Chapter 18
Dr. Sweets
"Dear Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan,
I was originally assigned to evaluate your working relationship and whether you could continue to work with one another after Agent Booth arrested Max Keenan. I saw a unique relationship; you two built trust and friendship based on complementary traits and a singular mission, to find truth. I saw that you didn't need me, you didn't need regular therapy, you have good friends and colleagues that you can share with and rely on, and that keeps you centered and focused. Our relationship evolved to that of colleagues as I agreed to consult on cases if you agreed to let me study your relationship. I am here today, ruining my research. I am here as a friend and colleague to talk with you about what I see. The only problem you two really have is that you both keep your inner dialogue from each other.
Agent Booth, you care deeply for Dr. Brennan, you feel responsible for keeping her safe while chasing down killers, but you try to protect her from other injuries outside work. You helped her deal with the loss of her mother and helped her find her father and brother and rebuild a relationship with them. You have taught her to let others see how deeply she connects, and helped her to better understand how people relate to one another.
Dr. Brennan, you have developed a trust for Agent Booth, something that has been difficult for you after the loss of your parents. You see Agent Booth's intelligence and recognize the genius he has for relating to people. You are as protective of him as he is of you. You understand his past and instead of merely being sympathetic, you accept it as part of him. You care deeply for Agent Booth.
You work together very well but there is going to be a decline in your efficiency if you two do not talk about the depth of your feelings. We would like you to talk to each other, to be clear and honest with each other so that you can continue to be the best forensic team in the FBI."
Booth glanced at Brennan as Dr. Sweets talked about her family. Her face was pale and frozen. He knew that she was trying to regain control and hide her emotions. He wanted to squeeze her hand and reassure her but with everyone here looking at them, it would only make things worse. Booth's face contorted unconsciously into a mess of emotion. Sweets dropped the letter on the coffee table in front of Booth and Brennan and Booth looked at him. The look was murderous and Sweets retreated to safety. Booth looked around the room to see from which direction the next assault would come. He looked miserable. Hodgins looked almost as miserable as Booth as Angela shoved him.
Hodgins
"Uh, okay. I didn't write you a letter, I've said all this to you guys before. Booth, she trusts you man, she doesn't trust anybody. Dr. B, he's a good guy, he won't let you down, he hasn't let any of us down. When you and I were in that car...when we were in there...I was thinking of...well we all know who I was thinking of. We know who you were thinking of too. We know who it was that got to us, to you, in time. You have faith in him. Don't be afraid of things changing, sometimes the change is wonderful. Sometimes the change is uncomfortable, but it will happen. Just let it, just go with it." Hodgins shot a sympathetic look to Booth and mouthed 'I'm sorry.' Booth met his eyes and gave him a quick nod of absolution. Brennan sat, still dumbfounded. She looked like she was in shock. Booth was in shock himself, they all really thought that he had rescued her and she obviously confessed something to Hodgins.
Charlie cleared his throat tentatively and nervously avoided Booth's gaze. He opened his letter and sighed deeply.
Charlie
"I have worked with Agent Booth for several years now and have gotten to know Dr. Brennan through our contact in Booth's office. Dr. Brennan is a remarkable woman. She's smart, and she is trained in the martial arts, but she sees things no one else sees. She's a legend, she gives lost souls back their identities. She has given Booth back his. Booth was angry, driven and effective before he met Dr. Brennan. Now, he's more driven, more effective but instead of being angry, he's fun to work with. We can joke with him, and he jokes back. He was always a good agent, he's the best there is now. Dr. Brennan you have brought a light to Booth. He is happy and shines when you are in the office, or when he's talking to you on the phone. We can all see how much you mean to each other and we want you to be happy." Charlie dropped his letter on the coffee table in front of Booth and walked to the edge of the couch. Cam stood and smiled and Booth.
Cam
"I've known Seeley for a long time. I know what he was like, and he's a better man now. I have known Dr. Brennan for three years now and even in that short time there has been change. Dr. Brennan is more balanced than she was before. She may never have your people skills, Seeley, but she is more balanced. Seeley, you are very protective. I know that you think that you pressed me and caused me to be hurt. I know that you think I cut into Caroline Epps' skull without a complete examination because you asked me too. As I've told you, if we had x-rayed it first I would have tried to remove it with forceps and it would have broken anyway. Epps planned it that way. You believe that you can't properly protect Dr. Brennan and that she will act because of her faith in you, but it doesn't matter whether or not you speak about what is there. She already acts because of her faith in you; friend, partner, lover, there is nothing you could ask her that she wouldn't do purely because of her trust in you. This unspoken tension between you two is distracting you. You are less effective and less safe until you get through this. You love her Seeley, you are concerned for her safety and well-being as your partner. You worry about her and fuss over her as a great friend. You gaze at her and touch her and revere her as a lover. Tell her Seeley, you're not protecting anything this way. Tell her." Cam was confident and direct. Her voice was clear, not tentative, not bashful. She met Booth's eyes. She looked at him kindly but expectantly.
Angela walked to the far corner of the coffee table and waited until Cam dropped her letter on the table.
Angela
"Sweetie, I love you, I really do, but you are blind." Angela unfolded her letter. "Brennan is my best friend and I have been there for a lot of girl talk about guys. She talks about you differently, Booth. I don't mean the lack of physical contact. She wants to understand you, better than she's ever wanted to understand anyone. She respects your integrity, your honor, your strength, and your intelligence. She's not good with emotions. She just swallows them until they erupt, you know that better than anyone. You don't let her get away with that, she needs you. Brennan, you lost your family and its taken you a long time to let us in. We're a family now, all of us here. Me, Hodgins, Cam, Zach and you and Booth, even Sweets, family. Even though Zach can't be with us, we all still care and go visit. He's like our little brother. I think of you and Hodgins like fraternal twins, you think the same, you talk the same, and you have a bond, a shared experience. You are like a sister to me, you are my best friend. I know I can talk to you about anything. You know you can talk to me about anything. I know you love me but I am no longer your best friend. I've been bumped to second best and I couldn't be happier. Sweetie, you love this man. He's hot, he's strong, he's always going to be there for you. You need to tell him how you feel. No, you need to take this man home and," Angela glanced up at the room and skipped the rest of that sentence, "You're killing me Sweetie. Just talk to each other, please." Angela walked around the coffee table and handed Brennan the letter, kissing her cheek. She picked Brennan's hand up and placed it into Booth's hand.
"Alright, that's enough. Let them be." Caroline stated and waved everyone out of the room. "Steamboats, lots of steamboats." Caroline said as she shut the door behind them. Booth and Brennan sat in a stunned silence. They knew they needed to talk, they knew that every word was true, but no words would come. Brennan's eyes were full of tears. Her family, Zach, Booth, there were too many emotions swimming in her head. She shook her head but it was no use. She wanted to run, get away from the lab and clear her head but there was no way she could just leave now. Booth looked at Brennan's hand, still in his. He squeezed it gently. There was so much he should say, so much he wanted to say but his mouth wouldn't open. They sat there, just trying to breathe. Booth glanced at Brennan's face and saw her fear and desperation. He knew what she was going to do before she did. He started to stand. Brennan stood up and ran out of the lab snatching her purse of the coat rack as she left. Booth was right behind her. He watched her pull out and drive off. "Damn." He said as he ran to his SUV.