Being Because of One Night

Chapter 2

He went into work the next morning with a hangover. Not a smart thing to do, especially when working with one Dr. Temperence Brennan.

"Zack!" she yelled for what was seemingly the millionth time.

"Ugh," Zack groaned, clutching his head as her yell sent a new wave of pain through it. Brennan frowned.

"This is why you learn your limitations, Zack!" She said impatiently. "I don't want you messing up the bones just because you had the grand idea to go out drinking last night, do you hear me? So pull yourself together, take some ibuprofen and get to work!"

"Yes Dr. Brennan,"

Zack walked off in search of ibuprofen. He eventually found some in the break room and gulped two down with a sip of water. By the time he returned to the work area, his headache was almost gone. Zack's heart rate sped up as he saw Special Agent Seeley Booth, the FBI liaison for the Jeffersonian, standing near Brennan. He approached them and was dismayed to see that Hodgins was there as well. Of course he would be, Zack thought, he was part of the team after all. Zack swiped his access card and walked up the stairs.

"—found in a parking lot by a Costco," Booth was saying. Brennan nodded and rubbed her hands together.

"Okay, let's go. Zack, keep on cleaning the remains I was working on. Ange and Hodgins, do something useful," she waved a hand in their general direction before descending the stairs with Agent Booth. Zack could hear her asking questions as they walked away. He slipped some gloves on and went to the remains they were studying, a medieval knight. He sighed and picked up a bone, raising a pick to clean it.

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Brennan and Zack were bent over the new skeleton. It was a female, aged 16-20, with the vertebra all separated and a small hole in her skull. There was also abrasion on the wrists.

"Looks like there must have been either a very tight or a very strong rope around her wrists. They must have been on for a long time to cause bone abrasions," Zack suggested. Brennan nodded.

"Yeah. Hey Hodgins, what are those particles we gave you?" she called over.

"The ones from the wrists?" he asked, still clicking away at his computer.

"Yeah,"

"It was Kevlar, a type of fiber used to make rope. Very strong but very light,"

Brennan nodded. "Good job, thanks,"

"Bones!" Booth was approaching. "We have a lead, come on!"

"Zack, get that dirt from the vertebra and have Hodgins analyze it," she commanded. Zack nodded and approached the skeleton. He picked up a vertebra and began to pick some of the dirt into a small test tube. He went over to Hodgins.

"Hodgins?" he tried. Jack was focused on his work and didn't seem to hear. Zack tentatively placed a hand on his shoulder. He jumped and spun around. The young anthropologist held out the vial.

"Dr. Brennan would like this analyzed," he said. Hodgins nodded, but made no move to take the test tube. Their eyes locked and Zack swore that he could see something in the other man's. Before he could decide what it was, Hodgins grabbed the vial and turned away.

"I'll get this as soon as possible, Dr. Addy," he said.

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Agent Booth came over to Zack that afternoon just as he was preparing to go home.

"Hey, Zack,"

Zack looked up, startled. Booth rarely addressed him and, when he did, he never actually talked directly to the young man but through Brennan, and often referring to him a Squint 1.

"Yes?" Zack answered.

"Is there something you need to talk about?"

Zack shook his head. Booth was surprised. Something was obviously bothering the younger man and, usually, Zack sprang at the opportunity at talk with him.

"Are you sure?"

Zack sighed.

"I just kissed someone when I was drunk last night," he said quietly, "I don't know what to say to them."

Booth grinned. "No one knows more about talking to women than me, Zacky boy,"

"I don't doubt that. I do, however, doubt that you can help me with this. Talking to guys is different." Zack walked off in the direction of the door. Booth nodded.

"He's right," the FBI agent said to himself, "I can't help him with, wait. Did he say talking to guys?"