FIRST IMPRESSIONS
A/N: Hey there! Go easy on me, please! I haven't been writing fanfic for very long, and this is actually my very first "Bones" fanfiction! Please R&R!! There will be more chapters if people like it.
Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of these characters, and no affiliation whatsoever with Hart Hanson, "Bones", Fox, its affiliates, subsidiaries, etc. Please don't sue me!
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Chapter 1
"Well, Ms. Montenegro. I think you'll fit in just fine here at the Jeffersonian. My apologies that Dr. Brennan couldn't be here herself to welcome you to our institution, but I'm sure she'll be interested in meeting you upon her return from Brazil later today." Dr. Goodman's deep voice was both friendly and comforting, and his brilliant smile easily coaxed an answering one from the dark-haired woman sitting across from him.
"Thank you, Dr. Goodman. I'm really looking forward to working here. And thank you so much for looking over my plans for my holographic imaging system – I really think it'll be useful here." Her enthusiasm was contagious, as was her obvious passion for her work. Her art. Angela Montenegro had been recommended by an old friend of his, and when Goodman had seen her art, he'd known with the same instinct he'd used in his work as an archaeologist that she was perfect for the position he needed her for. "If you don't mind, I'd like to go ahead and drop a couple things off in my new office . . . and take a look around, if that's okay?"
"If you like, I'd be more than happy to take you on a tour."
"No, that's okay." Angela smiled again. "I'd really just like to wander a little."
"Suit yourself. And please remember, Ms. Montenegro, the Jeffersonian is now your home. Feel free to go where you wish, and feel at ease."
"Thank you so much, Dr. Goodman! I'm sure I'll love it here." She gathered up her satchel and stood, holding a hand out to shake his. Being a gentleman, he not only shook her hand, but he also walked her to his office door. Ange paused in the doorway for a moment as he walked back to his desk, looking over her shoulder to memorize the image. The 'former' archaeologist, at home in his office – which looked like a comfortable study. The colors were rich and dark, just like the man, and she smiled inwardly. She could already tell he was a family man, even without noticing the wedding ring or the child's drawing taped to the wall next to a framed doctorate certificate. After a moment, she stepped out and shut the door, and headed down the hallway.
Naturally, the artist knew how to get to what would now be her office, her home away from home. However, she decided to head for the actual lab area first, just to see where she would be working. The architecture of the Institute intrigued her. It wasn't what she would've guessed for either a museum or a scientific laboratory. It felt futuristic to her, clean (but not sterile), and structured (but not boring). As she roamed down a wide, well-lit hallway, she could hear two male voices engaging in what sounded like a soon-to-be heated argument.
"-way! Leia is absolutely hotter than Amidala. Amidala was a child. Liking her is like . . . being interested in kiddie porn. Which you're not, right Zack? Because if you are, we're totally going to have to discuss your usage of my wi-fi network."
"Hodgins, of course not! I merely stated that Queen Amidala was very attractive. Moreso than Princess Leia. The connotations of their titles even suggests that Amidala was more attractive, being as how a Queen is believed to be – "
"Dude, they're not even close! Besides, their titles had nothing to do with how they looked. Leia was a Princess because of her adoptive father's status. Amidala was an elected Queen."
By now, Angela stood at the door to a room that contained a few stainless steel tables, some shelves, and two men. The older of the two had curly hair that one might call brown, except when the light hit it a certain way. From her vantage point, she could see that there were faint blond, and even some red streaks. She wished she could see his face, being a huge believer in eyes being the window to the soul. She wanted to see what eyes went with that body. Sure it was covered by a lab coat – and possibly a hooded sweatshirt – but her eyes could make out the shapely physique beneath.
The younger man – was he even a man? He looked like a teenager – had unruly hair, a few shades darker than the other. They both stood over what appeared to be a large bowl, wearing blue gloves, and goggles. She really hoped there wasn't something gross in the bowl.
Before they could start up with the argument again, Angela smiled slightly, then spoke up from behind them. "Actually, I think I have to agree about Leia. She's totally hotter than Ami, and didn't need the caked on make-up or the crazy hair to look gorgeous."
Both men jumped slightly at her voice, then turned. The younger guy had dark eyes, like Cadbury chocolate. The older guy, however, his eyes were a brilliant, bright blue, that had her thinking up how to mix a paint that would match the shade. Inwardly, she started the mantra that had served her well up till now. Don't date people you work with. Don't date people you work with.
The older guy, who had a beard to go with that hair, spoke up first, "thanks for siding with me. You must be . . . "
"Angela Montenegro. The artist who will be doing facial reconstruction." The younger guy piped up. "You're really beautiful."
Angela blinked at his forwardness. "Wow. Thanks. That's really sweet."
"I'm not being sweet. Merely stating a fact."
Angela studied him for a moment, then shifted a glance towards the other man. "Is he always like this?"
"Yeah, pretty much." He smirked at the younger guy, then smiled broadly at the woman. Angela. He liked the name. "I'm Dr. Jack Hodgins. Bugs, slime, and particulates. My socially defunct friend here is Zack Addy; he's Dr. Brennan's grad student."
"Angela Montenegro. But please, call me Angela or Ange – not Ms. Montenegro. Makes me feel old."
"I wouldn't know why, Ange . . . you couldn't be a day over 25."
The tall brunette smiled again, shaking her head a bit. "I can already tell I'm going to have to look out for you."
Zack had already turned back to the bowl they'd been standing over, fitting a lid over it, then lifting it carefully and setting it on a shelf. "Hodgins flirts with all women. He's incorrigible."
Angela had to bite back a laugh at the look Hodgins sent to Zack. "Right. Well, it was nice meeting you both, but I'm going to go check out my office now. See you guys later." With that, she moved gracefully out of the room and headed on down the hall. Zack was in the process of taking off his gloves, while Hodgins stood in place, staring at where Ange had stood. After a moment, the scents of amber and hibiscus drifted within scent, and he breathed deep.
"Dude . . . I think I'm in love."
"That's impossible. Dr. Brennan says that love is merely a chemical reaction that is the result of various – "
"Zack. I didn't mean that literally. I just think that she's awesome. I know she is. I can tell." Shaking his head to dispel the fantasy that had already begun to form, Hodgins turned back to the table and noticed that Zack had already cleaned up. Shooting his best friend a slightly annoyed look, he moved to the other side of the room. "Now if you don't mind, I have some geo-chromatic reports to go over."