Title: "Enlighten Me"
Author: NiennaTru
Summary: Booth has a chat with Dr. Sweets. Post-"The Pain in the Heart."
Spoilers: "The Wannabe in the Weeds," "The Pain in the Heart"
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc., etc.
"Sweets."
Dr. Lance Sweets glanced up from his discussion with Dr. Hodgins to see Special Agent Seeley Booth walking towards him.
"Hey, Booth," Hodgins greeted, "How's the jaw?"
Booth ignored Hodgins and turned instead to Sweets. "I need to talk to you. Now."
The tone and facial expression left no room for argument. Sweets stood up from his seat. Agent Booth's proximity and hostile manner were making him distinctly uncomfortable.
"Uh, sure, Agent Booth. What can I do for you?"
Grabbing Sweets' arm in a vice-like grip, Booth steered him away from Hodgins' workstation. Sweets began to squirm.
"Agent Booth, I realize that you're upset with me, but—"
"Shut up and listen, 'cause I'm only gonna say this once," Booth interrupted.
From his vantage point several feet away, Hodgins made no attempt to conceal the fact that he was eavesdropping. This looked good.
"If you ever pull a stunt like you pulled with Bones again, it's over for you."
In spite of Booth's demeanor and Dr. Brennan's warning of the possibility of Booth getting violent ringing in his mind, Sweets managed a calm expression.
"Agent Booth, we've been over this and Dr. Brennan agrees that I made the right choice It was a matter of national security, and—"
Booth stepped towards Sweets, forcing the psychiatrist to stumble backwards in alarm.
Hodgins' eyebrows rose into his hairline. He didn't see it often, but Booth was pissed. He almost felt sorry for Sweets.
"Don't give me that crap. This had nothing to do with national security and everything to do with you."
Booth poked Sweets in the chest with an outstretched finger. "This was about you and your need to make some kind of name for yourself and a way to advance your career."
"I think that's a little unfair, and if you'd stop to think about it—"
Booth continued as if Sweets hadn't spoken. "You seem to think it's okay to play with people's emotions, to study them, manipulate them, and then talk about them or write it all down in some damn book or something. You're under the impression that because you know how to profile, you've got people all figured out. Well let me enlighten you—you don't."
Sweets held his hand in front of him in a conciliatory gesture. "I can assure you that my intentions were honorable. I wasn't trying to manipulate—"
Booth held up a hand, silencing Sweets. "Three years of working with squints, Sweets. I know an experiment when I see it."
Hearing Dr. Brennan's words echoed by Booth brought Sweets up short. He tried another approach. "I realize you're angry, but these accusations—"
Booth leaned in, his face now mere inches from that of Sweets. "If you really knew how angry I am right now, you'd pack up your little notes and trust-building exercises, and you'd leave town and never come back."
Booth's voice was low, deadly. Sweets swallowed.
Booth took yet another step toward Sweets, forcing the smaller man to once again step back. "Don't ever come between me and my partner again, you got it?"
Sweets nodded, "Yes."
"Good." Booth abruptly turned and walked away.
Sweets stood rooted to the spot until a hand on his shoulder made him turn. It was Dr. Hodgins.
"You got off easy, man. I don't know what you did, but I'm gonna suggest you don't do it again."
Sweets blinked. "I won't."
Hodgins nodded his approval and turned back to his work. Angela was going to love hearing about this.
Author's Note:
You probably can't tell from this story, but I actually like Dr. Sweets. His actions in the finale, however…well, to paraphrase Joey from Friends: Sweets was so far over the line, the line was a dot to him. I thought he needed a little…clarification from Booth.