Life changing moments chapter 8
Chapter 8: Crumbs and boys
"Is Josh asleep?" Cam asked when she came out of the bathroom and found Hodgins already sitting on their bed. She had just taken a quick shower and knew that it usually took much longer to feed, change and rock Joshua to sleep.
"Went out like a light. The trip to the morgue exhausted him," he nodded.
"He really didn't sleep long this afternoon. Guess he got the curiosity from you," she smiled and got into bed as well, covering her legs with the blanket.
"You're feeling better today?" Jack wanted to know and watched her expression carefully.
"I do. Now that I can confirm that it isn't the missing kid that weight has been lifted off my shoulders," she confirmed and snuggled more into him when he pulled her close.
"I marked today as 'First smile' day in Josh's book," Hodgins told her and they both had to smile remembering the milestone.
"I can't wait to see him smile again. At that moment it was just what we all needed," she admitted.
"Good day," he stated.
"Good day," Cam confirmed.
"You know what would make this day even better?" he asked, his wide grin already giving her an idea.
"No, what?" she played ignorant.
"Let me show you," he said huskily, his blue eyes staring into hers. Flashes of excitement ran through her body when he cupped her cheek with one hand and then slowly brought his lips to hers. The kiss was just a soft touch of his lips on hers at first, but her eyes fluttered shut without her even realizing it. They hadn't had a lot of physical contact since Joshua had been born due to the stress. Other than quick pecks or a short hug here and there they hadn't really touched each other. So it was Cam who deepened the kiss and ran her tongue against his bottom lip. A few seconds later she was lying on her back while he was hovering over her and kissing her senseless with barely contained passion. And she gave as good as she got. When they had to breathe he peppered kisses all over her face before his lips wandered down over her chin to her neck. She was helpless against the onslaught of sensations after 4 weeks of nothing and could only cling to his shoulders. She was even more breathless than before when he claimed her lips again and made her moan.
The kiss had a similar effect on him and he just couldn't stop his hands from wandering anymore. He had missed being this close to her and he just wasn't able to stop- not until she told him to. Her breast size was bigger than ever before and he loved it- even knowing they would be off limits for a while. He ran his hands over her chest and was spurred on by her moans. So when he reached the hem of her shirt he let his hands glide underneath, just to stop when she froze.
"Babe, what's wrong?" he asked her breathlessly.
"I don't really have my figure back yet. I'm still... wobbly," she replied and he knew that her self-doubts were back.
"You're gorgeous," he assured her, pulled her shirt up and placed a noisy kiss on her stomach, which made her laugh because it tickled.
"Still, we have to stop," she smiled at him and her eyes told him that she didn't really want to.
"Still no green light from your ObGyn?" he knew.
"Not yet," Cam shook her head and glided her fingers through his hair. "Maybe another week or two."
"I'm gonna freeze to death from all the cold showers I have to take," he whined and let his head drop down on her stomach.
"It's not like you can't get any relief," she pointed out.
"No fun," he pouted. "And don't tell me you couldn't use a little... fun," he stumbled a bit over his words.
"The stitches haven't healed yet, at least not the way they should," she spelled it out for him.
"There's only one part of your body with stitches... which means the rest is available," he grinned.
"I'm leaking milk on the upper half and my stomach feels like a rubber ball... you wanna make love to that?" she laughed, but it was laced with doubts.
"I wanna kiss you all over. If you don't want to join, all you have to do is lie there," he told her with a big smile and placed another kiss on her belly to prove his point.
"Go ahead, I'm not stopping you, but I don't wanna hear any complaints afterwards," she had to laugh and was glad when it didn't stop him. Instead he leaned up and kissed her again, while his hands wandered underneath her shirt once more, this time not stopping on her stomach. She sighed happily and kissed him back- it was nice to feel like a woman again.
~*~
The next day the two love birds found themselves at the morgue again with Wendell, Dr. Brennan and a sleeping Joshua.
"Dr Brennan was right, I found a very small puncture in the boy's hyoid," Wendell told them.
"A puncture; like he was stabbed?" Cam wanted to know.
"That's what I thought; so, I took a close look and I found…" Hodgins chimed in and pointed to the microscope so Brennan would take a look.
"Cellulose?" she knew once she had checked it.
"Wood. My best estimate is hard wood: maple, alder or ash," he clarified.
"I don't believe a stabbing would cause this kind of damage," Brennan wondered.
"How else would a sharp piece of wood come into contact with the hyoid?" Cam asked them, because she couldn't come up with an appropriate scenario.
"Maybe a toothpick," Wendell tried.
"Combined with concomitant damage to the sternum, I propose the following scenario: a child swallows something, perhaps a toothpick; he… chokes, he stops breathing; someone tries to save him," Brennan speculated.
"The damage to the sternum was from the Heimlich maneuver," Wendell agreed with his teacher.
"What about him being tied up like this?" Cam wanted to know, because just seeing it creeped her out.
"Yeah, that mostly looks bad," Hodgins agreed with her and glanced over to Joshua who seemed to wake up.
"There are cultures where the binding of hands and feet is part of the burial ritual: ancient Jews, some Asian cultures, including the subcontinent," the anthropologist enlightened them.
"Angie says the boy was Asian," Jack nodded and looked at Joshua again, who was blinking against the light in the room now, but wasn't crying - yet.
"So we're not looking at a murder, we're looking at negligence, or maybe even an accident?" Cam asked, noticing her son's fluttering eyelids as well.
"Logically, I'd say yes," Brennan said and they all let that sink in for a moment. This kid hadn't been killed, but someone had tried to save him and had buried him with love. That was sweet and sad at the same time. Again Joshua saved them from lingering too long with that thought, because he made his presence known by wailing loudly.
"Knew that wouldn't take long," Jack chuckled and took him out of his car seat.
"He is hungry," Cam knew.
"I read that mother's can tell by the cries of their child if they are hungry or crying about something else," Brennan said, but looked questioningly at Cam.
"I can mostly tell that he's hungry when I think my chest is gonna explode any second," Cam smiled and made Wendell laugh.
"You gonna feed him here?" Hodgins asked and pointed with his chin to the dead child on the slab.
"No, I'm gonna go to the changing room," she said.
"Do you mind if I come with you? I need to get my things and then call Booth and tell him about the new developments," Brennan asked.
"Of course I don't, Dr. Brennan," Cam smiled and wanted to take the wailing infant from its father.
"Hey, at least a kiss for the poor dad you two are gonna leave all alone," he requested and kept Joshua.
"Fine," she rolled her eyes and kissed him shortly before she took Joshua and left the room together with Brennan.
"Shh, Josh, you're going to wake the dead if you keep wailing like that. Just a second, honey," Cam cooed at him while she walked to the changing room at the other end of the story.
"He seems very hungry," Brennan observed.
"He's always very hungry," Cam said and shook her head. "I have yet to see him normally hungry."
"Was he planned?" Brennan asked then and at first Cam was taken aback by the sudden blunt question. "I don't mean to offend you," Brennan back pedaled when the surprise must have shown on Cam's face.
"No, it's ok," Cam said then while positioning Joshua. She waited until he had latched on and wasn't crying anymore until she answered the question. "He was planned in a way. We just didn't expect him so soon," Cam admitted. "I had an ectopic pregnancy shortly before I became pregnant with Joshua and didn't expect to get pregnant again so fast."
"I didn't know, I'm sorry," Brennan said and looked really touched by what Cam had just told her.
"No one knows but Angela, Jack and me. He took it really hard."
