Disclaimer: Not mine. I'm just playing in their world.

One night while Zack was working in his private lab in the Jeffersonian Cam and Angela were still around. Cam was pacing the hallways around where Zack's lab was located and Angela noticed on her way to the lounge. Angela stopped for a moment and observed Cam's actions.

A moment later Zack came out of his lab dressed in a pair of nice jeans and one of his military tank tops with his tags underneath. He was carrying a couple of small boxes with cards taped to the tops. As he walked away he said, "Have a good night you two."

After he left the building Cam turned to see Angela looking at her from the stairs. Cam walked over and Angela asked, "What's Zack doing in his lab?"

"I don't know. He tells me he's furthering his dissertation theory and trying to breakthrough some of Dr. Brennan's theories."

"I noticed that his lab locks anytime the door closes. Do you have a key to it?" Angela asked.

"It's a keypad lock with a buzzer entrance."

"A password is needed to enter? He's turning into a mad scientist."

Sweets was walking by leaving for the night when he heard the term mad scientist. He turned around and asked, "Who's a mad scientist?"

Both the women jumped at his question thinking everyone had left for the day. Cam turned to Sweets and replied, "Zack. His office is the only one that has a keypad lock and no one but him has access."

"Zack's not a mad scientist. He's a bit confused by a few things but he's dealing with them the way he knows how."

"What is he confused by?" Angela asked.

"It's confidential material. I've said too much already. I need to go now." Sweets left the two.

Cam said, "I wonder what Zack is confused by?"

"He's been back from Iraq for a few months. That was a big change for him and now he's back here where its safe. That would take some time to readjust to."

"You're right. He'll tell us when he's ready."

At the diner, Zack sat across from Booth and said, "Thanks for meeting me."

"No problem. What did you need from me?" Booth said taking in Zack's appearance with his tags and everything on. He knew how hard it was for him to stop wearing his dog tags and other military related items when he came back from the Gulf War.

Zack gave him the two boxes and asked, "Could you please give them these boxes?"

"Is this within security measures?" Booth asked cautiously.

"You can open the boxes. Nothing will harm you in them. I'm just trying to help out a couple of soldiers that seem to me to be ignored by most everyone."

Booth looked at the names and asked, "Did you meet them in Iraq?"

"Yes. We didn't talk much but I picked up that they weren't being cared for like they should. From a medical standpoint their treatment was atrocious. I'm just trying to provide them with basics." Zack finished by folding his hands together on the table and taking a deep breath.

Booth's curiosity got the best of him and he opened the first box. He noticed a basic and advanced first kit, a few pouches of different colored powders, and several different containers with salves, liquids, and various plants. "What is all of this?"

"A scientifically proven first aid package. Most things are natural substances, others I made myself."

"Are they still in Iraq?"

"No. They were sent home broken like myself." Zack's face grew grim and he looked down at the table.

"Where are they located?"

"Here in DC."

"Would you like to come with me when I deliver these to them?"

"No. I don't think I can stomach anything more than this."

"They might be happy to see you." Booth coaxed.

Zack looked up at him sharply and said, "No. I came to you because I thought you would understand. Maybe I was wrong."

He stood and went to take the boxes back but Booth took his hands and he said, "I do understand Zack. It's been five months and you're still wearing your tags, you still look over your shoulder at every noise hoping something isn't going explode and you haven't been actually sleeping the entire time you've been back. Just ten minutes of sleep here and there like you're waiting for the commander of your squad to tell you that you're moving out and you need to get ready."

Zack sighed and said, "That's correct. But I'm not ready to see people that I've seen being blown up. If you could just take these to them it would be a soldier doing another soldier a favor, right?"

"It would be a friend doing a friend a favor. I'll do it this time by myself but you have to promise me that you'll visit them."

"How many times?" Zack asked scared of the answer.

"Whatever you're comfortable with. At least once though. Are there instructions for all of this stuff?"

"Yes. I put detailed instructions for each item in a folder on the bottom and also wrote them on the bags and containers."

Booth let go of Zack's hands and asked, "Would you like to stay for a piece of pie?"

"No thank you. I need to be going. I have another appointment."

"Who are you meeting with at 7 at night?"

"I can't tell you yet but I will. Thanks for taking these for me."

"It's okay. Have a good rest of the night."

"I'll try." Zack left the diner and Booth ordered his pie while he looked through the other box. He noticed personal touches with all of the medical supplies and a few other random items. One caught Booth's eye in the second box--it was a journal type of book. Booth opened the cover and saw a few petals and a note from Zack. Reading the short message and Booth almost felt like he needed a shoulder to cry on. He swallowed a few times and took a drink of his knew he had to do this for Zack. Soldiers needed a bit of closure and these two would get it. Zack would visit when he knew he was capable of handling the situation.

After eating his pie, Booth got up and paid the waitress and took the small boxes to his was surprised to see Brennan standing by his truck. "Booth what's the matter?"

Booth swallowed and sniffed. He said, "Doing a soldier a favor. I'll call you later."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"I do but I don't think he's ready for anyone else to know."

"It's about Zack right?"

"Yes. He's fragile and trying to put himself back together."

"No its okay. Call me when you're done."

"I will. Bye Bones."

"Bye Booth."

Zack paced outside Sweets apartment waiting for the other doctor to let him in. He knocked on the door and paced while keeping vigilant. Sweets opened the door and asked, "Is everything okay?"

Zack pushed passed him and into the apartment before saying, "I'm falling apart. I can't sleep, the paranoia is getting to be too much, and I can't even part with my tags."

Sweets observed Zack and listened. "Would you like a drink Zack?"

"What kind?" Zack asked cautiously.

"I have tea, water, a bottle of brandy. Which do you want?"

"Water is fine."

Sweets walked over to his kitchen and pulled out a glass and filled it with cold tap water. "Tap water is okay with you right?"

"Thank you." Zack took the glass from Lance and drank it a few sips at a sat in his favorite chair and motioned for Zack to sit on the couch.

Zack sat and Sweets asked, "Have you been keeping a journal like I asked you to?"

"Yes but its not going well. When I sit to write all that comes out are equations and theories and for you it would be as you would call it mumbo jumbo. I can't write the way you want me to write."

"Can I see your journal?"

"I don't have it with me. I'll give it to you tomorrow."

"Would you like me to give you something to just help you sleep?"

"I don't know about that. I've heard things happen when you take them."

"Zack its a very mild pill. It'll at least let you sleep a few hours a night instead of a few minutes here a few minutes there."

"I don't want to sleep. Its too raw for me."

"Just let me know when you want to."

"I will. Thank you. I feel a little better now. I should get going."

Sweets stood up and led Zack to the door and said, "Baby steps are good Zack. You're trying. Bring your journal to work tomorrow and on your lunch break make a list or two about some of your experiments and theories and then explain why they are important to you. Don't worry about trying to please anybody that's not the exercise."

"I'll try. Bye sweets." Then Zack was gone.

Zack arrived back at his apartment over Jack's garage and saw Jack working a small patch of soil near the building. "You know its getting too dark to see what you're doing." Zack observed.

"That's not the purpose of this. How are you feeling today?" Jack asked looking up at Zack. Even in the twilight Jack could tell Zack was exhausted even with his soldier stance and quick observations.

"I'm fine. I'll see you in the morning." Zack went up to his apartment after that.

"Okay." Jack replied to himself.