A/N: So sorry I haven't updated in a couple days. I had a small bout of writer's block. I will be gone for the weekend so I won't be able to update for a few days. I haven't had a lot of time to write these past few days and didn't have a lot of time to edit so I apologize for the mistakes. Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing and the story alerts. Hope you enjoy!

"It's good to have you back Seeley." Cam said as she sat down across from Booth in the diner. She signaled for a cup of coffee.

"It's good to be back Camille." Booth smiled at her and took a sip of his coffee.

"So how are you doing?" She asked clasping her hands together. Booth shrugged.

"I'm doing good. Things are going back to normal. It's good." He said. Cam raised an eyebrow, clearly stating that she did not believe him.

"I was there the last time you came back from a tour Seeley." She said softly. Booth refused to look at her, instead focusing on the piece of pie in front of him.

"I just want to know that you're okay." Cam said seriously.

"I am Cam. It's better than the last time."

"Something happened over there Seeley. I'm not the only one who can see it. Frankly I'm surprised that Sweets hasn't cornered you and tried to make you talk about it yet." Booth had to chuckle at that, he had honestly wondered the same thing; not that he actually wanted to talk about what had happened with Sweets, Bones was the only person that he could really open up to.

"I haven't had the urge to gamble Camille. I'm better than I was before. I was more prepared for what I was going to be doing and seeing this time around than I was the first time." Cam nodded. For now she would accept it.

"Okay. How are things between you and Dr. Brennan?" She asked.

"Good." Booth shrugged. "I mean, it sucks not being partners but we're still the same as ever." Cam nodded.

"Have you talked to her about it?" Booth looked down at the pie again.

"About two months before she went to Indonesia…I told her how I felt and that I wanted to give us a shot." He looked uncomfortable and the sadness that he had thought he was able to control invaded his eyes.

"I'm going to guess that it didn't turn out well." Cam said sympathetically as she reached over and rested a hand on his arm.

"That's an understatement. But ya. So we both went away for a year and now…"

"Now?" Cam prompted. Booth sighed.

"I really don't know." Booth sighed again. "How are things going with you and Paul?" He asked, changing the subject. Cam smiled and bowed her head.

"It's going very well." She said. Booth smiled at her.

"I'm really glad." They sat talking about what Cam had done during the last year with everyone gone, they talked about Michelle and Paul. Suddenly Booth's phone rang. He jumped in surprise before answering.

"Gotta case." He said excitedly. Cam smiled at him, he did seem to be okay. She waved him off before finishing her coffee and heading back to the Jeffersonian.

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Brennan walked into the Jeffersonian. She walked up to her friends and gave each of them a hug as she thanked them. Then she walked into her office leaving her friends extremely confused.

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"There he is." Jared said as approached the table in the Founding Fathers where Booth was sitting. Booth smiled at his little brother. He got up and gave his brother a real guy hug before the two of them sat down.

"So how was Afghanistan?" Jared asked causally.

"Not a vacation." Booth responded.

"Really?" Jared said sarcastically, "I would have thought you would be laying on the beach with a bunch of babes." Booth laughed. He looked up and found himself face to face with Jared. Jared had brown eyes.

"I know that look." Jared said, bowing his head.

"What?" Booth asked confused.

"That look. It's your 'I'm really sorry you got hurt' look." Jared explained. Jared locked eyes with Booth again.

"It's okay mommy." A seven year old Seeley Booth tried to comfort his mother as he cleaned the blood from her arm. After making sure that his mother was all cleaned up and okay, he tiptoed through the house, past his father who was passed out on the couch and into the bedroom he shared with his four year old brother Jared. Seeley gasped as he saw his brother cowering in the corner holding a hand to his face. As quietly and quickly as he could, Seeley ran to get a cold compress. He carefully pulled his brother into his arms and put the cold compress to his eye.

"I'm so sorry Jared." He whispered. "I'm sorry."

"Seel? Seeley?" Jared waved his hand in front of Booth's face. Booth snapped out of his memory and stared at his brother. He knew there was another set of brown eyes that would be haunting him now.

"So it definitely wasn't a vacation." Jared said avoiding Booth's eyes.

"I gotta go." Booth said miserably looking down at his half finished plate. In an uncharacteristic move, Jared grabbed his brother's arm gently.

"You're a good guy Seeley."

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Booth found himself walking into Brennan's office without knowing how he had gotten there. After meeting with Jared and adding yet more memories to those already haunting him the urge to gamble, to gain control over something had invaded his body. He took a deep breath and immediately felt a little better. Bones had helped him kick the habit once and for all. She had shown him just how much he could lose. He had made the ultimate gamble and had lost her. He made his was over to her couch and sat down. He had to chuckle at the irony of him finding peace in Brennan's house of science.

Brennan walked into her office and saw Booth sitting on her couch. She almost asked him if they had a case but managed to stop herself. They weren't partners at the moment.

"Booth? Are you okay?" She asked coming to sit next to him. He made a non-committal noise. Brennan nodded and stayed quiet.

"You know what's really funny Bones?" She looked at him. "I was feeling like crap, I actually…I almost went to the pool hall." Brennan opened her mouth to say something but Booth continued. "But I came here instead. And I just felt better." Brennan looked at him confused.

"That doesn't sound logical." She said. Booth smiled sadly.

"It makes perfect sense Bones." He looked into her eyes. She smiled at him.

"Maybe it does."