A/N: Under the cover of darkness, through the deep woods, small animals scurry away as Goldy's giggles and Wolfy's insane titters shatter the silence of the night. For once, the sounds are combined, creating terror throughout the cyber world. Do I really need to say more??
Cam was not sure why she felt as though someone was watching her, but the feeling was there nonetheless. As she looked over the remains from their latest case, she had the overwhelming sensation of eyes on her. Maybe it was because she was alone on the platform, but she just could not shake it. After a few minutes, she finally looked up from the remains to take in her surroundings. There were security guards in their office, as well as two posted by the stairs of the examination platform. Above the platform, the catwalk was empty. Huh, she thought as she returned her attention to the remains. I'm probably just a little tired. As she leaned in closer to inspect a particular area of interest, chills ran down her spine causing her to once again straighten up and scan the lab. Drawing her brows together, Cam pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth and tried to will the odd sense away. Finally, she put down the tool in her hand, pulled off her gloves, and tossing them away left the platform.
She made her way to her office, intent on finishing some paperwork. Maybe that would help eliminate the sensations. As she reached her doorway, a voice startled her, and it took all of her control not to jump out of her skin.
"Dr. Saroyan, I'm glad you're here. I have some reports for you to sign so I can get them to Agent Booth," Zack said as he hurried up to her. She took a deep breath before taking the reports from the young doctor.
"Thanks Zack, I'll get these back to you in a couple of minutes." She watched Zack walk away from her, before taking a deep breath and then pushing the door to her office open. She let it close behind her and made her way to her desk. Dropping the reports, Cam sat down in her chair. She sucked in another deep breath and then blew it out. Sitting for a moment, she tried to clear her mind, sweeping away the thoughts being watched. "Get it together, Cam," she said to herself, reaching for the reports and pulling them to her. She quickly signed her name, barely reading what the papers said. After the fifth report, Cam suddenly stopped, the chills again rolling down her back. Keeping her head down, she slowly lifted her eyes, but the hall outside her glass walls was empty. "Just my mind playing tricks," she reassured herself before continuing. After the last report, she carefully placed them in a stack and pushed them to the edge of the desk. Sitting back in her chair, she let her eyes focus on the hall outside. If somebody was there, she was going to catch them.
She watched the activity as it began to increase. Angela and Jack soon joined Zack on the platform, their flirting obvious even from a distance. There was only one person missing from the group, and that was Dr. Brennan. Where was she, Cam wondered, creasing her brow. The good doctor was usually in the lab before she herself was. Curious, Cam got up from her desk and headed for the forensic anthropologist's office. She poked her head into the office and did a quick sweep of the room. Brennan was not there.
"What are you doing in my office?" The question took the pathologist by surprise and she let out a small gasp.
"Dr. Brennan, where have you been?" Brennan looked Cam up and down as she walked passed her and into her office.
"I was in the records room looking up something for our case. Why?" Brennan sat down in her chair, her legs crossed, and waited for an answer.
"I was just wondering," Cam lied. Brennan lifted one eyebrow.
"Did you need me for something?"
"No, not really."
"Then if you'll excuse me," Brennan said, pulling closer to her desk and reaching for a folder. Cam watched her for a moment and then left the office.
"Weird," Cam said as she made her way through the lab. Deciding that getting away from her team and the Medico-labs might be best, she walked out of the sliding glass doors, into the hallway and turned toward the break room. Maybe coffee, despite the possible effects of the caffeine might be good right now. She ran a hand over her hair and took a deep breath as she entered the staff room. The quiet away from the main area of the lab was much better for her nerves. She made her way to the coffee machine and grabbed a mug from the cabinet as the prickly feeling returned to her neck. There was someone watching her, she just knew it. Before turning, she concentrated on it, realizing the feeling was much more familiar, something she'd gone months without feeling. With a smile, she turned around to find…no one. "Odd," she said, moving to the door and sticking her head out. She looked one way and then the other and saw no one. "I could have sworn," she began but let it drop, with a shake of her head. Cam made her way back to the machine. She carefully made her coffee, and then sat down at one of the small tables. She brought the warm liquid to her lips, let it fill her mouth and sighed as the coffee slid down her throat. Suddenly the air in the room became electrified and she sat down her mug. "Booth," she called out. "I know you're there."
"Sorry, Dr. Saroyan," Hodgins apologized as he stepped into the room. "Were you expecting someone else?"
"No," Cam said, feeling slightly embarrassed. "It's just been a…long day." Hodgins gave her a look that clearly said he did not believe her, but silently got a mug of coffee and left the room. The day was getting strange. She knew someone was watching her, and it had to be Booth. She knew what it felt like for his eyes to be on her. If he wasn't around, then why was she experiencing this? With a sigh, she finished her coffee and got up to leave the break room. Well, she thought, I guess I should make a trip to the bathroom before going back to my office. She made her way through the halls, finding them quieter than she thought they should be. Frowning, she looked around again. There was no one there in the hallway. Cam rubbed away goose bumps as she continued along, getting more spooked as the feeling intensified.
