Chapter 27

2 Weeks Later

Tuesday

11:47 AM

Booth sat at his desk, staring at his new computer monitor. His fingers lingered over his keyboard, ready to type, but he didn't know what he wanted to say. He knew that the report had to get written. He had put it off long enough. His superiors had been lenient with him, knowing that he was spending so much time at the hospital, but they were starting to breathe down his neck. The report needed to be written. The problem was, he didn't want to write it.

Booth took a poker chip out of his pocket and began flipping it through his fingers. He reached for the report that Casey had written and given to him. His story was supposed to match hers, but he wasn't sure if he could consciously stretch the truth like she had. He took a deep breath. He knew what he had done. Booth was going to have to live with that. Booth typed a few words, but then erased them. Nothing sounded right and it didn't help that he was not in the mood to write up a report. What he really wanted to do was see Brennan. He hadn't seen her all day. He had told himself that he had to write the report before he allowed himself to see her. He was using seeing her as a reward, but she would never know that.

Booth had gone to the hospital every day for two weeks. On most days, Booth stopped by early in the morning and they had breakfast together. Mostly, he picked off her hospital tray since she didn't like the hospital food, but Booth considered it to be the second best part of his day. The absolute best part was going to visit her after work. They would sit and talk, or sit and not talk, but it was just being there with her was what made him the happiest. Eventually she would fall asleep and he would watch her. Occasionally he would fall asleep in the sleeper chair in her room and would wake up in the middle of the night. He wished he could crawl into bed with her the way he did that one night, but she had no more nightmares so he stuck to stroking her hair or putting his hand on her arm instead.

Booth was pulled out of his thoughts about Brennan when he heard a knock at his door. He looked up and saw Casey standing in the doorway.

"Getting a lot of work done?" Casey asked. Booth wasn't sure how long she had been standing there, but she obviously had been there long enough to notice that he was doing more daydreaming than typing. Knowing Casey, he guessed that she knew exactly who he was daydreaming about.

"I'm writing up the report," Booth answered. He put the poker chip down and got ready to start typing again.

"Why do I not believe you?"

Casey walked into his office and sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

"I'm busy, Casey," he said.

"Yeah, busy thinking about a certain doctor friend."

"I wasn't thinking about Bones."

"How did you know I was talking about Dr. Brennan? I could have been talking about Dr. Hodgins or Dr. Saroyan," she teased.

"Did you want something? Or did you just come in here to bug me?"

"Mostly bug you," she answered, smiling. "I heard Dr. Brennan is doing much better."

"Yeah, she is."

"Did she have that second surgery on her wrist?"

"Yeah, she had some specialist from Boston come in to perform it. She's still recovering, but she has a lot more mobility in her left wrist so things are good."

"I'm glad to hear it. Do you need help with your report?"

Booth sighed. "I'm going to get to it, Casey."

"It's been more than two weeks since the incident."

"I know the time frame."

"Then you know that they've been expecting that report for a while now."

"I'll get the report done."

"Look, I know you're not comfortable with…my report, but…"

"I'm going to write it up just like you did. Don't worry. I just haven't gotten around to it yet, but I will. You can tell whoever pressured you to come down and talk to me that it will be done by the end of today."

She nodded. "Well, I have my own paperwork to get to." She stood up and began to walk out.

"Thanks Casey," Booth said. "For everything."

His cell phone began to ring. He picked it up off his desk and smiled at it.

"Let me guess…that would be Dr. Brennan," Casey said with a big smile on her face.

Booth didn't respond. He flipped open his phone and put it to his ear. Casey stood in the doorway and rolled her eyes. She couldn't understand how two people could be so oblivious about each other. Smirking, Casey walked way.

"Booth," he answered.

"Hey, Booth it's me." Just the sound of her voice made his eyes light up.

"Hey, Bones what's going on?"

"They're releasing me today."

He nearly jumped out of his chair. "What? Today?"

"They're just waiting for a few more test results, but I should be able to go home around five."

"Are you sure? I mean, are they sure that you're ready?"

"Booth, it's been two weeks."

"I know, but with that second surgery last week…I just want to make sure you're ready."

