Author's Note: Here's the next part. It's longer than I'd thought it'd be, but I'm being a bit more spontaneous with this one...This also takes place during The Beginning in the End.

I do not own Bones or any of its characters. I'm just a humble student is all. ;)

Thank you to everyone who is reading/following/reviewing this. :D

Super ario: Yeah, I just can't stop myself from coming up with more stories. ;) The finale left a lot of people confused, I think. I will leave it to others to address the implications for Booth and Brennan (although, I think things are still moving positively for them) while I go for the unexplored areas with Sweets. :D Hope you enjoy this one too.

Ellieheartsrent: I had a feeling that you would be upset with the finale. D: As for my take on whether or not they will get back together...hmmm you may not like where I'm going with this story...Thank you again for your reviews and I'm looking forward to seeing your reaction piece. :D

Stephaniew: Thanks again. :D I'm glad there are people who agree with me on this. Now, I hate to disappoint, but I'm not going over the 'Mr. Adventure' stuff with Hodgins in this story...I think it was perfect as is, ;). So please enjoy this bit of Booth/Sweets friendship fluff instead...

Buttercups3: Thank you, and I'm really enjoying your take on it. :)...Yes, I was thinking originally of making this a one-shot, but when I started to write it, I realized that it would make a better story if I were to let it grow and have chapters...I'm really bad about keeping things short, as you well know. ;) Good luck with your move and update when you can. :D

Sweetfavoritethings: I agree that other than that scene in his office (you could see the hurt on his face while Daisy told him her plans) and his commiserating with Hodgins (which was endearing) they didn't address how much the situation affected Sweets. I think it's a shame, thus why I'm writing this...Unfortunately, like I told Ellieheartsrent, you may not like the direction I'm going with this...But thank you for your other comments. :D THotF is still my favorite project for many reasons, and I'm glad you are enjoying it as well...While I haven't been writing fanfiction for very long, I've read it for years and consider myself a traditionalist, thus I like to stick to canon as much as possible...Thank you for appreciating my effort, and I hope you enjoy my future work. :D

Part Two—Heartfelt

A couple days later, Sweets sat in the Royal Diner feeling even more confused and dejected than he had that night in his office. Plus, now he was a little sore…

He had agreed to help Hodgins steal back his father-in-law's car as a favor. He even went out and bought what he thought was a 'wicked cool' burglar's outfit for the event and was a little disappointed at Hodgins' choice of comparatively simpler attire.

The entomologist had succeeded in his goal, and Sweets ended up falling off and wall and scurrying away from enraged bikers. Once he was safe, he decided on a long, soul-searching walk back to his apartment that night.

Still he didn't regret helping Hodgins out. Sweets had felt oddly invigorated during the whole experience, even during his time spent running away from the roar of motorcycle engines. Plus, Hodgins had been willing to lend a sympathetic ear. While it was clear that he did not approve of Daisy, he was considerate of Sweets' feelings.

Sitting in the diner, Sweets smiled in spite of himself. Looking back at Hodgins' initial reaction to him and the tension they had around the Gormogon case, Sweets found it hard to believe that he could have ever seen him as a friend. And yet, here it was. Over the past few months they had grown a lot friendlier, and Sweets finally felt like he fit in with the Jeffersonian group in its entirety.

Now he was getting ready to meet with the person who opened that door to him in the first place.

Booth had called him earlier that morning and asked to meet him for lunch. Sweets agreed, sensing that there was more to this meeting than eating and casual conversation. The agent probably needed to go over recent events in his life, and to be honest, Sweets was hoping to get some advice from him as well.

The slight chime of the bell near the door alerted the psychologist to Booth's presence. He watched as Booth plopped down into the chair across from him. Sweets then smirked as Booth looked down at the table in front of him: waiting for him there was a plate with a single slice of pie. Booth looked up and frowned.

"Pie? Really, Sweets? Couldn't you have at least waited until I ordered lunch?"

"I thought that I'd get the inevitable out of the way," Sweets chuckled. Booth grinned back at him, amused by the joke, and picked up a menu.

"Well if you're in the mood for things like that then things must be working out with Daisy," he said as he scanned the menu. Sweets face immediately fell.

"No…we…I don't think we are going to stay together," he said softly. "It…it just isn't going to work." Booth put down his menu.

"I'm sorry Sweets…I really am." Sweets nodded and waited silently while Booth placed his order before speaking again.

"Agent Booth…"

"Sweets we've known each other for close to three years. I think we can move past the whole 'Agent' bit," he said. Sweets couldn't help but smile again at that.

"Booth…you told me at one point that I should break up with Daisy and that I'd be better off. Why? Was it because she was leaving me behind for Indonesia or…something else?"

Booth sighed and held up his hand, indicating that he needed a moment. They waited until the waitress served him his food. He took a long swallow of water before answering him.

"Look, I know you cared about her. People like you…they put every bit of themselves into their relationships." Sweets nodded again and noted that he wasn't the only one here who was that way…

"And while I didn't really get Daisy, I'm sure she loved you, but…I just don't think it was meant to be. You're different from her and while I suppose you'd say that you complement each other like you said about me and Bones, in the long run…she is not ready for the type of relationship that you are ready for."

"Booth, did you take the Army up on their offer?" The agent took another bite of food and nodded.

"And Doctor Brennan, she is also going to go to Indonesia?"

"Right again," Booth grimaced.

"You know how I think your partnership is moving, despite recent setbacks. In fact I think it's still moving in that direction. So I guess I'm wondering why you see my situation as any different from the one you are having with Doctor Brennan."

