Chapter 29
Wednesday
9:22 AM
Booth yanked open the door to Sweet's office and stormed in. Sweets nearly jumped out of his chair, spilling the coffee that he was holding in his hand.
"Agent Booth," Sweets said, putting his mug of coffee down on his desk. He looked down at his stained tie. "Did we have an appointment?"
"No," Booth answered, pacing back and forth in front of Sweets' couch.
"I didn't think so." He pulled out some tissues from a nearby tissue box and began dabbing at his tie. "Why is it that you come in when you don't have an appointment, but I can barely get you to come in when you do have one?"
Booth finally stopped pacing and sat down on the couch that he and Brennan usually shared during their sessions. He pulled out a poker chip from his pocket and began to play with it. He wouldn't make eye contact with Sweets. He just sat, with his legs crossed, tapping his foot on the ground and playing with the poker chip.
"Did you want to talk about something?" Sweets asked, knowing quite well that Booth did have something on his mind.
Booth didn't respond. He just continued to play with his poker chip. Sweets threw away the tissues he had been using and sat back down in his chair. He put his elbow on the arm of the chair and rested his head in his hand. It was his usual stance when talking to Booth. He tried to appear somewhat uninterested so that Booth might open up more.
"Does this have to do with Dr. Brennan?" Again, Booth didn't answer. "How is Dr. Brennan doing?"
"She was discharged yesterday," Booth answered gruffly.
"Then why do you look so upset?"
"I'm not upset," he snapped.
"Then what are you doing here?"
Booth didn't know what he was doing in Sweets office. All he knew was that when he went home the night before he was angry. He was angry that Brennan hadn't let him stay even though he knew it was wrong to be angry. She was her own woman and, as she liked to remind him often, she could take care of herself. He knew that she wouldn't let him stay because that was just the type of woman Brennan was. Knowing all that, though, didn't make Booth any less angry. He wanted to take care of her and she was being stubborn.
"She's not one hundred percent better," Booth said.
"No one expects her to be."
"But she won't…accept help."
"Dr. Brennan is a very strong and sometimes stubborn person. You of all people should be aware of that, Agent Booth."
"I know that. But what is so wrong with accepting help when you need it?"
"Nothing. But you have to keep in mind what Dr. Brennan has been through. Being raised in foster homes taught her that she needed to be self-sufficient. She learned how to take care of herself and do things on her own. She's not used to people being around to help her so she finds it difficult to accept help even when she needs it."
"She's just being difficult."
"My guess is she sees it as not being needy. She doesn't want to impose on you or anybody else. She's trying to remain very self-sufficient."
"She's being ridiculous."
"What is all this about, Agent Booth? I thought you two were actually getting along with less bickering recently."
"That was when she was in the hospital and had to listen to her doctors…and me."
"And now?"
Booth put the poker chip back in his pocket. He moved to the edge of the couch, ready to stand. Sweets recognized it as a fight or flight reaction. Booth was definitely about to take flight. Sweets knew he was going to have to tread very lightly.
"Forget it," Booth said. He stood up. "I shouldn't have come here."
"But you did come here," Sweets said, desperately trying to get him to stay. "There must be a reason."
"Because I haven't gotten much sleep recently and I'm going crazy. That's the only reason why I can think I would go to a twelve year old for advice."
Sweets tried to look past the insult. "Why didn't you get a lot of sleep last night?" Sweets asked, raising an eyebrow. "Were you with Dr. Brennan?"
Booth huffed. "No."
"You seem angry about that."
"I'm not."
"You sound angry."
Booth threw up his hands. "Fine! I'm angry."
"Because…she wouldn't let you help her?"
"Yes."
"Sounds like there's more to it than that. Is there?"
"She wouldn't let me…stay over."
Booth still wasn't sure what he was doing there. He looked towards the door, knowing he should just leave. Sweets was the last person he should be talking about his problems with.
