Chapter 15: Alone again
Booth was lying in his hospital bed. He had gotten a call from his doctor two days after the tests were completed, informing him that he needed to leave for the hospital immediately. The tests had shown that the cyst was caused by a leak of fluid from his spinal cord. The liquid had created a cyst because it remained inside the dural sack. They needed to repair the problem before the cyst broke, and began leaking the spinal fluid into his blood stream, which would provoke even more serious complications. He was admitted to the hospital immediately upon his arrival. The doctors wanted to keep him under observation to monitor any change in his condition.
The surgery was scheduled for the next day. The doctors had just informed him that they couldn't wait any longer, because the walls of the cyst were too fragile and they could break at any moment. He had tried to call Bones after talking with the doctor, but had not been able to reach her. Her cell phone was off, and there was no answer at her home phone or her office at the Jeffersonian. He looked at his watch; it was 11pm at night. He missed Parker so much. He had talked to the doctor to see if the surgery could be done back in DC, but they recommended against it. He didn't have a choice. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice the nurse checking his vitals.
"Mr. Booth, how are you feeling?" The nurse asked happily.
"Sara! Hi. It's me again." Booth said with as much humor in his voice as he could project.
"Anne told me that you were here, but I didn't believe her." Sara said as she adjust the IV flow.
"I arrived yesterday." Booth told her closing his eyes as he move on the bed.
"What for?" Sara asked.
"Back surgery." Booth replied with a sight.
"Again?!" Sara said.
He nodded. Anne and Sara were the two nurses that had helped him survive the previous back surgery. They were his main care givers during the time that he was in the hospital.
" I'll give you some medication. You know the procedure." Sara told him.
"I remember." Booth replied.
Booth sighed. He remembered everything from his previous surgery but mostly remembered the pain. The doctors told him that this surgery would be longer than the first one, and more complex. He already knew the risk of the surgery. It came down to a choice: continue to suffer the excruciating pain in his back and steadily get worse, or try to repair the damage. He decided that repairing it was really his only choice.
"I must say that you look allot better this time. I believe DC worked miracles for you." One of the nurses said as they left him on the room.
"You have no idea." Booth replied with a smile as she exited the room. He moved his hands toward his Ipod and turned it on. He searched the directory and clicked on the photos menu. After accessing it, he found himself smiling at the photo of his family. The picture was of him, Parker and Bones sitting on the terrace of Brennan's house. The photo had been taken by Angela and he had asked her to put it on his Ipod. As he looked at the photo he felt the drug start to take effect. A few minutes later he was asleep.
He woke up early the following morning, after feeling the hands of one of the nurses prepping him for surgery.
"We were thinking that you didn't want to see us." Anne said.
"I'm feeling tired, that's all. How are your son and husband?" Booth asked.
"Both of them are fine. How is your son?" She asked.
A sad smile crossed Booth's face. He pictured up his Ipod, and showed Anne the picture he had been looking at the night before as he fell asleep.
"He's a cuttie." Anne said. "Is that his mother?" She asked.
"No." Booth said smiling. If she ever heard that I think she would kill someone. Booth thought. "She is my best friend." Booth said honestly.
"She's pretty. You all seem happy in the photo." Anne said.
"Thanks." Booth said.
"Well, we are almost done here. In a few minutes we'll take you to the operating room. I was hoping that you had someone come with you this time." Anne said.
"No, this will be like last time." Booth told her.
The nurse picked up on the sad tone in Booth's voice, and decided to let the conversation rest. He was starting to close his eyes as the drug cocktail they had given him began to take effect. She called to the orderly standing in the hallway. They carefully transferred Booth to the gurney. As they were moving him, Booth was thinking about Parker and Bones. He didn't want to admit it, but he would give just about anything to have them there with him. He suddenly became aware that the gurney he was on had stopped moving.
"Your family is here." He heard Anne say. He opened his eyes to see Parkers face above his, and Bones was right beside him. His Bones! Booth thought.
"But I told you that…" He had a mixture of fear, happiness, and fury rising up inside him.
"Have you ever heard of 'crossing your fingers'?" Brennan said, as she crossed her fingers where he could see.
"Daddy, don't get mad at us. We just wanted to be here with you, to help take care of you." Parker said.
"I'm sorry, but we need to keep moving." The nurse said. Bones nodded and waited for Parker to give his father a kiss and hug. Then she kissed Booth softly on the lips. He answered back with a huge smile.
She put her lips down to his ear and said "I love you, and I'm not leaving you alone this time. I'll be waiting in your room. Don't make me wait long." Brennan placed her hand on his cheek, and after another brief moment the gurney began to move again.
"Daddy will be fine Bones. Please don't cry." Parker said, as he wiped the tears from her face.
"I now sweetie. It's just that I already miss him." Brennan told him.
"Me too." Parker replied.
Booth was laying on the cold operating table, but he was smiling. Seeing her with Parker had given him the motive to undergo the surgery. He heard the nurse begin to explain the procedure to him, but he wasn't listening. His mind was with Bones and Parker. As they began to administer the anesthesia, Booth's eyes began to close and he went into a calm but dreamless sleep.