"And now you have Joshua," Brennan said and stroked over the baby's head. "Booth can't wait until he can babysit him," she added then.
"I know, but Josh's pretty dependent on me and Jack at the moment. After an hour or two he gets fussy and can't be calmed down by anyone but us two. Not even Michelle manages and he sees her every day," the pathologist replied. When she looked at Brennan she saw that she was watching her son her closely and there was something in her eyes that told her that Brennan hadn't only talked about Booth just then. "I could use your help once he is fed though," she started and Brennan looked at her curiously. "Caroline will come over in a few minutes and it would go much faster if Josh was taken care of while Jack and I talk to her."
"Oh, you would really let me watch him?" Brennan was surprised.
"He will be fine for the time. He's a pretty nice guy when he's sated and burped," Cam grinned and the smile on Brennan's face showed her that it was a good idea to ask her.
"I would love to," Brennan smiled widely. "Booth and I want to go for a drink tonight at the Founding fathers. Would you like to join us?" she asked then.
"Actually, I would, thank you. It's Jack's turn to stay at home with Josh anyway. He was out last week with the boys," Cam nodded and was really happy at the thought of getting out of the house for an evening.
~*~
Half an hour Caroline showed up and Cam left Josh alone with Brennan, knowing he would be fine for the few minutes the attorney would stay.
"Korea!" Hodgins said when the two entered.
"Korea?" Cam asked and didn't have a clue what he was talking about.
"The boy was wrapped in a kind of polyester fabric which is not legal in the United States; it's flammable. But, it is very common in North Korea; mostly in outerwear," he explained his former statement.
"That would explain the malnutrition. North Korea's not famous for its cuisine," Cam agreed with him.
"North Koreans aren't allowed to leave their country," Caroline pointed out to the two of them.
"Well, a few lucky ones escape; mainly to rejoin their families in South Korea. There's something else: the twine there that's binding the boy's hands and feet? It's a very heavy industrial embroidery thread," Hodgins went on with his explanation for the most plausible scenario.
"Sleeping bags?" Cam asked.
"Yes. Also casket linings, moving blankets, horse blankets…" Hodgins went on.
"So, we're looking for an industrial sewing operation with a Korean connection," Cam summed it up and Hodgins nodded.
"Then you better get that info to our FBI hunk," Caroline said and waved goodbye before she left the room.
"Brennan can tell him when she drives to the Hoover," Hodgins shrugged.
"Speaking of our FBI hunk and Brennan. Can you watch Josh tonight? Brennan invited me out for drinks with her and Booth," she grinned, knowing he wouldn't like that she called Seeley 'hunk'.
"They need a mediator now that Booth has a girlfriend that isn't Brennan?" Jack said and pulled her closer, realizing they were alone for the moment.
"Please, don't let us get into that before I talked with him about it. Officially I don't know anything yet," she rolled her eyes at his curiosity.
"And of course I can watch Josh tonight. As long as you leave us some food for him," Jack pointed out.
"I will. But I won't stay out too long so I'll probably be back before he needs to be fed again," she nodded.
"And Angie asked me if I could go out for lunch with her sometime," he told her because the opportunity seemed to be right there.
"Sure, as long as you don't call her Angie," she said and scrunched her face up while repeating the nickname.
"Oh come on, you can't be jealous," he laughed. "You called Booth a hunk."
"As long as she can do things I can't I am jealous," she pointed out and pressed her index finger in his chest. "That's also the reason why Booth is no problem, no matter what I call him."
"So until we can have sex again nicknames for ex girlfriends are off limits?" he asked with an amused smile.
"Exactly," she nodded and tried to stay serious.
"I just love you, crazy lady," he chuckled and kissed her tenderly while he leaned back against the old desk.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I have to leave," Brennan interrupted their moment when she entered a second later with Joshua.
"Ok, take the reports of Hodgins newest findings with you," Cam said a bit flustered and wiped the edges of her mouth with her finger to get rid of possibly smudged lipstick.
"Did he behave?" Jack asked and didn't mind at all that Brennan had just busted them.
"He smiled at me," Brennan reported proudly.
"Aw, did you smile for Dr. B.? Already charming the ladies," he asked Joshua and took him from her. Joshua replied by smiling at his babbling father, who gushed even more over him.
"Thanks for watching him," Cam grinned then, mostly because of Jack's antics as he was trying to keep Joshua smiling.
"You're welcome. See you tonight at eight," Brennan said then.
"See you then," Cam replied and then turned to her two men. "Daddy's being a goofball again, huh Josh? Tell him he's being silly for making these stupid faces and he should get back to work," she laughed.
"Tell Mommy she's being bossy again," Jack replied but all Joshua did was smile at both his parents.
~*~
"They were so afraid of the authorities that they buried the child themselves?" Cam asked unbelievingly when she sat together with Brennan and Booth that night and they had told her what they had learned about the child.
"Y' know, the States, they seem like heaven to them. I mean, they… they probably thought they were going to be executed or even worse, sent back to North Korea," Booth nodded.
"What will happen to them?" Brennan wanted to know.
"Ah, you know, knowing Caroline, she probably won't even charge 'em. Caroline is a nice person… underneath the whole… you know, not nice… thing," Booth speculated.
"I'm afraid I have to agree, she got everybody back here to save my job," Cam nodded before she took another sip of her water with an olive...She had insisted on that combo so at least she could imagine she was drinking something other than tap water.
"Why do we only solve crimes when we have a dead body?" Booth asked and for a second she wondered if he had started drinking before she had arrived. What kind of question was that?
"Seriously?" she asked and tried to swallow her drink quickly. "Because I'm a pathologist and she's a forensic anthropologist?" she went on but all she got was a nod and a blank expression. "Fresh dead, long-time dead?" she spelled it out for him.
"I was thinking about Logan Bartlett," Booth finally came to the point of his weird question.
"The missing boy?" Brennan wanted clarification; obviously she doubted his ability to think clearly as much as Cam did.
"Yeah, I checked out the Missing Persons investigation into the father and… The dad buys a car three days after the son disappeared. What kind of father does that?" Booth revealed and both Brennan and Cam only wrinkled their foreheads.
"A bad one?" Brennan finally said.
"Sounds a bit hinky, I have to give you that," Cam agreed.
"I will check him out tomorrow," Booth decided.
"I will come with you," Brennan said immediately and they both looked at Cam.
"Don't look at me. I have a meeting at the Jeffersonian tomorrow and have to bring along Josh, because it might take a while," she held up her hands.
"Why do you keep nursing him? Wouldn't it be easier to just give him the bottle?" Booth shook his head, not understanding why she was going through so much trouble with this.
"Booth, it's a fact that no formula can supply the infant with as many vitamins and even anti bacterial substances as mother milk. It is recommended to breastfeed a child until it's at least six months old. In some cultures children are being breastfed until the age of three," Brennan hurried to explain to her partner.
"Ok, that's creepy," Cam commented on the last part. "But I agree to the rest," she just said.
"Booth, I didn't tell you yet, but Joshua smiled at me today," Brennan reported proudly.
"I didn't see him all day," he pouted.
"I even watched him for a while. That's when he smiled at me," Brennan went on bragging.
"She got to watch him? Why haven't I got to watch him yet? I've known you much longer and I have a son, too," Booth complained to Cam.
"Simply because you weren't around," she rolled her eyes at his dramatics. "Also, I have exactly one more hour until I need to go home, because my son will scream down the house otherwise, so can we maybe talk about something else? This is the first time since he was born that I simply have a moment to myself without baby, baby daddy or work," Cam sighed heavily.
