Booth storms into the ER, with Brennan following close behind him. He slams his hand on the counter of the nearest nurses' station and clears his throat. "I need some help over here. I mean, I don't, my, my wife needs help," he says all in one breath. He swallows and continues, speeding up his speech. "She's having contractions, but she's only twenty-five weeks pregnant."

A red-haired nurse lifts her head, looking away from her computer, and stands up. "Please, calm down, sir. What's the issue?"

"My wife," he looks in the direction of Brennan, who's now sitting down in a chair with her hand protectively on her stomach, "she's having contractions, the real ones, not the fake ones."

"How far along is she?"

"Twenty-five weeks." He breathes out, his hands shaking.

"Okay, sir. Please have a seat and a physician will be with you two in a few minutes. We're busy tonight."

"You don't understand, lady. She's having contractions and she's not due for another three months! She needs help now, not in a few minutes, now!"

"Sir—."

He flashes his badge. "See this? I'm an agent with the FBI." He scowls. "So how long is it going to take again?"

"Have a seat. A doctor will be right out to examine your wife."

"Thank you." He puts his badge away and walks over to Brennan, sitting down beside her. He places his hand on her stomach and looks at her. "It's gonna be okay, Bones."

Brennan squeezes his fingers and lets out a breath, shifting uncomfortably on the plastic chair and letting out a cry through gritted teeth.

"Just breathe, baby."

"It's too early, Booth," she manages, out of breath.

"I know, I know. Just breathe, baby." He turns his head and sees a man approaching them, a stethoscope around his neck and a clipboard tucked in his arms. Few words are exchanged before they're following him behind a curtain.

It's now a quarter to one and Brennan's in a hospital room, dressed in a gown and lying on her side with her eyes closed.

Booth is sitting by her bedside, rubbing circles in her back and occasionally kneading his knuckles into her sore muscles. He stands up slightly and leans over her, placing a kiss on her shoulder. He sits back down and sighs. He leans forward, clasping his hands together, closing his eyes, and bowing his head.

She rolls onto her back and then onto her other side, so she's facing him. She opens her eyes and rests her hand on his, a small smile gracing her lips.

He drops his arms and lifts his head. He matches her smile and reaches his hand out, skimming his fingertips across her cheek lightly. He pulls his hand back and conceals a yawn behind his palm. "Hey."

"Hi," she whispers, her voice threaded with the remnants of a lousy thirty minute nap.

"How're you feeling, Bones?"

She shrugs. "I'm a little nauseous and I have a mild headache."

"Any more contractions?"

She shakes her head. "No."

He lets out a breath. "Thank God." He pauses. "I called Anna to let her know that we'd be spending the night here."

She rolls her eyes. "I don't understand why I have to stay here tonight. I haven't had a contraction in a little over two hours now and the fetus is showing no other signs of distress."

"It's just a precaution, Bones."

"All it is, really, is an inconvenience." She shifts on the mattress. "You should go home, Booth."

He shakes his head. "No way, Bones, I'm not leaving."

"Booth."

"No."

She grunts. "Fine."

"Can I get you anything?"

She shakes her head. "No, thank you. It's late and I'm exhausted. I'm just going to try and sleep some more, though I'd be a lot more comfortable in my own bed."

"Scoot over."

"Booth, this bed is too small."

He flashes her a smile, the one she can't resist.

She rolls over and scoots closer to the edge of the bed.

He takes off his shoes and slacks, tugs and removes his tie, and climbs into the bed, rolling onto his side and inching as close to her as possible. He slings his arm around her waist and pulls her hair away from her neck and shoulder, kissing her. "See? Plenty of room," he whispers, his voice deep.

She shivers as his breath brushes against her skin. "Mmhmm." She closes her eyes and rests her hand on top of his, which is currently on her stomach. "Booth?"

He takes a break from kissing her and nods. "You want me to stop?"

She shakes her head. "No." She pauses and clears her throat, swallowing hard. "Were you scared?"

He displaces some of the fabric of her gown and presses his lips to her now exposed shoulder. "He'd be okay, he'd survive 'cause he's a fighter, but I don't know if I was or am ready for that gamble, you know, so I'm so glad Dr. Jones was able to stop the contractions."

"I'm glad he was able to stop them, as well. It's too early. The fetus is viable, but even with the advances in medical technology, statistically, the odds aren't very good."

He moves his hand slightly and sighs. "You're sure you're not having any more contractions, right?"

She nods. "I'm sure, Booth."

"I love you."

"I love you too." Her voice fades out as she drifts into a light sleep.

He hears her breathing slow and even out and feels her body still. "Goodnight, Bones," he whispers into her hair. He shifts on the mattress, careful not to disturb her, and attempts to fall asleep himself.

Booth and Brennan walk in the front door a little after ten the next morning. They're both exhausted, having gotten little sleep the night before. She rubs her eyes and heads into the kitchen where their neighbor is sitting at the island counter reading the newspaper. She smiles at the young woman. "Good morning, Anna."

The young blonde woman lifts her head and smiles back. "Good morning. Is everything okay?"

Brennan nods. "Yes. The doctor was able to stop my contractions."

"Great news, Temperance." Anna pauses. "Parker is still asleep and Christine is coloring upstairs in her room."

"Thank you." Brennan hands the young woman some money and insists she take it. "You're free to go home now, Anna."

"I'm glad everything is alright."

"As are we." Brennan walks her neighbor to the door and then turns around, nearly running into Booth. She takes a step back and lets out a breath. "Where'd you come from?"

"I was upstairs."

"Oh." She pauses. "I sent Anna home."

"I figured."

"I need to take a shower and get dressed for work."

"Oh, ho, what? Work? No. You are not going to work today."

"Dr. Jones says I can resume my normal activities. Going to work is one of my normal activities, Booth. I'm fine and so is the baby. You were there. I shouldn't have to repeat what the doctor told me."

"Yeah, well, he also said to take it easy. Going to work is not taking it easy."

"Says who?"

"Says me."

"We don't have a case. I'll be in the lab all day, mostly in my office, behind my desk or on my couch."

"Bones, you just got released from the hospital this morning. Don't you think you should stay home today? We can resume this argument tomorrow."

"No, I don't think I should nor do I need to stay home today. Everything is fine. The contractions have stopped for now and the baby is fine."

"Bones."

"Booth."

He grunts. "You're acting like last night didn't happen. You were this close to delivering our son fifteen weeks early, Bones."

"I was scared, Booth, you know that, and I know the gravity of the situation. I'm not acting like it didn't happen. I'm acting like it happened. It's done. Everything is okay now."

"For now."

"Yes, everything is okay, for now."

He sighs.

She smiles at him. "Are you free for lunch?"

He nods. "Yeah."

"Would you like to have lunch with me?"

He smiles. "Yeah."

She steps closer to him and wraps his arms around him. She tilts her head up, he lowers his, and their lips meet.

He breaks the kiss and then presses another soft kiss to her forehead. "Just promise me you'll take it easy?"

"I promise." She flashes him another smile.

"And I know you still have a few weeks left of our deal, but—."

"Fine."

"Bones, we really need to—wait, 'fine'?"

She nods. "Yes. I'll stay in the from now until I go back to work after the baby's born, though I refuse to let anyone else examine the body at the scene, so I will be doing that. That's my one condition."

"I guess that's reasonable."

"Of course it's reasonable," she says and then disappears upstairs.

He sighs and heads into the kitchen.

Thanks for the reviews. You guys rock. I hope you liked this chapter.

I'll try and update tomorrow because I'm not sure I'll be able to post a chapter on Sunday. Also, I hope to get back to daily updates next week.