I own none of the characters of Bones

"Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey." Booth announced happily as he walked into his eleven year old daughter's room. Morgan just groaned and pulled her covers over her head. "Chop chop Morgs. Up and at 'em."

"Noooo." Came the muffled response from under the blankets. With a smile Booth walked over and pulled the blankets off of her head.

"Good morning angel." Morgan rolled away from him. She was never a morning person and he wasn't quite sure where she got it from because he and Bones were definite morning people except on the weekends. Booth loved to sleep in on the weekends.

"I don't feel good." Concerned, Booth sat down on the bed, next to Morgan. She rarely complains that she doesn't feel well so he was taking this complaint seriously.

"What's wrong honey?"

"I have a headache and everything hurts." Checking for a fever he placed his hand on her head and immediately realized that she was warm.

"I'm going to get the thermometer. I'll be back." Booth left his daughter and went to the bathroom where Bones was showering.

"Is Morgan up?" Bones called from the shower when she heard Booth.

"She is still sick. She's got a fever." He answered while he looked through the medicine cabinet for the thermometer.

"What?" She turned the shower off and threw back the curtain. "How high is it?"

"Not sure. I just felt her head." Bones stepped out of the shower. "She says that she hurts all over. Do you think she has the flu?"

"It's not likely."

"Why not?"

"It's not flu season."

"What's wrong with her Bones?"

"I don't know Booth. I'm not a doctor." She snapped, tying a robe around her waist.

"Well technically you are." Bones sent her husband a glare. "I'll be back after I check her temp." Booth quickly scampered out of the bathroom before he got into anymore trouble and back into Morgan's bedroom, returning to the spot on her bed that he had vacated.

"Hey angel." Morgan slowly opened her eyes and looked at her dad. "Let's see what your fever is." Booth slid the thermometer in her mouth and when it beeped he pulled it out. "100.4. I'm going to get you some medicine."

"I have it." Bones announced joining them. As soon as Morgan saw her mother she burst into tears. Booth quickly stood and let Bones take his place. She quickly pulled Morgan up and held her tightly against her chest. "What is it Morgan. Why are you crying?"

"I…don't know." She sobbed. "I…just…don't feel good."

"I know sweetheart. I know." Bones just held Morgan while she cried, knowing that right now that's all Morgan needs; her mother holding her tightly. Once Morgan quit crying Bones gave her some fever reducer and settled her back in bed so she could get some sleep.

"I'm staying home with her." Bones informed Booth as soon as they closed Morgan's bedroom door. When it came to sick kids they alternated which one of them stayed home so neither of them would miss too much work. Technically it was Booth's turn to stay home with Morgan but Bones' motherly instinct had kicked in and she knew that her daughter needed her today.

"It's my turn Bones."

"I know but I just feel like she needs me today."

"She does need you."

"I think she just has a virus but she never cries when she is sick so I'm going to make her a doctor's appointment just to be sure."

"Morgan Booth."

"Come on sweetheart. It's your turn." Bones and Morgan walked through the door.

"Morgan can you step on the scale please?" Morgan did as she was asked and Bones noticed that Morgan had lost about five pounds. After Morgan was weighed and had her blood pressure checked they were put into a patient room to wait for her doctor.

"Where did those bruises come from?" Morgan had changed into a gown and Bones noticed that her legs were covered in bruises.

"Probably from hockey."

"When did you get them? Were you not wearing your pads?"

"Yes mom, I was wearing my pads. I always do. Dad would kill me if I didn't."

"When did you get them?"

"I don't remember."

"Morgan."

"Mom." Morgan mocked and Bones sighed in irritation. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and the doctor entered.

"Good afternoon Morgan, Mrs. Booth. Sorry to keep you waiting." Dr. Jeter. Morgan's pediatrician greeted them.

"Hello Doctor." Bones greeted.

"So what's going on Morgan?"

"When her father woke her up this morning…"

"Mom! I can speak for myself." Morgan interjected.

"Of course you can. I apologize."

"I felt kinda blah when I went to bed last night and when my dad woke me up this morning I felt like crap."

"Define crap Morgan." Dr. Jeter requested.

"I'm so tired even though I slept for an hour after school and went to bed early. I have a headache, my arms and legs hurt and I've had a fever."

"Anything to add Mrs. Booth?"

"She's been sleeping more over the last few weeks, not eating like she usually does and she's very pale."

