A/N: I'm sorry for the delay. I had a Waltons fanfic I wanted to get several chapters in the can for so I could work on Bones without interruption. For the couple of people who wrote nasty notes about the delays in my stories, all I can say is I'm sorry, but I do the best to my ability and can only go as fast as my muse and spare time can allow. I have a method that I've been getting away from and I think it affected the quality of my stories. I want to get back to that so for the fans who are patient, I do appreciate your wait and hope I do it justice.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones but don't mind being the middle of a DB and TJT sandwich, if only to escape the nasty snow Michigan is getting now. Ugh!

Sweets waited ten minutes until Angela calmed down. "Would you want to sit down, Angela or do you prefer to stand?"

She slowly sat down in front of the younger man. When he was sure he had her complete attention, he proceeded. "Angela, I just have a few questions to ask. May I do that?"

'I just need to know what's wrong. No wonder Bren and Booth hated seeing him professionally' Angela thought as she looked at him with slight annoyance. "Sure, Sweets"

"How was your childhood? You've mentioned in the past you toured with your father a lot"

Angela looked at him like he was nuts, but knew the young doctor had a reason to ask, so she started. "I used to go with him during the summers and all school vacations that he was on tour. When not on tour, I lived with him and my grandparents in Houston." She hesitated for a moment. "My dad doesn't believe in putting on airs so I had always gone to public schools, but being half-Chinese in the Tanglewood area of Houston along with being the daughter of Billy Gibbons didn't win me many friends, or many boyfriends for that matter."

Angela didn't hear any interruptions from Sweets, so she continued. "I was friendly with some of the art students, but eventually I had to get a thick skin because of my other classmates"

"Who was your best friend growing up, Angela?"

Angela looked sad for a moment. "No one really. I had surfacy friendships by being outgoing, sarcastic, and friendly with other guys….and girls. When I stuck with that, I couldn't go wrong"

Sweets sat for a moment. "So it sounds interesting that you bonded with someone like Dr. Temperance Brennan. Must have reminded you of your childhood"

"Well, I know what it was like to be isolated….and she did, too. I clicked with Brennan…..I finally knew what it was like to have a best friend"

"How about Hodgins? Certainly he wasn't like anyone you were with?"

"No…..he was like…..I don't know how to describe him. He was definitely different from the other guys I dated in the past. Our first date was on a playground. He finally got me to agree to marry him with glowing shrimp…"

"Must have been devastating when you two broke up."

Angela was silent for a moment. "It was. I gave more of myself to him than anyone else I had ever been with. I mean, for God's sake, I worked with a PI to find Barasa. I let myself get hypnotized. My boss sleeping with him was just wrong, but Jack just got his nose bent out of shape when I was upset, so he ended things with me"

"Why did you get back together with Roxie?"

Angela was confused. "What does all this have to do with now?"

"Please Angela, just bare with me, okay?"

Angela looked more annoyed. "Fine. We hadn't been together since college. Being together after that case…..just felt right"

"How did Hodgins react?"

"Well…he was upset, but he dumped me. Was I supposed to put my life on hold?"

Sweets smiled before continuing. "Why did you date Wendell? Out of all the interns, why him?"

"Because he was kind and very cute. His body was definitely cut—"

"But he was friends with Dr. Hodgins. Did you think you could hide that relationship forever?"

"Well, no, but what was I supposed to do? Not date anyone?"

Sweets saw he struck a nerve. "No, but I find it interesting that after Hodgins you either got back together with an unknown ex or a friend of your husband's. A short time after breaking up with Wendell, you and Hodgins got married"

"So? That's water under the bridge"

Sweets switched topics. "Brennan always came to you over the years when it came to Booth or men in general. You were her go to guy, or girl I should say. You were their biggest cheerleader"

"I would say you, Sweets, but your goading of Booth pushed him to do something stupid a few years ago outside this building"

'Deflecting. Very good, but I wasn't a chess master for nothing' Sweets thought. "Yeah, but you were always encouraging her to give Booth a chance, that he would be good for her…..that is when you weren't trying to flirt with him"

Her conversations with her husband and Brennan were ringing in her head. "Come on, he's hot. I have to admit that if Hodgins and Brennan weren't around, it's a thought. Back to Bren and Booth, it was obvious that they loved each other. People who love each other should be together"

"So it must have been hard for you this summer after Booth broke the engagement trying to be there for Brennan. She was pretty devastated"

Angela rolled her eyes. "No shit, Sherlock. She let her guard down and then he pulled the rug from underneath her without telling her why. He made her wonder this summer what was going on while her guts were being torn out by his silence. Nothing I did would work for her. She was retreating into a shell I was finding more and more difficult to penetrate when she wasn't avoiding others by drowning in her work in between being with Christine. I tried to talk to Booth, but he wouldn't let me help her either"

'Interesting choice of words' Sweets thought to himself. "He couldn't because of Pelant's threats"

"Couldn't, wouldn't, whatever Sweets"

"Angela, they are two different words with different meanings. Wouldn't indicates a willingness to not do a task. Couldn't is unable to complete a task. As we know, Booth was being emotionally blackmailed"

"Whatever, Sweets. Booth knew that Pelant was usually full of shit. He could have found a way to tell her. I can't imagine what would be so bad in his past to have him lie to Bren. I know he was an Ranger and a sniper, but come on. It was tearing her up and I was afraid she would shut down again. I couldn't let her do that."

