Competing with Cam
By: Lesera128
Rated: T
Disclaimer: I own nothing... Obviously. Just playing in someone else's sandbox for a bit.
Summary: An email from Zack brings Brennan home early just as Cam is about to be hired by the Jeffersonian. A competition for the boss's job and Booth ensues. AU.
Chapter 5 – Saroyan vs. Brennan
Had anyone present in the apartment been of a mind to glance at any number of the clocks that Booth kept scattered around his home, they would've noticed that the time currently read a little past 1:30pm. And, as it was getting to the point that even a late lunch wasn't going to be explainable at the current time, the inhabitants in Booth's apartment would've known they were going to be late... again. However, the two occupants in the apartment didn't notice such trivialities at that point in time. No, they had much more important things on their minds, or at least, much more pleasurable things that demanded their complete and total attention than noticing they were going to be late in returning to work.
At some point, Brennan felt the world start to swim out of focus, but she remained grounded, concentrating on the intense gaze of Booth's eyes as he held her eyes while they moved together. Once, twice, three more times, and he tightened his hands in a firm grasp from where his fingers were intertwined with hers and each pair of their arms rested on either side of their bodies. Brennan moaned somewhat loudly in pleasure, and Booth cried out her name instinctively. Afterwards, both of the bed's occupants glowing with the satisfaction that can only be achieved in a haze of post-coital bliss, reluctantly, Booth unclasped one of their hands so that he could move off to the side, lest he crush her beneath him. Their other pair of hands remained interlinked as Brennan stared at the ceiling, gasping for air, her breathing ragged and unsteady. Booth wasn't in much better shape as his brain used what little power it had left to concentrate on maintaining his tight grip of her hand and simultaneously forcing air to enter his lungs.
Finally, after several minutes, Booth turned his head to look to the right and saw Brennan was staring back at him, a very satisfied and lopsided grin on her face.
"Wow!" Booth said. "I, ah… God, that was—" He again gulped a large breath of air before he tried again to complete a coherent thought. "Yeah, that was—"
"Amazing?" Brennan offered, a bit shyly.
Booth nodded, and pulling her towards him smiled as she rolled on top of him. He reached down to kiss her, and when her head was resting in the crook of his shoulder, he breathed, "Yeah. Amazing. And, a huge mistake."
"Mmmm," Brennan murmured. "Huge," she agreed.
"Yup," Booth repeated. "Huge."
Swallowing a yawn, Brennan closed her eyes as she rubbed her cheek against his skin.
"Don't even think about it, Bones," Booth said, a bit of warning coming into his voice.
"I'm not-"
"Yes, you are," Booth said. "I know that look."
"What look?" she said, sleepily.
"That look that you get when you're sexually sated and tired and just want to go to sleep," Booth said knowingly.
"I'm not going to sleep," Brennan said. "I'm just... resting my eyes."
"Nope," Booth said, giving her a playful shake. "Wakey, wakey, Bones. I fell for that last time, and I'm not going to do it again."
"But, I'm sleepy, Booth," Brennan whined just a bit.
Laughing, Booth said, "Ya know, Bones, if there's one thing I never would have guessed about you, it's that you were the type to fall asleep after sex."
Quirking an eye open at him, Brennan scowled. "I'm not. It's just been a very... *busy* couple of weeks... and not a lot of time to sleep. For some reason, I seem to be doing less and less sleeping every time I find myself in a bed," Brennan said.
"Is that a complaint?" Booth laughed.
"No. Just a factual observation to explain why I'm sleepy."
"Can't keep up with me, ehh, Bones?" Booth said. "You're stamina not what it once was?"
"No," Brennan countered. "I just... want to take a little rest."
"No way, Bones," Booth repeated. "The last time you told me that, we both fell asleep and had to account for four hours. The SUV can only have so much engine trouble, you know… before it gets people really suspicious," Booth said.
"Yes, well, you were the one who forgot to set the alarm. We were only going to take a short nap for half an hour… not two and a half, as I recall," Brennan said.
"Sue me. Like you said, it's been a rough week. We needed the sleep," Booth said. "Still do, probably."
