Chapter 5: The Treatment is Worse Than the Disease Part 2

Week 2 after treatment

Brennan was focused completely on the set of results on her computer screen, or at least that is how it would look to an outside observer. In reality, her mind was far from work and in the apartment of the man she loved.

Last week had been an absolute nightmare. Booth was sick the entire week and ended up losing sixteen pounds in just eight days. She had never seen anyone so sick before and knew that during his next doctor's appointment they would have to see of they could get him some more medication that might actually work this time.

But now, ten days after treatment, he was doing a lot better. He hadn't thrown up in a couple of days and was starting to eat again. Brennan kept getting him milkshakes and pie from the diner; even though it was not the healthiest thing she knew he needed to gain back as much weight as possible before his next treatment. Booth certainly didn't seem to mind though and she loved the look on his face as he was enjoying the treats. He looked exactly like Parker on Christmas morning in these moments.

Even though Booth was feeling better this week, he was confined to the apartment. this was the week when his white blood cell count would be the lowest and he couldn't be around other people at the risk of getting an infection that his weakened immune system could not fight off. Even at the lab, she had to be very careful to avoid anyone that might be sick so that when she went home at night, she didn't get him sick as well. She smiled to herself as she thought about going home. She hadn't realized how nice it was to go home to someone, and even though that someone was currently very sick, she was looking forward to the time when he wouldn't be and they could live the lives of people in love.

Hearing her door open, she looked over to see Angela walk in to her office. Everyone at the office had been very supportive and it was nice to have their support during the day when she felt guilty for leaving Booth at home by himself.

"How are you doing, Sweetie?" she asked.

"I'm fine, Ange. Just trying to get some work done," she said as she pointed to her computer screen, which had unfortunately gone to screensaver while she was thinking. She looked guiltily back at Angela, knowing she had been caught.

"It's obvious you aren't working, Bren. What is going on? Is Booth doing okay?" Ange asked her as she sat down in one of the chairs in front of her desk.

Brennan let out a sigh, thinking how much she wanted to tell her friend. While she felt that talking about everything that was going on with her and Booth would help her, she also didn't know how much Booth would want her to say. He was a very proud man and she had a feeling that he would want to her to keep his struggles secret.

"It's going okay, Ange," she started hesitantly but sopped at Ange's disapproving look.

"Sweetie, don't you dare start lying to me. We have been friends for too long. I know Booth doesn't want everyone to know all the gory details and frankly, I don't want to know them. I was there last week; I saw how weak he was. I asked about you first and then Booth so I want the answer in that order as well," she finished.

Brennan smiled at her friend, wondering how she could ever doubt that she would know exactly the right thing to say. So, remembering her friend's advice, she answered honestly.

"I'm tired, Ange," Brennan told her. "But even though I am feeling emotionally and physically exhausted, there is no where else I would rather be. It's a humbling experience to care for someone like that, when they are at their weakest and most vulnerable. I have been trying to rationalize it but I think I have finally put my brain in park and my heart in overdrive, as Booth says."

She paused for a moment before continuing. "I'm scared too, Ange. He was so weak after this treatment and he has five more to go. It has been a lot better over the last several days; he is actually eating and even manages to lift some weights in the morning but he is so tired all the time. Always taking naps, which is good for him but I know he is frustrated that he can't do more. I just want to tell him to be grateful that there is a treatment for his condition. You know, I could handle losing my parents and my brother but if I ever lost Booth…" she trailed off, not able to finish her sentence. She looked up to see Angela's sympathetic stare.

Wiping the lone tear that made it's way down he face, she continued. "And I know he is really upset that he can't see Parker. He had his first All-Star game for baseball last weekend and Booth was really disappointed that he couldn't go. I just don't know how I can help him."

Brennan stopped after this, hoping that she did not say too much. She looked across her desk to see that her friend was deep in thought, which usually meant that she was planning something extremely genius or extremely devious. It worried her that she couldn't tell which look this was.

"When is Parker's next game?" Angela asked, the mischievous look in her eye returning. Brennan quickly glanced at her calendar. She noted that he had a tournament that started tomorrow.

