525600 moments chapter 7
This is my present to you for the 100th episode. So amazing... although I feel sorry for Hodgins wrist. That's all I'm saying in case you haven't seen it yet.
Thanks to Gianna for betaing!
Chapter 7: Melolontha Melolontha and other bugs
"You really want to do this?" Cam asked him for the umpteenth time that day. "The second we step in there, there's nothing I can do to save you," she pointed out again.
"Relax, I'm gonna be just fine," he laughed her off again, not really scared. Yes, he was nervous about meeting her family and he also knew that the Saroyan clan would be difficult to handle, but at the same time he was looking forward to it. Finally, he would get to meet her family and they would get to know him as her boyfriend. This made their relationship even more official and he nearly felt like he was attending a ceremonious celebration instead of her father's birthday party.
"Ok, then let's get this over with," she said darkly and clutched his hand tighter than before, then rang the doorbell of the suburban family home.
"You grew up here?" he asked what he had been wondering ever since they had pulled up to it twenty minutes ago.
"No, I grew up in Queens. My parents moved here right after I finished high school," she replied as they waited for someone to open the door.
"Cami!" a man barked happily as he opened the door and pulled her into a tight hug that made her hand slip out of Hodgins'.
"Hey Dad, happy birthday" she replied and kissed his cheek before he pulled her into another hug.
"How are you, honey?" he asked her as he pulled back and looked at her, keeping her close by placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm fine Dad," she smiled but was far from relaxed; her tense shoulders told Hodgins as much.
"I'm so happy you could come, princess. Where's my little girl? Where's Michelle?" he asked her then and looked past her, seeing Hodgins standing in the doorway. "Who are you?" he wanted to know and the smile vanished from his face. Instead his eyebrows rose and if Hodgins hadn't been so nervous he would have laughed because he knew that look too well
"I'm Jack Hodgins, Sir. Happy birthday" he replied and held out his hand. Cam's father didn't take it, but rather looked at it like it was poisonous.
"Dad, I told you I was bringing him," Cam said quietly, nearly begging him.
"I guess you did," he just replied, still eying Hodgins warily. "Now where's Michelle?"
"She had to study for her exam on Monday and couldn't come. She said she'd call you later," Cam replied while Hodgins was still standing outside. Cam made a point of stepping away from her father and holding her hand out to Jack, leading him into the house. "Daddy, this is Jack Hodgins. Jack this is my father," she introduced them unnecessarily and this time her father took Hodgins hand and squeezed it as hard as he could. He looked surprised when Hodgins had the guts to squeeze back.
"So, Jack huh?" Mr. Saroyan muttered. "Why didn't you bring my boy Seeley?" he asked Cam and Hodgins just shook his head, a tiny smile on his face. This guy wasn't going to pass up any opportunity to try and provoke him.
"Dad, you know..." Cam started mortified but Hodgins interrupted her.
"Booth says hi and was sorry he couldn't come with us, but it's his weekend with Parker," Hodgins grinned. He had been anticipating this sentence, knowing it would come so he had an answer ready. Cam gaped at him and her father seemed too surprised to react at first, but then helped his daughter out of her jacket.
"Jack, if you give me your jacket we can put them in the office so they're out of the way," Cam said when she took her jacket from her father.
"Sure," Hodgins shrugged, but took both jackets and followed her into the first room on the right, which appeared to be her father's study. Cam placed their clothes over an armchair and took his hand in hers on their way back out.
"We were already waiting on you for dinner, princess. You're way too thin, you need to eat more," Mr. Saroyan said when they stepped out of the office. He glanced disapprovingly at their joined hands but led the way to the dining room, where at least 25 people were sitting. There seemed to be even more people in the kitchen and the living room. Kids were running around tables followed by barking dogs, babies were passed from one family member to the next, crying for their parents and the adults were discussing loudly.
"Hi everyone," Cam said loudly into the room, but no one seemed to react. "Nice to be back," she said quietly and Hodgins squeezed her hand gently and gave her a tiny smile when she looked at him.
"Everyone, this is Jack Hodgins. He's Cami's friend and her guest for tonight," Cam's father yelled into the room and that seemed to get everyone's attention because all heads turned in his direction.
"Friend and guest, huh?" Felicia grinned suggestively from the kitchen and made her way over to Cam and Hodgins.
"Yes, he's my boyfriend and he's here with me," Cam shrugged nonchalantly and air-kissed her sisters cheeks, aware that everybody was now listening.
"What happened to that FBI hunk?" her aunt asked from the living room and came over as well.
"Seeley and I haven't been together in a long time," Cam admitted and stepped closer to Hodgins, partially shielding him from her aunt Sally.
"You're FBI as well, Jack?" she asked him, her eyes wandering over his upper body that was only too defined with the tight shirt he wore.
"No, I work at the Jeffersonian Institute with Cam," he shook his head as he stroked a piece of fuzz off Cam's shoulder.
"What was your name again?" Cam's great-aunt yelled over from the armchair by the fireplace and Cam walked over to her and kissed her cheek, pulling Jack after her.
"Jack Hodgins, Mam," he answered obediently.
"Let me look at you," she requested and put her glasses on her nose that had been hanging around her neck before.
"Those eyes, the curls.... You're not working at the Jeffersonian. You're the sole heir of the Cantilever group, Michael's son," she said.
"Busted," Hodgins muttered, the room suddenly dead silent.
"How do you know Ann?" Cam gasped.
"As a young woman I worked in the kitchen at the Hodgins estate. I've know this young man since he was born," she said and smiled friendly at him.
"Oh wow," Cam said quietly. "I didn't know," she told Hodgins.
"Me either," he shrugged, refusing to make a big deal out of it.
"You didn't know your friend is a billionaire?!" he father asked loudly, making sure that everyone had heard the billionaire loud and clear.
"No, I mean that Ann worked for the Hodgins family," Cam shook her head.
"You couldn't just bring a normal guy after Seeley, you had to make sure he was gonna be special too, didn't you?" Felicia hissed at Cam, but Hodgins could hear as well.
"I'm not with Jack because he has money," Cam whispered back, as aggressively as she could whisper with her whole family staring at them.
"Sure, I'd say that as well," Felicia huffed and then stomped off.
"Do you two always have to fight? Go and apologize to your sister, Cami," her father piped up.
"I absolutely won't! I didn't do anything wrong," Cam replied with a pout on her face and looked like an offended four year old.
"I don't like it when you behave like this, missy," Cam's father lectured her, but she just rolled her eyes.
"I'm not three anymore so you can stop telling me what to do, Dad," she replied and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"You go and apologize or you can go up to your room, young lady," Mr. Saroyan said sternly and pointed to the stairway.
"Is he serious?" Hodgins chuckled as quietly as he could.
"He grounded Booth once when he broke Dad's baseball racket. Accidentally," Cam whispered back, not really noticing that Hodgins had slipped one arm around her waist. It was so normal for both of them that her inner alarm didn't even go off when her father was around.
"Hey you! Take your hands off my daughter! Who do you think you are?! Just because you have money doesn't mean you can touch my daughter. She's my little girl," Mr. Saroyan lectured Hodgins, who jumped back immediately and stuck his hands in his jean pockets. "What are you? A protestant? Democrat?" he went on. Hodgins stared at him for a moment, then burst out in laughter. Cam elbowed him in the ribs, but he couldn't stop.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," he gasped between laughing and held his stomach with one hand.
"Jack, stop laughing!" Cam stage whispered, but he was too far gone and completely in hysterics. Cam's aunt Ann had joined him, simply because his laughter was contagious.
"We're having dinner now. Everyone get ready to say your prayers and admit your sins," Cam's father said when Hodgins just couldn't stop. While the family gathered round the dining table again Cam pulled Jack out into the backyard.
"Take a deep breath and stop laughing," she ordered but was smiling as well.
"I just... he's treating you like you're still thirteen and I'm the new boyfriend," he said and tried to calm down.
"He's living in denial about my sisters and me, while he's encouraging my brother's to pro-create as much as possible," she giggled.
"I thought you only had one sister," he said and took deep breaths.
"No, two sisters, four brothers and they are all in there. Felicia and I are the youngest," she shrugged.
"Ah, that explains so much," he nodded and pulled her close by her waist.
"I think he'll be disappointed because he can't intimidate me. He should've met my father. He was scary," Hodgins said and shuddered. "Not to mention my mother," he added.
"So you're gonna be ok?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Of course. I know what his little girl does when he's not around, after all," he grinned and kissed her softly. "You're ok? You're still pale," he observed.
"I'm still nauseous and it's getting on my nerves. I'm scared the migraine will come back when I stop taking the meds though," she admitted.
"Maybe you should eat a bit, something stomach friendly," he replied, stroking gently over her cheek.
"There's nothing stomach friendly around when my grandmother cooks," she grinned and pecked his lips again. "You're good to go back or are you gonna start laughing again?" she asked him.
"I think I have it under control now. Just try not to anger your dad again or I might not be held responsible for my actions," he chuckled and followed her back inside.
~*~
"So you never bet on your team?" Cam's brother Jo junior asked Hodgins a while after dinner. The guys were sitting in the living room talking sports while the women were washing the dishes in the kitchen. Hodgins had wanted to help Cam like he usually did, but it seemed like in Cam's family they had a more traditional understanding of male and female roles.
"I'm not much into sports bets, other than the twenty bucks we used to bet at the Jeffersonian," he shook his head and looked over to the kitchen door again. His gut was telling him that Cam was feeling worse now than she had when they had arrived. She was basically green in the face but no one except him seemed to notice.
"Cam was always ripping us off on ice hockey bets," her other brother Brandon said.
"You play any sports?" Cam's dad asked Hodgins. He was still far from friendly but not plain out hostile anymore, which he took as a good sign.
"I just work out regularly and go running. I don't have much time for anything else," he replied truthfully.
"Why are you even working when you have that much money? I surely wouldn't," Cam's youngest brother Matt said. He had a big mouth, a lot of kids and Hodgins had to try hard to hide the fact that he didn't like him one bit.
