Thank you so much for everyone's prayers! I have great news! Jules actually walked from his bed to a chair (over five feet) yesterday morning. We are still unsure of his vision and his speech. Please keep the prayers up for continued good progress. Thank you. Oh and I do believe this is the last chapter, I made it long it's...it's own. I hope you enjoy. Listen to the song Ghost by Ingrid Michaelson on YouTube bc it will deff help you to understand the story.
Ch. 31
Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes
And make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it's more than you can take
But you're stronger
Stronger than you know
Don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining
I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do
It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason
For someone not to try
Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing
I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do
Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That's what faith can do)
When the world says you can't
It'll tell you that you can
I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do
That's what faith can do
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise…
What Faith Can Do By Kutless ;)
Booth's eyes were red rimmed and he wiped at his face as he sat with his back against the soda machine, his soda untouched lay beside him. No one stared, a few pitiful glances were given to him here and there, but this was the intensive care unit of the hospital. A breakdown was not something that was unexpected. Death was lurking at every corner, and almost everyone here was literally living on a prayer. People's lives were put on hold as they remained suspended in time, hanging on a moment. Will the person be okay or won't they? Will they live or will they die? Will things ever be the same again?
Booth inhaled and exhaled, he was so lost in thought and concentrating so hard on peeling the soda bottle's label off he didn't even realize that Ashley was standing right in front of him along with Angela, Piper and Hodgins.
Ashley cocked her head and bent her knees to look closely at her daddy's face, he was crying. She put her little hand to his cheek, "Daddy, don't cwy. S'kay." Booth looked past Ashley and locked eyes with Angela's worried ones. Angela looked to Hodgins as they held a silent quick conversation.
"Come on Ash, let's go Piper. Your daddy and Auntie Ange need to talk right now." Hodgins said and Ashley looked torn. She didn't want to leave her daddy in such disarray, but knew she had to obey Hodgie and not ask questions. The hospital scared the usually unruly Piper into silence and she had mellowed out dramatically ever since she saw Ashley's meltdown at her house.
"I see you latuh daddy, s'kay. Auntie Angela will make you all bettuh." Ashley said and Booth gave his little girl a weak smile and pulled her into a hug giving her a kiss on her cheek.
"See you soon princess." Booth said in a whisper as the girls left holding hands. Ashley turned her head back and looked at her daddy as they walked away; her Auntie Ange was crouching down next to him now.
Angela said nothing and just waited for Booth to talk. His voice was a whisper, "I yelled at her, I didn't mean too. I was frustrated, we got in a fight. She remembered…" Booth didn't know if Angela knew of their past, but she had too. She was Brennan's best friend.
"…remembered the night you left?" Angela offered in her own whisper. Booth looked up to her and Angela sat fully on the hospital floor her legs folded underneath her. Booth nodded and some tears escaped, he had tried his best to hold them in, but as we all know. Sometimes, your best isn't good enough.
Angela opened her arms as Booth fell into them, soaking her shoulder in tears. "Booth look at me, look at me." Angela said pulling out of his embrace and taking his face sternly in her hands. "It's going to be okay, you two are going to be okay. Shit happens and we can't control it, just remember the only thing she is sure of is that she is in love with you. Nothing else matters, do you understand me?" Angela said.
"I don't know Angela, I'm not even sure what the hell we are anymore. Before her coma we were…healing the old wounds between us. Now, the damage is just as new to her as it was the day I left. She asked me to leave her room Ange. Hell, I don't know if she even wants me to come back." Booth said, "Why would she? She just relived the night I walked away." Booth said.
"Booth, out of all the shit that is going on with Bren's memory, your past relationship, your present relationship, one thing has remained the same throughout all of it. Throughout the whole time you two have known each other. One thing has always remained the same. Through the huge change, fights, and loss- the love you have for each other remains. It is still there Booth and it may not be smooth sailing right now. Though, I have a feeling you would ride the waters out with her until you both sunk." Angela said and Booth cracked a smile through his tears.
"Thank you Angela." Booth said giving her a hug.
"Now get up and go for a walk while I go visit your other half." Angela smiled pulling Booth up.
