Hey, Near here or L.E. Hicks, whatever. So this is a Bones story because I love the TV series. Obviously, its a Zack love story as I adore that adorable yet, clueless squint. Anyway, it will be following the main series storyline up to Season 4, so the Gormodgon killer will be part of the plot if this story goes far. However, I will create my own twist to it because I hate what they did to poor Zack. Either way, all I own is my OC, some other created characters, and some plot points. I hope you enjoy. If you do, please review. If you don't like it, don't read it. Flames are inappropiate yet, I don't mind constructive criticism.
Chapter One: Are You Sure?
"Are you sure?"
Those three words had followed Rachelle Cornwell since she was a child. All she would ever hear to anything she wanted to do in life was "Are you sure?" She had no idea why. Maybe it was because of her short height or her weak-looking stature or maybe even her baby face—who knew?
Her older brother, Justin asked her that the day she decided to become an FBI agent. Not that she blamed the simple Science teacher because becoming an FBI agent was certainly a big leap from a librarian. Nonetheless, Rachelle didn't appreciate the question she always received, especially from her family.
Even now, as an adult of twenty-two, almost twenty-three, she was still asked "Are you sure?" Today, the inquirer happened to be her be role model and mentor, FBI Agent Seeley Booth. The subject, being whether she was sure she wanted to accompany him in field work.
"Uh… let's see. Do field work for the first time or stay at the office filing papers like always? Hmmm. That's a tough one." the dirty blonde-haired woman replied with deep sarcasm. She dramatically gestured with her many ringed hands making them seem like they were scales.
Booth was not amused. He glared down at her with his dark eyes and his fists on his hips. "Y'know, sarcasm will get you nowhere, kid." he retorted yet, he had grabbed his car keys and jacket indicating that he was ready to head out—Rachelle going with him. The ex-sniper was use to the female's sharp wit.
"It seems to get you pretty far, sir." his student pointed out as she trailed behind him through the FBI bureau while slipping on her own jacket. A huge smirk was on her young, pale face.
The intern held back a snicker when she heard the well-built and handsome man grumpily mumble under his breath: "Out of all the interns they could've given me to mentor, why did it have to be a smart-ass kid?" Rachelle just grinned, saying nothing as Booth and she filed into the SUV.
Now, from most people's point of view, Agent Seeley Booth and Intern Rachelle Cornwell's relationship was one that wasn't…well, very positive. And that was quite true. However, despite how much they fought, they were somewhat alike—much more than they'd like to admit. Booth was a serious man, who was a bit—and quietly—rebellious while Rachelle was a sarcastic and quick-witted girl, who—much to everyone's surprise—did her job by the book. Deep down, they were both kind-hearted people with a good head on their shoulders; they just didn't like to show that side too often. The same yet, not.
"So who are we picking up? And where are we going?" Rachelle asked, sitting in the passenger seat with her booted feet on the dashboard and her long index finger fiddling with a short strand of hair.
"First of all, get your feet off the dashboard. I have no idea where those boots have been." the short-haired man began, shooting her a scolding look in the corner of his narrow eye. It wasn't true, but it seemed that those black buckled heeled boots were the only shoes she wore.
Rachelle grumbled "On my feet" as she put her feet down, but he ignored the witty remark and went on with answering her questions, "And second, we're picking up Dr. Temperance Brennan."
Rachelle perked up, her hazel eyes now twinkling gold from the D.C. sunlight and excitement. "Wait, do you mean the Dr. Temperance Brennan!? As in the best-selling author?! That Dr. Temperance Brennan?!" she questioned.
"Oh, great, another fan." groaned Booth, keeping his eyes on the road. He sighed deeply. "Yes, that's her. We've done some cases before—before I had you forced on me. She's returning from Guatemala in a couple of hours and we need to pick her up, so she can help us with this most recent case."
"Sweet!" she beamed widely, acting like a little kid as she returned to sitting normally in her seat. It was times like that that made Booth wondered how Rachelle could not know why people—including himself—treated her like a child.
Naturally, Booth pointed that out to her, "And you wonder why everyone treats you like a child. It's because of outbursts like that." She just glared at him to which he returned evenly before retuning his attention to the road. He knew the rest of the ride to the airport would be quiet as Rachelle always ignored him when he made fun of her concerning her height, age, and etc.
