11.

"What the hell happened?" Booth asked as they got back to the hospital. Cam & Angela were standing outside the room and looked up at Booth's eloquent question.

"I thought he was fine, what…" Booth seemed to lose steam in regards to yelling between it being a long and arduous day and the fact it was two in the morning.

"I knew it was not uncommon for this to happen, I was just hoping it wouldn't." Cam said.

"Well how is he?" Brennan asked skipping the disclaimers.

"He's stable. They were able to intervene in time. They are keeping him under observation. In addition to this they are concerned over the possibility of another arrest, pneumonia…"

"Well shit Cam I didn't know…" Booth began upset and angry.

"Look!" Cam said but immediately stopped as the tears started. She couldn't keep it together anymore, she had been staying strong but now was too much. Booth immediately stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her as more tears fell.

Dr. Carter stepped out of the room and cleared his throat.

"I'm moving him right outside the nurse's station and have a constant watch on him. I'll let you see him for a few minutes but then you all need to go home. Visitor hours are much past over and honestly you all look like hell. It would be best to be well rested for the next time you see your friend." He said it to deter their requests to stay as he could tell they were about to. "You can see him briefly tonight, but make sure to keep him calm. No more case solving today." He warned and left down the hall.

They walked in the room to see Sweets sleeping though his breathing still seemed labored. Sweets woke up to see everyone standing there.

"Hey guys." He said trying to sound casual. His chest felt sore, like he had been zapped. "Did you catch the guy?" He wanted to rub his chest but his movements were still awkward with the bandages on.

"Yeah, we did." Booth said. "Thanks you to your help."

Sweets was shaking his head as though he had little to do with it but Cam stepped in. "Let's talk about the case later." While she knew Sweets would feel relaxed that they caught they guy, she also knew he would want to offer more insight, though against doctor's wishes.

"Is everything okay?" Sweets asked in a dry voice. He noticed everyone was staring at him.

"Yeah, we just, it's been a long day and we wanted to see you, say good night." Angela said trying to keep emotions from rising and causing suspicion. Luckily Sweets was too tired to notice.

"Oh, I'm fine. You guys look tired, you should go home." Sweets suggested. They smiled at the suggestion and the near look of old Sweets, the one more concerned about them than himself.

"Good night Sweets." They said and left at the same time his eyes slid shut.

"Oh, good morning." Booth said stepping in Sweets room. He was surprised that Sweets was awake and it appeared had been for a while.

"Good morning." Sweets said back looking up at the agent standing by the door. "What's up?"

"Nothing's up Sweets, just came by to see how you were doing this morning."

"Oh." Sweets said surprised. Booth didn't like that Sweets assumed he was there for something more like work. "I'm fine, just, uh sitting here." Sweets added while trying to slyly stuff his bandaged hands out of sight. Booth didn't notice Sweets do that as he came closer.

"You uh, look better, you looked pretty pale yesterday." Booth said stepping closer though he was still slightly uncomfortable. He didn't know what to say but he really wanted to be here.

"Oh, uh, thanks." Sweets answered back. He could sense Booth's discomfort but he was too tired to offer to discuss it. He appreciated Booth being there but he also hoped he would leave. He didn't like sitting there in a hospital gown while Booth was dressed in a suit. "I feel better, still sort of tired."

"Good morning." A nurse said entering the room. "We have a great breakfast here for you, it will help get your strength back up." She announced setting it on the table and pulling it close to Sweets.

Booth could tell the hot meal was sitting under the cover. As the nurse left Booth wondered why Sweets hadn't started eating when he remembered his bandaged hands.

"Should I uh…" Booth started but he really wasn't sure what to suggest he do- get a nurse, offer to help? It was too weird to offer to help another guy eat.

"No, I'm not really hungry." Sweets said pushing the table back some. Booth knew it was a lie since Sweets couldn't stop staring at the plate. Sweets was indeed starving since he hadn't eaten in so long and the whole event had taken such a physical toll. But he wasn't about to ask Booth to help him. Instead they sat in an uncomfortable silence for a moment.