"Trouble in paradise?" Booth wondered.
"No, not at all. I just need to talk about something else, thank you," Cam shook her head and then changed the topic to Brennan's adventures on the Maluku Islands.
~*~
Angela was pouting a bit, just like Booth had done the day before when she learned that Josh wouldn't accompany her and Jack to the diner for lunch.
"You really could have brought him, I wouldn't have minded," she said for at least the fifth time.
"I know, but it's not in my hands at the moment," he just replied, because honestly it wasn't anyone's business how they juggled their baby schedule. Sure, they all wanted to cuddle the baby for a bit and see if they could get smiles out of him, but he needed his mother, it was as simple as that.
"How's being a father? As good as you pictured it?" she wanted to know then and the question threw him off a bit, because Angela rarely asked things like that without having something in mind.
"Totally different, but even better," he smiled. "Why, you want to become a father, too?" he joked.
"Not a father... but a mother in about eight and a half months," she said and for a second he was so shocked he forgot to breathe.
"What?" he squeaked then.
"I'm pregnant. Just found out a few days ago," she revealed with a big smile.
"The father still in Paris?" he asked the first thing that came to his mind.
"I guess... haven't seen him since the night it happened," Angela shrugged, like it was no big deal at all.
"You're happy about it?" he asked.
"I'm really happy," she nodded as they entered the Royal Diner.
"Oh, you wanna stay? Here? In DC?" Hodgins asked.
"I think it would be good if I had the baby here, in the States," she nodded.
"A baby! Your baby!" he grinned as they sat down at the counter. "Still sounds so weird; you're gonna have a baby! You're gonna stay in the States, to have your baby," he repeated.
"Yeah, all that wine in France is now totally wasted on me," she joked and then turned to the waitress. "Tea, please." She watched him for a moment, waiting for him to say something, but he just grinned and stared at her. "Why did you suddenly get quiet?"
"Oh, because I am so happy! Josh and your little one will be able to grow up together. They might become best friends or even get married one day," he let his imagination get the better of him.
"Okay; so you don't mind then?" she wanted confirmation.
"Are you kidding? This is the greatest news I've gotten since you all came back. And now our kids will get married one day and maybe have their own family..."
"Okay. Alright, we'll finish this conversation when you have your brain back," Angela dead panned when he didn't stop and still had that dreamy look on his face. "I think that we should also- Can we just keep it between us until the first trimester has passed, okay?" she asked.
"I'll try, but Cam has a sixth sense when it comes to me knowing something," he said and sobered for a moment before the goofy grin was back on his face. "You're gonna have a baby... Oh Angie..." he said and actually started tearing up.
"Oh… If you cry… Don't cry, if you cry then I'm gonna start crying and then…" she said and they both had to laugh about how silly they were.
~*~
"Hey, hey, hey, where's the love of my life, her beautiful daughter and our little sun shine?" Hodgins asked when he walked into the living room that night and found all three of them on the sofa.
"Are you drunk?" Michelle shot back immediately.
"Drunk on happiness, yes," he replied and his smile got even wider as he came closer and tried to take Joshua from Cam- but she kept her hold on him.
"I have no idea what you've taken, but I'm not giving you my son as long as you're high," Cam shook her head.
"I didn't take anything, I just had a good day," he protested and slowly she handed the baby over.
"If you wake him up again with your excitement you'll be the one to stay up and rock him to sleep all night," she warned him, because Joshua had just calmed down and was nearly asleep when his father had come home.
"Hello son, I missed you today," he cooed at him and ignored Cam's warning. "Did you miss me, too?"
"He's just as scary as Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. The whole time I was waiting for him to attack the kids," Michelle teased and giggled along with Cam.
"And you're the mean bubble gum girl," Jack defended himself and sat down beside Cam on the armrest of the couch. "How was your day"? he asked her because he hadn't seen her or talked to her all day. After Angela's admission he had spent the rest of the day with her and had helped her to come up with a plan on what she needed to do first.
"Good. Brennan was there as well and she insisted that the forensic unit will be established again at the premises of the Jeffersonian. Together we were able to make some good points and in the end we won," she reported.
"So, I'll get my lab back?" he wanted to know.
"Yes, we will see about the damages done in our absence tomorrow," she nodded and moved a bit to the side when he slid down so he could actually sit on the couch.
"How did it go with him?" Jack asked her and nodded down to Joshua who was nearly asleep again and seemed content that he was surrounded by his family and everybody was home.
"Very well. I fed him during the break and other than that he was happy to just listen to everyone and doze a bit," Cam said and stroked some of Josh's hair back.
"So you had a good day, too?" he wanted the confirmation.
"Yes, I think so," she agreed and smiled when he pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
"If you all had such good days, maybe you can make mine a bit better, too?" Michelle asked from Cam's other side.
"And how can we do that"? Cam asked suspiciously.
"If you say yes to letting me go on a date with Derek this weekend," she spilled the beans.
"Who is Derek?" Jack wondered.
"He's a senior at my school and he's a really, really good football player and... he likes me," Michelle summed up what seemed important to her. Jack and Cam exchanged a look that clearly said that they were thinking the same thing.
"You're sure you're ready to date again? It's not been that long since you and Perry broke up," Cam tentatively pointed out.
"Why do you have to bring up Perry again? He and I are done and Derek is much cuter anyway," Michelle protested.
"It's just that you and Perry were together for a while," Cam started again, but Michelle interrupted her.
"And now we're not and Derek asked me to go to the movies with him on Saturday. Can I go? Yes or no?" Michelle was unnerved.
"Yes, but only if you drop the 'tude," Cam said sternly.
"And before the second date we have to meet him," Hodgins decided.
"Since when do you get to make the rules?" Michelle got bitchy. Cam wanted to say something but Jack just placed a hand on her arm and she knew that he had this.
"Since you moved in here and agreed that we are a family now, which also means that I am responsible for you as well and therefore get to make some rules, too. Deal with it," Jack said a lot sharper than he usually talked to her.
"I'm going to bed," Michelle just spat back and got up.
"You're not yet on that date, keep that in mind," Cam warned her.
"Fine," the teenager just shrugged, placed a kiss on her brother's head and then left the room.
"Good night Cam, good night Jack, thank you for agreeing on letting me go on that date..." Cam said sarcastically.
"You think I overstepped some boundaries?" Jack wanted to know once he was sure they were alone.
"No, she will have to learn to live with it. I think it was more mentioning Perry that set her off," Cam speculated.
"Must be pretty bad if she goes to bed at eight," he chuckled.
"Looks like Josh will be out in a few as well," she said when she saw that his eyes were mostly closed, but fluttered open from time to time as he fought against sleep.
"We could watch a movie and enjoy the quiet until he wakes for his next feeding before we go to bed," he suggested.
"Sounds good. Let me put him in his bed and change. You can get the snacks and the movie in the meantime," Cam agreed and slowly stood up.
~*~
"Hey babe, when are we gonna meet the others?" Hodgins asked the next day as he walked into their bathroom. He found Cam leaning over the small baby tub giving Joshua a bath.
"Five thirty," she let him know. "And I have to pick up the key before."
"Oh, that's nice, huh, Josh?" he turned his attention to his son for a moment and used the plastic cup to pour some water over his head, careful so nothing would get in his eyes. "You want to take him with us?" he asked Cam then.
"We're not gonna start working today so we could," she shrugged as she used a towel to wipe some drops of water from her sons forehead.
"Knowing the gang we will most likely go for a drink afterwards," he thought out loud, grabbed the bigger baby towel and wrapped Josh in it as he took him from Cam.