"It is tomorrow evening. Why?" Brennan asked. "Oh, nothing, sweetie. Just leave that part to me."

********

When she got home from work the next evening, she had strict instructions from Angela to make sure that Booth would be parked on the couch when Parker's game started. What she wasn't expecting though, was the smell when she walked in the house.

She walked over to the kitchen to see Booth, wearing a pair of jeans that used to fit him but now were on the baggy side, a pair of very colorful socks, an old T-shirt, and the Phillies hat that Parker got him. He was spooning a generous amount of Indian food onto two plates.

"Booth?" she questioned as she walked into the kitchen.

"Bones! You're home!" he exclaimed, coming over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to him for a deep, passionate kiss. Brennan responded in kind, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him down to her as his teeth gently nipped at her lips, requesting access. She gave it to him happily; they had not shared a kiss like this since the night before his chemotherapy. After a moment, her mind finally let her know that she had a schedule to keep tonight. She pulled back reluctantly but kept her arms around his neck.

"Booth, what is that?" she asked, looking toward the take-out containers on the kitchen counter.

"It's Indian food, Bones," he replied, as if it was the easiest question in the world.

She hit him lightly in the shoulder. "I can see that Booth. But you hate Indian food."

He shrugged and stepped out of her embrace to place the food on the table. "Well, the nurse said that my taste preferences would likely change with the treatment and that I should eat whatever smelled good. I was watching TV earlier today and a commercial came on for Indian food and I just had this intense craving. So, I ordered some. And it smells great!" he exclaimed.

Brennan just smiled at him, excited to see so much life in him for the first time in 10 days. Right as he put the plates on the table though, she picked them up and placed them on the coffee table in front of the couch. She looked over her shoulder to see him following her, a confused look on his face. Not able to help herself she placed her hand gently on his chest and gave him another kiss. Once they broke the kiss, she just kept smiling at him.

"What's going on Bones?" he asked. "Why are we eating in front of the couch?"

"You'll see," she replied cryptically. She gently pushed him down on the couch and went to go set up the video camera that Angela gave her on top of the TV and pulled it into the side of the plasma screen that Hodgins had purchased for them. That done, she went and sat down next to him and began to eat the vegan Indian food he had got her.

"So how was your day?" she asked him after a brief silence.

"It was okay," he said. "But I'm kind of going stir crazy. I just really wan to get out of this apartment but know that I am stuck here for another 3 days," he finished with a sigh as he avoided her gaze. While this saddened her slightly, she was glad that he was feeling cooped up. To her, that meant that he was finally getting some of his old energy back.

They ate in silence for the next several minutes, Brennan anxiously watching the clock. When it was the right time, she quickly got up off the couch and turned the TV and the video camera on, making sure the TV was set to the right channel.

"What's going on, Bones?" he asked. Right as he asked that question, a smiling face appeared on the screen, his mop of blonde curls hidden underneath his green baseball hat.

"Angela, I can see him!" the little voice shouted. "Hi Daddy! It's me, Parker!" the little boy shouted as he waved at the camera.

Brennan looked over to Booth to see him sitting on the couch in shock, his jaw slack and the sheen of tears in his eyes. She went and sat down next to him and put her hand on his thigh, squeezing slightly.

"Say hello to your son, Booth," she whispered to him. That seemed to jolt him out of his stupor.

"Hey, Parks! Are you at your All-Star game?" he said.

He head nodded furiously. "Yeah, Dad. I'm the starting pitcher today and everything! Angela and Hodgins are here to tape it so you can watch me even though you have the cancer. Isn't that cool, Dad! It's like you are really here."

Booth nodded at him. "That's great, Bub. I can't wait to watch you play."

Parker soon ran back to his team and the game started. Booth was enthralled by the game, never taking his eyes off the screen. At every half-inning, Parker would come over to the camera and Booth would offer him encouragement and advice. The entire time, he held her hand tightly, sometimes squeezing harder when Parker did something good.

After the game was over and father and son said their goodbyes, Booth pulled her into a hug so tight that she had problems breathing. She returned the hug with equal force and heard him whisper over and over again, "Thank you, I love you so much."

And she wasn't so scared anymore.