Brennan's pacing back and forth in the small elevator as she and Booth make their way up to the fifth floor. She's breathing heavy, her eyes are shut, her jaw is clenched tight, and her hands are resting protectively on her baby bump.
Booth takes his eyes off the floor display and looks at her. "You're making me dizzy." He pauses. "You really should be in a wheelchair, Bones."
She opens her eyes, momentarily stopping. "I told you and that nurse in the Emergency Room that I am fully CAPABLE OF WALKING," she screeches, leaning forward and clutching the fabric of her dress.
"It's hospital policy, and yeah, I know you're capable of walking, but you'd be more comfortable in a wheelchair."
"I'd be even more comfortable at home."
He rolls his eyes. "We're not having this argument again, Bones."
"It was not an argument. IT WAS A DISCUSSION." She lets out a breath and cries softly as the pain overtakes her. She resumes her pacing. It seems to be the only thing that's giving her any relief.
He turns his head and looks at the box above the row of numbers again. It shows a neon number three, so they have two more stops to go. He's getting anxious and seeing her in pain is just making it ten times worse.
She slaps the wall and claws at the stainless steel, whimpering.
He'd trade places with her in a heartbeat. He feels helpless. He steps closer to her and brushes his hand against her sweaty forehead and cheek, sweeping her hair off her face. He heaves a sigh of relief when he hears a ding, followed by a string of squeaking sounds as the doors slide open. He places his hand on the small of her back and guides her out of the cart and into the maternity ward.
She feels her knees buckle and she grabs onto him for support.
He holds her up and looks around. "Can I get a wheelchair over here?"
A nurse looks up from the computer and stands up. She walks into an empty room and comes out with a wheelchair.
He offers the woman a small smile and pleads Brennan to sit down.
This time, unlike when they walked into the ER, she doesn't put up a fight. She lowers herself into the chair, tilting her head back and letting out a scream through gritted teeth.
The nurse smiles at the expectant couple. "How far apart are your contractions?"
"four," Brennan lets out a breath, "minutes."
"I'll get you set up in a birthing suite."
Booth holds his partner's hand as he talks with the nurse. "Her, um, her regular doctor's out sick. I was told on the phone that Dr. Whitaker would be her new doctor."
"Okay. I'll page him."
"Him?"
"Yes. Dr. Jason Whitaker. He's one of our best. Is that a problem?"
He feels Brennan grab hold of his forearm and dig her nails into his skin, hearing her scream out. He looks down at her and then back up at the nurse. He's not crazy about having another man looking at his wife down there, even if that man is a doctor, but he doesn't have much choice. "Uh, no, no problem at all," he lies.
The nurse just shrugs and motions for him to follow her, taking the wheelchair and beginning to push it towards the hallway.
He nods and catches up to them in two steps.
An hour later, Booth is sitting in a chair by Brennan's bedside, rubbing soft circles into her back.
Brennan has her eyes closed and her hands are gripping the bedrail.
He leans forward and presses a kiss to her exposed shoulder, her gown having been displaced by her movements. He cringes when she contorts and screams into her pillow. "Bones, deep breaths, baby," he whispers.
She whimpers and shifts uncomfortably on the sheets. Her labor has progressing rapidly. By the time she had gotten settled into her hospital room and the doctor came in to see her, she was already too far dilated for an epidural.
Booth's light massage is doing little to relieve her pain. He stands up and picks up the damp washcloth resting on the bedside table. He steps closer to the bed and leans over, gently brushing the cool towel against her warm, clammy forehead, cheeks, and neck. "You're doing great, Bones."
"Parker," she gasps out, "did you call him?"
He nods. He's already told her this, but he answers her anyway, "Yeah. He'll be here after school."
"And Angela? You called her too?"
"Yes, Bones, I called her. She's telling everyone else and she's gonna make sure Christine is here later today to meet her baby brother. It's all taken care of, alright? Just focus on your breathing. Don't worry about anything else." He mops up more sweat and sighs.
She screams into her pillow again, closing her eyes tight. She relaxes again, her lungs burning. She feels nauseous, her back hurts, her head is pounding, and the pressure is almost unbearable.
He sets the towel back down and sits on the edge of the bed. He presses a sweet kiss to her temple and rubs her shoulder and upper arm. "Deep breaths, Bones," he repeats and stands up. He sits back down and flips on the TV, hoping that there's something on that will help distract her.
"Booth," she says, breathily.
At the distressed tone of her voice, he looks away from the TV immediately. "What's wrong, Bones?"
She's silent for a long minute and then shakes her head. "I want to push. I need to push."
He blinks. "Are you sure?"
She rolls onto her back and grabs his hand. She tightens her grip and arches her back, squirming slightly as a particularly intense contraction washes over her. She narrows her eyes and relaxes her grip once again.
He nods. "Got it. You're sure." He presses the call button over and over again, even though once is enough. "Keep breathing, baby."
A few minutes later, a lanky man with curly blonde hair and glasses strolls in. "Is everything okay, Temperance?"