"We could invite them over here. That'd be easier for Josh and me," she suggested, dried her hands and pulled the sleeves of her shirt back down.
"Where'd you put the ointment?" he asked her when he couldn't find it and strategically placed the diaper under and over the important parts, so Josh wouldn't get him this time.
"Forgot it in his room. Just a second," Cam replied and hurried out of the room.
"Mommy's a scatter brain sometimes, isn't she?" Jack grinned at Josh, who squealed and smiled back. "You're in a good mood this morning, huh smiley," Hodgins laughed and made Joshua squeal again. "You're laughing at Daddy," he cooed and blew a soft raspberry on the baby's stomach. To his biggest joy Joshua started to laugh in earnest and flailed his arms and legs around. Jack repeated it, laughing along with his son as he paid attention so he wouldn't get a kick in his face.
"He's in a really good mood today and was already all smiley when I took him out of his bed," Cam smiled when she saw them when she came back with the ointment.
"He's really laughing now and squealing along with it," Jack pointed out and began to fix Josh's diaper and dress him in his onesie.
"Yesterday he started grinning while I fed him and made a mess. It amused him even more when I cleaned us up," she replied. "However once he remembered he was hungry his mood changed from one second to the next," she laughed.
"You're a bit crazy," Jack teased the baby again and carefully sat him on the changing table. Immediately Joshua started to laugh again.
"Somehow I know where he got it from," Cam teased and first kissed Jack's stubbly cheek, then Joshua's soft one, sending him in another fit of giggles, which set off Jack again. "Silly boys," she shook her head and laughed along with them.
~*~
Shortly after five thirty that evening they found themselves at the Jeffersonian Institute together with the rest of the crew and Joshua. Cam had picked up the key earlier and unlocked the large glass door to the dark lab.
"Well, I think we should thank Dr. Brennan for insisting that the Jeffersonian reform a forensic unit on the premises," Cam told the others as everybody followed her in.
"And we should recognize that Booth's return to duty at the FBI means that we can work with him again," Brennan said.
"So how come I'm not the linchpin here? I'm the linchpin," Booth replied and looked down to Joshua whom he held.
"I would like to say thanks personally, to all of you for dropping everything you were doing…" Cam thanked them all for what they had done for her.
"…fighting wars," Sweets started.
"…searching for the origins of humanity," Wendell went on.
"…and totally failing!" Daisy ruined it once more.
"…making beautiful music for shoppers..." Angela refused to let Daisy's statement be the end of it.
"You are all my true friends; and I won't forget it," Cam said truly touched, but then sobered and went on with a mischievous look on her face. "But, let there be no mistake, I am the boss and I am in charge." She turned around and switched on the lights. They all just stared at the enormous mastodon on the forensic platform that was part of an exhibition taking place in the lab.
"Oh! That's really gonna get in the way!" she commented dryly when she saw it.
"Totally not my problem!" Caroline called out as the others still stared at the monstrosity with their mouths hanging open. With another wave she left them to their staring.
"Uh… I- I have an announcement to make," Hodgins broke the silence and Angela suddenly looked freaked out.
"Oh, yeah, yes-" she nodded nervously and Cam wondered if she knew that they wanted to invite them all over.
"Yeah," he looked just as confused.
"Yes, he does, um- we're- we're all gonna go home! So… okay?" Angela stuttered.
"No, Iet-" Hodgins wanted to say something but Angela shook her head. Cam wondered again what was going on there and decided to ask him later.
"What Hodgins wanted to say is that we're inviting you all over for drinks," she finished the invitation.
"I'm with you!" Wendell agreed and followed Angela and Hodgins who left the room.
"Seeley, Dr. Brennan, you're gonna join us?" Cam asked the remaining two and took Joshua from Booth.
"Sure, we'll be right over," Booth nodded and Cam left them to talk about whatever it was they obviously needed to talk about.
~*~
"I really like what you did to the house," Angela complimented after she had noticed the renovations they had done.
"The fancy chandeliers are stored in the basement now," Cam laughed and handed Brennan her drink. "Angela, you want Gin, too?" she asked her.
"No, just soda for me, I have to drive," the artist shook her head and bounced Joshua a bit more.
"He'll ruin your shirt if you keep doing that," Hodgins warned her, knowing Joshua would spit out most of the meal he had just had if she kept bouncing him like that.
"I don't mind," Angela shrugged.
"Here," Cam said and handed her a burp cloth and rolled her eyes, because Jack rarely just thought of the simplest solution.
"He's calm, but he follows your voice with his eyes wherever you go," Brennan observed from her spot on the couch.
"It's the part of his brain screaming 'Food!Food!' that does that," Hodgins laughed.
"Oh, shut up Jack!" Cam replied unnerved but then laughed with the others.
"That reminds me... I bought him something," Brennan said and surprised the others. "I saw it and I thought it was... cute," she revealed and handed Cam a bag she dug out of her purse.
"I have to change him anyway and we'll all be able to see if it fits," Cam grinned after she had peeked into the bag.
"What is it?" Jack asked and wanted to look into the bag, too, but Cam stopped him.
"You'll like it," she just shook her head and took Joshua from Angela.
"You mind if I come along? I'm dying to see his room," Angela requested and Cam only shook her head and then left with her. It felt strange walking through the house with Jack's ex-girlfriend who had still been in love with him when she had left months before.
"Hey Cam, I just wanted to say thank you, for never judging me. I know Jack told you why I left," Angela started uncomfortably as they climbed the stairs.
"I can't judge you for something I understand all too well," Cam replied quietly. She turned left when they reached the end of the stairs and led the way to the nursery.
"I will probably always love him, but I know and understand that we will only ever be good friends and that's... more than I could have asked for. And I'm really happy that he has you and Joshua now," Angela finished.
"I would have hated to lose you as my friend," Cam admitted and smiled encouragingly at Angela. "You want to change him or you rather leave the dirty diaper to me?" she grinned then and changed the topic to something much lighter.
"I think I'm gonna pass for now. Once I get to babysit him there won't be a way around it anymore," Angela laughed back and was grateful that the talk had gone so well.
"Ok, then let's see how my little sports star will look in the clothes Brennan bought him," Cam said and pulled the items out of the bag.
"Oh no, she did not..." Angela laughed when she saw it and picked up the pacifier that matched the rest.
~*~
"Oh boy... Bones where did you find that?" Booth laughed when he saw Joshua when Cam came down with him and Angela. The baby was dressed in black jogging pants, a red jersey with a basketball on it, the matching black cap and black baby trainers.
"The pacifier effect strikes again," Hodgins laughed at something else and pointed to the red pacifier Joshua sucked on.
"Pacifier effect?" Brennan asked and seemed to wrack her brain about the scientific theory.
"When he's tired and doesn't want to sleep you give him a pacifier and he's asleep as soon as he makes the first suck," Jack told her.
"Hon' if you get the bassinet from upstairs we can just keep him here. He doesn't mind the noise anyway," Cam addressed her better half.
"Sure. And I'm taking the cap and the shoes with me. It's too warm in here for that," he decided and Cam just shrugged.
"I already took pics, Sweety," Angela laughed when she saw Brennan's disappointed face and the frown disappeared.
"Wendell can you go and get Jack's secret stash of chips?" Cam asked the intern.
"You know about it?" he laughed.
"Oh please... he shouldn't leave crumbs everywhere if he didn't want me to find them," she chuckled, made the rest of the crew laugh as well and sat down, waiting for Jack and the bassinet.
