Zack didn't suck at playing basketball like Booth had assumed he would. He wasn't spectacular, by any means, but Booth hadn't had to let him score, he'd managed that on his own a few times. Bones, on the other hand… Well, when it came down to game time, she just wasn't much of a match for the three others on the court. It was alright, though. The game had actually been pretty fun and Zack had broken out of his depressed robotic state into… Well, his usual robotic state.

"Sweetie!" Angela smooched Zack noisily on the cheek. "Look at you! I never knew you could play a sport!" She glanced at Brennan and chuckled, "And I actually figured you would be considerably better at it."

Dr. Brennan tried to look annoyed at the comment, but really the game had been too fun for her to work up a decent dirty look. Booth came up behind her and stole the ball that she was carrying. He dribbled it and grinned. "Not bad, squints. Not bad."

Beep, beep. Beep, beep.

"What is that?" Hodgins asked, trotting up to the bench where his friends stood. Zack was digging hopefully into his pocket. Pulling out his cell phone he looked at the screen and his face fell. "Who's that, dude?"

"Naomi." Zack made a face and tossed his cell phone onto the bench.

"Why is she texting you?" Hodgins looked at Zack, curiously. "I kinda got the impression she only spoke to you when she needed something."

"She does," Zack replied, picking up a sweatshirt off of the bench. He yanked it down over his head and explained, "And I've finally realized that. And I told her so." He paused. "In fact, I was kind of rude about the whole thing to her."

"Intentionally rude or just the way you always are?" Hodgins asked, looking delighted.

"Well, I didn't actually MEAN to be rude, but I was really angry. Naomi made me feel so… Well, inadequate, really. I started avoiding any situation that was non-academic, because I just figured I would be bad at it. I even had myself convinced that if Brynn and I talked face to face she would end up mocking me just like Naomi did and that's why I chose to avoid her." Zack had been studying his shoes. Now, he looked up. "So, I told Naomi that maybe SHE was the reason things weren't so great between us sexually."

"Dude you DIDN'T!" Hodgins burst out laughing. "That is freakin' AWESOME! And now she's texting you. Ha! I think you've found a girlfriend, dude! Women LOVE assertive men. She'll be texting you and calling you all the time now!"

Zack shook his head. "No thanks. I don't want her. I just want Brynn. She's never made me feel stupid over… Anything." Color rose in his cheeks and he cleared his throat.

"Wait, you and Brynn…" Booth gaped at Zack. Then he snickered. "She's hot. I'm impressed, kid."

"She is," Zack agreed. "But, it's not like it matters, now. Her email said she was flying back to Atlanta tomorrow morning, so I guess I'll just have to try to explain myself when I email her again." He shrugged his shoulders and smiled sadly.

"Why don't you call her?" Dr. Brennan asked quietly.

"She's out with someone else right now." A flicker of sadness passed through Zack's eyes. "And if I stand any chance of trying to explain myself, I'm going to need more than just a couple of minutes of rushed conversation on a cell phone. It'll work better if I think out what I need to say and then call her when she's back home."

Angela looked thoughtful. She glanced down at Zack's cell phone, sitting on the bench beside her, then back up at him as he was talking to Hodgins and Booth. A brisk, cold air was blowing through the park and Angela made a split second decision. She said, "Oh! Let me show you the drawings I did while you were playing!" She whipped her sketchpad open, sending loose papers every which away. "Oh shit!"

Zack, Hodgins, and Booth tried to grab the sheets, but the wind was rolling them along to quickly. Fortunately, all three men reacted exactly how she planned and they ran across the court trying to catch them. Grabbing up Zack's phone she scrolled the numbers.

"Ange, what are you—" Brennan started to ask and then she realized. "Oh! You're going to play cupid, still."

"Shhh!" Angela laid the phone back down in the bench and turned around. Hands full of papers, the men were ambling back their way. "Thank you guys soooooooo much! I can't believe they flew all over the place like that!"

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Angela watched Zack's back as he jogged up the stairs to his apartment over the garage.

"Wanna come join me in the shower?" Hodgins asked solicitously in her ear.

"Just a second, I need to… Call Brennan real quick." Angela had matchmaking to do, and even the thought of a hot and steamy shower with Hodgins wasn't going to stand in her way.

"Alright. I'll be waiting though." Hodgins winked rakishly and then turned to go inside. Angela watched him retreat and then pulled out her cell phone.

"Hello?" the voice on the other end of the phone had responded pretty quickly. A good omen, Angela decided.

"Hi, Brynn… It's Angela. We met earlier today?"

"Oh, yeah. Hi."

"I'm sorry to interrupt your date, but—"

"Date?" Brynn laughed. "This isn't a date. My friend Scott wanted me to meet his new boyfriend."

"Scott's gay?" Angela was positively gleeful. The whole meeting a friend's friend thing had sounded so ominous! And it was nothing. That made what Angela had planned so much easier to accomplish.

"Ummm, for Wesley's sake I hope so." Again, Brynn laughed. Then she stage whispered, "Really, I don't think there's much questioning it, though."

"Excellent!" Angela breathed a sigh of relief and then rushed on. "Look, I have something to tell you about Zack." Angela crossed her fingers and hoped she would get a favorable response.

"Is he OK?" Brynn sounded concerned. "I was wondering if everything was alright when I didn't even get to see him at the lab."

"Yeah, he's fine. He's just… Had a rough time of it with a girl we work with and was second guessing his feelings for you." Crap. Had that just come out of her mouth? Angela tried to think of a way to backtrack.

"His feelings for me?" Brynn sounded surprised. "What kinda feelings?"

"Sweetie… I don't think that's really for me to say. But, I think you should talk to him. Now."

"He's not at the lab. I've tried to call and was told he was out."

"No. He's at home. Do you want directions?"

"Are you gonna tell him I'm coming?" Brynn asked. "Because I'm scared he might hide again."

"Again?" Angela asked, surprised.

"What? Y'all thought I didn't see him bolt when he saw me right before lunch?"

"Oh, that. Really, he's all sorted out now. But, no, I'm not telling him. I think in this case, a surprise attack might be just what he needs." Angela grinned. "Are you ready for directions?"

"Go for it."

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

A/N : Well? Whadaya think? Still liking it? Come on… You know you wanna review it!