37A/N: My entry in the Secret Cupid Challenge for cmol8806. She was looking for fluffy (no angst), B&B, with a secret Valentine (gift or person). Happy Valentine's Day - I hope you enjoy!
Angela plans a Secret Cupid gift exchange and Booth and Brennan draw each other's names. All chapters are written and will be posted one a day for the next five days (in time for Valentine's Day!)
I wasn't so sure about participating in the Secret Cupid Challenge, but I have been exchanging emails with razztaztic and had made the mistake of mentioning an item that I had given to my father for his birthday last year that I thought would be perfect for a Brennan/Booth fan fic. She insisted that I needed to write the story, and here it is in five short chapters. References made within the story are to S.3 E.5, "The Mummy in the Maze" and S.6 E.14, "The Bikini in the Soup." All chapters are written and will be posted daily from now through Valentine's Day.
My thanks to razztaztic, nattylovesjordy, and mendenbar for ideas, suggestions, and general moral support. I've only done one multi-chapter story before and this one is really because I found it to be the easiest way to transition between "scenes."
The chapter headings have nothing to do with the story (well, I see a connection, but others may not). But it IS February and spring training starts later this month (it's almost here! It's almost here! ;-). Booth's beloved Phillies are in Clearwater, Florida and my Detroit Tigers are across the state at TigerTown in Lakeland, Florida - both teams are in the Grapefruit League. They play an exhibition game against each other on March 19.
Chapter 1 – The Windup
"No, Angela. I do not think it's a good idea at all." Cam looked up from the body on her autopsy table.
Barely acknowledging the remains in front of her, Angela replied, "But Cam, I think it's a great idea!"
"Angela," Cam glanced up at the eager face of the artist, "Do you remember what happened with the Secret Santa gift exchange? Ms. Wick got that hand painted casserole dish that was supposed to look like a baked potato and it just looked like a giant turd? I really don't think a 'Secret Cupid' is such a good idea."
"Well, we can set some rules for Secret Cupid . . . like no white elephant gifts for this one," Angela pleaded. "And aren't you the one that said something like 'there is death in the world, and there is romance and some days death is the loser and romance wins'. We work with death so much," she continued as she pointedly looked at Cam and then at the body on the table in front of them, "let's let romance win again this year."
Cam shook her head. "I just don't think it's a good idea. I overheard Mr. Bray telling Mr. Vaziri that Valentine's Day is sad and when Mr. Vaziri asked him why, Mr. Bray told him that SAD stands for 'Single Awareness Day' and that Valentine's Day is a plot created by the card companies and purveyors of chocolates and flowers to feed into the loneliness and fear of single men and make them feel guilty enough to spend excessive amounts of money on someone with whom they only want to have sex. I'm thinking that with attitudes like that, perhaps this might not be such a good idea." Cam looked up to see Angela rolling her eyes.
"That's just because Wendell isn't seeing anyone right now!" Angela exclaimed, "But he likes that intern over in Paleontology. If I can get her to participate, I bet I could get him to also! I'm sure even Fisher will want to join in! After all, he was not at all disappointed with the Secret Santa gift that he got last year!"
"Well, of course he wasn't . . . his Secret Santa gift was edible panties! I've been meaning to ask you about that, by the way. Just who do you think put that particular gift into the Secret Santa exchange, Angela?" Cam looked suspiciously over at her colleague with raised eyebrows.
"You know, of course," Cam continued, "that Dr. Brennan and Booth will not want to participate, right? Neither one of them believe in Valentine's D- what?" she inquired as Angela rolled her eyes.
"Aw, c'mon, Cam," Angela responded. "If you looked up the definition of 'romantic' in the dictionary there would be a picture of Booth! You know they've just been saying that because they were afraid. Last year Hannah had just left, Booth was angry and Bren was scared because of Booth's ultimatum, they were each still trying to figure everything out. But after we met your deadline, because of romance I might add, and closed the case on the wedding planner, Bren arranged to get those Tommy guns from the 1930's exhibit and had them transported over to the FBI shooting range for Booth. And she did that all under the guise of celebrating the St. Valentine's Massacre. Yeah, right. That was them celebrating Valentine's Day! Besides, it's different this year. They're finally together and . . . . just think about it Cam, please," Angela pleaded. "I think a Secret Cupid gift exchange would be a great team building exercise. It would be good fun and for the shortest month of the year, February could really use a spark while we all wait for spring! Plus, there's no religious significance, so you don't even have to worry about being politically correct! Everyone celebrates Valentine's Day!"
Shaking her head, Cam relented with a heavy sigh. "If you can get Booth and Dr. Brennan to participate, I'll let you present it to the rest of the staff. But it will be completely voluntary, and you will do all of the work and," giving Angela a warning look, "under no circumstances do I want a repeat of what happened to Dr. Edison during the Secret Santa exchange! That is not even open for discussion!"
Angela had the good sense to look sheepish as she replied, "It won't. I promise. Thanks, Cam! It will be fun, you'll see! And if I can get Booth and Brennan to participate, you will too, right?" Angela called back over her shoulder as she headed towards the office of her best friend.
The dead wedding planner and the Tommy guns referenced above are found in "The Bikini in the Soup" (S.6 E.14)