Sweets had to admit that he was a little surprised. He chose his words carefully. "I'm glad to see that your relationship with Dr. Brennan is progressing, but Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan has been through a very difficult ordeal. She may not be ready for an intimate relationship, which may be why she did not want you to stay over last night. Women who have been raped often don't feel comfortable immediately having a sexual relationship. You really shouldn't…"
"You think I'm angry because she wouldn't…have sex with me last night?" Booth practically shouted.
"Well…yes."
"Sweets, she's my partner!"
"One who you are sexually attracted to." Booth glared at him. "Look, normally when an adult talks about staying over someone's home, sexual intercourse is implied. But, as I said, in Dr. Brennan's case…"
Booth stood up. "I'm not mad because she wouldn't have sex with me!" He towered over Sweets, obviously intending to intimidate him. "I know what she went through! I know she was raped! What kind of man do you think I am?"
Sweets tried not to show fear. He had always felt intimidated by Booth not only because of his pure size and age, but because he was a powerful presence.
"I'm not doubting that you are a good man, Agent Booth. I was simply mistaken. Men do have biological needs that…"
"I would never hurt her!"
"I know that." Sweets paused. "Instead of making me guess here, why don't you tell me what really happened last night."
"You're the psychologist, you should be able to figure it out."
"Agent Booth…"
"Fine. I took Bones home from the hospital. Then I asked her if she wanted me to stay. You know she's still in pain and she needs help. Hell, she can't even button her shirt."
"You buttoned her shirt?"
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Sweets. It was purely innocent."
"Was it?"
"I'm not a pervert, Sweets."
"I know that."
"Then why are you acting like I am?"
"Because, just like I said to Dr. Brennan when she was in a coma, I know you have feelings for her. And it seems to me that you might be ready to start acting on those feelings."
"Not until she's ready."
"It's ok to be angry, Booth. It's completely natural that you want to help her and protect her and it's completely natural for you to be angry that she won't let you do that."
"Thanks for the confirmation, Sweets."
"You just need to be patient. I know it isn't easy, but anger won't help the situation. She'll rely on you when she needs to. Has she talked to you at all about her experiences?"
Booth shook his head. They hadn't spoken about what had happened to her since her nightmare. Booth was afraid to bring it up. He didn't want to push her away.
"Do you know if she's talked to anyone? Angela, maybe?"
"Not that I know of."
"It's important that she talk to someone."
"I know that, Sweets."
"I could talk to her."
Booth chuckled. "Have you forgotten that Bones doesn't believe in psychology? You're the last person she'd want to talk to."
"That's exactly why you need to talk to her."
"She doesn't want to talk to me."
"Maybe not right now. But she will."
"And when she wants to, I'll be there." Booth looked down at his watch. He stood up.
"Do you have somewhere to go Agent Booth?"
"No."
"Then why are you leaving?"
"Because I don't want to talk to you anymore, Sweets." Booth smiled at him and walked out of his office. Sweets rolled his eyes and buried his head in his hands. He wasn't sure if he would ever really get through to Booth, but he sure as hell was going to try his hardest.
7:15 PM
Booth stood outside of Brennan's door, holding a six pack of root beer in one hand and a pizza in the other. He heard her on the other side of the door. He knew he could have used his key, but he didn't want to push it. He had spent the day calming down and catching up on paperwork. Even though he hated to admit it, talking to Sweets had helped. He felt more able to deal with the fact that Brenna just needed time.
"Hi," Brennan said, opening the door.
"Pizza?"
"Pizza isn't good for you, Booth."
"Oh come on, Bones. A few slices aren't going to kill you."
"Well, of course not. Any food in moderation will not kill you. It's when you eat food in large portions over long periods of time that can lead to obesity and possible heart failure and a whole host of other diseases and complications and…"
"Can I come in, Bones?"
"Of course."
She stepped aside and he walked in. He put the pizza and drinks on the coffee table and sat down on the couch. She walked over to sit down beside him. He noticed immediately that she wasn't moving as slowly as she had been just twenty-four hours before. She was getting better every minute of every day.
"You look good, Bones." He meant that it more ways than one. She was wearing a simple T-Shirt and sweatpants, her hair thrown back in a sloppy ponytail. She looked like she had just rolled out of bed, but she looked beautiful.
