Yay! New chapter! Thanks to those who have been supporting me so far, it keeps me going. Anyway, this chapter makes me feel so smart for taking psychology, lol. I hope you all enjoy this new segment, especially since it's the end of this case and there's a cute yet, awkward moment between Kristen and Zack--at least in my opinion. Please, enjoy and if you do, please review! Constructive criticsim is welcomed, flaming is not.
Disclaimer: I keep forgetting this...I do NOT own Bones.
Chapter Seven: Mommy Dearest
Zack and Dr. Brennan would make fun of her right now if they knew what class she was in. Well, they didn't know exactly how to "make fun" exactly; the two geniuses would just criticize her for being so "illogical" or "irrational" to take such a subject. Well, they weren't at Kristen's college and taking General Psychology made sense to her—it would help with her acting, allowing her to understand characters better. Besides, deep down, Kristen really liked psychology; trying to understand criminal minds, mental illnesses, and other things fascinated her.
Especially today. Today Dr. Fraken had finished his lesson on child abuse early and there was still twenty minutes left to her hour and twenty-five minute class, so he was allowing his students to do whatever they wanted, as long as it was psychology-related.
That being, Kristen took that opportunity to look at the security camera videos of when Connor was in the hospital that Angela had e-mail on her laptop—she got her possessions, including her car, back since her punishment was over. At the same time, the blonde actress was doing her homework for the class, which was an essay various kinds of abuse—they had to choose a specific one and write about it.
"What type are you gonna choose, Kris?" inquired Zoey in a bored tone. The dark-haired girl—her streaks lime green that week—was sitting beside the blonde on her laptop. She was pretending to be working, but she was actually texting Charlotte, who was in Creative Writing, on her Blackberry.
"I'm not entirely sure." Kristen responded in a distracted tone. Her green eyes were focused intently on the videos on went on while Connor was in the hospital. There were two boxes on the screen of her Mac Notebook—the videos on QuickTime and Microsoft Word.
Arching an eyebrow, Zoey leaned over to her friend and glanced at what was on her screen wondering why she was so focused on it—Kristen was a good student, but she never focused that hard on schoolwork. "What the fuck are you watching?" Zoey questioned skeptically.
"Security camera videos of St. Catherine hospital." the smaller female claimed nonchalantly, clicking the next video where Willow was visiting Connor. Kristen found it strange how the camera wasn't completely directly on the patient. The most you could see was the right half of Connor and all of whomever was visiting him—well, as long as they stayed on his right side.
"Why?" the paler girl said slowly with furrowed brows. Zoey always thought Kristen was an oddball—who wasn't in their group of friends?—but this was kind of pushing it. "Isn't that a bit, oh, I don't know, sketchy?"
Kristen rolled her eyes. "They're from the recent case I'm helping Dr. Bren, the squints, and Seeley with, 'tardface. I'm not doing this for some cheap, twisted thrills. I'm not you, Zo."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Zoey huffed. Her eyes flicked to her phone as it vibrated with a text from her girlfriend.
"From what Lottie has told me, without my consent I might add, you are into some pretty kinky stuff." Kristen stated before shuddering. Charlotte had a big problem of indulging too much, especially on her sex life—Meghan was the same and Kristen feared of when she and Isaac got back from their honeymoon.
"Eh, what can ya do?" shrugged Zoey, not hiding her smug smirk. Kristen rolled her eyes again with a shake of her fair head. Nasty…, she thought before looking back to her computer.
"So do they know who's done it yet?" casually asked Zoey, her thumb moving speedily over the buttons of her cell.
"Nope," Kristen sighed. "We've got a few suspects though. The mother is on the top of the list or at least on mine."
"Oh?" Zoey's interest was peaked as a smirk tugged at the corners of her lips—the girl loved murders, crimes, and stuff like that; she was a bit sadistic. "What makes you say that?"
"Cuz the woman's crazy."
