Saving Shae, Ch. 10

Chapter Ten:
The Day After

The next morning, Booth walked into Sweets’ room, where Cam was sitting in a hard plastic chair.

“How’s he doing?” Booth asked, running a hand through his hair.

Both Sweets and Shae had been brought straight to the hospital. Shae had a concussion and had needed ten stitches where the butt of the gun had cut her head. She had been monitored throughout the night and was woken periodically. Her memory was faulty, so every time she was woken, which was on the half hour, she asked the same questions: Where am I? Where’s Sweets? How bad is he?

Sweets had been less fortunate. The bullet had penetrated deeply, just missing his heart. It had, however, punctured his left lung after shattering two ribs while traveling between them. He had needed emergency surgery, which had lasted over an hour and a half. He was still unconscious, his body recovering from shock and blood loss. He would live, but that didn’t banish the worry in everyone’s hearts entirely. It was a scenario much like the one after Pam had shot Booth, and no one like the haunting déjà vu.

“Stable. Still sleeping, though. He woke briefly a couple of hours ago, around seven, but only long enough to ask what happened.”

“Sounds like Shae.” He said, almost smiling.

“Yes. Have you been to see her?”

“Not yet, but she is my next stop.”

“Ok. Come back to let me know how she is.”

Booth nodded, then turned to leave, glancing at Sweets before doing so. He couldn’t help wondering why Sweets had gone after Shae. From what he had gathered, they had only spoken once, from what he could gather. What connection could he have had with her that the rest of the team had been completely unable to make? Or had he just been stupid?

“Hey.” He knocked on Shae’s door frame, meeting a scene much like the one he had just left, but with different characters. Shae in the bed, Angela in the chair.

“Hey.” Angela replied.

“Still the same?”

“A little better, actually. The last time, at the half hour, she woke up on her own. She must be getting used to it. And she has been remembering what happened.”

“That’s good.”

“Where’s Brennen?”

“At home. She was sick this morning, so I had her stay.”

“I hope it’s nothing serious.”

“Just nausea, she said.” He smiled fondly. “So, of course, she tried to come anyway.”

“That sounds like Brennen.” Angela smiled. “But did you come straight here?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I was just checking things at the Jeffersonian for Bones. She goes crazy if she doesn’t know everything that goes on.”

“I see.”

“I need coffee.” Booth said, making Angela wonder once again if he didn’t have ADD.

“All right.” Angela laughed.

“What?”

“You can change the subject very quickly.”

“Oh. Well, I do need coffee. And I know Bones will want some. Not to mention that I was told to let Cam know how Shae is doing.”

“She is demanding like that.” Angela grinned as she watched Booth shake his head as he left the room.

"Angela?" Bones tapped lightly on the door to Shae's room not five minutes later.

"Oh, there you are!" Angela stood up. "Booth said you were sick and that you wouldn't be here."

"Well, I was sick," Bones' face looked pale, and there was a nervous, scared look in her eyes. "Just this morning, though. I'm better now."

"That's great. But, if you're better, why do you look like crap?"

"Well...I'd been sick in the morning of the previous two weeks..."

"And you still showed up to work?"

"Yes, because I would be fine later on. Same as today. Booth just forced me to stay this morning."

"Any idea what's wrong?" Angela put her hand on Bones' shoulder.

"Yes, I had an idea...And this morning I confirmed it." Bones swallowed.

"Well, sweetie, what's wrong?"

"Angela...I'm pregnant."

"Oh, Brennen!" Angela wrapped her into a huge hug. "That's amazing!"

"No, Angela, not for me!" Bones was neatly hysterical. "I've never wanted children, I don't know how to be a mom! I won't have any idea what I'm doing! I don't think I could be a mother, at least...not a good one..."

"Brennen, sweetie, you'll be fine. I promise." Angela smiled at her. "How is it you've been married for only a month, and I've been married to Hodgins for six, and you're already pregnant?"

"You're the one who watched Shae after the wedding while Booth and I had alone time! You figure it out."

"I told you once, my imagination works just fine! And I promise that you'll be okay. You'll make a great mom."

"What on Earth makes you say that? I can't take care of Shae, how am I supposed to take care of a baby?"

"You'll have help, you know. Booth is capable."

"I know that, but I have no idea what to do, Angela. I don't handle not knowing what to do well, I can't handle a situation that I can't control."

"Nobody knows exactly how to be a mother, Bones, but they handle it. It's a basic instinct and you should know that. I promise you'll be fine."

"How am I supposed to tell Booth?"

"Tell me what?" Booth walked in with two cups of coffee, one smelling of French vanilla. “Bones, hon! I thought you stayed home!"

"I'm fine, Booth."

"You don't look like it. Honey, what's wrong?"

"Booth," Bones bit her lip, tears in the corners of her eyes. "I'm pregnant."

Booth couldn't say anything for at least a minute..

"Really?" He finally breathed, setting the coffees down.

Bones nodded.

Booth pulled her close and kissed her, so suddenly that Bones was startled. Booth had never kissed her like this before. It was so amazing and passionate...Everything she'd played out in a novel but hadn't ever really experienced for herself.

"When did you find out?" Booth was smiling widely.

"This morning." Bones gave a watery smile.

"Why did you cry when you told me, hon?"

"Because I'm scared, Booth. How am I supposed to make a good mom?"

"You'll be a great mom. And I'm a little scared, too, you'd be insane not to be, but that doesn't mean that this isn't the happiest day of my life."

“Ugh.” Came a slightly groggy voice. “Mushfest. No mushfust in my room.”

“Shae!” Bones turned and walked to the bed. “You’re awake.” She smiled.

“Yeah, duh. You’ve only been waking me up every half hour.”

“Do you remember what happened?” Bones asked.

“Ya.” Shae nodded. “And not just from the answers you guys were giving me. I… I remember.” She looked right at Bones. “Thank you. And… I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Booth asked.

“I… I was treating you guys like crap.” She sniffed. “I was treating everyone like they had killed my parents. And… I didn’t . I didn’t!” Tears started in earnest, though she tried so hard to hold them back.

“I know.” Brennen said. “I’ve heard you singing that song. I heard you before you left and I’d heard you before at the house, late at night.”

“Wish You Were Here?”

“Yes. And you play it beautifully.”

“Thank you.” Shae suddenly sat up, tears forgotten. “Sweets! Oh…” She grabbed her head and fell back onto the pillows. “Ow… “

“Sweets is still unconscious, and you are not going anywhere.” Bones said.

“Does Nichole know I’m in here?”

“Yes. She almost stayed in the room last night, but her mom came to pick her up at midnight.” Angela said.

“More like drag her out.” Booth said, grinning. “She was not happy with us.”

“Uh-oh…” Shae grinned, too.

“Yeah. You should have heard her. “ He laughed. “For almost a solid half hour it was: I told you to take care of her! So what happens?! She nearly gets freaking shot! Nice job!’”

“That was a clean version.” Angela noted.

“Nice.” Shae was laughing. “I suppose I should call her…”

“Go ahead.” Bones said. “And we’ve talked to her parents. They’re making preparations for your parents’ and grandmother’s funeral.”

“Why so late?” Shae asked.

“We caught who .” Booth said. “We don’t need them any more.”

“Whatever you are doing,” Cam walked in. “It has to wait. Sweets woke up!”