Finally, I'm back! Lots planned, little written, but I'm making up for lost time :-)

A vacation is a time for visiting old friends...

Thursday Morning

It was just after nine-thirty when Brennan and Parker arrived at the hospital. As Brennan held the small boy's hand and navigated the long corridors she wondered whether Booth would be sitting on his bed waiting for someone to collect him.

He wasn't. He was semi-reclined in bed, looking pale and tired. He gave them a weak smile as they entered the room.

"Parker! Hey, come here, Bub!" He held out his uninjured arm to welcome his son in a hug. Parker moved forward reluctantly, awed by the machines attached to his dad, but clambered on the bed happily enough to give him a cuddle. Brennan saw Booth wincing in pain and went to lift Parker off, but Booth held him close. "It's all right, Bones, just give us a minute, will you?" She stepped back and watched as the boy chattered happily.

"Daddy, we had 'Donald's for breakfast, and I slept in your bed, and are you coming home now?"

"I wish I could, Parker, but the doctors won't let me." Booth shifted position, looking uncomfortable.

"Judging by your appearance, that seems a perfectly reasonable conclusion to me." Brennan frowned at him.

Booth looked at Brennan properly for the first time since they had arrived. "There's a problem with my shoulder," he explained. "I don't know what it is exactly, they threw all sorts of medical mumbo-jumbo at me. But there was something about infection and bleeding and they might need to operate again."

"That doesn't sound too good. Have they said when?"

"They're checking me again in an hour." Booth turned his attention back to Parker, who was trying to get his attention. "Okay, Bub, hang on a minute, then you can tell me all about what you've been up to."

Brennan could see he was in pain, so she picked Parker up and sat him in the chair next to his dad, ignoring protests from both father and son. "Be gentle, Parker, or you'll hurt your dad's shoulder," she scolded gently. He pouted and wriggled on the chair, but stayed where he was put.

"Now, what's this about sleeping in my bed and having McDonald's for breakfast?" Booth asked.

Brennan flushed. "He wouldn't settle in his own bed, so he ended up in with me, I'm sorry," she said. "And your couch looked too uncomfortable to sleep on, so I took your bed. I hope you don't mind."

Booth shrugged as best he could with one shoulder. "Not to worry," he assured her. "He's done it to me sometimes. And I agree, that couch is not the best place to sleep." He gave her a rueful smile, and suddenly the last few hours seemed more worthwhile.

"Oh, and who is Baba?" Brennan remembered to ask. "He kept asking for Baba, but I didn't know what he meant."

Booth raised an eyebrow. "You couldn't find Baba and you got him to sleep at all? I'm impressed, Bones. Baba is a small yellow rabbit. He'll be in Parker's bag somewhere; no way would Rebecca send him without. Try checking inside his clothes, Parker has a habit of dressing him up."

Brennan nodded and made a mental note to search Parker's belongings thoroughly for a small yellow rabbit. "Oh, and the McDonald's was because we couldn't find anything in the house that he would eat," she explained, fighting back the tone of reproach she heard in her voice.

Booth flushed. "Sorry, I meant to go shopping." He thought for a moment. "You've got my wallet, haven't you? In my jacket pocket?"

Brennan nodded.

"Take some money out of it and get whatever you need. I'm really sorry, Bones, you must have had a tough time with him."

Brennan shook her head, refusing to admit just how tired she was, and just how frustrating she had found the past day or so. She stood watching as father and son talked for a few minutes, but Booth was looking more and more exhausted and soon Brennan put her hand on Parker's shoulders. "Come on," she said, trying to sound cheerful. "I think we need to let your dad have some rest. We'll come back later and see him when he's feeling better."

Booth protested, but seeing how ill he looked Brennan refused to give in to him. "Later, Booth, I promise," she reassured him, scooping a complaining Parker up in her arms. She felt horribly guilty as she took him away, feeling sure that Booth must be able to hear Parker whining and protesting all the way back down the corridor.

"I feel terrible, Angela," Brennan confessed half an hour later, as she sat on the couch in her office drinking coffee with her friend. Parker sat contentedly at her desk, drawing pictures with some pens and paper Angela had found for him. "I offered to look after Parker because I thought it would help Booth out, but instead he's stuck in hospital feeling ill, and all I can do for him is yell at his son and make them both miserable."

"You are helping them, sweetie," Angela reassured her. "I'm sure Booth appreciates what you're doing for him."

"He hardly noticed I was there." Trying not to sound self-pitying, she went on hurriedly, "And I've got to speak to Goodman and tell him I need tomorrow off too."

"Does Booth know when they'll discharge him?"

"No, I'm going to ring after lunch and see how he is. He might have had this new surgery by then. He might be out tomorrow, but I can't count on it."

"At least it will be the weekend after that," Angela pointed out.

"I'm supposed to be getting a load of writing done this week, I'm behind on my schedule, but I'm so tired I can't stay up and write tonight, and I can't get anything done while Parker's running around." Brennan glanced over at the child, who was still happily occupied with a bright red pen.

Dr. Goodman appeared at the door. "Our guests are here, Dr. Brennan," he said cheerfully. "Do you have that report you promised me? I'd like a quick look before we officially hand it over, if I may."

"Yes, Dr. Goodman." Brennan jumped up and went to the desk, returning with a brown manila folder that she handed to her boss. "Uh, Dr. Goodman? Booth is going to be in hospital for at least another day, so is it okay with you if I take tomorrow off as well? Or I could bring Parker into work if you'd prefer," she added at her boss's frown.

He held up a sheet of paper from the report. The closely typed sheet was now adorned around the margins with a colourful family of smiling faces. "I don't think that would be a good idea, Dr. Brennan," he said dryly. "I suggest you take whatever time off is necessary until Booth is fully recovered and once more able to deal with his own childcare. I know I can trust you to make up the work where necessary."

Brennan flushed with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Parker must have..." She looked down at the child, who was gazing solemnly up at her with those big brown eyes that were so like his father's. "I'll print another copy." She dived towards the desk, rescuing more papers from under Parker's poised felt-tip.

Dr. Goodman nodded curtly at her. "I suggest you make haste, Dr. Brennan." He turned on his heel and left the doorway.

Brennan looked in despair at Angela, who was fighting to hold back laughter. "See what I mean?" she hissed. "He's a little monster!"

Angela sobered, and moved to put an arm round her friend's shoulders. "Sweetie," she said. "You're tired, and you're worried and upset about Booth, and Parker is not used to you, and you've never cared for a child in your life – I'm not surprised you're finding it a bit much to handle."

Brennan straightened up and squared her shoulders, thrusting her bottom jaw forward in determination. "I can handle it," she assured Angela. "I have a steep learning curve, and if I can track through China avoiding the Red Army I'm sure I can handle a four year old child."

Angela clapped her hands in mock admiration. "You go, girl," she said encouragingly. "I'm sure you'll cope just fine. Now you'd better sort out your printouts and go off to your meeting, and let me worry about Parker for a while."

I really appreciate all the reviews. Keep them coming please :-)

Don't be afraid to tell me of anything you feel didn't work for you, as well as anything that did.