"Then, why are we arguing again?" Brennan said drowsily.
"Because," Booth said. "Until we can get on some type of even keel about… *this*… it's not a good thing to keep sneaking around during the middle of the day like a couple of horny teenagers who've just discovered sex."
A wry smile coming onto her lips, both of Brennan's eyes popped up mischievously. "Considering the fact that we've only been sexual partners for less than ten days, Booth, in a way, you description of us having just discovered sex is quite accurate. Besides," she said, pressing her naked chest against his in a way that she knew drove him crazy. "You were the one who said no more fooling around at work. That only leaves your place… or mine, regardless of scheduling limitations."
Shaking his head, Booth leaned down and kissed Brennan. She had just started to deepen the kiss when he pulled back and sighed softly, "You're gonna be the death of me, you know that, Bones?"
"I should hope not," Brennan said. "If you were deceased, it would make certain activities that I find sharing with you extremely pleasurable to be very, very difficult to participate in with you, Booth."
"Even still," Booth laughed. "These lunch time sex breaks?"
"You think it's a mistake?"
Nodding, Booth said, "Huge."
Rolling off of him, knowing that she was beat, Brennan reluctantly got out of bed. Reaching down for the first item of her clothing that she had spotted from where it had been hastily discarded on the floor, Brennan began to pull her emerald green bra on. Her actions immediately caught Booth's attention. Getting out of bed himself, Booth walked over and came up behind her, placing both his warm hands in the middle back to keep her from clasping the bra closed.
"That is such a sad, sad sight to see," Booth murmured. "Really."
He leaned down and began to trail a series of light kisses across her shoulder blade. Brennan leaned into him and closed her eyes, a soft sigh of contentment escaping from her lips.
Finally, she asked, "Why do we keep doing this?"
Lifting his head, Booth said, "Well, you know, we don't. I mean, what's it been? Twice in the past week?"
"Three times," Brennan corrected him. "Four, if you count that stakeout in the Sequoia."
Chuckling, Booth stepped away from her and bent down to retrieve his boxers. "Okay, you know what? That wasn't sex."
"Oh, really? Maybe not for you, but if I have an orgasm, I count that as sex," Brennan said. "But, maybe you're right… and, this is it."
Nodding, Booth said, "You know what? I *am* right… and I'm glad you think I'm right. But, I mean… it's not like we're doing anything wrong. I mean, you and I…."
"Are partners," Brennan offered lamely. "And, our extracurricular activities aside, we still do good work, right?"
"Right," Booth agreed.
"But, um… this isn't helping," Brennan said.
Looking at her sadly, a hang-dog puppy look on his face, Booth said, "And, so, that's why… this is… over?"
Brennan nodded, "Done. You *are* right. We can't keep doing this, Booth. Not when we're supposed to be working. I'm running out of legitimate excuses to leave the lab. Besides the fact that you already ran that gorgeously big mouth of yours to Cam, and so now she knows that *something* is going on, the rest of them are starting to suspect."
"You haven't told Angela, yet?" Booth asked, incredulously.
"Well, no," Brennan said, smiling bashfully. "I mean, she knows I've been working on it, but she's sort of been preoccupied with Hodgins, and I haven't been in the lab as much, so, no. She doesn't know everything… yet."
Suddenly, a cell phone began to ring. Booth glanced at where it sat on the far nightstand, on the opposite side of the bed.
"That's mine," Booth said.
"Yeah," Brennan agreed.
Rolling on the bed, Booth grabbed for the cell, but his momentum carried him off the edge of the bed. He landed with a loud *oomph* that was followed by a muffled curse. Brennan bit back a bark of laughter as she only saw Booth's hand shoot up and reach the phone. "Booth. Yeah. Address?"
His head popped up, and Brennan watched him scribble an address on a piece of paper from his notebook. Reaching down for her discarded skirt, Brennan had stepped into it and almost finished zipping it up, when Booth finished the call and suddenly bounced back onto the bed and over to her. He tossed his cell phone on the nightstand that stood closer to the pair, and neither noticed when it skidded to a halt so that it now sat right next to Brennan's.
