The Misery in the Moment
By ASC12
I do not own Bones. My dog has a bone he dug up in the neighbors back yard if you want it. Watching Bones tells me this bone is a bone-a-fide femur.
Big shout out to LovelyLancelot, a great new reviewer to my scribbles, welcome aboard! And to everyone else, welcome back to Sweets latest ill-fated adventure. Review are welcomed.
I don't like to write anything I've done before so I'm going to try and keep it from getting too much like "A Clue in the Profiler". It may get a little dark, so here's hoping.
"Joe, we can't move on unless you take responsibilities for your actions." Dr. Lance Sweets said with a great calm though the number two pencil was stressed against his distal phalange hard enough to snap it before he beat his patient with his notepad. This wasn't the way Sweets was hoping to start his week.
"Look doc," Joe said in as diminutive voice as he could muster towards Sweets. "Just put me back to work, that's where I need to be."
"Agent Chamberlain," Sweets said setting the pencil on his notepad still intact at the moment though Sweets nerves had been pressed farther than they had in any Booth-Brennan session. "You shot three suspects, killing one of them, you threatened a police officer when he intervened keeping you from shooting a fourth suspect - all of whom by the way, appear to not be associated with the crimes you were investigating. Now the FBI does recognize the stress this job entails which is why they are extending every opportunity to you, thru me, to see this thru."
Agent Joe Chamberlain's face hardened as his eyes narrowed on the young psychologist across from him. "Are you telling me that some young kid like you could keep me from going back to work?"
There it is! Sweets said waiting for it like a mosquito that finally bites. Yes, Joe- ME and my youth are keeping you from working, not the fact you just shot and killed people.
"The important thing to focus on here Joe is the fact the actions that you took." Sweets said trying to refocus Joe on his own actions. In the sessions with Joe all he had gotten from the grumpy but stout fifty year old agent was that very little was his fault. His wife left him thru no fault of his own, his kid didn't talk to him, again not his fault, his coworkers were jealous of him though Sweets suspected fear Joe was a psycho had more to do with that, but none of it was Joe's fault. When Joe stubbed his toe on the first visit it had been Sweets fault he had furniture and since that moment Sweets had made no headway despite the dozen sessions.
"I was doing MY job!" Joe shouted. Oh good, back to shouting Sweets though as he could feel Joe's tirade coming on. "And no snot nosed punk like you is going to tell me that I can't do my job!"
"I'm not telling you anything." Sweets said with a louder voice though still completely collected. "I am only making recommendations to the board about your emotional behaviors…."
Joe stood up ready to explode like an overcharged and poorly packaged firework. "Emotional behaviors you little insignificant prick? I'll tell you what I can do to you…"
He didn't get the chance when the door swung open by a red eared but cool and collected Agent Seeley Booth. "What goes on here?" Booth said locking eyes with Joe.
"Oh what you pull in some back up?!" Joe shouted looking between Booth and Sweets who stood now side by side.
"No." Booth said placing his hands on his hips. "I just came down here to check on a profile when I heard some rather concerning statements being shouted in the office of someone who is here to help agents."
"Help? How the hell is this little prick going to help me? Do I look like I need help for a fifteen year old squirt?" Joe shouted again.
Booth was about to either deck the guy or say something when Sweets stepped forward after dropping his notepad loudly on the surface.
"Agent Chamberlain, my door is always open should you wish to return to the counseling sessions we can continue at that time." Sweets said.
Joe threw his head back and laughed. "I'm done wasting my time with this crap." He turned to leave but looked back at Sweets. "You keep me from my work and you'll regret it." He slammed the door shut after he left. The pencil snapped between Sweets knuckles.
"What the hell was that all about?" Booth asked as Sweets flopped back in chair and put his feet on the coffee table.
"Agent Joe Chamberlain." Sweets said rubbing his head.
"Yeah I know him." Booth said taking a seat across from Sweets. "Guy's a real piece of work, guys hate working with him since he's a real jerk. Which obviously isn't news."
Even though Sweets was among a friend he chose not to speak poorly of Joe Chamberlain, it wasn't professional of patients, even if he had been a jerk.
"Yeah well, I can't put that he's fit for duty." Sweets said knowing what he was going to have to do.
"Well yeah Sweets, that's pretty obvious, why's it bothering you?" Booth asked seeing the pensive look on Sweets face.
