That evening, they all went out together. Everyone got to talking and everything seemed fine. Except for one thing. Zack was terribly quiet, and it was worrying Booth. The agent always acted like Zack annoyed him, but the truth was that the young PhD was slowly growing on him. He had become endearingly fond of Zack, and his silence worried Seeley. After a few minutes of watching him silently, the conversations around him slowly fading out, Booth decided to speak up.
"Zack." Zack looked up at the sound of his name, surprised to see who had called him.
"Yeah?" He said quietly.
"Can I talk to you a minute… outside?" Zack looked around the table slowly, nervousness shining in his eyes, before nodding.
"Ok."
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"What's wrong?" Booth asked as soon as they were outside.
"I should be asking you that, Agent Booth," Zack replied quietly, looking to the ground. "When did you start talking directly to me?"
"Since you started worrying me by being so damn quiet," Booth said softly, tilting his head to the side. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Zack said, his voice still hushed as he continued to avoid Booth's eyes.
"Don't lie to me Zack," Booth sighed, trying to keep his voice gentle.
"It's nothing important," Zack sighed softly, leaning against a nearby wall. Booth looked at him carefully for a moment before chancing a question.
"Is it the Iraq thing?" Zack looked up immediately, a slight fear evident in his eyes. After a few moments of holding Booth's gaze, Zack turned away.
"I said it was nothing," He sighed. "Can we go back in now?" Booth sighed heavily and shook his head.
"Ok," He said quietly. "But if you decide that it is something, you know you can talk to me, right?"
"I can?" Zack looked up slowly and unsurely.
"Yes," Booth said firmly. "You know where I live, and you have my number. If you need anything, just let me know." Zack looked at Booth for a moment, chewing on his lower lip. Eventually, he nodded.
"Thank you," He whispered.
"It's fine," Booth smiled as they both turned and made their way back in.
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"What were you and Zack talking about earlier?" Brennan was leaning on a desk in her house, looking at Booth inquisitively. Booth sighed and shook his head.
"Apparently nothing," He said quietly, more to himself than Brennan.
"You seem worried. What happened?" Booth looked up at Brennan.
"We just talked. He said there was nothing wrong, so I dropped it." Brennan smiled softly.
"You're really concerned for him, aren't you?" Booth shrugged slowly.
"Can't help it," He whispered. "There was something wrong with the kid, I wanted to help."
"Ah, and yet again Special Agent Seeley Booth is everyone's hero," Brennan smiled softly. "I love that about you." Booth smirked softly, leaning in to Brennan, one hand either side of her on the desk.
"Oh really?" He said. "And, just out of curiosity, what else do you love about me?" Brennan smirked and shook her head.
"Isn't it past your bed time?" She asked with a smirk. "You should be getting home." Booth smiled softly and nodded, standing up.
"So I should," He sighed, turning to leave. "Night Bones."
"Goodnight Booth," Brennan smiled softly to herself as Booth let himself out. Sighing softly, she made her way over to her bedroom door, switching off her lights as she did.