"Well let's have a look." Dr. Jeter stood up and began her exam of Morgan. Bones noticed that Morgan flinched when the doctor palpated her neck and under her arms. "You have some impressive bruising Morgan."

"I play ice hockey." She mumbled. She was suddenly very self conscious about the bruises.

"Mrs. Booth, Morgan, I'm not finding anything obvious right now. The symptoms suggest mono but I'm going to need a blood test to confirm."

"A blood test?" Morgan squeaked out.

"Yes Morgan. A blood test." Dr. Jeter confirmed.

"What is the course of treatment for mono?" Bones asked

"Symptomatic care. Treat the symptoms, get lots of rest and no contact sports for six weeks."

"No hockey for six whole weeks?" Morgan looked like she wanted to cry.

"That's correct Morgan. A common symptom of mono is an enlarged spleen and enlarged spleen makes it easier to get hurt and if your spleen is injured then you may bleed to death."

"Oh."

"When will you have the results?" Bones asked.

"In about twenty four hours."

"What if the mono test comes back negative?"

"If Morgan is still feeling sick then we will continue to work your daughter up for other tests." Dr. Jeter looked at Morgan. "Do you have any questions for me Morgan?"

"No ma'am."

"I'll send my nurse in to draw your blood. I hope you feel better." Dr. Jeter smiled at her young patient and left the room.

"Now Morgan, the blood test will only hurt for a minute."

"I'm not scared mom." Bones knew that she was lying but she played along.

"I realize that but its okay if things change and you get scared."

"I won't." A few minutes later the nurse came in with all the supplies needed to draw Morgan's blood. Morgan lay back on the table and the nurse tied the tourniquet on Morgan's arm. Once she found a vein she cleaned the arm and got the needle ready.

"Mommy." Morgan whispered softly and Bones was by her side clutching her hand.

"It's okay sweetheart. It's all going to be okay." Bones murmured as Morgan gripped her hand. When a single tear fell from her daughter's eye Bones kissed it away.

Bones was in the middle of examining micro fractures on a skull when her cell phone rang. Sighing, she tore her gloves off and reached for her phone. "Brennan-Booth."

"Mrs. Brennan-Booth, this is Nadine from Dr. Jeter's office."

"Do you have Morgan's test results?"

"Dr. Jeter would like for you and Morgan's father to come down here so she can go over them with you." She instantly got a bad feeling.

"Why can't she just tell me over the phone?"

"She wants to discuss them in person."

"What are they?"

"I'm sorry. I don't have the results in front of me. I don't know what they are."

"When does she want to see us?"

"As soon as you can get here."

"We're on our way." Bones ended the call, left the skeleton on the table and went to her office on shaking legs. Once she shut the door she made the call.

"Hey Bones." He greeted.

"Booth." She whispered.

"What's wrong? Did you hear from Morgs? Is she feeling sick again?" Morgan had woken up that morning and insisted on going back to school, telling her parents that she felt better.

"The doctor got her blood test results."

"Does she have mono?"

"I don't think so." Booth could hear the shaking in her voice.

"Bones what is it?"

"I don't know. Dr. Jeter wants to see us about the results so it must be bad."

"We don't know that Bones." Booth was walking out of his office to his SUV.

"Yes we do." She practically shouted. "If all she had was mono then we would have been told that over the phone. Now are you going to come and pick me up or shall we meet at the doctor's office."

"I'm on my way Bones."

"Fine." She ended the call and sat on her couch. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to cry, she wanted to yell and scream, she wanted to turn back the clock and she wanted to hope for the best.

"Hey sweetie I have the…what is wrong?" Angela saw her best friend sitting on her couch, pale and shaking.

"I…I don't know."

"Bren talk to me. Is it Booth?" She shook her head. "Oh God Morgan." Bones nodded. "What happened? Where the hell is Booth?"

"On his way."

"Brennan what the hell happened to Morgan?" Angela demanded.

"She's been sick. Her blood test is back and her pediatrician wants to talk to Booth and me so it has to be bad."

"You don't know that sweetie."

"That's the same thing that Booth said but I know that it's bad. Why else would the doctor want to talk to us in person?"

"I'm sorry Bren." Angela knew that it was pointless to try and convince her that the news was good news because she knew that it couldn't be knew.

"What if…what happens…nothing can happen to her."

