Exams are over! (Celebrates with loud noises and wild footwork) Yusss.
A very long chapter awaits you, my darlings. I'm kind of worried it's too long - I know some people are put off with lengthy chapters, so tell me if this irked you in anyway.
Some quick shout-outs:
DeamonFruba - The satisfaction of your cat is of the utmost importance to me, and I hope she/he likes this new chapter.
BonesDBchippie - You are just to cute, and brimming with energy.
azarathangel - I ran for my life like you told me to, but stopped when I remembered I really, really like cookies and a showering of Booths - Well I'd happily lay down while he showered down on me. (Dear lord, oh my.) (Grins)
FanFicCrazy - Your review just made me smile and smile and smile! Your enthusiasm is so great - really got me in the mood to write. Our minds seem to drift along the same lines - you might just see that little scenario!
Ellie 5192 - Can I adopt you? (SoSeriousRightNow) I much prefer Marmite though. But the ad just kills me.
To all my reviewers: You guys are just the BEE'S KNEES! I seriously want to have your children.
Please note I am not a doctor, nor do I have any medical training. The information herein is from research off the internet, second-hand knowledge from friends, and me making up stuff. I'm not acqainted with hospital protocol, so excuse any errors I do make. In this chapter Booth signs the release papers, but only the patient can do that, but it works for my story, so shhhhhsh!
Okay, go ahead and read now.
Chapter Twelve – And the Princess Waits Within
Pressing her ear to the door, Angela strained to hear any sound that might reveal more than the pockets of silence in the empty corridor. Hearing nothing, and sensing Tempe to be asleep, she gave a few hesitant knocks just in case before nudging the door open. Bathed in early morning sunlight, the room and the woman occupying it were only just beginning to stir.
Roused from the squeak of the door, Temperance rolled herself tentatively onto her back, automatically raising her hand to her chest when a wave of pain swept over her healing sternum. She let out a small moan and her eyelids fluttered open. Feeling slightly groggy from sleep and pain medication, she waited a couple of seconds for her eyes to focus and her mind to clear.
"Morning!" Angela smiled warmly, moving to stand beside her. Temperance turned her head slowly at the sound of her best-friends voice, squinting her eyes when they made contact with the glare bouncing off the windows. "How's the pain?"
Tempe blinked a couple of times, adjusting to the light. "Painsfine." She lied, her words slurring. She cleared her throat. "Fine."
Angela narrowed her eyes. "You sure?" Nodding in reply, Temperance gripped the sides of the mattress and used her legs for leverage when she hoisted herself into a sitting position. She tried not to grimace as she applied pressure to her middle. "I passed Booth down in the lobby. He'll be back later." Angela rambled, her friend's obvious discomfort not going unnoticed.
Trying to regulate her breathing from the exertion of sitting up, Tempe exhaled a ragged breath, and managed an 'uh-huh' in acknowledgement.
"Here, sweetie." Angela said, getting up and pressing a button near the bed to elevate the frame so sitting wouldn't be such a struggle.
Tempe gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Ange." Plopping herself on the edge of her bed, Angela quirked her lips into a devilish smile.
"Sooo…excited about going home?"
Temperance rolled her eyes. "This is one of your many poorly disguised machinations to get me and Booth together, isn't it?"
Angela feigned innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Not saying anything, Tempe tilted her head to the side and waited. She looked pointedly at Angela, raising her eyebrows at the clock on the wall for emphasis. Angela chewed on her lower lip, and then sighed loudly, giving in. "Okay, alright…when we spoke to Dr Hart a couple of weeks ago, she said you'll be able to go home soon…" she let her voice drift off.
"And?" Tempe urged her on impatiently.
"And…well, me and Booth discussed it. It makes more sense if he looked after you while you recovered."
"I don't need to be looked after." Tempe snapped, irritated because she knew she couldn't, and wouldn't be able to do this alone.
"Sweetie…" Angela tried to sympathise, "I know your independence is threatened right now, but, well…you have to get over that." She looked nervously at Bren.
Tempe's eyes strayed to the ceiling and she released a shuddering breath.
"Dr Hart wanted to keep you here longer…" Angela pursed her lips, seriousness taking hold of the conversation, "she wanted you to you talk to someone about what happened."
"No." Tempe said sternly, shaking her head adamantly.