"I love my work," he said simply, not caring to elaborate.
"So, my Cami's your boss?" her father went on.
"Yup."
"That's so hot! If my boss was female I'd totally date her!" Matt chimed in again.
"You have four kids and a wife," Jack couldn't stop himself.
"Just joking, man," Matt laughed and the rest joined him, while Hodgins just looked disapprovingly at him. During dinner he had tried to talk first Hodgins and then Cam into giving him money for a pool at his house. Cam had declined, telling him that he should maybe pay his debts first before building a pool. Hodgins was used to people asking him for money whenever they found out who he was so he hadn't even bothered replying. He glanced at the kitchen door again, hoping that Cam would come to his rescue. She actually came through the door that moment, more like burst through it, but only to hurry upstairs. With one look he knew what was going on and was following her before the men in her family had registered his exit.
He found her hunched over the toilet spitting out the food she had consumed earlier. When he heard footsteps on the stairs he closed and locked the door behind him before he went over to her and held her hair back.
"You really have to talk to your doctor. That's not normal," he said when she was done and handed her a glass of water with some mouthwash in it.
"The blood test results should be in by Monday, I'll talk to her then," she replied after rinsing her mouth.
"You wanna go home?" he asked her when she leaned against him, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Can't. There's still the birthday cake and the singing coming up. If we leave before that I'll never hear the end of it," she replied, enjoying the way he rubbed his hands up and down her back.
"If you want to go, you give me a sign and I'll make it happen no matter what, ok?" he asked her, looking her in the eyes.
"Ok," she replied and her eyes showed the gratefulness she felt.
"Ok, then let's get out of here. Bathrooms aren't safe places anymore when it comes to us," he winked and made her laugh.
"What were you two doing in there?" Cam's dad asked as soon as they emerged.
"I caught a bug a few days ago and Jack was making sure I was ok," Cam lied without blinking.
"Are you alright? You want to lie down? Have some tea?" Cam's father asked worried and noticed the arm Hodgins had placed protectively around his daughter's shoulder.
"No, daddy, I'm alright. Just don't make me eat the cake later," she said and paled just thinking about it.
"You don't have to, honey," he replied with a small smile and a tenderness in his voice that surprised Hodgins. Together they made their way downstairs and found that the women had meanwhile joined the men in the living and dining room. Still, each group was mainly talking amongst themselves.
"Cami, everything ok?" one of Cam's uncles, whose name Hodgins couldn't remember, asked.
"Yes, great," she replied, the fake smile firmly in place.
"Come sit, my child," Aunt Anna said, but took Hodgins hand and made him sit down in the armchair she had formerly occupied, not Cam."Cam you should really pay more attention to your guest. He doesn't even have anything to drink," she went on.
"I'm good, thank you," Hodgins smiled politely, took Cam's hand again and pulled her down in his lap. She was feeling so miserable by now that she didn't even argue. She was still feeling sick and being around her family made her furious and sad at the same time. Furious because they weren't able to read her even after all these years and didn't even bother trying and sad because the only person who ever could, her mother, was dead.
"If your father castrates me after seeing us like this, I'll totally blame you," Hodgins whispered in her ear and managed to make her smile.
"I'll deny everything," she replied, leaning with her right shoulder against his chest. She saw her father walking up to them, looking annoyed.
"You still owe me an answer," he barked at Hodgins.
"About?" he replied and really had no idea what the tall man was talking about.
"Are you a protestant and a democrat?" he asked.
"No sir, catholic and a republican. I've been a member since college. And president of the 'celibacy before marriage' club," he replied and was able to keep a straight face. Cam bit her lip to keep from laughing and looked down to her shoes, not able to look at her father.
"Ever been married?" the interrogation went on.
"No, sir," he answered like he was in the military and was tempted to salute, but didn't dare to tick off the elder man even more.
"Good, good," the old man muttered, not really sure if he could believe his daughter's new boyfriend or not.
"Look what I found in the kitchen," Cam's cousin Caitlin shrieked and came out with a huge birthday cake that had so many sparklers on it, it looked like the cake would explode any second.
"Oh my," Hodgins mumbled when he saw it while the others started to sing.
"Can't tell you how many times a cake has melted or something caught fire. They'll never learn," Cam grinned.
"Maybe I should invite your relatives to the Jeffersonian next time I blow something up. Show them how it's really done," he replied and applauded with the rest when Cam's dad blew out the candles.
"Over my dead body," she replied and slapped his chest playfully.
"Cam, stop making googly eyes at the guy and let him eat his cake," Felicia complained when she thrust a plate with cake into Hodgins hand a second later.
"Charming," he said to Cam, but loud enough for Felicia to hear. "Your other sister just as nice?" he asked.
"She doesn't talk to us. She and Jo have another mother and she basically hates our guts," Cam said and stole some frosting off his plate to get a taste of it.
"Are there two people in this room who actually get along without any troubles?" he wanted to know and looked around.
"No. Everybody meddles in the issues of others which means they fight all the time. I try to keep them out of my business to break the vicious circle, but it's not easy," she said.
"Can I guess that it was your dad who freaked out Michelle?" Hodgins grinned after another moment of looking around.
"Let's just say that my "God will smite you" comment didn't come out of thin air. When I was young my mom always sent dad out bowling whenever God, meaning dad, would have been tempted to smite me," she smiled.
"Felicia doesn't look like virgin Mary either," he said, raising his eyebrows.
"Oh please, if Dad only knew half of it he would lock her up in a chastity belt for the rest of her remaining life," she replied. "You wanna get out of here and go home? Watch some TV, cuddle on the couch and kiss as much as we want?" she asked."If I'm not throwing up again..," she added as an afterthought.
"Sounds really relaxing. I feel like my cheeks will fall off any moment from all the fake smiling I've had to do," he nodded enthusiastically,
"I had to go on a cruise with half of them two years ago for Christmas. I have never wished more for an iceberg in my life," she rolled her eyes and got off of him. Together they sought out her father amongst all the people.
"Dad, Jack's gonna drive me home now. I'm still not feeling too well," she said careful not to let it slip that they would go home together.
"Aw, you're already leaving. You have to come to Friday night dinner then," he said disappointedly.
"Of course I will Dad," she nodded and hugged him briefly.
"Bye Mr. Saroyan. Thanks for having me," Hodgins said as they shook hands.
"It wasn't like we had a choice," the elder man replied and Hodgins barked out a laugh at the rude answer. He didn't know why but it amused him.
"Bye everyone, we're leaving," Cam said loudly and got the same non-response that she had got when she had come in.
"Bye," Hodgins said as well and jumped when suddenly everyone replied.
"You drive carefully and get her home safe," Mr. Saroyan told Hodgins sternly when they were already out the door, their jackets only slung over their arms so they could leave faster.
"Sure, I will. You want me to call you once I've dropped her off?" Hodgins replied sarcastically and this time it didn't slip Cam's father who raised his eyebrows.
"Bye Dad," Cam said quickly again and kissed his cheek before she led Hodgins to his car.
"Oh freedom, there you are," she sighed when she slid into the passengers' seat and closed the door behind her.
"Your place or mine?" he asked her.
"Yours, even if it's just for my own personal revenge," she grinned as they drove off.
~*~
Later that night while they were lying on his couch in the living room her cell phone rang.
"Hi Seeley," she said after checking the caller ID.
"Camille," he laughed.
"It's half past ten, why are you calling?" she asked him, not even pretending to be friendly.
"Just wanted to make sure Hodgins is still alive after meeting your dad," he said.
"Oh, he's just fine," Cam replied and looked over her shoulder to Hodgins, who was sitting behind her, while she was resting in between his legs.
"How did it go?" Booth asked curiously.
"He laughed," Cam just replied and looked at Hodgins again, raising her eyebrows.
"What?"
"Dad was on a roll again, first he threatened to ground me, then he was talking about me still being his "little girl" and finally he pulled the protestant and democrat question," she reported.
"Oh boy," Booth laughed. "Sounds like he was in top form today."
"Yeah and what did Jack do? He burst out laughing and couldn't stop," she went on.
"I don't know if he's extremely courageous or just crazier than I thought," Booth laughed.
"I wouldn't know," Cam replied with a snort.
"Can you give me the suicidal loon?" Booth asked and Cam handed Hodgins the phone, looking suspicious.
"Hey Booth," Hodgins greeted him, surprised as well, that the FBI agent wanted to talk to him.
"Hey, listen: You want to carpool tomorrow evening?" Booth asked, straight to the point.
"Aren't you gonna ride with Dr. B?" Hodgins asked.
"No, Bones is riding with Hacker. At least that's what she implied yesterday," he replied and Hodgins felt sorry for him.
"Oh, ok. If you want you can ride with us. Though, I don't think we'll stay too long. Cam's still not feeling well," Hodgins said, not aware that he'd gotten himself into trouble.
"I'm fine," Cam said immediately and ripped the phone out of Jack's hands. "I'm fine, Seeley," she repeated into the speaker. She sat up and untangled from Hodgins, making him feel cold from the sudden space between them.
"What's wrong Camille? And don't you dare lie to me," Booth said after a moment in which he contemplated if he should just let it slide or not.
"It's just my migraine is back and my stomach isn't handling the medication too well," she told him half the truth and hoped he would take it and stop asking questions.
"Then go to a doctor and let them give you something else," Booth advised.
"Oh really? Genius idea, too bad stupid me didn't think of that before," came the sarcastic reply.
"Ok, sorry, forget I ever said anything," Booth got defensive.
"You wanted anything else other than asking Hodgins about our plans for tomorrow evening? You could have just asked me. Just because he's a guy doesn't mean he gets to decide who is riding with us," she started ranting.
"Give me that phone," Hodgins interfered and took the phone from her again, not without some struggle. "Sorry Booth, but she's a bit crazy at the moment and I advise you to hang up, duck and run. I would do the same if I could. See you tomorrow," he told the agent and hung up before Cam could get her hands on the cell phone again.