"Morgan is the strongest kid I know and that's because of who her parents are. She's going to be fine sweetie. Morgan is going to be fine." Bones and Angela sat in silence until Booth showed up in her office and then Booth and Bones rode in silence to Morgan's doctor's office and sat in silence, holding hands until Dr. Jeter walked in.

"Thank you for coming." Dr. Jeter said as she settled behind her desk.

"What are Morgan's results?" Bones asked, jumping right in.

"I wish that I had better news."

"Please tell us. What is wrong with Morgan?" Booth begged.

"Morgan has leukemia." Dr. Jeter went through details that neither of them really heard. All they continued to hear and think about is their baby has a horrible disease that could potentially kill her.

"Mr. Mrs. Booth?"

"Sorry." Booth mumbled. "What do we do? How is this treated?"

"I have made an appointment for you with the top pediatric oncologist to go over Morgan's treatment options." Dr. Jeter handed Booth the appointment information because Bones was just staring off into space.

"Do we bring her to the appointment with us because, Morgs, she was feeling better this morning and she wanted to go to school?" Booth asked, still not believing this.

"Dr. Freed, the oncologist, he prefers to meet with just you first." Booth nodded.

"Thank you Dr. Jeter. Thank you for everything." Booth stood and pulled Bones to her feet.

"I'll be praying for Morgan."

An hour later Booth and Bones were sitting in Dr. Freed's office listening to him as he explained the particulars of Morgan's leukemia. The only upside was that there was an 80%-90% cure rate. "Now once we confirm the diagnosis we will…"

"Hold on one second." Booth interrupted Dr. Freed. "What do you mean once you confirm the diagnosis? Dr. Jeter told us that Morgan had leukemia and now you're telling me that she might not have cancer. What in the hell is going on? You just don't tell parents that their daughter has a disease that may kill her and then say maybe she doesn't. That's just wrong. You don't do that."

"Booth please." Bones whispered.

"Tell me, does my daughter have cancer or not?" Booth demanded angrily.

"Relax Booth."

"Don't tell me to relax Bones."

"Let me explain Mr. Booth." Dr. Freed said.

"You damn well better start."

"Morgan's blood tests indicate leukemia. I have seen the results and I have no doubt that your daughter has leukemia. I need to do a bone marrow aspiration to confirm and determine the best course of treatment or more accurately, I need to determine what type of chemotherapy will work best for Morgan."

"I'm sorry. For a second, I thought that my baby girl wasn't sick."

"What are Morgan's treatment options?" Bones asked.

"Chemotherapy." Dr. Freed answered.

"Her hair will fall out." That was the only thing that Booth could think of to say.

"Chemotherapy will basically destroy all the cells in Morgan's body both good and bad. Once that is done, the plan is that the cells will grow back, good and normal. Now the side effects of chemotherapy are not pleasant. Morgan will lose her hair, she be vomiting, and constantly nauseated. She'll be weak, she'll be tired. Truthfully, she will be miserable for a few months."

"But it works, right?" Booth asked.

"It's not one hundred percent guaranteed but without it, your daughter will most certainly die."

"She needs it." Bones said.

"There is something else that you need to consider. Another side effect of the chemotherapy is sterility. When all the treatment is done, your daughter will be unable to have children." Booth and Bones were silent. Neither of them knew how to respond. "The human egg cell is the biggest cell in the body and because of that some of them can be removed prior to chemotherapy."

"Meaning what exactly?" Bones asked, wanting to clarify what was running through her head.

"We can remove some of your daughter's eggs prior to starting chemotherapy and freeze them so when Morgan is ready to have children, she can still have her own biological children."

Booth and Bones looked at each other and they silently agreed to Morgan a chance to have children. "We want the procedure for Morgan." Booth said.

"You should be aware that most insurance companies won't pay for this procedure and it's not a cheap procedure."

"Cost isn't an option." Bones said and Dr. Freed nodded. "Now what is the next step?"

"I am going to admit Morgan into Children's hospital tomorrow morning."

"Why wait? Shouldn't we admit her right away?" Booth inquired.

"I am a firm believer in giving children diagnosed with cancer one last normal day before they embark on a hellish journey. My recommendation is let her finish school, make her favorite dinner and then sit her down and give her the news in terms that she can understand. Answer all of her questions honestly and if you don't know the answer, tell her that and ask me tomorrow. Let Morgan pack her suitcase with her favorite things, stuffed animal, favorite pajamas or comfy clothes. Let her bring whatever she wants to help her feel at home because a hospital room is going to be her home for the next few months. Give her as much control of the situation as you can."

