I have an excuse, I swear! I know it's been forever, but I was away at a job for a month, then I went on vacation with no internet access. Much apologies, I hope this chapter suffices for now.

This chapter is for MightyTemperance, because I would never have finished it if you hadn't reminded me. Thank you!

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There are many unchangeables in the world. Truth, space, knowledge. And time. Imposed constructs, she had told Stires, those things that don't change. All logical sense pointed to the fact that time never changed. It simply was. One moment was followed by the next, then the one after that, the one after that, and so on.

So Brennan couldn't understand why she felt suspended perpetually in this one moment. The one moment the new doctor told them deadly cancer cells were taking over her son's tiny body. Cells his body was unable to fight. Cells that could kill him.

Knowing it was irrational, Brennan couldn't help but feel a certain sense of betrayal. All her adult life, science was her religion. Not just occupationally, but she used it every day. Logic, reason, and science had never betrayed her.

Until now.

Until the inner workings of the human body had turned against her in a way that was worse than she being the one inflicted with a disease.

Dimly, she could hear the doctor talking softly in the background, and it wasn't until Booth gently poked her arm that she snapped back to the present.

"…chemotherapy is the standard treatment. Of course, we would regulate the amount based on your son's age and size…"

"He'd have to go through chemotherapy?" Brennan heard herself ask.

The doctor inclined his head toward her. His nametag read "Dr. Farquad".

"In the case of your son's illness, Dr. Brennan, chemotherapy is a necessary part of the treatment protocol. The dosage will be fitted to accommodate his age, of course, but it is a crucial part of saving your son's life."

"Hey, sweetie." A large woman in a white suit entered the room. "I need to put an IV in that tiny arm, okay hon?"

"He hates needles," Brennan whispered softly.

The nurse placed a comforting hand on Brennan's shoulder.

"I know, honey, but we have to start the chemo."

Just the word made Brennan's stomach turn. The nurse must have noticed, because the next thing Brennan knew, she had a bedpan under her mouth and Booth stroking her hair, as she emptied what little she had been able to force down today.

The vomiting lasted what felt like forever, and as she sunk to the floor with the bedpan, Brennan lifted her hand to wipe the perspiration from her forehead. Her hand touched wetness on her cheeks, and Brennan drew it back in shock. She hadn't even been aware of the tears.

But they were coming now, stronger than ever. Sobs overtook her, until she finally quit retching and turned her face into Booth's shoulder, muttering incoherently. Booth held her tightly, listening close to catch the murmured words.

"I...I promised him."

"Shh, shhh," Booth soothed. "You promised him what?"

"I promised him," Brennan sobbed. "I promised I would…I would never let anything happen to him."

Brennan's tearful confession tore at Booth.

"Oh, honey," he whispered, and Brennan was too busy sobbing to protest to the pet name.

"This was not your fault. You couldn't have seen this coming."

"Nothing was supposed to happen to him."

The words escaped on a sob again, and Brennan turned away suddenly, retching again into the bedpan.

Booth looked up to the nurse helplessly. She knelt down by the couple, laying a hand gently on Brennan's back.

"That's one nasty flu you have there, honey."

"Not a flu. Been happening for awhile." Brennan mumbled.

"What?" Booth questioned. He hadn't seen her sick like this in a long time.

"Didn't want to worry you."

"Worry me?" Booth questioned incredulously.

The nurse stroked her hand up and down Brennan's back. "Well, honey, before we make your son better here, we may have to help his mommy too. Let's get you into a bed, and we'll just do a few tests on you. We want you to be healthy to help him."

Brennan gave a few half-hearted protests, but allowed herself to be led into the bed beside Sebastian's. The nurse left and returned quickly with another syringe. She drew blood from Brennan, then made her way back to Sebastian's bed.

"Wait," said Brennan, swinging herself slowly out of the bed.

"He hates needles. Let me hold him while you give it to him."

The nurse smiled kindly and moved aside so Brennan could pick Sebastian up. She nestled him close to her chest, hiding his face in her shoulder. When they both were positioned, she nodded to the nurse ( "Latricia", according to her nametag.)

Latricia gently took her son's hand and guided the needle under the skin. Sebastian squirmed suddenly, so she tightened her grip on his wrist.

Sebastian let out a wail, trying to push away from Brennan, but she held tight to him, keeping his head at her shoulder.

"It's okay, baby. It's okay. It'll be over in a second," she murmured, feeling like a liar. This wouldn't be over before her little son had to suffer in a way that Brennan couldn't fix.

Latricia finished the IV as quickly as she could and set Sebastian's arm down.

"Alright, little man, all done."

She hung the bag of clear liquid on the IV pole and with a reassuring smile, slipped from the room.

Brennan sat down beside Booth at Sebastian's bedside. Booth looped his arm around her and she settled her head against his shoulder, exhaustion seeping in.

She stared hard at the dripping fluid in the plastic bag. At the poison dripping into her two-year-old, poison that would suck his energy, rob him of his hair and make him vomit constantly. She stared long and hard, wishing with everything in her that this was just a bad dream, however irrational it sounded.

Brennan had thought she could cry no more today, but somehow she still found herself with wetness leaking down her cheeks. Booth gently brushed them away with his thumb, but still more fell. No words were spoken. No words were necessary.

Brennan and Booth stood watch over their son's bed, silent and sad, guardian angels incapable of protection against an invisible enemy.

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Reviews pleassse!

Mandyfur123, I hate to insult chocolate, believe me :P, but I had to. Sorry, I love kids and I hate to think of them having cancer, but such is life… thanks for the review, it made me laugh!

xBSBxBONESx, it is a rather long name isn't it? I can't think of any nicknames that don't sound weird….