Ok, first let me say thank you for the reviews and for the fact that you're still reading, even though the updated before were sparse and with a lot of time in between. Then I want to apologize because I re-read some chapters and realized how many typos and mistakes were in there. It always takes me a while until I am able to see them and I am sure there will be some in this chapter as well. I am trying to edit the old chapters. I did that today with chapter 3 and tweaked a bit here and there, so the chapter is slightly different and a bit longer now. I am no native however and might still miss some grammar and expression stuff. This chapter and the last one basically wrote themselves, what you can also see because they are a lot longer than the others. I'm glad however when I'll be able to bring them out of hiding, because writing dialogue without making it r-rated or simply recounting what we saw on the show was getting difficult.

Here we go…

Chapter 7

Arastoo hadn't been able to think about anything else since he had learned that Dr. Brennan had been shot. Cam had sent him several text messages keeping him updated on her condition, but even though Brennan was much better he still couldn't help but feel scared. If Brennan was shot because someone wanted to stop her from finding the truth, then why shouldn't they shoot Cam as well? So far they only knew that the shooter had to work at the Jeffersonian, but they hadn't caught that person yet. He knew it was crazy, but he was sure he'd feel better if he was at the lab with her. In the end it took them four days to find out who had done it and besides missing her terribly because she was either holed up at the lab or at the hospital, he had got himself into such a frenzy that he was actually angry with her. He couldn't find any other outlet but go for runs and write more poems that reflected how he felt.
When she invited him over on her first free evening his first reaction was that he should decline, but then again he couldn't stay away.

„Hey," he greeted her when she opened the door to her apartment, but he didn't make any attempt to hug or kiss her hello. Then again she didn't notice because to his biggest surprise she had baby Christine in her arms.

„Look, who's here Christine. It's Arastoo," she cooed at the toddler and smiled brightly at him.

„I didn't know you had a visitor," he just commented.

„I didn't know I'd have a visitor when we talked on the phone. Booth dropped her off an hour ago, because he needs to pick up Brennan from the hospital and neither Sweets nor Max can watch this young lady here and he doesn't want her around at the hospital," Cam explained.

„So she'll spend the night?" he wanted to know and something in his tone made her wrinkle her forehead. Was he angry that Christine was around?

„No, Booth will pick her up on his way home. You mind?" she asked.

„No, not at all. I'm just surprised," he shrugged.

„Why are you still standing in front of the door then? Come in!" she said and gave him another funny look.

„So, how is Dr. Brennan?" he asked her, sat down on her couch and took off his jacket.

„So much better. She can't really rest at the hospital though and so Booth is bringing her home. She'll have to take it easy for a few days and then everything should be fine," Cam replied and put Christine down on the blanket that lay on the floor. She sat down on the blanket as well and handed the little girl one of her baby books. Christine smiled and held the book out for Cam. „You want me to read it for you?" she asked her. The smile of the toddler was enough confirmation and so Cam leaned against Arastoo's legs, placed Christine in her lap and started looking at the book together with her small friend.
Arastoo watched them and realized that he had rarely seen Cam interact with children other than the five minutes she usually watched Michael or Christine at the lab. He felt his irritation with her wash away because she was simply adorable interacting with the kid of his boss. When Christine became aware that he was still sitting on the couch and not reading with them she started to pull on his trousers.

„You want me to come down and read with you, too?" he asked the small girl and earned himself a smile as well. „Alright, here I come," he smiled back at her and slid down on the floor which caused Cam to move farther back so she was leaning against the couch.

„Christine, what is that?" Cam asked, but actually smiled at Arastoo and moved closer to him.

„Bug," Christine said and clapped in excitement when they praised her for the right answer.

„Hodgins would be so proud," Arastoo laughed.

„I betcha Michael Vincent knows the exact species," Cam replied and made them both laugh. Their laughter was interrupted by the doorbell.

„You're daddy is here," Arastoo told Christine, who reacted by squeaking „Daddy!".

