"Ah, Temperance, so the big day has arrived?" Dr. Jacobs said in an overly cheery voice. Temperance looked at the woman with a scowl. The pains in her back were becoming more intense.
"Yes, the pains began this morning, and I didn't realize what it was until about an hour or so ago."
"Well, let's check out how far you've dilated, shall we?"
Out in the waiting room, Angela paced while on the phone. Parker sat contentedly playing his Nintendo DS, as the artist threw looks toward Temperance's examination room.
"Yes Russ, she's gone into labor. Are you going to be able to get up here? Booth is stuck in Fargo, and I don't want her to be alone. No, of course I'm going to be here, but I also have a five year-old to watch. I don't think Bren would want him in the room when it happens. Alright, just get here is soon as you can, okay?" Angela sighed when she hung up. It would take Russ at least eight hours to get to DC, and Angela only hoped that Temperance didn't have the baby before anyone showed up. The artist threw one more look in the direction of the examination room, and sat down next to Parker to watch him play his game.
"What do you mean I haven't dilated? I've been having contractions for hours."
"It happens Temperance. It could be false labor, which, unfortunately can be painful."
"False labor? If this is false, I don't think I want to know what real labor feels like," Temperance grumped.
"When your contractions get closer together, about five minutes apart, then come back and we'll check your progress. Until then, I'm afraid there's nothing to be done." The doctor offered her a smile before leaving the room. Temperance let out a frustrated sigh and began to dress for her trip back home.
XxXxX
Agent Booth sat in the airport bar, nursing a beer. He shook his head in amusement. What were the chances that the airline employee would have the same name as Temperance's birth name? Out of the corner of his eye, Booth became aware of someone sitting down next to him. He turned and smiled at Joy.
"Any word on the flights yet?"
"Well, the weather's clearing some more, but all of the jets that are already here can't leave until they've been de-iced, and that can sometimes take a couple of days."
"That was news I didn't want to hear." Booth took a swig of his beer.
"Once flights begin to land again, I can try to get you on one of them. Any jet that wasn't stuck here won't need a treatment, so they'll be able to leave."
"Thank you so much. It means a lot to me."
"No problem Agent Booth." The young woman smiled at him. Booth noticed the way her mouth bowed in the simple gesture, just like Temperance's.
"Just out of curiosity…were you named after anyone?" The young airline employee looked surprised at the question.
"As a matter of fact, yes. How did you know?" she looked at Booth, who just offered a non-committal shrug. "My dad had a brother who died in 1978 along with his wife and two kids. My mom always liked Uncle Max's wife, and they had a two year-old at the time, so when I was born later that year, she named me after the daughter."
Booth reached into his pocket and withdrew his wallet. He pulled out a picture and handed it to Joy. She looked at the picture, then back at Booth, curious.
"Who's this? She looks familiar."
"That's my fiancée, Temperance Brennan."
"The author? Wow. I've never met anyone famous before. Is she nice? I mean, I suppose she'd have to be nice if you're engaged to her right?"
"She's wonderful." His phone rang. He checked the id before answering the call, a smile forming on his lips.
"Hey Sweetheart, how are you doing?" Booth looked at Joy and mouthed 'Temperance'. Joy nodded and smiled at him, then turned her attention back to the picture in her hands.
"In pain, how about you?"
"Just fine. I'm sitting here having a nice conversation with Joy Keenan."
"Ha, ha, very funny Seeley. Any word on the weather yet?"
"It's lessening, but it'll still be awhile before anything can come or go. I have an employee who's trying to smuggle me out of here." He offered a wink to Joy. She suppressed a laugh and handed the picture back to him. She indicated her watch and waved goodbye as she walked away.
"Well, you should have time. I went to the hospital, and the doctor said I haven't started to dilate, so it'll be awhile yet."
"Just hold out until I get there. I'll be on the first east-bound flight out of here."
"I can't guarantee anything, but I'll do my best," she joked.
"That's all I can ask."
XxXxX
Temperance paced around the apartment, watching as Angela played video games with Parker. Her back hurt almost constantly, and she was starting to feel the contractions in her abdomen, though they were still only about twenty minutes apart. She couldn't get comfortable, and only wanted Seeley there to massage her back. Maybe that way, some of the tension would go away and she wouldn't hurt so much.
She looked at the clock and sighed. It had been twelve hours now, and still she was not any closer to actually having the child. She placed her hands on her back and stretched, wincing as her muscles tightened up. Angela turned and looked at her friend.
"You okay, Sweetie?"
"Well, I'm in pain." Temperance forced a smile and kept pacing.
"You should try to get some rest."
"I can't. It hurts too much."
"Sweetie, I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?"
"Yeah, there might be…" Temperance waddled into the kitchen and began shuffling through drawers until she found what she was looking for. She held the item up triumphantly as she returned to the living room.
"A rolling pin? What, did you want me to bake something?"
"No. Just use it on my back. I've heard it can help."
"Alright, just let me finish this level and I'll roll your back," Angela said, amusement dripping from her voice. Temperance sighed as her friend turned back to the game system. It was going to be a long night.