(After Season 12)
This is a little fanfic challenge that has come up for Bones fanfic writers. The challenge is simple: Brennan/Christine/Summer Camp. Hope you like it.
I definitely don't own Bones. If I did we'd be in a hiatus waiting for season 13 to start.
Oooooooooooooooooo
Christine had found out from Jack Hodgins that the Jeffersonian Institute sponsored a program similar to the Girls Scouts, but was more inclined to introduce and study the hard sciences. The Woodchucks had been a popular program for the last twenty years and the Jeffersonian board of regents was very happy with the program. Their goal was to increase the number of women that entered scientific fields in college and they found that this program really created excitement in the girls who joined.
Every year the Jeffersonian ran a summer camp and the young ladies were exposed to nature and the fields of botany and etymology. The girls also studied meteorology and zoology. The Woodchucks took great pride in themselves and were grateful for the knowledge they accumulated due to the efforts by the interns and doctors at the Institute. Dr. Jack Hodgins had been involved with the Woodchucks ever since the autumn of 2009 when some Woodchucks had brought in some human remains that they had found in a river while they were eco-camping on the banks of the Savage River. Hodgins had been very impressed with their professionalism even if Brennan hadn't been at the time. The girls had been very careful how they had gathered evidence and had recorded everything they had done step by step, but Brennan had worried that the girls had disturbed a federal crime scene and she had let the girls know. The Woodchucks had been unhappy with Brennan, but Cam had stepped in and mollified the girls by praising them and making sure they got a badge to commemorate their good work.
The fact that the attorney for the defense had tried to throw the case out because of the girl's involvement and had failed had impressed the etymologist and that had spurred him on to volunteer to teach these very intelligent young ladies when he had the time.
When Christine had shown some interest in the program Hodgins had been thrilled. He loved the child and wanted only the best for her. She seemed to have a natural affinity towards science and seemed to be leaning towards zoology as a possible career in the future. Of course she was just ten years old and she might grow out of that and move towards another interest, but Hodgins wanted to encourage her to the best of his ability. He was aware that Brennan was trying to steer the child towards forensic anthropology, but he didn't let that dampen his enthusiasm. Booth wanted Christine to explore a lot of different interests while she was a child to make sure she chose a profession that made her happy and Hodgins agreed with that approach. His own boys were encouraged to explore different hobbies and Michael Vincent had joined the Boy Scouts and a local rocketry club as well as attending an art class run by his mother every Tuesday night.
Trying to help Christine in her campaign with her mother to allow her to join the Woodchucks, Hodgins gave her several brochures to show Brennan. A few weeks before summer camp was supposed to start, Christine gave both her father and mother the brochures and tried to talk them in to letting her join the Woodchucks and attend the eco-camping trip.
Booth had been very enthusiastic when he first looked at the brochures, Brennan not so much. "But Christine the camp is for two weeks and we were planning on flying to Cambodia and visiting several temples at around that time. I've already made arrangements to go. You will find that trip much more educational."
When either Booth, Christine or Hank tried to get their way about something they knew that whining and pleading wouldn't work with Brennan. They knew that they had to present their case logically and in an orderly fashion. Of course it had taken Booth years to catch on to that trick, but he had passed it on to his kids and most of the time Brennan would give in to their wants if they went about it calmly. Hank was still learning that lesson, but Christine had nailed it years ago. "Mom, the Woodchucks are going to have Dr. Hastings in charge of their summer camp this year. She's a zoologist and Uncle Jack says she's the top in her field. There are also two interns that will be there to help supervise. One of them is your intern, Ms. White and the other one is Ms. Smythe, she's an intern in the Native American Plant Exhibit department. Since I'm interested in zoology I thought this might be a good time to join the Woodchucks. Dr. Hastings has two doctorates. Uncle Jack says the other one is in geology. She studied that first and then later found out she loved zoology. Doesn't she sound like someone you'd want me to around? I mean, she's the head of her department and Uncle Jack says her exhibitions are really great. I'd be lucky to join the Woodchucks right now. Don't you think so? Besides we've been to Cambodia before. This will be a new experience for me."
Before Brennan could answer, Booth spoke up. "Wait a minute, now I remember. Aren't the Woodchucks those little girls that brought in a murder victim a few years ago?" The fact that those little girls had treated the victim with professionalism had been interesting to Booth, but the fact that they had handled a dead body had more than creeped him out. "You got mad at them for screwing up a crime scene."
"Well I did at the time, but when it went to trial their actions weren't considered detrimental to the case." Brennan had forgiven the Woodchucks their transgressions a long time ago.
"Ooh, a dead body. Really?" Christine's need to belong to the Woodchucks had just increased. "That is so cool."
"No it is not cool." Booth didn't like the eagerness on his little girls' face. "The body was disgusting and they touched it and moved it and . . . that was not cool at all."
Used to Booth's dislike of bodies, Brennan knew he was very good at feigning calmness around victims unless it was one of the really more horrid finds like the ones that reminded him of chili or food items. He didn't like murder victims to look like food. "Well, to be honest it was cool. Those girls did an excellent job. They were obviously taught well . . . perhaps you should join the Woodchucks, Christine."
Excited, Christine tried to keep from jumping up and down with joy. She hadn't sealed the deal yet since her father was now objecting. She hadn't counted on that. "Uncle Jack says that Dr. Hastings will be teaching the Woodchucks about tracking animals and collecting plants this year. I don't think she's going to be looking for dead bodies, Dad."
Brennan had thought it over and she didn't see a problem with their child joining such a prestigious children's program. "Booth I think Christine would benefit from belonging to the Woodchucks and clearly the odds would be astronomical that history would repeat itself and the Woodchucks would discover a body in the woods this time. That would be ludicrous."
His eyes boring into his wife, Booth glumly placed his hands in his pants pockets. "We're talking about Booth luck now. Christine is a Booth and we're known for ludicrous things happening to us, but okay I guess she can join." Turning towards daughter, Booth shook his head. "If you find a human body in the woods you do not have permission to touch it."
Amused, Christine laughed. "Oh, Dad don't be silly. That's not going to happen."
Ooooooooooooooooooooo
Let me know if this sounds interesting. Thank you.