Carefully she pushed open the door the to restroom, and quickly scanned the small room--she even bent over slightly and checked under the stall walls to make sure nobody was in there with her. When she was satisfied that she was alone, Cam walked further into the restroom, chose a stall and began to go about her business. She listened for the door to open, but the sound never came. Once done, she walked out of the stall, and picked a sink. Staring at her wide eyes in the mirror, she reminded herself that nobody was with her. Nobody. "Dirty babe," she sang in a shaky voice. "You see these shackles, baby I'm your slave." She forced a smile and then dropped her eyes to the sink and began washing her hands. After shutting the water off, Cam reached out for a paper towel and let out a strangled yip. In the reflection of the mirror was Brennan. "God woman, don't do that."
"Are you okay today Dr. Saroyan, you seem somewhat jumpy."
"I'm fine, and I'd appreciate it if you'd quit sneaking up on me."
"I haven't snuck up on you. I came in here to grab some paper towels."
"Well, I'd appreciate it if you'd leave me alone for the rest of the day. Just stay away from me." Brennan's eyes grew large as she looked at her boss.
"And if I need to speak to you about the case?"
"Just call me on the phone, okay? Now, if you don't mind…" Camille stepped around Dr. Brennan, her heart still pounding. She left the bathroom trying to shake off her nervousness.
Back in the bathroom, Brennan stared at the door with a shake of her head. If she was going to protect her boss from a Booth attack, then she could not just leave her alone. No, she would have to take up residence on her couch. It was the only place in her office that she could keep an eye out for Booth and see into Dr. Saroyan's office at the same time. With her new plan of counter-attack worked out, Brennan quickly grabbed a handful of paper towels in case Cam was watching and left the restroom. She made her way through the labs, and into her own office. She grabbed a few folders from her desk and then sat down on her couch. Turning sideways, she arranged her work in her lab and then glanced out her window to make sure she had a clear view of her boss. Satisfied, she set about her work.
Moments ticked by with no activity of interest, when Brennan's office door swung open causing the doctor to sit bolt up. Panic hit her when she realized that she had fallen asleep on post--something she was sure Booth would have never done. She quickly turned toward her opened door to find a marked Cam staring at her. "What happened?"
"I was hoping you could tell me that," Saroyan demanded, pointing to her throat.
"Well, it looks at if you've been struck by the red marker bandit," Brennan replied, kicking herself for not being able to stop the attack on her boss.
"Obviously. But what I don't understand is how you managed to get a hit on me."
"I did nothing of the sort."
"Really? Then what are you doing with that marker in your hand?" Brennan looked down, realizing for the first time that she held a red sharpie. She was going to kill Booth when she next saw him.
"I was looking over reports and marking errors for correction. What else would I do with this?"
"I don't know," Cam said taking a step further into the office. "Maybe attack your co-workers?"
"And why would I do that?" Brennan asked, standing from the couch.
"Then explain why you're the only one who hasn't been hit?"
"I don't know, maybe I'm just more aware of what's going on around me." Cam crossed her arms, anger apparent on her face.
"I just think it's too much of a coincidence that we all have red marks and you have the marker."
Brennan gathered up the folders that she had pushed onto the couch and then advanced toward her boss. "I don't have time to stand here being accused of something that I didn't do," she said. "I need to meet Booth to go over these reports." She brushed past Cam before the other woman could say anything else. Booth would pay for this.
XxXxX
Booth looked up and smirked as Brennan stood in his doorway, red marker in hand. She looked furious, but really, it was worth it. When he had stopped by the Jeffersonian earlier and found her asleep on her couch, the temptation to leave the marker with her was too much to resist.
"Can I help you Bones?"
"That was the most low-down, dirty thing you could ever have done. Ever."
"Really," he asked as he stood up and advanced toward her. Brennan's eyes flashed as she made her way entirely into his office and shut the door behind her.
"How could you have set me up like that? It wasn't fair and it's against the rules."
"Oh, it wasn't against the rules at all. The only rule we set was that I have a week to 'get' you and your team without being caught. I can't help it if I'm that damned good." He finally reached her, placed a hand on each side of her body and leaned in. "I'm good at other things too." Brennan slapped the marker into his chest.
"It still wasn't fair." Booth could not keep the laughter that escaped his lips.
"I thought it was pretty dang clever myself," he said. "Cam had me pegged one too many times today. I had to do something to get her off my trail. You playing bodyguard was too perfect to pass up."
"I hate you," Brennan said. "You know that right?" Booth offered her his best smile.
"Ah, but one day you'll feel different." The low timbre of his voice as he said the words rolled through Brennan and she closed her eyes for just a moment, willing her mind away from things she needn't be thinking. "Besides, you don't even know how easy I've gone on you."
"Easy? How do you figure that?" It took all of her willpower to keep her eyes on his.
"I decided that it just wouldn't be fair to shorten the game by getting you at the dance club, though I must say you can get down with the best of them." Brennan had no response because she knew he was right. That didn't matter now.
"Well good luck in the future, because you will not get the opportunity again."
"I live for the challenge," he smirked as his hand closed over hers and the marker. "And I can't wait for the weekend we'll get to spend together because of it."
Brennan allowed him to keep hold of her hand for a moment longer, before pulling it away. "Yes," she answered. "The lecture about the History of Sexual Activity throughout the Western World should be quite fun." With that, she turned from him, leaving his office in silent victory.
Okay, so does anybody remember what number squint we're on???