Author's Note: Last chapter. I would like to thank Buttercups3 again for all her beta work. I know this took a while, but I hope it's been enjoyed all the same.

I do not own Bones or any of its characters.

Thank you to everyone who has read/followed/reviewed this. I really appreciate all of your support. :)

Rankor01: Thanks for the review, although I have to ask...have you found a way to hack into my computer so as to read my drafts. ;) Anyway, I figured that Brennan's feelings about psychology probably came from a pretty eschewed place since there is so much crossover between anthropology and psychology (as very humorously illustrated in the TBDitN episode). The more I study psychology, the more I realized that there frequently is no one "right" answer...something that is sure to be grating to the very rational and empirical Brennan.

TimeWitch93: Sadly, just like any other field that deals with helping people, there are some bad apples in the realm of psychology. It wouldn't shock me at all if Brennan ran into them. At the very least, it seems like she may have encountered some well-meaning but clueless practitioners who couldn't understand why different approaches are needed with Brennan. It's part of the reason why I think people underestimate Sweets' skill. He's probably one of the very few psychologists (other than Wyatt) who Brennan will listen to. And yes, I think Brennan definitely has relationship issues...it certainly crops up on the show.

Lives in the now: I'm thinking that the main reason she wouldn't have gotten angrier with Peter is because she really didn't care about the relationship anymore. Other than slights against her profession, her work and her intelligence, I've noticed that Brennan doesn't really care what most people think of her. But when she cares about someone (like Angela or Booth for example), she cares a lot about what they think of her. Thanks for the review and you may have been onto something about Brennan acknowledging Sweets' work...;)

D: When I watched the pilot, I got the distinct impression from their conversation that Peter saw their relationship's failure as mainly Brennan's fault due to her personal problems. That to me spoke of someone who was wrapped up in themselves and who was looking to mold Brennan into his ideal person. I imagine in his mind he figured that she was already beautiful, smart and successful...now if he could just make her more "normal" he'd be all set. I think it's part of the reason she is more suited to Booth...he doesn't try to make her into something else, he just lets her grow on her own.

Peanutmeg: Thanks for the reviews as always. I think it's sort of endearing how Sweets is so obviously affected by either Booth or Brennan complimenting his work in some way (often it's pretty indirect). It's almost as if he considers it a greater reward than any sort of professional achievement. And Sweets does have a way of explaining things with a method that Brennan will understand. I can think of several times where Brennan would be talking to someone and she would preface a sentence with "Doctor Sweets says that..." So at least she's trying to listen. That's progress. ;)

The Root of the Problem—part 4

Brennan looked over at him in disbelief. She thought back to all the things that they had discussed, but could find nothing that indicated to her what Sweets could have deduced from the remembrances that she had just related to him. She had always hated the sense that she was not catching onto to something others saw as obvious and started to become tense at Sweets' words.

Sweets did not press her for an answer to his request right away. He figured that she was probably sorting through a collection of thoughts and feelings that their conversation had brought up while trying to find answers to the questions that were sure to be forming in her mind. Even when she failed to recognize social cues or brushed aside any meaningful discussion of her own emotions, the therapist had always admired her thoughtful, analytical mind which was not prone to snap decisions. Thus, he wanted to give her the chance to form her own ideas about their talk before offering his own perspective.

"While it is true that I do not see much in the way of quantifiable facts that can be derived from these events, I will admit to being interested in what you have to say," Brennan finally conceded.

Sweets smiled gently, happy that he had the anthropologist relaxed enough to be open to listen to his lines of thought. When he first started treating her and Booth, there was many times that he doubted that he could ever reach this point when either of them welcomed his opinions. The psychologist felt a deep sense of contentment and satisfaction that so much had changed between the three of them.

"I asked for this session so that I could have a chance to gain some insight into how your life experiences might have molded the way you perceive psychology and the therapeutic process," Sweets said, settling back down in his chair. "I know that you are not one to form opinions hastily or without any sort of supporting evidence."

"To do so would be irrational and counterintuitive to the scientific reasoning process," Brennan agreed.