"Who do you think you are taking the phone away from me?" Cam yelled at him as soon as he had hung up. Her temper was flaring again and as sad as it was, he had gotten used to it these last few days.
"Just… stop talking right now," he yelled back, for once having enough. It was late, he had dealt with her and her family and he was simply too exhausted. He couldn't take any more that day. "Can't you see that we're stuck in this circle where you keep freaking out and yelling at me, only to come back and apologize later? I know you're angry and I know the meds make you bitchy, but then please, go upstairs and sleep, hit the wall, destroy the bathroom, go swimming or running... do anything but yell at me! Because right this moment, I can't take it," he said forcefully and gesticulated wildly with his arms. When he saw her eyes welling up with tears he immediately felt sorry again, but he knew that acting differently wouldn't have been possible. "Or you can come here, lie back down with me and watch the rest of the movie. Your choice," he said and leaned back against the cushion of the couch. He was surprised when she lay back down between his legs, resting her head against his chest without another word. Slowly the tension drained from their bodies and the anger was replaced by fatigue.
~*~
After a relatively short attendance and a lot of alcohol consumed the waves had smoothed out and they were both in a better mood on Monday morning, Cam's nausea having diminished to a queasy feeling. It was Hodgins who woke them up early this Monday morning, when he twisted and turned in bed before he shot up and nearly gave her a heart attack.
"You had a nightmare?" she asked and turned over to look at him, where he sat on his side of the bed.
"No. My Melolontha Melolontha," he said excitedly, a large smile on his face.
"Come again," she said and tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.
"I think my Melolontha Melolontha might hatch today. I can feel it," he grinned.
"You're waking me up at...5:15 a.m. because some bugs might hatch? Ever thought about therapy?!" she grumbled and went to lie down again.
"No, come on! We get up now, drive to the Institute to check on my bugs, as you call them, and then I'll take you out for breakfast," he begged. "You're getting up in half an hour anyway," he added.
"Ok, fine, but you owe me the biggest and most delicious breakfast ever," she grumbled and sat up as well.
"Thank you, love you," he said happily, kissed her cheek and was off to the shower a second later.
"Should have yelled at him some more Saturday night," she muttered to herself, before she swung her legs out of bed.
After they had both showered and got dressed they drove to the Institute mainly in silence. Cam was still half asleep and Hodgins was bouncing in his seat with excitement.
"If they haven't hatched I'll make sure they never will," she said darkly when they got out of the car in the underground parking garage.
"You wouldn't kill those cute, little baby Melolonthas?!" he gasped teasingly and slung one arm around her shoulder.
"What's that smell?" she asked him when they stepped out of the elevator.
"What smell?" he wanted to know, not yet having caught on.
"That smell. It smells like..." she said and stopped when they rounded the corner.
"A dead body," he finished her sentence seeing a body bag on a gurney surrounded by little girls.
"Who are you?" she turned to the little girls in green uniforms.
"We're the Woodchucks," one of them replied.
"We found a dead body and brought it here," another said.
"You found a dead body and brought it here?" Hodgins couldn't believe it.
"Yes, we also have soil and water samples and digital photographs," they nodded. "And who are you?" a girl wanted to know.
"I'm Dr. Camille Saroyan, head of the forensic department and this is Dr. Hodgins, our entomologist, botanist and geologist," Cam introduced them.
"Oh we thought Dr. Brennan would be here," a blonde girl admitted disappointedly.
"No, Dr. Brennan's not in yet, we're the first," Cam told her.
"I take the water and soil samples and you take the body?" Hodgins asked her, preparing for a first inspection.
"Yup, we meet on the platform and set it up for Dr. Brennan and Wendell," Cam nodded.
"Oh, he's our intern on the case?" Hodgins grinned and helped her push the gurney inside and unlock the doors with their cards. They were just about to head to the autopsy room and the laboratory when one of the girls cleared her throat. They had completely forgotten about the kids for a moment.
"What about us?" the girl asked.
"You wait here and we'll be back in half an hour. By then Dr. Brennan will be in as well and you can all meet her." Cheers of joy echoed through the lab and the two professionals exchanged a look of disbelief before they went to do their jobs.
~*~
"Ok now, this is Dr. Temperance Brennan," Hodgins introduced the forensic anthropologist an hour later. The girls were lined up in front of the platform where he and Cam had placed the body. They all applauded.
"Why are they applauding?" Brennan wanted to know and climbed the stairs.
"Apparently you're their role model," Cam grinned and couldn't believe her own words.
"I wanna know why they aren't all freaked out and getting trauma counseling," Hodgins asked and looked at Cam.
"Because they're the type of children who idolize Dr. Brennan," she replied amused and with raised eyebrows.
"So they were eco-camping on the banks of the Savage river," Hodgins reported what he had learned.
"These remains are completely saturated," Cam went on.
"The girls fished the body out of the river and brought it to us," Hodgins informed Brennan.
"How?" she wanted to know.
"In our woodchuck bus," one of the girls said.
"Very impressive," Cam said approvingly and leaned a bit forward so she could look at the girls.
"I disagree. Those woodchucks disturbed a federal crime scene. The area should have been secured, samples taken," Brennan interjected.
"Yeah, they did all that. Uh, water samples from the river where the body was found," Hodgins showed her the samples.
"Digital photographs of the entire area," another girl said proudly.
"Plants, insects, soil samples tagged with GPS coordinates. Now I know my soil samples and let me tell you something: These ladies, they are pros," Hodgins said impressed.
"Perhaps you should throw them a bone," Cam said to Brennan. "Not literally, metaphorically. After all they were very professional," she added, already fearing the worst when she thought about how literal Brennan could be.
"Attention, woodchucks. You were thorough and fastidious in your treatment of the body and crime scene," Brennan addressed them and the girls applauded again. "But, next time, please leave the evidence where you found it and let the experienced professionals do their job," she went on and was greeted with booing from the girls.
"But we helped," a girl protested loudly.
"You're mean," another one added.
"Their moods are capricious," Brennan said, turning back to her colleagues.
"You couldn't just let them have that one, let it go by," Cam asked, still amused.
"Then they never learn," Brennan disagreed and Hodgins and Cam exchanged an amused look. She would never change.
~*~
After Cam had taken another look at the body and had taken samples as well, she sent off Wendell with Hodgins to look for the missing fingers. Even though the "boys" believed the fingers had been transformed into talons, she was more convinced that they had just simply fallen off in the water.
They were back later that afternoon and Hodgins had busied himself with the work he had to do in his lab. He was surprised when Angela kept stopping by. He knew she wanted something, but he wasn't sure yet what exactly it was she wanted.
"Five months and 14 days I have been celibate," she finally spit out when he just kept looking through his microscope, ignoring her circling his lab on purpose.
"Angela, that is very impressive," he said honestly and looked up at her.
"Thank you," she replied and came round his desk to stand beside him while he tried to go back to work. "Sweets was right, taking sex out of that equation made me relate to people in a totally different way," she said.
"Yeah, once you got past the mega horny stage," he replied and kept working.
"The point is, that my six months is almost up. So...," she said without looking at him and then smiled directly at him.
"No," he replied with a smile and cocked his head to the side for a second.
"No what?" she asked flirty and tried to play innocent.
"I'm not gonna be the one that breaks your fast," he smiled.
"I... I wasn't asking," she laughed it off. "In fact, you should know that I was considering going for a year," she went on, the lying more obvious than ever. He could only laugh, finding the situation more than funny.
"It's definitely a chicken parasite we found in the victim's esophagus," he tried to get back to work related topics, but couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
"I wasn't asking, Jack," she said again, now smiling as well. "I was just... keeping you in the loop," she added while she walked out of his lab.
"Ok," he nodded, shook his head and let out a deep breath when she left. If he didn't know Angela so well, he might have been offended that she was offering sex while he was in a relationship. However he knew that Angela was thinking about whom she wanted to sleep with and who she could trust to break her fast and he had just been the first guy to cross her mind, so she had told him what was on her mind. She wouldn't feel rejected now that he declined, just as she wouldn't have stopped him if he had agreed. For her sleeping with someone else when you were in a relationship was a sign that the relationship was over anyway and therefore it was no big deal. His and Cam's relationship was far from over, although she was driving him up a wall lately with her mood swings. He would make a fat red cross in the calendar when this day was over; once she had her blood results and was going to make another appointment so she would get other meds, some that made her less moody and sick.
~*~
"The chicken man had his neck wrung?" Hodgins asked as he plopped down on her couch.
"I couldn't believe it either. And they cut his fingertips off," she nodded and sat down beside him, bringing the phone with her.
"Oh man, I can't imagine ordering some chicken nuggets and finding fingers in there. That would surely put a damper on my appetite," he laughed and lay down, letting his feet dangle over the edge of the couch.
"You're talking about disgusting things from work again?" Michelle asked when she entered the living-room.
"Just discussing things we couldn't before because I was trying to reach my doctor's office," Cam nodded.
"For other meds?" Michelle asked and sat down on the recliner.
"Yup, and for some test results," Cam nodded. She still hadn't told Michelle about her kidney problems and she still didn't want to worry her. So when the teen wrinkled her forehead and opened her mouth to ask more questions Cam held up a hand. "Hold on, let me try again first," she said and listened to the ringing. The line seemed free this time.
"Hi, this is Camille Saroyan. I'm calling for my lab results," she said when a nurse picked up. "Hi Rita, it's me Cam. I'm calling about my results," she repeated when she was connected to the doctor. Hodgins rolled his eyes and Michelle grinned. "Oh really? Why? Something wrong?" Cam asked next and wrinkled her forehead but didn't really seem worried. "Okay," Cam said next, dragging out the word. The smile was gone from her face now which got Hodgins and Michelle's attention and both looked curiously at her. "Mmmmh, that's a relief. And the hormonal...ok. How high was it?" Cam went on, her eyes large with fear. Or was it panic? Hodgins sat up. He wasn't hearing much, but what he heard didn't sound good. "That means... Yes, I know, I will. Bye Rita," Cam said, hung up and let the phone drop on the table before she leaned her elbows against her knees and buried her face in her hands for a second, trying to somehow keep her composure.
