Camille Saroyan was in her office staring at a computer screen when a knock on her door jolts her back into reality. She looks up and sees Temperance standing in the doorway.
"What can I do for you on this lovely mid-October day?"
"I need some time off,"
"When?"
"Effective immediately,"
"What kind of time?"
"Personal time,"
"For how long?"
"A week, maybe longer," she answers.
"Maybe longer? How much longer?"
"That has yet to be determined,"
"Dr. Brennan what is going on?"
"I may not be back," she admits.
"Would you care to explain yourself?"
"I've got some personal stuff to deal with,"
"And you can't do that and come to work?"
"It's complicated,"
"So little about you isn't complicated,"
"I know,"
"I know you are very dedicated to your work so I don't understand the sudden shift..."
"I... over the past few days there have been some new developments in my life, that have made me feel the need to take a step back, and evaluate the situation,"
"What situation would that be?"
"Some close relationships, my career, my future, my game plan,"
"That doesn't sound good,"
"What do you mean?"
"What is going on?
"Do you know what the mile high club is?"
"Yes do you?"
"Yes,"
"Are you sure?"
"Apparently I'm a member," she answers.
"Ok. What does this have to do with the price of tea in china?"
"It's not as irrelevant as you may think,"
"Ok, could you explain?"
"It has to do with the person that I joined with..."
"Booth?"
"How did you know?"
"Lucky guess," she answers untruthfully, knowing it was instict more than anything else.
"Right, so needless to say it complicates things,"
"Why do I get the sense that there's something more?"
"I'm not sure that I can be partners with Booth anymore," she answers.
"Ok... and?"
"I'm not sure that I can do this anymore,"
"You're a brilliant anthropologist, why would you quit?"
"You and I both know that I don't need the money,"
"Yes I'm aware,"
"I..."
"Does this have to do with the job?"
"The job is fine, I'm just not sure that I can do it anymore under the circumstances. The hours... I don't..."
"What circumstances would those be?"
Temperance takes a very deep breath and then answers quietly with a lump in her throat, "I'm pregnant."
"Is it Booth's?"
"I don't know. I can't be sure. I was... I'm still in shock. I don't even really know how it happened,"
Cam scowls.
"I know how it happened but... I'm always careful. I never..."
"So how many other possibilities are there?"
"Just one,"
"I'm assuming that it's one of the two guys that you were dating after you got back from London?"
"Yeah. It would be much easier if it belonged to him...,"
"Why?"
"He's... he's not around much. His job keeps him at sea, and that's ok with me,"
"So you're keeping the baby?"
"I... yes... but I just..."
"You want it to be the other guys?"
"Part of me does,"
"And the other part knows that Seeley is a good father,"
"But he's my partner,"
"Go on sabbatical,"
"What?"
"Go on sabbatical," she repeats.
"How will that help?"
"He won't know,"
"As appealing as that sounds I don't know that it's the best thing. I don't even know who's it is. I can't believe that I've gotten myself into such a mess,"
"Does Angela know?"
"Have you heard shrieks of joy?"
"No,"
"Ok, then,"
"And Seeley?"
"No,"
"The other guy?"
"Mark, and no he doesn't know,"
"Will you tell him?"
"No,"
"So who knows?"
"You, my doctor, and me,"
"It's probably Booth's. You know that right?"
"Why would you say that?"
"The man has freaking super sperm,"
"How do you figure? Because of Parker?"
"Not exactly,"
"How then?"
"Parker isn't the only one,"
"Only what? His only child?"
Cam only nods.
"Is this gossip?"
"No it's the truth," she answers.
"But I would know..."
"He doesn't know,"
"What do you mean?"
"No one ever told him,"
"Why not?"
"Because..."
"Who is this kid?"
"His name is Eli," she announces.
Temperance just looks at her with the question clearly scrawled across her face. Cam grabs her purse she digs out her wallet. She opens it, and pulls out a picture. She hands it to Temperance.
"That's him," she tells Temperance.
"I don't understand. Where did you get this? How did you get this?"
"I... I guess that I should have shared this story before now,"
"What story?"
"Eli turned one in August,"
Temperance nods, "And?" wondering if the age of the child is relevant somehow.
"And maybe you should take a seat," she advises.
Temperance pulls up a chair and takes a seat.
"I chose not to tell Seeley about him. I chose not to tell anyone about him,"
"Wait what?"
"Sometime after Seeley left the hospital to catch Howard Epps I was informed that I was pregnant,"
"But the treatment that they gave you..."
"I know, and miraculously he's ok. Somehow... I don't know how, but he's fine,"
"You never said anything?"
"I... I've been mistaken in the past by allowing too much of my personal life to spill into work, and vice-versa,"
"You've got a kid?" she says still in shock.
Cam nods.
"With Booth?"
Cam nods again.
"He's a year old?"
"Uh huh, and he's... I have to tell you, it's easier than I thought it would be. It isn't as bad as I thought that it would be,"
"I thought you didn't want kids,"
"I didn't. After I got out of the hospital I decided that if the treatment they had given me didn't cause me to miscarry I would take it as a sign..."
"From God?"
She nods, "I was skeptical. I knew how damaging those drugs could be, so I figured that I wouldn't have to worry about it. But, somehow nothing happened,"
"So you kept him?"
"Yes, and I'm glad that I did. He's so happy, and loving. He's just a healthy gorgeous baby... and I'm glad that I had him,"
"So why didn't you tell Seeley?"
"Whatever it was that existed between Seeley and I was gone before I ever got out of the hospital. I wasn't going to force him to be in a relationship with me out of obligation. He's a noble man, so I didn't tell him,"
"Will you tell him?"
"No," she shakes her head.
"So back to the super sperm...,"
"Ah yes the super sperm,"
"Why do you call it that?"
"My decision not to have children was a very conscious one, therefore I make sure to take preventative measures. When Eli was conceived I was not only on the pill but we were also using..."
"They're both 99 percent effective what is the chance of them failing at the same time?"
"I'm not that great at math but I would say that the chances are incalculable,"
"So you're saying that Booth has some sort of super sperm?"
"That's what I'm saying,"
"That even with preventative measures cannot be stopped?"
"Exactly,"
She says nothing.
"I've got to get started home. Do you want to come with me? You could meet Eli..."
"I don't know Cam..."
"And we can discuss your job further,"
"Ok," she agrees mostly out of curiosity.