8.

Sweets comes clean to Booth but passes out.

Booth checked for Sweets heart rate which was fine though the pale young man did not appear to be worthy of the same description. Booth pulled the thin but lanky figure of Sweets back onto the couch, one generally reserved for patients. Patients, should I take Sweets to the hospital? Is he just paranoid? No, these bruises are more than paranoia. Booth looked at Sweets who was getting much needed rest - as long as that was all that it was.

Booth pulled up Sweets shirt to see his chest and to try and stop the bleeding that had started again. Booth located the cut, one that was deeper than the rest and was in need of stitches to cause it to stop bleeding. As Booth looked closer he saw the singed edges and realized the bastard, Carter had ground something hot over the cut. Booth let the shirt fall as he backed up. Booth put his hand over his mouth to muffle his own desire to shout a series of expletives. His people, this was done to one of his people, right under his own nose, or was he one of Sweets people if this was his lead. Screw it! It doesn't matter, no one does this to anyone and that bastard will pay. But now, here and now what do I do?

Booth looked at his phone, how close is this guy monitoring? He put the phone back away and walked back over to Sweets who was beginning to stir. That wasn't a long rest he thought as he sat Sweets up only to be met with tired, red eyes.

"Sweets, how close does this guy Carter watch?" Booth asked.

"I don't know." Sweets said, his mouth dry. "He just always seems to be there. I did some research on him and he knew."

"He's a trooper right, they do get alerts so they can be careful." Booth said thinking mostly to himself. "He may not be monitoring cell phones, Sweets, do you think he's tapped into your phones?"

"I don't know." Sweets said almost falling back asleep. "I haven't tried."

Though Sweets was simply answering the question Booth couldn't help but feel a stab of disappointment that Sweets had gone thru so much of this alone. Still, he had to do something. Sweets had told him of the dangers - not only to himself but Carter's promise to go into the group. The only way we can do this is together. To do this together I need Sweets to be looked at. Maybe I can get Brenan here. But can I trust other FBI agents?

Booth soon found himself in the mind bending predicament Sweets must have found himself caught in. Booth thought of a plan, it was risky, but he hoped it would work. He would need some help getting it done. He took a deep breath and took out his phone.

"Bones, yeah, are you at the lab still? Just heading home? Can you stay a little longer? Great, can you see if the others can too? I've got some news on the case. Okay, see you soon." Booth didn't want to take chances and kept the phone call to a minimum.

"Sweets, hey, we need to, can you stand up?" Booth asked.

"Where are we going?" Sweets asked slurring.

"We need to get you looked at." Booth said sitting Sweets up, he was even hot to the touch and it worried Booth.

"No, no hospitals - if I get checked in Carter will know, even an assumed name." Sweets protested.

"I know, we're not going there." Booth assured him. Sweets felt relieved but also slightly bummed, in his confused state he knew he needed help.

"We're going to see Bones." Booth explained.

"Here?" Sweets asked. "But there…"

"Lance!" Booth nearly shouted and Sweets stopped. "I know you're nervous, you have reason to be. Just trust me okay? I have an idea."

"Okay Booth, I trust you."

"Good, now stand up and put your hands behind your back."

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Sweets asked standing near the door with an orange scrub top over his shirt and orange pants over his other pants. The excitement of the new plan gave Sweets a rush of energy that was now fading away again.

"I hope so." Booth said putting the cuffs on Sweets. "Now stand still while I put this wig on."

As the pair left the area they took on the persona of 'caught criminal' and agent. Booth moved swiftly hoping to not have anyone stop them - knowing that if anyone looked closely they would recognize Sweets who was keeping his head down under the unruly wig. As they got outside Booth tugged at Sweets like he would a criminal but remembered that Sweets was rather injured. He couldn't stop the act by the time he got the door of his SUV but it bothered him.

"It's okay Booth I'd rather you push me around than someone else."

"Just get in Sweets." Booth said silently but kept a gruff exterior while he did it.

Once they were in the car Booth looked around, sure that one of the cars had someone in it, watching.

"We've got company." Booth said looking down. "I'll need to lose him."

"K." Sweets said resting his head back.

"You okay?" Booth asked looking back at Sweets who sat exhausted with his arms uncomfortably cuffed behind him. He couldn't be seen uncuffing them with the guy watching them.

