The Change in the Opening

By ASC12

I do not own Bones.

Okay so I'm not great at titles but you can guess where this one is going. The other idea was 'the baby of the daddy', yeah so...I actually missed the premiere so pardon my errors. I think you can figure out where this particular story picks up from. Like I said I didn't see it, but I don't think I would have liked it, and perhaps a few others did not as well? ;) I felt there may have been a bit of interest in an alternative so let's give it a go….

Viva le Sweets? Oui? Please review if oui.

Quick thought to add, I do believe that characters can grow thru tragedy so I think there is a quite a series that could be had with Sweets in this scenario. It might be fun and interesting. As you may have noticed I mentioned Sweets as a single dad. Spoiler alert: Don't worry no more characters actually "die."

1.

He hadn't seen it coming, of course no one really would have would they or one wouldn't walk about so 'carelessly.' He had reacted, but why did it hurt so badly?

Booth and Brennan pulled back into the parking garage, aggravated from their most recent visit. Their eyes immediately fell upon a sight one never wants to see. The tall six foot frame of an all too familiar friend lay on the ground, too still for comfort but enough motion to suggest life. With no time for speculations their feet carried their racing hearts to their friend's side with nothing but fear at the front of their mind.

Booth's longer legs moved faster than Brennan's and he reached Sweets first. Sweets was glad to see him, a notion passed not by words but as his body relaxed.

"Don't move." Booth said looking Sweets over whose white dress shirt was rumpled and lip was bleeding. Booth continued to look him over only to spy a lesion on his head. Brennan's arrival was swift with hands that inspected bones as clinically as she could. She strived to ease her shaking hands, afraid of what she might find.

Booth was about to ask what happened when Sweets slumped to the side and Booth's heart skipped beat. Instead of leaving this world he began to speak while his eyes remained focused on a particular sight.

"I got him." Sweets said with a hard swallow. "You'd be proud, I didn't get myself killed."

Booth looked over his shoulder at what Sweets had been staring at. He hadn't noticed the man on the ground at first, a trail of blood leaving his body. Booth turned back to Sweets. See, Booth knew though it was an act of self-defense, someone as aware of the values in life as Sweets would no doubt carry immense guilt to take one. Booth though felt the need to check the man to be sure he was not a threat.

"He's not." Sweets said with a cough that bothered Brennan. "I almost aimed too low," Sweets said, "but then I adjusted." Sweets pointed to his chest and Booth speculated if Sweets was signaling his difficulty in breathing but he got that Sweets motion was a reference that he had shot the man in the heart.

"Of course." Booth said. "You scored excellent on your test, why wouldn't you have done it right?"

Sweets offered a smile at the compliment but continued to cough. Brennan was already on the phone for an ambulance so Booth decided to keep the man busy.

"What happened?" Booth asked, unfavorable of the way Sweets would involuntarily shudder and stop.

"I had files." Sweets said looking for them.

Booth nodded his head suggesting Sweets abandon a visual search. "I don't care about files Sweets."

Sweets seemed hurt at first that what he fought in vain to regain seemed so unimportant until he realized the look Booth was giving him - the importance was placed solely in the desire for Sweets to remain present in this existence, not files. Booth did understand exactly what state of health Sweets was balanced in so he looked back at Brennan for a sign on what she had discovered in examining Sweets. Booth observed that she was in control, and not just usual Brennan control, while concerned she was not unhinged and so he turned back to Sweets who was trying to sit up.

"Whoa easy there." Booth said urging him to lie back.

"Hard to breathe." Sweets said obviously short of breath.

Reluctant due lack of his own knowledge Booth indulged the downed man and gently lifted his back up a few degrees. Sweets winced at the pressure on his ribs but the air came easier and he appeared more relaxed.

"Sweets, tell me, are you alright?" Booth said now in close proximity of the man he had come to know well over these seven years, a friend, an uncle to his daughter, a brother.

"We both know how this ends." Sweets said looking for air that came harder to find. Sweets coughed and Booth's chest clenched. "I've been better Booth, but you can't get rid of me this easy." Sweets smiled as the ambulance arrived.

"Better not." Booth said as the ambulance arrived.

Sweets was brought to the hospital while Agent Aubrey was dispatched to tend to the matter of the dead man in the parking lot. Booth accepted that this task was befitting of the tool like agent who lacked in both benevolence and appeal as a possible member of their team.

Booth was away on the phone when Brennan saw Sweets walking towards her in the waiting room. His steps were uneven though Brennan was grateful for his pain, it far exceeded the alternative she feared when they were first upon him. Sweets was always one for a hug, except for now as the usually reserved Dr. Brennan clenched her friend tightly. Sweets wanted to push her away but soon regarded the rarity of this embrace and though it was deeply painful she relished in the fact her head was placed so close to his beating heart.

I didn't realize how much it meant till it was almost gone her thoughts came to her. She didn't want to say it out loud, not because she didn't want Sweets to know how much she cared, but the words were stuck in her heart, unable to make it past the lump in her throat.

