"The Object of My Affection" - Chapter 11
Title: Object of my Affection
Author: Shannon - shannyfish
Disclaimer: I do not own “Bones” or its characters, Fox does. This is merely for entertainment purposes only.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Booth and Brennan must struggle with not only the Grad Students trying to take Zack’s old position, but also help get through a tragic end.
Warning: Post Season Three - “Pain in the Heart”. Would take place during Season Four, probably mid to late. Warning! Do not start reading this unless you plan on reading all…like…one hundred chapters (it might be that many…might not…). This will be an epic/saga-type fic and shall include all kinds of fun plot twists. The rating of this story will most likely fluctuate, FYI.
Chapter 11 - “Unexpected”
Author’s Note: Okay, fanfic(dot)net people! You did NOT reach the review goal, but I am NOT a mean author…and I’m feeling like getting reviews because it will make me happier after a bad day at work. The goal number for Chapter 12 to get released is 11…because 11 is the magical number and with this story on alert by 63 people, it should be something easily done.
On my website, I’ve uploaded pictures for all the grad students…I’ll add new pictures as they are needed for future chapters. If you are interested, e-mail me directly and I will send you an invite J
*~*~*
Brennan’s Office
She spent her weekends trying to identify bodies from “Limbo”. Though, that didn’t always happen. A lot of the times she and Booth were called out onto a case, so she was taking the quiet downtime to do what she was originally hired for. She was determined to make a dent in the unidentified remains.
It was Sunday and she’d felt fairly productive. She’d gone home to sleep at night and then had turned back around to return to the Jeffersonian. She didn’t mind. He was always there to provide her with spontaneous breaks and was great at ordering take out.
Brennan was about to retrieve a new box of skeletal remains when her cell phone went off. She smiled unconsciously when she read the ID on her cell phone.
Booth.
She picked up her cell phone and pressed the green accept button before putting it to her ear. “Brennan,” she answered automatically.
*Bones, where are you?*
“At the Jeffersonian,” she responded and frowned at his panicked tone. “What’s wrong, Booth?” They’d been working together long enough for her to identify when he didn’t sound right.
*I need a favor.*
“Of course.”
*I need to drop off Parker with you…can we meet at your apartment?*
Brennan immediately started to move in order to toss her things into her bag. Booth was one of the people that she’d drop anything and everything for in order to help him. “I’m leaving now, but Booth, what’s wrong?”
*There’s been an accident.*
It was a specific, yet vague reply. It was the only information Booth gave her before hanging up. She hurried through the Jeffersonian. All she wanted was to get home in hopes that she’d be further clued in on what was going on.
*~*~*
Brennan’s Apartment
Amazed by the fact that she arrived first, Brennan nervously paced her living room. She’d left her front door open, so that Booth would know that she was home. She’d thought about calling Booth just to let him know that she was there, but had decided against it every time. The sudden sound of Parker’s questions caught her ear and she quickly diverted her attention to the doorway.
“But why can’t we go to the zoo like you promised?” Parker asked, almost whining. He let his backpack drop next to the inside of the door and then set his car seat next to it.
“I told you I have a work emergency,” Booth told him. “You’re going to stay here with Bones.”
“I could take him to the zoo,” Brennan offered.
“Yes!” Parker cheered immediately.
“I would rather you and Parker were here…or at the Jeffersonian.”
She could see that Booth was worried. She could hear it straining in his voice. “Okay,” she told him quietly.
“I’m not sure how long I’ll be,” Booth told her.
“Don’t worry, Booth. I’ll watch Parker as long as you need,” Brennan told him. She had moved closer to him, so that she wasn’t more than a foot away. “Just let me know what you need.”
“Thanks Bones.” He turned to see that Parker was investigating his surroundings. “Be good for Bones, Parker. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay,” Parker replied, but his tone replayed his complete disappointment.
She wanted to ask what the emergency was, but stayed quiet. Was it a secret? Was it really work related? Was it personal? Brennan walked Booth to her door and let him out. She sighed as she shut the door. Brennan wanted to know what Booth’s emergency was. Her phone beeped and she opened the text message. It was from Booth.
There was an accident. Rebecca and her boyfriend were badly injured. They’re not sure if they’re going to make it. Parker doesn’t know, please don’t say anything. Thanks.
It wasn’t detailed, but it told her basically what she wanted to know. Parker’s surprised voice broke her from her thoughts.
“You don’t have a TV?!”
“I’m afraid not,” Brennan said trying to break the news gently.
“So what are we going to do?” Parker asked curiously.
Brennan crouched down in front of Parker and shrugged, “What do you want to do?”
“Go to the zoo.”
“Your dad would feel better if we stayed here-”
“He promised!” Parker said interrupting and then crossed his arms over his chest.
Brennan frowned and thought for a moment. “Maybe we still can…”
*~*~*
Hospital
Booth sat worried out of his mind in the waiting area. They wouldn’t tell him anything more than that she was in surgery. They didn’t give him any reassuring words. They all just gave him sad glances.
He hated hospitals.
The smell, the isolation, the uncertainty… He just wanted some news. Anything.
“Seeley?”
