Author's Note: I know, I know...I'm evil. I'm also sorry. I wanted to continue and not make the last chapter so cliffhangery. No seriously, I did, but it was already on the long side of the spectrum, and I had the majority of this chapter to still try and fit in. If I tell you I try and make up for it at the end of this one, will you forgive me? Reviews are amazing as always, if you can give them of course. :)
Hodgins stuck his money into a snack machine in the waiting room and waited for the cup of coffee that in his opinion was better than the sludge in the cafeteria, only to find that there was apparently something wrong with the machine. Rather than dispensing a cup and the coffee he wanted, it spurted out steam before stopping any signs of life at all. Punching his hand into it, he grumbled. "Come on," He murmured. "This is ridiculous." Kicking it, he searched his pocket for more money.
"You know there's a trick to that one." Booth spoke from the doorway. He walked over, hitting at a specific spot, and just afterward a cup came from within.
Hodgins grinned and laughed. "Thanks, man. It beats paying five bucks at Starbucks. How'd you know to do that?" Hodgins asked before it occurred to him that of course Booth would have experience with the machines there. He looked down as the cup filled with coffee. "Sorry, man." He took the cup away as Booth stuck in his change.
Booth shook his head before pressing a button. "It's fine, it's just experience I guess."
Watching as he took his cup, Hodgins noted the way he hesitated. "Hey, what are you doing out here anyway? If you wanted coffee, you could've just told me and I would've gotten it for you since I was coming." He asked curiously.
"I don't know." Booth shrugged before sitting down at one of the tables nearby. He glanced around the room, noting an elderly woman waiting with someone he figured was her mother, and a young man and woman wrapped tightly in a corner in one another's arms. "She hasn't woken up yet."
"We just got here; didn't they say it wasn't a bad thing just yet?" Hodgins asked, his voice laced with concern. He nodded, feeling like he finally got it, before raising his cup in Booth's direction. "Which begs the question of why you're here and not in there waiting for her to wake up."
"Because-" Booth began, knowing it was pointless to dance around the subject. The image of Brennan turning pale before falling just as he caught her reflected in his mind. "She doesn't want me there. Because I want to be, but I'm afraid of how she'll react if I am, or the excuse she'll give this time. Because Angela ordered me to go do something because all I was doing was sitting there freaking out, because it's my fault Bones is here in the first place. We were arguing out on the patio, talking about things, and she just…fell." Booth replied, frowning as he took a sip from his cup. "Why am I telling you all of this again?"
Hodgins shrugged, a bit surprised at how open he was being as well. While he was normally one who tried his best to keep his emotions about the whole situation close to his chest, Booth apparently felt stressed about the situation, and he happened to be the one there when he needed to vent. "I don't know, but I do know something."
Booth sighed and shook his head. "No offense Hodgins, but I'm not really in the mood for some squinty speech about what's happening here, or your latest theory."
"Right," Hodgins nodded. "I was just going to say that even if you think Doctor B doesn't want you there, you obviously want to be. You want to prove something to her, and you're not going to do it by sitting and brooding here in the waiting room."
With his shoulders hunched and his hands making dents in the Styrofoam cup, Booth knew he was right at least on some levels. It was ridiculous, that he was read so well, but maybe it was his fault in the first place. He was torn between the need to do the right thing and doing what she wanted, not that he knew what that was exactly.
Hodgins took a large gulp from his cup. "I know something else, too."
"Oh, yeah? What's that?" Booth asked sarcastically, expecting some wise comment.
"If Doctor B wakes up and you're not there, it's not going to prove this 'FBI Knight in Shining Armor' persona you've got going on." Hodgins replied before shrugging his shoulders, knowing he was close to the line of being a good friend and the guy that got threatened with the bad end of Booth's gun.
"You've been listening to Angela too much, you know that?" Booth replied. He laughed, and for a moment he almost forgot where he was and what he was doing. Taking another sip from the cup, he winced before sliding it across to Hodgins. "You can have it; I forgot how much I hate this stuff."
