Author Note: Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. I've started school and just really haven't had a lot of writing time. I'm posting another chapter right after this but then it might be a while before I post again. Especially because I prefer to write in story blocks. (kind of like how I posted all of the Christmas episode chapters at once.) I like to finish the smaller 'stories' all at once so you aren't left at an awkward cliffhanger. I'll try my best to keep updating but it'll be hard. I'm in my schools play, AP classes, Duel enrollment College Classes, and I do sports. So I'll do my best, but sorry if it takes a while. Also this chapter's kind of just an weird transition. It's awkward but necessary to progress the story. So their's not a whole lot of substance, so again, sorry for that as well. And with that, back to the story..
The proceeding four days after Christmas were relatively boring. I wasn't needed at work so I stayed home, and since I was new to the area I had no friends other then those I met in the lab, and I'm not sure if I should even call them friends. I would have considered calling up Zack, but our relationship was still a little fuzzy and any ways he was still in Michigan with his family as far as I knew.
I honestly hated time off. A day or two was a nice break but after that I just grew anxious. On the fifth day of my seemingly endless break Dr. Hodgins called me in, I through on a white dress brushed my hair and left my apartment in seconds. I arrived at the museum within 15 minutes. I walked in and things were busier then usual.
"What's going on?" I asked Dr. Hodgins about the flurry of excitement.
"They've found a perfect specimen from the Iron Age!" He was so excited, walking while he talked. "Brennan's been asked to authenticate it. Imagine what this could mean for the museum if it was the real thing!"
"That's amazing!" I shared his enthusiasm "how 'perfect' are we talking?"
"An entire, intact skeleton, with clothing, weapons and all"
"Wait really? That's extremely rare! Is it available for viewing?" I asked looking around for where it would be.
"Not right now, Goodman's briefing Brennan and Zack right now. But after it should be available. Just no touching obviously." I paused. I don't know why but the news that Zack had been back and I didn't know about it bothered me a little. "You can look at it later though. You have work to do and you'd have to wait in line anyway" he pointed to the row of doctors with their faces pressed against the door to the bone room. With that he suddenly left our conversation, I'm assuming to work on some other business. Just then Dr. Goodman and Dr. Brennan left the room, dispersing the crowd. Which means, Zack was alone. I quickly walked over and poked my head in to see him bending over the table eye level with the bones. He was squinting, he really did look very cute focusing so hard on the remains. I stepped further in and he still didn't notice my presence. I continued to walk towards him until I was inches away from him and he still hadn't noticed I was there.
"Ah-hem" I coughed and he bolted up looking at me in surprise.
"Catherine, hi, umm. I didn't see you there."
I laughed then turned to examine the bones "so what do you have here."
"It's a solider from the Iron Age. Or at least we think it is. Dr. Brennan and I must authenticate it."
"This is so cool. I can't believe how rare this is." I looked back up at him "you must be excited, a find like this can make careers."
"I am. Especially since we've only really been handling murders lately it will be nice to go back to something more traditional. This is why I became an anthropologist after all." I smiled at his obvious joy "was there something you wanted or were you just coming to socialize?" He asked awkwardly.
"Just here to socialize. And see the awesome bones. So when did you get back?"
"Yesterday. Why?"
"I was just wondering. Todays my first day back since Christmas so I wasn't sure."
"Oh" he said in alarm.
"What? Did I say something" I replied in a panic.
"Oh no." He said looking back up at me. "I just found an odd fracture to the orbital region. It might be cause of death."
"Oh, cool. I'll just get out of your way then. Let you do your work"
"Thank you." I began to walk away but he spoke again "I'll talk to you later" he said hopefully after me.
I smiled. "Yeah, later" I walked straight to Angela's office as I was procrastinating work. I entered her office and Angela ran over to hug me.
"Sweetie where have you been?" She said as she squeezed all the breath out of me.
"Home, they didn't need me to do anything here. Why?" I said wheezing.
"Because it's been like four days. And you never talked to me about Zack." She placed her hands in their usual place above her hips. "Ok sit down and spill it. Now. And don't leave out any of the details. What happened between you two? When I walked in you were like Dogs in heat."
I laughed. "Nothing. We just. We were talking and then one thing led to another and.." I paused.
"and WHAT!"" she asked excited.
"And we kissed. It really wasn't a big deal."
"It's your first kiss of course it's a big deal. So.. How was it? I mean cause I've never really thought of Zack being that you know," she paused to think of the right word "assertive. But from what I saw. That was one hot kiss" I blushed. "That good?"
I looked up at her and smiled. "Better." Her eyes widened and she leaned forward as a signal for me to continue. "I don't know how to describe it really. It's like, I wasn't even in control of my own body."
"Oh, I know that feeling. When you kiss someone and you just have to close any and all space in between you because you just need to be closer to them"
"Exactly" that is exactly how I had felt.
"Oh honey. You need to go find him like right now and ask him out. That doesn't happen with just anybody. Especially with your first kiss."
"You really think I should ask him out?"
"Definitely. Why wouldn't you? You're a strong independent woman and it's the 21st century. Also guys like Zack need a little nudge when it comes to the love department. Trust me. The sooner the better. You don't want to just let this romantic tension stir, because it'll fade if you don't move. You need to go. Like now."
"But he's working?" I defend as she started to shove me out of the room.
"Doesn't matter it takes 2 seconds. Just do it." She pushed me through the hallway back to the bone room. I stumbled in and she shut the door behind us.
Zack looked up at me alarmed. "Can I help you?"
"Oh um" I tried to play it cool and leaned back on the door "nah, I'm good. You?" I was failing.
"We just talked like 5 minutes ago? Or has it been longer and I just didn't notice?" He muttered the last bit primarily to himself looking down at his watch.
"No.. It's just.. It's nothing. I'll just go" I said pointing to the door.
He walked over to me "well it must be something or else Angela wouldn't have pushed you in here."
I looked back at him and blushed "you saw that?"
"Yeah. So what's up?" He said leaning against the bone table crossing his arms.
"It's nothing really, it's just. Angela thought" I paused trying to,figure out my wording. "Well I thought." I began to fidget with my hands. Looking down trying not to make eye contact. I've obviously never done something like this before and was extremely nervous.
"Now who's the nervous one?" He joked and I looked back up at him surprised by his confidence. He moved closer to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. This eased my nerves and I put my arms around his neck. Our relationship no longer felt blurry now that we were together. We held each other closely but our upper bodies were leaned away from each other as we looked into the others eyes. "So what's making you so nervous?" He spoke softly in a comforting tone.
I smiled back at him "you". he leaned forward and kissed me lightly. "I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date with me?"
He looked back at me with a large smile. "I would immensely enjoy that." He released my waist and started to move away from me again. "But for now I must get back to work"
"Oh yeah. Sorry." I said with an awkward smile "Later." I began to leave and he looked back at me.
"I'll find you this time" he said and I laughed.
"Yeah".
