So, I haven't forgotten about this story, I just didn't have the time to write. Hopefully the next chapter will be up quicker.
Chapter 2
"Hey, Arastoo," Cam greeted him, surprised to see him. So far she had never considered meeting him at a bar and now they did by chance.
"Cam, that is a surprise," he smiled when he saw her.
"I never expected to find you in a bar," she told him teasingly and pointed to the glass he held.
"Just tonic water. You gonna join me?" He asked her and silently prayed that she would say yes.
"Sure, thank you. What a day, huh?" She continued with the small talk but sat down on a chair next to him.
"I hate funerals," he admitted and turned serious as he swirled his water in the glass, making the ice cubes click against the glass.
"Me,too. But he deserved an honorable burial," Cam pointed out. The whole team had attended the funeral of the homeless 9/11 hero to honor what he had done.
"Yes, he did. He was a hero," Arastoo nodded, still deep in thought.
"It's a good thing you insisted on investigating those remains, Arastoo," she added and the use of his first name made him look at her again.
"I couldn't stand the thought that just because he was homeless he was gonna be forgotten once more. We should help the helpless and not shove them away or push them back."
"You have a big heart," Cam smiled at him and gave his arm a soft squeeze. He was such a sweet guy and once more he stood out to her amongst all the interns- and the men in her life.
"So do you," he replied and the look he have her made her heart speed up. Once more she wondered what was going on with her. She had merely ended it with her boyfriend after all and here she was swooning because of one look from one of the interns. Ok, maybe he had something to do with the fact that she had ended it with her boyfriend, but he didn't need to know that.
"Did you already find another idea for a topic on which you can publish?" Cam asked him nervously, hoping to change the topic back to something save.
"No, I haven't," he replied to her question but placed his hand over hers on his arm when she wanted to pull it back. The look in his eyes told her that he was not backing down this time.
"Arastoo," she said in a small voice and tried once more to pull her hand back, this time with more strength. By softly gliding his fingers over the back of her hand he stopped her. It was like all the fight was draining out of her because of this simple contact.
"Can we please stop pretending that this isn't happening?" he asked her just as quietly and looked her in the eyes once more while he still let his fingers glide against her skin.
"I think we don't have another choice now," she admitted and looked down when he laced his fingers with hers. "But what exactly are we doing?" she asked him, enjoying the warmth his fingers created. Without saying anything he slowly leaned towards her and gave her the opportunity to pull away. When she didn't he kissed her softly on the lips. The kiss was barely more than a butterfly like touch, but when he wanted to pull back she kept him close by cupping his cheek.
"No matter what it is- I like it," he smiled at her when he broke the kiss.
"Me, too," she admitted and earned herself another tender kiss. For a moment there she let herself get lost in it and just feel. She had dreamed about this for a while now but the reality of kissing him was even better. Then however she started thinking and all kinds of problems started popping up in her brain: the reaction of the people at the lab, the different religions, the age difference, Paul, Michelle… She broke the kiss and had panic written all over her face. However before she could say anything he gently shushed her and pulled her into his arms.
"Please don't overthink this. I've wanted this for a while now and all I am asking for is a chance. Everything will be alright, ok?" he told her as he held her in his arms.
"Nobody at the lab can know, Arastoo," she insisted as she pulled back.
"Ok. Nobody has to know," he agreed. "I promise," he added when she still looked doubtful.
"You know that this is all kinds of wrong?" she pointed out then, wanting him to understand that this was not an average boy meets girl kind of situation.
"I can't find anything wrong with it," he disagreed with her and when he kissed her this time she decided to let him win for once.
However when they broke the kiss she did the only thing that would contain some kind of sanity. "I should go," she whispered against his lips.
"Will you go out with me this weekend?" he asked, needing all of his courage.
"Of course," she replied with a peck and then stood up, grabbed her bag and fled the bar before they would end up going home together and make this even more complicated. Once she sat in her car though she felt like she had forgotten something. She pulled out her cellphone and sent him a text message. "I'm looking forward to this weekend. Good night Arastoo."
She didn't have to wait for more than a few seconds before she received the reply. ! دوستت دارم".