Booth wasn't complaining. A silent car ride, especially one with a particular blonde, was a good one. Besides, he knew in half an hour or so, he'd have an older and much more difficult woman to deal with.
~*--*~
"Now, I may not know Dr. Brennan like you do, Seeley, but as a woman, I'm pretty sure this is a bad idea." Rachelle commented, following her mentor throughout the airport. She was finding it difficult to keep up with the tall man's strides as they headed to the Homeland Security Office of the airport.
"Don't call me Seeley, Rach." was all he said. The fair-haired girl rolled her bright eyes. That has nothing to do with what I just said., she thought irritably.
When they had arrived at the airport, Booth had explained to his intern how he had set-up this whole operation on picking up Dr. Brennan after she got off her plane. Apparently, he had arranged a Homeland Security officer to sneak up on the poor woman, arrest her for having bones on her person, and then, keep her cooped up in the security office pretending to interrogate her until Booth and Rachelle arrived--coming to the "rescue" as he so put it. Rachelle had no idea why Booth thought that was a good idea. No one would appreciate that, especially if they figured it out and from her novels Rachelle got the feeling that Dr. Brennan was a borderline genius—maybe more so.
Finally, they stopped at the office door, but Booth didn't allow them in. The brunet turned to the short woman. "Before we go in, promise me that you'll behave. That you'll be normal." He paused. "Actually, you know what? Promise me you won't be you. Be professional."
"Are you serious?" Rachelle's jaw nearly dropped.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"…I'm professional."
"…"
"I am!"
Booth sighed. "Just promise me, all right?"
She rolled her eyes again in annoyance. "Fine. Yeah, I promise."
"Good girl." he nodded then, opened the door and stepped inside. Rachelle begrudgingly trailed behind.
When Booth and Rachelle entered as a bald, dark-skinned man was harassing Dr. Brennan, who seemed like she was defending herself quite well. Rachelle was ready to jump up and down from seeing her most favorite author yet, kept calm to avoid a glare or scolding from her teacher.
Shortly, Dr. Brennan sensed the two's presence and turned her auburn-haired head in their direction. An irritated expression was apparent on her lovely face. "What are you doing here?" she said pointedly to Booth.
Booth took that as he cue to step in and flash his badge. "FBI Agent Seeley Booth and this is my assistant of sorts, Miss. Rachelle Cornwell." he announced, while indicating to the girl beside him. "Bones identifies bodies for us."
"I told you," Brennan told the Homeland Security officer then, glanced to Booth. "And don't call me Bones."
"I see. So she's a forensic anthropologist and works for the FBI?" the other man said a bit skeptically. Brennan made a face; she had been trying to explain that to him for the past twenty minutes.
"Yeah. She's an author, too." Booth said in a teasing tone as he grabbed Dr. Brennan's book from Rachelle's messenger bag and slid it across the metal table. Brennan did not look pleased, but the Homeland Security seemed convinced.
"All right. She's free to go." the bald man said with a dismissive wave of his hand. Booth beamed.
"Wait," Brennan began confused. "That's it? You went to all that trouble to just be told from a Federal Agent exactly what I told you?" The man shrugged. A scowl came across her face and she turned his brilliant eyes on the FBI Agent. "You set this up, didn't you?"
For a few brief moments, no one said anything. Both men were making faces while Rachelle was trying to restrain herself from busting out laughing. Brennan shook her head. "I cannot believe you." she said, gathering her stuff into her arms and she rose to her feet.
She pushed past Booth. He followed her and Rachelle followed them but not before Booth shot her a look that clearly read: "Don't even say it." The twenty-two-year-old just smirked triumphantly and said nothing as she followed the couple.
~*--*~
Nearly forty-five minutes later, and after a big argument between Booth and Bones, the three arrived at a pond near a military cemetery where the FBI forensics squad and agents—with trucks and such—were waiting for them. They got out the SUV and headed towards the pond only to be greeted by a baby-faced young man with a mop of brown hair and brown eyes to match.
