Chapter 24 Pain
"Booth, we are not having this conversation again! Christine was not born in a hospital, and she is very healthy today. Marisa is an excellent midwife, she is a nurse-practitioner in addition to her obstetrical training, and will take excellent care of us. Birth is a perfectly natural process and I am not proposing to deliver this child squatting in the bush as some African tribal traditions suggest. I'm sure you remember how much blood and bodily fluid my UV light showed in that hospital corridor on our tour before Christine was born. I will not subject my infant to foreign contaminants! I am having this baby at home! End of discussion!" Brennan declared vehemently over her morning grapefruit.
"Okay, okay, Bones! I just want what's best for you and our son, you know that." Booth protested.
"And you don't think I do? Really, Booth! Who's been carrying this child around for eight and three-quarter months? You know I would do anything to insure the safety of our baby! If you don't stop bugging me about this, I shall begin calling Henry a fetus again, just to annoy you!"
"Henry?"
Brennan's voice softened. "Well, yes, I was thinking it would be nice to name the baby after Pops." She took a sip of her peppermint tea.
"That's sweet, Bones…What would you want as a middle name?" Booth asked with a smile.
"Well, I have a couple of ideas. I'm not particularly fond of Max, but my dad used Matthew while he and my mother were hiding, and that's also Parker's middle name, so I like that one. Or we could use Joseph after you. Or we could use both…Henry Matthew Joseph."
"Matthew is a great suggestion. I know Parker would love that and I'm sure your dad would be thrilled."
"Of course, we could save one of those names, in case we have a third child, if you are so inclined, Booth," Brennan said.
"I'd have to think about giving him three names. That's kind of a big mouthful for a little kid. Maybe we should focus on getting this bun out of the oven in good shape first, Bones." Booth laughed.
"Ooooohhhh, Booth! I guess you better think fast! Aaaahhhh! I'm feeling contractions that are too strong for Braxton-Hicks! Oooffff! That one hurt!" Brennan took a deep breath and bent over, holding her abdomen.
"Here, let's get you into the bedroom," Booth began.
"No, Booth, I need to stay active as long as I can, to move my labor along. I've been having mild contractions since last evening and all last night…..Uuuggghhh…that one's not mild! I guess I won't be having any grapefruit this morning after all. These are coming closer together."
"Time to give Marisa a ring?" Booth asked. "Or should we time these first before I call her?"
"Good idea, if they keep coming this fast, this isn't going to be a prolonged process! It's very propitious that Christine spent the night with her grandfather so they could go to the Washington Zoo later this morning.…Uuuuhhhnnn, four years old is a little too young to be hearing this, I think. Aaaahhhhh!"
"Bones, there's nobody here but me. You can yell all you want. Uh, wow. Those were only ninety-two seconds apart. You want to move to the bed?"
"Not yet, but please do call Marisa and let her know I may be in active labor."
"You're gonna work this so the hospital's out of the question, aren't you?"
"Not my choice, Booth! You know when labor starts, it's like trying to stop a waterfall. Well, not entirely, there are drugs which can slow the onset of labor and its progress, but in a healthy woman, that's not advisable. And besides, I don't want to delay our son's arrival. I find I'm rather anxious to hold our next progeny in my arms rather than in my uterus….Mmmmmnnnnn!"
"Bones, only you could think clearly enough to deliver a medical lecture in the middle of labor, but I agree, I'm ready for this little guy to come out and meet his family."
"Ooohh, Booth, call her! Now! Damn, that hurt!"
O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"You think another back rub would help you relax?"
"I don't need to relax, I need to get this baby out of me! Uuuuhhhhhh!"
"Boooooth! I know I said I wanted to have a silent birth, but oooooohhhhhh!"
"Marisa's on the way, but there's a wreck on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, so she's gonna be awhile getting here, Bones."
"Booth, we've done this before on our own, if we have to, we can do it again," Brennan huffed between contractions.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Thirty-eight minutes later…..
"Bones, he's coming, I can see his head! Push, honey!"
"Don't you honey me! Ooooohhhh!"
"Aaaaiiiiieeeehhhhh! Booth, I wish you could hold my haaannnddd!"
"Baby, I can't be down here and up there at the same time! It's nearly over; he's almost here!"
"Booottthhh, don't call me Baaaabbbbyyy! Uuuggghhh!"
"Uhhh, he's out! Oh, Bones, he's perfect! Hey, little guy!"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"Tempe, honey, he's beautiful."
"Thanks, Dad…."
"I think he's got your mother's eyes."
"Dad, babies' eyes can change color several days or weeks after birth. The color they are born with is often not their permanent eye color."
"I know that's what the books say, honey, but those big blue eyes are yours and your mom's, just as sure as I'm standing here."
"I sure wish Mom could have seen him. That's my only regret. It hurts that she isn't still here."
"Tempe, I miss her so much, and I know she can't be here, but that doesn't mean she can't see him!" Max declared, kissing his daughter's forehead.
Brennan frowned at her father. "You know I don't believe in souls, Dad. Mom isn't hanging around here up in the corner of the ceiling."
"Oh, honey, you can't be so sure about that. There is certainly physical pain in having a baby, and emotional pain as well, when our loved ones are gone, but I think your Mom knows about little Henry here, and I bet she's every bit as proud as I am." Max told her.
"Oh, Dad…"
A/N: This may seem like it moved impossibly fast, but my second child arrived in 3 hours 8 minutes from first twinge to the big finish. Some kids just won't wait. A couple of thanks to non-profile reviewers. GuestJD, your compliment is much appreciated. The other writers here are a lot more prolific, experienced and very talented so your comment is very significant to me. Likewise, JSBonesLover. I've always loved writing but this is my first prose experience. Your positive opinion is encouraging and uplifting to a neophyte. Especially on an icy sleeting frigid morning. What happened to Spring? (Oh, and since Booth loves his Beer Hat, the Green Hornet pants seemed to suit his leisure fashion tastes.)