She saw Sweets making notes. "What are you writing down? Are you shrinking me?"

Sweets continued writing. "Just a few notes" When he finished, he looked up. "So, Angela, do you want an honest opinion?"

Angela would usually know what to do next, but after being ripped apart six ways to Sunday by her two best friends in the world, she needed to know why. She hurt them and knew she needed to fix it. "I just want to know how to show Bren and Hodgins that I am so sorry for hurting them. I love them both, Sweets"

Sweets put his pen and pad down. "Okay, but before I start, you will not interrupt. If you do, I hold the right to kick you out of this office and never talk to you about this again. You need to hear what I am about to say with an open mind. Understand?"

"Yes"

Sweets looked at the woman across from him. "You have serious abandonment issues, Angela Montenegro. No, your parents didn't abandon you or die when you were a kid. You had a loving father, but you lived in an area where you were very different and not always accepted until you put on a front for others as an all-knowing good time girl."

Seeing she was silent, he continued. "Your intimate relationships were always ones that were hands off or where you controlled things. For example Kirk, the one that died in New Mexico? You were only with him a few weeks a year. Roxie was one where you always had a foot out the door, both times"

He drank his Mountain Dew from his cup before continuing. "Hodgins was persistent with his pursuit of you. I think for yourself, he was the first to truly see the beauty inside you, not just the outside package. You were terrified of losing yourself completely, so you would subconsciously test him. You would turn down his marriage proposals, go hot and cold on him, didn't tell him you were married, and also expressed jealousy over your ex-husband that you professed you no longer loved"

Knowing he had her complete attention, Sweets moved forward. "When you were dumped, I think in your subconscious those old feelings of abandonment and loneliness reared its head. Hodgins was the first person you gave yourself, or more than you had before. You didn't want him to forget you, but also needed a sense of the familiar, hence Roxie. When she broke it off with you, I have a sense you two connected briefly—"

"We had rebound sex, Sweets. You can say it"

"Of course. But those good feelings didn't last long and you knew you were losing his attention again. You could have slept with anyone, but you chose the one intern that Hodgins was close with. I think on a subconscious level you wanted to hurt him like he hurt you when you two broke off the engagement."

He saw Angela squirming and knew he hit a nerve. Before she could interrupt, he continued. "Which leads us to Doctor Brennan"

He waited until she relaxed a bit before continuing. "She was your first true best friend, Angela. You probably more than everyone else, myself included, always pushed her to take that final step with Booth. You, Angela, were there for her when she needed a friend after Booth began to be involved with Hannah. By that time, your main focus shifted to Hodgins and your baby. The dynamics changed, but you were always directly involved in everything she did. By doing that, you felt complete because between your husband and best friend, you were never shut out and alone.

Sweets gave Angela a moment to think about what he said. "This summer, well, she was shutting everyone out, even you on some days. When that happened, those unresolved feelings of being alone and abandoned came back to the surface. You were afraid she was blaming you for what was going on with Booth. You were so afraid to be left behind that you did anything you could to prevent that. You couldn't face those feelings, so instead you took your frustrations and fears about your best friend out on her significant other"

"You're making me out to be a jealous harpy, Sweets"

"No, you weren't a harpy, but you were jealous. When they reconciled before the truth came out, neither were being very forthcoming to your satisfaction. While in the past, you were always involved with their plans, this time, you weren't privy to all the details. This time, Booth was given first consideration, not you. From what happened this summer to the wedding, she wasn't taking your advice, but trusting someone who wasn't you."

Sweets leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and hands clasped. He considered his words for a minute before moving forward. "You were angry with Brennan, Angela, not Booth. What Booth did angered you, but she was the one who was leaving you behind, putting Booth above you, shoving your concerns aside, not being as forthcoming as in the past when you would stick your nose where it didn't belong."

"I am not a snoop"

"Yes, Angela you are. It's just that no one really ever called you out on it before or in the past you seemed to know when you went too far. But feeling those old emotions again made you push those boundaries further to the point where people had to start pushing back. Booth was the most vocal so you focused all your energy and anger on him. Doctor Brennan is more emotionally invested in you than he is, so it was harder for her to speak up until pushed too far"

"I get concerned about my friends. I love them, Sweets" Angela was trying hard to ignore the feelings of guilt she had from Sweets' comments, but the pain was hard to ignore.

