Regional Medical Center- Intensive Care Unit

Saturday, 9:30 AM

Hodgins wanted to be pissed as all get out. He wished he could just shout and rage at the top of his lungs without giving a crap who saw. Why the hell did Zack have to run out to the crime scene? He couldn't have at least told them what it was that had gotten him so frickin' excited? Hodgins wanted to be able to be mad, because it meant he would be too busy to feel guilty. Maybe if he'd tried to stop him, Zack wouldn't have gone out. Maybe if he'd analyzed the particulates better, they'd have found the warehouse faster. Maybe Booth and Brennan would've gone in sooner if he hadn't made a fuss about not being allowed to come. Maybe, maybe, maybe!

But the simple fact was that Hodgins just felt too drained. It was as if the fear he felt for his friend's life took the place of any ability to be angry. He got the feeling that that it should annoy him, but it didn't.

Hodgins had been sitting by Zack's bed for over an hour and a half now, growing increasingly tired. Not physically, though he was exhausted just like everyone else. He couldn't think straight. It was like he was being asked to read a book blindfolded; no matter how much he wanted it, it wasn't possible. At first, he'd tried rambling to Zack about different particulates he's found that under normal circumstances he'd have been thrilled with, but it wouldn't work. Eventually, he'd been resigned to sit in a chair and wait his two hours out. He kept trying to ignore the fact that the noisy machines next to him were the only thing keeping his best friend alive.

"Y'know, if you die, I'll kill you." He muttered halfheartedly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw something flicker. Were his eyes playing games with him? He stared at Zack intently. No, it must have been the light. He settled back in his chair, feeling a pang of disappointment.

"I've been up for too long," He sighed. And then, he saw it again; on top of the blue blanket, Zack's fingers were feebly twitching. He froze, and for a moment it was if time froze along with him, watching and waiting.

"Zack…" Hodgins whispered, shocked. At first, nothing happened. Then, Zack's eyes fluttered open and met his own. At first, Hodgins was speechless, but then forced his voice to work.

"Hey, wakey-wakey! I think you've overslept!" He joked weakly, and for a moment, Hodgins felt his spirits soar. Zack was awake; he was going to make it! But his good mood quickly plummeted. The oxygen mask made it impossible for Zack to talk, but Hodgins heard a slight whimper. The hands that had previously lain so limply on the covers were now balled into fists so tight the blotchy skin turned a uniform white shade. His limbs shook visibly, and with each breath he was clearly in agony. Zack's dark eyes were filled with immense pain. A tear crept out and slid down his black-and-blue cheek. His pain was so obvious, Hodgins felt his own heart wrench, but he squeezed his friend's hand. There wasn't much he could do personally, but at least he could find someone who could ease Zack's suffering. He twisted around in his chair and shouted for a nurse, then looked back at Zack.

"Hang in there, Z-man, someone's coming," After a few seconds, a nurse appeared. As soon as she saw that Zack was awake, she darted in and pushed Hodgins away. Ignoring his squawks of protest at this sudden rudeness, she pressed down a small button on one of the machines. Almost immediately, Zack's eyelids started to sink closed. For a moment, they flickered back open; but this didn't last long, and soon his eyes closed again. His labored breathing calmed, and the whimpers of pain ceased. He was once again asleep, dead to both his pain and the world around him. The nurse let out a sigh of relief, then turn to glare at a very confused Hodgins.

"What did you do?" She asked, accusatorily.

"Nothing, I swear!" He cried. The nurse looked back at the heart monitor, and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh my," She whispered. Hodgins frowned.

"What now? Why'd you press that button?"

"There was a danger that the pain would cause him to go into shock. The button released a sedative that will keep him asleep for another hour." She waved her hand dismissively. "That doesn't matter now, though. See? His vitals have all leveled out! We didn't expect it, but look at that!" exclaimed the nurse, pointing at the beeping line that was Zack's heart. Sure enough, it had gone from weak and erratic to a more even, stronger pace. Hodgins stared at it, stunned.

"So, does that mean-?" He began hesitantly.

"-he'll most likely wake up after the sedative has worn off, and will be able to remain awake with little risk of going into shock. We'll be giving him some less intense pain killers. They might make him feel kind of foggy and numb, but he'll be conscious." The nurse finished for him.

"Then, can I stay here a little longer?" He questioned. Shrugging, she said;

"I don't see why not. If you'll excuse me, I have to inform Dr. Miller of this." And then left, flashing him a quick smile over her shoulder. Hodgins looked over at Zack again, and bit back a grin. They weren't out of the woods yet.

Quickly, he pulled out his phone and hit the speed dial.

"C'mon, pick up pick up pick up!" He hissed impatiently. After a few moments, someone answered. "Boy, do I have some great news!"