Hodgins watched as he stood up and walked out, heading back to Brennan's room. He glanced down at the cup in his hand before shaking his head. "I hate it, too."
When Booth got back to Brennan's hospital room, she was still sleeping. Angela was sitting in the seat by her bedside, and Cam was sitting next to Zack in seats by the wall. Taken back a minute by the dedication of the people in the room, he knew it really wasn't much of a surprise. Still, he couldn't shake how scarily similar the whole scene was, and how only months before they'd been stuck in a similar position.
"Hey," Cam spoke, the first to notice him in the room. "Did you see Hodgins? He was supposed to bring me back water."
"Uh," Booth cleared his throat, his gaze not parting from Brennan's face. "Yeah, he should be back soon."
Cam smiled and nodded, knowing she wouldn't get much else out of him, before going back to the magazine she was reading.
"Has Weston been back in here yet?" Booth asked to no one in particular.
"The last time he was in here was roughly ten minutes before Angela suggested you go take a break, no he has not been in here since." Zack replied. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I am not completely certain of what we're supposed to do."
"You think any of us do, Zack? You think that we like waiting here, again, just hoping something good happens? We don't like it, but it's just something in a long line of things that happen. We sit and wait, that's what we do." Angela cried, surprised by her sudden outburst. She cast a look in his direction. "I'm sorry."
Booth sighed from the doorway before finally stepping in and walking to her side. "Ange is right, though. There's not much else we can do." He grabbed Brennan's hand and gave it a squeeze, as if doing so would provide her the strength to wake up. "This is my fault."
"I doubt that, Seeley. It's not like you wanted this to happen." Cam replied, her voice harsh enough for him to get the point.
"Cam's right, Booth; you can't beat yourself up about it." Angela spoke as she shook her head. They had headed straight to the hospital from the art show, and as such were still dressed up in a manner of speaking. She wished she could get out of the heels she was wearing, but didn't want to leave until they had more concrete news on Brennan's condition.
Hodgins opened the door at that moment, not at all surprised by the scene before him. They were a family, all of them together, and they stuck together in tough situations. "Your water." He muttered to Cam before handing her the bottle. He stuck his hands in his pockets and sighed. "How's she doing?"
"There's been no improvement, but that's not a bad thing." Angela replied. She shook her head, wishing she could believe that herself.
"Thanks." Cam smiled and waved the bottle at Hodgins before twisting off the cap.
"You know, maybe we should go." Hodgins suggested to Angela. He shot a glance at Booth as he stood by the opposite side of the bed. "I mean, they're probably going to keep her overnight anyway, so we can come back in the morning. I can see you wincing in those stupid shoes you chose to wear."
Angela wanted to argue, wanted to simply see her friend wake up and open her eyes, as if that would be enough to make everything normal again. She was tired, but she'd caught the look he sent to Booth, and shook her head before smiling a little. "Right, of course." She patted Booth's shoulder as she stood. "Keep a watch, will you? Call me if anything happens. Anything, Booth."
Cam stood and stretched her back. "I should probably get going as well."
Zack eyed them all suspiciously, getting the feeling he was missing something. "Why are we all leaving? Shouldn't we be waiting for Doctor Brennan to wake up?"
Hodgins shook his head as they were all at the door, everyone except Angela. He nodded in Booth's direction. "Booth's gonna be here, and he'll let us know if anything changes. Don't worry about it, Z-Man. Come on, let's go." He pulled his arm before they finally left.
Angela looked to the door before turning to wrap Booth in a hug. "Good night, Booth. Take care of her, will you?"
"If she'll let me, you know I will." Booth replied, a bit taken back by her sudden display of emotion.
Angela pulled back and shook her head. "No, see, I know you. I know you're not gonna just give up even if she tells you to. Brennan's stubborn as hell, but you're even worse." She replied, giving his arm a squeeze before stepping back. "I mean it, Booth. I don't care if it's two in the morning; if she wakes up, I wanna know."