"Are you worrying about me again?"

"Of course, Bones. I'm always worried about you."

"Well, you don't have to worry. I'm fine. And I'm ready to go home. Dr. London just says I have to stay away from extraneous activities and I've already arranged for a registered nurse to visit occasionally."

"Wait, you arranged for a visiting nurse? Why?"

"Because I need someone to help me with some aspects of my recovery."

"Bones, I can…"

"We don't need to discuss this right now. I've already made the decision. It's the most logical decision."

"Yeah, but…if you need a nurse then maybe you're not ready."

"I'm fine, Booth. I'm going home today and soon I'll be back to work."

Both scoffed.

"I don't think so, Bones."

"Excuse me?"

"What did Dr. London say about going to work?"

"He didn't say anything."

He could hear the pitch in her voice change. "You're a bad liar, Bones."

"I'm not lying. He didn't specifically state how long I should stay out of work."

"Then what did he say, Bones?"

"He said I should refrain from work for four to six weeks, but obviously that's a gross exaggeration. I feel ready to go back to work."

"Bones, you are going to listen to your doctor."

"But I am a doctor so really I only have to listen to myself."

Booth sighed. "We'll talk about this when I pick you up."

"You don't need to pick me up. I can get a taxi…"

"You are not going home from the hospital in a taxi. I'll be there at five."

"It might take them longer to get my test results back. I can always call you when I'm actually ready to be picked up. I would hate for you to be waiting around…"

"I'll be there at five," he repeated. "I'll be there before five."

"Booth?"

"Yeah?"

"You need to finish that report before you pick me up."

"How did you…"

"I heard you talking about it on your phone the other day. Finish the report, Booth, or I will take a taxi."

"Are you giving me an ultimatum?"

"Yes."

Booth shook his head. It constantly amazed him how she always seemed to know everything.

"I'll see you at five, Bones."

He hung up his phone and turned back to the computer screen. Now he had no choice but to finish the report because he knew somehow she would know if he didn't.

5:46 PM

Brennan slammed her laptop shut and huffed. From his plastic chair next to her bed, Booth looked over at her. He noticed the scowl on her face. He had seen that look many times. Usually it was directed at him.

"Are you mad about something, Bones?" Booth asked, looking over the top of his newspaper.

"It's been forty-five minutes."

"Forty-six," Booth corrected as he glanced down at his watch.

"They said I would be released at five."

"You told me that they were waiting for some test results and that you would be going home around five. Be patient, Bones."

"I want to go home."

"Now you just sound like Parker during a long car ride."

"You're not helping. I told you you didn't have to come at five. I told you I would call you when I was ready or I would take a taxi."

"I'm not the one who's complaining. You are."

"Is that why you've been reading the same section of the newspaper since we got here?"

Booth looked at the newspaper. He had been reading the business section since he had arrived. In reality, he hadn't really been reading it at all. He had been too busy sneaking glances at Brennan. She had been working diligently at her computer, writing her novel. He couldn't help but wonder exactly what she was working on. All he knew was at one point she looked over at him, blushing. When he met her eyes, she quickly turned her attention back to the computer. Something had definitely made her embarrassed.

"I haven't been reading…" He decided to give up. "So, what are you working on?"

"My next book," Brennan answered.

"Am I in it?"

"No."

"But the hunky FBI guy is, right?"

"He is one of the main characters so yes, he is in the book."

"Was he in the particular scene you were writing?" Booth asked.

"Yes."

"What was he doing in this particular scene?"

"He was…investigating." Her voice was raised an octave. It was subtle, but Booth knew she wasn't being entirely truthful. By the pink in her cheeks, he had a feeling that investigating was a code word for something else.

"Investigating, huh?"

"He's an FBI agent so he was investigating."

"Was he investigating with Kathy?" Booth asked, raising his eyebrow. In one swift motion, Booth stood up and reached over her bed for her laptop. He pulled it onto his lap and opened it.

"Booth! Don't!"

Brennan went to reach for her computer. She was still restricted by wires that she was still connected to, but Booth was impressed by just how much motion she had gained back. She no longer winced when she moved her hands and her ribs had begun to heal so they didn't cause her as much pain.