"What time should we be at the hospital in the morning?"

"I'll have my nurse set up the procedures and then we'll know." Morgan's parents nodded. "Do you have any other questions that I can answer?"

"No I don't think so. Booth?" He shook his head.

"Now remember, if you or Morgan have any questions or you just need to talk feel free to page me, no matter what the time."

"Thank you doctor." Booth said.

"I have another patient to see. Please wait here and my nurse will be in with Morgan's admitting information." Dr. Freed stood along Booth and Bones. "I'm promising you that I am going to do everything medically possible so your daughter to survive."

"That means more than you know." Booth said, shaking the doctor's hand. Dr. Freed nodded and left them alone. "I can see why Dr. Jeter said that he is the best."

"For Morgan's sake, I hope that you are right." Bones whispered.

"Are you ready for dessert sweetheart?" Bones asked Morgan.

"I'm not hungry mom."

"But it's your favorite, apple pie from the diner. Your dad picked it up himself."

"No thanks. May I be excused? I've got a ton of homework since I missed yesterday."

"Of course angel. Go ahead." Bones and Booth sat in silence as Morgan left the table, taking her dishes to the kitchen. Booth finally spoke again when he heard her bedroom door shut and her music turn on. "We've got to tell her."

"How the hell do we tell our baby that she has a disease that may kill her?"

"I don't know Bones. I truly don't know."

"I…I'm not sure that I can do it Booth."

"I'll do it but I can't do it alone. I need you with me."

"This is wrong Booth. It's all so very wrong." Tears were rolling down both of their cheeks.

"I know. I wish to hell that it was me that had this damn cancer. If I could take it away and give it to myself, I would in a heart beat. It should be me, not her. Not my angel."

""Let's clean up the kitchen and then we'll tell her." They both rose and cleared off the table. Just as Booth set the dishes down on the counter his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket.

"It's Parker."

"Go ahead. I have this." Booth disappeared to the privacy of his office. He didn't want to risk Morgan walking in on this conversation.

"Hey bub."

"What's going on dad? You sounded like hell on the message you left."

"It's your sister son."

"Is Morgan okay?"

"No Parks, she isn't."

"What's wrong dad?"

"Morgan has cancer, leukemia." There was no response. Booth thought that he lost the call. "Parker are you there?"

"Are you sure?" He whispered.

"Pretty damn."

"Is she…is she going to die?"

"It's a possibility but the probability of a cure is between 80%-90%.

"She's only a little girl." Booth could hear the agony in his son's voice. It probably mirrored his own. "She…she can't die."

"She's a fighter bub. Both Bones and I are fighters and Morgan inherited that trait from both of us so I know she is going to fight like hell."

"I'll leave tonight and I'll be there in a few hours."

"Stay at school."

"I want to be there. I have to be there for my sister."

"There is nothing you can do for her here. Finish out the week and come home this weekend."

"Fine. Can I talk to her?"

"Not yet. Mom and I haven't told her yet. Call back in a couple of hours and then you can talk to her."

"Tell her I love her and I'll talk to her soon."

"I will. I love you Parker."

"I love you too dad. Give mom my love and a hug."

"Be careful." Booth said, hung up the phone and then returned to the kitchen.

"How's Parker?" Bones asked.

"As good as can be expected. He'll be here in a few hours."

"You should have told him to stay."

"I did but he's just like me. Someone in his family needs him and there is nothing that will keep him away from her right now." Together, they quickly finished cleaning up the kitchen. "Ready?"

"No. Can someone ever be ready for something like this?"

"No. Let's go." They linked hands and went upstairs to Morgan's room. "Here we go." Booth knocked on the door. "Hey Morgs, can we come in?"

"It's open." Morgan watched as her parents walked into her room. Her dad looked like he was going to puke while her mom looked like she was going to cry.

"Can we sit down? Daddy and I have something very important to tell you about." Morgan turned around from her desk and motioned her parents to her bed.

"Is this why you guys have been acting so weird tonight?"

"Yeah angel. That's why we have been acting so weird." Booth held out his hand. "Come sit with us Morgs."

"Oh this must be bad." Morgan got up from her desk and sat between her parents on her bed. Bones immediately took her hand. "Yeah this is bad. Are you guys getting a divorce?"

"Oh God no Morgan. Of course not." Bones answered. She wished that she and Booth were getting a divorce. It would be so much easier then what they have to tell Morgan.