TBC
"Is Josh asleep?" Cam asked when she came out of the bathroom and found Hodgins already sitting on their bed. She had just taken a quick shower and knew that it usually took much longer to feed, change and rock Joshua to sleep.
"Went out like a light. The trip to the morgue exhausted him," he nodded.
"He really didn't sleep long this afternoon. Guess he got the curiosity from you," she smiled and got into bed as well, covering her legs with the blanket.
"You're feeling better today?" Jack wanted to know and watched her expression carefully.
"I do. Now that I can confirm that it isn't the missing kid that weight has been lifted off my shoulders," she confirmed and snuggled more into him when he pulled her close.
"I marked today as 'First smile' day in Josh's book," Hodgins told her and they both had to smile remembering the milestone.
"I can't wait to see him smile again. At that moment it was just what we all needed," she admitted.
"Good day," he stated.
"Good day," Cam confirmed.
"You know what would make this day even better?" he asked, his wide grin already giving her an idea.
"No, what?" she played ignorant.
"Let me show you," he said huskily, his blue eyes staring into hers. Flashes of excitement ran through her body when he cupped her cheek with one hand and then slowly brought his lips to hers. The kiss was just a soft touch of his lips on hers at first, but her eyes fluttered shut without her even realizing it. They hadn't had a lot of physical contact since Joshua had been born due to the stress. Other than quick pecks or a short hug here and there they hadn't really touched each other. So it was Cam who deepened the kiss and ran her tongue against his bottom lip. A few seconds later she was lying on her back while he was hovering over her and kissing her senseless with barely contained passion. And she gave as good as she got. When they had to breathe he peppered kisses all over her face before his lips wandered down over her chin to her neck. She was helpless against the onslaught of sensations after 4 weeks of nothing and could only cling to his shoulders. She was even more breathless than before when he claimed her lips again and made her moan.
The kiss had a similar effect on him and he just couldn't stop his hands from wandering anymore. He had missed being this close to her and he just wasn't able to stop- not until she told him to. Her breast size was bigger than ever before and he loved it- even knowing they would be off limits for a while. He ran his hands over her chest and was spurred on by her moans. So when he reached the hem of her shirt he let his hands glide underneath, just to stop when she froze.
"Babe, what's wrong?" he asked her breathlessly.
"I don't really have my figure back yet. I'm still... wobbly," she replied and he knew that her self-doubts were back.
"You're gorgeous," he assured her, pulled her shirt up and placed a noisy kiss on her stomach, which made her laugh because it tickled.
"Still, we have to stop," she smiled at him and her eyes told him that she didn't really want to.
"Still no green light from your ObGyn?" he knew.
"Not yet," Cam shook her head and glided her fingers through his hair. "Maybe another week or two."
"I'm gonna freeze to death from all the cold showers I have to take," he whined and let his head drop down on her stomach.
"It's not like you can't get any relief," she pointed out.
"No fun," he pouted. "And don't tell me you couldn't use a little... fun," he stumbled a bit over his words.
"The stitches haven't healed yet, at least not the way they should," she spelled it out for him.
"There's only one part of your body with stitches... which means the rest is available," he grinned.
"I'm leaking milk on the upper half and my stomach feels like a rubber ball... you wanna make love to that?" she laughed, but it was laced with doubts.
"I wanna kiss you all over. If you don't want to join, all you have to do is lie there," he told her with a big smile and placed another kiss on her belly to prove his point.
"Go ahead, I'm not stopping you, but I don't wanna hear any complaints afterwards," she had to laugh and was glad when it didn't stop him. Instead he leaned up and kissed her again, while his hands wandered underneath her shirt once more, this time not stopping on her stomach. She sighed happily and kissed him back- it was nice to feel like a woman again.
~*~
The next day the two love birds found themselves at the morgue again with Wendell, Dr. Brennan and a sleeping Joshua.
"Dr Brennan was right, I found a very small puncture in the boy's hyoid," Wendell told them.
"A puncture; like he was stabbed?" Cam wanted to know.
"That's what I thought; so, I took a close look and I found…" Hodgins chimed in and pointed to the microscope so Brennan would take a look.
"Cellulose?" she knew once she had checked it.
"Wood. My best estimate is hard wood: maple, alder or ash," he clarified.
"I don't believe a stabbing would cause this kind of damage," Brennan wondered.
"How else would a sharp piece of wood come into contact with the hyoid?" Cam asked them, because she couldn't come up with an appropriate scenario.
"Maybe a toothpick," Wendell tried.
"Combined with concomitant damage to the sternum, I propose the following scenario: a child swallows something, perhaps a toothpick; he… chokes, he stops breathing; someone tries to save him," Brennan speculated.
"The damage to the sternum was from the Heimlich maneuver," Wendell agreed with his teacher.
"What about him being tied up like this?" Cam wanted to know, because just seeing it creeped her out.
"Yeah, that mostly looks bad," Hodgins agreed with her and glanced over to Joshua who seemed to wake up.
"There are cultures where the binding of hands and feet is part of the burial ritual: ancient Jews, some Asian cultures, including the subcontinent," the anthropologist enlightened them.
"Angie says the boy was Asian," Jack nodded and looked at Joshua again, who was blinking against the light in the room now, but wasn't crying - yet.
"So we're not looking at a murder, we're looking at negligence, or maybe even an accident?" Cam asked, noticing her son's fluttering eyelids as well.
"Logically, I'd say yes," Brennan said and they all let that sink in for a moment. This kid hadn't been killed, but someone had tried to save him and had buried him with love. That was sweet and sad at the same time. Again Joshua saved them from lingering too long with that thought, because he made his presence known by wailing loudly.
"Knew that wouldn't take long," Jack chuckled and took him out of his car seat.
"He is hungry," Cam knew.
"I read that mother's can tell by the cries of their child if they are hungry or crying about something else," Brennan said, but looked questioningly at Cam.
"I can mostly tell that he's hungry when I think my chest is gonna explode any second," Cam smiled and made Wendell laugh.
"You gonna feed him here?" Hodgins asked and pointed with his chin to the dead child on the slab.
"No, I'm gonna go to the changing room," she said.
"Do you mind if I come with you? I need to get my things and then call Booth and tell him about the new developments," Brennan asked.
"Of course I don't, Dr. Brennan," Cam smiled and wanted to take the wailing infant from its father.
"Hey, at least a kiss for the poor dad you two are gonna leave all alone," he requested and kept Joshua.
"Fine," she rolled her eyes and kissed him shortly before she took Joshua and left the room together with Brennan.
"Shh, Josh, you're going to wake the dead if you keep wailing like that. Just a second, honey," Cam cooed at him while she walked to the changing room at the other end of the story.
"He seems very hungry," Brennan observed.
"He's always very hungry," Cam said and shook her head. "I have yet to see him normally hungry."
"Was he planned?" Brennan asked then and at first Cam was taken aback by the sudden blunt question. "I don't mean to offend you," Brennan back pedaled when the surprise must have shown on Cam's face.
"No, it's ok," Cam said then while positioning Joshua. She waited until he had latched on and wasn't crying anymore until she answered the question. "He was planned in a way. We just didn't expect him so soon," Cam admitted. "I had an ectopic pregnancy shortly before I became pregnant with Joshua and didn't expect to get pregnant again so fast."
"I didn't know, I'm sorry," Brennan said and looked really touched by what Cam had just told her.
"No one knows but Angela, Jack and me. He took it really hard."
"And now you have Joshua," Brennan said and stroked over the baby's head. "Booth can't wait until he can babysit him," she added then.
