Hodgins decided it was time for him to weigh in for this chapter. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Sadly, still not mine.
I tried to tell Angela that it wasn't a good idea for all of us to just show up here like this. But would she listen? No, she thought that Booth and Brennan would be glad of the company after being stuck in the hospital for so many days. Judging by the look of confusion on Dr. B's face and the scowl on Booths, I don't think they are pleased to see us. I told Angela that they would be exhausted and would probably want to go straight to bed when they got home. Judging by their rumpled clothing and mussed hair, they were already napping when we arrived. We all filed in, everyone except Angela feeling a little as if we were intruding on something, and settled in for pizza and conversation.
I find my mind wandering back to the time when Booth first entered our little world of science. The first case he and Dr. B worked together went so badly that she told Zach to never put his calls through again. In all fairness, the case had been solved quickly; it was more of a personality issue that had made Dr. B give that order. Then Booth turned around and had her held by security at the airport. She had been furious, but she had worked the case with him. I'm not entirely sure what happened between them on that case but they tentatively formed a partnership that so far has held through unbelievable events that would usually tear people apart instead of bringing them closer together as they appear to have done with this pair.
From the beginning, Angela had harped on the sexual tension between them. At first, everyone ignored her. But when everyone (everyone on the squint squad anyway) began to notice the changes in Dr. B, we started to take notice of Angela's ramblings. That is how the betting pool was born. It started out as a friendly bet between a couple of friends, then other people started finding out about it and wanted in on the action. I am the treasurer (the pool is currently over $20,000). So many people wanted in that Zach had to write a special computer program to keep up with the bets. We had to draw the line when the FBI employees wanted in, but we did help them set up their own system so they could do a separate pool. Angela's job is to monitor the couple and determine when they actually have sex. This will determine who wins the pool. You would not believe the number of people I have to listen to whining that they are obviously already sleeping together and the money should be awarded accordingly. I have to explain Angela's function in the pool dynamics at least twice a day.
I have always had the utmost respect for Dr. B. Her intelligence is daunting. Her work ethic is inspiring and as a fellow scientist, I can easily identify with her ability to separate herself from a situation and simply evaluate the evidence. I have often found myself at a loss to understand Booth's impatience waiting for us to reach a logical conclusion (he frequently wants us to guess and we just don't work like that) and have watched in amusement as Dr. B sends him away. The surprising thing is that he actually goes. He slinks away like a puppy that is being punished then, before you know it, there he is, back and begging for attention. She practically pats him on the head, but he generally contains his impatience and behaves himself as if he has no wish to be banished again.
I never really looked at Dr. B as a person until we were buried together by the Gravedigger. I know how weird that sounds, but it is true. She was always polite and friendly in a professional capacity, but did not really encourage you to get to know her on a more personal level, if you know what I mean. When we were buried alive, I certainly saw her on a personal level. I saw a warm, caring, compassionate, brilliant, resourceful woman who saved my life. I'm ashamed that it took something this drastic to make me see what was in front of my face every day. We have been closer since the Gravedigger incident. Sometimes, we both have nightmares still and nobody can understand how we feel better that the other. So we talk about it to each other if we need to. Angela does not know this and I doubt that Booth does either. It's not that we're trying to hide anything as much as we just don't want them to worry. I know how all this sounds and, no; I am not interested in Dr. B romantically. Angela is the only one for me. I am, however, interested in Dr. B being happy and being treated well. That being said, I have a couple of bones to pick with Booth. The first one is a biggie.
Camille Saroyon. This woman comes in from out of the blue and takes over Dr. B's lab and Dr. B's team. As if that isn't bad enough, she threatens to fire Dr. B. And what do you do about this, Booth? Oh, yeah, that's right, I remember now. You hop into the sack with her. What the hell, man? That is so not cool. I mean, it is obvious to anyone with eyes (except maybe Dr. B) that you have feelings and, let's be honest here, the hots for Dr. B. And you sleep with the boss that she hated at the time. Colossally stupid, my man. I'm sure that I wasn't the only one surprised by the fact that she didn't dropkick your butt into next year. By the way, it is rule #12 in the man handbook that when it comes to your best friend or your partner, you do not, under any circumstances, sleep with a blood relative or their boss. Check your handbook, dude. How would you like it if she slept with your boss? I'm sure you wouldn't mind at all. Yeah, right, you growl like a guard dog if someone even looks at her. Yes, the relationship with Cam didn't last long, but it had to be painful for Dr. B. In true Dr. B fashion, I doubt that she ever said a word.
True, Dr. B and Cam have made their peace and, I think, have built a professional respect for each other and we all like Cam. More true, Dr. B is the reason our team is what they are. Her drive for the truth in turn inspires all of us to put forth even more than our best and Cam will never be able to replace that. Dr. B is the heart and soul of the squint squad, as Booth insists on calling us, and she deserves to be treated as such. Most true, if Dr. B is fired or leaves the Jeffersonian, the squint squad will be right behind her.