She had spent those agonizing moments on the phone with paramedics unsure if he was okay. Her trembling hands had made it difficult to evaluate Sweets well and while she strived to keep her wits about her she could only think of the Sweets she danced with in her house to celebrate the end of his relationship with Daisy, his daily coffee while he lived with them, the case they worked well on together to find the swim coach's killer, how he was there for her and Christine in Booth's incarceration. She hugged him once more tightly knowing he deserved far more for all he had done in the seven years she had known him that to die, beaten and defeated in a parking lot.

"Dr. Brennan." Sweets said searching again for air. Brennan looked up at him and his pained face but grateful smiled and took a step back.

"Oh, of course, I'm sorry Sweets." She said stepping back but remaining close.

"Don't be. Thank you." He said then looked up to locate Booth, who was still on the phone, unhappy with the results he was getting.

"Yeah well Agent Aubrey, no one tried to kill Sweets and get away with it. Yeah, well call me when you're more useful." Booth hung up and saw Sweets next to Brennan.

"Sweets! What are you doing shouldn't you be lying down or something?" Booth asked concerned. Sweets was eager to take a seat for a moment and they joined him in doing so.

"No, no more lying down for me." Sweets said issuing a smile but wondering what course it could have taken had he not fired the shot he did, would he be in the bag instead… Sweets shivered at the thought and Brennan grabbed his hand.

"It was him or you Sweets." Booth said knowing Sweets might be thinking of the man he killed. "I'm glad it was him."

Booth didn't often wish for death, but he was weighed by guilt at the prospect that he had nearly failed in protecting his people.

"Right. I know." Sweets said though his voice didn't emanate complete agreement. "It's just sort of weird you know?"

"I'm not a shrink." Booth said but gave a smile. "But I know. Taking a life, it isn't easy, no matter the circumstances. There is a lot to consider when you do it. But you're not the one who brought on those circumstances, remember that."

Sweets nodded and a thought occurred to him in all the excitement. "Daisy, I should call her…"

"I did, several times but I wasn't able to reach her." Brennan said. "I know I should have called her first thing but I was…uh…preoccupied."

Sweets caught on to what she meant and nodded.

"She's probably waiting at home for you." Booth said. "Let's get you to her before she starts shrieking and freaking out."

Booth and Brennan stood quickly but Sweets took longer and Sweets took notice of their worried glances. "A few cracked ribs, a couple of broken ones. I have to watch out for pneumonia and come back often. I'm glad I was carrying a gun and reacted fast enough and didn't just stand around and let it happen."

"Believe me Sweets, we all are." Booth said with a pat on his back not so much in reassurance but reassurance to Booth who kept his hand there to support the ailing doc should he falter in his steps.

They arrived at the emergency exit doors when Brennan spotted Cam exiting an ambulance. The juxtaposition to what she was seeing confused her. What is Cam doing here? Brennan wondered but her question was quickly answered as the gurney was pulled from the ambulance with Daisy on it.

Sweets turned pale at the sight and Cam ran forward to intervene.

"Dr. Sweets," Cam began breathlessly. "I'm glad you are okay, we were very worried. Daisy is going into premature labor. Agent Aubrey had called to say that you were beaten in a parking lot. His lack of details caused Daisy to assume the worse and she went into a panic. We were unable to calm her and she became increasingly unstable. We called an ambulance and here we are."

Daisy was being wheeled towards them, an oxygen mask to her face and her figure still. She was breathing but she was not responsive.

"Daisy?" Sweets said seeing her being wheeled near where they were standing. He tried to keep up with the rushing doctors but with his injuries it was difficult.

"Sir you need to wait here." One of the medical technicians informed him.

"But that's Daisy, she'….that's my baby!" Sweets called out though he knew he wasn't making sense, it was all so much to comprehend and process in such a short time.

"I understand sir, please wait here while we stabilize her." The technician said again but Sweets ignored him and pressed forward. The tech grabbed Sweets around the chest and pulled him back sending the psychologist in a world of pain at his most recent injuries the tech knew nothing of.

Booth rushed forward and pried Sweets from the tech's grip shouting the details to him. Sweets steadied himself against the wall as Brennan approached to steady him. Another doctor rushed towards the commotion gathering the information from the tech and Booth.

"Young man, please come with me." The doctor said to Sweets who followed down the hall a short distance. The others wondered if they should stay or follow. They waited giving Sweets some space.

Once they arrived at the room the doctor turned towards Sweets. "Now wait here. If you do so I'll find out how she is and if you can see her. Either way I will get you news if you don't rush in." He paused a second as his demeanor softened. "Trust me, I understand how you feel."

Sweets leaned against the wall and for a moment wondered why his chest hurt so much. It would break his heart to lose Daisy. To say their relationship was complicated was an understatement. They had come to terms with their separate lives, wishing each other the best and yet somehow finding themselves and having a baby in a short time. Somewhere in the few months that passed Sweets forgot Jessica Warren and accepted his life with a Daisy who was now very, very pregnant and in the very now, in trouble.

The doctor returned as promised and Sweets stood tall the pain in his chest was a reminder that it wasn't just Daisy, he had his brush with death today, but things were looking good and surely would with Daisy as well. The doctor's expression did not translate as much.