"I know, but Josh's pretty dependent on me and Jack at the moment. After an hour or two he gets fussy and can't be calmed down by anyone but us two. Not even Michelle manages and he sees her every day," the pathologist replied. When she looked at Brennan she saw that she was watching her son her closely and there was something in her eyes that told her that Brennan hadn't only talked about Booth just then. "I could use your help once he is fed though," she started and Brennan looked at her curiously. "Caroline will come over in a few minutes and it would go much faster if Josh was taken care of while Jack and I talk to her."
"Oh, you would really let me watch him?" Brennan was surprised.
"He will be fine for the time. He's a pretty nice guy when he's sated and burped," Cam grinned and the smile on Brennan's face showed her that it was a good idea to ask her.
"I would love to," Brennan smiled widely. "Booth and I want to go for a drink tonight at the Founding fathers. Would you like to join us?" she asked then.
"Actually, I would, thank you. It's Jack's turn to stay at home with Josh anyway. He was out last week with the boys," Cam nodded and was really happy at the thought of getting out of the house for an evening.
~*~
Half an hour Caroline showed up and Cam left Josh alone with Brennan, knowing he would be fine for the few minutes the attorney would stay.
"Korea!" Hodgins said when the two entered.
"Korea?" Cam asked and didn't have a clue what he was talking about.
"The boy was wrapped in a kind of polyester fabric which is not legal in the United States; it's flammable. But, it is very common in North Korea; mostly in outerwear," he explained his former statement.
"That would explain the malnutrition. North Korea's not famous for its cuisine," Cam agreed with him.
"North Koreans aren't allowed to leave their country," Caroline pointed out to the two of them.
"Well, a few lucky ones escape; mainly to rejoin their families in South Korea. There's something else: the twine there that's binding the boy's hands and feet? It's a very heavy industrial embroidery thread," Hodgins went on with his explanation for the most plausible scenario.
"Sleeping bags?" Cam asked.
"Yes. Also casket linings, moving blankets, horse blankets…" Hodgins went on.
"So, we're looking for an industrial sewing operation with a Korean connection," Cam summed it up and Hodgins nodded.
"Then you better get that info to our FBI hunk," Caroline said and waved goodbye before she left the room.
"Brennan can tell him when she drives to the Hoover," Hodgins shrugged.
"Speaking of our FBI hunk and Brennan. Can you watch Josh tonight? Brennan invited me out for drinks with her and Booth," she grinned, knowing he wouldn't like that she called Seeley 'hunk'.
"They need a mediator now that Booth has a girlfriend that isn't Brennan?" Jack said and pulled her closer, realizing they were alone for the moment.
"Please, don't let us get into that before I talked with him about it. Officially I don't know anything yet," she rolled her eyes at his curiosity.
"And of course I can watch Josh tonight. As long as you leave us some food for him," Jack pointed out.
"I will. But I won't stay out too long so I'll probably be back before he needs to be fed again," she nodded.
"And Angie asked me if I could go out for lunch with her sometime," he told her because the opportunity seemed to be right there.
"Sure, as long as you don't call her Angie," she said and scrunched her face up while repeating the nickname.
"Oh come on, you can't be jealous," he laughed. "You called Booth a hunk."
"As long as she can do things I can't I am jealous," she pointed out and pressed her index finger in his chest. "That's also the reason why Booth is no problem, no matter what I call him."
"So until we can have sex again nicknames for ex girlfriends are off limits?" he asked with an amused smile.
"Exactly," she nodded and tried to stay serious.
"I just love you, crazy lady," he chuckled and kissed her tenderly while he leaned back against the old desk.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I have to leave," Brennan interrupted their moment when she entered a second later with Joshua.
"Ok, take the reports of Hodgins newest findings with you," Cam said a bit flustered and wiped the edges of her mouth with her finger to get rid of possibly smudged lipstick.
"Did he behave?" Jack asked and didn't mind at all that Brennan had just busted them.
"He smiled at me," Brennan reported proudly.
"Aw, did you smile for Dr. B.? Already charming the ladies," he asked Joshua and took him from her. Joshua replied by smiling at his babbling father, who gushed even more over him.
"Thanks for watching him," Cam grinned then, mostly because of Jack's antics as he was trying to keep Joshua smiling.
"You're welcome. See you tonight at eight," Brennan said then.
"See you then," Cam replied and then turned to her two men. "Daddy's being a goofball again, huh Josh? Tell him he's being silly for making these stupid faces and he should get back to work," she laughed.
"Tell Mommy she's being bossy again," Jack replied but all Joshua did was smile at both his parents.
~*~
"They were so afraid of the authorities that they buried the child themselves?" Cam asked unbelievingly when she sat together with Brennan and Booth that night and they had told her what they had learned about the child.
"Y' know, the States, they seem like heaven to them. I mean, they… they probably thought they were going to be executed or even worse, sent back to North Korea," Booth nodded.
"What will happen to them?" Brennan wanted to know.
"Ah, you know, knowing Caroline, she probably won't even charge 'em. Caroline is a nice person… underneath the whole… you know, not nice… thing," Booth speculated.
"I'm afraid I have to agree, she got everybody back here to save my job," Cam nodded before she took another sip of her water with an olive...She had insisted on that combo so at least she could imagine she was drinking something other than tap water.
"Why do we only solve crimes when we have a dead body?" Booth asked and for a second she wondered if he had started drinking before she had arrived. What kind of question was that?
"Seriously?" she asked and tried to swallow her drink quickly. "Because I'm a pathologist and she's a forensic anthropologist?" she went on but all she got was a nod and a blank expression. "Fresh dead, long-time dead?" she spelled it out for him.
"I was thinking about Logan Bartlett," Booth finally came to the point of his weird question.
"The missing boy?" Brennan wanted clarification; obviously she doubted his ability to think clearly as much as Cam did.
"Yeah, I checked out the Missing Persons investigation into the father and… The dad buys a car three days after the son disappeared. What kind of father does that?" Booth revealed and both Brennan and Cam only wrinkled their foreheads.
"A bad one?" Brennan finally said.
"Sounds a bit hinky, I have to give you that," Cam agreed.
"I will check him out tomorrow," Booth decided.
"I will come with you," Brennan said immediately and they both looked at Cam.
"Don't look at me. I have a meeting at the Jeffersonian tomorrow and have to bring along Josh, because it might take a while," she held up her hands.
"Why do you keep nursing him? Wouldn't it be easier to just give him the bottle?" Booth shook his head, not understanding why she was going through so much trouble with this.
"Booth, it's a fact that no formula can supply the infant with as many vitamins and even anti bacterial substances as mother milk. It is recommended to breastfeed a child until it's at least six months old. In some cultures children are being breastfed until the age of three," Brennan hurried to explain to her partner.
"Ok, that's creepy," Cam commented on the last part. "But I agree to the rest," she just said.
"Booth, I didn't tell you yet, but Joshua smiled at me today," Brennan reported proudly.
"I didn't see him all day," he pouted.
"I even watched him for a while. That's when he smiled at me," Brennan went on bragging.
"She got to watch him? Why haven't I got to watch him yet? I've known you much longer and I have a son, too," Booth complained to Cam.
"Simply because you weren't around," she rolled her eyes at his dramatics. "Also, I have exactly one more hour until I need to go home, because my son will scream down the house otherwise, so can we maybe talk about something else? This is the first time since he was born that I simply have a moment to myself without baby, baby daddy or work," Cam sighed heavily.