"You are a good friend Ange." Booth said before he walked off.
"No, I'm the best and don't you forget it." Angela said and Booth looked at her and shook his head back and forth as he tried to hide his smile, unsuccessfully.
Angela inhaled and exhaled as she marched on toward Bren's room.
"Hodgie where we going?" asked Ashley holding his hand, Piper attached to Hodgins other hand.
Hodgins honestly had no clue where he was bringing the girls. The elevator, he couldn't go wrong with the elevator. They had been very patient and well behaved while waiting in ICU for hours on end. Everyone needed to escape and go for a walk including Hodgins.
"We are going to go see all the little babies that were born today." Hodgins said, because life and light was so much better than the seemingly dark deathly halls of the floor Brennan was on. One floor was filled with lots of joy. The other floor was filled with lots of heart aches, nervousness, tension and grown men having breakdowns next to soda machines were much less expected on the maternity ward.
"Babies?" Piper asked, "How many? Do we get to ride the elevator?" she asked looking up to him.
"You can even press the button." Hodgins said with a much needed smile on his face.
Brennan was lost deep in thought as she fiddled with the hospital blanket between her fingers. She didn't bother to wipe at her now red face, her eyes were so puffy she looked like she had, had an allergic reaction to something. This was not the Brennan that Angela knew.
When Brennan noticed Angela's presence, she lifted her head up to see who had walked in the door. It was then Angela noticed the dried tear tracks that ran down her face and the last couple of tears that had managed to escape were rolling down her face now. She looked worse than Booth.
"Hey." Angela said standing next to Brennan as her hands grasped the rail on Bren's bed. She didn't know why she grabbed the side rail, but she did. Maybe because it was stable – nothing seemed stable right now.
"Hey." Brennan replied in a whispered voice. It seemed if one was on this floor then whispered voices took over ones regular voice naturally. One didn't have to think to be quiet, you just were. Fear, tension, loneliness, and overwhelming thoughts and emotions do that to you.
"How are you feeling?" Angela asked.
"Fine, I just think I have a daughter whom I don't and a husband who is…" Brennan wasn't too sure what Booth and she were. She knew at one point and time they had been more. She remembered that very well. She could recite the words from the night he left her, that night was etched into her mind, heart and soul. Some things you never forget. "...Angela what are we? I know Booth is more to me than just a partner. I just…I can't explain it, I just know. I understand that sounds absurd, and…" Brennan started and Angela cut her off.
"He loves you more than you will ever know and you love him more than he will ever know. I heard you two got into a fight. You have fought before and this is just a bump in the road. Out of everything that has happened in your life Booth has been the most constant not only man, but person in it." Angela said.
"Then why didn't I tell him I loved him when he told me he loved me outside the Hoover? That I was the one and he just knew." Brennan asked, although Brennan had never told Angela of that night. Angela tried not to act surprised as not to scare her back into her cage where she hid from the world.
"Is this something you remember, like the night he left?" Angela asked carefully.
"No, Booth told me. He said it is why I went to Maluku and he went to Afghanistan." Brennan said, "He said I asked if we could still work together and he said of course. Though, why didn't I tell him I loved him as well?" Brennan asked.
"Sweetie, you never told me of that night. Although It makes a lot more sense, especially your off handed comment that you said you were the only one that was exactly where they expected to be in life. And when you told me you needed to go to Maluku because you were sick of murders and sick of worrying about Booth. You said you needed to get away from it all and get some perspective on the matter." Angela said, "You had stopped going on digs since you met Booth and I just didn't see Booth signing up to train men in Afghanistan at his age. It was short notice. He has Parker and you here, a life." Angela said.
"Who is Parker and where did I expect to be?"
"Alone. Parker is Booth's son with his ex Rebecca. He just turned fourteen and is Ashley's half brother." Said Angela.
"Oh, does Parker know me?"
"Yes and Parker loves you too Bren."
"I'm confused why would I say I was alone? I have Booth." Brennan said still thinking they were married. Then slowly realizing they weren't.
"Exactly and you always have." Angela said.