"Cam?" Michelle asked, the worry clear in her voice.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Hodgins said in the same tone of voice and placed a hand on her back.
"There was an anomaly in my blood test," she said and her voice cracked. She cleared her voice, then went on, staring at the table. "Rita did some other tests to be sure. Tumor markers came back negative and so did the hormonal tests," she said.
"That's good, right?" Michelle asked unsure. It sounded good at least. Cam turned her head and looked at Hodgins, her eyes boring into his.
"My HCG level is at 419," she told him. It took a moment until it sunk in but then he froze and his eyes widened, his reaction showing her that he had understood. She buried her face in her hands again, feeling like she had been run over by a truck.
"Hello, you're freaking me out here. Can anybody tell me what's going on!" Michelle demanded.
"It means that Cam is pregnant," Hodgins replied slowly, no less stunned than his girlfriend.
"Really? I'm gonna be a big sister? That is so epic!" Michelle's smile got wider and wider before she jumped up and hugged Hodgins, who was sitting closest to her. When she wanted to hug Cam she stopped, because her legal guardian still hadn't looked up. Unsure, she looked at Hodgins. He gave her hand a squeeze and shook his head slightly. "Can you give us a moment?" he asked her then.
"Sure," Michelle replied quietly, not really understanding why Cam wasn't doing a happy dance in the living room.
When she was gone and the door had closed behind her Hodgins reached over and pulled Cam against him. She wasn't crying, but obviously in shock.
"The nausea, the mood swings... I should have known," she said quietly, without looking up.
"We thought it was from the medication. And 419 means that it's still pretty early, right?" he asked, not so sure. Hormone levels weren't something he dealt with on a daily basis.
"First month," she nodded and then looked up. "What are we gonna do?" she asked him, her eyes still wide with shock.
"I guess if everything goes as it should we'll have a baby in nine months," he shrugged helplessly.
"You want me to keep it?" she asked and sounded surprised.
"You don't wanna keep it?" he asked back.
"I asked you first," she said stubbornly. He thought about it for a moment before he spoke.
"Yes, I want you to have the baby, but the question is what do you want," he asked her again, because judging by her reaction he couldn't really tell what she was thinking.
"I... I don't know," she admitted finally. "I don't know what I want."
"Ok. You know now what I want, you think about what you want and once you've come to a result you tell me. I'll be right here, no matter what you decide," he replied and took her hand in his.
"You wouldn't be angry or hurt if I didn't have it?" she said surprised.
"Maybe I would be for a while, I don't know. But we hadn't really planed on having a kid already so I can understand if you think it's too soon," he was being as honest as always while trying to be understanding.
"Looks like fate took that decision out of our hands," she said and leaned back against the back rest of the couch and brought one leg up, tucked her foot under her thigh. "I just don't get how this happened. Four weeks pregnant means this happened about two weeks ago. I was on the pill the whole time," she sighed.
"Guess Palm Beach was stronger," he couldn't help but grin.
"Also, I shouldn't be this moody yet. Maybe the HCG is just low and it happened earlier?" she wondered.
"Does it really matter now when exactly it happened? We'll find out soon enough when you have the Ob/GYN appointment," he replied with another shrug.
"I guess," she agreed and was silent another moment. "Will you be there if I have the baby? I mean, not only during the pregnancy, but for the baby, no matter what. That's a big responsibility. One that lasts for the rest of your life," she spoke out loud what she was thinking about.
"I'd always be there, always. I always promised myself that I would do it better than my parents and that means being there for your child's birthdays, injuries, colds, first dates and holiday crafts nights at school," he nodded and smiled.
"I hate crafts night," she smiled back and their eyes met. "I don't understand why you have to spend hours at school making ornaments out of paper that you could easily buy in a minute at any store. Total waste of time."
"So we're good?" he asked, still wondering what this new development would mean for their relationship.
"We're good," she nodded. "You want to come to the Ob/GYN or you just need me to give you a ballpark afterwards?"
"I want to come," he said immediately. "You think there'll be an ultrasound already?" he sounded excited.
"Most likely," she replied and was surprised when he kissed her with a happy sigh.
"This is gonna be so great," he grinned when he pulled back.
"But can we keep it between us for at least two more months? Until we know everything's gonna be ok?" she requested.
"Sure," he said and pulled her against him, leaning against the couch. He slid one hand under her red pullover and placed it on her flat stomach. "I can't believe there's a baby in there," he admitted in wonder.
"More like an accumulation of cells," she grinned.
"I don't care," he smiled brightly and rubbed his hand over her skin; With the other he cupped her face and kissed her hungrily.
"And what's the verdict? We're having a baby or not?" Michelle asked as she opened her door just a bit.
"As if you didn't listen to every word we said," Cam rolled her eyes but smiled.
"You were talking too quietly. Speak up next time," Michelle grinned cheekily and sat down on Cam's other side.
"Yes, we're having a baby," Cam nodded then, smiling at Jack and placing one arm around Michelle's shoulder. He grinned back, understanding that she had made her decision sooner than he had thought.
~*~
The next morning the first thing Cam had done was call her gynecologist for an appointment and then she went to work. She remembered that she had encouraged Wendell and Angela the night before to work together so she went to check on them.
Hodgins had teased her this morning when she had decided to wear a suit jacket over her shirt. She knew it was still too warm for this, but the thought that she could be showing freaked her out more than anything else. Being surrounded by scientists who would pick up immediately if anything changed in her body she was aware that it was only a matter of time until Brennan would say something about pubic bone extension and bust her. For now she didn't want her little secret out at the lab yet and she had even sent Hodgins back to his own lab when he had been hovering by her desk, his hand finding its new favorite place on her belly all the time.
When she reached the bone room Angela and Wendell immediately explained what they had done and how they had worked together. At first she had complimented them on their good work, but then something caught her eyes. It was a look that passed between them, then another. She paid attention to it and could have slapped herself the next second. She knew those looks and she knew what they meant. Obviously Angela had ended her celibacy kick and had found someone to end it with. The next moment Hodgins just had to enter and tell them about something he had found. Could the situation get any more uncomfortable? Here she was, thinking that she hiding her pregnancy was the biggest thing going on in the lab, but compared to Angela and Wendell getting it on she felt it paled a bit.
"There's evidence of streaming nuclei in the bone cells," Hodgins started while looking at his computer screen, showing them what he had found.
"That was my job to find," Wendell admitted guiltily.
"It's ok, kid, around here we step in for each other as needed," Hodgins replied good heartedly, unaware that he made Cam flinch and the other two look even more freaked out than they already were.
"What?" Angela asked shocked, obviously fearing just as much as Cam that Hodgins would somehow find out.
"Mmh?" Hodgins made when he turned around, the small smile never leaving his face. It was firmly in place ever since he'd woken up this morning.
"Oh, oh, you mean work," Angela understood.
"Yeah, what did you mean?" he asked her, now looking strangely at her.
"Work. I'm,... I'm agreeing it's work," Angela stuttered. Cam had crossed her arms under her chest and looked at her colleague with a mixture of disapproval and disgust. She could already tell how this situation would play out. Either she would tell Jack or he would find out one day. He would be hurt, she knew, feeling betrayed by Angela's choice and Cam could understand that. She wished the artist would just tell him. She had enough on her plate already with the unexpected pregnancy; she didn't need more trouble from Jack's closest friends betraying him. It wasn't that she minded so much that Angela was dating a co-worker, or even that it was Wendell. However by their weird behavior she could tell that it would be all awkward and secretive and they would make a big deal out of it. For that reason she wished that Angela had chosen someone else to break her celibacy with."Can we move on?" Angela asked when everyone just stared disbelievingly at her.
"So, we have electricity?" Cam asked to get back to work.
"Who does?" Angela asked, just as alarmed as before.
"Streaming nuclei suggests voltage," Cam told her like she would speak to a ten year old, annoyed with her denseness.
"Oh, I... I know," Angela stuttered again and Cam wished she could slap her, just once, really hard up the back of her head.
"Oh, a self-cauterizing blade?" Wendell said, obviously more relaxed than Angela.
"There's gotta be something like that in a place that kills thousands of chickens every day," Hodgins wondered while Wendell and Angela exchanged meaningful looks under the watchful eyes of their boss. "There we go. Ah, this might narrow things down. He had beak and feather disease virus," Hodgins went on, totally oblivious to what was going on behind his back, literally.
"He had beak and feather disease in his thumb?" Wendell checked.
"I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that maybe what we're looking for is a self cauterizing instrument that cuts beaks and feathers," Cam added, hoping to stay on topic for a while.
"Wait a minute, the video!" Angela said, remembering the video she had seen of the woman cutting the beaks of the chicken.
"Ok, go call Booth," Cam told her, because she only had a slight idea what Angela was talking about. Also, she was scared that Booth would start talking about her health issues while Brennan was nearby and she would get suspicious.
"I'll, uhm, be in the boneroom," Wendell said and left the room, actually hurrying after Angela.
"Did Angela seem only weird to me?" Hodgins asked when they were gone.
"No, something was... weird," Cam agreed without telling him what she thought she knew. She hadn't confronted Angela or Wendell yet and there was still the slight chance that she was imagining things and there was another explanation.
"How are you doing?" he asked then, changing the topic.
"I'm surprisingly well today. No morning sickness so far," she said dropping her voice. "But you were right, I should have worn different shoes, because these are killing me," she said, looking down at the incredibly high stilettos.
"You wouldn't listen when I told you that wearing stilettos wouldn't make people less suspicious. No one knows," he grinned at her.
"Good. The lab is a personal minefield as it is," she muttered when he pulled her close.
"What?" he asked confused.
