A/N: Chapter two! Started trying to write more on this, and it's going slow. Hope this chapter will make it worth the wait!

Brennan kept looking over at Booth as he drove her to the Jeffersonian. She saw the tension in his shoulders, and the tightness in his jaw.

"Booth?" she said, trying to think of something to say that wouldn't cause her partner to snap.

"Bones, don't ask me to forgive Hodgins," he responded. Before he could say anything else he yawned widely.

She examined him. "Are you getting enough rest? The ordeal you went through sapped you quite a bit."

"I – I'm fine, Bones," he said, pulling up to a stoplight. "I'm just having some trouble sleeping. No big deal."

She swallowed. "I understand. After Hodgins and I were kidnapped – well, I had a hard time sleeping for a while."

He looked over at her, and she saw some of the tension leave him. "Yeah. I bet you did,"

She reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You'll be fine, Booth. Give it time."

The light in front of them turned green. Booth pulled forward. "Yeah, Bones." Before he could say something else, his phone rang. He opened it without checking the Caller ID. "Booth."

"Seeley! What happened to Jared!"

Booth winced. The tension that Bones had helped ease came rushing back. "Dad, look, he's in some trouble, but I'm taking care of it."

"Taking care of it my –"

Booth tried to tune out his father's slurred words. He saw Bones looking at him with concern, but he pressed his lips together and concentrated on driving. It's the booze talking. Don't let it get to you.

" –and you made him STEAL a body from the FBI?" Booth's father's voice had gotten louder and louder. "What were you thinking?!"

"No, Dad, now wait!" Booth felt his own temper rising. "I didn't make Jared do anything! I was kidnapped! If he hadn't done what he did I might be dead now!"

"If you hadn't been stupid enough to get kidnapped he wouldn't have had to steal anything!" his father yelled back.

Booth winced and pulled the phone from his ear – his father was shouting loud enough for it to hurt. And, Booth realized with a sinking feeling, loud enough for Bones to hear.

She made a grab for his phone but he swapped it to his left hand – the last thing he wanted was for Bones to get a verbal thrashing from his father. "Look, Dad," he said, seeing his knuckles whiten on the steering wheel. "I'm doing everything I can to make sure Jared doesn't go to jail. I'm taking care of it."

"It doesn't look that way here!" his father yelled. "I'm coming down there – apparently you can't even take care of your brother! You just can't take care of people, Seeley! Dumping your son on an ex-girlfriend –"

That pushed Booth past his limits. "You're drunk, Dad!" he yelled. "Call me when you're sober – if that ever happens!" He hung up his phone and threw it into the back seat. Still seething, he slammed the steering wheel with his fist, causing the horn to blare.

"Booth!" Bones put a hand on his arm. "Booth, I'm sorry."

Booth fought to calm himself. "It – it's not your fault, Bones." He swallowed, his stomach roiling. "I'm sorry you had to hear that."

"Your father was entirely unfair," she said to him. "You're not stupid."

"No, I just let myself get taken down by a girl."

She tilted her head. "Booth, I'm a woman, and I think under certain circumstances I could subdue you."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Yeah, but you're Superwoman. Taffet doesn't strike me as in your category."

She huffed. "I don't have super powers, Booth. And Taffet obviously resorted to trickery to capture you."

He rolled his eyes.

"Booth," Bone saw the Jeffersonian approaching and spoke a little faster. "You were electrocuted and given several powerful drugs. This was not your fault."

He pulled into his favorite parking space and sat there a moment, his hands gripping the steering wheel. He stared at the wall ahead of him.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned so she could place her hands on both his shoulders. She turned him to face her. "Booth. It was not your fault. You know I wouldn't lie to you."

He shook his head, dropping his head. "I try to tell myself it's not him talking, it's the alcohol. That I shouldn't take the things he says to heart." He looked back up and Brennan saw the pain in his eyes. "But it still hurts, Bones. I don't know if you understand that, but it does."

She put a gentle hand on his cheek. "I do understand. And it's all right that it does. But he's wrong about you, Booth."

He cracked a faint smile. "I guess I'm not up to arguing with you today, Bones. Too tired."

"Good," she said. "Now, let's go inside and make sure Heather Taffet never kidnaps anyone again."

He nodded and they headed inside.