Author's Note: No, I hadn't forgot about this one either. I apologize for all the long delays in updating my open projects. I'm hoping to wrap some of the shorter ones up by the end of the month and finish the rest over the next couple months.
I do not own Bones or any of its characters.
Thank you to everyone who is reading/following/reviewing this. Your encouragement and patience are always appreciated.
Rankor01: I agree that Booth's experience with Parker does give him more of an edge in dealing with a child-like Sweets, though the others are certainly going to try to do their best...with mixed results at times. :)
Nertooold54: Hee, I picture Booth having to take on the father role not just in his dealings with Parker throughout the course of his life...Since Sweets has been transported back to only six years after he was adopted, I imagined him not fully adjusting and coping with his past by this point. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that IMO Sweets is the most reluctant of all of them to discuss his past and thus, Team Jeffersonian won't always know what he's grappling with at this stage of his life...
Writerchick786: Haha, well I could picture Booth not wanting to explain to child-Sweets why adult-Sweets would write an entire book on his relationship with Brennan. :) And yeah, it wouldn't be me if I only went the humor route during this fic, even though it is more whimsical in tone overall...I agree that the writers have been neglectful in delving more into Sweets' past within canon. I've read interviews with JFD where he mentions that he would like to do an episode that went more into his character's background, so hopefully HH will make it happen at some point. I also agree that it would be interesting to have that sort of darker, dramatic material for his character to work through...Until then, sadly we are only left with fanfic. :)
D: I agree that Sweets needs David (or some facsimile) to help him deal with the turmoil that would naturally result from having a twelve-year-old mind in a twenty-five-year-old body. And as you will see in this chapter, the need (and the complications) are only going to become more pressing...
TimeWitch93: I've often thought the "older siblings" comparison was apt in regards to Sweets' relationship with B&B. Although in this situation, they will probably have to take on a more paternal role...Because Sweets is so tight-lipped about his past, I could see this experience being a real eye-opener for all of them: one that would remind them of the complicated background that Sweets had to overcome to get where he is now.
Peanutmeg: I imagine Booth's consoled Parker after a nightmare or two in the process of raising him and thus is drawing from that experience now...although it takes on an added dimension since Booth knows something about why Sweets has the nightmares that he does...Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the update and hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Geemen: Thank you for the review. I agree that this is a little out there for plots, but then again, it was based off a crack-fic prompt...so I suppose anything goes there. :) Considering all the Star Wars references Sweets has made throughout the course of the show, I could see him being a little obsessed with it as a kid...and then being excited at the prospect of waking up one day to find that three more movies had been made. :) I hope you enjoy the rest of this wacky ride.
Kutoki: Sadly, college really got in the way of my being able to update as fast as I would like. I'm not entirely sure how things will go for the next few chapters because I've started my summer semester today, but I hope to have more up before I get really busy.
The Confusion in the Duckling—Chapter 6
Booth ended up spending almost an hour in the chair before Sweets finally fell asleep. He then went back to his room and managed to get in a few more hours of dreamless slumber before waking up again. He had beaten the alarm clock by about ten minutes, so Booth turned it off before it could sound. After working all the morning kinks out of his limbs, the agent got up to face the day.
He was shocked, however, to find Sweets lying on the floor at the foot of his bed, sleeping soundly. The psychologist had laid out a pillow and was mostly hidden under the blanket that Booth had given him. Booth sighed as he watched him.
'How long was he sleeping there?' he wondered. 'And more importantly, how on earth could that be comfortable?'
Deciding to let him sleep for a little longer, Booth crept over to his closet for some clothes and then headed off to the bathroom. A short time later, refreshed and ready to go, the agent returned to the bedroom to find Sweets starting to stir.
"Up and at 'em Sweets," Booth said. "You need to get ready so that we can get going."
The psychologist shifted his blanket and slowly sat up while rubbing his eyes.
"Wha-,"
"Come on Sweets," the agent added. "Get dressed, and I'll take you to get some breakfast, all right?"
Sweets nodded and stood up. Booth could tell from the expression on his face that the therapist was grateful that he wasn't asking any questions about his sleeping arrangements, and he watched as Sweets grabbed at the duffel bag that contained his clothes. He then hesitated and turned back toward the agent.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of the stuff here," Booth said as he picked up the blanket and pillow. "You just get ready."
Upon arriving at the Royal Diner, Booth managed to grab his usual table while Sweets followed him to sit down. The psychologist picked up a menu and started to scan it when one of the waitresses came over to the table.
"Good morning Agent Booth, Doctor Sweets," the waitress grinned as she pulled out a pad of paper and a pencil. "Shall I bring you guys your usuals?"
"That'll be perfect Steph, thank you," Booth said before Sweets could speak. The waitress made a quick note of their orders and walked off.
"Um, Agent Booth, what is my usual?" Sweets asked.