"Hey, you know, I, uh, I can help you with that," Booth offered.
Shaking her head, Brennan said, "No way. Last time you did that, I ended up with my navy blue suit skirt with a torn zipper that I still haven't had time to drop off to get it repaired. You can deny it all you want, Booth, but you are a terrorist when it comes to zippers on my clothing."
Smiling evilly, Booth said, "Guess I'm guilty as charged on that one." He stopped for a minute and then said shyly, "So, ummmm, are you going to ride in with me? We could leave your car here," Booth said.
"Another crime scene?" Brennan asked.
Booth nodded. "I'd have to run by the lab to pick you up anyway."
"Oh, no, no, no. If we leave my car here, I'll have to come back after the crime scene consult instead of going straight back to the lab..."
"Yeah, well that's sorta the point, Bones," Booth said.
"Oh," Brennan said, considering his logic. "Well, then, yeah, sure."
Grinning at her, Booth gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before he brushed past her and swept into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Suddenly, another cell phone ring pierced the air. Brennan, distracted, reached out and swiped the phone from her side of the bed off, and lifted it to her ear.
"Brennan."
The line was silent for a moment before Camille Saroyan's voice came over the life.
"Oh, hi, Dr. Brennan. It's Cam. Is Agent Booth… available?" finally came the response.
Brennan scowled for a moment, about to ask why Cam was calling her phone to ask for Booth and, more importantly, how Cam knew that she was currently with Booth, when she suddenly glanced down and bit back a foul curse as she realized she hadn't grabbed her phone but Booth's.
"Uh, available? Yeah, Dr. Saroyan, I-" Brennan's voice trailed off.
At that moment, the bathroom door opened, and Booth stepped out, still wearing no shirt. Brennan, half tempted to leer at him in appreciation and annoyed at Cam's interruption, looked at her curiously. Brennan said nothing but handed him the phone and pointed. Mouthing the words 'Cam', Booth took her meaning and lifted the phone to his ear.
"Yeah, Cam. What's up?" Booth asked.
"Um, nothing, just seeing if you got the call, and if you were going to swing by to pick up Dr. Brennan or if we needed to wait for her before we left for the crime scene?" Cam said, the uncomfortable tone clear in her voice.
Booth had reached down for a shirt and then said, "Oh yeah. Um, Bones is with me. I'll give her a ride. We're just gonna have to meet you there, okay?"
"Okay," Cam said. "Bye."
Hastily shutting the phone, Booth lifted it and said, "You don't, uh, think she thought—"
"What?" Brennan said. "What could she think? It's perfectly normal for us to- to be together. We're partners."
Smiling, Booth said, "Right, uh, and it's not like this is ever gonna happen again."
"During regular business hours?" Brennan said, taking a step towards him. "No, definitely not." They were just about to kiss again when Brennan said, "No. Exactly. So… are you done with the bathroom?"
Booth sighed as Brennan pulled back, and he knew that any chance he had of coaxing her even into a quickie was gone and had disappeared as soon as Cam's voice had shattered her playful mood. Nodding, he said, "Yeah."
Moving towards the bathroom, Brennan said, "Okay, thanks. Just give me five minutes, and we can go."
The door shutting behind her, Booth bit his lip as he looked at his phone again, tossed it in the air once, and then quickly pocketed it.
A little while later, Booth watched from several feet away as Brennan began her preliminary examination of the remains that had been found at the construction site. Cam came up to him and smiled.
"Sorry if I interrupted anything earlier, Seeley," Cam said.
Booth's eyes darted from where Brennan stood to Cam's and he said hastily, "What? Oh! No. No, you didn't."
Nodding, Cam replied, "Good."
A bit of guilt washing over him, Booth said, "Okay. But, if you must know, you know, Bones and I… we were… running late from lunch. There was a rush at the diner, and we just lost track of time."
"Okay," Cam said.
"She just so happened to pick up the phone because I was talking to the waitress. That's it. You know? Nothing more, nothing less," Booth explained.
Cam knew Seeley was overcompensating for something. Crossing her arms, she arched her eyebrow at him as she said, "I'm sorry. Did I say I must know?"
