A/N: Some of you asked for another Sweets chapter. I had to laugh because I already had this written! :) Enjoy.
24CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
With a heavy sigh Jack Hodgins checked his watch which was strapped on by a large, indie type leather wrist band. Three AM and no sign of life was loud enough to notice in the Jeffersonian lab, then again he was fairly certain that no one had returned home and that everyone was just working privately in their own offices. He could say this for sure about Angela.
After the light started blinking he had become so wrapped up in his work (perhaps intentionally) that she had managed to slip out without him noticing. By the time he had looked over his shoulder she was gone. And just like that she was another missed opportunity to add to the pile. Then again if she had stayed Jack had no idea what he would have said to her. Maybe something about bugs to avoid talking about the inevitable. Then again, knowing his luck as of late he would have started talking about beatles then ended with a confession of his undying love for the free spirited woman. That wouldn't have ended well, so maybe the ending that they had experienced was better? He wasn't sure.
Jack was now trudging up the stairs to the upper level of the Jeffersonian lab, masking a yawn as he made a mental note to check if there was any old coffee left or if he'd have to resort to purchasing a Red Bull from one of the machines. His hand grasped the railing as he hauled his body up the stairs and in finally reaching the top he stopped in his tracks when he saw the lounge area and the young man who was seated there.
"Sweets." Jack blinked with surprise when he saw the lanky, suit coat clad figure slumped over on the right side of the couch, staring into nothingness. It wasn't until Jack spoke that Lance even looked up, clearly startled.
"Doctor Hodgins." Lance said with surprised eyes as he did his best to sit upright nearly knocking the files that he had balanced in his lap to the floor if it wasn't for his shaky hands catching them. "I was just... Well..." Leaning forward he attempted to hold all of the papers together even trying to shuffle them but in his nervous state having no such luck.
"Destroying Doctor Saroyan's files." Hodgins finished with his own answer which couldn't be further from the truth as he walked toward the couch. Standing in front of the young psychologist who usually would tower over him he relished in the current height difference because the man was sitting, even if he was doing so self consciously.
His eyes studied the contents of the man's lap and his brow furrowed. "These aren't Cam's files." He deducted as he reached to take them to get a closer look but Lance immediately recoiled pulling them out of reach. Hodgins straightened, inclining his head but didn't make another attempt to take them. He could see them just fine from where he stood or at least that's what he led Lance to believe for once the man leaned back thinking he was safe Jack's hand jutted out, snatching them away from a panicked Lance who could only whimper in response.
Jack meanwhile turned his back on the psychologist so to shield himself from grabby hands as his eyes scanned over each piece of paper with increased curiosity. "These aren't Cam's files." Lance, becoming more nervous and overwhelmed, popped up onto his feet and walked behind the couch, keeping his head lowered he ran a hand through his hair. Hodgin's brow furrowed further as he began to piece things together. "These are files on multiple serial killers. Gormogon, Son of Sam, BTK, Jack The Ripper.." Here he swallowed. "Gravedigger." That was enough to get the man to look up at Lance, his eyes unwavering. "Why?"
Lance seemed embarrassed, if not overly stressed, and his hand ran through his black hair again. "I figured I could help find them if I..." He cringed slightly, shaking his head as he tried to form words (something he was usually so good at when speaking to patients). "If I read up on other killers maybe I could figure out something that could help the team, that I could give to you, so we could find them." He was repeating himself, never a good sign.
Jack merely stared at the young man in disbelief before uttering: "Have I gone completely nuts?" Lance could only look to the floor because of his own stupidity, cringing as though being lashed by Jack's words. "How is that supposed to help?" Another cringe on Lance's part as Jack began speaking to him in a loud, firm voice from where he stood. Perhaps he just needed to get his anger out and Lance's own misconceptions provided the method. "This.." He waved the files loudly in the air. "Does us no more good than if you put an add up on craigslist asking for the real serial killer to please stand up!" Okay, so he was just venting now being harsher than usual, but it felt good and in the moment that's all Hodgins cared about, no matter how unjustified. "It's like doing reading while you're on the damned toilet!"
