8.
"Is he going to get better?" Angela asked standing outside Sweets room as they all looked in thru the glass.
"Good question." Booth said. He was consumed with a deep sense of guilt. It had sunk in that he had not followed Sweets lead suggestions despite Sweets consistent and correct nature. He wanted to be mad that Sweets went alone, but he didn't really blame him for doing so when Booth hadn't gotten his back when he should have.
"How is Sweets even still here?" Hodgins asked, lost in his thoughts. "I mean, if it were me, I would have given up a long time ago."
"Well he's a psychologist. Despite my opinion of it, Dr. Sweets does have confidence in it and was equipped to deal with the mental hardships." Brennan offered.
"Or maybe it's just been one crap hand dealt to him after another." Booth said with a sigh. "He's never been given much in life by way of a break, left to foster homes, bad foster homes, few friends, and us, we've never been there for him. It may be more likely that Sweets was able to deal with this just since it's another blow."
"What now?" Brennan asked.
"We find the best psychologist we know to help our other best psychologist." Booth said.
"Gordon Gordon?" Brennan asked and Booth shrugged his shoulders in a sort of "why not" shrug. Truth was Gordon Gordon was the only other shrink Booth trusted and Booth presumed, probably the only other shrink Sweets trusted.
"He's a chef now though." Angela said.
"Yeah, but he would come and help if it were Sweets, he knows what's at stake." Hodgins said and they agreed.
Cam said turning to see Gordon Wyatt approach. "Speak of the devil."
"And the devil appears." Gordon added with a smile. "How is everyone?"
They all shook hands and said their hello's.
"I hoped you'd come." Booth said and they realized Booth must have called Gordon immediately after leaving the asylum.
"Well from what you said I can see why you did. I will remind you that I'm not a practicing psychologist anymore." Gordon warned and Booth felt that he might decline the idea to help. "But I can appreciate the situation and I would be happy to help, if I can. Dr. Sweets is a very bright young lad. I'd like to see him continue his work, and with all of you."
The group let out a collective sigh of relief.
"How is he doing, physically?" Gordon asked and the question fell to Cam who had been the most up to speed with the doctors.
She cleared her throat before speaking. "Well, he's not great. He's alive and his vitals are all acceptable. Dr. Brennan was able to stop the bleeding when they found him but he had lost quite a bit, how much I'm not sure based on him being moved so much. He has pneumonia and some slight tissue damage and bruising. That will heal but it is going to hamper his movement for a while. He's hooked to an IV but he hasn't eaten and even more of an issue is he needs rest but he refuses to sleep."
"That's understandable." Gordon said. "Given the heavy hallucinogens you had told me over the phone that he was given there is little doubt in my opinion that he can tell the difference between reality and flaws in his psyche."
"What? How about in English?" Booth asked.
"Those types of drugs can, if you will, bring out one's darkest demons, unfortunate memories from his past. I believe you two know the nature of those demons." Gordon said nodding to Brennan and Booth while the other three stood curious. "The other aspect is the drug feeding on one's, oh how to say it, inhibitions."
"So like if he was scared of spiders that would come out?" Angela asked.
"Well sort of, most likely they would be emotional insecurities." Gordon explained.
"So if those are the issues then what do we do?" Brennan asked.
"Dr. Sweets needs rest and nourishment. The lack of them are even further impairing his ability to think. Think of it this way, when you are hungry and tired are you able to think clearly?"
"So we sing him a lullaby?" Hodgins asked confused.
"I will suggest that you try and talk to him, see if he can't ease himself into sleep willingly, but I will warn you now, I doubt that will happen. Most likely he will need to be sedated in order to be able to relax, but I do suggest trying it. Dr. Sweets is quite extraordinary." Gordon offered them an encouraging smile.
"So we talk to him." Brennan said. She still didn't understand psychology but it would seem that regular medicine would not be the only thing that could help Sweets.
"Talk to him like you always would and he may see it as reality. If you are over the top nice then he may suspect something is awry. Also be sure to reassure him that you are there and that you care."
"That's the best you got Gordon?" Hodgins asked frustrated. He wasn't sure why but he was expecting something more, complicated.
"Sometimes simplicity is the best medicine." He explained.
They slowly headed in the room as he observed from the window.
Sweets lay on the bed in a sitting position to help his breathing. His eyes had been open observing the blurry group in the hall outside his room. He figured they were not doctors since they didn't wear white coats and upon their entrance he recognized the team.