"Nothing," she shook her head and pecked his lips, noticing how his hand was once again placed on her belly between them.
TBC
Thanks to Gianna for betaing!
Chapter 7: Melolontha Melolontha and other bugs
"You really want to do this?" Cam asked him for the umpteenth time that day. "The second we step in there, there's nothing I can do to save you," she pointed out again.
"Relax, I'm gonna be just fine," he laughed her off again, not really scared. Yes, he was nervous about meeting her family and he also knew that the Saroyan clan would be difficult to handle, but at the same time he was looking forward to it. Finally, he would get to meet her family and they would get to know him as her boyfriend. This made their relationship even more official and he nearly felt like he was attending a ceremonious celebration instead of her father's birthday party.
"Ok, then let's get this over with," she said darkly and clutched his hand tighter than before, then rang the doorbell of the suburban family home.
"You grew up here?" he asked what he had been wondering ever since they had pulled up to it twenty minutes ago.
"No, I grew up in Queens. My parents moved here right after I finished high school," she replied as they waited for someone to open the door.
"Cami!" a man barked happily as he opened the door and pulled her into a tight hug that made her hand slip out of Hodgins'.
"Hey Dad, happy birthday" she replied and kissed his cheek before he pulled her into another hug.
"How are you, honey?" he asked her as he pulled back and looked at her, keeping her close by placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm fine Dad," she smiled but was far from relaxed; her tense shoulders told Hodgins as much.
"I'm so happy you could come, princess. Where's my little girl? Where's Michelle?" he asked her then and looked past her, seeing Hodgins standing in the doorway. "Who are you?" he wanted to know and the smile vanished from his face. Instead his eyebrows rose and if Hodgins hadn't been so nervous he would have laughed because he knew that look too well
"I'm Jack Hodgins, Sir. Happy birthday" he replied and held out his hand. Cam's father didn't take it, but rather looked at it like it was poisonous.
"Dad, I told you I was bringing him," Cam said quietly, nearly begging him.
"I guess you did," he just replied, still eying Hodgins warily. "Now where's Michelle?"
"She had to study for her exam on Monday and couldn't come. She said she'd call you later," Cam replied while Hodgins was still standing outside. Cam made a point of stepping away from her father and holding her hand out to Jack, leading him into the house. "Daddy, this is Jack Hodgins. Jack this is my father," she introduced them unnecessarily and this time her father took Hodgins hand and squeezed it as hard as he could. He looked surprised when Hodgins had the guts to squeeze back.
"So, Jack huh?" Mr. Saroyan muttered. "Why didn't you bring my boy Seeley?" he asked Cam and Hodgins just shook his head, a tiny smile on his face. This guy wasn't going to pass up any opportunity to try and provoke him.
"Dad, you know..." Cam started mortified but Hodgins interrupted her.
"Booth says hi and was sorry he couldn't come with us, but it's his weekend with Parker," Hodgins grinned. He had been anticipating this sentence, knowing it would come so he had an answer ready. Cam gaped at him and her father seemed too surprised to react at first, but then helped his daughter out of her jacket.
"Jack, if you give me your jacket we can put them in the office so they're out of the way," Cam said when she took her jacket from her father.
"Sure," Hodgins shrugged, but took both jackets and followed her into the first room on the right, which appeared to be her father's study. Cam placed their clothes over an armchair and took his hand in hers on their way back out.
"We were already waiting on you for dinner, princess. You're way too thin, you need to eat more," Mr. Saroyan said when they stepped out of the office. He glanced disapprovingly at their joined hands but led the way to the dining room, where at least 25 people were sitting. There seemed to be even more people in the kitchen and the living room. Kids were running around tables followed by barking dogs, babies were passed from one family member to the next, crying for their parents and the adults were discussing loudly.
"Hi everyone," Cam said loudly into the room, but no one seemed to react. "Nice to be back," she said quietly and Hodgins squeezed her hand gently and gave her a tiny smile when she looked at him.
"Everyone, this is Jack Hodgins. He's Cami's friend and her guest for tonight," Cam's father yelled into the room and that seemed to get everyone's attention because all heads turned in his direction.
"Friend and guest, huh?" Felicia grinned suggestively from the kitchen and made her way over to Cam and Hodgins.
"Yes, he's my boyfriend and he's here with me," Cam shrugged nonchalantly and air-kissed her sisters cheeks, aware that everybody was now listening.
"What happened to that FBI hunk?" her aunt asked from the living room and came over as well.
"Seeley and I haven't been together in a long time," Cam admitted and stepped closer to Hodgins, partially shielding him from her aunt Sally.
"You're FBI as well, Jack?" she asked him, her eyes wandering over his upper body that was only too defined with the tight shirt he wore.
"No, I work at the Jeffersonian Institute with Cam," he shook his head as he stroked a piece of fuzz off Cam's shoulder.
"What was your name again?" Cam's great-aunt yelled over from the armchair by the fireplace and Cam walked over to her and kissed her cheek, pulling Jack after her.
"Jack Hodgins, Mam," he answered obediently.
"Let me look at you," she requested and put her glasses on her nose that had been hanging around her neck before.
"Those eyes, the curls.... You're not working at the Jeffersonian. You're the sole heir of the Cantilever group, Michael's son," she said.
"Busted," Hodgins muttered, the room suddenly dead silent.
"How do you know Ann?" Cam gasped.
"As a young woman I worked in the kitchen at the Hodgins estate. I've know this young man since he was born," she said and smiled friendly at him.
"Oh wow," Cam said quietly. "I didn't know," she told Hodgins.
"Me either," he shrugged, refusing to make a big deal out of it.
"You didn't know your friend is a billionaire?!" he father asked loudly, making sure that everyone had heard the billionaire loud and clear.
"No, I mean that Ann worked for the Hodgins family," Cam shook her head.
"You couldn't just bring a normal guy after Seeley, you had to make sure he was gonna be special too, didn't you?" Felicia hissed at Cam, but Hodgins could hear as well.
"I'm not with Jack because he has money," Cam whispered back, as aggressively as she could whisper with her whole family staring at them.
"Sure, I'd say that as well," Felicia huffed and then stomped off.
"Do you two always have to fight? Go and apologize to your sister, Cami," her father piped up.
"I absolutely won't! I didn't do anything wrong," Cam replied with a pout on her face and looked like an offended four year old.
"I don't like it when you behave like this, missy," Cam's father lectured her, but she just rolled her eyes.
"I'm not three anymore so you can stop telling me what to do, Dad," she replied and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"You go and apologize or you can go up to your room, young lady," Mr. Saroyan said sternly and pointed to the stairway.
"Is he serious?" Hodgins chuckled as quietly as he could.
"He grounded Booth once when he broke Dad's baseball racket. Accidentally," Cam whispered back, not really noticing that Hodgins had slipped one arm around her waist. It was so normal for both of them that her inner alarm didn't even go off when her father was around.
"Hey you! Take your hands off my daughter! Who do you think you are?! Just because you have money doesn't mean you can touch my daughter. She's my little girl," Mr. Saroyan lectured Hodgins, who jumped back immediately and stuck his hands in his jean pockets. "What are you? A protestant? Democrat?" he went on. Hodgins stared at him for a moment, then burst out in laughter. Cam elbowed him in the ribs, but he couldn't stop.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," he gasped between laughing and held his stomach with one hand.
"Jack, stop laughing!" Cam stage whispered, but he was too far gone and completely in hysterics. Cam's aunt Ann had joined him, simply because his laughter was contagious.
"We're having dinner now. Everyone get ready to say your prayers and admit your sins," Cam's father said when Hodgins just couldn't stop. While the family gathered round the dining table again Cam pulled Jack out into the backyard.
"Take a deep breath and stop laughing," she ordered but was smiling as well.
"I just... he's treating you like you're still thirteen and I'm the new boyfriend," he said and tried to calm down.
"He's living in denial about my sisters and me, while he's encouraging my brother's to pro-create as much as possible," she giggled.
"I thought you only had one sister," he said and took deep breaths.
"No, two sisters, four brothers and they are all in there. Felicia and I are the youngest," she shrugged.
"Ah, that explains so much," he nodded and pulled her close by her waist.
"I think he'll be disappointed because he can't intimidate me. He should've met my father. He was scary," Hodgins said and shuddered. "Not to mention my mother," he added.
"So you're gonna be ok?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Of course. I know what his little girl does when he's not around, after all," he grinned and kissed her softly. "You're ok? You're still pale," he observed.
"I'm still nauseous and it's getting on my nerves. I'm scared the migraine will come back when I stop taking the meds though," she admitted.
"Maybe you should eat a bit, something stomach friendly," he replied, stroking gently over her cheek.
"There's nothing stomach friendly around when my grandmother cooks," she grinned and pecked his lips again. "You're good to go back or are you gonna start laughing again?" she asked him.
"I think I have it under control now. Just try not to anger your dad again or I might not be held responsible for my actions," he chuckled and followed her back inside.
~*~
"So you never bet on your team?" Cam's brother Jo junior asked Hodgins a while after dinner. The guys were sitting in the living room talking sports while the women were washing the dishes in the kitchen. Hodgins had wanted to help Cam like he usually did, but it seemed like in Cam's family they had a more traditional understanding of male and female roles.
"I'm not much into sports bets, other than the twenty bucks we used to bet at the Jeffersonian," he shook his head and looked over to the kitchen door again. His gut was telling him that Cam was feeling worse now than she had when they had arrived. She was basically green in the face but no one except him seemed to notice.
"Cam was always ripping us off on ice hockey bets," her other brother Brandon said.
"You play any sports?" Cam's dad asked Hodgins. He was still far from friendly but not plain out hostile anymore, which he took as a good sign.
"I just work out regularly and go running. I don't have much time for anything else," he replied truthfully.
"Why are you even working when you have that much money? I surely wouldn't," Cam's youngest brother Matt said. He had a big mouth, a lot of kids and Hodgins had to try hard to hide the fact that he didn't like him one bit.
