(The Dwarf in the Dirt)

I don't own Bones.

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For a while, Gordon Wyatt had been in regular communication with Lance Sweets while he'd been overseas. They had exchanged letters and Sweets had written to him numerous times about the book he had been writing about Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan. Suddenly the letters stopped. After he left the FBI and became a chef, Wyatt didn't have any free time to look into the matter, but now that his restaurant was doing well and he had some free time and could get away from his restaurant, he decided to check in with Sweets to see what was going on.

Finding the young man in his office, Wyatt knocked on the door and entered the room. "I'm not disturbing you, am I?"

Surprised to see the older psychiatrist Sweets stood up, crossed the room and shook Wyatt's hand. "I didn't know you were coming back to the States. Are you back permanently or are you here just for a visit?"

"I've been back for quite a while. I gave up psychiatry and I'm a chef now. I did tell that was my plan the last time I saw you . . . I own a restaurant in The District." Wyatt shook the younger man's hand and pointed at the couch and chair next to them. Once they were seated facing each other, Wyatt folded his hands against his stomach and smiled at the younger man. "You stopped writing to me about your book. I hope some of my suggestions didn't upset you. You know they were meant to be helpful hints. They weren't demands or censorship."

Embarrassed, Sweets blushed. "I'm sorry. I probably should have written to you and explained what was going on . . . Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan are living together now. My book isn't going to be written. It turns out the book was a complete waste of my time."

"Ah, I see. That is an interesting development." Wyatt was curious about what had happened to change the partners.

"Yeah . . . You gave up being a psychiatrist? I guess I forgot that was your plan. I'm sorry." Sweets found it interesting that the man had followed through with his plan to change professions. "I guess if I'd continued to write to you . . ."

Wyatt held up his hand. "Don't worry about that. We've both been very busy."

"Thanks . . . I don't know if you know this, but Booth had a brain tumor." Sweets held up his hand. "It wasn't malignant, thank God . . . Booth didn't react to the anesthesia like normal people do and he was in a coma for three days almost four . . . um, well, it worried Dr. Brennan and she wrote him a story while he was asleep . . . sort of a bridge between his coma and reality . . . anyway, she talked to him while she was writing it on her laptop. It was a murder mystery and she and Booth were the main characters . . . they were married in the book and when Booth finally woke up . . . well, he thought he was married to Dr. Brennan. It took me a few weeks to fix that or at least I thought I had, but sometime after they started working again, they became a couple . . . Booth says he loves Dr. Brennan, but I'm afraid he's still being influenced by the story she wrote him . . . I'm afraid that sooner or later he's going to fall out of love with her and that is going to be the end of their partnership and friendship."

Slowly shaking his head, Wyatt knew that Sweets had come to the wrong conclusion. "Booth has been in love with Dr. Brennan for a long time and I feel confident in saying Dr. Brennan has also been in love with Booth for some time. Maybe not as long as Booth but there you are . . . Their friendship is strong and I think that is what has allowed them to trust each other enough to acknowledge that love."

Astonished, Sweets shook his head. "They've always denied they were in love. Over and over, they've claimed to just be partners and friends . . . Maybe Dr. Brennan was in love with Booth, in fact I suspected as much and that story she wrote for Booth was just her feelings for him put into writing. I just don't believe Booth was in love with her before his coma and I'm really worried about what will happen when he falls out of love."

Concerned, Wyatt stared at his young friend. "I hope you haven't told that to Booth . . . Did you?"

"I did and he . . . uh . . . he threatened me." Sweets ran his hand down his tie. "He said if I try to talk to Dr. Brennan about what's going on with his relationship with her I'll regret it. To be more accurate. He told me not to fuck with him . . . He is . . . Well, you've seen his file and believe me he isn't someone to make angry or to mess with. He's a dangerous man when he feels threatened. I am taking his threat very seriously."

"And you haven't told anyone at the Hoover about the threat?" Wyatt hoped that Sweets was taking Booth's threat seriously.

Chuckling, Sweets shook his head. "Why bother? Deputy Director Bishop gave his approval of their relationship as has Assistant Deputy Director Hacker. Anything I say will be ignored . . . Booth and Dr. Brennan are very valuable assets to the FBI and the Jeffersonian and the higher ups would hate for me to rock the boat. Besides, anything I tell them about Booth and his love for his partner would be considered speculation and since they want Booth to be happy . . ." Sweets shook his head. "Dr. Brennan makes him happy and therefore I'm going to have to mind my own business . . . I'm a realist. I can only help someone if they want my help and Booth has warned me to back off. I've done that for the time being . . . Frankly, even though he is my friend . . . he scares me sometimes. I know what he did for the Army and the CIA and he isn't someone you want to make an enemy."

"I agree, but I think you're overreacting." Wyatt smiled and leaned back against his chair. "Booth would never hurt you. Not really. He likes you, you've told me that numerous times and I think that is ample protection from his more dangerous tendencies. I would take his warning seriously though. Why anger the man? You work as his profiler and he can stop that anytime he wants to . . . Just standby and observe. If he needs your help he will come to you, but I don't think he will fall out of love with Dr. Brennan. The man has been in love with her for years and he finally has what he wants."

"We're going to have to disagree about that, but like I said, I'm a realist." Sweets sighed. "I just hope you're right and I'm wrong because if I am right . . . Dr. Brennan will never trust anyone again if this relationship fails."

