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Chapter #16: Not Alone

Brennan held Parker in her arms. They had travelled all night to get there in time to see Booth before he went into surgery. She was falling asleep as well. It had been more than five hours since Booth had gone into surgery when Dr. Gunman entered the room.

"Temperance, I'm glad you could come with Booth." He said.

"How is he?" She asked.

"He's doing fine. He's in recovery right now. We found some complications during the surgery that we weren't expecting. Right now our greatest concern is his lungs. They are very weak. He is on a breathing machine right now. I was planning on removing the breathing tube as soon as the surgery was over, but he didn't react well to the test; so, we left the tube in. When he wakes up we'll try again to remove it." Dr. Gunman said.

"What about his heart and legs?" Brennan asked.

"His heart was a little weak, but his legs are just fine. The cyst caused more damage to his nerves going to his lungs than to those going to his heart. That's the reason he's still on the breathing machine, but I'm positive he will make a full recovery." Dr. Gunman told her.

"When can we see him?" Brennan asked.

"He will be back in here in a few minutes, but I want to talk to you first, prior to you seeing him. I want to be make sure that you understand clearly what he has been through." Dr. Gunman continued. "This operation was more invasive than the first one. The previous surgery only required us to remove the damaged tissue and close him up, but since this surgery involved the nerves it may be more painful than the first. We took the time to look at the tissues in the area to see if there was any abnormal growth, and thankfully there was none. But we will need to finish the chemo treatments. I want to be able to give him the six remaining therapies as soon as possible." The doctor said.

"But I thought he had finished the treatments?" Brennan asked.

"Since we had to stop the pill treatment, we have to finish it, and I think it will be more effective to give him the treatment directly." Dr. Gunman said.

"I know that this is rather soon to ask, but when can we take him home?" Brennan asked.

"That's the same question that he asked this morning prior to us putting him under the anesthesia." Dr. Gunman said smiling. "He has to stay in the hospital for a week. He will be on high doses of morphine for a few days. I want him to stay in this area for the next month, but I want to be able to send him home as quickly as possible. Being in DC has helped him allot. If we were closer to DC I would authorized the travel a week after we release him from the hospital, but since it's a long trip to DC I'm not sure if he can handle it. Plus the time in the airport…" The doctor continued.

"If I could arrange to have a private plane to take him home, would you authorize the travel?" Brennan asked interrupting the doctor.

"What do you have in mind?" Dr. Gunman asked.

"Someone owes me a favor." Brennan said.

"Okay, we'll see how he does and if all goes well I think that would be acceptable. Okay?" Dr. Gunman said.

"Sure and thank you." Brennan replied.

"Temperance, they are bringing Seeley in from recovery. I think it would be best if you and his son wait outside until we get him comfortable." Dr. Gunman said.

As Brennan stepped outside the room with Parker, they saw a group of orderlies wheeling a gurney and a large number of machines down the hall. Brennan explained the situation to Parker, making sure to carefully explain the breathing tube and what it was for; so, he wouldn't be scared when seeing his father. Brennan waited until everyone left Booth's room before taking Parker in. They approached the bed. He was cold to the touch and a little pale. The breathing tube was covered with huge pieces of tape to hold it in position, and this covered his lips and cheeks. He seems so vulnerable. Brennan thought. She sat with Parker on her lap beside Booth's bed. Parker went back to sleep, and Brennan closed her eyes as well. Now she could rest for a while. She was by his side again.

Two hours later, Parker woke Brennan up. Booth was waking up, and was obviously in pain. He groaning in pain and trying to move.

"Parker go get the nurse please." Brennan said. Parker nodded and ran toward the nurses station.

"Hey, you have to be still." Brennan told Booth. "You are still connected to the breathing machine. Your lungs were really weak after the surgery. Close your eyes once if you understand." Brennan said.

Booth blinked his eyes once.

Parker returned to the room followed by two nurses and Dr. Gunman.

"Temperance, would you please wait in the hall for a few minutes?" Dr. Gunman said.

"Sure." Brennan said, and kissed Booth on the forehead. "I'll take Parker to the cafeteria" Booth blinked his eyes once showing that he understood.

"James, can he eat anything?" Brennan asked Dr. Gunman. "Well, after you take the breathing tube out anyway."

"I'll try to remove the tube now. He may eat something soft. No solid foods for a while. I'll have the nurse bring something for him." Dr. Gunman said.

"Okay." Brennan replied as she turned to go.

An hour later, Brennan returned to Booth's room with Parker. Booth was now breathing on his own. A nurse was wiping his forhead. She looked back at Paker and Brennan and immediately smiled.

"Is daddy alright?" Parker asked.

"Yes, he's just resting." The nurse replied.

Brennan looked toward the table and saw the food tray.

"He didn't eat anything?" She asked.

"The doctor gave him a small dose of a sedative to remove the breathing tube; so, he has been sleeping since." The nurse explained.

"Oh, but he's alright?" Brennan said with a concerned expression on her face as she realized the nurse whipped Booth's face again. The same thing she had done when he had a fever.

"Well, he is a little feverish, but that's a common side effect from the anesthesia for him. The last surgery he had a fever as well. I'll return in a while to check on him. If he wakes up, try to make him eat. The medications can make his stomach a little upset." The nurse said.

"Thanks." Brennan said.

It was nearly midnight when Booth opened his eyes again. He was feeling awful, but thanks to the morphine his back pain wasn't as intense. He looked toward the couch in the corner, and saw his son sleeping. When he turned his head he saw Brennan looking at him and smiling.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" She asked.

"I love you too." Booth said.

"I know that. I asked how you were feeling." Brennan said smiling.

"I'll survive." He could see the worried expression on her face. "The morphine is working miracles for me right now, but my throat hurts like hell." Booth said in a low and scratchy voice.

"Are you hungry?" Brennan asked.

"Not really." Booth replied.

"You have to eat." Brennan told him.

"I don't really feel like trying to swallow anything right now." Booth said.

"Not even pudding." Brennan told him smiling.

Booth smiled at her and nodded. She squeezed his hand and moved toward the little fridge in the room. Retrieving the pudding she sat beside him with a spoon in her hand. Booth looked at her lovingly, while she opened the pudding. Booth was going to take the cup and spoon, but Brennan wouldn't let him have it.

"I'm not a baby you know?" Booth said.

"I know that, but I want to take care of you, and besides you can't even lift your arms properly." Brennan told him.

He had to admit, the morphine was putting his body in slow motion mode. He agreed and started to let Brennan feed him. Every time the pudding went down his throat his eyes would tear up. After three spoonfuls he stopped eating. Brennan understood that he wasn't going to eat anymore and didn't push the issue. Brennan gave him a sweet kiss on the lips, and rested her head on his chest as Booth ran his fingers through her hair. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep healing sleep.