A/N: Hello again! Real life has been so crazy but I have this and two other updates that will be posted next week in this story. Just a little tease for the next chapter: we will look more at Brennan's stress level in being the caregiver. Stay tuned! Now onto the story. When we left off, Booth had gotten sick right before his fifth treatment. This situation really happened with my mom so that is where I took the inspiration. Hope you enjoy and please leave me a review!

Chapter 7: The Set Back

The sterile smell of the doctor's office made Booth close his eyes and lean his head back against the wall, trying to rein in the remaining nausea from his sickness that had been plaguing him for the last several days. Today was his scheduled appointment with Dr. Liao that he had every three weeks before his chemotherapy to evaluate his progress. The appointment was always preceded by a blood draw so the doctor can monitor the blood levels to make sure he was responding to the treatment okay. After the nurse took his weight and vital signs (Booth ignored her as she frowned at his temperature), he was ready to get in the exam room and get this appointment over with.

Even though his fever had broken yesterday, Brennan still thought he felt warm to the touch and he still looked extremely pale. She noted that he was still wearing the same clothes he had been living in for the last several days, only trading the beanie out for his normal Phillies baseball hat. Sitting down in the chair next to his, she put a comforting hand on his sweat pant's covered thigh near his knee to comfort him.

Brennan was nervous about the appointment today. She knew that his sickness could be a set back in the treatment plan and she knew that would devastate Booth. He was so close to being done with this part of his treatment and Brennan knew the emotional toll of the constant fatigue and sickness was starting to wear on the both of them. And while Brennan wanted him to be done with the chemotherapy as much as he did, she also knew the importance of making sure that his blood levels were just right before entering into another round of the treatment.

A harsh knock on the door broke them both out of their thoughts and Booth muttered a "yeah" as Dr. Liao walked into the examination room.

"Booth, Dr. Brennan, how are we doing today?" Dr. Liao asked, not looking up just yet from the notes he was carrying. Brennan was about to reply but Booth beat her to it.

"I feel like shit, doc," he said, still not opening his eyes or picking his head up from where it rested against the wall. Brennan's head snapped to look at him in surprise at his blunt admission. This was the same man who had been down playing his symptoms for the last four months.

"I can see that in your blood results," Dr. Liao replied. If he was surprised by Booth's statement, he didn't show it. "You have an elevated white blood cell count, well elevated for someone receiving chemotherapy and your platelets are low. That indicates to me that you had some sort of infection. Why don't you tell me about how the last couple of days have been?"

Booth snorted before opening his eyes to look at the doctor, covering the hand Bones had on his thigh with one of his own.

"For the past 4 days everything I have tried to eat or drink has come right back up in a hurry, I can't sleep because even when I close my eyes the world is still spinning, and I can't decide whether I am hot or cold. I am usually both that the same time. I pretty much feel like I got two chemo treatments in a row with the way my body is aching all the time."

Booth finished with a squeeze to Bones' hand, letting her know without words that even though he had just let out a lot of frustration, he was okay. He didn't regret what he just said to Dr. Liao but he still hated being perceived as weak if even he was receiving medication that was designed to hurt every cell in his body. And he was trying not to whine like Parker does when he has a tummy ache.

"What does the blood work mean for Booth's treatment schedule, Dr. Liao?" Brennan asked him, Booth smiling at her predictable bluntness.

"Well, the low platelet count is what worries me the most. With the chemotherapy agents already lowering your body's resistance to infection and also the fatigue that you suffer, I do not want to risk the chance that you will start bleeding internally. This platelet count would make it impossible for your body to stop the bleed fast enough to be effective in your survival. Therefore, I would like to postpone the treatment at least one week," Dr. Liao paused as he saw the disappointment cross both of their faces. "I know this is not the news you wanted to hear, but the goal of going through this whole treatment is to ultimately have you go into remission and lead a normal life. That can't happen if you bleed out after bumping into your kitchen table. Understood?"

Booth let out a deep breath, finally sitting up in his chair, not releasing Bones' hand. "Yeah, doc, I get it."

"Now I have one more thing you are not going to want to hear," Dr. Liao started. "I strongly suggest that you avoid people for the next week," Dr. Liao held up his hand when he saw Booth open his mouth. "Booth, you are recovering from an infection, which is going to weaken your immune system even more than it already is from the chemotherapy. The more we stick to the schedule, the better the chance the treatment has to be successful. So I want to make sure that we do not have any more delays, okay?"

"So, no Parker?" Booth asked and Brennan's heart almost broke at the sound of his voice.

"It's just for a couple of weeks," Dr. Liao said, trying to placate his obvious disheartened patient. "Make sure you make an appointment for next week to get your blood drawn again."

With that, Dr. Liao left the room, leaving the soul mates alone to collect their thoughts.

Booth finally let go of Bones' hand and put his elbows on his knees, leaning over to put his head in his hands.

"This sucks," Brennan heard him mutter, though it was obstructed by his hands that were currently covering his face. She placed her hand on the back of his neck, gently massaging the area to give him some form of comfort.

"I know it does Booth, but Dr. Liao is right. Minimizing the delays in the treatment provide for the best chance of success. I think that is what Parker wants the most; a father that can be healthy in the long run."

Booth looked over his shoulder at her and smiled gently, leaning over to give her a quick kiss on the lips. "Thanks, Bones," he whispered as they broke apart. He suddenly stood up and grabbed her hand. "Come on, let's blow this Popsicle stand."

"But Booth, I don't see any popsicles here. Where is this stand? We are in the doctor's office," Brennan argued with her 'pinchy' face as Booth called it.

At her reply, Booth let out a loud laugh, the first in several days, and continued to lead her down the hallway.