"Hey, Aldo." Booth sat down at the bar.
"Booth! Long time, man. What'll ya have?"
"I'll have what you're having. Here...buy yourself another." Booth laid a 20 dollar bill on the counter and took a swig. "Damn….that's got some bite to it. Are you sure this isn't drain cleaner?"
"What's on your mind, Booth?" Aldo eyed him suspiciously.
"Can't a guy just come visit his friend?" Booth took another drink. "Nothing's wrong, really."
"Your social calls always involve something more, Booth. Spill it."
Booth stared into his glass. "I guess you know I fell off the wagon with my gambling, right?"
"Yeah...I heard."
"Bones kicked me out of the house, but I went back to GA and I've been clean for six months now. We're back together."
"I'm glad things are better. What's the problem, Booth?"
"So...how do I know...it's silly, Aldo...how do I know when I've done enough penance? How do I know when I'm at a place where I deserve to have Bones love me again?"
"She's forgiven you, but you can't forgive yourself, right?"
"I guess so. I'm afraid I'm going to let her down again."
"I understand." Aldo nodded. "But in a situation like this it's not like you can go say 15 Hail Marys and feel better. I'd say that no one deserves to be loved or to be forgiven because all of us make stupid mistakes. That's what makes it so wonderful when we do get love and forgiveness from someone. It's always possible that you'll do something else stupid, but she loves you, and she'll forgive you if you do.
"That doesn't help me one damn bit."
"The only thing that will help is time, Booth. You'll learn to trust yourself again." Aldo smiled. "More drain cleaner?"
"Sure...why not? Thanks, Aldo."