Disclaimer: I do not own Bones, the characters in Bones, anything relating to Bones. This is written for fun, no profit is being made. Please don't sue me.
Dr. Temperence Brennan sat on the couch in her office, picking at the remnants of her lunch. She lifted a wonton with her chopsticks and bit it in half with a graceful sanguinity unique to her unsocialized self. A few moments ago Dr. Brennan hadn't been alone… sometimes she hated how disappointed Angela Montenegro looked upon leaving her office. It seemed whenever they spoke, Dr. Brennan's analysis upset Angela. Brennan always tried to provide a direct, objective analysis, and she was confident in her analyses, but it seemed that her world and Angela's were different.
Brennan finished her wonton and set down her chopsticks. Angela's world was not Brennan's. The fact became clearer every day, and although she was perfectly satisfied with their relationship, sometimes Brennan wished she understood Angela's world. The fact that she could not was poison oak between her shoulder blades.
"Dr. Brennan?"
She looked to the doorway and immediately fled her reverie. Brennan stood and wiped the grease from her lips with a paper napkin. "Zach," she acknowledged by way of greeting. A cursory examination revealed no papers in his hands; perhaps he needed her opinion on an abnormal bone marking.
"Dr. Brennan…" Zach began, and Brennan started to worry. Zach showed signs of heightened nerves—his voice was a touch too high, he had a faint odor of sweat and his left shoulder and ankle twitched, something distinctive to Zach that Brennan had observed over their years of work together. "May I ask your opinion on a matter?"
"Of course, Zach." Brennan reviewed their current remains in her mind. If Zach wanted to discuss something, it was something she had missed entirely. "Is this a work-related matter?"
Zach shook his head once. "No, Dr. Brennan."
Brennan accepted that answer with a feeling of satisfaction. She respected Zach as a scientist but, to her surprise, was uncomfortable at the thought of being surpassed by him. However, she suppressed any physical reaction to this emotion. "What is it?"
Zach inhaled deeply. Brennan's office smelled of antiseptic and, faintly, of Chinese food. "I've read that in certain circumstances, when a group of people work in close contact, it's not uncommon for specific interpersonal relationships to further develop in the perception of an individual; however, this is according to the texts not distinctively an authentic or inauthentic emotional reaction," he explained, his speech steadily growing more rapid.
As this speech progressed, Brennan began to squint. She found that this helped sharpen her senses, especially hearing, which she most needed at the moment. "You know I don't believe in psychology—"
"Yes, Dr. Brennan," Zach interrupted, further surprising her. "That's why I came to you. I know your answer will be objective and scientific."
Brennan nodded, accepting this response. "Zach," Brennan said slowly, "are you saying that you're sexually attracted to someone in the lab?"
"Yes, Dr. Brennan," Zach replied breathlessly. He blushed bright pink and focused on a spot somewhere beyond her right shoulder.
"I-is it me?" she asked.
Zach gave one firm shake of his head. "No, Dr. Brennan. N-not to imply that you aren't… it's only…" He sighed and looked her in the eyes. "You're my mentor, Dr. Brennan. And my boss. And I don't feel right thinking of you in that capacity. We're not really… not… equivalent variables."
A smile graced Brennan's features. "Zach," she said, giving her head the softest shake. She touched his shoulder. "We are equals. And as for your feelings, there is no empirical measure of emotion. Angela would say that if it feels real, it's real… is it Naomi in Paleontology?"
Zach shook his head. "It isn't Naomi," he replied.
"The only thing you can do that's fair to yourself and the other person," Brennan said, trying to give the response she imagined Angela would give, "is to tell her how you feel."
Zach nodded. "Thank you, Dr. Brennan," he said. He turned stiffly and left her office. It was good advice. He knew it was good advice. But it was good advice with one major flaw.
to be continued!