"Yeah fine, the walk was just a really long one." Sweets said his speech slurring again as he looked to be drifting back to sleep.

Booth wanted to say he was nuts but he knew Sweets must have been exhausted in this state. "Just hang on Sweets, we're going, just going to lose this guy first."

The drive between the Hoover building and Jeffersonian wasn't far but the pair were in the car for a long time while Booth tried to elude the car that was following them. The darkness of the night kept Sweets mostly in the dark with Booth concentrating on the car behind him. With Booth driving he didn't want to draw too much attention to himself but as the time passed he knew he couldn't keep up with this game forever.

"Ugh, this isn't working, this guy is pretty good." Booth said out loud while keeping an eye on his rear view mirror. Only silence came from the back seat.

"Sweets?" Booth asked again but the back seat was shrouded in silence. At the next stop light Booth tried to casually look back to see partially see Sweets in the glow of the street lamps. He was slanted to the side of the door and looked as uncomfortable as hell. What caught Booth's attention was the fact that Sweets was breathing against the window creating a light fog – but the pauses between were long creating an increasingly faint fog on the window. The return of blood now onto the orange top did little to calm his increasingly frazzled nerves.

Booth looked forward again as the light turned. He pulled out his phone.

"Hey Bones, can you meet me some place?" Booth asked trying to sound calm and even. "Yeah it's taking me longer than I planned to get there. I just need to drop you something first. Meet me at Delaware and 5th – between the narrow paths of the buildings. I'll explain later, yeah, see you in ten."

Booth felt like even ten minutes was going to be forever. A few more turns did little to deter his follower and much longer and it would be obvious what he was doing. Booth headed towards the local police station at Delaware and 5th hoping that the location may either make the follower think he was dropping his "criminal" off or get scared off being around cops. Neither seemed to deter him as they grew closer and Booth circled the block. Booth changed lanes quickly earning a blaring car horn from the car in that lane but it cut off the ability for the car to follow him. Booth turned sharply again and pulled down the narrow alley behind the police station where Brennan was waiting.

Booth quickly got out which made Brennan do the same.

"Booth what's going on, what do you have for me?" Brennan asked as Booth opened the side door pulling Sweets out. Booth discarded the wig as he put Sweets arm around his but soon found himself supporting nearly all of Sweets weight.

"You brought me a criminal?" Brennan said looking at the orange suit but not seeing Sweets face.

"Open your trunk." Booth requested but Brennan only stared at him until he turned Sweets towards her so she could see who it was.

Brennan's generally tempered face grew confused quickly. "It didn't look like Sweets – Booth he looks terrible. And he's bleeding!" She said rushing forward.

"Yeah, that's what I need your help with and I can't explain a lot right now." Booth said heading to her car and waiting at the trunk while Brennan opened the car door and stood confused.

"Bones it's a lot to explain but we need to move fast before this guy finds us. Sweets is in trouble, sort of. Just, right now I need him out of sight and I need you to make sure he's alright. We can't go to a hospital and no one can know you have him so you need to keep it quiet okay?"

Brennan tried to swallow the urge to ask a slew of questions and just go with trusting her husband and friend. "Okay." Brennan opened the trunk and helped Booth to lower the tall figure gently in the trunk.

"Okay, I'll meet you there soon." Booth said to the sound of a car.

Brennan could sense the urgency and the secrecy they were working under and quickly went to back to her car and left.

Why is Sweets in an orange jump suit? Is this why he was acting so weird lately? How will I keep this quiet? I don't think there are many people at the Jeffersonian tonight, I think I can get him inside. Booth must have figured he could hand Sweets off to me and I could get him inside if whoever is still following him – then I should drive more quickly.

Brennan arrived at the Jeffersonian filled with her many thoughts but only one occurred when she got there, hoping Sweets was still okay in the trunk. He seemed to be sleeping Brennan thought as she pulled to her reserved spot near the door. She couldn't help but look around while she went to the trunk of the car.

She opened the trunk to find that Sweets was awake and quite terrified as the lid opened. He jumped back in the tiny space as he tried to make out the face he was seeing. Brennan's heart felt a stab at the sight with an added guilt that perhaps she hadn't left him for so long despite her lack of options.

"Sweets it's okay it's me, its Bones." She said softly while touching his arm.