"I love my work," he said simply, not caring to elaborate.
"So, my Cami's your boss?" her father went on.
"Yup."
"That's so hot! If my boss was female I'd totally date her!" Matt chimed in again.
"You have four kids and a wife," Jack couldn't stop himself.
"Just joking, man," Matt laughed and the rest joined him, while Hodgins just looked disapprovingly at him. During dinner he had tried to talk first Hodgins and then Cam into giving him money for a pool at his house. Cam had declined, telling him that he should maybe pay his debts first before building a pool. Hodgins was used to people asking him for money whenever they found out who he was so he hadn't even bothered replying. He glanced at the kitchen door again, hoping that Cam would come to his rescue. She actually came through the door that moment, more like burst through it, but only to hurry upstairs. With one look he knew what was going on and was following her before the men in her family had registered his exit.
He found her hunched over the toilet spitting out the food she had consumed earlier. When he heard footsteps on the stairs he closed and locked the door behind him before he went over to her and held her hair back.
"You really have to talk to your doctor. That's not normal," he said when she was done and handed her a glass of water with some mouthwash in it.
"The blood test results should be in by Monday, I'll talk to her then," she replied after rinsing her mouth.
"You wanna go home?" he asked her when she leaned against him, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Can't. There's still the birthday cake and the singing coming up. If we leave before that I'll never hear the end of it," she replied, enjoying the way he rubbed his hands up and down her back.
"If you want to go, you give me a sign and I'll make it happen no matter what, ok?" he asked her, looking her in the eyes.
"Ok," she replied and her eyes showed the gratefulness she felt.
"Ok, then let's get out of here. Bathrooms aren't safe places anymore when it comes to us," he winked and made her laugh.
"What were you two doing in there?" Cam's dad asked as soon as they emerged.
"I caught a bug a few days ago and Jack was making sure I was ok," Cam lied without blinking.
"Are you alright? You want to lie down? Have some tea?" Cam's father asked worried and noticed the arm Hodgins had placed protectively around his daughter's shoulder.
"No, daddy, I'm alright. Just don't make me eat the cake later," she said and paled just thinking about it.
"You don't have to, honey," he replied with a small smile and a tenderness in his voice that surprised Hodgins. Together they made their way downstairs and found that the women had meanwhile joined the men in the living and dining room. Still, each group was mainly talking amongst themselves.
"Cami, everything ok?" one of Cam's uncles, whose name Hodgins couldn't remember, asked.
"Yes, great," she replied, the fake smile firmly in place.
"Come sit, my child," Aunt Anna said, but took Hodgins hand and made him sit down in the armchair she had formerly occupied, not Cam."Cam you should really pay more attention to your guest. He doesn't even have anything to drink," she went on.
"I'm good, thank you," Hodgins smiled politely, took Cam's hand again and pulled her down in his lap. She was feeling so miserable by now that she didn't even argue. She was still feeling sick and being around her family made her furious and sad at the same time. Furious because they weren't able to read her even after all these years and didn't even bother trying and sad because the only person who ever could, her mother, was dead.
"If your father castrates me after seeing us like this, I'll totally blame you," Hodgins whispered in her ear and managed to make her smile.
"I'll deny everything," she replied, leaning with her right shoulder against his chest. She saw her father walking up to them, looking annoyed.
"You still owe me an answer," he barked at Hodgins.
"About?" he replied and really had no idea what the tall man was talking about.
"Are you a protestant and a democrat?" he asked.
"No sir, catholic and a republican. I've been a member since college. And president of the 'celibacy before marriage' club," he replied and was able to keep a straight face. Cam bit her lip to keep from laughing and looked down to her shoes, not able to look at her father.
"Ever been married?" the interrogation went on.
"No, sir," he answered like he was in the military and was tempted to salute, but didn't dare to tick off the elder man even more.
"Good, good," the old man muttered, not really sure if he could believe his daughter's new boyfriend or not.
"Look what I found in the kitchen," Cam's cousin Caitlin shrieked and came out with a huge birthday cake that had so many sparklers on it, it looked like the cake would explode any second.
"Oh my," Hodgins mumbled when he saw it while the others started to sing.
"Can't tell you how many times a cake has melted or something caught fire. They'll never learn," Cam grinned.
"Maybe I should invite your relatives to the Jeffersonian next time I blow something up. Show them how it's really done," he replied and applauded with the rest when Cam's dad blew out the candles.
"Over my dead body," she replied and slapped his chest playfully.
"Cam, stop making googly eyes at the guy and let him eat his cake," Felicia complained when she thrust a plate with cake into Hodgins hand a second later.
"Charming," he said to Cam, but loud enough for Felicia to hear. "Your other sister just as nice?" he asked.
"She doesn't talk to us. She and Jo have another mother and she basically hates our guts," Cam said and stole some frosting off his plate to get a taste of it.
"Are there two people in this room who actually get along without any troubles?" he wanted to know and looked around.
"No. Everybody meddles in the issues of others which means they fight all the time. I try to keep them out of my business to break the vicious circle, but it's not easy," she said.
"Can I guess that it was your dad who freaked out Michelle?" Hodgins grinned after another moment of looking around.
"Let's just say that my "God will smite you" comment didn't come out of thin air. When I was young my mom always sent dad out bowling whenever God, meaning dad, would have been tempted to smite me," she smiled.
"Felicia doesn't look like virgin Mary either," he said, raising his eyebrows.
"Oh please, if Dad only knew half of it he would lock her up in a chastity belt for the rest of her remaining life," she replied. "You wanna get out of here and go home? Watch some TV, cuddle on the couch and kiss as much as we want?" she asked."If I'm not throwing up again..," she added as an afterthought.
"Sounds really relaxing. I feel like my cheeks will fall off any moment from all the fake smiling I've had to do," he nodded enthusiastically,
"I had to go on a cruise with half of them two years ago for Christmas. I have never wished more for an iceberg in my life," she rolled her eyes and got off of him. Together they sought out her father amongst all the people.
"Dad, Jack's gonna drive me home now. I'm still not feeling too well," she said careful not to let it slip that they would go home together.
"Aw, you're already leaving. You have to come to Friday night dinner then," he said disappointedly.
"Of course I will Dad," she nodded and hugged him briefly.
"Bye Mr. Saroyan. Thanks for having me," Hodgins said as they shook hands.
"It wasn't like we had a choice," the elder man replied and Hodgins barked out a laugh at the rude answer. He didn't know why but it amused him.
"Bye everyone, we're leaving," Cam said loudly and got the same non-response that she had got when she had come in.
"Bye," Hodgins said as well and jumped when suddenly everyone replied.
"You drive carefully and get her home safe," Mr. Saroyan told Hodgins sternly when they were already out the door, their jackets only slung over their arms so they could leave faster.
"Sure, I will. You want me to call you once I've dropped her off?" Hodgins replied sarcastically and this time it didn't slip Cam's father who raised his eyebrows.
"Bye Dad," Cam said quickly again and kissed his cheek before she led Hodgins to his car.
"Oh freedom, there you are," she sighed when she slid into the passengers' seat and closed the door behind her.
"Your place or mine?" he asked her.
"Yours, even if it's just for my own personal revenge," she grinned as they drove off.
~*~
Later that night while they were lying on his couch in the living room her cell phone rang.
"Hi Seeley," she said after checking the caller ID.
"Camille," he laughed.
"It's half past ten, why are you calling?" she asked him, not even pretending to be friendly.
"Just wanted to make sure Hodgins is still alive after meeting your dad," he said.
"Oh, he's just fine," Cam replied and looked over her shoulder to Hodgins, who was sitting behind her, while she was resting in between his legs.
"How did it go?" Booth asked curiously.
"He laughed," Cam just replied and looked at Hodgins again, raising her eyebrows.
"What?"
"Dad was on a roll again, first he threatened to ground me, then he was talking about me still being his "little girl" and finally he pulled the protestant and democrat question," she reported.
"Oh boy," Booth laughed. "Sounds like he was in top form today."
"Yeah and what did Jack do? He burst out laughing and couldn't stop," she went on.
"I don't know if he's extremely courageous or just crazier than I thought," Booth laughed.
"I wouldn't know," Cam replied with a snort.
"Can you give me the suicidal loon?" Booth asked and Cam handed Hodgins the phone, looking suspicious.
"Hey Booth," Hodgins greeted him, surprised as well, that the FBI agent wanted to talk to him.
"Hey, listen: You want to carpool tomorrow evening?" Booth asked, straight to the point.
"Aren't you gonna ride with Dr. B?" Hodgins asked.
"No, Bones is riding with Hacker. At least that's what she implied yesterday," he replied and Hodgins felt sorry for him.
"Oh, ok. If you want you can ride with us. Though, I don't think we'll stay too long. Cam's still not feeling well," Hodgins said, not aware that he'd gotten himself into trouble.
"I'm fine," Cam said immediately and ripped the phone out of Jack's hands. "I'm fine, Seeley," she repeated into the speaker. She sat up and untangled from Hodgins, making him feel cold from the sudden space between them.
"What's wrong Camille? And don't you dare lie to me," Booth said after a moment in which he contemplated if he should just let it slide or not.
"It's just my migraine is back and my stomach isn't handling the medication too well," she told him half the truth and hoped he would take it and stop asking questions.
"Then go to a doctor and let them give you something else," Booth advised.
"Oh really? Genius idea, too bad stupid me didn't think of that before," came the sarcastic reply.
"Ok, sorry, forget I ever said anything," Booth got defensive.
"You wanted anything else other than asking Hodgins about our plans for tomorrow evening? You could have just asked me. Just because he's a guy doesn't mean he gets to decide who is riding with us," she started ranting.
"Give me that phone," Hodgins interfered and took the phone from her again, not without some struggle. "Sorry Booth, but she's a bit crazy at the moment and I advise you to hang up, duck and run. I would do the same if I could. See you tomorrow," he told the agent and hung up before Cam could get her hands on the cell phone again.