"I just want to see what you're working on Bones," he said.

He sat back down in his chair and then slid the chair back further away from her bed so she couldn't reach him. The document she had been working on was still up on the computer.

"You know I don't let you read my books before they come out. And this one is just a draft. A very, very rough draft."

"What are you afraid of, Bones?"

"It hasn't even been edited, Booth. It's…"

Booth started skimming it. He really was looking for key words that meant that Kathy and her FBI hunk were 'investigating.'

"Dr. Brennan."

Both Booth and Brennan looked towards the door as Dr. London walked in. He was holding a file folder in his hand as he walked to the foot of Brennan's bed.

"May I go home now?" Brennan asked. She eyed Booth and he reluctantly closed the laptop.

"We did get your test results back and yes, Dr. Brennan, we will be discharging you."

Brennan started pushing the blankets off of her. She started to get tangled in the wires that surrounded her.

"Hold on, Bones," Booth said, standing to help her.

"Dr. Brennan, I know we already went over some of your restrictions, but I just want to go over them with you again," Dr. London said as he started to disconnect her from the monitors she was connected to.

"I'm not a child. I remember what we discussed," Brennan said as she slowly threw her legs over the side of the bed. She had been up and around for more than week, but she still moved more slowly than she would have liked.

"I would like to know what you discussed," Booth said.

"You're not my caretaker," Brennan replied. "I told you, I hired a registered nurse to assist me."

"Doc, what are her restrictions?" Booth asked.

"No heavy lifting," Dr. London explained. "Go light on the typing. Your wrists still need to heal, Dr. Brennan. No alcohol beverages while you're on the medication. No extraneous activity." He looked over at Booth, giving him a knowing smile. "No sexual activity for at least two more weeks…"

"We don't have sexual intercourse," Brennan stated.

Booth coughed. He sometimes forgot just how open Brennan could be.

"What she means is we're just…partners. We work together."

"You shouldn't go back to work for at least four weeks," Dr. London continued.

"You hear that, Bones. Four weeks," Booth said, looking at her sternly.

"We'll be monitoring your progress closely. You'll have to come back to the hospital weekly for blood tests and you'll continue seeing your physical therapist."

"Can I go home now?" Brennan asked.

Dr. London nodded. "Yes, Dr. Brennan. You can go home now."

Brennan slid off the bed until her feet touched the floor. Booth stood in front of her, making sure she was steady enough to stand on her own.

"I'm fine, Booth," she assured him. He nodded and took a small step back. He was still close enough that if she needed him, he'd be there.

"Well, I'll see you in a few days, Dr. Brennan," Dr. London said. He shook her hand and then shook Booth's hand before leaving.

"I'm going to get changed," Brennan said. Booth picked up a pile of her clothes from the sleeper chair and brought them over to her.

"Do you need help?"

"I'm capable of changing by myself, Booth."

He nodded, knowing she would say that. In a small way, he missed the moments when she needed him. When she was less mobile and still recovering, she needed him to do the little things like push her tray closer to her, get her a magazine or a book, and even spoon feed her when she first arrived at the hospital.

"Booth?"

He hadn't realized he had been daydreaming. "Yeah?"

"Could you turn around?"

"Oh…yeah, of course."

Booth turned his back. He could hear shuffling as Brennan changed out of her hospital gown and into her clothes. He knew it was wrong of him, but he couldn't help but want to turn around.

"Booth?" Brennan said.

"I think…I think I do need your help."

Booth turned around. He couldn't help but stare at her. It had been so long since he had seen her looking like her. She was wearing a simple pair of Jeans and a red, button down shirt. The only problem was the button down shirt wasn't buttoned.

"My wrists…I can't…"

Booth didn't let her finish. He stepped in front of her and, never taking his eyes off hers, he buttoned her shirt. As he made it to the second to last button, he couldn't help but let his fingers brush over the delicate skin of her collarbone.

"Let's go home, Bones."

Author's Note: I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. I hope you had a lot of fun reading it. Happy Memorial Day weekend, everybody!