"She says she's ready to push," Booth answers for his partner.
"Well, let's just see if you really are ready to push," the doctor replies, addressing his patient. He helps Brennan place her feet in the stirrups and lifts her gown slightly. He puts on a pair of gloves and sits down on the stool at the foot of the bed. He does a quick exam and pops his head up. "It's time."
Booth stands up and finds her hand.
Dr. Whitaker smiles at the couple. "Let's get this show on the road, shall we?" He pauses. "Alright, Temperance, on your next contraction, I'm going to need you to push."
She tightens her grip on Booth's hand and opens her eyes, looking up at him, a faint lazy smile on her face.
Booth lowers his head and places a kiss on her cheek. "Ready, Bones?"
She nods, shifting her hips a little. She lifts her shoulders off the pillow and leans forward, her chin tucked. She closes her eyes, grits her teeth, and pushes. She relaxes again, her breathing fast and heavy.
"Okay, Temperance, again," Dr. Whitaker tells her.
She nods, leans forward, and pushes harder this time. She falls back against the pillows, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she catches her breath.
Booth can't help giving her another soft kiss on the top of her head. "You're doing great, Bones."
Without a signal from her doctor, she screams, pushing again, squeezing Booth's poor, innocent hand even tighter than she has been.
Booth swallows a yelp and reaches for the washcloth, patting it against her warm skin. "Just breathe in and out, Bones, in and out," he coaches.
Five pushes later, she's pretty much zapped of all her energy. She's lying back, her eyes closed, her face pale and sweaty.
"Okay, Temperance, only a couple more pushes and you'll have a son."
"I already have a son," she manages, smiling at the cool touch of the washcloth against her hot face.
"Alright, push again," Dr. Whitaker says, glancing at data from the baby monitor.
She shakes her head. "I can't."
Booth squeezes her hand. "Yes, you can, Bones. Don't give up now. C'mon, baby. You're doing awesome."
"Okay." She lifts her shoulders and leans forward again. She lets out an even louder scream, gritting her teeth and clenching her eyes shut. She lets out a breath as she relaxes against the pillows.
Dr. Whitaker smiles. "I can see the head. He's got a whole mess of dark hair." He looks at Booth. "Would you like to do the honors?"
Booth looks at Brennan, torn between wanting to bring his third child into the world like he did his second and holding his wife's hand.
She decides for him. "Do it."
Booth gives her hand one last squeeze and joins the doctor at the foot of the bed. "Whoa, Bones. He has so much hair."
She smiles with her lips pursed, clutching the sheets.
"You got this, baby."
Dr. Whitaker rolls a little to the side and looks at Brennan. "Okay, Temperance. Big push."
She nods, mustering up all the energy she has to push. She's getting a little lightheaded and her body is trembling. She exhales deeply and leans back again. At the onset of her next contraction, she somehow finds the energy to push again. She feels some relief of pressure afterwards and relaxes.
"His head and shoulders are out," Dr. Whitaker informs her. "One last push and your baby boy will be here."
Booth gets into position, holding his son under the armpits like the doctor instructed. As Brennan pushes, he guides the baby out all the way.
"Happy Birthday, fella." Dr. Whitaker suctions out the newborn's nose and mouth quickly and carefully and a high-pitched cry fills the room less than a minute later. He lifts the baby and sets him on Brennan's chest, wiping him off with the blanket.
Booth rejoins his partner by the head of the bed and sits on the edge of the mattress.
She tilts her head and looks down at the newborn in her arms. She touches his cheek with her knuckle and looks up at Booth.
Booth takes his eyes off his son for a second to look at her. He kisses her head and smiles. "He's perfect, Bones."
Her eyes drift back to the baby and she picks up his hand, which he immediately hooks around her pinky. "He is. He's handsome." She lifts him slightly and kisses him on the forehead.
Dr. Whitaker looks at Booth, holding up a pair of scissors. "Would you like to cut the cord, daddy?"
Booth isn't paying attention. His eyes and focus are on his son.
"Agent Booth."
Booth looks up then. "Oh, yeah, sure." He pulls himself away and takes the scissors. He snips the cord in the exact spot Dr. Whitaker tells him to and then hands him back the scissors.
Dr. Whitaker stands up and takes the newborn from his mother's arms. "Don't worry. I'll bring him back." He smiles and hands the baby to the team of nurses waiting by the weighing station. He pushes on Brennan's stomach and then sits down. "I know you're tired, Temperance, but it's time to deliver the placenta."
She can hear her son crying in the corner. It's making her heart ache, but at the same time it's a relief that he has a healthy set of lungs. With Booth holding her hand the entire time, she manages to find the energy to push. As she lies there afterwards, leaning her head against her partner's side as he sits on the mattress, she counts down the minutes until her son is safely back in her arms.
So I'm extending this story a little. I keep changing my mind and it probably won't be the last time.
I hope you liked this chapter.
Next up: Everyone meets Baby Booth #3 :)