"Dr. Brennan?" Sweets asked weakly. "Where's…"

"Booth dropped you with me. I'm sorry but this was the only way to conceal that you were with me should anyone have followed me which I don't believe they have." Brennan gave Sweets a squeeze on his arm but noticed he only tensed instead of relaxed under her touch. "He said to come here, do you need help out, and I see that your chest is bleeding, are you hurt?"

Sweets realized that Brennan did not know much and didn't know all of Booth's plan just yet, he was just trusting whatever it was.

"Yeah." Sweets said sticking his feet out of the trunk but Brennan was shocked to see he could hardly push himself up and out of the space. She stepped forward to place an arm around his chest for help but he jumped back.

"Sweets, why are you acting so strangely?" Brennan asked with hurt feelings.

"I'm sorry Dr. Brennan it's just…" Sweets had no idea what lie to use.

"Oh yes your cut here." Brennan said touching it but Sweets could only suck in air under her touch. The cramped space and growing apprehension he had felt having woken up in the truck of car, not recalling getting there for when Booth & Brennan moved him he was mostly out of it was taking a toll. Brennan could tell this about far more than one cut. Combined with the secrecy Booth was eluding to she was anxious to get inside.

"Come on let's go inside Sweets." Brennan said taking a few too quick of moves in which Sweets couldn't keep up causing him to fall forward but catching himself on the side of another car. Brennan silently gasped but said nothing and instead only closed her truck quickly and more gently this time pulled Sweets towards her taking on much of his weight, which hardly seemed like much for his too lean at the moment figure.

The Jeffersonian was largely empty at this hour with the few people who worked till seven or so tucked in their offices doing their own research. Once they were in the doors Brennan quickly located a wheelchair used for people who wished to visit but were unable to walk. She quickly plopped Sweets in the seat and noted his reaction at doing so based on his trembling hand and hunched over figure. She wanted to ask if he was okay but she didn't feel she would get a straight answer. Instead she used the wheeled chair as a way to get Sweets back to her area much quicker than the slow pace at which he walked.

"Dr. B, I was wondering where you went so quickly." Hodgins said looking up from his file folder to see her approaching him. "I have some more findings…"

"Dr. Hodgins is anyone else in the lab right now?" Brennan asked short of breath. Hodgins quickly took note of her slightly detached demeanor.

"No, Ange went home with our kids and Cam went for a bite to eat. I didn't get all the details of what we were waiting on." Hodgins explained.

"It's here." Brennan said walking away causing Hodgins to follow her around a corner which revealed the figure in the wheelchair that was slumped over.

"What's…" Hodgins said as a pale faced Sweets raised his head. Once he saw Hodgins he looked away. "Sweets?" Hodgins asked in disbelief.

"Please help me get him to the platform." Brennan said as even tempered as she could. She was trying to concentrate on the basics and not the growing concern and mounting pile of questions she had.

"What the hell happened?" Hodgins asked now standing by Sweets who tried without success to get up on his own. He had wanted to show he could but he could barely focus on keeping his arm on the arm rest.

"I do not know all of the details. Booth said that he would explain once he got her." Brennan explained. "I do need to stress that we need to work in secret for right now, for Sweets sake."

Hodgins didn't know what was going on but based on the way Sweets looked he wanted to heed whatever warnings he was issued. He nodded as the two helped the reluctant but powerless Sweets to the platform and sat him on the examination table. Sweets arm pulled away from the table at the cold touch.

"Sorry Sweets, it's not usually for you know, living people." Hodgins said looking around and found a thick gauze material and laid it on the table. "Maybe you could lay back?"

Hodgins was trying to sound as casual and caring as possible but he could sense Sweets tension. Finally Sweets seemed to accept the offer and pulled his feet up from over the edge of the table on to it. It wasn't as cold now with the material on it but it was difficult to ease back onto the surface with his sore body. Brennan noticed and helped to ease him back. Hodgins noticed Sweets trying to fight back possible tears and wondered what was plaguing the young man he had never seen this awful before. He looked across at Brennan who shared the same concerned look.

"This is weird, to have Sweets, on this table, I mean he's alive so that's…." Hodgins was stumbling over his jumbled thoughts.

"Dr. Hodgins let's concentrate on our work." Brennan suggested and Hodgins realized Sweets was listening and he wasn't really helping any.

"Right, right." Hodgins said and noticed the blood on the shirt. "There's a cut here." Hodgins tried to pull back the material but the attempt to get it off seemed to cause Sweets some pain.

