Season 9.

I do not own Bones, I know, it's a big surprise to me too.

This, as most of my stories here, are revolving around Sweets lol. I think he's a character with so much potential that is relegated to one-two scenes an episode in which he agrees with whatever Booth is saying and that's it. So trying something more! There is an original character involved, but don't worry, she's not a big character. ;)

I should make this more clear, this is a sequel to The Title in the Story.

The Sequel in the Story

Chapter 1.

Me, he picks me. Booth ran the words in his head over and over as Booth walked into the Jeffersonian and up to the team. Those words were in Sweets voice, the same as he had said them four days ago.

It seemed as though all were routine after Sweets was brought in, that rest was all he needed. Then it changed two days later, the doctors were concerned the rest was too much rest and encouraged the group to engage Sweets in conversation.

On day three, they began "operation conversation" though Sweets was still physical barely vocal with only croaks and hoarse short words. That wasn't what bothered them however, it was Sweets himself- the one that in general any one of the group couldn't get to stop talking had no desire to communicate.

When he was finally engaged enough to nod his head in a visit with Hodgins, the bug man noticed Sweets inability to focus. When he did attempt to talk he asked Hodgins how his wife, Cam was doing. It earned Sweets an immediate visit for several brain scans and a few more days observation.

This caused Sweets to be more irritable and draw inward more. If anyone had learned anything about Sweets was that he would talk about anyone else about their problems, but never his own.

He refused to eat much which the doctor suspected was from a combination of blood loss, the confusion he was facing and the intense desire to leave the hospital. The lack of food was a catch 22 leaving him too weak to leave and too irritable to focus. He was becoming less receptive to visitors who looked at him with concern, something that irritated him even more.

The group collectively worried that the bright and optimistic Sweets was becoming increasingly bitter and irrational.

Me, he picks me. Booth heard again snapping him from his recap of the last few days.

"Maybe he does just need to go home." Booth blurted out causing everyone to turn towards him.

The Jeffersonian staff looked at him like an octopus was waving all of its tentacles at them from behind Booth.

"Seeley, we're not for sure on his tests yet." Cam said as though it was ludicrous.

"Well it's one of the few things he'll actually say." Booth said in his defense. Since having mistaken Angela for Cam Sweets had all but stopped talking. Apparently afraid of what he might say that would earn him a longer stay.

"She's right, I know he doesn't want to stay, and yes I do understand the comfort of home is better, but he needs to be cleared." Hodgins said backing up Cam.

Booth sighed as he wasn't going to win this round. Angela saw Booth's expression and knew that she felt the same so she voiced it herself.

"I think we feel the same, I want to help Sweets, but I don't know how."

Booth nodded but Angela realized there was something more weighing on Booth and she wondered what it was.

"I feel like he is pushing us away." Brennan said having been quiet quite a lot since Sweets had been in the hospital.

"Is there something we are missing?" Cam asked confused at what was going on. Booth cleared his throat.

"You know, I have to get back to the bureau. There's a new secretary coming in, they're hiring her to help Sweets out, for now and when he comes back." Booth said stepping back. "I'll call if I hear any news from the doctor."

Booth left and they slowly went back to the case they had been working on. Brennan watched Booth go and worried. She knew the ultimatum had still bothered him but he refused to talk about it. The one person he would normally talk about something like that with was Sweets, but since it involved Sweets, Booth had no one to take it to. He had also become the appointed contact person for the doctor since Booth was constantly at the hospital and one of the few people Sweets wasn't able to easily shoo away. Booth was glad he was more stubborn than the kid was. Brennan worried this would take too great of a toll on Booth. She wondered what to do but realized the one person she too would turn to for advice was also, Sweets.