"But we aren't married. I said that because I thought we were." Brennan said and Angela walked over to the chair beside Brennan's bed and sat down taking her hand in her own.
"Sweetie, some people can be married for years and be like ghosts living in the same house, living in turmoil and only thinking they were in love when it was lust." Angela said, "You and Booth were in love and still are in love."
Brennan stared at her friend in silence a moment and locked eyes with her sighing, "I don't wish that he didn't leave me and ask Hannah to marry him because then Ashley would not exist, but I think his rational for marrying her was stupid." Brennan said and Angela nodded.
"She was pregnant with his kid. He just wanted to do the right thing, Booth is a Catholic." Angela said, "It's the Booth thing to do."
"I didn't say I didn't expect him to do it. I just think his rational on the matter is skewed and idiotic. One should not get married or try to force love just because one became pregnant or impregnated someone." Brennan stated.
"Okay, I can give you that. I'm a pretty free spirit myself-"
"Yes, I know this Angela. I didn't forget your disposition, only your work and relationship status, oh and your daughter." Brennan said and Angela nodded, she was definitely still Bren. "What is your daughter's name again?" Brennan asked.
"Piper." Angela said exhaling, "She calls you Auntie Bren."
"Is she older than Ashley?" asked Brennan and Angela's eyes lit up a bit.
"Do you remember?"
"No, you just said she calls me Auntie Bren and Ash calls me Auntie Bwen." Brennan added, "Ash has a hard time with her R's."
Angela smiled, "Yeah, Hannah had a very small lisp so maybe it was hereditary? Piper is four and Ashley is three. Their birthdays are in a few weeks. They are only a month apart, we celebrate them together. It's easier that way." Said Angela.
"Ashley told me, she said she wanted a princess party." Brennan said.
"I imagine she did. She loves princesses and Disneyland."
"Has she ever been to Disneyland?" Brennan asked.
"No."
"Oh, then how does she know she loves it?" Brennan asked.
"Because it's Disney and all kids love Disneyland, it's the happiest place on Earth." Angela said.
Brennan wrinkled her forehead, "That is an inaccurate statement. The happiest place on Earth depends on ones own tastes. Everyone can love somewhere different depending on what they like and dislike." Brennan said.
"You like Booth." Angela said getting back to that subject in one giant leap. Brennan was quiet, thoughts racing.
"Is he my happiest place on Earth?" Brennan asked.
"Him first, then the lab and your friends are probably equal and your books. You love writing. I believe strongly that Andy and Kathy are based off of you and Booth." Angela chuckled.
"Then why don't I remember the lab? I remember Andy and Kathy and all of the cases in my books. Why can't I remember? I want to remember!" Brennan slammed her head back against the pillow and her one hand down onto the bed. "I mean I know why, it's because I got in a car accident and the brain is very complex. It's still an intricate enigma to man and it does as it pleases. Though, I don't want everyone to give me those odd glances and walk on egg shells while around me. I just want everything to be better!" Brennan yelled frustrated, her yells trailing off into a defeated whisper.
"You need to talk to Booth, Bren. He knows you better than you know yourself. The man can practically finish your sentences." Angela said and Brennan looked lost in thought again as she messed with the hospital blanket.
"Did he love Hannah?" Brennan looked up to Angela, her large blue eyes pooling with water.
"He thought he did, and maybe he did, but it was only for a moment. You left the states when you found out Hannah and Booth were engaged, you couldn't stand to see him play happy family. For, even when Booth was with Hannah, he still loved you Bren. Brennan don't you see, Booth never fell out of love with you." Angela said.
"Then why is it only a dream?" Brennan asked and when Angela understood she grew wide eyed. Realizing Bren was asking why didn't she wake up with Booth as her husband and sharing a child with him?
"Because sometimes in life we are thrown curve balls and shit happens and we deal the best we can." Angela said adding, "Booth would say, it's because God is testing your Faith. You know Bren, maybe Booth is right. Ashley's middle name is-"
"Faith." Brennan said.
"Yeah."
"I don't believe in a higher power or faith." Brennan said.