"Trouble in paradise?" Booth wondered.
"No, not at all. I just need to talk about something else, thank you," Cam shook her head and then changed the topic to Brennan's adventures on the Maluku Islands.
~*~
Angela was pouting a bit, just like Booth had done the day before when she learned that Josh wouldn't accompany her and Jack to the diner for lunch.
"You really could have brought him, I wouldn't have minded," she said for at least the fifth time.
"I know, but it's not in my hands at the moment," he just replied, because honestly it wasn't anyone's business how they juggled their baby schedule. Sure, they all wanted to cuddle the baby for a bit and see if they could get smiles out of him, but he needed his mother, it was as simple as that.
"How's being a father? As good as you pictured it?" she wanted to know then and the question threw him off a bit, because Angela rarely asked things like that without having something in mind.
"Totally different, but even better," he smiled. "Why, you want to become a father, too?" he joked.
"Not a father... but a mother in about eight and a half months," she said and for a second he was so shocked he forgot to breathe.
"What?" he squeaked then.
"I'm pregnant. Just found out a few days ago," she revealed with a big smile.
"The father still in Paris?" he asked the first thing that came to his mind.
"I guess... haven't seen him since the night it happened," Angela shrugged, like it was no big deal at all.
"You're happy about it?" he asked.
"I'm really happy," she nodded as they entered the Royal Diner.
"Oh, you wanna stay? Here? In DC?" Hodgins asked.
"I think it would be good if I had the baby here, in the States," she nodded.
"A baby! Your baby!" he grinned as they sat down at the counter. "Still sounds so weird; you're gonna have a baby! You're gonna stay in the States, to have your baby," he repeated.
"Yeah, all that wine in France is now totally wasted on me," she joked and then turned to the waitress. "Tea, please." She watched him for a moment, waiting for him to say something, but he just grinned and stared at her. "Why did you suddenly get quiet?"
"Oh, because I am so happy! Josh and your little one will be able to grow up together. They might become best friends or even get married one day," he let his imagination get the better of him.
"Okay; so you don't mind then?" she wanted confirmation.
"Are you kidding? This is the greatest news I've gotten since you all came back. And now our kids will get married one day and maybe have their own family..."
"Okay. Alright, we'll finish this conversation when you have your brain back," Angela dead panned when he didn't stop and still had that dreamy look on his face. "I think that we should also- Can we just keep it between us until the first trimester has passed, okay?" she asked.
"I'll try, but Cam has a sixth sense when it comes to me knowing something," he said and sobered for a moment before the goofy grin was back on his face. "You're gonna have a baby... Oh Angie..." he said and actually started tearing up.
"Oh… If you cry… Don't cry, if you cry then I'm gonna start crying and then…" she said and they both had to laugh about how silly they were.
~*~
"Hey, hey, hey, where's the love of my life, her beautiful daughter and our little sun shine?" Hodgins asked when he walked into the living room that night and found all three of them on the sofa.
"Are you drunk?" Michelle shot back immediately.
"Drunk on happiness, yes," he replied and his smile got even wider as he came closer and tried to take Joshua from Cam- but she kept her hold on him.
"I have no idea what you've taken, but I'm not giving you my son as long as you're high," Cam shook her head.
"I didn't take anything, I just had a good day," he protested and slowly she handed the baby over.
"If you wake him up again with your excitement you'll be the one to stay up and rock him to sleep all night," she warned him, because Joshua had just calmed down and was nearly asleep when his father had come home.
"Hello son, I missed you today," he cooed at him and ignored Cam's warning. "Did you miss me, too?"
"He's just as scary as Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. The whole time I was waiting for him to attack the kids," Michelle teased and giggled along with Cam.
"And you're the mean bubble gum girl," Jack defended himself and sat down beside Cam on the armrest of the couch. "How was your day"? he asked her because he hadn't seen her or talked to her all day. After Angela's admission he had spent the rest of the day with her and had helped her to come up with a plan on what she needed to do first.
"Good. Brennan was there as well and she insisted that the forensic unit will be established again at the premises of the Jeffersonian. Together we were able to make some good points and in the end we won," she reported.
"So, I'll get my lab back?" he wanted to know.
"Yes, we will see about the damages done in our absence tomorrow," she nodded and moved a bit to the side when he slid down so he could actually sit on the couch.
"How did it go with him?" Jack asked her and nodded down to Joshua who was nearly asleep again and seemed content that he was surrounded by his family and everybody was home.
"Very well. I fed him during the break and other than that he was happy to just listen to everyone and doze a bit," Cam said and stroked some of Josh's hair back.
"So you had a good day, too?" he wanted the confirmation.
"Yes, I think so," she agreed and smiled when he pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
"If you all had such good days, maybe you can make mine a bit better, too?" Michelle asked from Cam's other side.
"And how can we do that"? Cam asked suspiciously.
"If you say yes to letting me go on a date with Derek this weekend," she spilled the beans.
"Who is Derek?" Jack wondered.
"He's a senior at my school and he's a really, really good football player and... he likes me," Michelle summed up what seemed important to her. Jack and Cam exchanged a look that clearly said that they were thinking the same thing.
"You're sure you're ready to date again? It's not been that long since you and Perry broke up," Cam tentatively pointed out.
"Why do you have to bring up Perry again? He and I are done and Derek is much cuter anyway," Michelle protested.
"It's just that you and Perry were together for a while," Cam started again, but Michelle interrupted her.
"And now we're not and Derek asked me to go to the movies with him on Saturday. Can I go? Yes or no?" Michelle was unnerved.
"Yes, but only if you drop the 'tude," Cam said sternly.
"And before the second date we have to meet him," Hodgins decided.
"Since when do you get to make the rules?" Michelle got bitchy. Cam wanted to say something but Jack just placed a hand on her arm and she knew that he had this.
"Since you moved in here and agreed that we are a family now, which also means that I am responsible for you as well and therefore get to make some rules, too. Deal with it," Jack said a lot sharper than he usually talked to her.
"I'm going to bed," Michelle just spat back and got up.
"You're not yet on that date, keep that in mind," Cam warned her.
"Fine," the teenager just shrugged, placed a kiss on her brother's head and then left the room.
"Good night Cam, good night Jack, thank you for agreeing on letting me go on that date..." Cam said sarcastically.
"You think I overstepped some boundaries?" Jack wanted to know once he was sure they were alone.
"No, she will have to learn to live with it. I think it was more mentioning Perry that set her off," Cam speculated.
"Must be pretty bad if she goes to bed at eight," he chuckled.
"Looks like Josh will be out in a few as well," she said when she saw that his eyes were mostly closed, but fluttered open from time to time as he fought against sleep.
"We could watch a movie and enjoy the quiet until he wakes for his next feeding before we go to bed," he suggested.
"Sounds good. Let me put him in his bed and change. You can get the snacks and the movie in the meantime," Cam agreed and slowly stood up.
~*~
"Hey babe, when are we gonna meet the others?" Hodgins asked the next day as he walked into their bathroom. He found Cam leaning over the small baby tub giving Joshua a bath.
"Five thirty," she let him know. "And I have to pick up the key before."
"Oh, that's nice, huh, Josh?" he turned his attention to his son for a moment and used the plastic cup to pour some water over his head, careful so nothing would get in his eyes. "You want to take him with us?" he asked Cam then.
"We're not gonna start working today so we could," she shrugged as she used a towel to wipe some drops of water from her sons forehead.
"Knowing the gang we will most likely go for a drink afterwards," he thought out loud, grabbed the bigger baby towel and wrapped Josh in it as he took him from Cam.
