Not the most exciting chapter, but I think it's my best so far. I've decided that this fanfic still takes place in between seasons 3 and 4, to benefit continuity and such…despite the fact that season 5 has already begun.

Who loves season 5? Raise your hand!

I apologize for the ridiculous hiatus I took. I haven't given up on this fanfic yet, so please don't give up on me. This fic is un-betaed, and has been so, from the start. If anyone is interested in beta-ing and kicking my butt into gear, let me know. :)

I'd like to thank everyone for continuing to review. For anyone reading, "The History of Zachary Addy," I hope to update soon, but I can't promise anything for sure.

Enjoy!

He had a dream.

Hodgins, his comrade, his partner in crime, was speaking. He stood at the podium; flowers decorating the grass around the speaking area. Zach couldn't hear what he was saying at first, but then it became clearer.

"A good friend is something hard to come by. A best friend…even harder."

The young anthropologist scanned the crowd, now surrounding Dr. Hodgins. Agent Booth, arm wrapped around his shaking partner, Cam, and Angela, shedding a good many tears on Dr. Sweets' suit. He saw Caroline Julian, gripping Cam's shoulder, and Dr. Goodman. Even Dr. Wyatt was there, though he appeared more interested in the two partners than what Hodgins was saying.

"Whether we were solving cases or arguing over who would be that week's King of the Lab…" Jack's voice faltered, "…he was my right hand man. No matter how many grad students continue to file through, none will take his place."

Fair statement, Zach decided. He considered himself a genius and one of the brightest in his field. Anyways, unless it was possible to make some type of clone of himself, none could really take his place being that they would not be exactly the same as he.

"When he went…when he went away to Oakland, I felt like a hole had been torn inside me. A hole that could only be filled by my best friend."

A hole? Of course that couldn't be true. Zach couldn't remember doing any physical damage to Hodgins. Ever. Well, there was that time that he punched him in the face. But that was entirely justifiable. Plus, Zach didn't really consider himself to be physically strong…

"Metaphorically speaking, of course," Hodgins smiled, "If Zach were here right now, I doubt he would have understood my previous statement. But that's one of things that I learned to love about the guy."

Ah. That made much more sense. He made a note to thank Hodgins for understanding.

"And I really, really wish he were still here," Hodgins stepped away from the podium and Angela stepped forward, sniffling.

"From the first day I met Zach, I made note to try and help him out a little. It took a lot of energy to not write him off as 'hopeless case.' But I persevered," Angela teased, weakly. A deep chuckle came from Agent Booth.

Another fair statement, Zach decided, though he was slightly offended. Hopeless?

"I gave him countless romantic advice. But if I'd feel sorry for anyone in that position, I'd feel bad for Booth," the artist smirked, "He took the brunt of the awkward and most of the times sexual questions from our quirky, little boy."

Zach frowned. He never meant the questions to be awkward. Who could blame him for seeking greater knowledge about sensual relations?

"I know I tease. That's my way of coping, I suppose. To cut to the chase," Angela wiped he eyes on her sweater sleeve, "We all miss Zach. People might tell us to get over it, or just forget. We might even tell ourselves these lies. But you know what? A little grieving can be good for you, sometimes. Zach will always be in my thoughts, no matter how any shrink advises me," she glanced playfully at Sweets before stepping away. Cam leaped forward.

"I was skeptical of Zach, at first," Cam spoke quickly, out of nervousness, "I turned him down, when he first asked for a job here. I was probably pretty well hated for my first few months working as a pathologist, at the Jeffersonian," she began to slow down, "So Angela bought him some clothes and got him to cut off his cute, scruffy shag. He asked again, and I gave him the job. He was no longer an intern at the Jeffersonian, but a well-paid forensic anthropologist, following in the footsteps of his mentor, Dr. Temperance Brennan."

He never hated Dr. Saroyan, though Zach did get slightly upset about the job issue. He wanted so bad to remain in the shelter of the Jeffersonian.