"It's going to end the man's career Booth, that's not something I take lightly." Sweets said.
"And that's not your fault, you gave him the chance, he blew it." Booth said. "Come on, though let's get lunch, get it off your mind."
"I thought you had a profile." Sweets asked confused as he stood up.
"What? Nah, it just sounded better if I told him that over lunch plans." Booth said. "Seriously though, how dangerous is he, I mean that was a threat he gave you, you need to tell the director about that."
Sweets shrugged. "How many times did you and Dr. Brennan threaten me? It's not news."
"Yeah Sweets, but we were teasing. I mean that guy, I don't think he's told a joke a day in his life. Look promise me you'll include it in your report."
"Sure thing Booth." Sweets said as he shut the door. Booth wasn't convinced and decided to follow up with the director himself.
Two days later, Agent Joe Chamberlain held the paper in his hand after the committee had shown him the door. The paper said much of the same thing, goodbye and good luck, here's the door. His hand crumpled around it as words echoed in his mind not seen fit he knew who that was fellow agents spoke up he knew who that was. This isn't over Joe promised as he tossed the paper and his tie to the trash on his way out the door.
Sweets could tell it was autumn as he looked out the window and saw the leaves start to hint at shades of orange and red. He watched the agents head out the door, some had chatted over coffee that morning about plans that weekend to take kids to pumpkin patches or just curl up on this rainy night and sip on hot beverages and watch scary movies. It seemed like something you would do on a chilly October night and Sweets imagined if he had anyone to do that with, he would. Instead he nodded along about busy weekend plans though he had none. He would have been pleased to work all night, even thought it was Friday or that weekend but he had no cases, no profiles, nothing to do. That's good Lance he said sarcastically to himself as he shut off his computer and turned off his desk lamp there's nothing psychologically wrong with you to choose work over going home for the night and the weekend, nothing at all. He shut the office door and hoped maybe someone would run up to him with something to do. Still sad Lance, still sad
He headed towards the elevator only to find Booth already on the lift, heading out.
"Hey Sweets!" Booth said greeting him. "I hardly see you heading home at the end of the day."
"Yeah, guess it's time to head home." Sweets said smelling someone's pumpkin flavored coffee renewing the cozy feelings of fall. Maybe he would curl up on his couch in his quiet and lonely apartment with his electric fireplace and watch Star Wars or maybe Steel Magnolias. Don't say that out loud Lance. He reminded himself as Booth waited for answer.
"What?" Sweets asked unsure what the question was.
"Plans, big plans this weekend?"
"Oh yeah, yeah, I've got some stuff lined out." Sweets said wondering if getting gas and sleeping were among people's usual "highlights." Booth nodded along wondering if the psychologist was lying.
"Well, if you're in a lull, call us, we might take Christine for a hayride or something fun."
Sweets knew Booth meant well but he wasn't sure what it would look like for Booth & Brennan to be taking their two 'children' to the pumpkin patch.
"Sure, if it falls thru I'll call you." Sweets promised though knew he would do nothing of the sort, he was not interested in pity. As they parted ways to head to their cars Sweets vowed to stop at the liquor store on the way home.
Booth smiled at the picture on his phone, Christine looked so cute sitting on a pile of pumpkins. He had learned a lot about pumpkins from Brennan yesterday when they went to the patch. He could hear her telling him all about the squash plant derived from the Cucurbita Maxmia. Booth thought it sounded like an imported car. Still it was a great day though something nagged at him. He hadn't expected Sweets to actually join them but he had sort of wished the kid would have run into them in some way. Booth wondered now if he should have met him for a beer or asked him to join them after the patch last night for dinner. He knew the kid had no plans but plenty of pride.
Booth headed to Sweets office and wondered if he should show Sweets the pictures of Christine or not. He knew he should because Sweets would rather see the photos than be regarded as too tender of feelings to avoid them. Booth knew Sweets was more about being supportive than whining he knew as he went to open the door. Sweets' door didn't open and Booth found himself locked out. Confused he looked around found Sweets' direct supervisor who informed him that he had not seen Dr. Sweets not had he called to say he wouldn't be in.
"That doesn't sound like him." Booth said.
"I know, I wasn't sure what to think because Dr. Sweets is always at work. I haven't reported him as a no show because I know it's not likely he's abandoned his work. I somewhat assumed he was with you, but now you are here and he's still not." The supervisor said and Booth was now gently alarmed.