Wyatt agreed, but he felt that Sweets was worried about something that will never happen. "They are very good friends and they will never let that part of their lives fail. I can assure you that they have built a friendship that I envy. They have had their ups and downs, but their friendship is rock solid and they will work hard to keep their relationship intact."

"We'll see." Sweets hoped that Wyatt was right.

Ooooooooooooooo

Wyatt entered Booth's office and called out a greeting. "Agent Booth . . . haven't shot any clowns lately have you?"

Glad to see the man, Booth stood up, walked around his desk and strode across the room to shake the psychiatrist's hand. "Gordon Gordon . . . are you back in the States for good?"

"Yes, I am. I don't work for the FBI anymore. I think I mentioned that I was going to quit psychiatry the last time I met with you . . . I did that and I am now a chef and I own a restaurant in The District." Pointing at the chair in front of Booth's desk, the older man walked over to it and sat down.

Moving back around his desk, Booth sat down and clasped his hands on top of the desk. "I'll have to try out your restaurant . . . Um, Doc . . . why did you bring up me shooting Peter Geller? That was a long time ago and I shot him because he was trying to kill Bones, me and a young girl named Megan Shaw. I had to shoot him. The review board cleared me on that one."

Puzzled, Wyatt shook his head. "Don't you remember why you were sent to see me professionally? Do you remember what incident triggered that requirement?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Booth frowned at the odd question. "Yeah, I was feeling guilty about Howard Epps's death because I wasn't sure if I'd dropped him when I grabbed his hand to prevent him from falling . . . I get it, I didn't drop him. He fell . . . Why bring up Petter Geller?"

"I wasn't bringing up Peter Geller, I assure you . . . What triggered your required sessions with me was the fact that you shot a clown on a public street. It caused a lot of concern with the Deputy Director and the Director."

Pale, Booth felt a little sick. "I . . . I . . ." He paused and licked his lips. "I shot someone dressed up as a clown? I . . . why did I shoot him? I don't remember that and . . . I don't understand."

He saw the fear on the man's face and realized that Booth didn't remember the incident at all. "Not a real clown, Booth. You shot a paper mâché clown's head on the top of an ice cream truck. I can assure you, you did not shoot a real clown. I'm sorry. If I had known you had forgot about the incident I wouldn't have mentioned it."

Relieved, Booth stared at Wyatt for a few moments. "Um, good . . . why did I shoot the clown's head?"

"Apparently the ice cream vendor was playing his music too loud and you were annoyed." Wyatt decided to see how Booth would react.

"That's crazy . . . I don't remember doing that." Booth leaned back against his chair. "I had a brain tumor and they took it out . . . some of my memories are missing. Not a lot of memories, but some of them."

Curious, Wyatt leaned forward. "And how do you handle that memory loss?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Booth decided to be honest. "I ask Bones about it. She usually knows about the missing memory and she explains it to me. If it's something she can't help me with I either research it or if it's not important, I just forget about it."

Wyatt wondered if Sweets knew about this. "Good . . . at least you have worked out how to handle it . . . So, you and Dr. Brennan are in a relationship now. Congratulations."

"Thanks . . . I finally just told her I love her and she accepted it and she's giving us a chance." Booth smiled. "She's great. You know she doesn't believe in love, but well . . . she has her reasons, but she trusts me and she's giving me a chance to show her that we can make a relationship work . . . She doesn't really trust a lot of people, but she trusts me."

"Yes, she does." Wyatt saw that the agent was happy and he hoped his relationship with his partner was a success. "Just remember, you were friends first and that will help you when things get rocky . . . Things always get rocky, but if you're patient and lean on your friendship, I think you and Dr. Brennan can work out your differences and maintain your relationship."

Booth nodded his head. "Yeah, me and Bones talked about this before we got together and no matter what happens, we're always going to be friends. That's very important to her and to me."

Standing, Wyatt smiled at the agent. "Well, I must be off. I just dropped by to say hello. It was good to see you again. Just remember that Dr. Sweets is available if you need any advice."

"Him . . . He thinks I don't love Bones." Booth crossed his arms against his chest. "I told him to back off and so far he has . . . I don't think I'll be talking to him about anything."

Concerned, Wyatt cleared his throat. "Booth . . . I have talked to Sweets about your coma and he explained the events surrounding it. He is just concerned about you and Dr. Brennan . . . He didn't realize that you loved Dr. Brennan before your coma and he's afraid for you. I talked to him and he will not interfere with your relationship with Dr. Brennan. Just remember, he is available if you need any help."

Not sure he trusted Sweets, Booth sighed. "A few years ago, he betrayed me and Bones. It was bad enough that it could have destroyed my partnership . . . I forgave him because Bones did, but I haven't forgot what he did and now . . . well, I'll just wait and see what he does."

Alarmed, Wyatt wondered what Sweet had done. "Would you like to explain what that betrayal was?"

"No . . . it's taken care of and he can never do it again." Booth rubbed the back of his head. "Don't worry about it, Doc. The ball is in Sweets' court. He has to prove to me that I can trust him. So far, he's left Bones and me alone and that's helped."

"Alright . . . I really do have to go. It was nice seeing you again and . . . good luck." Gordon walked over to the doorway, paused and looked back. "If you get a chance and have the time and inclination, drop by my restaurant and I will give you a meal that you will find is utter perfection . . . or as close to perfection as I can achieve. Free of charge of course. Bring your partner with you."

Never one to turn down a free meal, Booth smiled. "You got it, Doc. I'll find the time. Believe me."

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