BB A Flyover State Christmas Story 9

A/N: This story idea required a bit of timeline tweaking, so please overlook the fact that Christine's age is completely AU from what we saw in 'The Archaeologist in the Cocoon' episode.

Christine had graduated from Marshall University the previous spring, completing her B.S. degree in three years with forensic science and criminology majors. She hoped to attend medical school in preparation for investigative research, but wanted real-world experience first. Keen to obtain a job on her own, without the influence of her accomplished parents and friends, she was selected for an internship at the University of Oklahoma researching Caddoan societies in the Red River Valley. Once she arrived in Norman, her first assignment was compiling data from previous southeastern Oklahoma summer dig expeditions.

As in other locations, the Caddoan Mississipian people had built huge earthwork mounds near Spiro, an outpost of their culture from 850-1450. Their Craig Mound or Great Mortuary, 10 feet high and 15 feet wide, was built upon a circle of closely-placed cedar posts sunk into the earth at an angle so that their tips met forming a cone. Covered with successive layers of earth, it never collapsed. Minerals dispersed over time through the mound from rainfall hardened the log walls and formed a decay- resistant hollow space in which perishable artifacts were perfectly preserved.

Christine noticed trends and connections in the data she was examining, and her supervising professors soon realized their newest assistant was far more knowledgeable than most young people with whom they worked. It only took them a bit of investigation to ascertain why. Hanging around the lab, she had absorbed much of Uncle Bugs' botanic, entomologic, and mineral knowledge, and learned unconsciously from her mother, Angela, Cam, and Clark Edison. The OU archaeology faculty quickly decided to take greater advantage of Ms. Booth's talents and upgraded her to a paid research assistant. They felt she could be useful working with several current projects utilizing her unique awareness of fauna, geology, ceramics, and ancient social structures.

The surprised young woman was particularly pleased by this development. Ever since she'd watched Dr. Edison's presentation about the ill-fated mixed-species family rejected from both Homo sapiens and Neanderthal tribes, Christine had felt sorry for the completely neglected three-year old daughter starving to death. She was as fascinated as her mother by the ancient cultures of the past, and read every school and local library book she could find on the subject.

By November, her precise cataloguing and insightful organization of the Caddoan data proved helpful to several very grateful graduate students and doctoral candidates. It didn't take long for them to invite her for pizza or beer at the historic Campus Corner hangouts they loved. Her workload prevented a Christmas trip back to D.C. as she somewhat regretfully informed her parents. Despite Booth's scowling response to this news, Brennan noticed the quiet pride in her daughter's voice, and assured Christine they both understood. Once she broke their phone connection, the scientist gave her husband a significant glance.

"Booth, quit frowning! If Christine can't come to spend Christmas with us, we'll go spend it with her. Hank would benefit from seeing the sights we enjoyed during our Oklahoma City Memorial symposium, and Parker is staying in the UK to be with Meredith's family. Don't you think a change of scenery would be nice? Also the weather down there doesn't usually get cold until mid-January."

Booth's countenance brightened considering her suggestion. "If Mohamed can't come to the mountain, we'll just bring the mountain to him…."

"Booth! That's not a culturally sensitive nor appropriate expression!"

"Nonsense, Bones, I heard Arastoo use that saying just the other day," Booth retorted.

"Be that as it may, Arastoo can say what he likes, and may not take offense, but others might, and it isn't advisable in my opinion," Brennan replied.

Changing subjects as quickly as a weather vane, Booth burst out, "What if we surprised her? Let's check when the university closes and book a flight to OKC for that afternoon!"

Brennan smiled at his shifting mood, "I think she'd like that very much."

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When Angela learned of Booth's travel plans, she spoke to Jack about joining them. Commercial airline flights were always jammed during the holidays, and Hodgins still had access to a Cantilever jet not sold during the downsizing forced by Pelant. She broached her idea to Brennan the next morning sharing coffee in the lounge above the lab.

