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Ship: Jack/Angela
Spoilers: None. Set during the summer between season 1 and season 2
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Part 1 - Table For Two
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"There's that sushi place." Jack suggested.
The look Angela gave him was one she normally reserved for partially decomposed corpses.
"I don't eat sushi. I don't eat fish." Her tone was flat. Jack glanced up from the microscope.
"What? But you're-"
"Chinese. American born Chinese. American born half-Chinese. Sushi is Japanese." She tapped her foot impatiently and picked Jack's coat up from where he'd slung it over the railing.
"I was going to say that you're chic." He averted his gaze back to the microscope, "Isn't sushi nouveau chic now?"
"First, I'm bohemian. Second, are we looking at bugs or going for lunch? And please, stop saying chic."
Jack sat back and held his hands up.
"Oook, Miss Boho Chic. You're the one who can't decide on a restaurant, the only place left is that little Italian spot on the corner. We've been everywhere else within walking distance."
Angela opened her mouth to say something and then hesitated. She titled her head to the side and fingered the material of Jack's coat nervously.
"Hodgins.. That place is awfully.. quaint. And it has a certain.. atmosphere."
Jack gently pried his coat from her fingers and stood up, stepping closer to her.
"What, you don't like Italian now? Because I seem to recall a certain starving artist wolfing down a fair helping of fettuccine on Zack's birthday.."
Angela smacked his arm.
"I did no such thing. In fact, who was the one who ordered two desserts?!"
Jack grinned.
"Oh ho.. I may have ordered two, but you ate the lion's share of that cherry pie!"
Angela's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in protest.
"What!? You're fooling no one Jack Hodgins." She pointed a well-manicured finger at his nose.
"Hey babe, as long as I know the truth, you can believe what you want. Now.. Would you like wasabi with your sushi?"
Angela tried pouting a little, but Jack merely raised an eyebrow at her.
"Fine. Italian it is."
Jack smiled and nodded to himself. He took the stairs down from the platform in twos and held the lab door open for Angela, who skulked along behind.
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When they were seated Angela took in their secluded surroundings. The restaurant was small to begin with, but somehow they'd been tucked away into an alcove she'd never noticed before, although she'd been there many times before. It was her favourite after work date location: nice and close, and it had the perfect romantic ambience.
She looked over at Jack who was reading his menu, seemingly indifferent to the setting.
"Jack, did you ask for a corner table?"
"Why on Earth would I do that? You can barely read the menu it's so dark back here!" He made a comical effort to read by candlelight, holding his menu up close to the table centerpiece. His hand brushed across hers in the process and he looked up to meet Angela's startled gaze.
"Angela?"
She swallowed and blinked uselessly a few times before shaking her head and smiling with embarrassment.
"Sorry, it's just this place.. Very well decorated."
Jack stared at her a moment and then began to nod.
"Yeah... Let's order some wine."
Angela nodded emphatically.
"Yeah. Let's." He turned his attention to the nearest waiter, and Angela pulled her shaking hands down to her lap. She watched his profile as he spoke to the waiter, ordering a bottle of her favourite wine.
"That's what you like, right?" He confirmed, as the waiter left. Angela nodded her agreement and Jack smiled at her, his eyes crinkling a little in the corners. He lifted his menu, this time forgoing the special lighting techniques.
"So, let's see what they have to offer.."
Angela watched as he scanned over the page.
"Yes.. Let's see."