"Maybe you could entertain the possibility? I'm no devoted Catholic either, but when push comes to shove and when the shit hits the fan. I know people do whatever is in their power to help the ones they love the most, even if they don't believe in it themselves." Angela said.
Brennan was quiet a moment, "Angela, did we use to go to a bar after work for celebratory drinks often?"
Angela nodded yes, "The Founding Fathers, why?"
"How do you know Hannah and Booth had a rocky go of it?" asked Brennan
"She told me, we became friends. I didn't have a ton of girl friends here and when you left and she had Ash the girls loved to play tog-"
"I get it. So, even Hannah felt Booth loved me?" Brennan asked.
"No, she didn't feel. She knew." Angela said, "I should go check on Hodgins and the girls. Do you care if Booth comes back in here? He was worried you didn't ever want him to come back." Angela asked.
"No, I mean yes. I mean tell him I'm sorry and to please come back whenever he wants. He is supposed to still explain my life to me, and tell him I said I thought he said 'that person isn't going anywhere." Brennan smiled a tiny smile that Angela didn't really understand.
"Okay, I will go get him." Angela said as she started to exit Bren's room Brennan stopped her.
"Thank you Angela. You are a great friend." Brennan said.
"No, I'm the best." Angela and Brennan smiled.
Booth was on his knees in the hospital chapel, he didn't know where else to go. "Father, I need your help. I can't do this alone. I'm going to give all of my worries over to you, because I know you are up all night anyway and I'm just a man and can't do this on my own. Thank you for letting Bones wake up, and I thank you for keeping Ashley safe in the car accident. Tell Hannah her baby girl is happy and thriving."
Booth inhaled and exhaled, everything was so quiet in the chapel. There was only one other person in it with him.
"Father I know your kingdom is the most holy and that you are watching over us. So I ask of you to please Lord, let Bones remember the past and remember me. Ashley loves her as do so many of us Lord. I only ask she remembers the one thing that she woke up remembering. It may be selfish and if so I don't mean it to be, but please let her remember she loves me, because you know me better than I know myself God and you know that I love her so much Lord." Booth inhaled and exhaled a shaky breath, but he was breathing – they were all still breathing.
"Lord you say that there are only three things in this world that last 'Faith, Hope and Love, love being the greatest of them all. I do not question or doubt you, although you also say the faith of a child is the greatest, and Ashley, my little Ashley Faith is filled with so much love Lord and so much Faith. Please I pray if I can only have half as much faith as Ashley. Faith that Bones and I will make it through this and that the love you allowed me to find will remain. I don't even care much about me; just let her be happy, whatever it takes. Amen."
Booth stood exhaling, feeling lighter. For tragedy had found him as had the darkness, the storm raged angry and turbulent, but Booth knew to hold on. Everything was falling apart, but his arms could hold him together. Storms came, yes they did, but storms also passed. All in time, all in time…
Angela had no clue where Booth was so she called him as she wandered hospital corridors.
"Booth."
"Where are you? I've been looking everywhere for you." Angela said almost accusingly.
"I'm almost to Brennan's room. Where are you?"
"What? I was just there. I'm in the cafeteria waiting on Hodgins and the girls. Where have you been?" Angela asked.
"Chapel." Said Booth.
"Ah." Angela smiled.
"Why?"
"You never told me that you told Bren you loved her outside the Hoover. When was that?" Angela asked.
Booth sighed walking past the waiting room and down the corridor to Brennan's room. "Sweets told us one of us had to break the stale mate and that it had to be me. He said that I was the gambler and so I pushed her Angela. It wasn't long before you left for Paris." Booth said.
"Damn Sweets!" Angela said.
"She rejected me. She was scared."
"I figured she would be scared, it's Bren." Angela said
"Yeah, she said I needed protection from her."
"Huh?" Angela asked.
"I know."
Okay, well anyway. She told me to tell you that you can come back whenever you want, besides she thought you said, 'that person isn't going anywhere?'" Angela said and Booth stopped walking.
"I don't know what that last part meant, I'm guessing you do? She was asking about the Founding Fathers beforehand." Angela added.