"Dr. Brennan. The eco-warrior look suits you." he greeted with a sweet smile. "Very action-oriented."
Dr. Brennan grinned back. "Thank you, Zack." she said gratefully. She glanced between the FBI staff walking alongside them and Zack. "Booth, you remember my assistant Zack Addy."
"Oh, yeah." he said as if it was a bad thing.
The anthropologist made a face yet, let the statement go and introduced Rachelle, "Zack, this is Booth's intern, Rachelle Cornwell."
Rachelle smiled invitingly. "Nice to meet you." she said, extending her hand to shake.
"You as well." He awkwardly shook her hand in return, speaking in a slightly bashful tone. Clearing his throat, he went back to talking to his mentor. "So did you discovery any interesting massacre victims in Guatemala, Dr. Brennan?" Booth scowled in disgust at that question while Rachelle's eyebrows shot up. However, Dr. Brennan didn't seem effected.
"We can discuss that later, Zack. Right now I'm going to need water samples and water temperatures." Dr. Brennan ordered.
"Right away, Dr. Brennan." With that, the anthropologist-in-training went off.
"Rach, stay behind. Help the FBI team if they need it or something." Booth ordered his underling.
Or something?, Rachelle furrowed her brows. "Wait a minute. You ask me to go to do field work with you, but I don't actually get to do work?"
"Rachelle," he warned, glowering back at her.
Frowning, she rolled her eyes for the third time that day. Nevertheless, she said while saluting, "Yes, sir. As you order." Against her will, she walked away from Booth and Brennan as they head to the shoreline.
Rachelle had no idea what she was going to do while Booth and Brennan got to out on the pond in a boat to see where the body was. There was nothing interesting to do on land and there was no one to talk to. Everyone was a stranger to her and those she did know, only by their faces, ignored her because they only thought of her as a kid—like most people at the bureau.
Suddenly, it came to her.
That Zack guy.
Maybe she could help Brennan's assistant or something. Yeah, he was a stranger, but he seemed nice enough. Besides, he didn't look much older than Rachelle so there was no reason for him to treat her like a child.
With that thought and a huge grin on her face, the FBI agent in training went off to find Zack. It didn't take long because surprisingly—despite how mousy he appeared—he stood out from a crowd. Rachelle approached him.
Once she was standing behind him, she followed her hands around her back. "Hola. Buenos dias." she greeted like she greeted everyone—even on the phone.
Jumping slightly, he whipped around startled to gaze up at her from his kneeling position. His brows furrowed in a confused expression. "No es mañana. Es la noche, Miss Cornwell." he said with a perfect Spanish accent.
She blinked. "All I got was my last name, man. And maybe no."
"If you don't speak Spanish then why did you greet me as such?" Zack questioned. "Then, again, you did say the wrong time of day." he added, mostly to himself.
"Uhhh…o-kay?" was the only thing Rachelle could think of saying. The female wasn't sure how to react to that. Then, again, what was the big deal? The guy was probably just fluent in Spanish and didn't know she was just playing around. "Let's try this again, shall we? Hi. How's it going?" She waved her hand.
"Oh. Um, hello." he said hesitantly. "It's going quite well, but that's expected since Dr. Brennan gave me simplistic work. Getting water samples and checking the temperature isn't that difficult."
"I see." Rachelle nodded; she couldn't disagree that what the older woman had assigned was an easy task. "Would you like some help? Despite its simplicity?"
Zack shrugged, thinking nothing against the suggestion. "Sure. I guess. You can just hand me the equipment, I suppose." he said, returning his attention to his work. "You can start by handing me the thermometer, please."
"Okidokie." she knelt beside him and searched his equipment case for the thermometer. Once she found it, she placed it in the brunet's extended blue gloved hand. "Here ya go, Mr. Addy."
He looked to her briefly. "…You can just call me Zack, Miss. Cornwell." he mumbled a bit embarrassed. He mentally scolded himself as there was no logical reason to be embarrassed for telling someone to call him by his name.
Nevertheless, he just grew more sheepish when the girl next to him smiled brightly and replied, "Okay then, Zack. Then you just call me Rachelle or Rach, whichever you prefer." Looking away and returning his focus on his work, like he knew he should be, Zack just nodded. He had work to do or Dr. Brennan wouldn't be happy.