He cleared his throat as though to delay the inevitable information. "She has suffered a stroke. She is somewhat comprehensive and in a few moments you can see her. I want you to be aware that she is in a very confused state of mind. The baby is still doing well though he is a bit premature. They have tried to stop the labor but the situation is getting dire. The doctors are going to attempt to save the baby."

Sweets looked at the man incensed. "And what about Daisy? She's young she can't have a stroke!"

"Even in this day and age we forget how childbirth has its dangers still. She would not be the first, at this age, to find this same complication I'm sorry to say. It would seem the news she got earlier increased her heart rate and put her in cardiac arrest. In that time he brain was deprived of some oxygen and brought on the stroke. The doctors will do all they can but," he sighed "I'm not sure what can be done."

The doctor waited for the information to sink into Sweets. "We haven't much time if you want to come."

Sweets nodded out of necessity and not understanding. He followed the doctor in to a day the baby would come that he had in no way imagined. There was no running lights and explaining later, no humorous foibles and slapstick. He was ushered near Daisy's face which rocked back and forth. Sweets sank into the chair, ignoring the pain his body felt for that in which his heart was breaking. He took Daisy's hand and at the familiar touch she turned to face him.

"Lancelot!" She cooed when she saw him and smiled. Sweets offered a smile back and her delirium he hoped she did not see the crimson lines around his eyes.

"Hi Miss Daisy he offered back." He tried to smile and keep her calm. He wondered if he should lie, and tell her it would all be fine. He understood now what Booth meant when he said files were as meaningless as adulation of fighting back.

"Lancelot we're together again." Daisy said alarmingly happy. Sweets tried to grasp at their reunion to have a baby but Daisy continued. "Agent Aubrey told me you had left, but now we can leave together. We'll always be together Lance."

Sweets was about to lose it but he bit the inside of his mouth until it bled down the back of his throat to keep the tears away, for Daisy. He nodded until the words caught up to him.

"Yes Daisy, I'll always be here for you, and the baby." Sweets said holding her hand tightly. "Please stay Daisy. Please don't leave me."

"No Lance, I won't do that, we're leaving together, for a far better place." Daisy promised.

"Let's stay in this place Daisy, it's a good place." Sweets pleaded but it only caused Daisy to be confused and her heart rate to become erratic. The doctors looked to Sweets who now knew he had to lie to the woman he loved.

"Yes, Daisy, we'll go together." Sweets promised and the doctors nodded that he was going in the correct direction now. It broke his heart to let her go, to say such things to her.

"Will you kiss me?" Daisy asked Sweets who leaned in and kissed her lips, devoid of salty tears only promises of better place.

"I've loved you Daisy, since I knew you, maybe even before." Sweets said, the words coming harder. Daisy's eyes moved around.

"Please Daisy, please hold on." Sweets said as he eyes drew heavy. "Please stay Daisy, please stay. Just a little longer."

"It's okay Lancelot, we're going to be fine. I love you, I always have." Daisy's promise grew soft as her hand grew light in Sweets hand as he gripped it harder, trying to grasp something that was so quickly fleeting away from him.

Loud beeps and alarms filled the air pulling him from the intimate moment and replacing it with anger and

Sweets was ushered from the room as the doctor's speed picked up considerably in their task at hand. Sweets was deposited outside the room but the transition was too much for him to handle and soon he crumpled to the floor, the pain of his injuries nothing next to the pain of his loss.

Cam, Brennan and Booth saw the already broken man collapse before them and rushed to his him. Brennan knelt behind him and immediately wrapped her arms around him to keep him upright. Cam clutched his hand as his tears fell full and plenty. Booth bit his lip to see his friend so broken, and wondered how many lives had to be exchanged for others today. No one spoke a word but held the pained man as he grieved.

Time passed and the doctor emerged with a small baby in his arms. He looked the quartet on the ground. He held the baby out to the father, hoping to ease his grief but Sweets looked at the child with anger and rage. It broke Booth's heart to see the father look at his child as such, but he knew in a way, Sweets blamed the baby for Daisy's predicament. Booth nodded to the doctor now wasn't the time and he understood, returning to the room with the baby.

"How do I go on?" Sweets asked in a near breath.

"I don't know Sweets." Brennan said looking at Booth, knowing what it would be like to lose him. "I don't know."

"We're here Sweets, and so are you." Cam said squeezing his hand tighter but Sweets felt none of it, only the pain deep in his heart.

Okay so stick with me here. Daisy isn't entirely gone and there's a big road ahead. As much as I (well have in the past) enjoyed offing Daisy, the recent episode shows how difficult that is to endure. So let's just say she's going to be very quiet for a while and save our ear drums. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed a live and mostly well Sweets as he will recover (I may tend to torture him but he always makes it out alive). One of the truly sad 'character deaths' that was truly beautifully written (INMHO) was when Fred died in Wesley's arms on Angel. It was so simple and sweet and pure, plus she remained on the show anyway, but the paranormal shows can do these things!) Anyway, adventures will continue on if you wish to continue with me….