Booth scowled at her, but when Brennan motioned them both over, the two began to walk towards the unfinished bathroom of a condominium under construction. Brennan was leaning over a bathtub filled with… gallons of disgusting crud. Booth winced as he covered his mouth, and reached for a mask Cam already extended to him. Gagging a bit as he looked at a deteriorated corpse floating in a chemical combination of household cleaning products, Booth shook his head.
"Ooh, very nice," he groaned.
Looking at Cam, she said, "Age and sex undetermined."
One of the lab technicians came up to Brennan and pulled her a couple of steps away, leaving Booth and Cam once more, for all intensive purposes, alone.
"So, I hear you and Brennan are together now?" Cam ventured.
Surprised at her directness clearly evident on his face, Booth said, "I'm sorry?"
Nodding at her, Cam said, "Brennan, right?"
Booth scowled again, but Cam waved him off.
"Oh, relax, Seeley."
"Did Angela say something to you because Bones said she told me Angela doesn't know nearly as much as she thinks she does," Booth replied.
Cam was silent for a minute, biting her lip.
"She did, didn't she?" Booth asked.
"Well, it's not like you two have exactly been subtle, Booth. You two have wracked up more MIA moments in the past two weeks than a freshman in high school has during his first month of classes," Cam said.
"Har har, Camille. Very funny," Booth said.
"We all have our weak moments," Cam said. "I mean, flings? That's what they're all about, aren't they? Fun and weak moments?"
"No. Mmmmm hmmm. We don't, okay?" Booth retorted. "I don't."
Chuckling, Cam said, "Please, Seeley. Like we haven't shared enough of them for me to know better."
Shaking his head, Booth moved away and walked over to where Brennan stood. Cam watched with interest, wandering just what was going on between the partners and how serious it actually might be.
Later that night, Brennan sat on her couch, holding a take out carton of Thai food. Moving her chopsticks to free some of the vegetarian pad bame from the container, she looked at Booth and frowned.
"What?" he asked. "I was not gossiping."
"Oh, really? So then what would you call it?" Brennan asked.
"Merely sharing a point of interest," Booth said. "It's not like Cam didn't know anyway."
"Great," Brennan said. "So, that's what we are now? Our relationship is the world's largest ball of string for my co-worker?"
"Not us," Booth amended. "But, our behavior. Yeah. We weren't discrete enough, Bones—"
"I fail to see why discretion is required here. It's not like I'm not doing my job like I've always done. From a professional standpoint, our extracurricular activities are none of her business since it's not like *she's* an FBI employee duty-bound to report something that shouldn't really even concern them anyway..."
"Ahh, yeah, Bones... but, about that part... they *do* sign my paycheck, so it's probably a good idea to at least pay lip service to the whole non-fraternization policy," Booth said gently.
"It's a stupid policy," Brennan said. "And, I'll take care of that at some point in there very near future-"
Booth looked at her, an exasperated, but indulgent smile threatening his face. "So, what are you gonna do with that one, Bones? Barge into Cullen's office and logically explain why you deserve an exemption from a standard Bureau procedure just because you're special?"
"Yes," Brennan said. "That's *exactly* what I had in mind. How did you know that?"
"Wild and crazy guess," he laughed, this time unable to refrain from smiling.
Ignoring him, Brennan continued, "And, anyway, from a personal standpoint, what's between us is also none of Cam's concern." Scowling Brennan said in frustration, "You know what? This is a textbook example of just how helpless we higher primates can be to our biological urges. I really, really hate feeling jealous of a woman like Camille Saroyan."
His curiosity piqued, Booth asked, "You're jealous of Cam?"
"Yes," Brennan said.
"Why?"
"Because," Brennan said. "I don't understand how someone like you could be attracted to a woman like me, but at some point in your past, you slept with her, too."
His eyes narrowing, Booth said tentatively, "Oh, I really don't recall saying that I had."