This caused Lance to look right up rather suddenly. "I get that!" The loudness of his voice plus the look in his eyes caused Jack to clamp his mouth shut. In seeing the sort of reaction he got, and in hearing his own voice echo off the walls, Lance immediately quieted himself and looked back to the floor. "I was just trying to help." He reiterated quietly.
The tone of his voice was what made Jack feel guilty and stop his attack. He knew that tone well, he took it on whenever he spoke to or about Angela. "Oh boy." Jack sighed, shaking his head as he too looked to the floor before pulling his gaze back up. "So... What are you hoping for exactly?"
Lance looked up with a furrowed, pale brow. "Excuse me?"
"What do you think is going to happen?" Jack's tone was now completely different in relation to Sweets. Usually he was flat, snippy, sarcastic, but now he sounded big brotherly even understanding. "Best case scenario we find both of them." He glanced over his shoulder and back to the psychologist. "And even then there is still the risk that she'll say no, or leave, or whatever other scenario. Worst case.." Jack's voice trailed off again and he looked up at Sweets who had fallen silent and was staring quite intently at the tiled floor. "Well, I think you know worst case." Lance then abruptly moved back to the couch where he plopped down as though the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. Jack moved in front of Lance, looking down at him, a firmness to his voice. Was he trying to protect him? "Well?" He was growing impatient.
"It's not like that Doctor Hodgins." Sweets shook his head, his fingers seemed permanently implanted in his hair. "It's harmless."
"I'm not a trained psychologist, like you, but I can recognize absolute bullshit when I hear it." Jack caught his snap and took an inhaling breath which he held for a moment before finally releasing it. "Girls aren't harmless. They're a lot of things, but harmless isn't one of them." A hint of his smile came to the corner of his chapped lips which Lance caught.
"You're smiling Doctor Hodgins." Sweets pointed out actually glad to be in familiar territory like the whole doctor/patient thing he had going. Then again, Jack wasn't about to stand for it.
"Don't go turning this on me in some psychology bender." Jack corrected him which caused Lance to look back down at his lap in silence. Jack sighed, whatever was possessing him to be kind and caring just wasn't going away and for some reason, caused him to sit on the couch beside the psychologist.
Seated beside Sweets in quiet, Hodgins folded his hands, twiddling his thumbs as he searched for the words. What he wouldn't give for a Red Bull, a latte, anything with caffine. Another sigh and Jack turned his head to look at the young man. "Be rational Lance." He offered quietly, not caring if the young man looked up or not. Actually, he'd prefer the latter, it was less personal that way. "You continue moping around like this people are going to catch on. We're scientists at the best lab in the country. We're not stupid." Lance shifted a bit in his seat but Jack wasn't about to let up. "And if you keep it up like you're doing you'll be pulled off the case just like Booth and then you'll be of no use to anyone. Let alone.... Her."
Lance pressed down on his thin bottom lip before reaching out and with his shaky hand taking the files from Hodgins and setting them on the table before leaning back on the couch, his head still hung low. He couldn't outrightly admit anything that he was feeling, partially because he could barely understand it himself, let alone put it into words. And the only words that would come had nothing romantic or caring about them.
"I hate this guy." Lance admitted softly right as Hodgins moved to leave which caused the man to remain where he sat.
"Me too." Jack agreed softly as he looked to his lap, his hands squeezing his own thighs. "But I hate a lot of people." He added as an after thought which actually caused Lance to give a soft little laugh which Jack actually was surprised that he returned.
"She played soccer Doctor Hodgins." Sweets spoke up quietly as he stared into nothingness once again, though this time with a bit more clarity than before. Jack could only turn his gaze to look at the psychologist quietly, allowing him to speak. "I can see that." He nodded to himself thoughtfully. "Can you see that?" Jack reached out and patted Sweets on the shoulder reassuringly. Lance then slumped back somewhat relaxed against the couch cushion and Jack mirrored the act as both stared outward. "Soccer."