"Perhaps you can locate a blanket." Dr. Brennan suggested seeing Sweets shiver. She wasn't sure if it was from the cold or the illness. Hodgins nodded and left for Angela's office where he seemed to know one was.

Brennan looked down at Sweets and found herself angry – angry at seeing him in the orange criminal associated attire. That wasn't her Sweets so she quickly picked up a pair of scissors and cut the pants on each side discovering another pair of pants under them. This must have been a disguise for something Brennan thought to herself as she moved to cut the shirt up the middle and down the sleeves. As she went to pull it off Sweets took her hand stopping her. Their eyes met, her inquisitive aqua orbs to his tired and desolate brown ones. He read her expression which only wanted to offer help and he relented letting her hand go but looked the other way as she pulled the shirt away to reveal the white tee under it with more blood. Brennan cut this shirt as well as to not disturb Sweets who continued to look away and then close his eyes once his chest was exposed. He could hear the scissors Brennan was holding hit the ground and a gasp escape her lips.

"What the…" He could hear Hodgins say upon his return. "My God there are burns and cuts…are these ribs broken?"

"I believe so." Brennan said and though Sweets eyes were still closed he could tell she had tears in her throat, he felt guilty –guilty he had failed to keep this from then and thus possibly bring it up them.

Brennan took the blanket from Hodgins and laid it over Sweets twitching figure. He welcomed the warmth and partial cover of the blanket. His chest was still exposed so he tried to pull the blanket up but he could feel a hand stop him. He hoped his eyes to see Hodgins was pushing Sweets' hand back down.

"We need to take care of this first." Hodgins said softly and Sweets closed his eyes again.

"Lift your head up man, I uh, I found this pillow in Angela's office." Hodgins said as Sweets lifted what seemed to be a very heavy head. "It's soft, it's one of her favorites."

"I shouldn't' get this dirty." Sweets said pushing the blanket away.

"It's fine." Brennan said pulling it back up. "I'm sure we won't and I'm sure even if we did Angela would be more than understanding."

"Yeah she would." Hodgins said backing her up as his gaze was caught on the deep cut with a strange pattern over it. "My God, is this a burn over this cut?"

Brennan came to his side to see it. "I believe this is infected as well." She looked at Sweets to ask him if he had treated it but based on his overall demeanor and actions she was going to assume, though she didn't like to assume, that it was a "no."

"We need to clean this as well as address these broken bones." Brennan said getting to work.

Hodgins shook his head.

"What is it Dr. Hodgins, I thought you were versed in basic first aid." Brennan commented.

"It's just…" Words escaped proper formation for Hodgins.

"I know Dr. Hodgins. I agree." Brennan said getting to work when Cam came in seeing a sight that made her dinner hit the ground.

"Dr. Soroyan we could use your help." Brennan said.

"Is this…" Cam said quickly coming over to the table.

"Yes, Dr. Sweets has…befallen a series of injuries." Brennan said. "We do not have all the details." Brennan gave her a look that read 'not now'. And instead Cam put on a pair of rubber gloves.

"He's extremely hot to the touch, have you taken a temperature?" She asked.

"No I have not, but he does have an infection over this wound." Brennan said pointing to it. Hodgins was removing some black material around it.

"Dr. Hodgins what are you doing?" Cam asked.

"I'm removing what smells like ash, in case we need this later." Hodgins explained setting the evidence aside.

"No evidence." Sweets murmured.

The trio looked at each other in surprise.

"I'm so sorry." Sweets said again as his face filled with anguish.

"Don't worry Dr. Sweets. We are going to figure this out, whatever it is." Brennan said causing him to calm and nearly pass out again. Cam pulled Brennan aside.

"Why is Dr. Sweets here and not at a hospital, he is clearly very ill, his temperature is 101." Cam said somewhat silently.

"I don't know exactly Cam, Booth said we couldn't go to a hospital and if he has reasons I'll have to believe they are good ones." Brennan explained.

"I just don't know if we are the best solution for this." Cam said worried at their 'not a hospital' set up.

"Cam we catch serial killers with very little evidence, we can help Sweets." Hodgins reminded her. "Especially when he really needs it."

Booth approached the platform looking tired and nodded. "He really needs it."

Here it's 11:30 again, p.m. that is.