"Thanks Ange talk to you later I'm at her room. Bye." Booth said quickly and hung up on Angela who mumbled yeah your welcome into a dead ring tone as she waited alone in the cafeteria for Hodgins and the girls.
Booth put a bit of pep in his step as he made his way to Brennan's room. Did she really remember the night she asked, 'how do you know if you love someone?' and he told her, 'there are a lot of people you love in this world, but only one you love the most.' She then went on to ask 'what if you missed your chance with that person.' He replied, 'that person isn't going anywhere.' Could she really have remembered?
He walked through the automatic doors to her room and she looked to him locking eyes with him instantly, "I feel I owe you an apology Booth." Brennan said.
"You mean you're sorry?" Booth half asked, half stated.
"That is what I just said Booth." Brennan looked at him like he had two heads.
"Of course it is." Booth said.
"Yes that's right it is." Said Brennan. "Of course, wait, of course what?"
"What were we talking about?" Booth asked, well some things never changed as he tried to remember what the hell they had started talking about before they started bickering.
"I was informing you that I felt the need to apologize and then you asked if I was apologizing. Which I replied I just had and then you apparently became lost in our conversation and forgot what we were speaking of." Brennan stated. "I'm the one with the head injury Booth you should not have trouble following conversations. Maybe you should speak with doctor Hendrickson."
"Yeah, No. I mean, Bones why did you tell Angela to tell me that you thought I said that person wasn't going anywhere?" Booth asked curious, rubbing his forehead from he and Bones' banter. He walked over and sat in the chair next to her bed.
"Because Angela told me who you were to me. I was right, but I have a feeling I usually am." Brennan said.
"What? What are you talking about Bones?" asked Booth.
"She said we are more than partners. That you do love me more than partners and still do, and I love you. I remember at the Founding Fathers you told me there is only one person you loved the most. I asked you what if you missed your chance with that person. You told me that person wasn't going anywhere. You never did go anywhere either, Hannah just became pregnant. You left physically, but in essence you didn't. So, I left too. I left you, but Angela said while I left the states I never left your heart." Brennan said, "Which means I'm right, again."
"Really Bones, this boils down to who is right and who is wrong?" Booth asked.
"Well I said I would prove to you that we are more than just partners. I don't really like to fail and if I'm one of the top anthropologists in my field, I imagine I haven't done much of it in my life." Brennan stated matter of factly.
"Are you sure of that Dr. Brennan?" asked Booth as he looked into the most startling blue eyes he had ever seen.
"I'm not sure of much of anything right now Booth, but I'm sure of you." Said Brennan.
"I don't know what to say to that Bones." Booth said not use to her openness with her emotions.
"It's okay, I didn't know what to say when you told me I didn't have a daughter and we weren't married." Brennan smiled. "I was quite stunned. It seems nothing is as it appears, nothing is how I remember. Though, in a sense, nothing has changed at all." Brennan said.
"What do you mean Bones?" Booth asked, becasue clearly things had changed drastically.
"In reality, we are not married and I do not have a child with you. Though, from what I have gathered, we are partners and in love as well. Partners which have shared an intimate past, and were working to overcome and renew our present relationship status before my coma and now, again today." Brennan said.
"Bones…"
"I'm not finished Booth."
"Okay." Booth held up his hands in mock surrender.
"Supposedly I'm a doctor of anthropology and one of the best in my field." Brennan sighed and Booth inhaled. "I don't know much about anthropology, but my best friend who claims to be just a friend calls me Bones. That is odd Booth. Though, I trust you, I don't know why…" she looked up locking eyes with Booth, "but I trust you with my life." Brennan whispered the last half. "I may not have a daughter, but I have a God daughter who seemingly trusts me enough to fall asleep next to me and tells me she loves me when she leaves my side." Brennan smiled sadly.
"She loves you Bones, very much. More than either one of us will ever know." Booth said and Brennan smiled.
"You really believe that?" Brennan asked with large little girl eyes.
"Of course, she adores you. When she found out you were in the hospital she had a meltdown. She cried and it took Angela hours to calm her down." Booth said.
Brennan frowned and looked to her hands, "Poor Ashley. I don't like that she had to go through that." Brennan said looking up to Booth. Booth only smiled sadly, Bones was thinking not of herself, but someone else. Just one reason he loved her.