"Exactly," the therapist grinned while pointing his index finger at her for emphasis. "I've been considering your views on psychology for a while now, especially in the face of the many incidences where it has proved useful in casework and in managing the interpersonal relationships among the people you work and are close to."

Sweets sat back up and leaned close to Brennan.

"After talking to you, I think I have an idea of what was involved in forming your perceptions," he added.

"Which is?" the anthropologist asked, a challenge evident in her voice.

" Let me start by saying, Doctor Brennan, that when I'm treating you, I am not looking for the things that are wrong," Sweets answered gently. His soft reply extinguished the hard glint in Brennan's eyes, and she immediately relaxed into a slightly less defensive pose on the couch.

"Many people look to psychology to not only solve human problems, but to find answers to complex questions," the therapist continued. "Questions like 'why am I the way I am?' or 'why are my parents the way they are?' or even 'why isn't my family like everyone else's?"

Sweets could sense Brennan's discomfort that the direction the conversation was going by the way she started to flick her eyes away from him and fidget, but he decided to continue.

"The fact remains though that not every aspect of the human experiences can be neatly explained away through the lens of psychology," he said. "Any reputable leader in this field would admit to that, and if they are unable to categorize all human behavior perfectly, then it's unlikely that a casual student in introductory psychology classes would be able to find the exact answers she was looking for either."

"She?" Brennan said, the question evident in her tone.

"Also, the field of psychology is not just a hunt for disorder and disease in people," Sweets pressed on. "Everyone is different. What may turn into a severe dysfunction in one person may only be a minor deficit to overcome in another."

"Which demonstrates psychology's inability to produce consist results and analysis," Brennan interjected.

"Which shows an understanding of the need for flexibility when dealing with human beings," Sweets countered. "I know for a fact that such considerations are in place in anthropology. It's why anthropologists refuse to explain the makeup of cultural norms with only simplistic physical clues like geographic location or availability of food and shelter."

"Even allowing for the complexity and unpredictability of human systems, psychology remains a very malleable science," Brennan retorted. "That is why it is so easy for people to use it to…."

The anthropologist abruptly stopped, and Sweets felt his professional instincts begin to stir in response. Despite quickly assessing the meaning behind Brennan's open sentence, he considered his words carefully, knowing that he was treading into a sensitive area.

"To manipulate other people?" Sweets said, finishing her sentence. "To turn them into something more suitable or acceptable to their own ideas of normal and correct? To act as some sort of insidious punitive action?"

Sweets' eyes grew intense as he spoke, and Brennan seemed to find it hard to keep her gaze on him.

"Could it be…that lurking behind your thorough examination of psychology is the hurt, the concern…the uncertainty…which are the result of misguided searching on your part and of some unethical behavior on the part of others," he asked.

"I examined psychology the same way I would any collection of facts and questions before me," Brennan replied. "Part of being a scientist is being able to separate empirical observation from personal bias. If you were also a scientist, you would understand this process."

"I may not fit your definition of a scientist, but I do understand something about confronting personal bias in my line of work," Sweets asserted. "Besides this has little to do with being a scientist and more to do with how past experiences in a person's life can color their perceptions of the situations they encounter and the people around them."

The therapist sat up a little straighter and ignored Brennan's quick eye-roll at his words.

"Life is not something that can only be explained within the confines of science," he continued. "Therefore it's impossible for people to get the answers they need by only applying empiricism and rationality to their personal lives."

"Then how do they expect to find any sort of quantifiable answers?" Brennan protested. "Relying on feelings and emotions to find answers is the antithesis of logic."

"But it is the essence of humanity to consider feelings when making a decision about one's own life. No matter how flawed or mistaken that may be," the psychologist said. "You are human, Doctor Brennan. Humans are fallible. No one is exempt from this."

