A Woman in the Slums
Part 5
Misunderstanding
Temperance Brennan bent over the bones of an ancient skeleton trying to figure out what the causes of death might have been when Angela approached the table.
"Hi, darling! How is Irene doing?" Angela always intruded into Brennan's work when she had nothing to do.
"Takes pills and stays at home as the doctor recommended," said Bones with full concentration on the skeleton in front of her.
"Did she pass the exams to those schools you've chosen?" Angela's voice sounded more and more curious.
"No, according to those test she is an inadequate, idiotic teenager with the IQ less than of a five year old," Bones couldn't hide her disappointment.
"As for me she's quite a smart girl with an IQ much higher than of an ordinary teen," said Angela as a matter of fact. "Of course, I base my opinion on everything I know from you and agent Booth."
"Yes, that's why I don't understand how it is possible! When I talk to her she's a bright student who knows more than she should due to the educational program they had at her previous school but for a private school she's not good enough. Yesterday I even gave her some abstract tasks to check her logical thinking and 65% she has done correctly. Yes, it's not the best result but it's unbelievable that she failed those tests. They weren't more difficult than the one I gave her!" The brightest anthropologist of all the times sounded really confused and irritated.
"Temp, have you always obeyed everything your foster parents told you to do?" Angela didn't seem to be surprised by Brennan's confusion. People and Brennan were two opposite worlds where the scientist was a total outsider.
"What do you mean?" Only now Bones finally looked at her friend.
"Have you been to that catholic school Irene wanted to go so much?"
"No, why? I asked her, her mother wasn't a catholic. They didn't go to the church every Sunday. She doesn't even know any prayers. Irene chose that school just because it was the closest free of charge school in the area. This is not a reason for the choice that might influence all her future life!" Brennan spoke more and more irritated.
"How long are you going to take care of her?" Now it was Angela's turn to stare at Brennan.
"Until the trial is over and those criminals are safely in jail," replied Temperance without thinking too much.
"Who's going to pay for school then? I don't think other foster parents can afford a private school."
"I didn't think about that," told Brennan sincerely.
"That's your answer. She sees you as a temporary episode in her life. She just doesn't want to be a burden for you. So, you should think about that catholic school. If not, send her in a secular one but don't make her owe you anything. This girl doesn't trust anyone. She's a loaner."
"Maybe you are right. There's no reason to invest in this young woman if she doesn't want to." Such a cold answer made Angela wince. Brennan spoke about the teen as if she didn't care at all.
Temperance phone rang and she picked it up.
"What? Las-Vegas? Booth, I can't. I can't leave Irene alone. Yes, she is right now but… Fine, I'll try to ask Angela." She hanged up and turned to Angela who was ready to leave. "Angie, can you take care of Irene just this night. I have to go to Los-Angeles. They've found bones in the desert there, probably a victim of a drug-gang."
"Yes, of course. Are you going home?"
"Thank you. Yes, I need to pack my stuff. The plane is in three hours."
"I'll go with you then. She'll stay at my place for today if you don't mind."
"Thank you, Angela."
Evening, Angela's apartment:
"Chinese, Thai or Italian food?" asked Angela with a phone in her hand.
"Noodles with sea-food will be nice or you're a veg?"
"Fine, Chinese then. I'm not sure you like spicy food."
"I eat anything, even cheese which I don't like very much but it's better than nothing." Irene was walking around the room examining pictures on the walls and the atmosphere in the apartment.
Angela ordered some food.
"Don't expect me to eat with sticks. Dr. Brennan tried to teach me but I'm totally desperate," confessed the teen as if apologizing for something.
"Don't worry. I have forks," smiled Angela.
"Your works are very good," admitted the girl staring at a remote house on the hill painted by the woman.
"Thank you. Brennan told you're also a good painter."
"I'm not sure about that. It's just a hobby that won't help making money in the future. So, don't wanna waste my time on it. Even though, Dr. Brennan bought me albums, water colors and pencils. Probably she thinks I'm bored to stay at home all day long but I'd rather read an interesting book or listen to music than paint." Irene shrugged one shoulder which was not easy to do with a plastered hand and in a medical corset.
"What about movies?"
"I haven't watched them for ages. We didn't have a TV at home and Dr. Brennan also doesn't."
"I have one and a DVD player. Want to watch anything?"
"Yes, anything you like, Miss Montenegro."
"Why do you want to go to a catholic school?"
The girl shook her head but answered the question.
"In the area where I lived the only person who helped me was an old homeless man. He was a very wise man but believed in God ardently and always cited the Bible. He died a year ago. He was the only man who didn't shout at me, didn't try to smack me or called me names. The stories he told gave me hope to live one more day. I've read the Bible but the parables didn't touch me. None of them, not like if they were told by Mr. O'Neil. Maybe in the catholic school I get the real meaning of the Scripture," confessed the teenager.
"Why didn't you tell Temperance about it?"
"Speaking to Dr. Brennan is like speaking to a robot. I don't get half of the sophisticated vocabulary she uses in her speech. It's the same as talking to the fridge. It never gives you away what is inside." Irene seemed a little bit annoyed.