"Bones, Angela is correct. I do love you, and you never did leave my heart. Though, Hannah's death was hard on me. I told you that it was too soon when you told me that you still cared before you left the Jeffersonian the night you got in the crash. You basically told me you never stopped loving me, you were just afraid to use the word love." Booth said, "You said that you still cared, you never stopped caring. Bones I still care, I was just as scared as you. Though, I've realized life is too short and the gamble-"
"You should not gamble Booth." Brennan blurted out.
Booth looked at her odd, "You remember I had gambling problems."
"Obviously. I didn't forget everything Booth." Brennan said.
"Good." Booth didn't really know what else to say.
"You were saying you still cared and that you told me it was too soon the night I got in the crash at the-"
"You are right and so is Angela, I love you." Booth said.
Brennan smiled, "You should know to listen to me by now, although I wouldn't believe everything Angela says. She has some eccentric beliefs." Brennan smirked at him and reached for his hand.
"Do you remember the night we met?" Booth asked.
"I remember I slapped you and that you were a pompous ignoramus of a man." Brennan said scrunching her face in thought.
"That's it seriously? That is all you remember!" Booth asked his face had fallen.
"Oh! I remember looking back at you, through a window. I think it was a taxi window. You were standing in the middle of the road in the rain. You looked very let down." Brennan said.
"Yeah...a taxi window that narrows it down. Which time?" Booth mumbled under his breath.
"What?" Brennan asked.
"Nothing."
"No, you said something Booth. Now please tell me."
Booth sighed, "I said a taxi window that narrows it down. I was just being sarcastic Bones." Booth said.
"I don't know what you mean." Brennan said.
"You left me standing in the middle of the road a lot more than one time while you left in a taxi and I begged you not to go." Booth said and Brennan understood.
"Booth?"
"Yes Bones?"
"Right now, let's not tell our sad stories, okay?" Brennan asked.
Booth nodded, "Okay, okay."
"Something else happened that night I left you standing in the rain, didn't it?" Brennan asked hesitant, quiet.
"Can I show you something? You have to trust me." Booth asked.
"I already told you I trust you with my life Booth." Brennan said, "It doesn't make sense, but I do." Brennan said and Booth looked deeper into her eyes which sparkled in his. He was drowning, but the good kind of drowning, the type where he fell into her eyes – a hopeless fool in love. As long as she looked at him she held him under, his breathing hitched and heart picked up.
Before she could realize what was happening his lips were on hers, tasting, exploring and she could feel him holding back the desire as not to spook her. Though, she couldn't hold it back, the only thing she was sure of since the moment she woke had just proved true. She begged for entrance into his mouth and he allowed it. As their mouths opened wider and the kiss deepened each time they reconnected, he somehow managed to run his fingers through her hair. So much pent up emotion was inside of him, that he had to remind himself to be careful with her, as she was so fragile right now.
It was hard because every fiber in his body wanted to join her on the bed and undress her and make love to her. The last time he had kissed her was the night he walked away. And now, she was here kissing him, drowning him in her love. It had to be a dream, but this was reality, she was right, love remained the same.
Their lips met again and again, but Brennan managed to whisper, "Is…this…" their lips met again, "what…" and again, "you…" and again, "show me?" she exhaled the last two words into his mouth shakily.
"Mmmhhmm." Was all Booth said.
"Mmmmmm." Brennan responded, she may have not remembered their relationship and she may have not remembered her job, or her friends. Though, she did remember that this man, Booth loved her and she loved him. Also, he was a good kisser – thank God.
Booth pulled away, only to open his eyes to Brennan's still closed ones. Her arms reached out for him, while her eyes remained closed. He leaned his head into her hands. She opened her eyes and smiled, but her face quickly turned contorted and fell along with the tears down her cheeks.
"Bones, Bones…what's wrong? It's okay. It's just me." Booth said and Brennan wrapped her arms around his neck pulling her toward him.
"Booth don't ever leave me again."Brennan said in a hitched breath.