"Jack can reserve the jet for December 23rd through the 29th. One of our pilots has family in Texarkana he hasn't seen in a while, and would love to visit them. Michael Vincent doesn't know yet if he can join us, but Jeffrey will be off from soccer until Dec. 30th, so we're free to accompany you if you'd like."

"I don't want to take undue advantage of your generosity, but that would be a very nice alternative to congested airports and TSA lines!" Brennan agreed.

Three weeks later, a Cessna Citation landed at OU's Max Westheimer Airport. Hodgins had contacted Lance Lamkin, the University's Airport Administrator, who granted the jet access and agreed to secrecy. The group headed for an eclectic mid-century house Brennan had found on Airbnb, quite similar to their post-Mighty Hut home, adjacent to Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, and not far from Christine's Chautauqua Avenue rental house.

Brennan made sure a small gift-wrapped package was tucked into her messenger back before they drove to Christine's tiny office in Dale Hall Tower. Since it was tucked away in a vacant Anthropology Department utility closet, she knew her daughter would never expect their arrival. The only faculty member alerted was Dr. Kermyt Anderson, with whom she had once consulted on Mississippian burial customs. He was delighted to hear from Dr. Brennan, insisted his wife would prepare dinner sometime during their stay, and informed Temperance that her daughter was making a real contribution to OU's anthropological and archaeological research.

Dale Hall Tower, a nine-story 1960's building, had its original elevators which were well-maintained but not particularly fast. The group of surprise visitors filled up a car which labored its way to the top floor. They filed out quietly in search of Room 522M, which Dr. Anderson had jokingly told Brennan stood for 'miniscule'. Its door, with a window of textured glass, was closed, but they could make out a person bent over a desk, staring at a monitor, typing away. Before knocking discreetly, Booth insisted on being the first in line, the rest of the group standing along the wall out of sight.

"Come in," Christine sighed. She was having difficulty reading a poorly-copied microfiche slide of faunal data.

Booth opened the door slowly and peeked around its wooden edge, waiting for her to look up.

"Daddy?!"

"What are you doing here?" she gasped.

Flinging the door wide open, he engulfed his daughter in a bear hug she'd very much missed, as the rest of the Jeffersonian crew crowded into her tiny office.

Christine stared at them, speechless.

"Merry Christmas, honey," Brennan smiled.

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Later than evening, welcomed by her housemates who gladly went after pizza that Booth offered to pay for, Christine sat with her family in the small front room she had helped furnish from Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. A comfortable sofa and chairs, draped with various throws; several scratched but sturdy side tables and a marble-topped coffee table were grouped for conversation. A wooden table and mismatched chairs stood nearby for mealtimes. An artificial Christmas tree worthy of Charlie Brown held a few strands of lights, but few ornaments. A red and green plaid tea towel served as the skirt. The kitchen cabinets reached the ceiling, marbled lineoleum covered the floor and a stacked washer/dryer unit squeezed alongside the refrigerator protruded a few inches into the hallway.

Three small bedrooms each contained a bed, dresser, and desk piled high with books. Her two housemates, Casey and Brian, were pharmacy and dental graduate students. A doorway between Brian's room and the dining area was walled off by a tall bookcase, as an additional door gave access to Casey's room. The offset to this lack of wall space was the largest closet in the 900 square-foot house. A compact but complete bathroom and enclosed back porch completed the little place. In back, an overgrown but charming gazebo and dilapidated detached garage backed up to the alley. The single car driveway consisted of two narrow concrete strips separated by a grassy median, reminiscent of grandparents' homes for the older adults.

Brennan pulled the small lumpy package from her bag and handed it to Christine.

"Here's a little something from your dad and me to add to your tree," she said softly.

Christine looked at her, tears gathering. Tearing it open, she found a miniature Sooner Schooner and an oval lucite disk engraved with the Oklahoma Capitol, an oil derrick in front. Each had a narrow loop of red satin ribbon at the top. She hugged her parents, then stood to place her Oklahoma mementos on the tree.

"I can't believe you are all here!" she exclaimed, wiping her eyes.