"Don't worry about it, Sweets," the agent said. "I'm sure you'll love it. I've seen you eat it dozens of times. Besides, this place has some of the best food in the DC."
"Ok," Sweets shrugged. The psychologist began to fidget with his napkin and look out the window while Steph served them some coffee. Booth sipped at his cup and frowned. He knew that it would be all too easy for Sweets to retreat into some inner world again, so he nudged the therapist's arm to get his attention.
"So how did you know that Adams was with another woman?" the agent asked him.
"Oh, I uh…one of my classmates at school…his parents were getting divorced and his dad was seeing someone…someone who wasn't his wife," Sweets said, looking back at Booth. "I remember one time his dad came to pick him up from school and as I was leaving, I saw that other woman leave his dad's car. He saw me and tried to say it was nothing, but…I knew he was lying."
"That's what you've always been good at?" Booth nodded. "Spotting when people were lying?"
"Yeah, that's what Dad says too," Sweets nodded sheepishly. "Anyway, that Mr. Adams…he was acting a lot like that while you were talking to him. So, um…I sort of had a hunch."
"Well it turned out to be a good one," Booth smiled. "Thanks for helping out."
"You're welcome," Sweets blushed. "And thank you…for last night."
"No problem, Sweets," the agent grinned back at him. "Hey, what did you want to do today? Would you like to go back to the Jeffersonian? Maybe try again to see if it reminds you of anything?"
"Sure," Sweets nodded. "But…do I have to stay in the lab the whole time? I mean, it's wicked cool, but maybe…maybe I could check out other stuff too?"
"I'm sure we could arrange something," Booth responded, taking another sip of coffee.
Steph showed back up and served them their food. Booth started eating immediately while Sweets stared at his plate tentatively for a couple moments. He then took a few bites and started to smile.
"I think I like the usual," Sweets said in between bites of fruit and waffle. "I just wish I could have…."
The therapist stopped, and Booth sat his fork down.
"You wish what?"
"I wish I could have remembered it beforehand," Sweets said before taking another bite.
"Hey, Sweets, you'll remember soon enough, ok?" Booth said. "Me and Bones and all the others…we'll keep going over this with you until you remember. I promise."
After breakfast, the two of them arrived at the lab to find everyone else gathered in a group, waiting for them.
"Good morning, Doctor Sweets," Cam smiled at him.
"Hello Doctor…Saroyan?" Sweets asked. Cam nodded, and everyone's shoulders slumped a little as they realized that the psychologist still could not remember them.
"Booth, I found some interesting marks on the bones," Brennan said.
"That's great Bones, but let me take care of something first," Booth said. He then looked over at Hodgins and walked toward him.
"Hey Hodgins, why don't you show Sweets around the lab some more? See if it helps him remember?" the agent asked.
"But I've got particulates to analyze and tarantulas to feed," the entomologist nearly whined.
"Doctor Hodgins," Cam said in a voice that held more that a touch of menace in it.
"Can I help you feed your spiders?" Sweets asked. Hodgins looked over at him and let out a sigh.
"Ok, come on," he said while managing a half smile. "But make sure that you don't let any of them out while you're feeding them. Doctor Saroyan has this irrational fear of spiders for some reason."
"There's nothing irrational about being wary of creepy, furry, eight-legged creatures that can bite you," the pathologist said as she walked away. Hodgins smirked and guided Sweets off toward his office.
"I'll be working on some facial reconstructions in my office if you need me for anything," Angela said as she turned to go. "Including babysitting."
"All right, Bones," Booth said, spinning on his heel. "I'm all yours."
Once in the ooky room, Brennan began to show Booth some close-ups of the bones under the magnifiers.
"Note these marks right here in the clavicle and the scapula," she said as she moved the lens. "It's as if the victim was struck with some kind of instrument with a dull edge several times before he was killed. None of these marks, however, were related to cause of death."
"Right, like someone was hitting him with something, but then decided to switch to something more lethal when it wasn't getting the job done," Booth nodded.
"Pure conjecture, but it does match the findings," the anthropologist continued. "Hodgins is analyzing the swab I gave him of the wounds."
She started to go over some more of her findings when Hodgins huffed his way into the room.
"Were you able to figure out the composition of the particulates?" Brennan asked him.
"Yeah, and where's Sweets?" Booth chimed in.
"The particulates were metal," the entomologist answered. "Tin to be exact. Not unlike what you would find at a grocery store."
"Are you telling me that someone hit the victim with a can of green beans before he died?" Booth asked, incredulous.
"Um, something like that, yeah," Hodgins responded. "Although, I couldn't tell you what was in the can. The sample only had trace amounts of tin."
"You still didn't answer my question from before," the agent said, moving closer to him. "Where's Sweets?"
"He's off in Angela's office playing computer games or something," Hodgins answered. "I tried showing him around the lab and my office."
"And that didn't spark anything with him?" Booth asked.
