(After 'The Next in the Last')

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Oooooooooooooooo

Knocking on the doorframe of Hodgins' office, Brennan held the palm of her right hand against her stomach while she checked her phone for messages. "Hodgins, I need you to do me a favor."

Surprised, Hodgins turned in his chair from his worktable and faced Brennan. "Sure, Dr. B. what's up?"

As calmly as she possibly could, Brennan responded. "Booth is out in the field with Dr. Edison and I think he must be in an area without cell towers. He isn't responding to my messages or email. I need you to drive me home."

"Sure, just let me grab my keys and let Cam know where I'm going." Hodgins removed his lab coat, found his keys near his jacket and pocketed them while he shrugged his jacket on. "Lucky for you, I drove my Prius today." Passing Brennan, he looked down the hallway. "I'll message Angela before we leave the parking lot so she'll know I'm gone."

Once Cam had been informed that Hodgins was taking Brennan home, they made their way to the parking garage and with Hodgins' help, Brennan sat in the passenger side, ready for their trip. After he was in the car, Hodgins messaged his wife to let her know he was going to be gone for an hour or so depending upon traffic, but he'd back as soon as he could. "Okay, not feeling well? I know you'll be happy when the baby gets here."

"I believe I'm labor. I've called the midwife and she will meet me at my house." She checked her phone once more and to her frustration, there was still no reply from Booth.

His throat suddenly dry, Hodgins hesitated before starting his car. "You're in labor?" His voice was unnaturally high and he knew it. Determined to remain calm, he lowered his voice. "I . . . You're in labor? Shouldn't I take you to the hospital?"

"Of course not." Brennan was becoming annoyed. "I need you to start the car and drive me to my house. Time is imperative."

Afraid, Hodgins swallowed, started the car and backed out of his parking spot. Once he was clear, he hit the gas and raced down the ramp.

Her eyes wide with worry, Brennan gasped when Hodgins waited until the last minute to stop as he came to the end of the ramp and checked the street before entering traffic. Her anxiety growing, Brennan leaned back against her seat as Hodgins started to drive abnormally down the city street, weaving in and out of traffic. "Hodgins, I would like to get to my house in one piece. Please drive the speed limit and do not weave in and out of traffic. My water has not broken yet and I have time to get to my house."

Embarrassed that he might be over-reacting, Hodgins slowed down and stayed in the right lane. "Sorry, sorry." When a delivery truck pulled out in front of him from a side street, Hodgins, slammed on his brakes, shook his fist and screamed at the offending driver. "You asshole, what's wrong with you?" Trembling, he glanced at Brennan then back at the rode. "I'm sorry Dr. B. I'm sorry."

"Do not be concerned, Hodgins. He didn't hit us and you didn't hit him." Brennan felt a sharp pain in her stomach and panted through it. Once the pain subsided, she sighed. "I think we should be on our way. The drivers behind us want to continue and so do I." The honking behind them was loud and continuous.

"Yeah." Continuing to drive, Hodgins felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "I'll get you home, Dr. B. Don't worry. You can count on me."

Her eyes on her phone, Brennan nodded her head. "Yes, I know I can."

Ooooooooooooooooooooo

The mid-wife, Lisa Brooks was waiting in the front of the house when Hodgins pulled up into the driveway. With Lisa's help, Hodgins got Brennan out of his car and to her front door. Unlocking the door, Brennan entered the living room followed by Lisa and Hodgins who closed the door behind him. As quickly as they could, Lisa with Hodgins' help prepared the bedroom for the upcoming arrival of the baby. Once that was done, Hodgins moved into the living room and made a call.

Angela Montenegro.

"Babe, it's me. I'm at Brennan's house and she's in labor." Hodgins checked his watch. "Dr. B can't get a hold of Booth. He might be in an area where cell service is spotty. I need you to track him down and get him to come home . . . call the Hoover and talk to Agent Burns. Get him to either send someone after Booth or relay a message to whatever law enforcement agency that's working with him at the crime scene. Dr. B needs Booth, Angie. She's having the baby right now." He knew he was talking fast, but he felt that this was an emergency and he had faith that his wife could perform this miracle and get Booth home in time.

Okay, as soon as I get the ball rolling, I'm coming over there. I'll let Cam know what's going on before I leave.

