Booth paces the floor of the hospital impatiently as Brennan sits nervously on an uncomfortable plastic chair. The clicking of heels draws both their attention and a tired and emotionally drawn Rebecca heads towards them.
"Seely." Rebecca sighs.
"How is he?" Booth asks.
"The Doctor says he's hit his head badly. There could be bleeding." She almost sobs. "It was an accident, he just tripped and fell down the stairs." She explains again. Booth heard it all on the phone but in broken sentences due to her panic. "I didn't know he was awake. I couldn't help him." She almost collapses against Booth and he wraps her in his arms. Brennan knows she shouldn't be feeling it but a little bubble of jealousy starts in her stomach and climbs into her chest.
"It's alright, he's going to be okay. I know he will." Booth says firmly as he rests his chin on Rebecca's head. Watching them, Brennan can't help but feel how much like a couple they look. Both worrying over their child. She feels like an outside, like an intruder. Rising to her feet she walks over to them.
"Can I get either of you a coffee?" she asks softly. Rebecca shakes her head, not moving from Booth's arms.
"Yeah, coffee sounds good." Booth cracks a smile and Brennan nods, heading off down the hall to the coffee machine she knows is around the corner.
When Brennan returns a few minutes later with two coffees in her hand Booth is alone, sitting on a plastic chair, his head hanging.
"Booth?" she asks as she approaches. He glances up and offers her a weak smile.
"Thanks Bones." He says gratefully as she hands him a strong black coffee.
"Any news?" she asks.
"Rebecca is in with him, he's still unconscious." Booth sighs.
"He'll pull through, he's strong, like his dad." She says softly as she sits next to him.
"Bones, about earlier." Booth starts.
"It's alright. That can wait." She says reluctantly. She doesn't want it to wait. She and Booth just confessed their love for each other and now they can't do anything about it. She's afraid he'll pull back now that they've had some space to process things.
"Parker's what matters now." She adds. Booth takes her hand in his and brings it to his lips. He kisses the palm of her hand and holds on tight.
Brennan wakes suddenly and with a jolt and sits up, feeling a pain in her shoulders and neck from sleeping upright. For a moment she doesn't remember where she is. Then she takes in the cold white walls and clinical smell. Parker she remembers. Looking around she doesn't see Booth or Rebecca anywhere. Unsure what to do she rises and goes to find breakfast. The vending machines down the hall carried some snacks. Perhaps not the healthiest but it's better than nothing. In her absence, Booth emerges from Parker's room and sits down heavily on a chair. He sees Brennan has gone and he wonders if she's taken off. Afraid to see me after last night? He wonders. He gets his answer when a few minutes later a very tired looking Brennan comes back with fresh coffees and bagged snacks in her hands.
"Booth." She sounds surprised to see him.
"Hey, I thought you left." He sighs.
"I'm not going anywhere." She tells him. "Here." Handing him a coffee she sits down. "How is he?" she asks.
"He woke up." Booth smiles. "He's in pain but the doctor says he'll be fine. The scans came back clear." Brennan nods with relief.
"Is Rebecca with him?" Booth nods in response. He looks at Brennan and reaches over, taking her empty hand in his tenderly. They stare into each other's eyes, unaware of Rebecca watching them from Parker's doorway. She takes in the way they are looking at each other, they way he holds her hand and rubs his thumb over her skin. They're in love she knows.
"Seely." She says clearly, snapping the two from their moment.
"Rebecca, I can…" Booth starts, realising he and Brennan have been caught out.
"You don't need to explain Seely." she sighs. "Can I talk to you, privately for a minute?" she asks. Booth glances at Brennan who nods and pulls her hand back from his. He rises and follows Rebecca down the hall. Curious, Brennan watches as Rebecca talks to Booth. She can see his reaction and from the looks it it's good news. She waits for Booth to return which he does within minutes. She fights back the urge to ask him what Rebecca said, not feeling like she has any right to. But she doesn't need to ask. Booth tells her right away.
"Rebecca is calling her lawyer." He says. "She's agreed to let me take Parker for two weekends a month, two weeks during the summer and a week before Christmas and a week at Easter." Booth looks ecstatic.
"Wow, what changed her mind?" Brennan asks.
"She told me that seeing me with you showed how I've changed." He shakes his head in disbelief. "She knows you lied for me and said that if I have someone in my life willing to do that I must be worth it. She also said that nearly losing him made her realize what she was doing to me, depriving me of my son."
"She said that?" Brennan is now the one who doesn't believe it.
"She's having the lawyer contact the judge to tell him we don't need a decision on the case."
"Booth, I'm really happy for you."
"This wouldn't have happened without you Bones." Booth says softly. He cups her cheek with his hand and strokes her soft skin with his thumb. "I have to stay here but you should go get some proper rest." He tells her. "I'll call you later and we can…talk." Brennan nods and somewhat reluctantly pulls away from Booth. As she makes her way down the hall she glances back to see him watching her, a smile on his face. This is too perfect she thinks.
When Brennan gets back to her apartment she has several messages waiting for her. All from Angela.
"Sweetie, it's after eight, where are you?" is the first message. Then there's the beep of the machine to signal the next message.
"Bren, I've tried your cell too, where are you? Are you okay?" Angela sounds a little worried. Again the beep of the machine.
"Seriously Bren, where are you, it's nine and I'm worried." Now Angela sounds very worried. One more beep.
"Right, I'm coming over." is Angela's final message. Brennan sighs and realizes that Angela is probably on her way over right now. How do I explain everything that's happened?she thinks.
Barely having time to put her bag down, Brennan hears a frantic knock on her apartment door. Angela. Brennan slowly crosses the room and pulls the door open. Angela stands with one hand on her hip looking a little annoyed that Brennan isn't dead or something.
"So you are alive then." She comments. "Bren, I've been worried sick." Angela steps into the apartment.
"I'm sorry Angela, I was tied up." Brennan says.
"With what?"
"Booth." Brennan sighs.
"Oh my God, spill." Angela gushes.
"It's not like that Ange." Brennan protests. "Well it is a little." She allows a smile to curl at her lips. "I went over to Booth's. I needed to talk to him about court."
"I thought it went well." Angela flops down on the couch and watches Brennan intently.
"It did, kind of." Brennan sighs and sits down next to Angela. "I lied." She admits.
"In court? About what?" Angela asks.
"My feelings for Booth. Rebecca's lawyer asked if I was in love with him because he thought if I was it would cloud my judgement." She pauses. "I said no."
"Then…" it dawns on Angela. "I knew it sweetie, I knew it." She beams a smile and grabs Brennan's hands.
"Last night I went to Booth's to tell him the truth."
"I can't believe it." Angela gasps.
"Neither can I, I don't know what came over me. I felt so guilty for lying in court." Brennan shakes her head. "I admitted my feelings and he told me he feels the same way."
"And you've been at his all night?" Angela asks with expectation.
"No." Brennan sighs. "I've been at the hospital." Angela looks at her confused. "Rebecca called him, Parker had an accident. He fell down the stairs and hit his head."
"Oh my God, is he alright?" Angela asks.
"He'll be fine, just a bad concussion."
"How's Booth?"
"Fine now, especially since Rebecca agreed to give him more time with Parker."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously." Brennan repeats.
"So what about you and Booth? Is he a good kisser?" Angela grins.
"I wouldn't know." Brennan sighs regretfully.
"He hasn't kissed you?"
"Rebecca's phone call interrupted us."
"Oh."
"he's calling later."
"Oh." Angela says again.
"What is with the 'ohs'?" Brennan asks.
"You can't leave things hanging like this."
"I know Ange." Brennan replies. "I know."