July 3rd (Nine days until Brennan's due date)
"Bren, sweetie, wake up! There's a doctor on the phone for you!"
"No, Ange, go away. I wanna sleep," she mumbled.
"Brennan, I'm not kidding. There's a doctor from Germany on the phone for you. He has news about Booth."
After a quick thought process of yesterday's events, she sat up fast, giving her a quick head rush. She shook off the spell of lightheadedness and took the phone from Angela.
"Hello?" Her voice gave no evidence that she had been asleep just seconds ago. The adrenaline in her system was running fast, waiting for the news on her husband.
"Is this Dr. Brennan?"
"Yes."
"Hi, I'm Dr. Graham. I performed your husband's surgery yesterday. He asked me that I call you myself and let you know that there were no complications. He has had an adverse reaction to the anesthesia but after a CT and a MRI, we haven't found any damage or any reason as to why he had this kind of reaction."
"What do you mean? What kind of reaction?"
"He is currently in a coma, Doctor."
"So medically, there's no reason for him to be in a comatose state?"
"Yes, ma'am. For all we know, he could wake up in an hour and nothing could happen. But we don't know that. There is still a lot we don't know about the human brain. The brain is a mysterious organ."
"I'm quite confused. You operated on his feet and you put him in a coma. This should've been an easy surgery!" She was becoming frustrated now. There was no reason Booth should be in a coma. He should've been up and walking and talking, metaphorically speaking.
"It was. We're not sure the problem, but Corporal Booth is stable. His surgery was a success and he can start his physical therapy in the states as soon as he gets home. But for now, I'd like to keep him here until he wakes up."
"Well…can't you make him wake up?" She was desperate now. She wanted to talk to him again. She wanted to see him, wanted him to come home.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Brennan. We just have to wait it out. He'll be home soon enough."
"Thank you, doctor. Please alert me as soon as he wakes."
"Of course, Dr. Brennan. Take care."
Brennan hung up the phone and crawled out of bed. As she made her way down to the kitchen, she came to the realization that Booth would most likely not make it home in time for the birth of their son.
"Bren, please don't be mad at me. I'm sorry I didn't wake you up early like you asked. Jared really wanted you to sleep."
"You can blame it on me, sis," Jared leapt into the conversation. "You know Seeley would want you to sleep. You've been running on sugar and hormones lately."
Brennan gave him a small smile and walked to the fridge.
"Bren, what do you need? I'll get it for you," Jack offered. With the amount of people now crowding her house, she was starting to long for a time when just she, the baby and Booth would occupy it. She loved having her family there, but all the constant doting and worrying for her were beginning to wear on her nerves.
"I'm not sure, Jack. I'll know it when I see it."
"How's Booth?" Angela asked.
"He's not awake. The surgery was a success but he reacted poorly to the anesthesia that was administered during the procedure. I was told he was in a coma."
No one spoke for quite some time as they watched Brennan stare at the items in the fridge.
"Bren…" Angela spoke first.
"He's going to be fine from what I was told. The doctors there did not seem to have the highest quality of education. They do not know why he won't wake up. I want to move him here but Dr. Graham said he wants him to stay in Germany until he wakes but they don't know when that'll be."
"Temperance," Hank spoke softly. They could tell she was getting worked up and as the four other in the room watched Bren rummage through the refrigerator, she silent let a few tears fall.
She stood up from the fridge and began to pace around the kitchen, feeling the eyes of her family watching every step she took.
"Sis, maybe you should take a seat," Jared suggested, "Seel's gonna kill me if he finds out I didn't keep you off your feet while you're supposed to be on bed rest." Brennan ignored him.
"Temperance, I really think you should at least sit down," attempting to be the voice of reason, Hank went to her and stood in the path she had been pacing.
"I can't."
Angela snickered. "Bren, you need to sit or Booth's gonna kick your ass."
"No, I need to walk. I…it helps."
"It helps what?" Jack asked.
"My contractions. Walking helps the pain a little bit."
"You…you're in labor?" Angela shouted.
"Yes. Will you get my bag and drive me to the hospital?"
