A/N: Although I've seen all of S2-4, my knowledge of S1&S5 is spotty. Apologies for any inconsistencies with canon.
This is my first Bones fic, so please go easy on me! I found it interesting that although numerous fics have mentioned Bones having Asperger Syndrome (AS), none have dealt with her getting a diagnosis later in life, something that is fairly common-assuming Bones was born around the same time as Emily Deschanel, AS wasn't really a diagnosis until Bones was around twenty. I haven't really seen any fics involving her getting a diagnosis, though I'm pretty certain Sweets would have picked up on it. He's known her for two and a half seasons, for goodness' sakes!
Please, don't say that Bones isn't an aspie. Hart Hanson, the creator of the show and Emily Deschanel have acknowledged that she has many traits, but they can't really give her a DX because she's on TV. Well, that's where my imagination comes into play...
Anyways, after that, on with the fic!
Sweets sighed. Dr. Brennan really was a textbook case of Aspergers. he'd known her and Seely Booth for more than two years now, and was still wrestling with whether or not to tell her.
Really, it should be her choice if she wanted to look into this, but he'd still be the one pushing her onto that path. Mightn't it be better just to leave her be? She'd managed to create a space for herself, utilizing her special interest in a way well-suited to the world around her. Two ways, if you counted her books.
Even after two years of knowing her, he still couldn't decide what would be best for someone he now thought of as his friend.
Would it be too much of a violation of privacy to talk to Booth? How would Brennan view something like that?
Sweets tentatively picked up the phone.
"Booth? Yeah, it's Sweets. Could you find a time to meet me in my office? Nothing urgent...I just need to discuss something with you. Thanks."
What was he getting himself into?
A/N (Yes, again. Sorry.) I just realized that my readers mightn't be as familiar with the characteristics of AS. I'm just a teen, so don't hold me to any of this, but I studied up on this a bit for something unrelated. I think I can say this much without botching it up.
Aspergers is a (usually) mild form of Autism. Most aspies (aspie is a term for people with Aspergers) have the following most prominent traits:
-Although not all are geniuses, they tend to possess at least average intelligence. By definition, they have normal language skills, but they tend not to be well informed about popular culture
-They can't read facial expressions and body language well, sometimes (usually?) causing fewer relationships, as they can appear very blunt
-They have at least one (sometimes a few) extremely specific, intense, interests. Even when they have an average IQ, they tend to excel in areas pertinent to this interest, as they're especially dedicated to it.
In relation to Bones (And Zack, perhaps even more so than Bones. Or maybe she's just better at hiding it. Who knows? But yeah, you'll see Zack reflected in this too)
-Both Bones and Zack have above average intelligence (I believe Bones has mentioned it, I know others have. Zack definitively stated this in one episode, claiming that his IQ was above 160.) Neither have problems with speaking, but they have no grasp of popular culture and tend to take things literally.
-Need I say more on the second point? Aspies can love, they just can't show it well. (Anyone ship Bones/Booth? It's still possible, even with AS)
-FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY, PEOPLE.
On that note, I intend to write more if people are interested. If not, I won't bother typing it up. Reviews are appreciated, especially with constructive criticism (either about writing or AS) however story alerts and faves are also treasured.