„Oh my god, Booth is here. Hide in the bedroom! He can't see you here," Cam told Arastoo in a panicked voice. For a second he thought she was joking, but one look at her widened eyes and he knew she was serious as a heart attack. His mood darkened again in split seconds, but he didn't want to start a fight now, so he only gave her a disapproving look and walked into the bedroom. He could hear when she opened the door to Booth and when he thanked her and gave her the latest updates on Brennan's condition. Finally the FBI agent left and Cam came into the bedroom. He didn't look up when she came in but kept sitting on the bed and stared straight ahead. He tried to take deep breaths and get rid of the anger, but he was too far gone for it. This had been brewing for four days.

When she didn't say anything either and just looked at him he had enough. „I should go," he said between gritted teeth and got up.

„Why?" she asked and sounded surprised and hurt. The hurt part got to him, because he hated it when she was sad or upset in any way. So in the end his feelings turned once more and instead of yelling at her that he was done with hiding this relationship, which was a discussion he knew would come up in the future, the part of him that had been worried and missing her won out. Arastoo stepped forward after they had a whole conversation only with their eyes and enveloped her in a tight hug.

„I was so worried that you would get shot as well," he admitted. Cam chuckled quietly against his chest and it occurred to him just how much shorter she was without her heels.

„Crazy guy. Who would shoot me?" she asked and pulled him down for a kiss. He enjoyed it because the four days had felt like an eternity and because he loved her, but when he felt her tongue graze his lips he pulled back.

„Don't tell me you were never hurt in the field," he wanted her to know that his worry had some justification.

„I'm not a cop out in the field anymore," she smiled back at him.

„You know what I mean. Brennan, Booth, Hodgins… they all got hurt because of their work at the Jeffersonian at some point. Maybe you're next," he tried to explain his worry.

„Actually my number was up a while ago," she admitted and just the memory caused her to cough again.

„What? What happened? You never told me about this," his toneless voice brought her back to reality. Gently she took his hand and led him to the bed where they both sat down.

„Back then we were investigating the case of a serial killer called Howard Epps. He threatened Dr. Brennan and also Booth's son Parker after he escaped prison. We needed to find him and Booth was going crazy with worry. Finally, they found the severed head of his wife in her fridge and we knew that there was a clue for us in her head. I wanted to follow protocol, but Parker's life was in danger and so I skipped protocol and sew into the head to get to the clue. I sewed into a a neurotoxin and inhaled it. I had an epileptic seizure and ended up on the intensive unit. Hodgins couldn't identify the toxin for a long time and fluid started to build in my lungs. It didn't look good and they actually called my family to say goodbye. I was unconscious by that time though," she recounted the tale of how Epps had poisoned her and suddenly Arastoo understood why Cam was always such a stickler for protocol when it came to her subordinates. It wasn't a power play, but simple worry out of experience.

„But you survived," he stated the obvious.

„Yes, because Hodgins managed to identify the poison," she nodded and let him pull her tightly against his side.

„Is there any damage left?" he asked her, speaking against her hair before he placed a kiss on it.

„Yes, my lungs are still not 100%. I am not allowed to go diving for example and every time I catch a cold I have to get my lungs checked and take antibiotics right away. Other than that I am fine though," she admitted.

„So kissing is allowed?" he asked then and lightened the mood with that question.

„Depends who I am kissing," she joined his banter.

„Really?" he asked with a smile on his face.

„Oh yeah," she nodded and leaned up to kiss him again. This time Arastoo deepened the kiss and slowly lowered her down onto the bed.

„Didn't you want to leave?!" she teased him when he started unbuttoning her blouse while hovering over her. Arastoo just snorted with laughter and kissed her again.

„You will not believe what happened today," Cam said as a greeting a few days later when she stepped into his apartment where he had already prepared everything for their movie night. She was grinning however so he knew it couldn't be too bad.

„What happened?" he asked her obediently and earned himself a kiss hello, before she took off the black jacket she wore over her tight black and white dress. She put down the empty coffee cup she was still carrying on the table before she sat down on his couch and he joined her.

