Chapter 4- Zack is SO Helpful

Abby came back into the lab looking quite dejected. Hodgins noticed first. "Hey, blondie? What's the problem?"

Abby glanced at him. "Are you inquiring as to why I returned?" Hodgins nodded. She sighed. "Apparently Booth needed to go to the office. I don't have a ride home now. I suppose my next option would be to secure a taxi for transportation."

Abby cringed at the thought of getting in the taxi. All those people had been in it all day with germs and who knows what sickness. It was disturbing. Zack barely glanced up from his work.
"Hodgins has sufficient space in his vehicle in order to transport you to your destination."

Hodgins looked up in surprise. He looked at Cam who shrugged helplessly. Abby glanced at Zack. "I would hate to impose…"

"He will not mind."

Cam held in a smile as Hodgins crossed his arms over his chest. "Yah, ok, that's cool. Talk like I'm not here. Ya know, whatever…"

Abby looked towards Hodgins. "But you are here… Why would you want us to converse as if you are not present?"

Hodgins rolled his eyes. "Never mind… I'd be honored to take ya, blondie."

Abby smiled brightly. "Thank you! I will be ready whenever you are."

Zack didn't look up from what he was doing. "Abby, since you aren't presently doing anything of value, you may wait in the lobby. We will be there shortly."

Abby blinked, looking down on at her toes. "Oh, um, alright…" She quickly spun on her toes and took off at a brisk pace.

Zack looked up to find Hodgins staring at him in a way that made him quite uncomfortable. "What?"

"Are you crazy?"

Zack frowned. "I do not believe so…"

"You practically forced me into taking her, then you tell her to go away. You sure have a way with the ladies, don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You told her she was basically useless and told her to leave. What if she gets lost or thinks rejecting her?"

"Rejecting her for what?"

Hodgins stopped himself from face palming, mainly because of the confused expression on Zack's face.

"For a genius, you really are an idiot."

"I don't understand.I simply didn't see any productive aspect of her remaining in the room since she was finished."

Cam sighed. "You're done too, Zacky."

"But, I-"

"No. As your boss, I'm telling you to leave, and I strongly suggest speaking with Abigail." Cam could be very intimidating when she tried, and Zack got easily spooked to begin with. Cam turned to leave.

Zack glanced at Hodgins. "Do you really think she would fire me if I disobeyed the order?"

Hodgins shook his head. "Dude, you are soo over your head. Why don't you wanna talk to her?"

Zack hesitated. He wasn't eager to reveal shortcomings, even to his friend. "There is not a specific reason, but I find myself unable to communicate even less than usual when Abby is around."

Hodgins mentally smirked. Bingo. "That's normal, buddy. I wouldn't worry about it. Just act like you do normally…um, scratch that. Just try to be as normal as you can. Don't uh, focus on whatever makes you distracted." Though Hodgins already had a pretty good idea of what had Zack distracted. "And don't forget to apologize."

Zack nodded and walked towards the lobby in the direction she had taken. He came upon a familiar scene in which Abby was once again being confronted by Naomi and her interns. Zack visibly stiffened, but continued walking. He caught part of what Naomi was saying.

"Abigail, sweetie, I just don't think you need to be here."

"Not necessarily, but I did request to be here. Also, as you are not my familiar, I will ask you to refrain from calling me 'sweetie' or any other generic pet name."

Naomi snorted and rolled her eyes, catching sight of Zack in the process. "Well, hello, Dr. Addy. What brings you here?"

Zack swallowed nervously. Then he remembered what Cam had said. "I came to speak with Abiga-Abby." He corrected himself at the last second.

Naomi's eyes narrowed at Abby, who flinched as if struck. "Well, if she's my replacement, Zack, I'm not going to feel too bad. She's no prize…" She gave Abby a criticizing look. "or competition for that matter."

Abby's head ducked down. "She didn't replace your job. You never worked in the Anthropology department, but she is very adept and capable at her job." Abby's spirits lifted a bit.

Naomi chuckled. "I'm not talking about work. Business and pleasure don't mix…well, sometimes."

Zack's eyes widened. Naomi thought he was dating Abby? He opened his mouth to correct her when Naomi rudely shoved Abby as she left in a storm. Abby stumbled towards Zack, but he caught her by the elbow and gently steadied her.

Abby frowned. "I apologize that you had to witness that."

"There is no need to apologize. I understand that Naomi is not considered to be "friendly"."

"What did she mean by saying I was her replacement?"

Zack ducked his head as his face flushed. "She believes we are in a sexual relationship."

Abby blushed bright red to match Zack. "W-what?"

"I was going to correct her when she shoved you forward. I didn't want you to fall."

Abby's blush subsided a bit as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry to be the cause of a misunderstanding between you and your… what's the word, girlfriend."

"She is not my friend and has attempted to publicly humiliate me several times."

Abby's mouth widened to form a small 'o'. "I'm sorry. I understand what that's like." She looked up at something past Zack and frowned slightly. Zack had the strangest desire to rid her of whatever was causing that frown.

Abby cleared her throat. "May I make a request of you?"

