Hodgins put the coffee grounds away, pressing the tin lid back onto the can before setting the coffee to brew. He walked upstairs and stood in the doorway for several minutes.
When Brayden had finally fallen asleep, she carefully maneuvered so that she didn't disturb him, then found her way to the doorway.
Hodgins smiled at her. "He's gonna be OK, Angela," he whispered.
Usually that kind of comment would earn an "I know", but Angela frowned at him. "You don't know that, Hodgins."
"What?"
"You don't know that. No offense, Jack, but you don't know what he's been through."
"Look, Ange--"
"Don't, Jack." He pushed past him and walked into the bedroom down the hall.
His hand blocked the door as she pushed it closed.
"Jack..."
"What happened?"
"For once, I don't feel like talking about it. I don't feel like giving or receiving advice. I just want to wash my face and fall into bed."
"Angela. You're right. I don't know what he went through, but you do. You've been there. If anyone knows, it's you."
She wiped a tear away that slipped down her cheek. Then her eyes met Hodgins'. "When I was nine, my mom brought home a guy. Then she passed out. She was high as a kite. And he was all alone with me."
"Angela--"
"After that, my dad fought for me. I can't be the one who doesn't fight for Brayden. I don't know where I'd be today if my dad didn't fight for me. I've got to be that person, Jack."
He nodded, at a loss for words. At a loss for comforting words. What does one say?
"Good night, Hodgins."
"Night, Ange."
Then he was alone in the hallway. And she was alone in the room with nothing but terrible, unearthed memories.
---
She thought she was alone. That's why she had her headphones in and the volume was as high as it could go. She was bent over a desk, tapping her toes, and everyone in the lab could hear her singing--except for herself.
"Cam. Cam. CAM!" Booth reached out.
She turned, startled, and took out the headphones.
"Hi. Seeley."
"Everyone can hear you, Cam. The whole lab."
Her eyes grew a bit wider.
"Yup. Whole lab. Brought you these."
"New case?"
"Something to tide us over."
She flipped through the report. "Booth, these remains are 40 years old."
"Yeah."
Her eyes grew wider to emphasize her point: "Exactly. You should be giving this report to Dr. Brennan. I'm not your maid, Seeley. Go do it yourself." She bent absently back over the computer.
Booth didn't shoo as she expected. He sat on the edge of the desk.
She sighed.
"What do you want?"
He scrunched his nose. "Bones has been acting weird."
"No surprise there..."
"Really?"
She straightened, realizing her slip. "Uh... no. Just... what?"
"Huh?"
"Who?"
"Not gonna play twenty questions with you, Camille."
"Then why'd you start? You know I'm competitive."
"Think you can give these to Bones for me?"
She sighed audibly and snatched the report from him. "She's going to wonder why you didn't give them to her yourself."
"Bones doesn't do that whole girl thing."
She rolled her eyes and put her headphones back in, then handed the report back to Booth. "I'm busy."
Angela watched as he disappeared into Brennan's office. She pulled a headphone out of her boss's ear, "What's up with them?"
"My suspicion is that Dr. Brennan has that big appointment coming up and the guilt of not telling Booth that he's her babydaddy is eating her up inside."
---
Booth knocked lightly, then let himself in. "Bones. Got a case for you. Oh! What's that?"
Brennan quickly tucked away the item.
"C'mon, Bones. Let me see."
"No." She snatched the papers from Booth and shuffled through them. "Just have them bring it in."
He wandered nonchalantly over to her, under the guise of looking over her shoulder, "Yes, ma'am." Then he snatched the little bag from her hand, reached inside, and saw-- He shook it next to his ear. "A baby rattle?"
"It's a gift."
"For?"
"None of your business." She snatched it back.
"You're mad at me."
"No."
"But I can't place it. Did I touch one of your skeletons? Screw up evidence? Order your the wrong thing--it was that martini, wasn't it? You didn't touch it last night... actually, you haven't been touching any of the drinks I order you--"
She stood up quickly, putting on her lab jacket. "I read a recent study about how damaging even a little bit of alcohol can be on the liver. I'm just being conscientious."
"Of what? A good time?" He followed her into the lab, where everyone who knew Dr. Brennan's secret listened carefully. "Drinks on me-- Metaphorically, although... if you wanna do literal--"
She turned sharply around.
"A joke, Bones. C'mon. You used to just ignore those little wisecracks."
"Well, maybe I need to be more serious."
"No, Bones. You don't. You don't have to be more serious. You're serious enough for all of us."
They stopped about a millimeter away from where Daisy Wick and Sweets were standing.
Their eyes bore into Booth's head. Booth and Brennan looked at them.
Daisy grinned and nodded enthusiastically, "It's true, Dr. Brennan. I feel way more serious around you. It's like a miracle drug!"
"Good to know," Booth replied. Then he steered Brennan away to a slightly more private venue--although everyone still listened intently. "Bones, what's gotten into you?"
She wiggled free of his arm. "Nothing. I just want to focus on the lab, Booth. I've been gallivanting--"
"Gallivanting?"
"Yes. Gallivanting about, and I came up empty handed. I've wasted precious time where I could've gotten ahead. I'm ready to buckle down."
"Gotten ahead? Bones. It's LIMBO. People die CONSTANTLY. You can never get ahead down there. Drinks doesn't slow down the criminal justice system, it keeps those cogs nice and slick."
By then, she was inspecting the body that had been laid on the table. "More metaphor?"
"You got it, Bones. Founding Fathers. You and me. Tonight."
"I'm busy tonight."
Booth took a few steps closer. "You're not going out with that Chuck person, right?"
She looked at him curiously. "Chuck? Who?"
"Good answer, Bones." He spun around and walked out of the lab.
Angela and Cam were quickly on Brennan's heels.
"Sweetie, you haven't told him yet?"
"I'm waiting for the right time."
"I hate to say it, Dr. Brennan, but Booth deserves to know. It's his biological right."
"Mr. Nigel-Murray, go ahead and go over these remains. I'll be in my office." She took off her gloves and looked at Cam and Angela. "Mind your own business, please."
When she was out of sight, Cam sighed. "She's impossible."
Daisy piped up, "I think she's amazing."
"Put a cork in it, Miss Wick."
---
Thank you all!!!