A.N : I own nothing of Bones!
CHAPTER 21- IMPROVEMENT
" C´mon, Bones. Be reasonable. It´s just a little blood, not a surgery or anything." Booth shot her his best charming smile, feeling completely bemused by this side of his Bones. Who would ever think of Temperance Brennan afraid of having some blood being taken? She gave his a positively horrified look as the nurse approached with the correct instruments, her big blue eyes like a little girl afraid of monsters in the closet, and all he could do was to come closer and seat by her side, reaching for her hand.
" You say that because it´s not with you." She knew that she probably sounded childish and maybe ridiculous, but it was stronger than her. She hated needles since she was a little girl. Dead bodies on a daily basis? Sure, she could handle that. But having her arm poked by a big needle? She didn´t think so. She felt her fingers starting to sweat, and Booth squeezed her hand as if telling that it was going to be ok.
" No need to be afraid, temperance. Really. She will be done in no time soon." Aparently, it was the wrong thing to say, for her eyes became angry as she tried to move away her fingers from his.
"I am not afraid! I simply don´t appreciate the feeling of having my arm poked, that´s all." She tried to sound unconcerned as the nurse approached with a knowing smile and cleaned her forearm with alcohol, but oh, who she was trying to kid? Booth finally seemed to catch her spirit, and rolled his eyes as coming closer and passing a protective arm around her.
" Fine, I believe you. You´re not afraid. C´mon, don´t look at your arm. Look at me, ok? So, you wont feel a thing." But damn, she looks so cute acting girly like that. There´s a vision I could get used to it. " Close your eyes, dear." The cabal proof that she was indeed afraid was that she obeyed him without even trying to retort, her eyes shut firmly as she squeezed his hand and took a deep breathe. He actually felt sorry for her. Those last days weren´t being easy on his Bones, that was for sure. The nurse casted him a warning look as she approached the needle of her skin, and Booth acted by instinct, his lips coming close to her forehead as touching the velvet of her skin, lightly, little butterfly kisses being placed making both of them shudder and yearn for something more. He could feel the goose bumps over her body, just like the ones he was getting himself. And then, it was done. The nurse nodded at him showing the small vial filled with her blood, and she opened her eyes carefully realizing that it was over. She sighed deeply in relief, allowing a small smile to form between her lips, gazing at his warm brown eyes.
" Thank you, Booth." She meant it. She couldn´t ever tell him enough how thankful she was for everything so far. Had she believed in blessings and God, she would for sure realize that it was what Seeley Booth was in her life. A great, perfect blessing. There he was, this wonderful man, always by her side no matter what the occasion was. If she started to think really hard, she would see how much it actually came closer of a marriage or at least a long term relationship: For good and for worst,on happiness and sorrow, in health or sickness. It was their pastnership. She was sure of that, and knew she would do the same for him. It was just part of who they were.
" There you go, dr. Brennan. All done, and I bet you didn´t feel a thing with this beautiful husband of yours by your side." For the first time in her life, she doesn´t feel the urgent need to correct a person about hers and Booth relationship status. She let the nurse believe in whatever she wants, watching as the woman retreat and realizing that Booth didn´t bother to make the correction as well. And Temperance Brennan doesn´t know what to do about it.
They stay in silence for a while, both lost on their own thoughts, both noticing how much things have changed in such a small amount of time. Booth wonders if it was ever going t o even happen anything at all hadn´t she got sick. Deeply, he knows that it would, that it was meant to happen. He honestly doesn´t know where they are going. But he sure as hell want to give it a try. And all he can think right now is how much he wants her to get better, to be fine again, so he can kiss her, really kiss her the way he wants. Little does he know that Temperance Brennan is thinking mostly the same thing; about how great it must be the feeling of their lips touching and doing their dance,just like they did on Christmas. They don´t know for how much time they stay like this, hands entwined and heads together, seated side by side on the examination room, but the sound of steps coming closer make both raise their heads and look to the door the exact moment that it opens, revealing the middle aged woman that had seen Bones three days ago.
" Good morning to you both. And how are you, dr. Brennan? I must say that you look a lot better than the last time I saw you." The doctor smiles gently as watching the young couple get a grip and seat upright on their respective chairs, their hands never leaving each other as the anthropologist smiles lightly while answering.
" I´m as good as I could be, I guess. I´m fine, actually. I could probably go back to work already, if I may say." Brennan speaks bravely, ignoring the feeling of weakness that still takes her body and the chills that for sure indicates that yes, she still has a fever. But she has to at least try and be strong, to say that things are perfect and try to go back to her routine. Staying home sick is definetly something that does not go with her. The feeling of being useless is getting bigger as time passes, and she can´t avoid but feel a weight for Booth, no matter how many times he repeats that he doesn´t mind. That he likes being with her. How could he possibly like being with a sick woman? Booth snores at her answer, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
" Do not lie to the good doctor, temperance. I´m right here to tell her the true. Don´t by any of that, doc. She may look better than three days ago, I´ll give you that, but she is so not ready to go back to that freaking institute. Trust me." His voice is chiding but gentle, and Brennan also rolls her eyes at his statement.