"I feel better," she replied.
"How's your wrist?"
"The carpals on my right are healing well. The carpals on my left still have a long way to go, but I am positive that the surgery was successful and that I will regain full motion and use of my hand."
Booth didn't exactly know what all that meant, but he smiled. "That's good, Bones. Where's your visiting nurse?"
"She already came. I don't think it's necessary that I continue with her services, though. I am fine."
"Whatever you think is best," Booth said, happy that she might have to start relying more on him than a stranger.
Booth opened up the pizza box and handed her one of the glass root beer bottles. He chose root beer because they were the closest thing he could find to a real beer that didn't have alcohol in it.
"You heard Dr. London, Booth. I can't drink."
"It's only root beer, Bones."
"Oh."
"You can drink as much as you want."
"Well, not technically. There are only six bottles."
"Just drink up, Bones." He took a drink for himself and lifted it up. "To you," he toasted.
"Why me?"
"Because you're amazingly brave and absolutely incredible."
He hit his glass against hers and took a swig. She did the same.
"I'm the one who should be toasting you," she said.
"Why?"
"Because you've been amazing and incredible through this whole ordeal. I know I could have done this without you, but it would have been undeniably more difficult."
He couldn't help but smile at her compliment. He knew she meant well. Brennan just had a very different way of showing her appreciation.
"Thanks Bones," he said.
"I'm the one who should be thanking you."
She tapped her bottle against his and put it to her lips. Booth silently wished he could have been that bottle. He was suddenly overcome with the desire to finally tell her how he felt. He had told himself he would wait until she was better and more capable of hearing the greatest depths of his heart. Even though she wasn't completely healed, she was better and there was no time like the present.
"Bones, there's something…something I wanted to tell you."
"What is it?"
She shifted towards him and suddenly they were incredibly close. He wondered if he should tell her or just show her how he felt.
"Bones, I…"
The chirping of a cell phone cut him off. He was hoping somehow Brennan would ignore it as he planned to do, but she slid away from him. He cursed whoever was calling him in his head. He had finally worked up the courage to tell her and the courage slipped away with each second that his cell phone continued to ring.
"That's your phone," Brennan said.
"I know," Booth replied, sighing.
He pulled out his phone and looked at the caller ID. He knew he couldn't ignore it.
"Booth." He answered rather angrily. He listened to the person on the other end of the phone. "Yeah, be right there."
He hung up and put the phone back in his pocket.
"Who was it?" Brennan asked.
"Headquarters. A body was found downtown. They want me to take a look."
"A body? Is it a skeleton?"
"I don't know. I didn't get the details."
"If it's a skeleton, I should go with you." Brennan was already off the couch and on her feet. "You could use my expertise."
Booth stood up and put his hand on her shoulder.
"You're not going."
"But if it's a skeleton…"
"No."
"Booth…"
"Dr. London said you were to stay out of work for four to six weeks. Bones, it hasn't even been four to six days."
"I'm capable of going back to work."
"Is that why you start wheezing and wincing every time you stand for too long?"
"I do not."
"You're a bad liar, Bones. Now I'm going to go to the crime scene and you are going to stay here and get some sleep."
"I don't want to sleep, Booth. I want to go with you."
"Tell you what? You stay here and if it's a skeleton, I'll have Cam and Angela e-mail you some pictures and you can help right from your apartment."
Brennan crossed her arms. "Booth…"
"Take it or leave it."
"Fine."
"That's my girl."
He headed for the door.
"Don't call me my girl!" She shouted as he walked out, shutting the door behind him.
Author's Note: So, I couldn't resist not putting in another scene with Sweets. I just love writing his character for some reason. Also, a few people have commented about me finishing this story. Yes, this story will be finished. I never start posting a story online unless I know with absolute certainty that I am going to finish it. Usually I don't even start posting until the story is complete (I should confess that this story is complete, it's just a matter of editing and posting it). So, don't worry, there is an ending!