"Who do you think you are taking the phone away from me?" Cam yelled at him as soon as he had hung up. Her temper was flaring again and as sad as it was, he had gotten used to it these last few days.
"Just… stop talking right now," he yelled back, for once having enough. It was late, he had dealt with her and her family and he was simply too exhausted. He couldn't take any more that day. "Can't you see that we're stuck in this circle where you keep freaking out and yelling at me, only to come back and apologize later? I know you're angry and I know the meds make you bitchy, but then please, go upstairs and sleep, hit the wall, destroy the bathroom, go swimming or running... do anything but yell at me! Because right this moment, I can't take it," he said forcefully and gesticulated wildly with his arms. When he saw her eyes welling up with tears he immediately felt sorry again, but he knew that acting differently wouldn't have been possible. "Or you can come here, lie back down with me and watch the rest of the movie. Your choice," he said and leaned back against the cushion of the couch. He was surprised when she lay back down between his legs, resting her head against his chest without another word. Slowly the tension drained from their bodies and the anger was replaced by fatigue.
~*~
After a relatively short attendance and a lot of alcohol consumed the waves had smoothed out and they were both in a better mood on Monday morning, Cam's nausea having diminished to a queasy feeling. It was Hodgins who woke them up early this Monday morning, when he twisted and turned in bed before he shot up and nearly gave her a heart attack.
"You had a nightmare?" she asked and turned over to look at him, where he sat on his side of the bed.
"No. My Melolontha Melolontha," he said excitedly, a large smile on his face.
"Come again," she said and tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.
"I think my Melolontha Melolontha might hatch today. I can feel it," he grinned.
"You're waking me up at...5:15 a.m. because some bugs might hatch? Ever thought about therapy?!" she grumbled and went to lie down again.
"No, come on! We get up now, drive to the Institute to check on my bugs, as you call them, and then I'll take you out for breakfast," he begged. "You're getting up in half an hour anyway," he added.
"Ok, fine, but you owe me the biggest and most delicious breakfast ever," she grumbled and sat up as well.
"Thank you, love you," he said happily, kissed her cheek and was off to the shower a second later.
"Should have yelled at him some more Saturday night," she muttered to herself, before she swung her legs out of bed.
After they had both showered and got dressed they drove to the Institute mainly in silence. Cam was still half asleep and Hodgins was bouncing in his seat with excitement.
"If they haven't hatched I'll make sure they never will," she said darkly when they got out of the car in the underground parking garage.
"You wouldn't kill those cute, little baby Melolonthas?!" he gasped teasingly and slung one arm around her shoulder.
"What's that smell?" she asked him when they stepped out of the elevator.
"What smell?" he wanted to know, not yet having caught on.
"That smell. It smells like..." she said and stopped when they rounded the corner.
"A dead body," he finished her sentence seeing a body bag on a gurney surrounded by little girls.
"Who are you?" she turned to the little girls in green uniforms.
"We're the Woodchucks," one of them replied.
"We found a dead body and brought it here," another said.
"You found a dead body and brought it here?" Hodgins couldn't believe it.
"Yes, we also have soil and water samples and digital photographs," they nodded. "And who are you?" a girl wanted to know.
"I'm Dr. Camille Saroyan, head of the forensic department and this is Dr. Hodgins, our entomologist, botanist and geologist," Cam introduced them.
"Oh we thought Dr. Brennan would be here," a blonde girl admitted disappointedly.
"No, Dr. Brennan's not in yet, we're the first," Cam told her.
"I take the water and soil samples and you take the body?" Hodgins asked her, preparing for a first inspection.
"Yup, we meet on the platform and set it up for Dr. Brennan and Wendell," Cam nodded.
"Oh, he's our intern on the case?" Hodgins grinned and helped her push the gurney inside and unlock the doors with their cards. They were just about to head to the autopsy room and the laboratory when one of the girls cleared her throat. They had completely forgotten about the kids for a moment.
"What about us?" the girl asked.
"You wait here and we'll be back in half an hour. By then Dr. Brennan will be in as well and you can all meet her." Cheers of joy echoed through the lab and the two professionals exchanged a look of disbelief before they went to do their jobs.
~*~
"Ok now, this is Dr. Temperance Brennan," Hodgins introduced the forensic anthropologist an hour later. The girls were lined up in front of the platform where he and Cam had placed the body. They all applauded.
"Why are they applauding?" Brennan wanted to know and climbed the stairs.
"Apparently you're their role model," Cam grinned and couldn't believe her own words.
"I wanna know why they aren't all freaked out and getting trauma counseling," Hodgins asked and looked at Cam.
"Because they're the type of children who idolize Dr. Brennan," she replied amused and with raised eyebrows.
"So they were eco-camping on the banks of the Savage river," Hodgins reported what he had learned.
"These remains are completely saturated," Cam went on.
"The girls fished the body out of the river and brought it to us," Hodgins informed Brennan.
"How?" she wanted to know.
"In our woodchuck bus," one of the girls said.
"Very impressive," Cam said approvingly and leaned a bit forward so she could look at the girls.
"I disagree. Those woodchucks disturbed a federal crime scene. The area should have been secured, samples taken," Brennan interjected.
"Yeah, they did all that. Uh, water samples from the river where the body was found," Hodgins showed her the samples.
"Digital photographs of the entire area," another girl said proudly.
"Plants, insects, soil samples tagged with GPS coordinates. Now I know my soil samples and let me tell you something: These ladies, they are pros," Hodgins said impressed.
"Perhaps you should throw them a bone," Cam said to Brennan. "Not literally, metaphorically. After all they were very professional," she added, already fearing the worst when she thought about how literal Brennan could be.
"Attention, woodchucks. You were thorough and fastidious in your treatment of the body and crime scene," Brennan addressed them and the girls applauded again. "But, next time, please leave the evidence where you found it and let the experienced professionals do their job," she went on and was greeted with booing from the girls.
"But we helped," a girl protested loudly.
"You're mean," another one added.
"Their moods are capricious," Brennan said, turning back to her colleagues.
"You couldn't just let them have that one, let it go by," Cam asked, still amused.
"Then they never learn," Brennan disagreed and Hodgins and Cam exchanged an amused look. She would never change.
~*~
After Cam had taken another look at the body and had taken samples as well, she sent off Wendell with Hodgins to look for the missing fingers. Even though the "boys" believed the fingers had been transformed into talons, she was more convinced that they had just simply fallen off in the water.
They were back later that afternoon and Hodgins had busied himself with the work he had to do in his lab. He was surprised when Angela kept stopping by. He knew she wanted something, but he wasn't sure yet what exactly it was she wanted.
"Five months and 14 days I have been celibate," she finally spit out when he just kept looking through his microscope, ignoring her circling his lab on purpose.
"Angela, that is very impressive," he said honestly and looked up at her.
"Thank you," she replied and came round his desk to stand beside him while he tried to go back to work. "Sweets was right, taking sex out of that equation made me relate to people in a totally different way," she said.
"Yeah, once you got past the mega horny stage," he replied and kept working.
"The point is, that my six months is almost up. So...," she said without looking at him and then smiled directly at him.
"No," he replied with a smile and cocked his head to the side for a second.
"No what?" she asked flirty and tried to play innocent.
"I'm not gonna be the one that breaks your fast," he smiled.
"I... I wasn't asking," she laughed it off. "In fact, you should know that I was considering going for a year," she went on, the lying more obvious than ever. He could only laugh, finding the situation more than funny.
"It's definitely a chicken parasite we found in the victim's esophagus," he tried to get back to work related topics, but couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
"I wasn't asking, Jack," she said again, now smiling as well. "I was just... keeping you in the loop," she added while she walked out of his lab.
"Ok," he nodded, shook his head and let out a deep breath when she left. If he didn't know Angela so well, he might have been offended that she was offering sex while he was in a relationship. However he knew that Angela was thinking about whom she wanted to sleep with and who she could trust to break her fast and he had just been the first guy to cross her mind, so she had told him what was on her mind. She wouldn't feel rejected now that he declined, just as she wouldn't have stopped him if he had agreed. For her sleeping with someone else when you were in a relationship was a sign that the relationship was over anyway and therefore it was no big deal. His and Cam's relationship was far from over, although she was driving him up a wall lately with her mood swings. He would make a fat red cross in the calendar when this day was over; once she had her blood results and was going to make another appointment so she would get other meds, some that made her less moody and sick.
~*~
"The chicken man had his neck wrung?" Hodgins asked as he plopped down on her couch.
"I couldn't believe it either. And they cut his fingertips off," she nodded and sat down beside him, bringing the phone with her.
"Oh man, I can't imagine ordering some chicken nuggets and finding fingers in there. That would surely put a damper on my appetite," he laughed and lay down, letting his feet dangle over the edge of the couch.
"You're talking about disgusting things from work again?" Michelle asked when she entered the living-room.
"Just discussing things we couldn't before because I was trying to reach my doctor's office," Cam nodded.
"For other meds?" Michelle asked and sat down on the recliner.
"Yup, and for some test results," Cam nodded. She still hadn't told Michelle about her kidney problems and she still didn't want to worry her. So when the teen wrinkled her forehead and opened her mouth to ask more questions Cam held up a hand. "Hold on, let me try again first," she said and listened to the ringing. The line seemed free this time.
"Hi, this is Camille Saroyan. I'm calling for my lab results," she said when a nurse picked up. "Hi Rita, it's me Cam. I'm calling about my results," she repeated when she was connected to the doctor. Hodgins rolled his eyes and Michelle grinned. "Oh really? Why? Something wrong?" Cam asked next and wrinkled her forehead but didn't really seem worried. "Okay," Cam said next, dragging out the word. The smile was gone from her face now which got Hodgins and Michelle's attention and both looked curiously at her. "Mmmmh, that's a relief. And the hormonal...ok. How high was it?" Cam went on, her eyes large with fear. Or was it panic? Hodgins sat up. He wasn't hearing much, but what he heard didn't sound good. "That means... Yes, I know, I will. Bye Rita," Cam said, hung up and let the phone drop on the table before she leaned her elbows against her knees and buried her face in her hands for a second, trying to somehow keep her composure.
