(After the Change in the Game)

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I don't own Bones.

Ooooooooooooooooooo

Hodgins had seen Booth enter the Lab, but he didn't think anything of it. He assumed that the agent was here to see Brennan and continued feeding the various reptiles, insects and spiders he had in his Ookey room.

Later that morning, Hodgins heard Cam upstairs shouting at something. Curious, he left his office and met Brennan near the platform.

Not sure what was going on, they heard Cam yell 'turn on' and they turned to face each other. "Do you know what the shouting is about, Dr. Hodgins?"

Slowly shaking his head, Hodgins turned his head to stare at the upper floor when he heard Cam shout 'turn on damn it'. "I don't know, but I think we better find out, don't you?"

Moving over to the staircase that led up to the catwalk above, Brennan quickly ascended the steps with Hodgin dogging her heels. Once they were at the top of the stairs, they moved over to where the little mini kitchen was and watched as Cam leaned over a toaster and spoke in a very loud voice. "Toast my bagel . . . now you piece of junk . . . God I hate progress sometimes, what's wrong with a simple toaster that just makes toast?"

A little exasperated, Wendell picked the toaster up, unplugged it, shook it, plugged it back in and then spoke in a clear loud voice. "Turn on . . . toast the bagel . . . switch on . . . stupid toaster."

Unable to stop himself, Hodgins laughed. "What . . . what's going on?"

Surprised they had an audience, Wendell turned and held up a note. "We have a new toaster, but I think it's broken."

Brennan thought she recognized the handwriting and took the note from Wendell's hand. In Booth's handwriting she read: New toaster – voice activated

While Brennan was reading the note, Hodgins moved Wendell aside and pressed the lever down on the side of the toaster. The heating element coming on immediately, they all smelled the aroma of bread toasting.

"This is from Booth." All eyes now on her Brennan, she placed her hand over her mouth and laughed.

Surprised, Cam slowly shook her head. "Why are you laughing? The toaster is obviously defective."

Unable to prevent it, Hodgins snorted. "It's not voice activated Cam. You have to press the lever down to make it work. That's how toaster's work."

Confused, Wendell shook his head, "Then why did Booth . . ."

Laughing uproariously, Brennan pointed at the toaster and then at Wendell and Cam. "Booth . . . that's so funny . . . Oh my . . . I will have to congratulate him as this was totally unexpected . . . so funny . . ."

Not seeing the joke, Cam placed her hands on her hips. "Would you care to enlighten us, Dr. Brennan?"

"He pranked us." Hodgins started to laugh so hard, tears spilled down his cheeks. "Voice activated my ass . . . Oh my God . . . Turn on . . . Turn on damn it . . . Oh my God we could hear you guys downstairs." Wiping tears from his eyes, Hodgins laughed even harder when a perfectly toasted bagel popped up.

Cam's eyes mere slits, she pulled her snack from the toaster and plopped it down on to a plate. "I think I'm going to have a little talk with Booth."

Finally under control, Brennan placed the note in her pocket and glanced at Wendell and then Cam. "I pulled a prank on Booth yesterday and he is reciprocating . . . I didn't think he'd involve anyone else, but clearly he did and his practical joke is exceptional. I'm very impressed."

His cheeks burning, Wendell shook his head. "Yeah, well Booth better watch his back. Two can play at that game."

Oooooooooooooooooooo

Involved in his quarterly report, Booth was startled when he heard his name called out. Looking up, he saw a very aggravated Cam standing in the doorway with a toaster in her hand. "I believe this belongs to you."

Unable to help himself, Booth snorted. "No . . . I bought it for the Lab. Bones said your old one broke a few days ago and I thought I'd replace it."

Glaring at her friend, Cam placed the toaster on her friend's desk. "Voice activated?"

His face now blank, Booth refused to show any emotion. "Isn't it? I was sure that's what the box said."

Cam didn't trust that cool look one bit. "Did the box really say it was?"

Booth knew his friend was furious, but really his joke must have been hilarious if Cam had been involved. "It didn't say it wasn't."

Very aggravated, Cam crossed her arms against her chest. "Wendell and I read your note and we ended up shouting at it . . . that wasn't very funny, Booth. It was embarrassing. Dr. Brennan says you were retaliating for a joke she played on you."

Her fury only highlighting how successful his joke had been, Booth threw his head back and laughed. The sound of their boss laughing so crazily caused quite a few heads to stir in the bullpen. Fascinated, they watched Dr. Saroyan pick up Booth's Bobble Head Bobby and hold it at arm's length away from the desk.

Alarmed, Booth stood up and held his hands out in a placating manner. "Come on now Cam. Don't do that. It was a joke. Everyone has been sad since that baby was discovered in the wall and . . . I wanted to make everyone laugh not just Bones . . . don't drop my Bobby, Cam . . . please."

His explanation unexpected, Cam placed the Bobby back on the desk. "Everyone has been on edge for days and . . . it was funny . . . alright, you're forgiven."

Thankful, Booth sat back down. "Bones and Hodgins played a joke on me because I was sad and I returned the favor."

"Dr. Brennan didn't say Hodgins had been involved in her practical joke on you." Rubbing her chin, Cam smiled. "Maybe Hodgins needs to learn a lesson. The only one your joke caught was Wendell and myself."

His eyes now on his Bobby, Booth slowly nodded his head and then turned to look at his friend. "Want me to help?"

Settling down on a chair across from Booth's desk, Cam smiled. "What do you have in mind? If you don't have an idea I'm sure I can think of one."

Ooooooooooooooooooo

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