Family
A/N: Really short chapter, I know, but I'm posting another with it and it's a natural break in the flow.
She was outside in the backyard on the phone.
"Okay, so, thanks for the advice, Angela." He heard. "Bye." She heaved a sigh of relief.
"What was that?"
"Oh. I called Angela and asked for her advice on hair."
"Hair?"
"Yeah. As in, how I should wear mine."
"Does it matter?"
"You tell me." She folded her arms across her chest.
"No – I mean, it looks nice. I just think, it always looks nice." She looked mollified.
"You know, my sisters have really taken a liking to you." He said.
"Really?"
"They were mobbing Marcy when I left. They didn't look interested in catching up." She smiled.
"I like your family, Seeley. They're loud and sometimes they seem a little crazy but it's nice, having a big family. You all look out for each other." He stared at her, knowing that she was thinking of all the years she had had to look out for herself.
"There are different kinds of families, you know, Tempe."
"What do you mean?"
"At the Jeffersonian. That's a lot like a family. Angela, Hodgins, Zach. You all look out for each other. And you and Camille? That's classic sibling conflict. When we were kids, we picked on each other, but anyone else – we closed ranks. And you have Russ."
"And you?"
"Yeah. Always."
"You know, most people would say that you and Zach share a very brotherly relationship."
"What?"
"Older siblings frequently do not enjoy their younger sibling's interest in them. He tries to emulate you, and you are annoyed by him. That's classic sibling conflict."
"Okay, yeah, maybe. You wanna go inside?"
"Let's stay out for just a minute, okay?"
"Sure, Tempe."