I apologize for the lack of updates! I've been a bit distracted organizing my year abroad, and I forgot I'd promised to update within a couple of days. Here's the next (and slightly short) chapter for you, I hope you like it! I'm going away for a few days, but I'll try to update within the week. Enjoy :) Dray xx

The next day, Zack walked into the visiting room to find... Booth.

"Hey Zack." Booth grinned at him.

Zack paused, unsure of how to act around the FBI agent.

"Hello Agent Booth."

"Just Booth'll do. Relax... What's up?"

"Well... I... You don't like me. You think I'm weird."

Booth was surprised. "Of course I like you, Zack. But you're a squint... We're different..." he looked awkward.

"But we're on the same side - we solve cases together. How are we different?"

"You're... You and Tempe, you just... Know stuff. Like, everything."

Zack cocked his head. "But, you know about the world, Ag... Booth. While we are scientifically intelligent, socially you are much more intelligent than us. We know how people work, you know how they think. We need you."

"Really?" Booth smiled and puffed his chest out a little, "You think I'm socially intelligent?"

Zack nodded. "And you know a lot of things for an average guy. And you're a good person. I'm told that there are very few of those left these days."

"Thank you, Zack. That means a lot to me, y'know." Booth said sincerely.

"You're welcome. Now, why are you here?"

"Sweets sent me. Said to go over a few things with you." he pulled out a file. "This is the evidence and reports we've gathered for your case. Thought you might wanna see it."

"Won't that compromise the evidence?"

"These are only copies and pictures. You might spot any mistakes, or something we missed."

Zack took the file and flicked thru it.

"I have a pencil if you want it..." Booth handed it to Zack, who thanked him and set about correcting and commenting. They discussed the points and Zack asked questions where he needed to. By the time the guard came by, they were easier in each other's company and had got thru most of the file.

For the next week or so, Booth visited every other day, at first to go thru the case, but then because he'd found out something they had in common. Zack was interested in Booth's activities and interactions as a sniper, and Booth wanted to learn a little more about anthropology. They learned from each other and consequently became closer.

The following week, Sweets visited on the Monday to inform Zack that they'd found him a good lawyer, and that the case was being heard on the Friday.

On Tuesday, Hodgins visited as usual. He seemed to know nothing of the case. Sweets had advised that it would be better to tell everyone on the thursday. On the wednesday, Angela arrived with Temperance who had been told by Booth and had brought her best friend to congratulate her favorite (former) grad student.

"Won't Sweets be annoyed?" Zack asked.

"Oh please," Angela waved it off, "him being annoyed is like a toddler who's had his toy taken away. He'll kick up a fuss, but he's completely harmless."

"You're quite mean to him."

"I'm not... Wait, I am aren't I?" Angela pondered this while Brennan interjected.

"We came to tell you that we knew you didn't murder anyone."

She looked ecstatic at this conclusion, and Zack had to smile.

"Thank you, Dr Brennan."

"Booth told me, and I had to tell Angela because we tell each other everything. We came to visit you and we'll be there for you on Friday."

Angela rejoined the conversation. "We're always here for you if you need us, Sweetie."

"Booth has also been displaying a good knowledge of the basics of anthropology. Was that you?" Brennan asked.

Zack nodded. "He came here and we talked about the case and then we just 'chatted'. I think we may have bonded, but I chose not to discuss that with him."

"You're getting it, honey, I'm impressed." Angela told him.

"Thank you."

The next day, Hodgins visited again.

"I don't believe I was the last to know! Congratulations buddy."

"Thank you, but I'm not out yet."

"But you will be - Booth'll get you out. I don't believe he did this for you, I thought you two didn't interact?"

"Well," Zack realized that Sweets hadn't told them, and decided that he must have had a good reason not to, "He came to visit me a few times. We've been talking a lot more, and have found many things that we have in common."

"That's great, man."

All too quickly, it was Friday. Hodgins had brought Zack's new suit from his apartment, and the young man was dressed and standing outside the courtroom nervously. His lawyer, contrary to his expectations, was brilliant. She had ironed out the problems and tied up the loose ends in the report. The steward called him in, and the hearing began.