Booth nodded before watching her slip out the door. He turned to face the bed and taking the spot Angela had just vacated. Picking up Brennan's hand, he traced the skin of her wrist with his thumb. "Looks like it's just you and me, Bones. You're not gonna object to that, are you?"
He laughed at himself before shaking his head. "Okay, here's the deal: you're going to wake up, and everything will work out. Maybe not right away, maybe not for a while, but it will. You might end up hating me for a while, but as long as you're awake, I think I could live with that." Booth lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss against her skin. "I just need you to open your eyes, Bones. Just open your eyes." He waited, counting the seconds, and felt defeated when she made no sign of movement aside from her steady breathing in and out. The fact that nothing worse had happened was a good sign. There was no reason to feel at a loss, and while Booth knew that it didn't stop him from wishing something would just happen already.
What was she thinking? Was she dreaming? Was she in any kind of pain? The questions swirled around his mind in a way that would probably be best described as unhealthy.
Seconds bled into minutes which steadily passed until finally, there was the slightest hint of movement. Her eyelids began to flutter before opening as Brennan slowly took in her surroundings. "What happened? Why am I-" A look of alarm crossed Brennan's face as she locked eyes with Booth. "I fell, didn't I?" She asked before closing her eyes and sighing. "Angela must be upset with me."
"You're joking, right? She was more scared for you than anything." Booth shook his head and drew in a deep breath. "How are you feeling?"
"I have a headache, but otherwise I feel fine." Brennan replied as she smoothed a hand over the sheet. "Thank you."
Booth frowned in confusion. "For what?"
"Had you not been there or insisted that I didn't leave, chances are I would be in a considerably worse condition right now." Brennan replied, the slightest hint of a smile crossed her lips. She remembered the conversation they were having and felt a slight sense of apprehension. He was still there, despite whatever might have happened, and she wasn't quite sure how she felt about it all. They had been arguing, but there Booth still was, helping her like he always had before. A scene flashed in her mind, something that had been bugging her; a broken rib, waiting for results in a similar hospital room, and the imagine of Booth's concerned face before her. She had the feeling when she woke and it refused to go away. "I broke a rib."
"Are you sure, you didn't actually-" Booth's mouth hung open. "Two years ago, it was March...you were stubborn and didn't wanna wait for me to come home, so you climbed up a ladder to replace the back porch light. Parker came out and distracted you and you slipped off. He-"
"Called you and you raced home, we came here and they figured everything out. You warned me against doing anything like that again." Brennan finished his sentence. An awkward silence followed, and she wanted so badly to fill it, but there was no real way to do so. "It's not much, but it's something."
The way she simply shrugged it off bothered him, but Booth knew how hard the whole process was for her. He wouldn't expect much more than that until the day everything finally clicked. "It's something, Bones. That's the part that matters. You'll get there. Is there anything else?"
Brennan hesitated for a moment, her lips slightly parted, as if she was waiting for something to come forward. Something had to happen, didn't it? If things were starting to come back again, something else had to follow. It was the logical choice, and yet as the seconds ticked by nothing else really followed. "No," She replied, again returning to smoothing out wrinkles in the sheet. "I can't say there is at the moment."
"Right," Booth nodded, not missing the flash of disappointment on her face. She needed hope or something to look forward to, not a stagnant feeling as she waiting for something to happen. "Well, I've been warned by Angela to call and let her know you're awake. I'm just gonna go make the call, let Doctor Weston know you're awake. Do you need anything?"
He was trying. Even after the conversation they had, he was doing his best to try and be the friend he always had been. Maybe things were still hazy, but the least she owed him was something to go on. "Could you get me some water?"
"Of course." Booth smiled. Brennan wanted so badly to be seen as a strong and independent woman and he fully respected that and had never thought of her as anything other than that, but he was glad to at the least get an opportunity to be there, at least in some capacity.
