The Face With Two Skeletons

by Tropicwhale

disclaimer: Dude, if they were mine the series would be very different...and so would my bank account!

Author Talk: I love writing Cam. She's sort of an all-star person, when you break her down as a set of characteristics. Kinda of a writer's pet, if you ask….the characters living in my head. She does what I want, she doesn't talk back, and she does what she's suppose to just ten times better than what I had planned. And she's smart and funny and can hold her own. Kinda awesome.

Chapter 45

Cam was writing up reports and doing the mountain of paperwork associated with the Anne-Olivia murders. It crossed so many jurisdictions and had so many twists and turns it gave her a headache, a bad one. The bones of Olivia being chewed up by an alligator then delivered to her husband? The pictures of Zack's affair. The bloody car, the bloody park bench….it was interesting. Both women were shot in a moment of introspection. Both had ready reason to go to their places of retreat where they knew they would be alone. Cam paused in her write up and looked at the various notes and reports. There was something nagging her about this case. Zack was clearly at the center of it but what was the motive? Why Zack? Cam pulled a print-out of the pictures of Zack and Zerbrowski's in flagrant delicato. It was one of the ones sent to Anne's lover. Was Anne really the target or just someone in the way? Why sent her lover the photos? Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Cam looked up and slide the picture back into their pile. "Yes, Dr. Hodgins?"

"Can I talk to you privately?" Jack stood in the doorway with his hand on the door-frame.

"Yes. I could use a break from the paperwork." Hodgins came in and shut the door behind him.

"Its something of a personal nature."

"I don't want to know."

"It's about Zack." That gave Cam pause. Everyone had a soft spot for the littlest squint, Cam not least among them.

"What about him?"

"I think he's compromised the case." Cam glared. "I think him being involved has compromised all of us and that we should request a new team to look into some of the aspects of the case….and by new team I mean someone other than Booth."

"Hodgins, what are you talking about?"

"I think Zack is sleeping with Booth."

"What?"

"It's-they've been acting weird around each other since Zack moved in with him. I think they are sleeping together."

"Hodgins, Booth is straight." Well, sort of. Cam made sure her face didn't move and give away her insider knowledge. It was true that if it came to light that Booth was sleeping with one of the suspects/persons of interest then he would be removed from the case and placed before a review board, possibly lose his job. Cam knew both men well enough that they took every precaution to keep the case from being compromised...and never mind the fact that Zack was innocent. That he was a victim in this, just as much as Anne or Olivia.

"I'm not so sure about that."

"Hodgins," Cam stated carefully "this is no time for your crazy conspiracy theories. This case has enough of them without you reaching."

"Ok, first of all? They are not crazy, and second of all? Do you really think I want to think this? I tried every explanation for their behavior and I can't find any except that they are sleeping with each other."

"Assuming that your theory was true, how is it any of your business?"

"Zack's my best friend! Of course, its my business! That caveman! He's shtupping my best friend" Cam gave him a look.

"Again, there is no proof-"

"Uh, he didn't want to move in me and Angela. He wants to stay with Booth." Cam smiled a strained smile at Hodgins' antics. He wasn't helping her headache.

"Booth is a good host and I wouldn't want to move in with you and Angela either."

"You're taking his side!?"

"We used to date. We're good friends...and Booth is straight. Even if he was gay or bi….would Zack be his first choice? Really?"

"Booth kinda has a thing for Brennan."

"You kinda have a thing for Brennan."

"Yeah, well, that's different. I think she has a smokin' hot brain...NOT the point. You're trying to distract me! YOU know something!"

"Lower your voice." Cam ordered, glancing at the glass wall of her office.

"They are together! What the hell?!" Hodgins started pacing. "What IS it with Zack lately? Everyone and their mother is after his tail. I don't get it!"

"I can see what it would be a problem to you. Keeping your private life out of the workplace is not your strong suit."

"This is different. This is Zack. He's not SUPPOSE to have a private life."

"Ever think that they have good reason for not saying anything? Like, I dunno, the case?" Cam cut Hodgins off at the pass. "Zack and Booth are private to start with; and for awhile Zack was under suspicion for these murders. Not to mention I can't see Booth liking men to be something he would want spread around...or maybe they haven't discussed it. Maybe there isn't an 'it' to discuss. They have been living together and Zack admitted that he liked Booth that way. Booth is reacting to the case the way he always reacts when one of us is on the line. That's just how he is. You might be overreacting." She turned her attention back to her workload. There was a new email that read "Evidence: Z. Addy" She clinked it open.

"You are okay with them possibly having sex?"

"I am okay with the fact that two people I care about are happy and that two co-workers keep their sexapades out of Egyptian Storage." She shot back and read the email. Hodgins opened his mouth to continue his tirade as Cam picked up her desk phone and dialed. "Booth, yeah, listen are you at your desk? Pull up your email." Cam forwarded the email. Hodgins was blustering about being interrupted. She looked up at him. "You want to care about something? Care that our killer has just kidnapped Zack." She swung the video screen around let Hodgins read it. Over the phone she could hear Booth and Brennan react to the ransom note.

Author After Note: …. I am saying NOTHING! Cam is amazing.

Love from the Dorkside;

Tropic