Relieved, Hodgins ended the call, walked into the kitchen, opened the fridge and removed a bottle of water from the top shelf. After he drank the water, he walked down the hallway and stood in the doorway of Brennan's bedroom. "Can I help, do you need anything?"

Sitting on the bed, her shoulders and head propped up on pillows, Brennan turned her gaze upon her friend. "I've tried to call Booth, but he's still not available."

"I called Angela and she's going to get a message to him, Dr. B. don't worry about it. He'll be here when he can. You know he will."

Feeling a little less anxious, Brennan nodded her head. "Thank you. Booth will be disappointed if he's not here for the birth of our son."

"Yeah, but I'm sure once he gets the message, he'll try to get here as fast he can." Moving over to the chair near the closet, he sat down. "In the meantime, I'm staying right here and if you need me all you have to do is ask. I'm not Booth, but I'm going to be by your side as long as you want me to."

Hodgins had been a true friend ever since they had been buried in a car and left to die by the Gravedigger. If there was anyone else in the world she trusted besides Booth it was Hodgins. "Thank you. You have been through this with Angela, so at least you know what to expect. That is why I chose you to take me home . . . I called Max and he's going to pick up Christine from Day Care and take her home for the evening."

"I'm glad I could help." Hodgins leaned forward and placed his hands on his thighs. "Now, try to relax and when the pain comes, breathe short breaths and it will pass. You've been through this yourself, so this will be a piece of cake, you'll see."

Amused, Lisa shook her head and sat down on the edge of the bed. No birth was a piece of cake, but she liked the soft manner in which Hodgins spoke and the confidence he was conveying. The last thing Brennan needed was someone panicking in the room. If Booth didn't make it home in time, then Hodgins would do fine. He'd have to.

Ooooooooooooooooooo

With sirens and lights on his SUV, Booth made it to his house in record time. Once he was at the front door, he took a deep breath, schooled his face so that he didn't look as afraid as he felt and entered the house. Once he was in the living room, he removed his jacket, placed the gun in his gun safe, and strode down the hallway to the bedroom. In the room, he paused and watched Brennan going through a contraction. Hodgins was holding her hand and she was breathing hard, her eyes squeezed shut.

As soon as that episode was over, Booth moved across the room, nudged Hodgins out of the way and knelt next to the bed. "Bones."

Fighting back tears, Brennan opened her eyes and smiled at Booth. "You made it."

"Always Bones. You know I'd never let you do this by yourself." Booth took her hand and kissed it. "I love you."

"I was afraid that you would miss the birth of our son." Brennan squeezed her husband's hand. "He's anxious to come out."

Brushing the tears from her cheeks, Booth smiled. "Just like Christine . . . Our kids are over achievers."

Chuckling, Brennan nodded her head. "Yes, they are." Pain lanced through her and she gripped Booth's hand hard as she rode the pain out. The pain soon subsided and Brennan sighed. "I find I am anxious to meet our son."

"Me too, Bones. Me too." Booth could see that Brennan was struggling and it worried him, but he had faith that she would be alright. Please God, help Bones. Help my baby. Protect them. Please. "Hey, I saw Angela in the kitchen making sandwiches. You have me and your friends here for you . . . We're not going to let anything bad happen. We got this Bones. We got this."

Hodgins watched as Booth and Brennan stared at each other with devotion in their eyes. If anyone was meant to be together, it's these two.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

The baby made his grand entrance twenty minutes after Booth arrived and they all knew it had been a close call. The baby was born healthy and let his presence be known with a lusty wail. Holding his son in his arms, Booth smiled down at the angry baby and knew he was in love. "He has ten fingers, ten toes and one nose. All the essential parts are there Bones."

Exhausted, Brennan watched her husband cuddle their baby and knew that the pregnancy had been worth the pain. "Henry Joseph Booth . . . I wish Hank could be here to hold him."

Placing the fussy baby in Brennan's arms, Booth sat next to her on the edge of the bed. "He would have been so proud. Now he has three great-grandkids. Seems like a good number."

"Yes, three is a good number." Brennan stared down at her son and felt both pride and love. The baby was beautiful and he had already stolen her heart.

Ooooooooooooooooooo

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