„Today at work Finn suddenly blurted out that Michelle has been in town since yesterday, but didn't tell me because she wants to spend time with him and not with me," she said, but didn't sound as mad as he expected. So he already knew there was more to this story.

„You mean she wants to spend the nights at his place and not at yours," he used the opportunity to point out because she seemed too ok with it.

„Please not another discussion about my daughter's sex life. I already had that talk with Brennan today and don't need a repeat," she held up her hand to stop him as she spoke, but then started to laugh again and went on with her original storyline. „Anyway, I told Finn that if Michelle found out that he had told me he would be in trouble with her, but he said that he had told me because he didn't want to get into trouble with me." „Poor guy, could only lose," Arastoo interrupted her and shook his head.

„I told him that he should just tell me where they were going tonight and I'd show up ‚unexpectedly' and get to be angry at Michelle and he wouldn't have to lie no more," she said proudly.

„I take it your plan worked," Arastoo grinned.

„Oh yes, it was awesome!" she exclaimed and giggled again. „Michelle was so shocked to see me and started to stutter some excuses."

Arastoo had to laugh as well, because he could picture the scene. „You are one devious woman," he said and pulled her close.

„Michelle has tried calling me twice on the drive here," she was still smiling, but now that her amusement diminished a bit he thought he saw some real hurt underneath it all.

„You're not gonna torture them forever, are you?" he asked. „Remember, your college years," he told her, but that didn't seem to help.

„Please don't remind me," she groaned.

„Why? What did you do in college?" Arastoo was now curious.

„I'd really rather not talk about it," she shook her head. „Didn't you want to show me some great Iranian comic style movie?" she tried to distract him.

„Yes, Persepolis," he nodded. „But I still want to know," he grinned and pointed his index finger at her. Cam took a deep breath and sighed, but then simply kissed him hard. As suddenly as she had kissed him as suddenly she let him go again.

„Start the movie," she whispered against his lips with a smile while she looked him in the eyes.

„Devious woman," he repeated his earlier assessment and kissed her softly before he started the movie.

„You really won't stay?" he asked when the movie was over and they were snuggled up on his couch with him spooning behind her on the narrow sofa.

„No, I want to be at home in case Michelle decided to spent the night at my place as a peace offering," she replied.

„I doubt that. She's hiding," Arastoo chuckled knowingly.

„Also, I have an interview with an applicant as a new intern tomorrow morning really early and I didn't bring any clothes so I'd have to stop by my place first and the go to work which means getting up even earlier," she added then and turned around so she was facing him. „I'll make it up to you tomorrow night?" she asked then and kissed him slowly.

„I'm already looking forward to it," he replied and kissed her back just as tenderly.

„I really have to go," Cam whispered into the kiss but didn't make any attempt to get up. Instead she deepened the kiss and pressed her body up to his. When she slipped her hand underneath his shirt and caressed his abs he started chuckling.

„If you really want to leave you better do it now. Otherwise you're staying the night," he told her, but pecked her lips again.
„Ok, I'm leaving, I'm leaving," she laughed and slowly sat up. „My place tomorrow? I cook?" she offered while she put her heels back on.

„Sounds great," he nodded.

„Then see you tomorrow," she smiled, leaned down and kissed him again and then finally managed to get up and leave him for the night.

The next afternoon Cam was sitting in her office when she saw Michelle walking in. She hadn't heard anything from her daughter the night before so she had already suspected that she would see her or hear from her that day.

„Is it save to come in?" Michelle asked with a shy smile as she walked towards her.

„I don't know. There has been more murdered people in here than I can count," Cam replied with a small smile and raised her eyebrows.

„Please, don't take it personally," Michelle went straight to the core of it and Cam's smile disappeared as well as her own.

„I'm trying really hard not to, but you're personally avoiding me personally, so it's hard not to take it personally," Cam replied and took the award for the most personal sentence. „Why didn't you just tell me you wanted to spend the weekend in with Finn?" she asked her daughter.

„Because, I didn't want to hurt your feelings," Michelle said and sounded sincere.

„Well, it would, but I'd recover," Cam let her know and closed the folder in front of her.