"Good, cause that would really suck."

"Morgs Dr. Jeter called us today about the blood tests that she ran." Booth began softly.

"Look daddy, I know what you are gong to say. I know that mono is called the kissing disease but I swear, I haven't kissed any boys ever." Booth had to grin. "I did some research on the internet and there are other ways that a person can get mono. I could have gotten it from sharing a drink with someone who has mono."

"Honey, it's not about mono."

"Then what is it?"

"Your blood test came back showing that you have cancer, leukemia." Bones explained. Booth watched as Morgan blinked a few times and shook her head.

"No I don't. That's not possible. I feel better today."

"I wish it wasn't true but it is baby."

"I have cancer?" Morgan whispered and Booth nodded. "People with cancer die. Am I gonna die daddy?" A sob escaped from Bones while Booth tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "Everyone is going to die one day sweetie."

"I know that. Am I going to die soon from this cancer?"

"I hope not."

"That's not an answer."

"There is a chance that this cancer could cause you to die but there is a bigger chance that you will get better."

"I don't wanna die." Morgan buried her head on her mother's chest and sobbed. Bones wrapped her arms around her baby held her tightly and shed her own silent tears while Morgan cried. Booth simply reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder.

Once Morgan calmed down, she pulled away from her mother and looked at her dad. "What do I have to do so I won't die?" She was just like her mother, determined to do what needed to be done and in this case she was going to do what she had to do to live.

"Tomorrow, you are going to the hospital for the next few months for chemotherapy, a medicine to kill the cancer."

"I've heard of that. I'm going to go bald aren't I?"

"Yeah baby, you are. You're also going to be really sick."

"But I'll get better?"

"That's the plan Morgan."

"Your father and I made another decision regarding your treatment that you should be aware of."

"What else?"

"After you have the chemotherapy you won't be able to have your own babies."

"I don't want any kids."

"Morgan you are eleven years old and honestly you're too young to make that kind of choice. I was convinced until I was in my thirties that I didn't want children but when I met your dad I changed my mind."

"I don't understand."

"Do you remember when I explained to you how babies are made?" Morgan nodded. "There is a sperm cell from a man that combines with an egg cell from the mother and once those two cells combine, conception occurs. When your chemotherapy is over you won't have any of the egg cells needed to conceive a child."

"Why are you telling me this?" Booth and Bones had debated on whether or not to tell Morgan about the procedure. Booth thought that she was too young to be told since she wouldn't be thinking about kids for a very long time but Bones wanted Morgan to know. It was her body and she should know what was going to be done to it and why. Booth finally relented and agreed.

"Tomorrow you are going to have a procedure to remove some of those egg cells. The doctor will freeze them and when you're grown up and decide that you want a baby then you will be able to."

"How?"

"That's not important now. Once you get older I'll explain it to you." Morgan didn't even try to argue with her mother.

"Does Parker know?" She asked softly.

"Yeah angel. I called him. He'll probably be here soon."

"He shouldn't come. I'm just going to be in the stupid hospital."

"He's your brother Morgs and nothing will keep him from you."

"So now what?"

"Now, we pack your suitcase with all of your favorite things and then me, you and daddy will go downstairs, watch a movie and eat ice cream and pie."

"Can I be alone?"

"You probably shouldn't be…"

"Come on Bones." Booth interrupted. "Let's go heat up that pie. No one likes a cold apple pie." Morgan shot her father a grateful look as he ushered his wife out of the room.

"Booth we shouldn't leave her alone right now."

"She needs some time alone to process. She's like you. She does her best thinking and processing alone."

"I'm not leaving."

"Neither am I." Booth and Bones went across the hall to their room so they could easily hear Morgan if she needed them and she did need them an hour later. When they heard something slam against the door Booth went flying into Morgan's room and he had to duck out of the way as a book went flying against the wall.

"Morgs." He yelled as she threw another book at the wall. "Honey, stop."

"This is not fair." She shouted. "This is so not fair. I don't wanna be sick. I don't want to die." As she reached for another book, Booth rushed to her side and wrapped his arms around his scared little girl. "Let me go." She yelled as she squirmed, trying to get out of her father's embrace.

"Shhh. I'm here honey. I'm right here." Booth crooned and Morgan seemed to relax or give up. She crumpled in his arms and Booth eased them both to the ground. Now instead of screaming and throwing things against the wall she was just sobbing on her father's lap.