"Hiding away, all boxed up,
Over there while we are here.
Worried about how it all works out, you're a worrier.
Sorry I spoke but I didn't know how to keep it secret.
Comes out with time. Time tells all."

- 'Boxed up', The Get Out Clause

oo00oo

Zach watched as Doctor Temperance Brennan leaned in over the examination table, her eyes patrolling the length of the skeleton's leg. Zach recited the names in his head, trying to focus his thoughts.

Femur to the patella, patella to the tibia and fibia, down to tarsals and metatarsals…

He looked up at his teacher. She was frowning down at the bones, her head cocked to one side.

"Zach…"

He stepped forward, eager to help.

"Yes, Doctor Brennan?"

She turned the full intensity of her gaze on to him and he was confused.

She seems distracted. Doctor Brennan's never distracted. She's always focused and professional. She's Doctor Brennan…

"There seems to be an odd discolouration at the base of the patella."

He nodded, glancing down at the bone in question.

"Hodgins took a sample and is running it through the mass spectrometer right now."

She nodded back at him, obviously satisfied. Zach, on the other hand, most definitely wasn't. Ignoring Angela's arrival with a large sketch book, he took a step closer to his boss.

"Doctor Brennan…?"

She glanced at him, still distracted. That look in her eye made him uncomfortable.

"Yes, Zach?"

He paused, swallowing hard, acutely aware that he was anything but a people person.

"Doctor Brennan, is Booth's relationship with Doctor Saroyan what's distracting you?"

Both Temperance and Angela's heads snapped up. The artist waved a hand across her throat in a frenzied manner, trying to tell him to shut up, while Brennan just stared at him quizzically.

"Why would it bother me that Booth and Cam are friends? They've known each other a long time and it's not like it interferes with our work."

Zach shrugged.

"No, but I would have thought that the fact that they were having a sexual relationship might become an issue with future cases if you and Doctor Saroyan disagree over any findings."

Angela looked like she was about to kill him as Brennan just stared, her mouth wide open. Eventually, she seemed to regain her ability to speak, though her voice was barely audible.

"They're having a sexual relationship?"

Zach blinked rapidly, confused.

"I'm sorry, Doctor Brennan, I thought you knew. Everyone else does."

Her eyes widened to the size of saucers as she spun to face Angela.

"Did you know?"

Angela's cheeks flushed red and she averted her gaze. Brennan just stared at her for a moment before spinning on her heel and marching back toward her office. Angela glared at him, shaking her head fervently.

"Nice going, Zach."

Confused, he just stared back at her.

"What did I do?"

With a grunt of frustration, Angela tucked the sketch pad under her arm and raced off the forensic platform, catching Brennan just before she was about to enter her office. Grabbing her elbow, she spun her friend to face her.

"Bren, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't think…"

Anger flared in Brennan's eyes as she jerked her arm free, her jaw set in determination.

"I don't want to talk about this, Angela."

She turned away as the artist took a step forward, trying to reach out.

"Sweetie, please!"

Brennan spun round and Angela was shocked to see that the anger in her friend's eyes had been replaced with hurt and the distinct prickling of tears.

"After everything you said to me yesterday, after everything you told me to do… We're supposed to be friends, Angela, and you hid this from me, even when you were talking to me last night, telling me to... You knew all along that it was hopeless, that he was with her and you still told me to tell him that I…"

Catching herself, she snapped her jaw shut and narrowed her eyes.

"I'm sure you have work to do somewhere other than my office."

She stepped inside, slamming the door in Angela's face. The artist just stared at the wood, feeling it mocking her as Hodgins approached with a concerned frown.

"Everything ok?"

Angela turned to him, blinking back tears of frustration.

"I think I just screwed up. I think I just ruined everything."