"Hi Sweets." Brennan said trying to sound casual as Gordon had suggested. "How are you feeling?" She sat in the chair next to Sweets left by the bed.
Sweets looked at her with a disappointed expression. Brennan tired not to take it personally but she wondered what Sweets was thinking.
"You're looking better." Angela said on his left. Sweets recalled a memory where Angela told he was not good looking. He looked away from her.
The group felt a certain amount of panic that they tried to hide in how Sweets was reacting. They reminded themselves not to take it personally or to blame him after what he had been thru.
"Can we get you something?" Hodgins asked. This time Sweets didn't even bother acknowledging him.
Booth glanced over his shoulder at Gordon who nodded as though they should continue.
"We got Richards." Booth said and the group tensed at the topic of the recent past. Booth hoped he was going down the right road. He hoped by mentioning the present that Sweets could put it behind him. "He's going to be gone for a long time. So you can rest you know."
Sweets eyes looked at Booth and then away again. His body emitted a vibe that he didn't want anyone there. He then began to cough a heavy and deep cough again. It obviously caused a great deal of pain for Sweets. He leaned to the side to cough but his sore shoulder from his push down the steps combined with the tender limbs made it hard for him to push himself back in a sitting position.
Angela was nearest and tried to help him back but as she did so her eyes met with Sweets icy stare laced in a great sadness. It was as though Sweets wasn't sure if he wanted to blame them or himself more.
She couldn't think of much more to say but, "you should get some rest Sweets." He nodded and inwardly hoped they would go.
"Would you like us to go so you can get some rest?" Hodgins asked.
Sweets looked at them trying to figure out if they were friends or the ones who were telling him he meant nothing to them. It was unsettling to him that he could so easily confuse the two. It became exhausting to think about it so he closed his eyes.
"Maybe we should give him some space?" Cam asked quietly.
Gordon stepped in the room and tried to hide the hint of disappointment he carried. "I'll talk to the doctor about some sedatives." He said and left.
Angela, Cam and Hodgins said their good nights to Booth outside the room. Brennan stayed seated in the room near the door.
"Come on Bones." Booth said though reluctantly. "You should go home, I can stay."
"Did Gordon talk to the doctor?" She asked.
"Yeah, he is now, they should be in soon." He said.
"Maybe we should wait then, until he's asleep." Booth noticed the concern in his voice and he was glad she suggested it. He sat beside her in the seat by the door.
"Why does it bother me so Booth?" She said in a whisper and at first Booth thought it was because she didn't want to Sweets to hear but then he noticed the redness around her eyes.
"Because you care Bones." Booth said equally as quiet.
"But it's not rational, Sweets is a grown man, why do I feel like I need to…" Brennan searched for the right words.
"Look after people?" Booth finished for her and smiled.
"You do that all the time, you talk about your people. But I don't, I don't think of people with that much reverence, except you and Christine, and well, now I realize, Sweets too."
"Maybe Sweets reminds you a lot of you." Booth suggested. "You were both foster kids who had a tough time at it, brilliant at a young age. Though you are much prettier."
Brennan smiled and cleared her throat though it was still in a whisper to talk as her emotions were caught in her voice. "I just want him to get better."
"Me too Bones." Booth said wrapping her into a hug.
"Here we are." Gordon said and then cleared his throat when he saw the tender scene he had stumbled upon as he came in with the doctor. Gordon simply smiled at them and walked over to Sweets who was facing away from them all. A big smile came across his face as he looked down at Sweets.
"What is it?" Booth asked with great curiosity.
"What were you two talking about, may I ask?" Gordon asked softly nodding to the doctor who left without administering any medications.
"Just hoping that Sweets gets better, because while it's not a typical family structure…" Brennan began and Gordon put up his hand to halt her. "Did we bother him, we tried to keep our voices low."
"I think it was perfect." Gordon said. "Dr. Sweets seems to be soundly sleeping."
"Really?" Booth asked rising to look for himself and sure enough for the first time since Booth had looked at Sweets lately, his face wasn't crushed with pain. He was relaxed and sleeping.
"I'd say Dr. Sweets may have been interloping on your conversation." Gordon said heading to the door. "I'm just going to get a book, but I'll be back."
"No, that's okay Gordon, I think I'd like to stay for a little while." Brennan suggested.