"…That wasn't vague at all."
"Well, I don't have a straight answer cuz I don't have all the facts. That's why I'm watching these tapes."
"Oh. Well, hope 'bout I help? Four eyes are better than none. Though, you technically have that already taken care of." Zoey joked cheekily, pointing to Kristen's dark brow rimmed glasses.
Scowling, Kristen looked to her sharply. "Shut you face."
"Great comeback, I feel really hurt." scoffed Zoey.
"Whatever. Just shut and watch. Tell me if you see anything weird." snapped the other girl.
Just nodding, Zoey pushed her chair closer to Kristen and they both sat quietly in their chairs to watch the silent videos. They watched them multiple times, each at least three times, until class was over.
"So did you see anything, Zoey?" Kristen asked as the two students strolled through the crowed hallway to go to their next class.
"Hmmm. Nothin' special." Zoey shrugged, her hands tucked into her black high collared jacket's pockets. Kristen frowned—she was at a loss too. "But…" Zoey hummed making Kristen's eyebrows shoot up. "I did find it weird how his mother never seemed to visit him."
Kristen's brows furrowed. "Yeah, she did. She was one of the only visitors who were there the most. Day and night. All the time." she pointed out.
"Oh? Really? Cuz I never saw her. She must've been out of the camera's shot." the taller woman shrugged again carelessly.
However, her dry comment sent shivers up Kristen's spine and she stopped short. Her eyes widened as something clicked in her head. Noticing her friend wasn't walking by her side anymore, Zoey stopped and glanced back at her. "What's up, Kris?" she asked nonchalantly.
"Holy shit on crackers…" Kristen breathed horrified.
"What?" Zoey gave her a weird look.
Not answering, the darker-skinned girl slipped her bag off her shoulder, yanked out her white laptop and opened it up at the ground against the nearest wall as she knelt by it. All the while, Zoey was asking her what she was doing and what was going on. Kristen continued to not answer as she clicked on the hospital videos again, clicking on only a few specific ones. They were ones of where Connor was alone.
Kristen watched them very closely this time, not even blinking.
The times on the video read eleven o'clock or a little later at night, just before visiting hours were over and lights were supposed to be out. Connor seemed like he was alone and that's why Kristen hadn't paid much attention to it before, but now the clips were showing her something different. Connor, a shaggy-haired boy with lots of freckles, was looking to his left and looking very distressed, frightened even. Kristen narrowed her eyes from under her spectacles and realized that Connor appeared to be talking to someone in each in video. However, one video had one big difference.
In one, his face was completely off the screen. The majority of the right side of his body was visible, though and he was thrashing about, struggling. And in a brief flash, Kristen saw a hand and the side of a pillow. It went on for only a few minutes before the clip stopped, but she didn't need to see the rest to know what happened.
The words Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy resounded in her brain.
A gasped escaped her slightly chapped lips as her eyes grew. She paled, a hand clasping over her opened mouth. "Oh…my…God…"
"What?! What?! Kristen, what's going on?!" Zoey asked frantically, concern flooding into her eyes.
Slowly, Kristen gazed up at her. She looked petrified. "I-I know who…I know who kill-killed…Connor." she choked out. "H-His mother did it…"
Zoey's mouth dropped, her expression mirroring her companion's. "Well, fuck me sideways…"
Kristen slammed her computer shut, stuffed it back into bag, and shot to her feet. She quickly fished for her iPhone in the unorganized pockets of her bag, muttering hurriedly, "I have to call them…I have to call them…"
When she finally found her cell, she searched through her caller history, found Zack's number, pressed "Call back", and pressed it to her. Impatiently, pulling a lock of gold, Kristen listened to the ringing. "Come on, come on, Zack. Pick up your damn phone." she whispered. Zoey just watched carefully, biting her pierced lip.
Finally, "Zack Addy," came his emotionlessly answer.
"Zack! The mom did it!" Kristen cried, her voice picking up an octave.
