Title: "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue" (Chapter 1/4)
Author: willowwood
Character(s)/Pairing: Jack Hodgins, Jack Hodgins/Angela Montenegro
Rating: PG
Words: 1, 237
Disclaimer: The "Bug Man" doesn't belong to me, but he can come and play in my dirt anytime.
Summary: The Squints follow an old Wedding Tradition, so nothing should go wrong.

"Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue"

Something Old

Reaching the Mini Cooper that's parked out front, Jack can still hear the guitar riffs from the song he hadn't recognised, reverberating through his mind. Searching for his keys, something suddenly occurs to him and he pauses. Taking a deep breath, finally he turns around and heads back into the building.

This time as he enters the lobby the pit-bull sitting inside the security booth, whose previous stream of questions had finally ended, and who'd eventually introduced himself as George, once Angela's name had come into the conversation, doesn't stand and leer over him threateningly. Instead, with a knowing smile and shaking his head, he presses the release button on the security door and watches Jack go through. Although whether it's because he thinks that the entomologist is an idiot, or making a huge mistake, Jack cannot be entirely sure.

Nevertheless, he nods in thanks and heads back into the room. As he knew it would be, the room is still filled by deep confident riffs echoing off the walls. The man, who is going to become his father-in-law in less than two days, hasn't moved from his previous seat, and is still leaning over the guitar that's resting in his lap, seemingly engrossed in what he's doing – or that's what Jack thought.

Even before the door has closed behind him, the music stops abruptly and although the other man doesn't move or acknowledge his presence in anyway, Jack has the faint suspicion that he's the reason for the sudden disruption - suddenly he understands where Angela's seemingly sixth sense comes from.

"Didn't you leave once already?" The rock star asks, his deep voice breaking the silence, still not having turned to look at the entomologist or moved his attention from the instrument in his hands.

Jack releases a small laugh, hating the way it betrays how nervous he's suddenly feeling before stepping further into the room. "Yeah….I did….." He struggles to explain, running a hand across the back of his neck before dropping it back to his side "It's just that I was thinking about your advice, and well Angela's asked me to pick a song for the wedding….." Now that he was once again standing besides the ageing rock star, the older man turned, giving him a sideways glance from beneath the brim of his hat.

"You mean for a wedding march?" he asks, removing his sunglasses.

"Yeah…" Jack agrees releasing a heavy sigh. He feels like an idiot and realises that he's probably never felt more nervous in his life. Crossing his arms he tips his head back and offers the older man what he hopes, looks like an encouraging smile "It's just that I don't think Angela would want something too; traditional you know? It has to be different, special and I want it to be really special. Perfect – for her, and whilst I know her really well…."

Unexpectedly the other man mirrors Jacks pose, tipping his head back he regards him with wide eyes and an accusing raised brow. Jack quickly catches onto the other mans train of thought and can suddenly feel a blush rising to his cheeks "…err not really well-" his voice croaks, an octave higher than it normally is and suddenly he's 16 all over again, defending himself to Senator Stephens after taking young Bethany to the movies one Friday night.

"I'm not stupid son, Angie's a big girl now" the older man replies after an instant, not able to hide the chuckle that accompanies his words. Jack struggles to stop the relieved sigh that threatens to escape his lips.

"-Anyway" he continuous cautiously, wiping his palms against his jeans "I thought you might know something she'd like, being a musi…." He trails off confused as the other man, seemingly ignoring every word he's saying, stands up, places his guitar on the empty stand in front of him and begins walking to the far end of the room. Jack watches as he purposefully makes his way towards a CD rack filled with cases, whose titles he can't read, selects one from near the bottom of the tower and turns before heading back towards him. Then taking his seat once more, he holds the case out to the younger man.

Taking it from him Jack glances down at the cover, his eyes widening in shock as he skims the title. 'Gimme all your Lovin',

"This?" he asks, failing to hide the shocked amusement from his voice. Again, the older man raises a cautionary brow to the entomologist, and crossing his arms, leans back in his chair.

"I wrote that for her mother in 1983" he begins defensively.

Yet Jack still asks "Why? What did you do?" the words flying off his lips before he even realises what he's saying. To his relief, instead of killing him on the spot, the other man simply smirks appreciatively

"Well I can see why Angie likes you-" he retorts. "-Believe it or not, but it was my way of trying to get her to marry me"

"And did she?"

"Never in a million years. Said she'd rather end up living on the streets, than the widow of some half-assed rock star-" he shook his head, and Jack was only slightly shocked by how easily he could imagine Angela saying those words "-she even refused to spend a single penny I sent her. Put it all in a savings account for Angie. Even when she was working 17 hours a day in some run down dinner on the edge of New Mexico" Stretching his legs out in front of him he crosses his ankles and repositions his arms, wrapping them around him tighter

"Of course she never told Angela any of this. Let my own daughter grow up thinking I was the goddamn spurn of Satan….she probably still would if it hadn't been for that savings account" He glanced up at Jack, as though suddenly realising that he'd wavered off topic "-Nevertheless she still loved that song, played it every chance she got. Angie too, according to her mother, she'd jump around, dancing, singing along-" he let out a disappointed sigh "-Not that I ever saw it of course…"

"…..You've done the right thing Hodgins" Jack couldn't hide his smile "I know Angie can be stubborn sometimes, god forbid her mother was – but she really does want this. I've never seen her look so happy…and I know she loves that song". The entomologists smile broke out into a wide grin; and glancing down at the case once more he can't help feeling that the other man couldn't be more right.

"Thanks" he replies eventually.

As Jack moves to leave his voice stops him in his tracks, "You seem like a good man Jack, I wouldn't want to see you screw it up like I did".

"I don't intend to" Her father nods, and this time it's him who initiates the departing hand shake.

"That's good to know"

Without answering Jack finally heads towards the door, reaching it, he pauses to watch as once again Angela's father reaches for his guitar and repositions it back onto his lap. He waits, listening to the riffs kick-start once more, before finally he glances at the disc in his hand, and wonders where the hell he's going to find a harpist who can play ZZ-Top.

To be continued