Angela got up and leant against the windowsill. "I know. I told her you wouldn't. The only reason she's letting you go home is because you aren't a danger to yourself physically…otherwise…" She sighed. "Look Tempe…" She paused, "…promise me you won't bottle this up. At least talk to Booth about it, okay?"
Tempe drew her eyebrows together and looked down, effectively shielding her eyes from her know-all best-friend.
"Tempe, promise me." Angela begged, her mouth a grim line on her face.
Bren shuffled her body beneath the thin hospital blankets. "I'll…try." She mumbled, equivocating.
"That's not a promise." Angela remarked, annoyed with Tempe's evasiveness.
"Promises are easily broken," She chided Angela, "And I won't be the one breaking them."
Angela clicked her tongue angrily. "Then don't."
"I said I'll try." Tempe said, raising her voice while her hand gripped at the sheets, causing a fine web of crinkles to appear.
"No! It's going happen again. You're going to snap, and-and then what?" Angela's desperate voice shrilled, her chest swelling with fear.
"Angela…please, just stop." Glassy blue eyes pleaded with hers. Angela pinched her lips together. Deciding that she could not risk pushing her friend any further, Angela dropped it. Defeated and weary, she turned her back in time to witness the first storm cloud gather in the greying sky. "Fine." She murmured, her voice strained. There would be thunder and rain, she knew.
"I'm sorry, Ange." Tempe said sadly, the dejected expression on her face making her look even more feeble.
"I don't want to lose you again." Angela whispered, her body visibly slumping.
"You won't."
"I think…I've lost already." She sighed.
"Ange-"
"Let Booth help. Please, just…please."
Temperance could think of nothing to say that would reassure the women she was closest to, yet so unfamiliar with. She could not pledge herself to a promise she was uncertain she'd be able to keep or commit herself to. She said she'd try, and she would, but she needed time to do so, and maybe that was something Angela just didn't understand. She worked methodically, and while she mended herself, she wanted to do it in her own time, by her own hands.
She sighed.
It was true; she reluctantly admitted to herself, that Booth had managed to weasel his way into all aspects of her life. If anyone was to help it would be him. That much Angela was right about. Slowly, he had learnt to read her; the cryptic and jumbled thoughts in her mind, the inner turmoil that twirled inside her till she was dizzy and exhausted…the anguish she managed to hide so well from everyone except him. For all the things he took the time to understand about her, she appreciated it more than he'd ever know. How was it that he knew the exact time when she need the emotional comfort, placing his hand on her shoulder or wrapping her in one of his 'guy hugs'? Was she that transparent to him?
It frightened her, the connection they had cultivated between them. He was a threat to her, because, just maybe, he'd be the one to shatter the cold blocks of confinement she'd built around herself. Booth never made promises because he knew the fragility of it. He understood her apprehension. A promise is a commitment destined to be broken. She learnt that many years ago. The lesson was well and truly instilled in her.
It was well after mid-day when Booth made an appearance. He cautiously slipped his head around the door and entered with hushed footsteps when he saw Angela place her finger to her lips. Temperance had her head to the side; two pillows barricading her body on either side, effectively reducing any movement she happened to make during sleep.
"How is she?" Booth asked, seating himself next to Angela, who raised her eyebrows skyward.
"She was kind of grumpy earlier. I think she's just tired though." Booth nodded, watching the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she slept. With the removal of her stiches and the bulky bandages, the area was noticeably flatter.
"Is her apartment ready?" Angela asked, breaking the silence that had settled over them.
"Yep. Dropped my stuff off after I left this morning. Stocked the fridge too."
Angela grinned. "Anything mouldy?"
Booth smirked. "Month-old blue-vein cheese." He cocked his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "At least…I think it was cheese."
Angela snorted with laughter and then made an attempt to smother it when Tempe shifted in her sleep. Whispering, she said: "Cullen still okay with the time off? I mean…it is a long time."
Booth's eyes wandered over to rest softly on Temperance. "He understands." He said simply. They were both quiet while they remembered the recent loss of Amy, the Deputy Director's only daughter.
With his attention directed purely on the woman lying on the narrow bed in front of him, Booth was oblivious when Dr Hart stepped into the room. Angela stood upon seeing her at the doorway, the doctor's head nodding for them to converse out in the corridor. Patting Booth on the shoulder, Angela exited the room while Booth moved stealthily behind her.
"Right, I know we've been over this already, but I want to make sure the information is well set." Dr Hart instantly began her care guide for her patient once they were all standing on the cold tiles outside Tempe's room.