"Kristen?" the genius questioned on the other end.
"Yeah! The mom did it!" she repeated, yanking on her hand.
"I-I don't understand."
"Connor's mother killed him! Look at the videos of when Connor's "alone", around eleven o'clock at night! Now!"
"But--"
Groaning in frustration, Kristen rolled her eyes. "If I'm wrong, you can bore me to death with math, okay!?" She heard Zoey almost laugh at that, but didn't considering the situation.
"Should I be insulted?"
"Just do it, Zachary Addy! I'll be at the Jeff in a few!"
With that, the twenty-one-year-old hung up and turned to Zoey. "Tell Austen to tell Dr. Vernon that I'm sick and that I'll see Austen at home later!" she instructed.
"Right! Now, go!" Zoey nodded, pushing her friend to get going.
Kristen didn't need to be told. She bolted down the hallway towards the exit.
"I can't believe it…" breathed Angela under the hand that was over her mouth.
"You should've heard my friend, Zoey's response." frowned Kristen.
Everyone was gathered in the Angela's office around her TV. They were all re-watching the tapes of Connor from the hospital, specifically the ones where he seemed alone late at night. Kristen had pointed out what she had discovered and let everyone come to the realization themselves, which didn't take very long. And when the truth became evident, everyone was silent in shock.
"How did you figure it out?" Hodgins questioned, peering to the blonde girl on the couch next to him.
"Thanks to my General Psychology professor." Kristen admitted, immediately getting skeptical looks from Zack and Brennan—not that she was surprised by that. Seeing their expressions, Kristen explained the process of how she concluded that the mother was the murder, starting from her class' lesson to what Zoey had pointed out to her. As well, she explained the reason why she figured out that it was Miss. Reilly, "It's called Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. Basically it's a mental condition and a form of child about when the parent or guardian of a child, in this cause the mother, makes up illnesses for the child. The mother does this to gain attention. Not the best way to do it, but they do it. And since the child doesn't want to contradict their mother, they start believing it themselves. Most likely Connor believed his mother and thought he was terribly ill."
"That doesn't explain why Dr. Winston didn't know what was wrong with Connor. Shouldn't he have been aware of such a condition?" Brennan pointed out. There was still doubt in her eyes that psychology could've helped solved this case when it was so flawed.
"Because Connor had a combination of symptoms that doesn't conform to any know disease or disorder. All the doctor knew was that he had a weak immune system. Not to mention, Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is a recently discovered thing because no one paid close attention to such things on security cameras. Dr. Winston probably didn't even consider a possibility as he was most likely not familiar with it. As well, Miss. Reilly convinced him that there was something terribly wrong with her son and gave a very compelling medical history using terms she looked up or something. And Connor has been to various doctors for his weak immune system, but doctors do not ever contact each other. You have to get the file by yourself. Anyway, Miss. Reilly may have accidentally killed Connor while trying to create freaky symptoms so he could stay in the hospital and continue to get sympathy and whatever else attention she'd get." Kristen elaborated.
"Wow, who would've thought," whistled Hodgins. "There is a brain in that little blonde head of yours. You sure you're an actress, Kristen?"
She shot him a glower. "Oh, shut up." she spat.
"Either way," Booth placed a hand on the girl's head and ruffled her hair. "Good job, Goldilocks." Then, he turned to his partner. "Let's go, Bones. We've got an arrest to make." he stated.
"Right." she nodded and rose. The anthropologist started to follow the FBI agent out of the office, but stopped for a moment and glanced back at Kristen. "Kristen," she called hesitantly. "You did a good job despite the fact you reached your conclusion with a weak science." Brennan looked quite reluctant to say such, but said it either way knowing it was the right thing to do.
"Uh…thanks, Dr. Bren." Kristen answered slowly, not knowing that was a compliment or not.
