Everything was coming together nicely. The hospital room was still dingy, but Aubrey had managed to find some nice decorations to hang around the room. He had not only gotten some real food for everyone to eat, but he had even found a lovely looking cake. Hodgins had arrived back at the hospital just a moment after Aubrey, carrying the bag and box Booth had asked him to get, and Cam had told him that Angela and Brennan would be back in less than half an hour. His hastily concocted plan was coming together exactly as he had envisioned it.
"Booth, where do you want me to put this box?" Hodgins asked.
"I'll take it. I doubt I'll be able to reach it otherwise," answered Booth. He took the small box from his friend and tucked it safely beneath his pillows.
"Booth? Are you okay?" demanded Brennan a couple of minutes later as she rushed into the room. They could all hear Angela coming up the hall, trying to slow her friend down.
"I'm fine, Bones. I just missed you, that's all," said Booth as sincerely as he could, knowing that that wasn't the real reason he had asked for her to come back early.
Brennan smiled and slowed herself. "I missed you, too," she said as she climbed up next to him and wrapped him in a soft hug.
"Actually, Bones? There's something I wanted to show you."
Brennan let go of Booth and looked at him, concern clouding her eyes. "Okay..."
"There's something important that I've been wanting to show you for a while now." Booth took a breath and pulled the box from under his pillow. "I had planned to do something more romantic for this. With the situation I'm in, it looks like I might be here a while, and I really don't want to wait any longer than I have. I've already passed the day I wanted to do this on."
"Booth?"
"This is for you, Bones," said Booth, handing over the box. "Happy birthday."
Brennan smiled and opened the box. "Booth! This is... it's..."
"Do you like it?"
"I love it! Thank you." Brennan reached into the box and pulled out a silver necklace chain. A small charm hung from the bottom, and she traced over the word with her finger. "Bones..." she whispered before throwing her arms around Booth and hugging him as tightly as she dared.
"You're welcome," said Booth once Brennan let go. "Do you want to wear it?"
Brennan handed over the necklace. "I'll never take it off, Booth."
"Well, I hope you won't. I think it looks perfect on you."
"Booth's right, sweetie," said Angela, "it is perfect."
"I completely forgot about my birthday while we were searching for you, Booth," said Brennan. "I didn't even care about it. It's not much of a great day if my fiance isn't there to help me celebrate it."
"Well, with the help of everyone here, I've organised a birthday party for you."
"How did you manage this when I haven't left... That's why Angela suddenly needed my help, isn't it?"
"Guilty as charged," grinned Booth. "I had to get rid of you for a while to do all of this, and I figured you could use some girl time. Two birds with one stone."
"I don't need a party..."
"You were going to get one, regardless of where I was. I was actually finalising everything when I was grabbed. So, maybe it's not what I really wanted to do for you, but it's still a party of sorts. I hope you enjoy this," said Booth as Aubrey placed the birthday cake he had found on the rolling table.
Almost an hour later, Booth was starting to feel tired. He hadn't thought that it was possible to use that much energy while just sitting in bed. He needed to end the party. He was about to get everyone's attention when Aubrey's phone rang.
"Yeah... Okay, I understand... Really? That's great news!... I'm on my way," said Aubrey before pocketing his phone. "Uh, sorry everyone, but I need to go. We just got our suspect into interrogation, and boy, do I have a lot to say to him."
"What suspect?" asked Booth.
"The one that did this to you, actually. I asked to be kept informed, regardless of the time of day or night. I want to throw this jerk in prison for the rest of his life... Er... I mean, I want to do my job and make sure justice is served."
"We know exactly what you mean, Aubrey," said Angela. "Go, we'll save you some cake for later. Make sure that the idiot that's responsible for Booth's injuries never sees the sun again."