When Hearts are Linked
A/N: This story is posted to fulfill Some1TookMyName's Valentine's Day wishlist. It's set twenty-three months after Hodgins' injury from the bomb explosion in mid-Season 11.
Chapter 1
Christine and Michael Vincent burst through the front door, yelling for Hodgins and Angela. Harold, the long time butler smiled forbearingly at the tangle of leashes and dog treat packages cluttering the front porch. "Mom, Dad, we got our fifth client today! Michael exclaimed as his mother turned from her easel. "Mrs. Murphy wants us to walk Ranger and Sergeant twice a week!"
"And she's going out of town next month, so we get to feed them while she'd gone, too," added Christine breathlessly. "Mr. Hamilton told her how good we've done with Scout, and she asked us to take care of the puppies."
Well, since they're so young, they can only walk around the tennis court right now," Michael said, "but she wants to get them leash trained early, so we're going to help."
Angela smiled at her son's enthusiasm. "That's great, guys! Can you keep the volume down to a dull roar? Your dad is resting after his therapy session, or was trying to. Let's go see what kind of cookies Maria's been baking, and get you a snack."
Michael sniffed the air appreciatively. "Snickerdoodles and chocolate chip, I think."
oooooooooooooooo
Hodgins rolled into the spacious kitchen, his curly hair as tousled as Michael's. "No point trying to nap with these two running around," he remarked as Angela bent to kiss him. "More dog-walking customers, huh?" he asked his son. "At the rate you're going, you two will be able to put yourselves through college with your savings."
Christine rolled her eyes. "Uncle Hodgins, we won't earn nearly enough money for that. Yearly tuition alone at both Penn and Rhodes Island School of Design exceeds $45,000." Her serious expression was identical to the one her mother adopted when questioning Hodgins' latest experiment proposal. He chuckled at her inherited propensity for spouting facts.
Christine's cell phone chimed with a message from Booth. "Dad's on the way; we've got to pack up our gear, Michael," she said through a mouthful of cookies. "Maria, thanks for the snack. Those cookies are sooo good, can I have the recipe for our Science Club bake sale next month?"
"Of course, chiquita. What are you needing money for?" Hodgins' cook asked her.
"We're raising money for new microscopes at the school in Guatemala we help sponsor. When I'm fifteen, Mom and Dad said I can go there to tutor over the summer."
"In Guatemala? Why so far away?" Maria asked.
"Mom helped start this school after working a dig in Baja Verapaz to identify victims of Rio Negro." Despite Booth and Brennan's careful efforts to shield her, their perceptive daughter had found internet articles about her mother's work with the UN Committee on Human Rights on behalf of the indigenous Maya Achi. Angela and Hodgins knew her questions had prompted them to recount Brennan's forensic identification efforts. Hodgins thought to himself, not for the first time, how powerful the combination was of Booth's penetrating investigative instincts and Brennan's scientifically analytical intelligence. Their daughter never missed a thing.
The two kids left the kitchen and repacked their dog leashes, treats, and collapsible water dish into backpacks they carried when walking their canine charges. "See you at school tomorrow, Michael," Christine called over her shoulder as she descended the wide stairs and climbed into Booth's SUV.