Morning stretched quietly into the room, fingers of light sliding over the two forms in the hospital bed. They lay in a comfortable embrace, foreheads touching and arms around one another. Head nurse Shirley Meadows smiled as she paused by the window to watch the touching scene. She'd been a nurse for fifteen years and was still amazed at the easy energy that seemed to just flow between the pair. She smiled again as she watched the man slowly awaken, stopping to brush his hand across his "partner's" cheek. Shaking her head, Shirley walked the rest of the way to her station, the hopeless romantic in her beaming.
Ever the believer in heaven, Seeley Booth couldn't let go of the serenity that filled his soul as he awoke next to his partner. The soft morning light drifted through the curtain, sending rays dancing across her hair and highlighting her stunning features. His hand drifted across her face on its own accord but the contented sigh it elicited from her lips made sure he didn't mind.
His pleasure was cut short as the shrill ringing of his cell phone cut across the room. Holding his breath a moment, he watching as Bones' face contorted slightly in irritation. He pulled himself quietly from the bed and answered his phone in a hushed tone as he walked into the hallway. Brennan's expression smoothed out, pain medication allowing sleep. Once he'd filled Angela in and she promised to bring everyone by later that afternoon he said goodbye and let out the breath he hadn't been aware was bottled up. Leaning his head against the cool glass, reality of Bones' situation sunk back in, along with his guilt. It was his fault she was taken into the room, his fault that she was stabbed by Welby, his fault she'd never walk again. He lifted his head at the soft clearing of a throat. The nurse from the day before stood to his left, coffee in hand.
"You looked like you needed this," she said as he took the proffered drink. He thanked her and went back to staring at his sleeping partner through the window. The two stood in silence for a few minutes, each sipping at their respective cups.
"She's lucky to have you," Shirley finally stated.
Booth scoffed scornfully in response, "yea, she's really lucky to have an agent that can't even protect her as a partner."
Taking his bitterness in stride, Shirley tried again, "You saved her though, didn't you?"
He gave a shrug, still avoiding her gaze and the silence ensued once more. Booth jumped back to reality as Bones started to awaken and he turned back to his companion.
"Go on," she said simply, reaching for his empty cup. He returned to the bedside and she smiled once more before resuming her rounds.
"Hey Bones," Booth said quietly, watching his partner slowly blink to wakefulness.
"Booth?" she questioned before holding her head, "I had the weirdest dream." She looked around the room, her face falling quickly.
"Oh."
"Hey, it's going to be okay," Booth started, taking her hand on top of the white blanket.
"Yea," she replied unconvincingly before removing her hand from his comforting grasp. He felt a pang of hurt at her rejection but tried to brush it off. She stared at her lap for a moment, visibly controlling her thoughts before she looked back up at him.
"How do you feel this morning?" he asked her cautiously, worried about her depression.
"Like yesterday, but with more pain meds," she replied after considering the question.
"Well, everyone is coming by later. They've been worried like crazy," he said, trying to work their way out of the awkward cloud that hung over the conversation. He watched her tense at his statement.
"What do they know?" she asked, her voice almost fearful. This change surprised him and he answered slowly,
"Well, Angela knows almost everything. I'm assuming she's told the others. If you don't want them to come by…" He trailed off slightly.
"No, it's fine" She cut him off, looking the opposite, "I'm fine. I should see them."
He watched her try to convince herself for a moment longer.
"What's for breakfast?" she asked suddenly, hoping for a change in topic.
"I'll find out," he replied, picking up on her cue.
The cloud continued to hang idly.
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A few hours later found Angela Montenegro outside of her best friend's hospital room, the rest of the "Squint Squad" behind her. Hogins carried the flowers, Cam the cards and Sweets the balloons he insisted she needed. They all paused for a moment before Angela knocked on the doorframe and led them inside. Her heart ached for the small form in the bed though the large smile on her face begged to differ.
"Hey sweetie!" she offered up enthusiastically, hugging Brennan while the others gave similar greetings. Everyone took their turn saying hello and the artist stood back, watching Booth hovering in the background. She wove her way over to him.
"Hey G-man, what's the story?" she asked, giving him her "don't give me crap" look.
"Look at her," he supplied helplessly. Angela felt pity for the tall agent who looked utterly defeated at the moment. She turned to watch her best friend interacting with the others. Bren's face was edgy and stressed, though she did make a valiant effort to hide it.
"She doesn't know what to do or how to handle this," he said as he watched Brennan in the bed. Angela, though initially surprised someone else could pick up on Bren's nuances as quickly as she did, picked up on something else too.
"And you don't either," she finished, watching his eyes widen fractionally.
"It's my fault," he said, still watching his partner, "but this I can't fix."
"You already have," Angela said to a snort of disbelief from her companion.
"Really," she pressed on, "you being here mean a hell of a lot more to her than she's ever going to admit. She doesn't like to look weak, you know that. What she hates more is self pity. So you've got to stop wallowing and just help her hold it together." Booth nodded in consideration, letting out a deep sigh. They watched their friend a moment longer before Angela stepped towards the rest of the group.
