Brennan's sitting on the floor with Christine, playing cards. She's teaching her daughter how to play Blitz, but they're both just getting frustrated. Christine isn't listening or even watching Brennan as she demonstrates the proper way to play. All she cares about right now is Parker, evident by her turning her head towards her big brother's bed every five seconds. Brennan can't blame the child, though. She can relate to the strong bond Christine and Parker share, therefore, she isn't surprised by her daughter's lack of attentiveness at the present moment. She sighs and begins to clean up the cards.

There's a soft knock on the doorframe and as a result, Brennan turns her head towards the sound. She smiles. "This is quite a surprise, Angela."

Angela walks in the room and sets the flowers on the windowsill. She looks around and smiles at Parker. "I like your new digs, Parker," she says, admiring the regular room he was moved to earlier. She sighs and looks at Brennan. "Still?"

Brennan nods. "He hasn't said a word in days, not since we told him about Rebecca. I don't know what to do, Ange. I should know what to say to him, shouldn't I? I mean, I've been in a similar situation, so I should be able to connect to him somehow, get him to talk, right?"

"He needs some time to process this, sweetie. He's in shock. As long as he knows you and Booth are here for him, that's all that really matters right now."

Brennan stands up, putting the deck of cards on the bedside table. She sighs and looks at Parker quickly before turning back to Angela.

Angela takes Brennan's hands and smiles at her. "Bren, you're doing a wonderful job. You're doing the best you can."

"Maybe my best just isn't good enough this time." Brennan blinks slowly.

Angela lets go of her best friend's hands and pulls her into a hug. "It's okay, sweetie. Parker's gonna be fine."

"It's not just Parker I'm worried about," Brennan confesses.

"Focus on the moment, focus on the good stuff."

"It's hard to look at the "good stuff" when my family is falling apart, Angela. Parker's showing signs of depression, Christine's worried about him to the point that she's not eating or sleeping or wanting to do anything but stare at him, and Booth, he, he's hurting because Parker's hurting. I can't help them. If there was a time where I wish miracles existed, this would be it."

Angela steps back and purses her lips. "Oh, sweetie."

"Parker was getting better. He was breathing on his own and holding up his end of conversations. Things were relatively good, but I had to ruin that by telling him about Rebecca and the accident."

"Honey, Parker would have asked about Rebecca eventually, you know that. You wouldn't have been able to keep it a secret much longer. He's in the hospital with serious injuries and his mother isn't by his bedside. He's a smart kid. He would have figured something was up soon if he hadn't already by the time you told him."

"I suppose you are correct."

"Maybe you just need a break. Let's go grab lunch or catch a movie. You've been at the hospital every day since the accident. That would make even the sanest person lose his mind."

Brennan shakes her head. "I appreciate the offer, Ange, but I can't."

"Aw, come on, Bren." Angela follows her best friend's eyes and nods. "Oh, right, Booth." She pauses. "How about we take the kids to the park?"

Brennan sighs. "If I can't go to the movies or go out to lunch with you, what makes you think I can take Christine to the park?"

Angela gives her a look. "Please? Michael Vincent and I miss our best friends. Come on. Take a break for an hour, two hours tops. You need a break, Bren. You're on the verge of an emotional breakdown, and I'm worried about you."

Brennan sighs louder. "You're not going to give up on this, are you?"

Angela smiles. "I'm very persistent. You should know this by now."

Brennan concedes. "Okay, fine, I'll ask." She walks over to Booth and places her hand on his shoulder. "Would you mind if I left for an hour or so?" she asks him, shifting her weight from one hip to the other.

Booth turns his head, looking at her. "Why?"

"Never mind." Brennan starts to walk away, but Booth grabs her hand, forcing her to turn back to him.

"I don't mind. I just want to know where you're going and why."

"Oh, uh, Angela asked if Christine and I would like to accompany her and Michael Vincent to the park." Brennan pauses. "The reason why is because she thinks I'm losing my mind. I think that's what her point was."

Booth raises an eyebrow.

"That's not the only reason, though, Booth." Brennan pauses, gathering her thoughts. "I feel like I've been a bad friend to Angela these past four weeks. I've been talking to her on the phone, of course, giving her updates on Parker, and I saw her at Rebecca's funeral weeks ago, but all my time has been spent at the hospital, both physically and mentally speaking."

"Angela understands."

Brennan dismisses that, adding, "Then there's Christine. The only time she's seen either one of us is when she's here visiting Parker. I feel bad. I feel like I've been putting your and Parker's needs above hers."

Booth blinks. "Bones, you're doing the best you can. She knows you love her and she knows you're here helping Parker. Besides that, she loves spending time with Max. It's like her favorite thing in the world next to us, Michael Vincent, and picking her nose."

Brennan cracks a smile.

"Have fun at the park, but don't forget your camera. Christine will have fun showing Parker all the pictures later. Hell, maybe it'll cheer him up a little."

Brennan sighs.

"I'll be fine, Bones. I am fine. I'm just worried, that's all."

"You don't mind?"

Booth shakes his head. "You've been at the hospital with me for an entire month. You deserve a break. Parker and I will be just fine for an hour, but if you're gone for more than that, I can't promise anything." He smirks at her and kisses her hand. "You've earned it, not that you really need my permission."

"We're partners. I try not to do anything without consulting you first, unless it has absolutely nothing to do with you, which is rare because our lives are so intricately connected." She lowers her head and presses her lips against his, closing her eyes and leaning into the kiss with all her weight. She pulls back and smiles. "I'll be back later."

"I'm holding you to that." Booth smiles.

Brennan pats Parker's knee and sighs. "Are you sure you don't mind? Because I can stay."

Booth shakes his head. "Go."

Brennan nods.

"Go."

"You heard the man, Bren," Angela adds, grabbing Christine's hand, having already convinced the child to come to the park.

"I'll be back in an hour."

"Me too," Christine chimes in, looking at Parker when she says it.

Brennan grabs her purse off the couch and reluctantly leaves the room, following Angela and Christine down the hallway to the elevator.

Booth reaches for his son's hand and watches until he can no longer see Brennan anymore. He smiles and turns back to Parker. "She's something special, bub, and I still can't believe she's mine." He sighs and leans forward. "We'll get through this, buddy. I promise."

The room falls silent for nearly ten minutes until Parker breaks it, uttering the first words he's said in nearly five days, "I miss my mom."

In case you're wondering, Parker won't be in the hospital much longer, just another three or four chapters (At least, that's what I'm planning, but you never know).

I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story and I hope you liked this chapter :)