Brennan watched as he left before settling her head against the pillow. As much as she wanted everything to not be awkward, she knew it probably would be for some time. He was always the one she had gone to before when stuck in a situation like this; who was she supposed to ask now he was the one she was in it with? As much as she loathed the idea, all she could so was what it felt like she was always doing. Waiting. Waiting for the doctor, waiting to remember, and waiting to feel like herself again.
"Are you sure you're feeling well enough to go?" Angela asked as she slipped into the passenger side of the car. She turned her head to the backseat where Brennan was buckling herself in. "I mean, I'm sure everyone would understand if you didn't come."
"I'm not handicapped, Ange. I'm perfectly capable of going. Besides, I'd like the opportunity to get out and experience society. I feel fine." Brennan replied. "Hodgins, can we please go?"
Angela sighed at her persistence. "Just promise to tell me if you start feeling bad, okay? We'll leave as soon as you do."
"Ange, I said I was fine." Brennan told her, but she still managed to smile. "Thank you for your concern; you're a great friend. However, I would not have agreed to go if I did not feel up to the occasion. Hodgins?"
Hodgins nodded and started the car. "You don't have to ask me twice. I actually think it's a good idea. Fresh air, soccer, getting the chance to be around everybody. I think it might be good."
Brennan closed her eyes and gripped the edge of the seat. "I'm not going in the hopes of remembering something. I'm going to enjoy a nice day with friends, and I also think it's fair that I show support for Parker. Despite whatever ramifications my injuries have on me or any adults involved, I know he's a great child. He didn't ask for any of this, and it's important to show him that Booth and I are still very much capable of getting along."
"That's why you didn't tell him you'd be coming with us, right?" Angela asked with a raised eyebrow. She remained silent as Hodgins pulled out onto the road, waiting to see what else Brennan might have to say. "Just take it easy, okay? We love you, and after that scare a couple of days ago, I don't wanna see anything bad happen again."
Brennan nodded in confirmation, her blue eyes locked with Angela's as her best friend was twisted in a position to face her in the back seat. "I promise that if I feel weak or anything similar, you will be the first to know." She raised the water bottle in her hand. "I'll do my best to remain hydrated; now, can we please just enjoy the day?"
When they arrived at the field, the game was just about to start. Finding a spot on the bleachers, Angela spotted Booth speaking with Parker nearby. She waved at the father and son and smiled when they returned the gesture, happy that the day seemed normal thus far. Booth deserved that after everything that had happened recently, but she noticed the way his expression turned to one of curiosity as he spotted Brennan sitting along with them. Max had joined them as well, a testament to his connection with his grandson.
The game started shortly after, and Booth took to watching as his son chased the black and white ball down the field, kicking it and passing it to his other teammates. The other team was proving to be a worthy opponent, though he'd warned Parker himself not to take the game too seriously. Winning was fun of course, but what mattered was that the team worked together. After all was said and done, Parker's team did win four to three, a fact he knew Parker wanted so badly to celebrate.
"Dad!" Parker raced up to him afterward, wrapping him in a hug as tight as his arms would allow. "Did you see it? Did you see me? Jason was so close but that guy was in the way, so he passed the ball to me. I got it in!"
Booth grinned as he patted him on the back. "I know, that's very good news." He said.
Parker turned his head just in time to see Hodgins and Angela walking by, with Max and Brennan following close behind. "Bones!"
"Hi, Parker. Congratulations." Brennan smiled, finding the fact he was so excited a little amusing.
"You did good, kiddo. I think this calls for ice cream. What do you say to sundaes at the diner, huh? Or did all of that running tire you out?" Max asked him. He laughed as Parker's eyes grew big. "Hey, I was kidding. I know you're always up for something sweet. That's if it's okay with your dad."
"Daddy, please? Come on, we should all go." Parker pleaded with him.
"You should call your mom first, let her know how things went. I'm sure she'd love to know." Booth replied. Before he could say anything more, Parker ran over to speak with one of his friends. "Parker, I wasn't done..."
"He's excited, give the kid a chance to celebrate." Angela encouraged him. She grinned at Hodgins. "Jack..."
