Brennan opened her eyes. She blinked as the bright lights of the lab hit her pupils. She started to lift her head, then flinched. Reaching up, she massaged the side of her neck, slowly turning her head so her forehead was pressing against the bench in front of her. She took a breath and started to sit up straight. Every muscle in her back and shoulders resisted.
"I really have to stop working such long hours and falling asleep at my work bench" she said outloud, to nobody.
Her voice sounded incredibly loud in the silence of the lab. She glanced around as she lifted her arms above her head to stretch. Twisting from side to side, flexing her shoulders and tilting her head from side to side, trying to loosen up her stiff body.
A voice behind her made her turn around.
"Morning Doctor Brennan. I hope you slept well?" Zack said.
"Considering I was asleep at my workspace, I expect I slept well enough Mr Addy." she said.
She noticed Zack was frowning at her "Is there something wrong Mr Addy?"
His eyes kept flickering away from her and he shuffled his feet.
"Mr Addy? I asked if there was anything wrong." she repeated, annoyed that she had to ask him a second time.
"Well, no, but. You have. There's something" he flicked his forefinger over his own cheek.
"Is there something wrong with your face Mr Addy?" she asked, frowning.
He hesitated, then stepped up to her, reaching out and pulling a triangular piece of skull from her cheek and holding it out to her.
She stared at it for a moment, then slowly reached out and took it from him "Oh. Thankyou. I expect I would have missed that at some point." she said.