OOM: The Verdict in the Story

[bugsandslime]

Angela is missing out on some serious courtroom drama.

Granted, Angela has also been the cause of some serious courtroom drama, so maybe it all balances out.

Still, even Angela's refusal to testify may be trumped by the fact that it looks like the prosecution has the wrong murder weapon. What looked like an open and shut case has now been opened up for reinvestigation.

Hodgins is practically radiating I have news! when the officer shows him into the jail.

Comments

[bringonthewonder]

He is.

Angela looks up.

"Hey, Jack . . . what's up? Shouldn't you be in court?"

[bugsandslime]

"The judge granted us a recess," Hodgins says. "For Booth to reinvestigate."

As often happens when he is excited or agitated, Hodgins is talking a little too fast.

"It turns out we had the wrong murder weapon. Clark caught it. Got Zach to confirm it on the stand."

Hodgins would feel a little bad for Zach, but Zach certainly doesn't seem to be taking it personally or badly. So Hodgins is allowing himself to skate past it.

[bringonthewonder]

Fortunately, Angela has had no small amount of experience dealing an an excited and or agitated Hodgins.

Still . . . this is . . .

"Zach got it wrong? Our Zach? He doesn't make mistakes."

Not with forensic anthropology.

[bugsandslime]

"Strange but true."

Hodgins would never have believed it if he hadn't heard it straight from Zach's mouth.

"Clark found microfractures at the entry site that were caused by the hilt. Which out murder weapon doesn't have."

"It's not enough to get the case thrown out, but it's something. And I totally shouldn't be talking like I'm on the defense's side here."

But they aren't in court. It's just him and Angela. It's okay.

[bringonthewonder]

"Please breathe, Jack. Before you pass out.

"The murder weapon wasn't the pipe? That's . . ."

That's kind of the whole case, isn't it?

[bugsandslime]

"I'm breathing."

The oxygen goes in. The oxygen goes out.

"You see what this means, right?"

[bringonthewonder]

Angela's still kind of stuck at Zach was wrong.

". . . that Caroline actually has ruptured something?"

[bugsandslime]

"She might have. But if she did, she's working through it."

It would take a lot to drop Caroline.

"But that's not what I meant. What I meant was that you're as good as out of here."

[bringonthewonder]

Angela sits down on the bench in the cell.

"I thought you said the case hadn't been thrown out."

[bugsandslime]

"Well, not yet, anyway."

"But if going in with the wrong murder weapon doesn't create reasonable doubt, I don't know what the hell does. This means you can testify. You won't be selling Max down the river, because the defense officially has the advantage."

You can get out of here.

[bringonthewonder]

Angela blinks.

"This means I can . . .

"No, Jack, it doesn't."

[bugsandslime]

Hodgins looks a bit taken aback.

"Angie, didn't you hear me? It won't make a difference."

[bringonthewonder]

"Jack, that's not the point. It making a difference or not doesn't make any difference. I'm not going to testify against Brennan's father."

She thought she'd made that pretty clear, what with the being in jail and all.

[bugsandslime]

He really can't believe he's hearing this.

"Angela, they will keep you in here. This isn't a game--this is pissing off a federal court. I mean, I'm sure Brennan appreciates the gesture, but she's not going to want you in jail indefinitely either."

Who knows how long this trial is going to spin out, especially with a reopened investigation?

"Please. Just testify."

[bringonthewonder]

Angela recoils like she's been slapped.

"No, Jack, this isn't a game. It isn't a gesture, either. I'm doing what I believe is right--no, I'm doing what I know is right, and while I understand that you're not happy about the consequences, I can't believe you'd actually ask me not to."

[bugsandslime]

Hodgins visibly wrestles down his temper. Shoulders are hunched, one hand braced, clenched on the crossbar of the cell door.

He draws a very deep breath. Nothing will be won or accomplished by letting this spin into a fight.

But his voice is clipped. And he chooses his words a little more hastily than he might.

"You're not helping anything by being in here, you know. When we could use your help out there."

[bringonthewonder]

"That was a low blow, sweetie."

She sighs.

"I can't help the defense, I won't help the prosecution."

And she thinks she might be helping Brennan, maybe, by being here, and that's important.

[bugsandslime]

She's right, of course. Hodgins deflates.

"I'm sorry," he says in the direction of his feet.

He looks up.

"That's not the only way you have of helping, you know," he can't help but add.

"I mean, don't get me wrong. Zach is great and everything. But he sucks at the whole keeping up morale, keep everything in perspective thing."

And that's sorely missing in the lab right now.

[bringonthewonder]

Angela laughs. "Zach as cheerleader. The mind boggles."

But she can't exactly set her principles aside to be a cheerleader, either.

"I really am sorry that there's not a way to do this without upsetting you, Jack, but there isn't.

"And I have to do this."

[bugsandslime]

That gets a bit of a grin out of Hodgins. "I'm sure he'd find pompoms highly illogical."

The smile tapers off quickly, though.

"How long do you think you can stay in here?"

Trials can go on for a while, and Hodgins is deathly afraid of His Honor the self-proclaimed hard-ass holding a grudge and deciding to pull strings to level punishment against Angela for her continued contempt of court.

He keeps reminding himself that they have some clout on their side if it comes down to that.

[bringonthewonder]

"As long as I need to, Jack."

Not comfortably, or happily, maybe, but she can do it.

[bugsandslime]

Hodgins shakes his head slightly.

He definitely doesn't look happy. Or comfortable.

"I'll keep bringing you cupcakes."

[bringonthewonder]

"Thanks."

She smiles slightly.

"I'll keep sharing them with you."

[bugsandslime]

"Hey, maybe I can stand up and disrupt court the next time it convenes. Get tossed in here with you."

Hodgins can be very disruptive when he puts his mind to it.

"We'll get Zach to bring us cupcakes."

[bringonthewonder]

Angela gets up and crosses to the cell door, reaches out and lays her hand against his cheek.

"I think it's a plan.

"A terrible plan. But a plan, nonetheless."

[bugsandslime]

Hodgins turns his head enough to plant a kiss in the palm of her hand.

"Hey. As long as we have a plan. Right?"

[bringonthewonder]

"As long as we have a plan," she agrees.

And then remembers who she's dealing with.

"Well, as long as we have a plan, and nothing blows up."

[bugsandslime]

Hodgins laughs.

"No explosions," he promises.

"I love you. And you'll be out of here soon."