Booth looked into her eyes as if….no. "Of course, I'm here Bones. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here."
"Promise me." Brennan pleaded.
"I promise Bones, I promise." Booth said a bit alarmed at Brennan's show of emotion. Brennan held him tightly as he eventually let his head rest on her chest, broken ribs and all. She wanted him there. It hurt less with him there, close to her heart. Because some things never change and true love never dies.
Hodgins was holding one girl on one hip and the other on his other hip. They seemed so heavy as the three of them had been staring through the window at the newborns for a while now. He didn't know how Angela had carried Piper around like a potato sack for so long, no wonder she hit so hard.
"Hodgie, what are the babies named?" Ashley wondered of the five babies they were looking at.
Hodgins looked over the babies names, "Well that one in the blue over there is called Gabe, and that is Jewels, that one is Milagros, that is Hope and that is Faith. The last three are all brothers and sisters, they are triplets."
Hodgins smiled at the last three names. "Faith just like mine!" Ashley yelled smiling proudly.
Piper laughed, "Faith is a good name, but Milagros is funny daddy. What does Milagros mean?"
Hodgins smiled amused at the girls and the simple yet, profound names. "It means miracle in Spanish." Said Hodgins.
Piper smiled, "Hope, and Milagros are good names too."
"Yeah, they are." Ashley agreed.
"Uh-huh, you have a triplet middle name." Piper laughed as Hodgins phone rang. He saw it was Angela and put the girls down to answer it. As he spoke with Angela the girls carried on their conversation.
"We should tell my daddy we found a Faith like me, Hope and a Milagros miracle baby when we get back, because they are triplet babies. That's neat." Ashley said.
"Yeah!" Piper agreed and Hodgins hung up the phone.
"Come on girls time to go." Hodgins said and the two waved goodbye to the babies as they skipped happily toward the elevator.
In three small plastic boxes Hope lay now stable and strong, Faith slept soundly a light in her eyes that shone on everything she looked at and a Miracle that was long overdue smiled a gummy bright smile at the staff even though a newborn shouldn't be able to smile yet, Milagros was smiling.
In one ICU room a different type of Faith, Hope and Miracle lay. Brennan drifted off to sleep as Booth drifted off on her chest and she ran her fingers through his hair without even knowing she was doing it. She exhaled content and satisfied. She liked them like this, just two people – two hearts who had found their way back to one another.
So much had changed, but really, not one damn thing had changed. Brennan thought as she kissed his crown, her sleepy Booth. "I told you I was right." Brennan whispered with a smile as she let a tear slip out of her eye and down her cheek.
Morgan took out the diary she had kept since her husband James had been admitted six weeks ago to the ICU ward and induced into a coma and began to write. I met a little girl today. I'm doing better now, so is James. He woke up this morning and he even walked from his bed to my chair. I admit I felt so very alone here while James was comatose, my family is not in this country but overseas.
I spoke with my sister and I told her I felt more helpless than anything and worried of course. There was a tension filled silence on the line, and it was hard to hear her sometimes as we both were using Magic Jacks. Finally, she said, 'we can only wait and have faith the big man upstairs will give us a miracle.' I was tired and mumbled a mmhhmm as I sat in my chair, half asleep with a knot the size of Texas in my stomach.
Today, I learned while storms come, they pass too. The sky falls, as meteors enter the atmosphere, breaking into balls of flame hurdling toward the earth, and beautifully broken we wish on these meteors calling them stars. We, hope that this star will grant our wish true. Yet, nothing happens, so we go on waiting for the next shooting star. Hoping for a miracle, that seems to cease to exist we begin to believe our wish was stupid. Why were we wishing on stars? That is for children.
Then a child came along today, she smiled and I asked her what her name was. "My name is Ashley Faith Booth, what is your name?"
"Morgan." I said and smiled half-heartedly back at her. Then I noticed she was alone. "Ashley where is your mommy?"
"She is an angel in heaven wif my auntie Bwen's mommy, dem is both angels." She smiled and I don't know why but I smiled and my eyes became glossy.
"Where is your daddy?" I wondered.
