Chapter 4 Decisions, Decisions

Over the next week, Brennan spent what free time she had researching the Naval Academy-sponsored summer camp Jack Hodgins had suggested. She decided she felt comfortable with his recommendation and felt it deserved further consideration. She knew that Angela and Hodgins would never send their son to any camp without carefully checking it out; and even wondered if Hodgins would somehow arrange surreptitious personal security for Michael Vincent, knowing how paranoid the entomologist could be at times. That night after dinner, she sought out Booth and found him watching a previously recorded Flyers hockey match in his man-cave. She walked up behind his comfortable recliner and dropped a file folder into his lap. "This Naval Academy camp offers excellent programs which match both Michael's and Christine's interests; and Hodgins has assured me that it is safe. Do you think we need to visit their facility or are you comfortable deciding based upon their promotional information? I thought we could invite Ange and Jack over Friday evening to discuss it. I think a June session would offer the most comfortable weather. Since this camp is reputable and popular, we need to reserve their spots before the sessions fill up. "

"Bones, I'm already sold on it. Cullen's three nephews have gone there for several summers, and he also assured me that it is secure and well-supervised, just as Hodgins told you. In fact, they rotate midshipmen from the Academy each week as camp counselors to give the cadets a change of pace. The Secret Service recruits some of the Academy graduates and has developed a joint training program with the Navy to give interested cadets a real-time exercise in undercover surveillance and human asset protection. Obviously, not all the cadets eventually sign up for the Secret Service, but the training is useful and effective in other areas of naval operations. They're not supposed to let the kids know anything about their real role at the camp; just interact with them as normal counselors would," Booth told her.

"The Naval Academy has superb engineering and science curricula to prepare their officers, so the camp STEM enrichment programs are exceptional as well," Brennan remarked.

"Boy, Bones, you've really checked this out. Not sure I want Christine to end up a Yankee White agent but the camp sounds top-notch to me. I think Chrissy will enjoy it. She always has a good time when we go camping in the Shenandoahs near our property out there."

"Booth, she's only ten years old; she's not going to choose her life's work based on one summer camp experience. You're over-thinking this," Brennan chided him.

"Oh, look who's talking, Miss Super-Analytic Squinty Scientist!" Booth shot back.

"So what weeks should we propose to Hodgins and Angela?" Brennan asked. "Is your grandfather still planning to come for Father's Day?"

"Nope, I told him we'd come get him at the retirement center and take him fishing at our camp property. The pond at Willow River is pretty tame for Pops. He claims he's caught every fish in there so often they're on a first-name basis. He loves being outdoors and fishing in a mountain stream. He took me fishing lots of times, and I even remember getting to fish with both Pops and my dad a few times when he was sober. You know, for all the horrible crimes Jacob Broadsky committed, he did know how to evaluate land. That ten acres he bought in my name has turned out to be an wonderful place to relax on the weekends, not to mention an excellent investment property with the road improvements the county is making out there."

"As you said, June is cooler and less muggy than later in the summer. I think the first camp session would be best for the kids. We can take Christine up to Willow River to see Pops for a belated Father's Day treat when she gets back home, don't you think? It'll give him something to look forward to," Booth mused out loud.

Brennan arranged for the Hodgins to come for dinner and bring Michael along to enjoy her macaroni and cheese and video games with Christine. After a brief discussion of scheduling over glasses of wine and beer, the couples informed the two youngsters that they were going to camp. They were rewarded with exuberant hugs and excited shouts. Later that night, Brennan snuggled into bed , her back curled against Booth's solid pectoral and abdominal musculature, satisfied that their daughter could enjoy a camp session without her developing a gastric ulcer from worry about security.

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The remaining two weeks of school seemed interminable for Michael Vincent and Christine. They went on a year-end class field trip to the National Zoological Park, followed by a picnic on the museum grounds nearby. This was one of the few features of the Smithsonian Institution which the Jeffersonian lacked, an aspect of her beloved workplace which many of her co-workers assumed would irritate Dr. Temperance Brennan. However, it was her deeply-held personal belief that animals should not be confined in cages for entertainment purposes, and she also knew that the other venerable museum did not have a medico-legal lab, since no entity of scholarly endeavor can address every field of study. She knew that the Smithsonian conducted extensive and valuable global animal research so she didn't broadcast her disdain for its zoo, but given the choice between human bone identification and exotic animal husbandry, the Jeffersonian would always claim her allegiance.

Michael Vincent's father was well-known at the school for his entertaining science enrichment sessions. He had boosted the popularity of the Jeffersonian's after school science program as well. So it was not surprising that Jack Hodgins was frequently recruited to act as a chaperone. He accompanied his son's class to the National Zoo on this field trip. He patiently answered dozens of questions from the students about its inhabitants, particularly the snakes, insects, and spiders. He knew that Michael would get to observe larval development and practice specimen collection techniques at the camp. He found himself wishing he could go to camp too, just to revel in studying instar stages without analyzing time of death as his work at the lab required.

"Uncle Hodgins, thanks for convincing my mom to let me go to camp with Michael! " Christine said as they walked through the herpetarium. "This is going to be a great summer; I can't wait to explore the caves."

"Christine, I was glad to reassure your mom. She is right to be careful where you spend time away from home. You just have to promise me you'll heed your counselors regarding safety procedures, and you too, Michael, or your moms will both have my head if anything goes wrong! Not to mention Booth!" Hodgins told them seriously.

"We will, we will!" the pair assured him. "We're so excited; it's gonna be great!"

A/N: So Brennan's worries are assuaged and it's off to camp for Christine with Michael Vincent. Now I'm mulling what experiences to give the kids...angsty or routine? Any suggestions?