" I´m sure I know my body better than you, Booth. If I say that I´m ready, than that´s the truth." She hates when Seeley Booth is the one being logical, she really does. She wants desperately to prove him wrong, to be able to just raise from her chair and do something big like a karate move to show exactly how fine she is, but the mere thought of doing so makes her tired and sleepy. Damn stupid, weak, treacherous body.
" says the woman who had 104.7 of fever just a few days ago, who still is feverish, who almost fainted on my kitchen, who can´t breathe properly, whose chest and throat hurts like hell… I could go on and on, but you get the picture, right, doc?" He gives both women his cocky charming smile, knowing that for once he had won an argument with the almighty Temperance Brennan. Dr. Crane raises her eyebrows at her patient, and his Bones sighs deeply as slumping her shoulders.
" Fine, maybe I´m not as good as I would like. But I blame half of it on the medications. I´m honestly thinking of quitting part of them." Booth actually jumps from his chair at this statement as the doctor raises her eyebrows again, and Brennan stares at them defensively. " They make me feel nauseous all the time. Not to mention the drowsiness which prevent me to do anything slightly useful. All my body seems to want is to sleep. I can´t stand staying like that." Booth practically whines, thinking again how infuriating that woman can be. At least she´s sounding like her again on the stubbornness part. But heck, she´s still talking nonsense, that´s for sure.
"Temperance…" he uses what he supposes it´s his most scary warning tone, the one he saves in general for the interrogation room, and she just gazes back at him as if she was talking about the weather. But dr. Crane is faster, raising her hands and taking her stethoscope from her neck, placing firmly against Brennan´s chest.
" If your body asks for sleep it´s because it´s needed, dr. Brennan. I´m sure you know that as much as I do. As for the medicines, I´m not going to deny that they have some unpleasant effects, but again, you know that. Now, I understand how frustrating this amount of resting time can be, but that´s what you need to be completely fine again. There will be no use if you just go and start your normal activities now just to get much worse later. " Brennan just huffs in contempt, but Booth realizes that she got the message. As stubborn a s she can be, she is not going to risk her health so stupidly . Not that he would let her anyway. He watches closely as the doctor proceeds her examination, as his Bones takes deep breathes and make a face as it hurts to do so, just showing all of them the extent of her disease. He is happy to see that it doesn´t seem to be as bad as in the beginning, though. Dr. Crane´s exams are long and precise, her questions well pointed and careful, and Booth feels his blood go cold as the nurse enters the room with what he knows are her results. It´s true time, and he prays silently to God for some improvement. He suddenly feels her hand squeezing his and looks at her, only to realize that she is as scared as him. He gives her a reassuring smile as Dr. Crane surveys the papers and the X-ray carefully, finally giving both of them a polite and satisfied smile.
" I´m glad to say that your results are showing improvement, dr. Brennan. It´s small and slow, but it´s here. Lung infections are tricky sometimes, but your leukocites are lower and the infiltration in the X-ray seems to be retreating. I´m not very happy about your fever, though. It shouldn´t be this high by now, but it does not mean that the treatment is not effective. I´m just going to change the antithermic for a stronger one, but everything will remain the same. That goes to the resting orders as well. There´s no need for strict bed rest anymore, but you are categorically forbidden of leaving your house, except for coming back here in another three days. Mr. Booth, I trust you will take care of those recommendations and make sure they are followed." Booth agreed eagerly, as Temperance snorted in despise. The doctor Nodded approvingly at Booth´s attitude and proceeded. " try to eat as much as your system allows you, and just relax, dr. Brennan. Consider this as a forceful vacation. Try to sleep a lot, just give in to your body´s urges. Take it slowly and In three more days I´m sure you´ll feel a lot better from now, and then we can discuss an actual date for you to go back to your normal activities. Trust me, I would not be telling you to do this if it wasn´t necessary. Do we have a deal?" Booth knew that his Bones was defeated by the moment he looked at her. And he felt his heart tugging at her saddened face. He knew this was hard on his always active girl. But he would be damned if he wasn´t going to make her follow strictly dr. Crane´s orders, even if it took his life, literally. He could very well see his Bones angry enough with him to kill. Not that it would stop him.
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" Oh, c´mon, Bones. Cheer up a little, will you? You´re getting better!" Booth eyed her carefully as trying to keep his attention on the road, the car fast back to home. But he couldn´t help but keep gazing at Temperance. She looked positively upset, her face like stone as he tried to make her laugh with silly jokes and so. He understood, he really did. All she wanted to hear was that she was all right and ready to go back to her normal activities, but instead the doctor just told her to relax and hold still for more days, and Booth knew that it looked like an eternity to his Bones.
