Just Fine
Summary: "I can't
pick you up or work on the case. Parker's in the hospital."
Saying it hurts more than you thought it would, like speaking the
words makes them sharp and real.
Rating: K
Spoilers: None,
really…pre-Cam.
Disclaimer: While I
don't own the show or the characters, I do own this story and the
ideas contained within.
Author's Note:
Here's another weird little "you" fic, although I think it's
the longest one I've written so far. See what you think :)
Rebecca calls before you've really woken up, and what she says jolts you out of your bed and into your clothes.
"Parker's in the hospital." Her voice is hoarse, scared, aching.
"I'll be there in 20 minutes," you promise, sending up a quick prayer before calling Bones. "I can't pick you up or work on the case. Parker's in the hospital." Saying it hurts more than you thought it would, like speaking the words makes them sharp and real.
"I'll call Cullen," she offers, concern painting her voice, but she doesn't say anything else. You're glad for the lack of questions and platitudes.
"Thank you, Temperance," you say, and don't dwell on the fact that you called her instead of your boss. You don't have time between the praying and the driving.
You arrive at the hospital to find Rebecca a mess and Drew with an arm around her, trying to comfort her, but you get an armful of ex-girlfriend as soon as you walk into the room.
"He fell down the stairs this morning," she sobs, voice high-pitched and hysterical. Even though it grates on your ears, you're grateful for the grip it provides on reality. "He's in surgery right now…they said something about pins." You almost wish Bones was there to list fifteen facts about the healing properties of juvenile skeletons.
It's a horribly long wait, though the clock shows only an hour has passed when the doctor finally comes in. He explains the pins, the cast, how long it'll be until Parker heals, how they're going to keep him sedated a bit longer so the arm can have a better chance to set. He ends the explanation with, "Parker's going to be just fine." You want to yell at him that fine is what you tell people you see in passing when they ask you how you are, that fine is what you tell people when you want to placate them and keep them from asking questions, that fine tells you nothing and doesn't make you feel better. But you don't, for everyone's sake, and the three of you go into Parker's room and settle in for the long haul.
At some point, Rebecca leaves for coffee, but you don't notice until she presses a paper cup into your hand. You take a sip, and somewhere between the heat and bitterness, you realize it's exactly how you like it. You look at Rebecca, surprised that she still remembers, but she shakes her head.
"I asked Doctor Brennan. She's out in the hall."
You kiss Parker's forehead and leave the room to find her hovering just outside the doorway. She shoves a teddy bear into your arms and turns to go, but you grab her hand and she faces you, uncertainty written all over her face.
"Stay?" you ask, not ashamed that you need her, not at the scariest time in your life.
"It's okay?" You realize that she wanted to stay with you, but didn't know how to ask. You smile, the first since this began, and lead her into the room. She goes immediately to his x-rays and you don't bother to stop her, because this is what you want to hear. She babbles some scientific explanation about what happened to Parker's arm and what it means for his recovery, then says, "Parker's going to be fine."
Bones, you believe. Temperance, you trust. You look around the room at Rebecca's watery eyes, at Drew's supportive hand on her back, at Temperance's open concern, at Parker's slowly opening eyes, and you realize you're all going to be just fine.