The strong woman seemed unusually vulnerable, as she spoke of Dr. Addy, "It seemed that as soon as he got the job, he left," the former cop continued, "Zach went to Iraq, to serve his country. It was a noble effort, but I can't say that I wasn't overjoyed when he walked into the lab, having been sent home for reasons he wouldn't say. I think that was the first time I called him 'Zacharoni,' at least to his face. It became my nickname for him, over time," she almost smiled. Almost, "Zach was the one who I told everything. Personal matters, family matters…nothing I would have told anyone else. Maybe not even Seeley, whom I've known more than twice times as long. He might not have been a great speaker, but he was the best listener. I'll miss that," she turned away.

Zach shook his head. The mourning, the grievances…he didn't mean for his betrayal to cause his friends such anguish.

Both Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth stepped up to the platform, seemingly joined at the hip. Booth started, "Like Angela said, Zach bugged me time and time again about my previous relationship experiences. I get it. He looked up to me, but Jesus, Zach," he scoffed, before turning more serious, "He was a dedicated worker and a great kid. I may have been too hard on him, when I tried to get the information about Gormagon. I was just doing my job. Really, I was just as shocked as anyone else. And watching his friends…and his mentor," he glanced at his partner, "…suffer was a great pain to bear. I really miss the kid. All of his awkward questions included."

Zach watched his greatest role model clear her throat and lean forward, "I had strong emotional attachments to Zach, however illogical it may have been to feel the same way about him after what he did. I didn't care that he…killed the lobbyist or worked with a cannibalistic serial killer, as I watched him through that hospital window, speaking with Ms. Julian. I just wanted him to stay with us, no matter what he'd done. It's selfish, criminally speaking, but…" her eyes filled with tears again and she started to speak in a whimper, "…he was my student. I was his mentor. Zach was compelled to do what he did by logic. I know that…but I still feel that somehow I must have done something wrong. I taught Zach to rely on logic alone. His reliance and dependence on logic is what caused his downfall," if she had her way, not a tear would be spilled from the brilliant, crystal orbs. Seeley Booth wouldn't have it.

"It's not your fault, Bones. You can't take responsibility," whispering, as his hand slid onto her shoulder.

Unfortunately, the forensic anthropologist didn't have her way. One spilled over…then another. She put her face into the man's dress shirt and breathed in heavily, snuffing out the disobeying tears.

Zach shook his head defiantly. It was most certainly not Dr. Brennan's fault; he agreed with Booth wholeheartedly.

Suddenly, something else caught his eye, though. The platform faced a ring of daisies, circling around an ominous hole in the earth, a curious stone, a cherry wood box, an imprinted lid, a body inside.

The body was his.

"Zach!"

He wouldn't wake up. She shook his shoulders, roughly, "Zach! Wake up, Zach!"

Sweat poured off of his forehead and his body quaked with chills. Moans escaped from his pale lips. Angela needed to quiet him, before they both got in trouble. Her fingers traced his eyelids, then down to his mouth. She pressed slightly against the entrance, "Please wake up Zach. He'll hear you."

An eyebrow quivered and rose. The moans subsided. He drifted back into soundless slumber. The woman tangled his arm in hers and kissed his head.

"We'll get through this," a whisper of a promise graced the air.

"This is it?" Temperance asked and was confirmed by her partner's solemn nod. The FBI issued suburban pulled onto the bumpy, gravel driveway. He was out his door and to hers before she could unbuckle her seatbelt.

"This is highly unnecessary, Booth," the woman protested when he clicked open the passenger door.

"Hey, I just want to tell you something before we go inside," he paused, "Try to be nice, alright?"

"Nice?"

"Yeah…you know; no insulting, yelling, physical contact of any kind…"

"Booth, she's a suspect."

"I know that, Bones. But…this situation hits home for all of us…"

"I can control myself, Booth. I'm not a child. Irrational behavior would only complicate things more so. I would never endanger Zach and Angela by acting stupidly. You of all people should know that," she spat, her words stinging him like a slap in the face.

"Bones…" he pleaded, as she walked away from him and towards the house of Sandy Smithers, "Bones! I'm sorry. I didn't mean it…Bones, I'm sorry," he caught up to her and she silenced him as the door cracked open.

"Hello? Can I help you?" a bleach blonde head peaked out the once white front door, now peeling and cracked.