Booth and Angela stood straighter, listening to her intently.
"Temperance is still very weak and susceptible to possible relapse infections. Keep her away from driving, cooking, cleaning, lifting, any exercise – including sex," She eyed Booth speculatively. Angela suppressed a grin, and felt her lips twitch when she watched a crimson blush sweep over Booth's cheeks.
Dr Hart continued, "Warning signs to look out for: low blood pressure; check three to four times a day the first week. Listen closely for any wheezing or difficulty breathing – this could be indicative of fluid filling around the area of her heart, which will need immediate draining. Don't throw caution to the wind on this; make sure you get her here as fast as possible. I'm setting Temperance on an antibiotic course that she needs to take three times a day for thirty days." She tapped a pen to her chin, thinking.
"And fevers?" Booth inquired.
"Oh yes! Check her temperature regularly; any fever may indicate an infection returning."
Angela felt Booth tense next to her. "What are the chances of that?"
"It could happen, Agent Booth, and that's enough to make me worry."
"And food?" Angela asked curiously.
"No heavy food. Keep it light, and relatively easy. Her diet was thrown off a couple of weeks ago when we had to feed her through an IV, so her stomach won't be able to handle much."
They both nodded solemnly. Dr Hart smiled kindly, aware of the taxing task laid out before them.
"You'll need to be patient with her – the first couple of weeks she'll be mostly sleeping. Just remember, she's still recovering from open-heart surgery, anyone would be exhausted." She took a breath. "Naps should last no more than three to five hours, any longer and she won't sleep through the night. Which also reminds me – check on her during the night. Nothing serious, just listen to her breathing and make sure she's got pillows cushioning her. Moving in her sleep might wake her up and her sternum needs to set correctly."
"Maybe I should be taking notes." Booth said, his memory brimming with medical information. "I don't want to forget anything."
Dr Hart smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry; most of it is plain common sense. Just watch her closely for changes, and trust your instincts if you feel something is wrong."
"Oh, Booth has great instincts." Angela gushed ardently, her tone teasing. Booth shot a glare sideways at her and stepped closer to her side. Their bodies screened his hand when he poked her in the ribs. "Hmmph." She grumbled in surprise before jabbing right back.
Unaware of their elbow war, Dr Hart waved them over to the main desk for Booth to sign the release papers. "She's all yours." She stated casually when Booth signed on the dotted line. Angela grinned.
"Not a word." Booth warned her playfully.
"Yeah, yeah." Angela rolled her eyes, already on her way back to Temperance's room.
They found her awake and sitting up when they returned to the room. Her gaze was glued to the setting sun beyond the window panes, the lazy reds and oranges setting the sky on fire.
"You're a free woman." Angela announced happily, perching herself on the end of the bed. Tempe gave her a small smile, and looked over at Booth, stifling a yawn.
"Still tired?" He asked, his hands buried in the depths of his pockets. Tempe shook her head in the negative, "Fine." She lied the second time that day.
"Whenever you're ready." He said, rocking back on his heels.
"I just need to get dressed."
"Sweetie…" Angela began, eyeing her chest. "Can I see your scar?"
Tempe's eyes widened. "What? No! Why?" She sputtered.
"Why not? I've seen you naked before." She reasoned, scooting closer.
Booth gaped. "You have?"
"Nothing kinky, Booth." Angela admonished, leaning over her friend's chest. "So…can I?"
Temperance rolled her eyes and stared at the ceiling while Angela pulled the collar of the gown back enough for her to peek inside. "Hmmmm…it's not as big as I initially thought, sweetie." She observed.
Tempe darted her gaze to watch Booth. Conflicting thoughts were apparent on his face as he looked on with raised eyebrows and wide eyes. The sight of Angela peering down his partner's gown was not an everyday occurrence.
"Hmmmm" Angela said, her eyes roaming.
"What?"
"You've lost a lot of weight, Bren. And your boobs are definitely smaller." Angela noted blatantly.
Booth coughed.
"Thanks, Ange." Tempe replied dryly.
Angela huffed. "They're still bigger than mine!"
Booth grasped his hands together with an audible clap. "Okay. Alright then. Whoa, okay. How about you get ready so we can leave?" Booth said loudly, leaving the room abruptly.
A roguish smile tugged at Angela's lips. "Was it something I said?"
Next chapter: HOME TIME!