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Introduction

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Only one of the double doors slides open. The other one just sort of sits there. There's a note on the unmoving door that indicates to all of the scientists that it is out of order. Beside the note is the yellow, red, and blue logo with the man on it, only it's not transparent like one would expect. It proclaims "Jeffersonian Anthropology Unit Medico Legal." Beyond it are many people in blue lab coats, and from far away it almost seems as if they're drifting along, only people don't float, they walk.

He steps forward and glances around, eyes wide, face surely expressing how lost he is. Part of him hopes that no will notice him, but the other part of him knows that that sort of non-assertive behavior will only serve to get him into trouble later. His only problem is that he isn't sure where to go, was never sure to begin with. He just knows he has an appointment somewhere in the building, that somewhere Dr. Temperance Brennan, discoverer of many ground-breaking techniques in his field, is waiting.

"Excuse me," a voice says from his right. He turns to regard a tall woman in the usual blue lab coat, though it is trimmed in decorative beads. Her hair is not overly long, but not very short either, and her eyes are clear, and yet softly, brown. "Are you okay? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

He opens his mouth and manages to croak, "I apologize."

"For what?" she looks at him curiously.

"For bothering you."

"Hey, I'm the one who asked," she says. "What's your name?"

"Zack Addy," he replies.

"Oh, so you're Brennan's grad student. I thought I hadn't seen you before." She smiles and sticks out a hand with several rings and a jingling bracelet. "Angela Montenegro."

Her shake is firm but not rough. "I know in this sort of gesture, one usually introduces himself, but since you already know my name, I am going to say 'pleased to meet you.' "

She laughs, "No need to get so formal. Come on," she gently taps his shoulder. "I'll show you to Brennan's office."

They walk forward, but favor the left side until they reach a row of small cubicles. No one looks up as they pass, and people shift aside to allow them to slip by if need be. Angela's steps are calm and unhurried, suggesting that she's walked this path many times. Zack's are nervous and clumsy. He's never been in a laboratory of this size.

Soon enough a corner office comes into view. Inside, the floor is wood, and the tables are wood, though some are also metal and glass. There's a couch, as well as a bunch of chairs. Various art pieces of various ethnic origins are spread around, and on the far left, behind a glass desk and its occupant, is a row of lit shelving filled with pottery. As he gets closer he notices a few small skeletons tucked inside as well.

He hears her voice, calm and clear, "Have you got time of death for the Huntings case yet, Hodgins?" she asks, though she appears to be reading a file.

The man across from her, apparently Hodgins, nods, "Yeah. Flies and soil samples suggest six to eight months ago."

"Do you have anything to perhaps narrow it down?"

"I'm hatching a few pupa. If they're a different species that may help."

She nods, "You'll get back to me?"

"Of course," he says and looks as if he is about to get up. He stops as he meets Zack's eyes, "You've got a visitor, Dr. Brennan."

She looks up from her file, her grey eyes sweeping around until they find his own. "Zack Addy?" she asks, rising.

"Yes," he nods.

Angela pats his shoulder. "It's okay. She won't bite."

Brennan exhales, the slightest suggestion of a grin pulling at her lips. "Temperance Brennan," she says, holding out a hand. He shakes it, finding her grip to be only just short of crushing. Their eyes are almost level. She's taller than Angela.

"I have your lab coat here," she says, reaching onto a coat-rack, where two blue coats are hanging. She removes one and hands it to him. "I assume you've got your ID badge and the paperwork is all filled out?"

"Yes, Dr. Brennan," he takes the ID card from his pocket and shows it to her.

"You should clip it onto your lab coat so that security recognizes you." She hands him the coat and he slowly slips it on. "I could show you around the lab."

"I can," the man called Hodgins volunteers with a grin. He has fairly long curly hair and a beard, his eyes gas-burner blue. He hops up and holds out a hand of his own. "Jack Hodgins, pleased to meet you."

"As you probably heard, I'm Zack Addy," he holds out a hand still recovering from Brennan's grip. Hodgins clasps it and shakes it in a friendly fashion.

Brennan watches the two of them with a slightly amused look. "Okay, Dr. Hodgins. Show him around and bring him back when he's ready." She gives him an encouraging look as she settles back behind her desk.

Hodgins and Angela begin to walk in the opposite direction of the anthropologist's office, their new charge between them.

"Brennan's been pretty excited about you," Angela says. "She says your accomplishments are impressive for your age."

"Really?" Zack asks, his fear ebbing away.

"Oh yeah," Hodgins says. "So now you're one of us."

"Welcome to the Jeffersonian, Mr. Addy," Angela says.

A smile crosses the young grad student's face, "Please call me Zack."

"Whatever you want, Z-man." She smiles, "Whatever you want."

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