was working far too hard and that is the reason this happened. It doesn't matter though, Seeley. None of it matters. The only thing that does is the fact that I love you, and that we have another beautiful daughter," Brennan sniffed, "you haven't even looked at her yet, Booth." She gave him a questioning look.
"I know, Bones, and I'm dying to see her. But I need you to understand that the reason I want to be with you is not because of her, or Parker, or Violet. It's because I love you with everything that I have," he explained sincerely.
She beamed at him and leaned forward, pressing her lips against his tightly; easing into his arms and then softening the kiss. "It's the same for me too, Seeley," she whispered, pouring her love into their embrace, "now please go and bring over our daughter. I want to see her properly; the nurses took her out of my arms before I had a chance to."
Booth pulled her closer for another kiss before releasing her and walking over to the hospital crib; gazing down into its depths.
His eyes were invaded with fresh droplets as he picked up the sleeping parcel, carrying her over to her mother.
He ran a finger softy over the baby's perfect features. She was much smaller than Violet had been, and he felt as if she might break if he gripped her too strongly. There would be no chance of her going on a date before the age of forty if he had anything to do with it.
Brennan was inching forward in the bed; eager to see her daughter. Booth could see that Brennan was even more nervous about their baby than he was, so he gently slipped her into Brennan's waiting arms.
Brennan's face shone with the most breathtaking smile he had ever seen and for the first time that night he felt utterly complete.
"She's beautiful, Bones," he whispered, and as the words left his mouth the baby's eyes flickered open, illuminating her profile.
Amelia Grace Booth was the spitting image of Parker, except for the fact that she had a sprinkling of brown hair and her mother's glittering blue eyes.
"Seeley, she's tiny," Brennan murmured, her eyes wide with worry as she stared down at the small being that she already loved so much.
"I know, Tempe, but the nurse said that she's healthy, and she's heavy enough to not have to be in the baby unit," Booth told her, "I'm so proud of you, Bones."
Brennan grinned widely. Her lids started to grow impossibly heavy and Booth noticed that sleep was silently begging to take over. He pressed a tender kiss between her brows and then shuffled Amelia into his arms.
Brennan straightened up and stretched her arms out. "Booth, I was only resting my eyes for a moment. Please let me hold her again," Brennan begged, her eyes wide like two blazing spheres.
"Bones, your whole body is crying out for a bit of shut eye. You can go to sleep for a bit. Amelia and I will still be right here when you wake up. I won't let anything happen to her," Booth promised.
Brennan lowered her head to the pillow; a second wave of tiredness instantly rushing over her.
Booth's finger was encased inside Amelia's hand and he beamed, gazing down at his daughter. It was almost eerie the way her eyes spoke to him; just like her mother's.
"Hello, Amelia. I'm your daddy," he smiled, wiggling the finger that rested amongst hers.
"And that's your mommy," he whispered, tilting Amelia in his arms so that she was facing Brennan, "she's asleep at the moment because you really tired her out. I should probably let you in on a few secrets about her while we're alone."
"She pretends to be really tough, but really she is the most caring person I have ever met. That doesn't mean she's not strong though – far from it. She's independent and driven, and once she sets her sights on something she always gets it," Booth described passionately.
"She's stubborn and she never gives in; except to you and your brother and sister who she'd do anything for. She loves you all more than you can ever imagine, and somehow I managed to get lucky enough to be the one she loves; even though most of the time I don't deserve it," he sighed.
"And don't you ever let her know that I said this but she's always right – always. You kids are the most blessed people in the world to have her as your mommy, and I am the luckiest guy," he gushed.
"Yes, I am always right. Now, Seeley Booth, stop spouting mushiness before you scar our child for life. I'll never get to sleep at this rate," Brennan grumbled playfully, batting one eyelid open. Booth was shocked and his face turned noticeably crimson.
Brennan sensed Booth's discomfort and laughed softly. "Don't ever think you aren't worthy of my love, Seeley. You're the only one I'll ever give it to," she whispered hoarsely, "now I really am going to sleep this time, so keep the noise down. I love you."
She closed her eye and held out her left hand to him, which he immediately took in his own. "I love you too, Temperance. We both do," Booth grinned, allowing her to drift off into her dreams.
This chapter is dedicated to: stupid.lamb.24
Pendants for everyone. :D
A review would be unexplainable.