The next issue that I have with Booth is his freaking line. Again, what the hell, man? You might as well have said, "I've been sleeping with your boss, but I don't find you attractive so before you get any ideas, I'm going to draw this imaginary line." I can almost guarantee that is pretty much what Dr. B heard. When Angela told me about the line, I was speechless. How did Booth ever have a kid? Judging by his behavior with Dr. B, I can't believe he gets laid like ever. Yeah, he's a good looking guy, but a woman is only going to take so many slaps to the ego before your goose is cooked for good and you will never, ever, ever have a chance with her. So GET. A. CLUE. DUDE.
Booth arrested her father and brother and she didn't even get mad at him. She forced him to admit on the stand that she could have committed the murder her father was on trial for and he forgave her.
I don't even want to know what happened when Dr. B went out with Booth's brother. Angela and Cam were totally freaked. Cam even arranged an intervention with Sweets for Dr. B. Now, am I the only one to see the irony in Cam trying to prevent Dr. B from sleeping with Booth's brother? In the end, I don't think she did. I'm sure Angela would have let me know about that. Dr. B made a speech at Booth's birthday party that amounted to a public apology and all was well once again.
Then Booth was killed. Well, obviously he wasn't, because I'm sitting here looking right at him. He took a bullet meant for Dr. B and I never, never want to see someone in that kind of pain again. We followed the ambulance to the hospital and waited. Dr. B sat in a chair a little away from everyone else while we all grouped together for support. She didn't say a word. When the doctor came out and told us that Booth was dead, she insisted on seeing his body. When they refused, she became almost hysterical. It was heartbreaking. It was as if she would not believe that he was dead until she saw it for herself. She wouldn't let anyone, not even Angela, touch her and it took us almost an hour to convince her to leave the hospital. Angela insisted on staying the night with her. She said that Dr. B locked herself in the bathroom for hours. Angela said that she could hear her sobbing but that Dr. B refused to come out and when she finally did come out she refused to talk about it. As soon as Angela went to sleep, she left the apartment. We found her in Limbo the next morning. For five days, she didn't say a word, not to anyone. She didn't leave Limbo. She ate a few bites when Angela brought her food and wouldn't leave her alone. Every time she fell asleep (bent over a stainless steel table, examining remains) she woke up screaming. It was awful. We basically declared Limbo off limits and took shifts staying with her. Just keeping her company. In all honesty, most of the time I don't think she even knew we were there and the rest of the time, she just didn't care. Sweets kept coming around looking for Dr. B, but we didn't trust him not to upset her so we kept him away. Booth was surprised when Dr. B punched him at his funeral. I was surprised that she didn't keep punching him. I would be willing to bet that Booth knows none of this. I'm certain that Dr. B won't tell him. It's just not her way.
Then there was Zach. I took Zach's defection hard, but he was only my best friend. He was Dr. B's creation. His intelligence was inherent, but she felt that she furthered his knowledge, gave him guidance and support and whether she will admit it or not, she loved him very much. In short, he was her surrogate son. As any good parent, she felt that she had failed him in some way. That she was responsible for his actions. She actually said this during one of our Gravedigger conversations so I know it must have been eating her alive for her to actually mention it. And for it to come so closely on the heels of Booth's death, for anyone else it would have been the straw that broke the camel's back. But not Dr. B. She is the strongest person I know and I actually worry about that. She shouldn't have to face all these bad things in her life alone and I just can't see her ever letting anyone else in as much as Booth. It is obvious that she cares deeply for him, but I'm afraid that he is going to keep hurting her and she doesn't deserve that. I know that Booth doesn't deliberately hurt her but it's like he has a blind spot where she is concerned. It is obvious that he doesn't want her to be with anyone else, but he won't let her be with him. People can't live in a vacuum. I hope he realizes that before it is too late.
When Booth was taken by the Gravedigger, it was like a nightmare for Dr. B and me. We were both scared for Booth, but it also brought all those horrible feelings and memories rushing back. I thought that I had lost her trust forever when she found out about me taking the evidence from the FBI, but we had a long talk after Booth was found and I think we will be okay. I certainly learned my lesson. The squint squad is a team and that is how we do our best work. As a team.
When Dr. B announced her intention to have a baby fathered by Booth, I was stunned. I was not the only one. Angela and Cam had a lot to say about it. None of it good. I'm starting to worry that those two are taking an almost unnatural interest in the relationship between Booth and Dr. B. After all, if they both want to have a baby together, what business is it of ours? I do have to throw in that I was especially surprised at the chosen method of conception. For heaven's sakes, the two of them are a married couple without the benefits, they could at least use this to have a little fun and accomplish the task at the same time. Note to self: Mention this to Booth. Then the brain tumor. I mean, how many awful things can happen to one person or in their case one couple? Thank God, Booth is fine. But during his four day coma, Dr. B did not leave his side and we all worried about what would happen to her if he wasn't okay. Everyone has a breaking point and I can't believe she hasn't just about reached hers. I suddenly hear my name being called and look up to see everyone staring at me curiously. Time to rejoin the present.