"You didn't have to," Brennan said. "Setting aside the fact that Cam all but admitted your past history with her to me, I've know for some time that you've had a prior sexual relationship with her." Turning away from him, Brennan scoffed, "And, if this conversation had happened three weeks ago, I might have thought that you were still interested in pursuing a renewal of that relationship with her given her flagrant attempts to seduce you."
Hearing the insecurity lurking beneath her jealous tone, Booth smiled. Leaning in to her, he placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "Why would I possibly want to be with Cam, Bones? Like I said when this whole thing started with us, *you're* the only one who's had my complete and undivided attention."
"You mean it?" Brennan asked softly.
Nodding, Booth said, "Think of it this way. When you picked up my phone today, what do you think Cam heard in your voice?"
At this thought, Brennan smiled as she said, "Hopefully, she could hear that I was quite well satisfied from a recent sexual encounter. Given the fact that you spoke to her in much the same manner directly after I conversed with her, I hope she could hear it in both of our voices, the only better thing perhaps being if she might as well as walked in on us having sex."
Laughing, Booth said, "I never took you for the exhibitionist type, Bones. But, even still… she probably did know exactly what was going on…. Cam's smart like that, and I doubt she missed a beat. So, doesn't it make you feel better to know that she knows you have something she never will... even if it's a bit more information than I'd really like for her to have about our private lives?"
"Why?" Brennan asked. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, Booth. Humans act upon a hierarchy of needs, and sex is very highly ranked. It's an anthropological inevitability."
"Ahh, so that's what I am to you? Then, thank you, Bones. I really appreciate you boiling me down to your anthropological inevitabilities," Booth teased lightly.
Smiling at him, Brennan said, "Sure."
"Anytime," Booth said. He was quiet for a minute and then said, "You know, I never… it was never serious with her, Bones."
"Who?"
"Cam."
"Oh," Brennan said, biting back some of the bitterness that washed over her when he said her name. Quiet for a moment, Brennan said, "Booth?"
"Yeah, Bones"
"Do you still love her?" she asked softly.
"Cam?" Booth said, a bit surprised at her question. "No, not…like I did. Not like that."
"You're sure?" Brennan asked, again more timid than Booth had usually recalled ever seeing her.
"Yeah, I'm sure I'm sure. Positive, even," Booth said. "Cam and I… it didn't work like that, Bones. I cared about her… a lot, when we were together. But, it was never… enough when I was with her."
"Why?" Brennan asked. "And... if you need to tell me that it's not enough with me, either, in the process of explaining the answer to my question... well... t-that's okay, Booth."
Removing the carton of take out from her hand, Booth placed the one he was holding down of the coffee table. He finished chewing his mouthful of fried rice and swallowed before he said, "You want me to be honest with you, Bones? Even if what I'm going to say might scare you?"
Slowly, Brennan nodded her head.
"I don't know why, specifically, it was never enough with Cam. And, honestly, I don't know why, specifically, we're different, even though this thing between us is still so… new? But, it's just like I thought it would be that night in the rain out in front of the pool hall. I think this thing is going somewhere, and… I can't explain how or why I feel that way, but with you… I feel, I *know* it's enough… it's *more* than enough," Booth said tenderly.
"So, this—us? It isn't just sex?" Brennan asked softly.
Shaking his head, Booth replied, "There's nothing 'just' about sex, Bones. And, I think you know that, too."
"But, all mammals need it. That release of serotonin. The rush of endorphins. Naturally, you seek it with someone with whom you share a sexual rapport," Brennan said.
"Rapport, right," Booth chuckled. "That's the word."
"So," Brennan said. "You're saying that our… the change in the nature of our relationship over the past couple of weeks, it's not just been because either of us were in need of release and knew we could call each other to obtain it?"
"Now, you're just being squinty-dense on purpose, aren't you?" Booth said.
A small smile cracked her straight face, giving her away. "Maybe," she said.
"You're *so* going to pay for that one," Booth said, leaning over to her and pulling him to her in another kiss that, this time, definitely resulted in the remainder of the Thai take out being temporarily forgotten.
The next day Brennan actually managed to make it into the lab a good half hour before the majority of the rest of the squint squad. The lab was relatively empty but for Brennan… and Dr. Camille Saroyan.
