Saving Shae Ch 8

Chapter Eight:
Jack is a Nerd

Angela followed Shae into the back yard, where two German Shepards barked out a greeting.

“Isis, Toby, down!” Shae’s voice carried over their noise. “I have food, so calm yourselves!”

“Excitable, aren’t they?” Angela laughed as the dogs quieted and hopped up and down in anticipation.

“Yeah. And big. And slobbery. And dumb.”

“They’re so cute!” Angela took the nearest dog’s face in her hands. “Yes, so cute! Which one is this?”

“Toby.” Shae dumped the dog food into an old hubcap. “The fetch monster.”

“They’re both adorable.” Something touched Angela’s leg, making her look down. A calico cat was looking up at her, and it let out a soft ‘meow.’ “And who is this?” She picked up the cat.

“Lily.” Shae looked up. “And… Oh, no.”

“What?” Angela looked up from the purring cat in surprise.

“She’s skinny.”

“Skinny?”

“Yup. Could you put her down for a sec?”

Angela put the cat down, despite the protesting ‘meow’.

“Thank you. All right,” Shae looked at the cat. “Where are they, little miss?”

The cat turned around, walking around a corner of the house.

“Where are what?” Angela asked, following Shae. Who was following the cat.

“Give it a minute.”

A calico tail disappeared under the deck, and Shae got down on her hands and knees after it.

“Ah-ha!” Shae reached her arm under the deck and emerged with a wriggling black ball of fur.

“This is what a skinny Lily means.” Shae held the tiny kitten out to Angela.

“Oh, adorable!”

“Yeah. Frosty is probably the dad.”

“Frosty?”

Shae pointed to a large black cat lounging in a tree.

“Frosty. The opposite cat.”

“Oh. I see.”

“Angela!” Hodgin’s voice came from the back door. “Angela, you should come see this!”

“Uh-oh.” Angela swiftly gave the kitten back to Shae, who put it back under the deck. Both went running to the back door.

“What?!” The shouted question came in unison.

“Just come here!” He motioned them inside, leading them quickly through the house. Stopping at a door, the thrust an arm into the room. “Look at all this!”

The room was bedecked with posters of video game characters, bands, and comic book characters. In one corner sat a small entertainment center with a game-cube and NES gaming system.

“What?” Angela was confused.

“Yeah, what? It’s just my room.” Shae was weirded out by Hodgins. The dude had issues.

“This shrine to all that is awesome is YOURS?!” Hodgins asked. “Really? I mean, you have Metroid, X-Men, Pink Floyd…and is that Star Fox?”

“Yeah… It is…”

“Jack, calm down. I think your scaring Shae.” Angela laughed.

“He kind of is actually…” Shae said.

“But all of this is so cool!”

“Your like a small child tapped in an adults body.” Angela was having a giggle fit.

“Therein lies the fun!” Hodgins said.

“Okay… I have cats to feed…” Shae said, turning to leave. Suddenly she stopped. “Hey, does my DS need to stay here?”

“No.” Angela shook her head. “We’ve found all we can in the house.”

“Sweet.” Shae grabbed a red bag that looked like it had seen better days and started grabbing various games from around the room.

“She’s like you….. Trapped in that body.” Angela pointed out.

“I know.”

“Shae, we should head back to our place.” Angela said as soon as Shae finished. “Brennen and Booth will be coming to take you back.”

“Dang…” Shae muttered.

She wasn’t fond of Bones and Booth. They tried too hard to act like parents. To act like her parents. To act like they understood her. They weren’t her parents, and they didn’t understand… She didn’t think they ever would. But for now, until the investigation was over, she would have to deal with the crap she had.