"Wif my auntie Bwen, she just waked up and that's good." She smiled and told me her mommy is an angel in heaven. A child no older than three just did this.
My stomach ached and I felt so alone, but at least my husband was here with me and not injured in another country. I had my sister not far away as well. James' odds' for waking up were not so grand. Matter of fact the doctors said he didn't have the best odds for a lot of things.
"Ms. Morgan, why are you sad? Is your mommy in heaven too? That's a good place for her better down dew." Ashley asked and I smiled.
"No. My husband is in a coma, and he hasn't woke up yet." I said.
"My auntie Bwen just woked up fwom a coma. You just hafa kiss'em. Then they is all bettuh, like that." Ashley smiled clapping her hands together, I smiled too.
"Ok." I said.
"I not jokin. You just hafa kiss'em bettuh and it's easy then they will wake up." Ashley said and I longed to have the faith of a child back, if only to have an ounce of her faith. Then maybe James would wake up.
I sighed, "Who is watching-"
"Ashley, there you are, Jeez child. If I lose you Angela, Brennan and Booth will all see who can kill me quickest. Now let's go missy." Hodgins said to Ashley who had stopped to talk to Morgan outside of the elevator.
Ashley turned around and waved to Morgan, "Bye Ms. Morgan."
"Bye Ashley Faith." I said and now I smile as I watch you sleep. Sleep without tubes in your brain to reduce the swelling, but removed. No more inhalator. You were just resting, just sleeping. Everyone was amazed that you came around so quickly. Then you took a step this morning, doctors were calling it a miracle.
Though, I thought of the little girl named Ashley Faith. I had marched to the chapel after speaking with her and got to my knees. There was only one other man in tears in the chapel with me. It was so quiet, and new to me…I didn't really go to church. Though, I didn't care I would try anything if it meant James would be okay. The whole speaking to God thing was new, and different to me. I said I wasn't the best in the prayer department, but prayed he would hear me anyway.
After leaving the chapel I went back to the ICU I saw the man in the chapel heading into what I presumed was his loved ones room as I walked the corridors to yours. Standing in front of you I inhaled leaned over and kissed your forehead as I whispered everything I felt to you. As I kissed you I had the strength of Ashley Faith's beliefs and I let tears fall onto your forehead as I kissed you all better. You woke up the next morning. The doctors called it a miracle, I knew it had to do with faith.
Hodgins, Angela, Piper and Ashley were on their way to Bren's room. Angela started in the door and sighed smiling as she looked at Booth's tear stained face asleep on Brennan's chest. Brennan's face was tear stained as well and she was sleeping her arm rest lazily over Booth's neck. They looked so peaceful.
Ashley squeezed by Hodgins and Angela and looked at her Daddy and Auntie, "They bettuh wake up before my pawty because then who will be the king and queen?" Ashley huffed and turned around and exited the room to find Piper singing, "This little light of mine I'm gonna wet it shine…" as she left.
Angela stare at Hodgins and Hodgins only stare back and shrugged, "A little Ashley in all, eh?" Hodgins chuckled of the little singing blonde's choice of song.
Angela smiled, "I will take the faith that kid has any day." Said Angela with a smile.
Hannah looked down through the holes in the floor of heaven and smiled at her singing princess. Yes, Ashley had enough Faith, enough light to help everyone through this. She was glad Seeley was back where he belonged, with Temperance. It's almost funny how the story unfolds sometimes, who knew? As Brennan's mother watched over her daughter. Hannah sat next to her and watched over her own.
"…wet it shine wet it shine wet it shine wet it shine…" sang Ashley and Piper as they held hands and skipped around in a circle, "…evewywhare I go I'm gonna wet it shine, wet it shine…oh down the woad, I'm gonna wet it shine…wet it shine, wet it shine, wet it shine…." Sang the two girls in the waiting room as troubled adults threw glances at the little children. Soon small smiles crept onto a room full of tired sad faces, and hopeless faces.
"…wet it shine, wet it shine, wet it shine…" Piper and Ash sang quietly as they spun around holding hands in the waiting room.
The End or should it be? Idk I will contemplate it. I really hope it ended okay, and you guys enjoyed it. Meg