„You know I love you," Michelle tried to appease her.

„I know you do. That's not the point," Cam shot back and got up to place the folder on the „done staple" over on the lab table by the wall. „Loving someone does not give you carte blanche to treat them badly. Loving someone is not an excuse," she let her know and Michelle started to fidget and look down at her hands. She was ashamed, that was obvious. When she started pouting as well, because she felt so bad and Cam saw it she couldn't take it anymore. It was one thing to talk about this, but she couldn't talk about being honest when she was lying herself. „Ok, now I'm hiding the truth," she admitted.

„What?" Michelle asked.

„Finn couldn't keep your secret. He blurted it out," Cam told her.

„So when you caught us outside the club…" Michelle got upset.

„Set up," Cam confirmed.

„I'm gonna kill him," her daughter vowed.

„Finn's a good guy Michelle. I think we should both just let him off the hook," Cam decided to speak for the poor guy. After-all, all he had wanted to do was speak the truth and had got caught in between the two of them and their lies.

„By keeping this a secret?" Michelle asked.

„Oh god, this is all so confusing," it occurred to Cam.
„Maybe we should just tell each other everything from now on," Michelle suggested with a smile and didn't know that she had hit a sore spot with Cam.

„Ok… yes… we really, really should," Cam agreed, but couldn't look her daughter in the eye anymore. So she turned around and walked back over to her desk. Michelle wasn't dumb though and knew her very well, so of course she picked up that Cam was hiding something.

„You have another secret?" she called her on it. The look in her eyes let Cam know that she wouldn't let her off the hook until she had told her. Maybe she could get through with some half truths?

„I'm seeing someone," she admitted.

„Who?" her daughter immediately asked.

„I'd rather not…" she started but the look on Michelle's face stopped her. „He's a poet," she tried again to wiggle her way out of this one. Michelle only nodded but wasn't ok with it yet. „It's Arastoo," she finally spilled it. „Vaziri," she added unnecessarily.

„But… the intern?" Michelle said disbelievingly, „Who works for you?" she couldn't hide the grin.

„With me… he works with me," Cam tried to make it look better. „in that I…administrate his work …environment, yes."

„Is there anything else I should know?" Michelle continued the interrogation.

„Wait, how did I end up on the defensive here?" Cam asked and had to laugh herself at how stupid this situation was. Michelle laughed with her and so she just hugged her.

„I suppose you want me to keep this a secret from Finn?" Michelle wasn't done yet, but right, of course.

„Oh god, I didn't even think of that," Cam admitted and let go of her.

„I'll try," Michelle grinned and Cam knew she was watched Michelle walk to the door and then stop. „When am I gonna meet him?" she asked and turned back around to her mother.

„You already know him," Cam laughed. Michelle just raised her eyebrows. „He's coming over tonight for dinner," Cam sighed and felt herself blush.

„Which time do you want me to be there?" Michelle grinned proudly.

„Seven," Cam shook her head at her daughter's cheekiness.

„See you at seven,"Michelle kissed her on the cheek and then left Cam's office with a slight wave.

As soon as Michelle was out of sight Cam picked up the phone and called Arastoo's number.

„Michelle knows," she told him when he picked up and without any greeting.

„Michelle knows what?" he asked because he couldn't follow. In the twisted story she had told him last night there were so many options.

„About us," she whispered and looked around so no one would hear. Arastoo couldn't believe it. A few days ago he had been hiding in her bedroom when Booth had shown up and now she told her daughter about them, just like that. This was huge and he knew that telling Michelle was way more important than telling anyone at the lab. For one Hodgins already knew, but that was not the point. Michelle was her daughter, her closest family and the person she loved the most and she had told her about them without any pressure from him. He knew that he was grinning like a fool, but he couldn't care any less. If he ever had any doubts that Cam would ever tell anyone about them these doubts were completely gone now. Michelle knew.

„You're still there?" Cam asked when her announcement was met only with silence.

„Yes," he said and cleared his voice.

„Are you mad?" she wanted to know because she didn't know what to make of his lack of a reaction.