The voice seemed familiar, but Booth had to look up to place it. Lydia Stinson, Rebecca’s mother, she had been the source of the voice. She was standing in front of him with her husband, Murray Stinson. “Mr. and Mrs. Stinson. They won’t tell me anymore than that she’s in surgery.”
“Where’s Parker?” Murray questioned.
“He’s safe,” Booth assured. “He was with me.”
“Are the next of kin of Rebecca Stinson present?” a doctor asked.
“Yes, I’m her mother,” Lydia immediately spoke up.
“We’ve stabilized your daughter as much as possible.”
“What does that mean?” Murray asked.
The doctor sighed and then continued, “Right now, she’s being supported by a ventilator. The impact forced her ribs to pierce one of her lungs and came very close to doing the same to the other.”
“So, she can’t breathe on her own?” Lydia asked.
“There’s a slight possibility, but there was a lot of damage. The pierced lung had to be removed. It had been punctured in several places.”
“Is she conscious?”
“No, your daughter is suffering from a brain trauma. There’s swelling and possible bleeding on her brain.”
“Can you help her?” Lydia pleaded.
“There’s a surgery in which we drill a hole into the skull to remove the pressure on the brain,” the doctor explained. “I just need consent if that’s what you want done.”
“Just tell us what you want us to sign,” Murray told the doctor.
The doctor nodded and then left to go to the nurse’s station to get the consent paperwork.
“Who did you leave Parker with?” Lydia suddenly asked as she took a seat.
“With my partner,” Booth answered.
“An F.B.I. agent?” Murray questioned.
“No,” Booth said and then quickly corrected. “I work as an F.B.I. liaison with the Jeffersonian. My partner is Doctor Temperance Brennan.”
“Isn’t she the one who writes those books?”
“Yes.”
“She’s a bestseller, but awful on TV,” Lydia commented. She motioned for Murray to sit with her. “How close are you with your partner?”
“She’s my best friend,” Booth responded. He was actually thankful for the distraction even though Rebecca’s parents were playing twenty questions.
“How trustworthy is she?”
“Very,” Booth responded slightly offended. “I wouldn’t just leave Parker with anyone. I just really didn’t think he needed to be here.”
“Isn’t she just a friend?”
“Yes, but even if she was more that really wouldn’t be any of your business,” Booth told them trying to stay as respectful as possible.
“Does Parker know?”
“No. I didn’t want to scare him.”
“You shouldn’t lie to him.”
Booth gawked. “I didn’t want to leave him with the thought that he may never see his mother again.”
“He’s more likely to make better choices if we treat him more like an adult,” Lydia informed him. “I read it in a magazine.”
Booth didn’t understand Lydia’s logic, but didn’t argue. He knew he’d made the right choice. That was all that mattered. He knew that Rebecca would do the same if their roles had been reversed. They had done their best to shield Parker from the evils of the world.
*~*~*
Hospital
Doctor Camille Saroyan was at the hospital looking for one person. She’d been called and informed of the situation and had agreed to make sure Booth was okay. She worried about Booth…and for Parker. She eventually found him with his head down in his hands. She noticed the couple sitting together watching her and she figured that they were probably Rebecca’s parents. Silently Cam took a seat next to Booth. “Seeley,” she said quietly as she reached out to take his hand.
“Bones told you, didn’t she?” Booth asked as he allowed for Cam to take his hand, but kept his gaze down.
“She hasn’t heard from you in over eight hours. She’s just worried and figured that maybe you needed some company.”
“Rebecca’s lungs were seriously damaged,” Booth tried to rattle off what the doctors had told them several hours earlier quietly and as discretely as possible to Cam. “Her brain has swelling and I think they said that there could be bleeding.”
“So, they’re drilling a whole in her skull to reduce the pressure. The bleeding they’d have to see...it depends on what they see…sometimes they do a scan to see.”
“They had to remove-”
“Who is she?” Lydia interrupted and kept her gaze fixed on Booth and the woman with him.
“I’m Doctor Camille Saroyan. We work together at the Jeffersonian,” Cam said seeing the look she was getting from Rebecca’s mother.
Booth ignored Lydia and focused his attention instead on Cam, “Do you know how Parker was doing when you talked to Bones?”
“They were learning about dinosaurs… Parker chattered about how he could go to the zoo from the computer,” Cam reported. “He sounded just fine. They already had dinner. I asked.”
“She made him mac and cheese.”
“How did you know?”
“Because it would make him happy,” Booth explained. He knew that Brennan was doing well with Parker from what Cam had told him. That was good. He let out a long sigh after a few minutes, “They said it would take four hours and it’s been longer.”
“That happens a lot,” Cam told him. “Have you heard anything about her boyfriend?”
“No.”
“I’m going to go and see if I can find out any information on him,” Cam said getting up and heading towards the nurses’ station.
Booth wasn’t too concerned about Rebecca’s boyfriend’s condition, but he knew Rebecca would be. He didn’t like the idea of being replaced as Parker’s father, but the guy was a good guy. He meant well and didn’t mean to even try to take his place. For that, Booth respected him.
*~*~*
TBC…