Kareneb and Mariu100 thought there should be just a little bit more so this is a continuation of the last two chapters.

I don't own Bones.

Oooooooooooooooo

Sitting in the Diner waiting for Brennan, Booth was surprised to find Angela joining him, "Hey, I didn't know you were coming."

Sitting down across from Booth, Angela placed her bag on the table and called out to the waitress, "Coffee please." Turning towards Booth, the artist frowned, "You don't look too good, G-Man. I heard you aren't getting enough sleep. You do know that sooner or later that's going to catch up with you . . . right?"

Annoyed, Booth waited for the waitress to place a cup of coffee in front of Angela and leave, "I get enough sleep and that isn't any of your business anyway."

Sipping her coffee, Angela stared at her friend. Watching him stir his coffee, she finally placed her cup down, "You know, I get it. You were betrayed by people you thought you could trust. It's harsh but you also found out that there are people out there that you can trust. Brennan, Hodgins, Cam, Clark, me, Arastoo we had your back Booth. We never doubted who you were or are. . . . Yeah, you almost died and yeah you were arrested for murder, but, Booth . . . look bad things happen to really good people, you know that. You know that better than anyone else. Look at what happened to Brennan. Abandoned at 15, alone for so long, it's awful but she survived and she learned to trust people. Then she was falsely accused of murder but she knew she had people she could trust and she was right. You had people you could trust and we came through for you. You need to let it go or it's going to destroy you."

Staring at his coffee, Booth sighed, "Look, I don't need platitudes right now. I'm trying to work it out, okay? You mean well but you really don't know what you're talking about."

Snorting, Angela finished her coffee and placed her cup down, "Oh, I know exactly what I'm talking about, you just don't want to agree with me because you're angry and feel betrayed." Pulling some bills from her wallet, Angela frowned, "It's okay to feel those things Booth, but you need to let it go now. It's done, the bad guys lost, you're back where you want to be. You won . . . we won."

"Did I win?" Staring intently at his friend, Booth asked, "What did I win? I lost my house. I lost my ability to trust the people I work for. I did some things that I can't . . . . I did some things that keeps me from . . . . "

Reaching out and placing her hand on his hand, Angela responded quietly, "You lost a house but you have a new one. You couldn't trust some of the people at the FBI because of what happened but it's over. The bad guys aren't there anymore. And yes, you did some things, but you had to do those things to save yourself and that's just the way it is. It would have been suicide to do anything else and we both know that is a sin in your church. You couldn't let them kill you."

Grimly, Booth retorted, "It's just that simple."

Standing Angela smiled, "Yes, it really is." Placing her money on the table, she frowned, "Forgive what happened to you, Booth. Look around you. You're surrounded by people that love you and would do anything for you. Accept that the past is done. Don't forget about it but don't let it control you."

Refusing to look at her, Booth shook his head, "My past is never done."

Tapping the table, Angela frowned, "It is if you want it to be. You're not just hurting yourself, you know. Brennan is worried about you. She's afraid. She's afraid she's going to lose you. You need to let it go for her too, Booth. Please."

Walking away, Angela met Brennan at the entrance to the Diner, "Sweetie, I really like your new blouse. It brings out the color in your eyes."

Pleased, Brennan smiled, "I know, Booth told me the same thing this morning."

Amused, Angela laughed, "I'll see you back at the lab."

Ooooooooooooooo

Standing by while Brennan and Cam studied the victim's remains, Booth made a few notes and yawned. Shaking his head, he walked back to his truck and opened the back. Rummaging through a bag he kept there, he pulled out a bottle of Powerade and drank it. Tossing the empty bottle on top of the bag, he closed the back of the truck and found that he had company.

"Hey man, if you'd like to catch a little sleep in your truck, I don't think anyone would mind." Smiling, Hodgins looked over where the victim lay, "I think they're going to be awhile."

Annoyed, Booth shook his head, "I don't need a nap, Bug Boy. Why don't you do your job and keep your nose out of my business?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Hodgins frowned, "I was just trying to help. Don't get all touchy." Staring at Brennan, the entomologist frowned, "We did what we could for you, Booth. We all did. I'm sorry it took so long and I guess we let you down but it's over, Man. It's over and you're home now. You need to accept what happened to you and just let it go. Don't forget it but don't let it consume you."

