AN: Not mine. Just playing in their world.
Mid morning Zack decided to rest a bit because he didn't sleep because of his nightmares. He laid down and was greeted quickly by the sandman. An hour after he fell asleep he started shivering and coughing. He shot up in bed and wrapped the blanket around himself as he walked downstairs to the living room.
As he turned the TV on the front door opened and Jack rounded the corner. One look at Zack and he was next to him. He asked, "Are you all right? What happened?"
Zack looked at Jack, his features pale and his breathing short. "Another nightmare."
Jack pulled Zack's clammy body against his and held him. "It's going to be okay. I'm here. What happened in your nightmare?"
"I saw people dying and…then you were brought before me. They asked…what I wanted to have done to you…and I sentenced you to death."
"Let me get you something to drink. I'll be right back."
"Don't leave please."
"It'll only be a second."
"Okay." Zack took a deep breath to calm himself. Jack extracted himself from his lover and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. He returned and saw Zack more comfortable on the couch. Jack handed him the glass and Zack took a few sips before sitting it on the table next to the couch. When Zack had calmed down he looked at Jack and asked curiously, "Why are you home? I mean I'm glad you are but why?"
Jack pulled Zack against his body and said, "I have good news."
"What is it?" Zack asked while lacing his fingers with Jack's.
"Booth found evidence that will exonerate you and give you all of your credentials back. You could have your job back at the Jeffersonian."
"Wendell can keep the job. He would make a good assistant and one day a really good anthropologist on his own. Working with Dr. Brennan is a once in a lifetime experience. I like what I do now."
"Would you do independent consulting if we asked you to?"
"Sure but I don't want to do that full time anymore."
"What do you want to do with your time?"
"I like my writing and occasional lecture."