Brennan turned on the couch and moved to sit on her knees.
"Booth, what do I look like to you?"
"What?"
"I mean, what do you see when you look at me?"
"I don't know, really pretty eyes?"
"No…" she stopped and for a moment almost smiled in shock, "I mean, I'm logical, right?"
"Yes, Bones, very logical…almost to a fault, I guess."
"Yes, that's what I'm saying. I'm…"
'What is it, Bones?"
"Do you think I could ever do something like this?"
"Like what…like Zack?"
"Yeah, you know, get caught up in logic so much that I'm willing to kill another person?"
Booth realized she was really worried about this. It made sense; she and Zack were a lot alike, so seeing him, her 'apprentice' turn toward what she considered evil would be scary. He pulled both of her hands into his, careful to keep his touch light as he considered his next words.
"No, Bones. I personally don't think you are capable of something like this."
"How can you be sure?"
"Well…it's like Sweets said, you have a value of human life."
"But he said that was because of my deep emotional connection with you…"
He looked into her eyes, answering without words.
"Sweets is right." She realized. "And that is how I failed Zack."
"Bones…"
"No, Booth; please. I mean, yeah I know it's not all my fault, but…Sweets is right. My emotional connection with you keeps me grounded, and Zack, he didn't have that, so…when someone else showed an interest in him personally, he responded. If I'd been more focused on him emotionally, then I could have prevented this."
"We all could have done better at that, Bones. Not just you, but you're right. It's important to keep people close. I don't know if you could have prevented it, but I know you made a huge difference today."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when we were with Zack. I was, you know, trying to get the information, and maybe kind of bullying him, but you, you met him where he was, with logic, and you also got him to acknowledge who the Master was, and how to get him. You saved the day, Bones."
She smiled.
"And…" he continued… "you used physical touch. You touched Zack and showed him you still cared for him. That was an emotional connection….your touch."
She considered his words for a moment, then placed one of her hands on his chest, right above where he'd been shot. She could still feel the bandage there, and for the second time, tears welled in her eyes.
"I'd do it again, Bones."
"What?"
"Take a bullet. For you."