"Oh it sparked something all right," Hodgins grumbled. "About a billion questions…'What does this machine do? How do you use this test to solve murders? How many bugs do you keep in the lab?'…It was never-ending."
"He's Sweets, and right now, he's twelve years old," Booth chuckled. "What did you expect?"
"Isn't there anyway to fast-forward to the point where he stopped being so annoying?" Hodgins grimaced.
"I'm going with Bones to go over her reports on the bones," Booth said as he steered Brennan out of the ooky room. "You go back and go over those mass spec results again. I'm not going to tell my agents to go searching for a maniac wielding a can of creamed corn."
Back in Angela's office, the mood had become quiet. The artist was busy studying the skulls she had been given, trying to draw some sketches that she would use to build into more detailed artist renderings. Only a couple feet away, Sweets stood tapping some buttons on the control pad of her computer.
He had been playing one of the latest first-person shooting games for a while, but eventually lost interest. The psychologist then asked Angela how to get back on the internet, and ever since he had taken to browsing news sites. Sweets was interested in learning more about the time period he had woken up into and was reading up on major news stories that had taken place over the past year.
After reading through several articles in the archives, an idea formed in his mind.
'The web is a lot more detailed and it's got a lot more stuff on individual people now than it did before,' he thought to himself. 'I bet if I did a search, I can find out what Mom and Dad are doing, and if they are still at the same address…They probably are. Mom loves her home.'
Sweets entered his parents' names into the computer and started to look through the results. Eventually he found some reference to a newspaper listing for them and pulled it up on the screen and started to read.
He had not, however, been prepared for the kind of listing that he found.
'No…No, it can't…It can't be….'
As Booth walked with Brennan toward her office his cell phone went off and he answered it. After a couple minutes of listening, the agent thanked the person on the line and hung up.
"So our people checked with the local cable company," Booth said. "Turns out they have no record of sending anyone out to Felton's place."
"You think that it was the murderer who went to Felton's house?" Brennan asked.
"Makes sense," Booth replied. "Apparently the company sells its uniforms through a local shop, but unfortunately it's open to the public."
"Meaning that anyone could have bought a uniform for a disguise," the anthropologist added.
"Pretty much," Booth said. "It's a long shot, but I've got an agent heading over to the store to see if anyone remembers anyone buying one of those uniforms recently. At least it's more solid than following our 'canned vegetable' lead."
Brennan was about to say something else, but was interrupted by the sight of Sweets racing out of Angela's office and out the lab doors within seconds. A moment later, a distraught-looking Angela appeared in the doorway.
"Angela, what's going on?" Booth demanded as he jogged over to the artist with Brennan. "Where was he going?"
"I'm…I'm sorry," Angela said, her eyes tearing up.
"Hey, was that Sweets running out of the lab just now?" Hodgins asked as he showed up behind them. Both he and Cam had been drawn out by the commotion and had quickly joined the others.
"I…I was letting Sweets play some games on the computer," Angela said as she backed into her office. "You know, to keep him occupied while I worked on the facial reconstructions for that new batch of skulls we pulled from Limbo."
"Then what happened?" Booth said as he and Brennan, Cam and Hodgins followed her inside.
"Well he started to check out some stuff on the internet…and he seemed to be fine," Angela continued. "But then, all the sudden…I don't know. He just made this sound…like he was in pain. I looked up to see him backing away from the computer screen. I tried to ask him what was wrong, but he ran away. Then I saw what he was looking at."
The artist gestured toward the screen and everyone looked over, their faces falling at what they saw.
On the screen were a pair of obituary notices and it only took a moment to scan the photos and captions for all of them to figure out that these were probably Sweets' parents.
"So now he knows about them," Brennan said. "And maybe that's why he ran…because he's starting to remember them and what happened to them."
"Maybe…or maybe instead we have a kid who just found out that both of his parents are gone and that he's alone," Booth said, his voice grave. "Either way, we need to find him now."
Booth marched out of Angela's office while everyone else followed him.
"I'll go check with security," Cam said. "We might be able to find him with the cameras."
"We'll start looking around the lab," Hodgins said as he and Angela started to walk away. "Maybe he in ducked into one of the nearby storage rooms."
"Where should we look, Booth?" Brennan said. "Maybe we should go outside, in case Sweets left the Jeffersonian."
"No…no, I'm pretty sure that he's still here somewhere," Booth muttered. "I'm thinking that he doesn't want to run off…he wants to find a place to be left alone."
"Why?" Brennan asked. "I would think that the last thing he would want is to be alone right now."
"He doesn't want to be alone, but he's scared, Bones," Booth said quietly. "Scared and confused. He doesn't know what to do or how he's going to cope…and I don't think he knows if he can trust us enough to ask for our help."
"So where would he go?" she asked.
"I'm not entirely sure," Booth frowned. "But…I think I have an idea."