"Cam?" Michelle asked, the worry clear in her voice.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Hodgins said in the same tone of voice and placed a hand on her back.
"There was an anomaly in my blood test," she said and her voice cracked. She cleared her voice, then went on, staring at the table. "Rita did some other tests to be sure. Tumor markers came back negative and so did the hormonal tests," she said.
"That's good, right?" Michelle asked unsure. It sounded good at least. Cam turned her head and looked at Hodgins, her eyes boring into his.
"My HCG level is at 419," she told him. It took a moment until it sunk in but then he froze and his eyes widened, his reaction showing her that he had understood. She buried her face in her hands again, feeling like she had been run over by a truck.
"Hello, you're freaking me out here. Can anybody tell me what's going on!" Michelle demanded.
"It means that Cam is pregnant," Hodgins replied slowly, no less stunned than his girlfriend.
"Really? I'm gonna be a big sister? That is so epic!" Michelle's smile got wider and wider before she jumped up and hugged Hodgins, who was sitting closest to her. When she wanted to hug Cam she stopped, because her legal guardian still hadn't looked up. Unsure, she looked at Hodgins. He gave her hand a squeeze and shook his head slightly. "Can you give us a moment?" he asked her then.
"Sure," Michelle replied quietly, not really understanding why Cam wasn't doing a happy dance in the living room.
When she was gone and the door had closed behind her Hodgins reached over and pulled Cam against him. She wasn't crying, but obviously in shock.
"The nausea, the mood swings... I should have known," she said quietly, without looking up.
"We thought it was from the medication. And 419 means that it's still pretty early, right?" he asked, not so sure. Hormone levels weren't something he dealt with on a daily basis.
"First month," she nodded and then looked up. "What are we gonna do?" she asked him, her eyes still wide with shock.
"I guess if everything goes as it should we'll have a baby in nine months," he shrugged helplessly.
"You want me to keep it?" she asked and sounded surprised.
"You don't wanna keep it?" he asked back.
"I asked you first," she said stubbornly. He thought about it for a moment before he spoke.
"Yes, I want you to have the baby, but the question is what do you want," he asked her again, because judging by her reaction he couldn't really tell what she was thinking.
"I... I don't know," she admitted finally. "I don't know what I want."
"Ok. You know now what I want, you think about what you want and once you've come to a result you tell me. I'll be right here, no matter what you decide," he replied and took her hand in his.
"You wouldn't be angry or hurt if I didn't have it?" she said surprised.
"Maybe I would be for a while, I don't know. But we hadn't really planed on having a kid already so I can understand if you think it's too soon," he was being as honest as always while trying to be understanding.
"Looks like fate took that decision out of our hands," she said and leaned back against the back rest of the couch and brought one leg up, tucked her foot under her thigh. "I just don't get how this happened. Four weeks pregnant means this happened about two weeks ago. I was on the pill the whole time," she sighed.
"Guess Palm Beach was stronger," he couldn't help but grin.
"Also, I shouldn't be this moody yet. Maybe the HCG is just low and it happened earlier?" she wondered.
"Does it really matter now when exactly it happened? We'll find out soon enough when you have the Ob/GYN appointment," he replied with another shrug.
"I guess," she agreed and was silent another moment. "Will you be there if I have the baby? I mean, not only during the pregnancy, but for the baby, no matter what. That's a big responsibility. One that lasts for the rest of your life," she spoke out loud what she was thinking about.
"I'd always be there, always. I always promised myself that I would do it better than my parents and that means being there for your child's birthdays, injuries, colds, first dates and holiday crafts nights at school," he nodded and smiled.
"I hate crafts night," she smiled back and their eyes met. "I don't understand why you have to spend hours at school making ornaments out of paper that you could easily buy in a minute at any store. Total waste of time."
"So we're good?" he asked, still wondering what this new development would mean for their relationship.
"We're good," she nodded. "You want to come to the Ob/GYN or you just need me to give you a ballpark afterwards?"
"I want to come," he said immediately. "You think there'll be an ultrasound already?" he sounded excited.
"Most likely," she replied and was surprised when he kissed her with a happy sigh.
"This is gonna be so great," he grinned when he pulled back.
"But can we keep it between us for at least two more months? Until we know everything's gonna be ok?" she requested.
"Sure," he said and pulled her against him, leaning against the couch. He slid one hand under her red pullover and placed it on her flat stomach. "I can't believe there's a baby in there," he admitted in wonder.
"More like an accumulation of cells," she grinned.
"I don't care," he smiled brightly and rubbed his hand over her skin; With the other he cupped her face and kissed her hungrily.
"And what's the verdict? We're having a baby or not?" Michelle asked as she opened her door just a bit.
"As if you didn't listen to every word we said," Cam rolled her eyes but smiled.
"You were talking too quietly. Speak up next time," Michelle grinned cheekily and sat down on Cam's other side.
"Yes, we're having a baby," Cam nodded then, smiling at Jack and placing one arm around Michelle's shoulder. He grinned back, understanding that she had made her decision sooner than he had thought.
~*~
The next morning the first thing Cam had done was call her gynecologist for an appointment and then she went to work. She remembered that she had encouraged Wendell and Angela the night before to work together so she went to check on them.
Hodgins had teased her this morning when she had decided to wear a suit jacket over her shirt. She knew it was still too warm for this, but the thought that she could be showing freaked her out more than anything else. Being surrounded by scientists who would pick up immediately if anything changed in her body she was aware that it was only a matter of time until Brennan would say something about pubic bone extension and bust her. For now she didn't want her little secret out at the lab yet and she had even sent Hodgins back to his own lab when he had been hovering by her desk, his hand finding its new favorite place on her belly all the time.
When she reached the bone room Angela and Wendell immediately explained what they had done and how they had worked together. At first she had complimented them on their good work, but then something caught her eyes. It was a look that passed between them, then another. She paid attention to it and could have slapped herself the next second. She knew those looks and she knew what they meant. Obviously Angela had ended her celibacy kick and had found someone to end it with. The next moment Hodgins just had to enter and tell them about something he had found. Could the situation get any more uncomfortable? Here she was, thinking that she hiding her pregnancy was the biggest thing going on in the lab, but compared to Angela and Wendell getting it on she felt it paled a bit.
"There's evidence of streaming nuclei in the bone cells," Hodgins started while looking at his computer screen, showing them what he had found.
"That was my job to find," Wendell admitted guiltily.
"It's ok, kid, around here we step in for each other as needed," Hodgins replied good heartedly, unaware that he made Cam flinch and the other two look even more freaked out than they already were.
"What?" Angela asked shocked, obviously fearing just as much as Cam that Hodgins would somehow find out.
"Mmh?" Hodgins made when he turned around, the small smile never leaving his face. It was firmly in place ever since he'd woken up this morning.
"Oh, oh, you mean work," Angela understood.
"Yeah, what did you mean?" he asked her, now looking strangely at her.
"Work. I'm,... I'm agreeing it's work," Angela stuttered. Cam had crossed her arms under her chest and looked at her colleague with a mixture of disapproval and disgust. She could already tell how this situation would play out. Either she would tell Jack or he would find out one day. He would be hurt, she knew, feeling betrayed by Angela's choice and Cam could understand that. She wished the artist would just tell him. She had enough on her plate already with the unexpected pregnancy; she didn't need more trouble from Jack's closest friends betraying him. It wasn't that she minded so much that Angela was dating a co-worker, or even that it was Wendell. However by their weird behavior she could tell that it would be all awkward and secretive and they would make a big deal out of it. For that reason she wished that Angela had chosen someone else to break her celibacy with."Can we move on?" Angela asked when everyone just stared disbelievingly at her.
"So, we have electricity?" Cam asked to get back to work.
"Who does?" Angela asked, just as alarmed as before.
"Streaming nuclei suggests voltage," Cam told her like she would speak to a ten year old, annoyed with her denseness.
"Oh, I... I know," Angela stuttered again and Cam wished she could slap her, just once, really hard up the back of her head.
"Oh, a self-cauterizing blade?" Wendell said, obviously more relaxed than Angela.
"There's gotta be something like that in a place that kills thousands of chickens every day," Hodgins wondered while Wendell and Angela exchanged meaningful looks under the watchful eyes of their boss. "There we go. Ah, this might narrow things down. He had beak and feather disease virus," Hodgins went on, totally oblivious to what was going on behind his back, literally.
"He had beak and feather disease in his thumb?" Wendell checked.
"I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that maybe what we're looking for is a self cauterizing instrument that cuts beaks and feathers," Cam added, hoping to stay on topic for a while.
"Wait a minute, the video!" Angela said, remembering the video she had seen of the woman cutting the beaks of the chicken.
"Ok, go call Booth," Cam told her, because she only had a slight idea what Angela was talking about. Also, she was scared that Booth would start talking about her health issues while Brennan was nearby and she would get suspicious.
"I'll, uhm, be in the boneroom," Wendell said and left the room, actually hurrying after Angela.
"Did Angela seem only weird to me?" Hodgins asked when they were gone.
"No, something was... weird," Cam agreed without telling him what she thought she knew. She hadn't confronted Angela or Wendell yet and there was still the slight chance that she was imagining things and there was another explanation.
"How are you doing?" he asked then, changing the topic.
"I'm surprisingly well today. No morning sickness so far," she said dropping her voice. "But you were right, I should have worn different shoes, because these are killing me," she said, looking down at the incredibly high stilettos.
"You wouldn't listen when I told you that wearing stilettos wouldn't make people less suspicious. No one knows," he grinned at her.
"Good. The lab is a personal minefield as it is," she muttered when he pulled her close.
"What?" he asked confused.
"Nothing," she shook her head and pecked his lips, noticing how his hand was once again placed on her belly between them.
TBC