The response to this story has been incredible, and I thank everyone who has read the chapters, and also the ones who have taken the time to offer a review or comment(s). I am slowing the output just a bit to better develop the ideas I have for the coming days in the quarantine, so I apologize in advance for the delays. I have the next six chapters mapped out and am working on drafting them. I hope you all enjoy this new one. Gregg.
Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Day Four, cont.
Jack Hodgins was not feeling too well. If he didn't know any better, he would swear that that sadistic freak Billy had slipped him something in his food, but he knew that was impossible. Instead, he was left with the inescapable fact that it was likely due to all the constant snacking that he and Billy had been indulging in that day. Let's face it, they had really gone to town on the leftovers, especially the Prime Rib. There wasn't much left to speak of if he was being honest. Looking over at Billy, he could see that the resident sadist was not looking too well, either. Hodgins was praying that there would be no more flatulence from Billy. Even the Man Cave was now a bit ripe from Billy's sensitive digestive system! He would have to have a serious discussion with Angie about her utterly horrible decision to serve that freak liver and onions in the Man Cave!
There was also the dreadful news that Booth was in the hospital and had tested positive for COVID! He was definitely going to have to have a discussion with his totally sadistic father-in-law about dishing out some punishment to Hacker for all this BS! As for himself and the freak, aside from some serious upset stomachs, they had avoided any serious problems thus far, but he didn't quite trust Angie to keep her head on straight and listen to them when they said all was well. If they didn't come across exactly right, then they would wind up just like Booth hooked up to all the machines in creation and isolated in an ICU. Or worse yet, Hodgins would be isolated in a small hospital room with Billy! The Emergency Shelter and the Man Cave were bad enough in terms of being in close proximity to that total Nutbar!
But all that was pure speculation. For the moment all was well in the Man Cave, and he was ready to get some sleep. Looking over at Billy, he could see that the nutbar was fast asleep, and, thankfully, not a sound coming from that hideously sensitive digestive system that had so thoroughly ruined the Emergency Shelter and the Man Cave. How the Hell could a hard-partying rock legend have a sensitive digestive system? Hodgins would never understand that one, but he was definitely going to make sure that there would never again be liver and onions in the Hodgins happy home! The malodorous stench was even permeating the furniture in the Man Cave!
At the Booth home Bones had just got off the phone with the medical staff at the hospital where Booth was currently in isolation. He was doing well, though his low oxygen saturation levels were worrisome. At least he was behaving. She smiled slightly at his whining demands of her to get him out of there and bring him home. Naturally, she could not do that, but if Booth was whining, then she knew he was in reasonably decent shape.
Christine had asked her a number of probing questions regarding COVID-19, and she had done her best to answer them. The nature of the questions, though, clearly indicated that Christine was very worried about her father. Bones herself reverted to questioning in depth anything that caused her worry, so it was natural that her daughter would inherit that trait. Bones had worked hard at answering accurately but taking a page from Booth's abilities with people she had tried to inject a great deal of optimism in her answers to counter the dire images and commentaries that were so pervasive on the news. Hank had not asked too many questions, but then again, she hadn't expected him to as he was not the most questioning person to begin with. He seemed satisfied with seeing Booth on the computer screen.
Booth? He was silently fuming in his hospital bed. He hated being in the hospital, and he had just been informed that Bones had pulled a fast one with the doctors. She had arranged for him to be placed on a clear liquid diet! He just knew she was getting back at him for making a total pig of himself with the leftover Prime Rib! At least he wasn't on a ventilator, though. He'd been informed by Bones that Hacker was still on one in isolation and had also lost his sense of smell. The odds were that he had also lost his sense of taste, but he wasn't eating or drinking anything, so it had to know for sure. He smiled in grim satisfaction. While he didn't want anyone dying from COVID, he sure wanted Hacker to suffer for all this BS. He looked over at the small pitcher of apple juice on his tray table and groaned. He wanted something that would be decadent and thoroughly non-clear! Like a beer! At least he could have all the Jell-O he could dream of. He was going to be having a little chat with Bones regarding his dietary needs in the morning! Sighing, he settled back as comfortably could in this horrid bed and let himself relax. Tomorrow would be another day, and hopefully a much better one than this had turned out to be.
A/N: I wanted a simple chapter to round out the day that peaked in on most of our characters. I have several more chapters almost edited, so I should have another chapter in a few days. I hope everyone is staying safe and doing well. Thank you for all of your encouraging reviews and sticking with this story. Gregg.