Arastoo had been kind of nervous when he went to work the next day. It was his turn at the Jeffersonian once again and although he knew that Cam didn't want anybody to know and imagined that she would be very professional, he was still curious how she would act towards him.
She greeted him no different than any other day and even when he asked her about a mix up with his hours she never even blinked. For a second he wondered if he had imagined the whole kissing thing.
"I have a record of my hours right here," he pointed out as they walked into the direction of her office.
"You keep very complete records Mr. Vaziri," she complimented but the use of his last name let there be no doubt at all that there wouldn't even be a hint of private conversation.
"It's not as if I make a lot of money so every little bit helps," he replied.
"Well, I check my records and call payroll," she said and he decided to test her now that they were alone in her office.
"As soon as you can I'd appreciate it. According to my calculations I'm owed over $200 and I have special dinner plans," he pointed out, teasing her.
"Well, a $200 dinner must be very special," she just replied and looked him in the eyes for a second, so he knew she got the hint. Still she didn't change her tone of voice.
"Yeah, I hope so."
"Well, I just need you to sign these forms," Cam said and handed him some papers just as Angela walked into the office.
"Hey Cam, I got another text from your doctor boyfriend," the artist announced and Arastoo flinched internally and gripped the forms just a bit harder. Hadn't she said that she had told the guy it was over?
"Oh god, I'm sorry. And he's not my boyfriend," Cam apologized to Angela and glanced at him for a split second.
"Well, sounds like he thinks he is. He wants me to tell you to call," Angela insisted.
"I told him it was over. I can't date my daughter's gynecologist. Every time we go out, I can't help thinking," she started gesturing with her hands and this time both him and Angela flinched visibly.
" It's ok, it's ok. I get it," Angela stopped her.
"Yeah, we all do," he couldn't keep from commenting this time, feeling really uncomfortable at the thought that the doctor still saw her as his girlfriend.
"I told him that it was over, that I'm seeing someone else," Cam insisted and sounded somewhat desperate at this point. He knew he had to get out of there otherwise she would probably spill their secret while trying to convince him and Angela that she wasn't seeing Paul anymore. Once Cam started babbling, what happened rarely, all bets were off.
"Is there anything more I need to sign?" he asked and handed her the papers back.
"Uh, no that is good, thanks," she said, still not calm and he left as fast as he could without running.
When Cam came home that night the first thing she did was grab the phone and dial Arastoo's number.
"That was fast. I hope you won't get a speeding ticket," he joked when he picked up his phone, knowing it was her. They had left around the same time, but she lived farther away from the Institute than he did.
"I don't think so," she laughed nervously and took a deep breath before she went on. "I just wanted to apologize for the whole Paul disaster and the book thing. I really told him it was over and I wasn't thinking when I brought you the book. I didn't think that Hodgins would care whatever book I handed to you and it didn't cross my mind that you don't want to talk about it at the lab and," she was rambling and she knew it, but she couldn't help herself.
"Cam, it's ok, I understand," he chuckled. "It's no big deal,"
"So we're still on for dinner?" she asked hopefully.
"Of course, why wouldn't we be?" he laughed. "Well, ok, maybe if I don't get my money then I might start thinking about it," he teased her then.
"I already called payroll and confirmed your records," she said as she sank down on her sofa, relieved that the first chaotic day at the lab hadn't scared him off. "So where are you gonna take me?" she asked him.
"It's a surprise," was his only answer.
"Come on Arastoo, throw me a bone here," she begged.
"I don't think Dr. Brennan would approve if I threw bones around at the lab," he dead panned and made her laugh. "So if you want me to keep my job I suggest you are patient and just wait and see where I'll take you."
"Just one hint," she insisted, still giggling at the image of Brennan's shocked face if Arastoo would throw bones around.
"Ok," he sighed and she was surprised that he gave in so fast. "But then no more questions."
"I promise," she vowed.
"The restaurant I am going to take you to… is kind of expensive," he said then and she could hear the laughter in his voice.
"That wasn't fair," she complained but joined his laughter. "You're mean," she pouted.
"I'm going to see you tomorrow, Dr. Saroyan. Dooset daram," Arastoo told her and her heart skipped a beat when she heard him talking in Farsi.
"Good night to you, too," she replied, knowing that it must be the expression he had sent her via text several times.
TBC