Booth leaned toward him; his eyes did not seem irritated with the question, just wistful.

"Do you know what Bones did at one point? She actually met with me to ask what I thought about her going to Indonesia and to see if I had any objections. Now, I know that she really wants to go, and was, in fact, fully intending to go because she knew that I wouldn't stop her."

"Then why…?" Sweets started.

"Because she wanted me to know that she did not take me or our partnership lightly. Bones knows how much the life I've made for myself means to me. And she knows how seriously I take serving my country. She wanted me to know that that she understands that." Booth took another drink and sighed.

"Daisy was never in that place with you…You told Bones that I had a 'warrior's heart' or something like that…"

"I think you are a protector," Sweets answered. "A protector of the people and things that you care about. It's not what you do; it's who you are."

"Well then, if that's what I am, then what you are is a counselor," Booth responded. "Someone who wants…no…who needs to help people find their way and who helps them figure out what they need to know to get through life. It's who you are. And you could not give that up any more than I could give up who I am." Booth leaned close to Sweets, looking him straight in the eye.

"Daisy didn't see that about you. She couldn't see that this is not just a job for you, and that's why it was not going to work out between the two of you." Booth then leaned back and ate some more of his lunch.

Sweets stared at his plate, stunned. He knew Booth was right; as much as Daisy was fascinated by his career, she never could understand the deep seated need that he had for his work. He reached over to take a drink of his coffee, but hesitated, lost in his own thoughts. He had longed for the type of love that he had seen in his parents. It hurt to think that he had been so off the mark.

"Don't worry," Booth said. "It will hurt for a while, but you'll get through it, I'm sure. And eventually…you'll find what you're looking for. It's just going to take time is all." Sweets nodded again, but then he frowned.

'Wait…I've been selfish…Booth is the one who's having to leave everyone and everything that he cares about in a few days…I should be helping him,' he thought. He straightened up in his seat and looked over at the agent.

"Booth, I know that it was a hard decision for you to go back to the Army, even for a short while, and leave your family, your friends, and your job at the FBI," Sweets said. "But…I think you made the right choice, and I think anyone who really knows you would agree and be proud of your decision."

"Yeah…but." Booth sighed and looked out the window.

"I just hate leaving Parker, you know, and missing out on his life."

"Parker understands," Sweets added. "He's a good kid, and…I'm sure he's proud of you too." Booth looked over at him and grinned.

"Thanks, Sweets…I mean that." Booth then watched as Sweets went back to staring at his food rather than eating it, his shoulders slumped.

"You know, Angela and Hodgins are thinking of taking some time off too, to go travel," Sweets said. "It'll be strange with everyone gone." Booth frowned at his tone, and reached over to nudge Sweets' arm, causing him to look back up at him.

"Listen…don't take this in some weird, psycho-analytical way or anything, but…I would like you to do me a favor…no, actually two favors."

"Yes?" Sweets asked.

"I…Could you keep an eye on Parker? Maybe just check in with him once in a while?" Booth asked. "Rebecca's doing a great job with him and all, and I know that he gets why I'm leaving, but...Um…just in case, he needs to talk or something…"

"No problem, Booth," Sweets grinned. He knew the significance of this request and was honored that Booth had asked. "I'll be sure to drop by to see how he's doing, I promise."

"Thanks and um…the other thing…" Sweets leaned forward and waited patiently; he could sense that this second request was making Booth uncomfortable, so he waited while he found the words.

"Uh…I was thinking…Bones, I'm sure she'll drop me a note once in a while to tell me about some great inter-species-thing that she's discovered…But….Hodgins and Angela, they'll be off doing…well, I don't want to know what they'll be doing…Cam, she's never been one for writing letters…I'm sure Parker will send me something regularly, but…"

"I'd be happy to write you," Sweets said, anticipating where this was going, and wanting to spare Booth from having to ask directly. "I've been known to be quite the letter writer, and I could keep you up to date on things around here…and if you want to talk…about anything…feel free to write back."

"Right…good. That's settled then," Booth said, clearing his throat, ready to move on. The two of them finished their meal with the conversation moving on to more casual topics. Soon they both finished and Booth pushed away from the table. He began to act like he was looking for his wallet, but Sweets held up his hand and laughed.

"Don't worry about it, I'll get this," he smiled. "At least my finances will have a chance to recover since I'll be able to cut down on my eating expenses."

"Smartass," Booth smirked at him. "Come on, I'll give you a ride back to the office."


Once they were there, Booth walked Sweets back to his office. They went inside, but Booth stayed close to the door.

"Look, I need to do some last minute things with Hacker before I clear out of here. Then I'm going to spend some time with Bones and Parker before I go, and I don't know if I'll see you again before I leave. So, I'll just say goodbye to you now."

"Ok," Sweets nodded and held out his hand. "Goodbye Booth. Take care and I'll see you again in a year." Booth took his hand and shook it. He then grabbed Sweets for a quick "manly" hug, patting his back a couple times. Just as quickly, he let him go.

"Bye Sweets…and thanks…for everything." The psychologist grinned and waved as Booth turned to leave. Just as he was walking out, Booth turned back toward him.

"Hey, you know what you should do?" he said. "You should start another book. I know you scrapped the one you were writing about me and Bones, but I really think you should try something else." Sweets laughed, surprised by the idea.

"I'll think about it," he said.

"You do that. See you later."

Booth then left, shutting the door behind him. Sweets collapsed into his chair that he always sat in while seeing patients. He had been warmed by the show of friendship between himself and the agent, but Booth's words still troubled him a bit.

'Everything he said about me and Daisy…it all fits…'

'So why I was I too blind to see it?'