I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Bones. They belong to Joss Whedon and Hart Hanson respectively.

Conspiracy Theory

When Jack Hodgins he has a son, Jack is quickly on his guard. When he discovers that his son is abused, he is furious. When he discovers his son lives in one of the dealiest conspiracies in human history, he is terrified.

Hodgins Residence

November 9th 2005

Jack Hodgins stared at the letter in his hands with a certain detached level of horror echoing through his body. Jessica Lavelle was dead. He'd actually cared a great deal for Jessica, once upon a time. She was the first love of his life. Hodgins winced mentally, wishing silently that he'd married her after they'd graduated from high school. He'd gone to college and she'd promised to wait. She hadn't.

Jessica had left their love behind without so much as a goodbye. Jack hadn't even known where she'd gone until now. Apparently it was Sunnydale, California. Hodgins didn't want to imagine what had happened that had driven her clear across the country. Personally he suspected it was something he'd done. Goodness knew he was… abrasive at the best of times. He sighed softly. At least he hadn't been murderous, though. Apparently his Jessie was a real sucker for punishment and Jack's abrasive attitude just hadn't cut it.

Still, that wasn't what filled Jack with horror. That merely filled him with melancholy. There was, after all, a reason he'd gotten the letter he had. No, the letter concerned Jessica's son, a son whose birth could only have involved one man… himself. Jack sighed. Jessie had been pregnant when she'd left him. Pregnant with a son. One half of Jack was horrified that he'd had a child and hadn't even known it. He'd only been eighteen at the time, for heaven's sake.

Still a son was something Jack could live with. If only the kid hadn't been born in Sunnydale. Oh the horror, the utter horror. Jack's only child, his flesh and blood, was living smack dab in the middle of one the darkest and most deadly conspiracies known to man. Jack's jaw locked in a stubborn expression that had become his hallmark. He had to see Goodman. Now.

Jeffersonian Institute

November 10th 2005

Daniel Goodman offered up a long-suffering expression as he watched Dr. Jack Hodgins approach his office. Credit where credit was due, Goodman respected Hodgins' abilities and the man's desire to blend into the academic environment of the lab rather than hobnob with Jack's social peers. Unfortunately the man's personality was as abrasive as sandpaper and he further seemed to regard Goodman's style with an almost instinctive distrust. Goodman was inclined to ascribe this attitude to Hodgins' general distrust of anyone in authority. Still, Daniel couldn't rightly imagine why Hodgins was seeking him out willingly.

Dr. Goodman stood as Hodgins entered his office, using his intimidating size and demeanour to its full effect in an attempt to shorten a, no doubt, onerous meeting. "And what can I do for you this fine morning, Dr. Hodgins?" Goodman allowed no sign of irritation to cross his face, pasting his best politician smile in place.

Hodgins barely acknowledged hearing the greeting. "I need to take a leave of absence. One or two days should be enough, but I need it immediately."

Daniel arched a brow in faint irritation. This was very out of character for Hodgins. The man was demanding, certainly, but he rarely demanded special favours like this. "I realise you are one of this institution's largest donors, Dr. Hodgins, but I do not appreciate being put in this position by someone in my employ, regardless of their generosity."

Jack actually blinked in shock, seeming to understand that he had given a rather ugly impression of himself, before he immediately returned to his demanding expression. "I don't care how much I donate to this place, Doctor. I suppose I am asking for a special favour, but I think it's one you'd grant to anyone in your employ."

Goodman could not fail to conceal some small modicum of surprise. "Oh? And why do you need this sudden leave of yours?"

Hodgins was silent for a long moment, obviously reluctant to bring it up. Finally he gave in. "I've just come into the knowledge that I have a son. His mother just died, his stepfather was responsible and he's headed for foster care if I don't take custody. That's not going to happen."

Goodman carefully swallowed his shock at this revelation. It was true that Hodgins was a known ladies' man, but he'd thought Hodgins was slightly more careful then that. "I can certainly understand your reasoning and heartily approve, but surely this could wait until the weekend? We have a rather heavy schedule at the moment."

Jack was already shaking his head. "Hell no. My kid is not spending one more minute in that hellhole of a town than absolutely necessary, Goodman. Hell, if I could avoid setting foot there myself I would, but someone has to accept custody."

The larger man was rather shocked. "What town does this boy live in?"

Hodgins shook his head, unbelieving that Goodman was so ignorant. "Sunnydale, California…" Nothing. "La Boca del Infierno?"

Goodman was a learned American and a fairly experienced linguist. His knowledge of Spanish was more than sufficient to the task. "The mouth of hell? Oh good heavens, Dr. Hodgins. I have no time for such absurdities."

But it was too late. Jack's eyes already shone with the unholy light they only displayed when he was in full conspiracy theory mode. "Sunnydale is no joke, Goodman. I've seen the statistics for myself. That quaint little hamlet is home to the single largest rate of violent death on the planet. Percentage-wise it tops out countries in the midst of civil war. War! I don't know how much of the stuff on that place to believe but the stats speak for themselves. My kid is coming out of there and he's getting out just as soon as I can get there to sign the papers."

Daniel looked Hodgins over for a long moment, seeking something that would tell him what to do in this very unusual circumstance. Then he saw it in Jack's demeanour. The self-proclaimed 'King of the Lab' was terrified. Usually when he spouted conspiracy theories he was calm, even joyous. This one filled him with fear. "You may have your two days, Doctor Hodgins."

Jack didn't even say acknowledge the permission. He simply rushed out of the office as if he intended to run the distance to Sunnydale. Goodman looked down at a picture of twelve-year-old Alexander Har… Hodgins. Daniel could see the vague indicators of Jack Hodgins' paternity a mile away. The hint of red in the lad's otherwise deep brown hair, the slight curl in the hair, the angular features and, most of all, the eyes. Alexander had his father's eyes, not the colour, but the essence. The lad's eyes cried out with a sharp intelligence combined with a borderline unhealthy cynicism and skepticism.

Goodman nodded in satisfaction. Dr. Hodgins was likely overreacting, but that mattered little. What mattered was that Goodman did not want to be responsible if he was wrong about this. Much better to let Hodgins have his way. At least he'd have a few days without the abrasive man's conspiracy theories…

The thought struck Daniel like a blow to the gut. Hodgins was going to get his son. That meant that he'd have to put up with two Hodgins family members. The large man winced. He definitely had to look into hiring someone to act as head of the Medico-Legal Lab, post haste. Better that poor sap then him…

Alas poor Goodman...

And here is your August 26th entry.

Anyone who'd like to pick this one up, drop me a line via the reviews.

Jasper