" If I was getting better I would be going back to work, Booth. And it´s clearly not the case." She answered surly, not being able to avoid the bad mood. She knew deep down that she should be gentle and nice to Booth, for it wasn´t his fault at all what was happening to her. On the contraire, he was actually trying to make her better from the moment she got sick. But right now, smiling and pretending that things were fine wasn´t an option. She had desired so desperately to go back to her normal pace, to her beloved routine. She had wanted not to be a source of trouble and work for Booth. And all she got was nothing. There she w as,weak and defeated on his car, driving back to his apartment for more days of nothing. Booth gives her his charm smile, and for a moment she felt like crying again. It was so sweet and gentle.
" You knew that this wasn´t going to happen so soon, Temperance. You have pneumonia, not a simple cold. It takes some time to be completely well again. We´ll just have to take care of you, and soon enough you´ll be brand new. That´s a promise, honey." How could he be able to say exactly what she needed to hear? She sometimes wondered if Booth was some kind of mind reader. Except she didn´t believe in such a thing.
" Don´t honey me." She replied quickly and automatically, and Booth couldn´t suppress a laughter.
" See? You are already coming back to yourself. That´s the spirit, Bones. Now, cheer up. I´ll make us a nice lunch as soon as we get home." She felt suddenly surprised by realizing how much she really felt like home wherever Seeley Booth was. It was so easy to adapt to his place, his bed, his arms.I must be really losing my mind. That´s the only logical explanation.
" I´m not really hungry." She replied honestly, her stomach actually churning by the thought of food , and once more she damned the medications for it strong effects. She knew she had to eat in order to get better, but heck, how could she do such a thing when feeling so off? Booth seemed to catch her spirit, placing a soothing hand on her arm as speaking.
" Ok, I´ll spoil you a little. What you say of some of Sid´s food? I can stop there just for a moment and get us something. Sid will know of a nice meal for a sick person. You just wait for me in the car and I´ll be right back in a few minutes. Deal?" He didn´t even waited for her answer, driving quickly to Sid´s, happy to realize they were only a few blocks away from it. He parked and surveyed her warmly before opening his door and leaving. " I´ll be back soon. Just rest and don´t do anything crazy." He watched as she snorted at his last words and waved her good bye, and took his cue, entering the restaurant only to be saluted by Sid himself.
" Hey, Booth. Long time no see. Where´s your bones lady?" He felt a thud in his heart by hearing Sid calling Bones his. The guy had no idea how much that meant to him. How much he really longed for Bones to be completely his.
" waiting for me in the car, actually. And that´s why I ´ve gotta run. She´s sick, with freaking pneumonia, and it´s hard for her to eat. So, I figured out I could use some of your magic to help her a little. You know, guess what she needs, something that will be nice for her stomach." He was actually surprised by the fact he hadn´t thought of that before, to use Sid´s gift with what people need regarding food to his Bones.
" Sure. I´ll make her a nice soup, old receipy. It helps to soothe anything. And I also know exactly what you need too. Just wait a minute." Sid turned immediately to the kitchen as Booth smiled and propped himself on a stool, happy with his idea and thinking about his Bones waiting for him. And that was when he felt a small, warm hand on his shoulder, and he knew who it was before he could turn around. There was just one person in the world who would be this crazy, and there she w as, temperance Brennan in all her glory, a victorious smile all ove r her face as she seated by his side and he felt his blood boiling.
" Temperance! What the heck are you doing out here? Jeez, what part of waiting for me in the car haven´t you not understand? It´s dangerous for you to be in open places, you´re not in your hundred per cent. Go back to the car." His voice sounded harsher than he intended, but jeez, that woman couldn´t follow a simple direction! She just raised her eyebrows and adjusted herself on her seat.
" Don´t try to boss me around, Booth. I can take care of myself , believe it or not. And it was quite uncomfortable in the car, you should know that. Plus, I wanted to be with you." She felt the urge to bite her tongue at her last statement. I was doing so well. I honestly thought I was cured of my loosen tongue.I must be feverish again. She rolled her eyes by seeing the big cocky smile that took over Booth´s face as he placed an arm around her and pulled her closer.
" I´m glad you find my company so interesting, temperance. But right now, youé getting back to the freaking car."
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" Don´t get up, Bones. Jeez, have you taken the day to go against me?" He placed his hands on her shoulders making her seat by the couch again, as the doorbell rang one more time. " I´ll answer that." He watched as she made a face at him, and smiled a bit by realizing that she was definitely getting stronger and nearer of her normal self this day. She had been retorting and trying to do everything otherwise than what he had said all day, and when it came about Temperance Brennan, it was a good sign. He was much more worried when she was too compliant.
He opened the door to find the smiling faces of Angela and Hodgins, giving them space to come in and indicating the couch where Bones laid still. Angela was the first to approach and speak, s eating by her friend´s side and shoving what looked like a DVD on her face.
" Hey, sweetie! Guess what, it´s movie night. After a lot of argument, me and Hodgie finally reached an agreement. You´ll love this one."
TBC…
Want to read about movie night? Tell me what you think about this chapter!