"I know you do, Angela. From what I have seen of your father, he doesn't always respect boundaries, either, but since Hodgins started standing up for himself, he's been doing a lot better I'm told. In your case, you got a double whammy with Hodgins and Brennan"

Angela wiped away fresh tears that were forming. "What do I do, Sweets?"

Sweets knew he needed to be as diplomatic as possible. "Angela Montenegro, first you need to learn to mind your own business" He saw her eyes get larger and a response starting to form, so he jumped in.

"No interruptions, remember?" When she nodded, he continued. "Angela, you mean well, but sometimes you have to step back and let your friends live their own lives. I know for a fact that there are things about Booth that Brennan knows that she hasn't told you. These things were factors in why Pelant was so successful in hurting them this summer. No one knew the entire story, but you assumed you were the only one who could help Brennan. Angela, sometimes acting without all the facts is more dangerous than knowing the entire story"

"I just wanted to help my best friend, Sweets"

"I know you did. However, there are things that are just between you and Hodgins. There are things that are just between Doctor Saroyan and Arastoo, and there are also things that are just between Agent Booth and Doctor Brennan. Angela, not everyone is like you. Booth is a private person and you need to respect that. Not knowing every detail doesn't make you less of a friend. Respecting the privacy and sanctity of a couple is what makes you a better friend"

Angela heard the wisdom on Sweets' words and knew it was true. Some things with Hodgins she has never told Brennan and never felt the need to. She also admitted to herself that there were still private places inside of her no one has ever had access to.

Sweets gave Angela a moment to compose herself before continuing. "Second, just because Brennan doesn't share everything with you doesn't mean you're going to be abandoned or lose her. On the contrary, understanding her privacy and just listening sometimes shows that you do respect her as a person. It also lets her know that you will be there for her when she's ready. The same goes with Booth. I think he does care for you, Angela, and you for him as a friend"

Sweets decided that he needed to share a thought he had ever since the truth came out. "Personally from what I've gathered on Pelant, killing five innocent strangers was bull. He was going to go after people Booth cared about, and I think he knew it, too. Family…..friends..." Angela looked up in shock but Sweets continued. "…their families. Yes Angela, I think he was trying to protect everyone at the Jeffersonian. Me too."

Realizing that made Angela feel worse. Of course Booth would do what he could to protect everyone. It was in his nature to help others. Protecting his loved ones, including Brennan was always his top concern. She also knew that he considered the people at the Jeffersonian family and his attempt to protect would include them also. It was hard hearing what Sweets had to say, but she knew she needed to put her big girl panties on, accept where she went wrong, and find a way to make it right.

Sweets knew she was processing what she just told him. He saw a realization in her eyes that showed him he was getting though to her. When he saw her attention was back, he continued.

"Three, you're a person who believes in grand gestures, much like your dad. You have a hard time admitting you made a mistake and sometimes don't want to face it when you've done something wrong. It's natural, Angela. It's hard to face the person or persons you've wronged. Sometimes, a gesture, such as a wedding, is big enough, but the intentions have to be good."

He took another drink of his Mountain Dew. "Your anger at Doctor Brennan and to a small extent Booth, muddled your intent for helping them save their wedding and your behavior afterwards. Part of you wanted to stick it to both of them that you are the best friend and the only one to save the day when happenstance or an accident involving a candle came into play. You also wanted to avoid your mistakes and pretend they didn't happen. You can't do that, Angela. Sometimes it takes two simple words, ones that I know personally are the hardest ever to say. I had to do it before"

Sweets thought about his actions after the shooting at the Checker Box and shuddered. "I had to do it because I hurt two people I had grown to care about deeply for my own selfish reasons. Yeah, I avoided it for a long time, but it wasn't entirely forgotten. One day I realized the only way to move forward was to be a man and confront the issue head on. It was painful, Angela, very painful. Once I did, things got a whole lot better and my relationship with those two people grew closer and stronger. I'm grateful to have that couple in my life, Angela. They've been able to fill a hole I thought I could never fill when the Finleys died. I think you want that couple back, too. Don't do what I did and wait until it's almost too late"

He got up while still talking to Angela. "You know what you have to do, Angela. What if it were Michael in this situation? What would you advise him to be the right thing to do?"

Angela could only sit as what Sweets said became clear. 'He was right. It's all on me and I'm the one who has to fix things'

Sweets looked at the time. "Not to run out on you, but I have plans. Stay as long as you need to so you can compose yourself, okay? I'll hit the lock so you just have to shut the door behind you"

Sweets gathered his things and turned around to leave when Angela took him in a big hug. "Thank you, Sweets. Thank you for telling me what I needed to hear"

Sweets let her go after a moment. "You're welcome, Angela, and good luck"

"Thanks"

When Sweets left the office, Angela sat for a moment and drank from her water bottle to compose herself. When she was ready, she stood up. She noted it was dark out, but what she needed to do couldn't wait as she gathered her things and walked out the door.

"Time to be a grown-up. I just hope I'm not too late"