Just nodding, the older and taller turned and proceeded out of the office after Booth. After that silence fell. That was until Hodgins cough, clearing his throat and rose to his feet. "Well, I gotta go check on something in my office." he announced. He peered to Angela with a mischievous smirk on his scruffy face. 'Want to help me, Angela?" he asked, discreetly nudging his head the two younger people in the room, who was watching him puzzled.
Angela looked between Hodgins and Zack and Kristen. She grinned brightly. "Oh, yeah, sure. I'll help you." The artist rose to her feet. With that, the two quickly filed out of the room leaving Zack and Kristen on Angela's office couch feeling beyond confused.
Why do I feel like I was just set-up?, Kristen thought with furrowed brows.
"What just happened?" asked a blank faced Zack.
"It's probably better that we don't, Zack." she said with a shake of her head. He just stared at her, which made her looked away. He made a face and looked elsewhere.
An awkward silence fell.
Neither would make eye-contact or speak a syllable. They didn't know what to say to each other.
Actually, that wasn't true…they did know what to say. The two wanted to apologize, but didn't know how to say or if was even a good time. Zack and Kristen were both afraid of rejection. They hadn't spoken since the beginning of the case.
This is so stupid…, Kristen thought annoyed, twisting a finger in her hair. her green orbs drifted to different things in Angela's office. It shouldn't this be hard to just talk to someone, especially a guy.,she scolded herself until her eyes landed on the paused black and white video of the exact moment Miss. Reilly was suffocating Connor. A deep frown crossed the actress' face, sadness and pain tugging at her heartstrings and making her stomach queasy.
"I can't believe a mother would do such a thing." she whispered, catching Zack's attention.
"I beg your pardon?" he questioned, having not heard what she had said because it had been so soft.
Kristen jumped and bit and looked to Zack like a deer caught in headlights. Had she said that out loud? He just looked back at her with those puppy dog brown eyes of his, mild confusion and curiosity on his pale face.
She sighed deeply and looked to the video. "I can't believe a mother would do such a thing." she repeated, speaking louder than time.
"Oh, yes." Zack said. "It is a concept that is hard to fathom. However, it happens."
Kristen turned to him with a look of disdain on her face. "That's unacceptable. That's not right." she said—how could he talk about such things so calmly? "Mothers are one of the people who are supposed to love you unconditionally, no questions asked, wanting nothing in return. Doing such things to someone you love just for attention is disgusting, horrendous. Mothers aren't supposed to do that."
Zack thought over her words and studied her face, which was clearly upset—a mixture of anger, confusion, and sadness. This case seemed to affected her on more than one level. He didn't understand entirely, but it was he knew that it was a hard thing to comprehend. Anthropologically speaking, mothers were supposed to protect, not hurt—let alone kill—her offspring.
"I suppose I understand what you are saying, Kristen. I find it how to imagine my mother doing such a thing to me or to my siblings." Zack claimed.
A very small smile tugged at the corners of Kristen's mouth. She had heard a hint of affection in his usual monotone when he spoke of his family, especially his mom. "Your mother sounds nice." she said gently.
"She is. A very kind-hearted woman." Zack nodded. "Stern, but kind-hearted."
"That must be nice." She leaned back against the couch cushions, staring up at the ceiling.
"Isn't your mother like that?" he inquired of her.
Kristen slowly peered to the young genius beside her. Should she tell him? Family had always been a sensitive subject to her, especially over the past five years. Then, Booth's words echoed in her head: "You've got to try to let people in more. It's hard I know, but it'll be worth it in the end." She had told Booth that she would try to be more open, not always keep everything to herself, to try to trust people more. And now was an opportune moment to do so, but could she really trust Zack?
Making a face, Kristen sea-foam green hues searched Zack's face as he stared at her quizzically-she hadn't said anything in a while. Sure, he was oblivious and was socially inept, but he seemed kind and trustworthy. She could trust him, right? At least with something like parents.