Sneering, Booth asked, "You lost all your money and now you have to take care of a brother you didn't even know you had. Your parents kept a pretty big secret from you. You went from being one of the richest men in the world to a regular guy who has to live from check to check. Are you telling me that that stuff doesn't bother you? Can you let that stuff go?"

Smiling, Hodgins replied, "I already have. My money was great don't get me wrong. If I wanted something I bought it, but it's just stuff. I have a lovely wife that loves me and a child that I adore. I still have the things I value the most. . . . Don't you?"

Watching him walk away, Booth turned his gaze upon his wife and watched her move her fingers through the remains. Calling out to Hodgins, Booth assured him, "Hey, Hodgins. . . . you didn't let me down."

Waving his hand, Hodgins walked over to the remains and squatted down next to Cam.

Ooooooooooooo

Saturday night, Booth found it hard to keep his eyes open to watch the game, "I hate those guys. They never play fair."

Picking up the remote, Brennan turned off the game, "Let's go to bed, Booth. We're both tired."

Shaking his head, Booth took the remote from her hand and turned the TV back on, "I'm not tired, Bones. If you are then go to bed. I'll keep the sound down."

Leaning against him, Brennan stared at the screen, "Booth, you're so tired. I can see it even if you don't want to admit it. Please, come to bed with me."

Closing his eyes and then opening them quickly, Booth shook his head, "When I close my eyes, I see . . . I'm fine, Bones. You're worrying over nothing."

Pulling away from him Brennan turned to stare at her husband, "This has been going on since you got out of prison, Booth. I don't think you get more than five hours of sleep at night. I suspect even less on some nights. You're body requires sleep. You need to dream, Booth. It's a proven fact that not allowing yourself to sleep and to dream can cause psychotic breaks."

Standing, Booth glared at his wife, "I'm getting enough sleep, Bones. I'm not going to turn psycho." Seeing her eyes, fill with tears, he sat down abruptly and placed his arms around her, "No, Bones . . . I didn't mean to talk to you like that. I'm sorry. . . . I . . . I'm not tired, Bones. If I go to bed, I'll just lay there and keep you up."

Holding him tightly, Brennan swallowed, "I worry about you."

"I know you do." Rubbing her back, he stared at the Bakelite phone Hannah had given him, "Did I ever tell you that I knew that the phone Hannah gave me was really from you?"

Shaking her head, Brennan replied, "No . . . I didn't give you the phone, Booth. She bought it, I didn't."

The phone a sad reminder, Booth leaned his forehead against her shoulder, "You told her I was looking for one, Bones. That gift was from you and I know it. It doesn't matter who bought it."

"I wanted you to have something you wanted, Booth." Sniffing, she explained, "You deserved to have what you wanted."

Sighing, Booth pressed his forehead into her shoulder, "You deserved more than I could give you, Bones. I was so busy keeping you at arm's length and all I did was mess both of us up. I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'm doing that again. I'm sorry . . ."

Feeling a tear fall down her cheek, Brennan ignored it. "We both made mistakes but there is one thing we never played with, Booth. We always trusted each other even when we were running away from each other. Let's not talk about the past, Booth. That's what's wrong right now. We're both living in the past and it needs to stop. You were betrayed but with the help of our friends everything was uncovered. You're not in danger anymore. You can trust us Booth because we proved that you could. You're not alone. You need to trust us. You need to trust that God forgives you. You need to go to church."

Feeling a few tears escape his lashes, Booth sniffed, "Yeah . . . yeah."

Oooooooooooooo

This next morning, Booth found himself sitting on the back pew of his church. Brennan sitting next to him, their daughter between them, he listened to the sermon and tried to take comfort in what he was hearing. Letting himself relax, he realized that he'd been away too long. The scent of the incense, the burning candles, the furniture polish used on the pews, a comfort to him, he randomly flipped open his bible and looked at the page before him.

Joshua 1:9, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord God will be with you wherever you go.

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