Sweets again fell silent, choosing to let his words sink in before continuing. Brennan had been giving him a baleful eye when he attempted to finish her thought, but as he had spoken, her expression relaxed. The therapist often suspected that Brennan believed that she was not allowed to make mistakes, that everyone expected perfection from her. Thus, it would be upsetting to her to find that her judgment could be clouded by memories and emotions. His suspicion gained credence with the uneasiness his words prompted in her, but then he became concerned at the way her eyes continued to flicker with worry.

'Being fallible means being vulnerable,' he reasoned. 'And being vulnerable makes you open to manipulation. Therefore….'

Realization soon struck him and Sweets' eyes widened for a moment before he caught himself and he regained his composure. He then got up and moved to sit beside Brennan on the couch. She looked confused at his change in seating, but quickly switched to a calmer expression in the face of his open and sincere demeanor.

"Doctor Brennan…I promise you that I am not trying to manipulate you or performing any sort of punitive action against you," Sweets said, looking her straight in the eye. "I'm only trying to help you."

"Help me?" she asked. "Help me get better?"

"No," Sweets said emphatically. "You're not ill. Nor are you 'damaged' in any way. You're just another person grappling with the difficulties that life doles out. We all have them. They just vary from person to person."

Sweets took a deep breath. He was trying hard to remain clinical in tone, but it was proving to be a formidable task.

"I just want you to get what you want and need out of your own life," he said. "Whether it's connecting better with others, feeling more confident in social situations or even better understanding your own thoughts and emotions, I want to help you move toward the kind of life you want."

The therapist knew that more than a slight trace of emotion was seeping into his voice, but Brennan's warm, if slight smile made his discomfort worthwhile.

"You're an intelligent, compassionate woman," Sweets said. "There's nothing for me to fix. There are only the parts of you that you will choose to leave behind as you grow."

Sweets stopped and looked downward, unsure of how his words would be taken.

"Doctor Sweets."

When the psychologist looked back up at her, he could detect a subtle change in her expression. Over the years, Sweets had learned to recognize this as the expression she wore when she was reaching some sort of conclusion.

"I'm still unsure of the purpose for this consultation or of the results gained from it," Brennan said. "But…sometimes an event or fact that initially appears to have no purpose can only be recognized as significant after careful examination and consideration. So I will consider what you have told me."

Brennan stood up from the couch, and Sweets did the same in response.

"I need to get back to the lab," the anthropologist said. "We received some more remains a couple of days ago that I am very anxious to attend to."

"Nothing crime related I take it?" Sweets asked.

"I can't say that for certain at this point, but considering the fact that they are at least four hundred years old, I doubt that either you or Booth will be involved," Brennan said with a playful sparkle in her eyes. She turned to leave, but as her hand touched the doorknob, she paused.

"Thank you," she said in almost a whisper. "For your…clarification on some things."

She then walked out, leaving Sweets standing alone in his office, stunned. He slouched back down into his chair and thought about the discussion he had just had.

The therapist was certain that this one conversation had not been sufficient to change her mind about psychology. He now realized that her beliefs had much deeper roots than he had previously speculated. Putting that aside, Sweets was sure that even if Brennan had shifted her views about psychology, she would never admit it openly. In that way, she was a lot like Booth: they both would rather let their actions showcase their beliefs than to profess them in words.

'Besides, if Brennan actually admitted to not being so violently opposed to psychology, what would she have left to give me grief over?' Sweets thought to himself with a smirk. 'Taking shots at my age is Booth's thing.'

Even so, Sweets felt content at the thought that at the very least his affirmation of his commitment as her friend and as her therapist had given her some resolution from all those memories she had just shared. Plus, he figured that the knowledge he gained would make future therapeutic situations a little easier to handle.

Sweets got up and gather up some files that were part of his latest profiling assignment which were on his desk and sat them next to his computer. Settling down into his chair, Sweets decided not to write down any notes about the session he had just had since it would not be going into his official files that he kept. The psychologist knew that he wanted to keep this firmly locked away in a corner of his mind, ready to access if she needed his assistance again.

As he began to write up his latest report, Sweets made a mental note to ask Booth if they could invite Brennan to drinks at the Founding Fathers tonight after work.