"I know that look. What do you want?" Hodgins asked.
She pointed to the snack booth. "Well-"
"We're going to the diner for ice cream as soon as we leave, you can't-" Hodgins stopped as caught on to her intentions. "Right, okay. Fine, we're going."
Brennan, Booth and Max moved to the side to allow the rest of the crowd off the field. "How're you feeling, Bones? I'm kind of surprised you showed up today."
"I feel fine, Booth." Brennan defended. "I was hospitalized because I fainted due to the fact I've been pushing myself too hard. I was stressed due to putting so much pressure on myself, but I'm perfectly fine now. Taking the day to enjoy a soccer game doesn't automatically equal disaster; I've been drinking at adequate amount of water so I won't get dehydrated." She nodded and wished he'd believe her; wished that everyone would believe her. Regaining everything aside, she was having a great day.
"I said I was surprised, not disappointed." Booth replied. "I'm glad you came." He smiled before turning to Max. "And you too, by the way."
Max held his hands up and shook his head. "It's not a problem, you know that. I love being here to show my support."
Booth opened his mouth to reply, but just as he did his phone rang. Casting a glance in Parker's direction to make sure he was still talking with his friend, he flipped it open. "Booth." He answered. "Right," He sighed a shook his head. He watched as Parker spread his arms wide, and though his attention was focused on what the person on the other end was saying, he could tell he had to have been describing some story. "You've gotta be-do you know where I am right now?...Yeah, I'm aware of that." Booth sighed and clenched his teeth. "Perfect."
"Booth?" Brennan asked, realizing well enough he was stressed.
"Okay, I get it, but give me twenty. I'll be there." Booth nodded in defeat. "I've got it."
Max watched as Booth flipped his phone shut and shoved it back in his pocket. "Everything okay, Booth?"
"I've gotta go; a body was found over in Bethesda in pretty bad shape. Unbelievable. Unfu-" Booth tensed as he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Just take it easy, okay?" Max suggested, though he was almost certain it wouldn't help. Hodgins and Angela were walking back over, and he nodded in their direction. "You've gotta take them with you, right? Or send them back to the lab or...whatever. Anyway, just let me watch Parker for a couple of hours. Don't worry about it."
"Are you sure?" Booth asked, his face and expression of guilt and a little bit of annoyance at being pulled away from the celebration. "Okay; that's good. Hodgins, buddy, you're coming with me."
Hodgins paused with a spoonful of his bright blue icee halfway to his mouth. "Why?"
Angela sighed and shook her head. "Really? We can't get a weekend to ourselves?"
"Bugs. Lots of 'em, and probably some dirt, too. Come on, we've gotta pick up Zack along the way." Booth paused as Parker came back over. "Hey, Parks, I've gotta head out for right now. Work stuff, you know?" He caught his son's face before it fell. "Hey, listen. When I'm done we can celebrate, just you and me. Grandpa Max is gonna take care of you for a while, so I'll pick you up later."
Parker seemed a little deflated but otherwise pleased as he turned to Max. "Can we still go to the diner for ice cream?"
"Of course." Max agreed. It wasn't like he was about to pass up on the chance to spend time with him.
"Bones, can you come too? Please?" Parker asked, bouncing up and down in his soccer cleats from the excitement. He knew what his father had said about her, that she needed the time to heal, but from where he stood and the fact that she had come at all seemed kind of like proof that she was at least better enough to get ice cream.
She was fully aware of the fact that everyone was looking at her wondering what she would say. Though it should have bothered her, Brennan found it a little bit comforting that she had such a tight-knit group of people who cared so much. While she didn't quite have everything in the correct frame of reference, she was starting to remember things on a more frequent basis-they were small and for the most part inconsequential, but still important-and could see from the hopeful gleam in Parker's eye that turning him down would probably not as great of an idea. "Sure, Parker." Brennan smiled and felt a few people around her let out breaths, a fact she chose to ignore. "I'd love to go."