„Mad?" he laughed and she could hear that his voice had that warm undertone again that never failed to give her goosebumps. „I couldn't be more thrilled."

„Then I hope that you will be equally thrilled that Michelle will join us for dinner tonight," she laughed.

„Absolutely," he assured her and sounded genuinely happy.

„Great, then prepare yourself to be interrogated by my daughter tonight," Cam grinned about his enthusiasm.

„I'm not scared," he didn't let her scare him. He heard Brennan's voice in the background then.

„Brennan's coming, I've got to go. See you at seven," she said hurriedly and hung up before he could say anything.

„Hello Michelle, nice to see you again," Arastoo greeted her that night when she opened the door and although it was slightly awkward it couldn't damped his good mood.

„Yes, you too," she replied. „Come in." He stepped inside the apartment and looked around.

„Cam in the kitchen?" he asked when he couldn't see her.

„Yes, I hope dinner is ready now. I'm starving," Michelle replied and together they made their way into the kitchen. Arastoo was leading the way which didn't go unnoticed.

„Hey, you're here," Cam smiled when she saw him and was surprised when he kissed her hello in front of her daughter-not that she minded.

„And not for the first time, it seems," Michelle grinned cheekily.

„No, he's not," Cam confirmed and gave her a look that said ‚Really? You're already starting to torture him?'

„I already cooked here," Arastoo shrugged.

„So exactly how long has this been going on?" Michelle raised her eyebrows questioningly.

„A few weeks," Arastoo tried to save Cam. Cam however remembered her agreement with her daughter about telling each other everything and contradicted him.

„Three months… well, close to four now," she admitted, but didn't really look guilty or uncomfortable.

„Huh, then I guess I wasn't so far off when I suspected something after we met at the stadium," Michelle grinned proudly.

„Oh no, back then there was nothing going on," Cam disagreed at first but this time both Michelle and Arastoo looked at her with raised eyebrows and a disbelieving look. „Not really," she muttered defeated what made Arastoo laugh.

„Speak for yourself," he said and gave her hand a squeeze before he lifted the lids of the pots to peek inside. „This looks good," he said referring to the food.

„Oh yeah," Michelle nodded and looked intently at Cam, who got the hint that Michelle was not talking about the food.

„Shall we eat?" Cam asked, hoping to end this awkward conversation which had way too many layers.

Dinner went very well, but that didn't come as a surprise to any of them. Cam knew that Michelle and Arastoo got along and the evening turned out to be equally enjoyable as the one back then after the football game. Michelle told the story with Finn again from her point of view and together Arastoo and Michelle grilled Cam on details on what exactly she had been doing in college. She told them some of the milder stories and hoped the others would never come to light. By the time Michelle decided to leave so she could spent some more time with Finn before she had to get back to college it was nearly midnight.

„You already know when you'll be back?" Cam asked her.

„Probably for Christmas. I have exams coming up before then," her daughter replied and got up from the table where they all still sat.

„But you'll call?!" her mother insisted.

„Of course. I always do," she laughed and hugged Cam quickly and then gave Arastoo a hug as well. „I don't suppose you're leaving as well," she teased them both.

„Uh, he will.. uh…later," Cam stuttered.

„Sure, to go to your bathroom where his toothbrush is already lying beside yours," Michelle laughed.

„How did you… what were you doing in my bathroom?" Cam exclaimed.

„Nothing, but you just confirmed my suspicion," her daughter grinned, gave them another wave and left.

„Busted," Arastoo laughed. „But that doesn't mean that I have to stay the night," he added then.

„Yes, because we both planned on you going home tonight," Cam only snorted, got up from her chair and sat down in his lap. „Thank you for doing this. I'm aware that a dinner with my daughter is probably worse than a first dinner with parents," she added.

„I should thank you for letting me be here. I know how much Michelle means to you and I still can't believe that you told her about us."
„Me either," Cam smiled at him. „You want to finish your prayers while I put the coffee cups in the dishwasher and get ready for bed?" she suggested. Arastoo only nodded and kissed her. That was all the answer she needed.

TBC