A/N: Just so you know, I know nothing about gunshot wounds or hospital policies beside what I've seen on television. Bear with me here, folks. Just focus on the characters and not the technicalities, and we'll get through this just fine. :)

Also, the third installment of The Weekend is under construction. I'm on vacation, and that plus writer's block is making that a bit difficult. But I'm working on it, and I'll hopefully have that up soon!

--

It had all happened so fast.

Guilt.

She remembered feeling guilty.

After all, she'd spoken with Frank Armstrong at the crime scene. She'd read his file.

He wasn't a dangerous man. He didn't have a violent personality.

He had been polite, respectful, and sorry, damnit. He'd seemed sincere.

But when Booth pulled his badge, Frank had pulled a gun, firing a bullet into her partner's thigh.

She remembered not even considering chasing after him, even when Booth told her to.

She remembered calling 911 with the cell phone he pressed into her hand.

She remembered screaming at the paramedics until they'd let her ride in the ambulance.

And she remembered gripping Booth's hand with her own as she uttered words of reassurance.

Whether they were meant for his ears or her own, neither could tell.

--

Now she was waking in the hospital room of her partner and friend, her head resting on her arms, folded atop the bedsheets. She blinked to clear her eyes as the events of the night before came flooding back to her.

"Hey, Bones."

Brennan jumped slightly at his voice, sitting up straight to face him.

"You fell asleep."

"So did you." He smirked at her remark. "Why didn't they ask me to leave?"

Booth shrugged. "I told the nurse you were my wife. She seemed to buy it."

"Oh," she replied, blushing slightly before remembering why she was there in the first place. "Have you heard anything yet? About… you know." Without finishing, she gestured lamely at his leg.

"Nothing major. They got the bullet out fine. I was lucky."

"How long are you here for?"

"Awhile. They've gotta make sure it's not infected. Once I'm decently healed up, I can go. But I'll have physical therapy after that." He cleared his throat. "I, uh, probably won't be working for awhile."

"Oh," she bowed her head, slightly embarrassed that she couldn't come up with anything better to say. The silence that settled over them was on the verge of awkward. Brennan took a deep breath. "I… I called Rebecca."

Booth shook his head, trying to stifle his anger as he spoke. "Why would you do that, Bones?"

"She should know what happened, Booth. Parker should know what happened."

"She thinks I'm an unfit father and me being here proves her right! Bones, she thinks what I do is dangerous."

"What you do is dangerous." Brennan stated matter-of-factly.

Booth wiped a hand over his face, frustrated. "What did you say to her?"

"I told her what happened."

He paused, averting his eyes. "And Parker?"

Brennan scooted her chair almost imperceptibly closer to his bedside. She sighed, leaning forward. "She refuses to bring him," she told him quietly.

Booth put his face in his hands for a moment, trying to hide the tears in his eyes. His partner picked up on the tenderness of the situation. She pulled her cell phone out of her purse and stood. "I'll call her again."

Before he had time to at least give a weak protest, she was out the door.

--

Out in the hall, Brennan seated herself in one of the waiting stations situated right outside of Booth's room. She pressed redial on her phone and held it to her ear. It rang only once before the same cheery voice from merely hours ago answered. "Hello?"

"Rebecca? It's Dr. Brennan again. I was just wondering if-"

The click on the other end of the line answered her unfinished question, and she angrily jabbed at the end key, muttering hateful words under her breath. Sighing, she pressed redial once more. The "Hello?" was slightly less cheerful this time, as if Rebecca knew who was calling.

Or maybe she was just hearing things.

Before she could stop herself, she was speaking hostilely into the phone. "What is wrong with you?"

"Excuse me?"

"You are keeping a father from his child."

"Parker doesn't need to see Seeley like that."

The way Booth's first name rolled off the woman's tongue made Brennan want to gag. "Like what? Like a man who was injured trying to do the right thing?"

"You don't understand-"

"Booth is in the hospital! He has a right to see his son! There isn't anything to understand. Bring Parker here or I swear to God I will hunt you down and bring him here myself. Do you understand?"

The women gave an annoyed sigh and curt response of "Fine," before hanging up.

Brennan returned her phone to her purse, giving the staring patrons a steely glare as she returned to Booth's room. As she shut the door behind her, he spoke.

"Well, you really told her."

She bit her bottom lip. "You heard?"

Booth chuckled. "You were… a little loud." As his smile faded, he asked quietly, "So…?"

Brennan nodded, giving him a small smile. "She's bringing him down."

--

TBC...

Only if you want. I could leave it here, but I'd like to hear what y'all think.