Chapter 7 Sad
Zach sat in the visitors' room of the Arkham Residential Treatment Center, staring at his mentor, speechless. "Booth has been in prison, and Dr. Sweets is dead?" he stuttered in disbelief.
It was the first time Brennan had been able to visit him since the treacherous Senate confirmation hearings five months back had turned her life with Booth into her life without Booth, and her world upside down. "Yes, Zach, Sweets was shot while executing a warrant. He managed to put a bullet in his assailant before he collapsed…" her voice trailed off and a tear slipped down her cheek. "Daisy is due in 3 months, and their son won't ever know his father; it's been tragic, sad, and heart-crushing for all of us. But clues from our analysis of his bones and particulates Hodgins gathered where he was shot enabled us to apprehend those responsible. His killer died from the wounds Sweets inflicted on him."
"I wondered why Sweets hadn't been to visit me, but they give us no information in here, so I had no idea. Poor Daisy….poor baby…." Zach said sadly.
"Daisy brought us Sweets' book manuscript, and some of his papers, Zach, including notes on his visits with you, Zach. Her lawyer told her that as his wife, she should read through his clinical notes to see if there was anyone else mentioned who could pose a threat to her or their son." Brennan paused and looked purposefully at Zach.
"She told me that you didn't kill Gormogon's last victim. She felt that I should know, but that Sweets couldn't see any way to free you from psychiatric care without you being sent to prison to complete your sentence. It pains me to have you confined here, but after what Booth went through in prison, that can't ever happen."
Zach looked straight back, his eyes boring into hers. "Dr. Brennan, Hodgins assured me I would fare very poorly in prison; I'm sure much worse than Agent Booth did, so I must ask you, as I did Dr. Sweets, to promise me you will not repeat this information to anyone else, nor try to act upon it to procure my release."
Sadly, Brennan agreed. "I concur, Zach, that could be catastrophic. So, yes, I promise." She rose, patted him on the back, and walked to the door. "I'll try to come again next month."