Another update. As always, I don't own Bones, nor the characters, or anything related to such. Thanks to everyone and have a fine day!

And I'll whisper quietly 'I'll give you nothing but truth.'

Booth had made his way outside and was now sitting on the step, his head in his hands as he tried to rub everything from the past couple days out of his face, out of his body. He tried to ignore the pained feeling in his body, tried to ignore the ever constant anger that was feeding into his veins. He didn't like this. He didn't want to keep pushing away from Bones…But it was like he couldn't understand exactly what was going through her head.

This was Bones he was thinking about. Freaking Bones…Who dealt with death, who had lost everything when she was little, who had been beaten and torn apart. Who messed with criminals all the time, who threatened those criminals and tried to get a fight out of them.

Flipping out his phone, he sighed and dialed the only person he knew would talk to him right now.

He didn't want to leave Bones right now…But he couldn't think of a better alternative.

The phone rang several times until someone picked up, Michelle, he recognized.

'Hello?'

Taking a deep breath, Booth leaned back.

"Yeah, hey. Is Camille around? This is Booth…"

'Yeah, she's here. Hey, Booth. I'm really sorry. How are you holding up?'

"That's kind of why I wanted to talk to Cam, kiddo," he stated, but chuckled at the end to try and make her see that he wasn't angry. He could hear the hesitation on the other end of the line before Cam picked up.

'Hey there Seeley,'

"Camille…You have time to talk?" he asked.

'Yeah, I do. Shouldn't you be with Dr. Brennan, though?'

"I need to clear my head…Just…Can you come to our house and just talk to me for a while on the step or something? I don't want to leave, but…"

'You need someone that's entirely truthful with you?'

"Yeah…"

'I'll be over in ten. And Seeley?'

"Yeah?"

'Take care of yourself, alright?'

He hung up and held the phone in midair for a while before his hands dropped to his side and he looked out to the distance, waiting for her car to come along.

"I disturbed something, didn't I?" he asked sheepishly. She smiled and sat down, shaking her head.

"No. Michelle and I were just having a talk. What do you need, Seeley?" she asked, sitting down on the step. Booth looked out into the distance and sighed.

"You remember before my first deployment, you and I just sat outside for hours, not saying anything? I was so damned scared, but you always made me feel better. Stronger, almost. You remember that day?"

Cam nodded slightly, unsure what that had to do with anything, but nodding none the less.

"How scared I was then? It's nothing like this…"

Cam's eyes gazed at the front door before they locked back on Booth. Firmly, she gripped Booth's shoulder.

"What's going on, Seeley?"

He leaned against the door, hoping that it would open, that it would slam into his head and knock him out for a little while. Of course, no such thing would happen. Blinking back tears, he looked up into the sky, which was fading into darker, cooler colors now before he started to speak.

"Sweets…Sweets thinks Bones is sick…"

Cam nodded and leaned back.

"What kind of sick, Seeley?"

"Depressed…"

The word came out of his mouth almost like a moan, and again she nodded, being the first one of his friends to understand his dilemma. She'd known him for most of her life-Of course she understood.

"And you're worried that she'll end up like your mom or you, right?"

He nodded, sighing.

"Seeley…I know your scared, but that doesn't give you a right to stop pushing against her,"

He looked over at her, a slight flash of anger. She took in a deep breath.

"Now listen. You're allowed to be scared, but do you remember what I did when I saw you like that? I didn't just let it go. I kept pushing you. And that's how you knew I cared,"

"I hated you…When you kept pushing. I hated you so much,"

"I'd rather have been hated then you'd have been dead. You hated me when I told Hank too. You wouldn't have lived to be a kick ass FBI agent if I hadn't, though,"

"Bones is stronger then I was…"

They were quiet for a long time until Camille replied.

"It doesn't always have to do with strength, Seeley,"

Closing his eyes, Booth shook his head.

"Yeah, you're right. But I need it. And I don't have it…"

"Then just do this for me…Don't give up on her,"

Camille got up and offered her hand to Booth. She stated that she had to get going, but would come see Dr. Brennan later. Her last word of advice was the exact same advice she had just given him.

"Don't give up on her…"

Sweets listened and nodded frequently while Brennan spoke, Angela running her fingers through the girl's hair. Hodgins' eyes got darker with every passing word, and he tried to keep his head up, even though it was harder to stay then he thought was possible.

The guilt that dripped through her words was undeniable, and the anger as well. Desperation, exhaustion. Shame, even. There was so much shame. And he was unsure of how to approach that shame.

"I hate psychology…" she muttered at the end, and Sweets smiled a little.

"Well, that's consistent with who you've always been. Congrats, Dr. Brennan. You aren't crazy," he stated, but Hodgins shot him a look that caused him to look down at his hands.

"Dr. Brennan. Can I ask you a question?"

A small tilt of her head as a response.

"When Dr. Hodgins was suffering from depression after…" he looked at Angela, who was more focused on keeping Brennan calm then his words. "After the miscarriage, why did you consult me if you hate psychology?"

"Because it has nothing to do with psychology, Sweets. It's a physical reaction. A chemical imbalance," she snarled at him, a sudden anger taking over her. Sweets held up his hands in defense, eyes wide, before shaking his head.

"How is his reaction any different than yours?"

The question caught her off guard, and caused both Angela and Jack to stiffen slightly.

"Because Dr. Hodgins had no direct influence on what happened,"

"How did you have any influence on what happened, Dr. Brennan?"

"I'm not saying it again…" she stated, and Angela silently begged Sweets not to bring it up once more, no matter how much it needed to be addressed.

"But Dr. Brennan, it wasn't your fault. You had no influence. It was, as you say, a random variable that was chosen. That's not to say your guilt or shame or emotions aren't valid. They are. A hormonal and chemical imbalance, as you say, aren't helping matters. Dr. Brennan, you're strong, but you can't take on the world by yourself all the time. You aren't superwoman," he stated.

"There's nothing wrong…" she stated.

Hodgins felt the pit in the bottom of his stomach, the reminder of what he'd told Dr. Brennan all those years ago. Sitting on the steps of the Jeffersonian, staring into space.

"Dr. Hodgins. Something is wrong. Trust me. Something is wrong. Come talk to Sweets with me. Please, Dr. Hodgins,"

"Nothings wrong, Dr. B…Everything's great…"

"If you don't do something right now, I'm going to get someone that will. Think of Michael and Angela! Think of me! At least do it for them!"

"Dr. B…Please. Just take your own advice…" he muttered. Angela looked up in surprise, but Brennan looked up at Hodgins, staring at his eyes.

For a moment, something clicked, and she looked away.

"I feel responsible," she stated. "And physiologically, yes, I understand that it has nothing to do with strength but…I can't think right…"

Sweets got up and nodded.

"I don't think it would be wise to bring you to a hospital…But you won't be left alone. Alright? In the morning, we'll go to my office, and we'll talk some more. I'll be here all night long,"

"I'm not leaving you, sweetie…" Angela stated.

The creak of a door opening showed Booth stepping in.

"I'm here too…"