"We could invite them over here. That'd be easier for Josh and me," she suggested, dried her hands and pulled the sleeves of her shirt back down.
"Where'd you put the ointment?" he asked her when he couldn't find it and strategically placed the diaper under and over the important parts, so Josh wouldn't get him this time.
"Forgot it in his room. Just a second," Cam replied and hurried out of the room.
"Mommy's a scatter brain sometimes, isn't she?" Jack grinned at Josh, who squealed and smiled back. "You're in a good mood this morning, huh smiley," Hodgins laughed and made Joshua squeal again. "You're laughing at Daddy," he cooed and blew a soft raspberry on the baby's stomach. To his biggest joy Joshua started to laugh in earnest and flailed his arms and legs around. Jack repeated it, laughing along with his son as he paid attention so he wouldn't get a kick in his face.
"He's in a really good mood today and was already all smiley when I took him out of his bed," Cam smiled when she saw them when she came back with the ointment.
"He's really laughing now and squealing along with it," Jack pointed out and began to fix Josh's diaper and dress him in his onesie.
"Yesterday he started grinning while I fed him and made a mess. It amused him even more when I cleaned us up," she replied. "However once he remembered he was hungry his mood changed from one second to the next," she laughed.
"You're a bit crazy," Jack teased the baby again and carefully sat him on the changing table. Immediately Joshua started to laugh again.
"Somehow I know where he got it from," Cam teased and first kissed Jack's stubbly cheek, then Joshua's soft one, sending him in another fit of giggles, which set off Jack again. "Silly boys," she shook her head and laughed along with them.
~*~
Shortly after five thirty that evening they found themselves at the Jeffersonian Institute together with the rest of the crew and Joshua. Cam had picked up the key earlier and unlocked the large glass door to the dark lab.
"Well, I think we should thank Dr. Brennan for insisting that the Jeffersonian reform a forensic unit on the premises," Cam told the others as everybody followed her in.
"And we should recognize that Booth's return to duty at the FBI means that we can work with him again," Brennan said.
"So how come I'm not the linchpin here? I'm the linchpin," Booth replied and looked down to Joshua whom he held.
"I would like to say thanks personally, to all of you for dropping everything you were doing…" Cam thanked them all for what they had done for her.
"…fighting wars," Sweets started.
"…searching for the origins of humanity," Wendell went on.
"…and totally failing!" Daisy ruined it once more.
"…making beautiful music for shoppers..." Angela refused to let Daisy's statement be the end of it.
"You are all my true friends; and I won't forget it," Cam said truly touched, but then sobered and went on with a mischievous look on her face. "But, let there be no mistake, I am the boss and I am in charge." She turned around and switched on the lights. They all just stared at the enormous mastodon on the forensic platform that was part of an exhibition taking place in the lab.
"Oh! That's really gonna get in the way!" she commented dryly when she saw it.
"Totally not my problem!" Caroline called out as the others still stared at the monstrosity with their mouths hanging open. With another wave she left them to their staring.
"Uh… I- I have an announcement to make," Hodgins broke the silence and Angela suddenly looked freaked out.
"Oh, yeah, yes-" she nodded nervously and Cam wondered if she knew that they wanted to invite them all over.
"Yeah," he looked just as confused.
"Yes, he does, um- we're- we're all gonna go home! So… okay?" Angela stuttered.
"No, Iet-" Hodgins wanted to say something but Angela shook her head. Cam wondered again what was going on there and decided to ask him later.
"What Hodgins wanted to say is that we're inviting you all over for drinks," she finished the invitation.
"I'm with you!" Wendell agreed and followed Angela and Hodgins who left the room.
"Seeley, Dr. Brennan, you're gonna join us?" Cam asked the remaining two and took Joshua from Booth.
"Sure, we'll be right over," Booth nodded and Cam left them to talk about whatever it was they obviously needed to talk about.
~*~
"I really like what you did to the house," Angela complimented after she had noticed the renovations they had done.
"The fancy chandeliers are stored in the basement now," Cam laughed and handed Brennan her drink. "Angela, you want Gin, too?" she asked her.
"No, just soda for me, I have to drive," the artist shook her head and bounced Joshua a bit more.
"He'll ruin your shirt if you keep doing that," Hodgins warned her, knowing Joshua would spit out most of the meal he had just had if she kept bouncing him like that.
"I don't mind," Angela shrugged.
"Here," Cam said and handed her a burp cloth and rolled her eyes, because Jack rarely just thought of the simplest solution.
"He's calm, but he follows your voice with his eyes wherever you go," Brennan observed from her spot on the couch.
"It's the part of his brain screaming 'Food!Food!' that does that," Hodgins laughed.
"Oh, shut up Jack!" Cam replied unnerved but then laughed with the others.
"That reminds me... I bought him something," Brennan said and surprised the others. "I saw it and I thought it was... cute," she revealed and handed Cam a bag she dug out of her purse.
"I have to change him anyway and we'll all be able to see if it fits," Cam grinned after she had peeked into the bag.
"What is it?" Jack asked and wanted to look into the bag, too, but Cam stopped him.
"You'll like it," she just shook her head and took Joshua from Angela.
"You mind if I come along? I'm dying to see his room," Angela requested and Cam only shook her head and then left with her. It felt strange walking through the house with Jack's ex-girlfriend who had still been in love with him when she had left months before.
"Hey Cam, I just wanted to say thank you, for never judging me. I know Jack told you why I left," Angela started uncomfortably as they climbed the stairs.
"I can't judge you for something I understand all too well," Cam replied quietly. She turned left when they reached the end of the stairs and led the way to the nursery.
"I will probably always love him, but I know and understand that we will only ever be good friends and that's... more than I could have asked for. And I'm really happy that he has you and Joshua now," Angela finished.
"I would have hated to lose you as my friend," Cam admitted and smiled encouragingly at Angela. "You want to change him or you rather leave the dirty diaper to me?" she grinned then and changed the topic to something much lighter.
"I think I'm gonna pass for now. Once I get to babysit him there won't be a way around it anymore," Angela laughed back and was grateful that the talk had gone so well.
"Ok, then let's see how my little sports star will look in the clothes Brennan bought him," Cam said and pulled the items out of the bag.
"Oh no, she did not..." Angela laughed when she saw it and picked up the pacifier that matched the rest.
~*~
"Oh boy... Bones where did you find that?" Booth laughed when he saw Joshua when Cam came down with him and Angela. The baby was dressed in black jogging pants, a red jersey with a basketball on it, the matching black cap and black baby trainers.
"The pacifier effect strikes again," Hodgins laughed at something else and pointed to the red pacifier Joshua sucked on.
"Pacifier effect?" Brennan asked and seemed to wrack her brain about the scientific theory.
"When he's tired and doesn't want to sleep you give him a pacifier and he's asleep as soon as he makes the first suck," Jack told her.
"Hon' if you get the bassinet from upstairs we can just keep him here. He doesn't mind the noise anyway," Cam addressed her better half.
"Sure. And I'm taking the cap and the shoes with me. It's too warm in here for that," he decided and Cam just shrugged.
"I already took pics, Sweety," Angela laughed when she saw Brennan's disappointed face and the frown disappeared.
"Wendell can you go and get Jack's secret stash of chips?" Cam asked the intern.
"You know about it?" he laughed.
"Oh please... he shouldn't leave crumbs everywhere if he didn't want me to find them," she chuckled, made the rest of the crew laugh as well and sat down, waiting for Jack and the bassinet.
TBC