Nonetheless, he couldn't control himself from saying, "Dr. Brennan said your Agent Booth's intern. Am I right to assume you want to become an FBI agent? Please, pass me a syringe and a vial." He had to add that. He could multi-task. Besides, Zack did not want to make eye-contact.
"Mmhm." was Rachelle's reply, complying with his request. "That probably seems strange to you." It was to most people. That's why she always received the "Are you sure?" question.
"Why exactly?" came the answer—more like question—that she had not anticipated.
She blinked surprised yet, regained her composure and calmly said while twisting her index in a single strand of her choppy locks. "Well, because people usually think it's strange for someone with my appearance and age to strive for such an occupation."
"…I know what you mean." Zack knew exactly how she felt. Despite his high intellect, not many took him seriously as a forensic anthropologist because of his youthful face and young age.
"You do?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
"Though, I am curious as to why you would want to be an FBI agent." he admitted, his brown eyes squinting at the water that he had just poured into a vial. He asked for another vial, which Rachelle complied to.
"Well, why do you want to become a forensic anthropologist?" Rachelle responded, making him take aback. Zack had not predicted such an answer.
He answered nevertheless, "I'm exceptional at the job and it is--"
"The right way to help change the world, to you, right?" she finished for him. He nodded only briefly astounded by her statement. That was exactly what he was going to say. Rachelle grinned causing a fair amount of heat to rush to Zack's cheeks—she had a pleasant smile.
"I totally agree." she said happily. She was truly happy. That was the first time no one had ever not asked her "Are you sure?" Zack was actually a person who felt the same way—though with a different job. He was different.
I think I'm going to like this guy., Rachelle thought surely.
"Not to mention, its waaay more exciting than being a boring librarian." she said in an afterthought.
"You wanted to be a librarian?" Zack inquired with raised brows.
That he definitely didn't expect. Sure, the young woman was petite and seemed fragile (nothing an FBI Agent was), but she didn't seem to fit the criteria of a librarian. Yet, he was just basing that from his past memories of his middle and high school librarians, who had been old, graying, and stern women. Rachelle was nothing like that. He wasn't especially good at reading people, but she seemed like the kind of person who was adventurous, kind, and outgoing. Not to mention, young, but that was a given.
"Originally, yeah. I loved reading, still do, but I hated the librarians at my schools. They were bitchy old crones, who tormented us kids. So I decided that I'd be the first nice librarian." She laughed, remembering the day she had decided that. "Naturally, there are nice ones out there. But I was only ten when I decided that and you know how kids are with their crazy imaginations."
"…Not really."
"Oh." Rachelle arched a brow. He doesn't understand? …This guy is an "interesting" one., she thought to herself, staring at the man next to her. She shrugged. "Well, whatever. It doesn't matter because I changed my mind when I was a sophomore in high school and decided to become an FBI Agent."
"That's obvious."
Rachelle chortled. "Well, duh."
"I don't know what that means."
Rachelle made a face. Okay. Interesting doesn't even start to explain this guy. Is he from Planet Mars or something? "I'm just agreeing with you that it's apparent." she elaborated.
"Why didn't you just say that?"
"…You don't socialize much, do you?"
Zack frowned. He had hoped she wouldn't notice that quickly. Then, again, Hodgins said it was obvious to anyone who spoke to him.
He reluctantly replied, quickly adverting his dark orbs to his task again, "…You wouldn't be wrong in your observation."
"I see. Well, I won't hold it against you. I'm not much of a social person either." she shrugged. Zack stared at her—another answer he had not predicted. "Anyway, I hope you the best of luck on being a forensic antrolopogist, Zack."
"Uh, and you on b-becoming an agent, Rachelle." he said, stuttering just a little. Her comment had not been one he received often.
Rachelle grinned making him hesitantly and nervous give a small one.
After that, Zack returned to his work unable to conjure anymore of his courage to chat with Rachelle further. She didn't mind as she did not seem to have anything else to say. And soon after that, Booth and Brennan appeared announcing that there was indeed a body at the bottom of the lake and the situation was without a doubt a crime scene.