"Temperance is hard to understand but you'll get used to it. She's an incredible person," Angela smiled at the girl.
Morning, the Jeffersonian Institute:
A very agitated Brennan appeared on the screen of the computer.
"Angela, where have you been? I've been calling you all morning!" The woman said irritated by the fact that nobody answered.
"Morning, darling! We were in that catholic school you've neglected. They admitted Irene. So, she can start on Monday. Actually, it's a very nice place with intelligent teachers and pleasant atmosphere. They have a lot of extra-curricular activities such as football, basketball, chess, theatre and choir. They also have programs for students who are below their fellows in the class. It's the best choice for Irene," she explained competently.
"Oh, fine then. I'm not delighted, though, but it's her choice. She's already old enough to make her own decisions," agreed the scientist without any satisfaction in her voice. "Is she at home? Because I called her and she didn't respond either."
"No, she's here at Jeffersonian. It's kind of boring for a teen to stay at home all day long. That's why, I brought her here. She is now on a tour around the museum with Hodgins. Zack and Cam are preoccupied with the bones you sent us."
"Great. I wanted to say that I would stay here for a while, because of the second body we found. Irene is an independent girl. She has the keys, so it'll be better if she goes back to my place. I don't want to bother you."
"Bother me? Brennan, today I had a cup of coffee and sandwiches waiting for me in the kitchen before I woke up. I don't understand how she does it with only one hand working but this girl is a magic fairy. She can stay with me as long as she likes," Angela sounded extremely persuasive.
"OK, if you don't mind."
"Tomorrow we'll buy her the uniform because she has to wear it at school."
"Thank you. I transfer you the money later. Please, tell Zack I need the report on fractions and the possible murder weapon," she told her friend.
"Of course, he'll send you the results as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Angela."
Brennan disconnected the video call.
"Now I understand why Dr. Brennan is so strange. Hodgins is crazy about bugs and insects and Mr. Addy can't live without skeletons and Miss Saroyan is no better whatsoever," Irene made a conclusion sitting in Angela's car.
"You mean friends of your mother were more interesting?"
"More ordinary I would say. They liked to drink beer, to talk about women maybe not in a very appropriate way. Probably go to the bar and play billiard or darts but they weren't excited when they saw a fly on their shirts." She explained the philosophy of life.
"That's why you liked them?"
"I didn't like them. They were predictable. People, who you work with, aren't easy to understand. Mr. Addy might talk about disease that deformed the bone and then suddenly explode an animal in the name of science. Am I not right?"
"Hey, Zack is not that bloodthirsty. He's a good guy as well as Hodgins. You just need to spend more time with them," Angela assured.
"I don't wanna spend any extra time with them and with Dr. Brennan either. Why didn't she send me to an orphanage? Those guys are in prison. Nobody is going to shoot me again."
"Why do you want to go to an orphanage? Isn't it better when somebody takes care of you? You're just a kid!" Angela was surprised that Irene would rather live in the system than with Brennan.
"When you live too long in wonderful conditions it is very hard to return back to the misery you'd been in. Dr. Brennan will send me away the minute those guys will be taken to jail. I don't want to get used to this temporary existence."
Angela got something like a lump in the throat because she didn't know what to say. They kept silent until home and didn't talk much that evening.
The next day, Angela's apartment:
"Darling, look at her! Isn't she lovely in this uniform?" asked Angela telling Irene to turn for Temperance to see her via the camera as the woman was still in Las-Vegas.
"Hm. I don't see anything lovely in it. Quite a dull gray uniform if not for the checkered skirt and the black ringer on the lapel, it would look like a soldiers' outfit. Nevertheless, I agree that it derives the person as one belonging to a certain social group," said female's voice behind the camera.
"First of all, Temp, it's kinda impolite to talk to the person, whose camera is on, without switching your own on. Secondly, either you like it or not, Irene chose this school herself and she's eager to go there on Monday," reprimanded Angela.
Brennan turned on the camera. Angela gasped at other woman's outfit. Temperance was wearing an elegant black cocktail dress with a deep décolletage. Her perfectly made make-up screamed of the hot night in front of this beautiful lady.
"Are you sure they are there at work? I thought they were working on the case not gambling!" Irene noticed immediately when she saw Brennan on the screen.
"Hey, girl, a little respect to your foster parent, we are working undercover today!" said Booth as a matter of fact.
"As a pimp and his hooker?" inquired Irene.
Irene examined Booth's outfit, who looked like a dandy in an expensive suit, boots and a hat.
"I told you that this dress is far beyond being appropriate!" spoke Bones casting an angry look at the agent.
"Don't listen to her. You look like a crazy couple in the sin city. You came there to spend all your money because you're madly in love with each other. Is this your legend?" asked Angela admiring the view of her friends.
"Yes, Angie. Right to the point!" said Booth in approval of woman's supposition.
"Ok, we have to go. Angela, thank you for taking care of Irene. I hope to be home on Monday, so I'll take you to school in the morning," Brennan told he girl.
"Good luck!" said Angela and disconnected the video call.
To be continued…