"Alright, Booth is going down to the cafeteria to get pudding for everyone," she announced to a confused look from everyone in the room, "Hogins, Sweets, you go with him."
Cam sensed the artist's distraction. "I'll go watch over them," she said, getting up from her chair and dragging the others and their protests with her. Angela took a seat next to Brennan's bed.
"Spill Sweetie."
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The boys made their way to the cafeteria, Cam in the lead. She took the long way, distracting Hogins and trying to keep a semi-sullen Booth afloat. When she paused by the gift shop, claiming they needed magazines for their friend, Sweets hung back by Booth who stood transfixed by the movie display.
"How are you doing Agent Booth," the young psychologist softly treaded.
"I'm not the one in the bed Sweets," Booth snapped back, still fingering a copy of The Princess Bride.
"I've talked to some of the nurses," Sweets started again while the agent just frowned.
"Apparently you two are in here quite a bit," he continued the one-sided conversation, "and each time, the other one is crazed until they know what's going on with their 'Partner'."
"So?" Booth finally asked, prodding the doctor on after a few beats of silence. He knew there was more to come.
"Dr. Brennan's just lucky to have someone that loves her so much, that's all," Sweets said, punctuating it with another shrug of his shoulders.
Booth sputtered a moment before settling on, "She's my partner Sweets, you know that."
"So?" he parroted Booth's earlier question, glad it wasn't a denial.
"So, of course I'm worried when she gets hurt."
"Ah," the psychologist said, bemused expression still in place, "so that's why when she wouldn't wake up you threatened to sue the hospital unless she got the best doctors and care." Booth dipped his head in embarrassment of his outburst from the first night.
"And why you didn't leave her side for the two days she was out," Sweets went on.
"She would do—did—the same thing for me," Booth tried to defend.
"And why this entire time, you haven't been away from her for more than five minutes or even looked away from her for more than one," Sweets finished softly, watching the older man finally hang his head in defeat.
"Yes," he heard the agent whisper into his chest, admitting to far more than the simple answer alluded.
"At least now you know," he supplied and Booth looked back up, his face almost comically "little boy". Sweets gave him a smile, "so what are you going to do?"
Booth's eyes widened with panic and he fumbled again for words.
"About therapy," he clarified, holding back a laugh at the agent's terrified expression. Booth sighed with relief and turned back to the display case, setting the movie back down.
"I don't know," he revealed, running a hand through his hair, "it's going to be really hard for her. She doesn't like to rely on anyone. Having to be in a chair, with a therapist, it's going to be tough."
"She relies on you," the therapist pointed out
A smile tugged at Booth's lips and he turned back to the impish man next to him, "yea, I guess so."
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"What do you mean Ange?" Brennan chose ignorance.
"I mean, how are you?" Angela pressed.
"I'm fine," Brennan replied, finding her lap far more interesting.
"Bull," the artist challenged.
"Angela," Brennan finally looked at her friend, pleading seeping into her voice.
"You're freaking out," Angela tried again to an amused, "Clearly I'm not" from her friend.
"Not visibly, but I know you Sweetie," she said, grasping Brennan's hands in hers, "What's going on with you?"
Brennan looked down again, the tears, pain and disappointment rushing back to her.
"I'm fine," she tried again, her voice far weaker than the first time.
"Clearly you're not," Angela said gently, using her friend's words to convince her.
"I'm scared Angela," she whispered finally, measured control cracking. When Angela came on the bed and wrapped her in a hug, Brennan's hold broke and she finally let her fear out onto her best friend's shoulder.
"We're here for you," Angela soothed after the sobbing turned into quiet hiccups, "all of us. Especially Booth."
Brennan's head came up, her tear streaked face regarding her friend with question.
"He cares about you Bren," Angela revealed yet again, "it's killing him that you're in pain." The doctor just nodded and Angela almost laughed at the similarity of the move.
"Let him in," she prodded gently. Brennan nodded again before taking a breath and looking back at her friend.
"Ange, I think I, well, I think I might,"
"I know Sweetie," Angela finished with a soft smile as her friend visibly relaxed at not quite having to admit it out loud.
Their conversation was interrupted when everyone else came back in. Brennan asked about the lab and they all talked and laughed about Fisher's latest experiment-gone-wrong until Cam reminded them that they needed to be getting back to work. She reassured them all that they would be back soon and the group took their leave.
"That reminds me; shouldn't you be getting back to work yourself?" Brennan asked Booth as he took a seat next to her.
"Nope," he replied, glad she was sounding more like her old self (though he didn't miss the slight tear tracks on her face).
"I talked to Cullen and he said I don't have to be back to work until you are. He sends his regards, and those," Booth continued, pointing at a large bouquet Brennan hadn't noticed before.
"How, um, thoughtful," Bones said after examining them.
"Yep," Booth agreed, "It looks like you'll have to put up with me for a bit longer."
"Sounds good to me," she replied after a pause as she caught his eye, her first real smile adorning her face.
His answering grin was more brilliant than she'd ever seen.
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Sorry if these chapters have been a bit angsty again! Don't worry, it'll get better, we just have to hit the bottom before we get back up! :-) Let me know what you think and if you have any thoughts or suggestions!
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