"Ange, that's ridiculous. I haven't had a contraction."
"Ever hear of back labor, Sweetie?" Angela caught Brennan's eye and could see the wheels turning in her head. After a moment, Temperance's eyes widened. Her reply was cut off from a small voice in the back.
"Dr. Bones, what's back labor?" Parker's face was screwed up in concentration. Brennan looked back at him through the rearview mirror.
"Parker, do you remember when your daddy told you I have a baby in my tummy?"
"Uh-huh. He said I was gonna have a brother or sister. I don't want one though. Can I have a puppy instead?"
"Um, that's not exactly up to me. Maybe you should ask your daddy when he gets back from North Dakota. Well, um, back labor is a way for the baby to let me know it's time to be born."
"But how does the baby know?"
"It just does, like how you know when you're hungry or tired."
"Or how I know when I've got to pee?"
"Yes Parker, like that."
"Dr. Bones. I have to pee."
From the driver's seat, Angela started to laugh. She pulled off the road and into the parking lot of a fast food restaurant. Brennan climbed from the car, and then helped the little boy from his car seat. He took her hand and walked into the restaurant with her, Angela not far behind. Angela stopped when her phone rang, surprised to see Booth's name on her caller id.
"Hey Handsome, how's the anxious father to be?"
"Nervous as hell. Is she alright?"
"She's fine Booth, oh and Parker wants a puppy."
"He's with you?"
"Yeah, we picked him up after the interview with Rebecca."
"I tried calling Bones, but I keep getting her voicemail."
"Oh, she probably forgot to turn her phone back on. What's up?"
"Ange, is she in labor? I saw her on the television, and she looked really uncomfortable."
"I think so. She doesn't believe me, but we are talking about Brenn here. Are you really caught in a blizzard?"
"Yeah, but it's clearing up a little bit. The visibility isn't so bad. God, Ange, I wasn't there when Parker was born, and I don't want to miss this." Angela could hear the panic in his voice. The poor guy. He's a wreck.
"Well, if you can get out of there soon, then you should be okay. It seems early yet." Okay, so maybe she's farther along than I think, but I don't want to scare the man.
"Alright…well tell her I called and to turn on her phone, okay?"
"Of course, Handsome."
"Thanks Ange."
"You're welcome Booth, and we'll see you when you get in, okay?"
"Okay." Angela hung up the phone as Temperance and Parker re-emerged from the restaurant. The anthropologist was running her hand over her back and wincing.
"Ange, I think you're right. Maybe we should call the hospital."
"Of course Sweetie, and you might want to turn on you phone. Booth tried to call." Angela watched, fascinated as tears welled up in her friend's eyes.
"Oh God, I'm such a terrible person! He's stuck over there, and here I am, leaving my phone off."
"Brenn, that's the hormones talking. Look, let's just get you home, then we'll pack and call the hospital, okay?" The forensic anthropologist nodded tearfully as she returned to the car. Parker seemed to sense that Brennan was distressed and was on the verge of tears himself. Angela watched the little boy carefully.
"Hey Parks," she said as she continued the drive, "when we get back to your daddy's house do you want to play Lego Star Wars with me?" Parker looked torn between excitement and worry. Temperance offered him a smile to show she was okay, and the little boy smiled.
"Yeah! I get to be Obi-Wan!"
"You got it kiddo." Angela said, and then turned to her friend. "How are you doing? Are the pains close?"
"No, only about every half hour or so. It's just uncomfortable."
"Well, since you're not going to be firing that little son of a gun out soon, I think we can relax a little."
"I don't know what that means."
"Don't worry about it. Booth said the blizzard seems to be easing off, so hopefully he'll be able to get out of Fargo soon."
"He's too good for me Ange! What am I going to do? I can't have the baby without him!" She started to cry again. Angela let out a huge sigh.
"You know, I will be so glad once that baby is born and you go back to being your normal self. Your mood swings are cute, really, but I've had about as much as I can take."
XxXxX
Booth stood at the ticket counter facing a very flustered attendant. The young woman looked on the verge of tears from dealing with the mass of angry people with no one else to vent their frustrations onto. He offered the young woman a smile, hoping it helped her mood as well as his. Something seemed familiar about her, almost as if he knew her from somewhere. She looked up at Booth and he startled at the clear blue of her eyes, the same color as his Bones'. Please God, let me get out of here soon.
"Any word on when the planes can go?"
"Not yet. The weather's still too bad."
"I would really appreciate any information on when the flights are going to be allowed to leave. My fiancee is in labor, and being that this is her first, I really don't want to miss it. I don't suppose you could let me know when any east bound flight is leaving the airport?" Seeley offered her a charm smile and his business card. The young woman looked over the card, noting that he worked for the FBI. She smiled back at him.
"I'm sure something could be arranged, you know, what with you being on an important case and all." She gave him a small wink. After a moment, he caught her meaning and the charm smile turned genuine.
"Anything would help. I really appreciate this."
"No, Agent Booth, thank you. You're the first person who hasn't yelled at me today."
"Well miss, you get me out of here and back to DC in time and I'll name the child after you. What is your name, by the way?"
"It's Joy, Joy Keenan."
A/N: Okay, I couldn't resist, but I figure since Maynard (my muse) likes cliffhangers, and poor Booth is stuck away from Tempe, it wouldn't hurt to give him a little extra help. Props go to Wolfy for the conversation between Temperance and Parker. Couldn't have written it without you, Sunshine!