Brennan was in her office, going through several emails, when she heard a loud knock on the door's frame.
Looking up, Brennan forced herself to keep from frowning when she saw it was Cam. Inclining her head politely, Brennan said, "Good morning, Dr. Saroyan."
"Good morning, Dr. Brennan," Cam said. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I was wondering if I might speak to you for a moment."
"About something a work-related matter or something of a personal nature?" Brennan inquired directly.
Inclining her head, Cam said, "And, if I were to say it was a private issue?"
"I would be disinclined to agree to your request then, Dr. Saroyan," Brennan responded.
Taking a step forward, Cam shut the door behind her and said, "Look. I… I've been meaning to talk to you for a while now. I… I had a chance to talk with Booth."
"I know," Brennan interrupted her. "He told me."
"He told you already?" Cam said, surprised.
"Yes," Brennan reaffirmed. "Why? Does that surprise you?"
Cam considered her question for a minute and then shook her head. "No, not really. Knowing Seeley like I do, no, it's not surprising to me."
"What do you want, Dr. Saroyan?"
"You're aware that there is only three weeks left in our probationary period?" Cam inquired.
"Yes, I'm well aware of that fact. Why?"
"I just," Cam said. Shaking her head, she said, "Look. I know that you've been dealing with a lot of… *significant* changes in your personal life, and I know that can be distracting."
"I'm not distracted in anyway, personally or professionally, Dr. Saroyan. I can assure you," Brennan said.
"The last time we talked," Cam replied. "Do you remember that I may have made reference to the fact that FBI policy strictly forbids personal relationships developing between agents and subcontracted consultants?"
Brennan felt a shot of anger...and, if she were to be honest, fear blossom in her at Cam's words. "As I have an *excellent* memory, I do remember the reference that you made, yes, Dr. Saroyan."
"Well, I just thought it would only be fair to remind you of that fact given the point that the change in your relationship with Booth hasn't been exactly… well, it really isn't a secret, Dr. Brennan. Half the lab knows, half the Hoover does, and the people who don't know really only haven't found out because they're on vacation," Cam said.
"Meaning?" Brennan said.
"Meaning, that if you were to take over as the lab's primary administrator, you wouldn't be in a position where your personal relationship with Booth would be a conflict of interest. But, in all fairness, if you're handling the boss' job, it would probably be unrealistic to think that you would be able to continue your partnership with Booth and a relationship with him. Something's going to have to give, Dr. Brennan," Cam began.
Cutting her off, Brennan shook her head and said, "I was under the impression that, if nothing else, you considered Booth to be a good friend, Dr. Saroyan."
"I do," Cam said. "I care for Seeley more than you'll ever probably realize."
"Then, why are you trying to make *his* life more difficult by default by causing trouble in *my* life? If being with me makes him happy, even if you don't like it, don't understand it, can't you let that be enough since he's your friend?" Brennan said.
Cam considered her words. Nodding she said, "Believe it or not, I do care about, Booth. And, I'm honestly not trying to make trouble. I'm just… being fair. I want to win this job fair and square, not by default. Just like with Booth. That's the only reason I came in here… in case you've missed things because you've been… preoccupied with Booth. Lord knows I was when we were together. He… has that effect on the woman he's with," Cam said honestly.
Brennan, trying to discern if there was any hidden malice or intentional hurt in Cam's words, eventually decided she couldn't perceive any. Nodding, Brennan said, "If you truly aren't doing this to incite discord, than I appreciate your sentiments. However, they're not necessary. I'm well aware of how things are progressing in both my personal and professional lives… and what choices each may eventually necessitate."
Her hands coming up in supplication, Cam said, "Fair enough then. I said my piece."
Nodding, turned Cam to go. Brennan said nothing, but watched with interest as Cam stopped at the door. Not turning around, she said softly, "And, believe it or not, Dr. Brennan… even if I don't accept it or understand it, if you really are making Seeley happy… that's all I've ever wanted for him. He's a good man and deserves some happiness…. even if it's not with me."
Brennan opened her mouth to say something, but Cam disappeared out the door before she could get a single word out in response.
-TBC-