Sighing deeply, Kristen raked a hand through her long tresses. She looked back up at the ceiling again. "My biological mother may have been like your mother, but I don't really remember. She and my father died when I was really little. And my foster mother, Cheryl…well, you've spoken to her." she started hesitantly, emotionlessly.
"She seemed…" Zack drifted, not knowing the right word to describe the woman he had spoken to on the phone before Kristen got it back. He could use various adjectives, but didn't know if they'd offend Kristen.
"Like a bitch?" Kristen offered. He lips became a thin line. She laughed a little. "It's okay, really. You don't have to be delicate when describing Cheryl to spare my feelings. I know what she's like. My friends even call her Fuhrer."
His brows creased. "Fuhrer? As in Adolf Hitler?"
"Yep."
"Is that nickname supposed to be humorous?"
"Yes…and no."
"I don't--"
"You will. Either way, I don't really know what it's like to have an actual mom. Except…" Kristen paused, the need to shut her mouth and keep everything bottled up inside rising in her chest.
Zack watched her. She looked like she was fighting with herself or maybe she was just uncomfortable talking to him. He seemed to have that effect on people, he made others feel awkward. He frowned and said, "If I am making you feel uncomfortable, you do not have to speak with me."
"No, no, no, it's not that." Kristen shook her head. "It's just that… it's not easy for me to talk about her. See, the only person that was like a mother to me died to me five years ago. Her name was Sarah McCloud, she was my acting teacher back in New York." she explained, her voice so soft that her confession was almost inaudible, but the brunet beside her had heard.
"I'm…sorry for your loss." Zack said cautiously—that was the right thing to say when someone was mourning over a loved one's passing?
Kristen gave him a tiny, sad smile. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." he just nodded.
She returned the gesture and then, looked to the clock on the wall and made a face. "I better get back to school or my professors will have a fit." she announced regrettably, getting to her sneakered feet.
Zack stood, too. "I better prepare the bones for their burial."
The two, in an awkward silence with little to no eye-contact, headed for the door. Yet, Kristen stopped realizing that she still had something important to say the graduate student. "Wait, Zack," she called, grabbing his arm.
He looked back at her. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry about the whole not calling you back thing. My mom took my phone away from me. Otherwise, if I hadn't gotten in trouble, I would've answered when you called." Kristen said in a rush, her cheeks flushed.
"There is no need for apology. Hodgins told me what had occurred." Zack told her.
"Oh…"
Hodgins and his big mouth.
"I misunderstood and it is I would should be apologize to you for not getting all of the facts and jumping to conclusions. Dr. Brennan tells us all the time to not--"
Feeling a big, unnecessary speech, Kristen cut him off, "It's fine. Apology accepted, Zack." She smiled up at him brightly, which unbeknownst to her made his insides turn warm.
Clearing his throat, Zack looked away. "G-Good to understanding that everything is-is cleared up." he said stiffly.
Kristen just laughed with a shake of her head—the boy was so weird, but adorable. Then, her cheeks became flushed, remembering something else that she wanted to tell him. Her index finger wound its way into a strand of her hair. "Anyway, since um…I have my phone back and you uh, still have m-my number…I th-think…if you called me to hang or whatever…I-I'll answer this time." she stammered anxiously.
Zack looked down at the short girl perplexed. "Are you indicating that you'd like me to call you?"
"Y-Yeah. Kinda." The hold on her hair became tighter, her blush reaching her ears.
"If that is what you desire."
"But only if you want to, y'know? N-No pressure…"
"I want to."
Kristen smiled again, which made him blush that time. "Great. Call me whenever you want to."
"R-Right." Zack replied awkwardly, nodding curtly.
Giggling with a roll of her eyes, the young woman got up on her tippy-toes and gave him a peck on the cheek. "See ya tomorrow, Zack."
With that, she left leaving Zack flustered and red in the face.
"S-See you tomorrow…" He felt as happy, but nauseous as he did the first time she did that.
…Why?