"Well I'd better go, maybe I can tell a nurse to stop by…" Booth began but Sweets shook his head.

"No, I'm really fine Booth. Thanks though. Tell everyone hi." Sweets said and offered a consolation smile.

Booth nodded and left. He walked down the hall and got in his car. The whole time he thought of Sweets sitting there with a hot breakfast getting cold. All because he was too proud to offer to help, and Sweets too proud to accept it. He backed out of his parking space and pulled away and all the while couldn't shake the thought.

The thought of those people who turned their heads at the notion of helping Edwards because it wasn't socially acceptable came to mind. Helping Sweets eat breakfast would be seen as too socially weird, and Sweets knew that and felt it as well. So instead Booth thought, he was uncomfortable and Sweets was hungry when he needed to eat. Booth prided himself on not letting his people be hurt, by fighting for the underdog and by not letting a social standard bother him. He realized he had just failed on all those at that moment.

He turned the car around.

Booth walked down the hall for the second time in the same hour and walked into Sweets room. He paused quickly at the sight of Angela, helping Sweets with breakfast. As he stepped in they almost acted like he had caught them doing something suspicious as they almost stopped eating immediately.

"Good morning Booth." Angela offered.

"Angela, uh, hi." Booth said trying to rethink what he was about to say. "What are you doing here this morning?"

"Well I wanted to see how Sweets was doing and thought I could help." She said though Sweets was busy looking away. He didn't like sitting there being fed in what to him seemed like feeding a baby.

"I guess I was hungry after all." Sweets said and Booth realized he seemed to feel guilty about lying about not being hungry.

"Sometimes it takes me a while to get hungry too." Booth said. "And that sucks with your hands but you know they'll get better."

"Yes, but right now that's what friend are for, right Sweets?" Angela said arranging some eggs on the fork. Booth could tell this must have taken some coaxing to allow Angela to help him

Sweets nodded slowly as though still trying to accept that notion. He didn't want to look at Booth while Angela held out the eggs, it felt humiliating. Booth was about to address that when Caroline Julian walked in.

"Oh good, my favorite case closers." She said stepping in. "I like cases where they confess, signed, sealed and delivered. You know if you could line up all cases like this I would appreciate it." She paused looking over at still recovering Sweets. "Well, not exactly like this." She said thinking of what Sweets had to go thru.

"So we're all good then?" Booth asked turning his attention to Caroline.

Sweets and Angela resumed their routine of eating with less attention drawn to Sweets. Angela watched Sweets eyes search the plate for an indication of what he wanted a bite of next. He was too timid to say anything. She was glad he finally let her help, she wanted to help, after she was so late in getting back to help him yesterday. She still carried guilt about that. She had wanted to talk to Sweets about it but Booth had shown up.

"Yeah we're closed on the case." Caroline continued. "I just wanted to see how the boy wonder was doing."

"Better." Sweets said acknowledging her question.

"Good morning." Dr. Carter said stepping in. "I don't want to interrupt your visit on these non-visiting hours." He said sarcastically knowing they would continue to ignore them as much as he allowed them to. "But I do need to take Dr. Sweets for a couple of tests."

"Tests, what tests?" Angela asked, red flags instantly going up.

"Just routine after an incident such as this. Are you finished Dr. Sweets?" Dr. Carter asked motioning to the half-eaten breakfast.

"We're only half way thru." Angela protested.

Sweets nodded that it was fine, that he was finished. The sound of the word "tests" even "routine" did not increase his appetite any.

"It's not uncommon during recovery to not be hungry for full meal. We'll get there." The doctor promised. He waited and the visitors realized he was waiting for them to leave. They bid their farewells and walked to the hall.

"Do you think the tests are all really routine?" Angela asked as they walked out.

"I didn't question it till now!" Booth exclaimed.