"Sandy Smithers?" Booth asked and the woman nodded, "Agent Seeley Booth, FBI. This is my partner, Dr. Temperance Brennan. We're just here to ask you a few questions. May we come in? If that's no trouble…"

"Yes…yes..." Sandy's eyes widened, "Certainly…come in. No trouble at all."

Brennan walked through the door before Booth, who had paused, scanning the woman's face. She was afraid of him, but Booth couldn't figure out if she was frightened because there was an FBI agent at her door or if she was frightened because…there was an FBI agent at her door…and she had something to hide.

The woman seated the partners and then herself in the country themed sitting room and released her hitched breath.

"Do you know what this is about?" Booth questioned and Sandy shook her head violently.

"I have no idea," she strained, then she squinted and forced a smile, which seemed to turn genuine, "But I remember you," Sandy nodded towards the forensic anthropologist, "You're Mr. Addy's girlfriend," she raised and lowered her eyebrows suggestively and Temperance frowned.

"Actually," Booth began, "That's why we're here. We'd like to ask you a few questions about Dr. Addy. I understand from Dr. Calder that you were a frequent visitor at the Oakland Mental Institution."

"Yes. I often visited my ex-fiancé Jonathan. Still a looker, though his mind's going. Maybe it was never really quite there in the first place…"

"Sandy," the FBI agent interrupted Miss Smither's tangent, "Jonathan and Dr. Addy had visiting cubicles located next to each other. You were seen talking to him, as you visited Mr. Brady."

"I didn't mean to break any rules," the woman avoided his glance and stared past his head, "He was just lonely, the poor soul. Never got any visitors. No…once or twice he got a visit from a bearded man, with these really blue eyes…"

"Hodgins," Brennan and Booth thought in unison, as their eyes connected, briefly.

"Did he ever tell you about why he was sent to the institute? Or mention anything that you found unusual?" Brennan spoke, her eyes piercing into the one she was questioning.

Sandy shook her head, "I know that he was convicted for murder, just like Jonathan, but that's about it. I didn't press him for any information. He didn't seem that crazy…but you never know….you know?"

Temperance glared at the woman in irritation, but Booth merely coughed once and stood up, "Thank you for your time. Is there any way we can contact you if…anything else comes up?"

"Yes, yes," the bleach blonde nodded, grabbing a pad of paper off the table and a pen out of a drawer, "My cell number, my home number…you probably already have that. As for my work number…I have a card somewhere around here…but you probably won't need it," she bit her lip, "Anything else I can do for you?"

"No, that'll be all, thanks," Booth's hand rested on the small of his partner's back as he guided her to the door.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I need to prepare for a date tonight," her eyebrows waggled and she laughed nervously, "He's the only man I've seen since Jonathan. I hope it works out."

Seeley smiled at her, "Good luck, then." His partner rolled her eyes, and Sandy ran up the stairs.

"Come on, Bones. Let's get back to the lab. Bones?" he paused, halfway to the car, when he realized she wasn't following him, "Bones?" he hollered, looking around, "What are you doing?"

The forensic anthropologist snatched a paper off an end table by the stairs and exited the house, walking towards him.

"What are you doing? You can't take her stuff," her scolded, incredulously.

"It's her work number," Brennan explained with a scoff, "And a pamphlet for the place she works at. Some kind of restaurant?" Tempe studied the menu items, "I'm not stealing. Just collecting information."

"Let's just hope she doesn't need that paper. C'mon. Get in the car."

She glared at his command, but complied, choosing to ignore his "alpha male complex" for now.

"Another loose end," Brennan growled, as soon as the car started moving back down the gravel driveway.

"I'm sorry, Bones," Booth looked into her eyes, before he turned onto the street.

She looked out the window and avoided his occasional glance in her direction, "I know," she whispered, more to herself than to him, "I know."

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. Apologies to all of you who have ever read this fanfic. And great thanks to those who have continued to review and/or subscribe.

I hope that everyone out there who loves Zach as much as I do enjoyed this chapter. I feel it was my best written so far.

Please review and/or subscribe, for you first time readers. And make sure to watch the next episode of Bones, this Thursday at 8 pm!

-Green