Remembering what Hodgins had warned him about earlier, he quickly nodded. "Well, you are much taller than me. Do you think you could retrieve my jacket?"

"But I saw you leave with it."

"Yes, but… perhaps it would be easier for you to see for yourself. She pointed a finger to an area behind him. He followed her line of sight to where an reddish cloth that he assumed was her jacket was draped over a tall light fixture.

"Oh." He glanced at Abby. She stood a few inches shorter than him. "There is no logical way for you to have gotten the jacket to that height."

She blushed. "Naomi's intern has a strong arm."

He nodded. "Judging by the height, it would be impossible for me to retrieve it without assistance."

Abby motioned towards a chair that had a soft padded back and a thick, sturdy base. Zack stood in the chair but Abby frowned. "It is still too short. Perhaps the back of the chair…"

Zack got down quickly. "I do not think that is a good idea. I'm not very coordinated and I do not think you could offer assistance if I fell."

She smiled wryly. "Perhaps not. Your broad shoulders and stature indicate that you would be much too heavy for me to assist."

"Was that a compliment?"

Abby looked confused. "Was it? I mean, do you want it to be? I was simply stating-"

Zack cut her off. "No need to explain. I understand. It's just that sometimes I have trouble interpreting second meanings in people's speech."

Abby nodded knowingly. "It would be easier if people just said what they mean."

Zack shifted uneasily as her vibrant green eyes continued to stare into his. "Um…back to the matter at hand…"

"Yes…what if I stand on the back of the chair?"

Zack thought for a moment as he looked at her and the chair, mentally calculating the distance. He nodded slowly. "That would be sufficient. Your body mass is small enough to where if you fell, I might be able to stop you from hurting yourself."

"Was that a compliment?"

"I did not intend it as such, but it could be if you wish it."

"I believe it would be prudent to simply say what we wish. It will help avoid communication misunderstanding in the future."

Zack nodded, grateful. "I agree. That would be much appreciated. I can help you onto the chair if you wish…"

"Thank you very much." Zack dragged the chair to the ideal positioning. He offered her a hand and she climbed onto the chair.

"Zack? Could you steady me please steady me?"

He looked at her blankly. "Place your hands on either side of my waist."

His face flushed as he placed his hands lightly on her waist. Abby frowned slightly. She grabbed his hands and pressed them tighter. "That amount of force will not be sufficient to prevent my falling."

"I apologize." Zack was blushing furiously. Abby used his shoulder to steady herself, causing her hair to brush against his cheek. Zack felt her muscles under his hands stretch and tighten as she reached for the jacket. Zack forced himself not to look up. In fact, he was closing his eyes tightly.

He cleared his throat rapidly. "Have you reached the article yet?"

"Um… almost got it…" Abby yanked on jacket. "It appears to be caught on something."

She tried her best to gather the material in her fingers and yanked hard. The jacket came free, but she lost her balance and fell forward. Zack didn't notice what was happening until too late.

He opened his eyes, but he didn't have time to react. Abby came crashing down and Zack lost his footing. He fell backwards and Abby followed.

"Oomph!"

"Ow…" Abby blinked down at him. "I thought you were going to catch me."

Zack grimaced. "I had my eyes closed."

"Why?" Her eyebrows pulled together.

Zack blushed. "I did not feel comfortable looking at you."

Abby frowned. "I don't feel comfortable falling on top of you."

"I conquer. I made an inaccurate choice."

Abby shifted her weight in order to get up and Zack grimaced in pain. Abby's eyes widened. "What's wrong?"

"When I fell the floor made an impact with my shoulder. I do not think it was fractured, but there might be substantial bruising." He shifted his eyes to look past her.

She tilted her head. "I'm sorry." He still did not look at her. "Is there a specific reason you are avoiding my gaze? I was taught it is proper social etiquette to look somebody in the eye when speaking to them." She shrugged. "Not that I'm one to judge."

Zack blushed. "Hodgins suggested I not look at what distracts me when talking to you."

"I distract you?" Her eyebrows furrowed again in confusion.

"I find myself being continuously distracted in your presence. That was the reason I had asked you to leave earlier."

"Oh…I'm sorry."

Zack raised an eyebrow. "You apologize a lot."

She blushed. "It is a habit. Most of the time when I mess up I assume it is my fault."

"Assumptions could cause a dangerous bias during scientific observation."

Her eyes flashed. "I am never wrong with my work. My comment was exclusive to social situations."

"Then it is my turn to apologize. Do you-"

"Ahem."

Two mortified faces looked up to see Hodgins. His hands were crossed over his chest and his expression was a mix of amusement and excitement. "This is not what I meant by apologizing Zacky…"

Abby scrambled up and Zack followed suit. "We, um, my jacket… Zack was helping…"

"Yes, I see that."

Abby blushed a deep red. Zack frowned. "Hodgins, we weren't doing anything unacceptable. Abby fell off the chair and I couldn't catch him in time."

"Because he had his eyes closed. I tried to warn him, but I wasn't fast enough…"

The smile on Hodgn's face grew. "Guys, you really have no idea how bad that sounds, do you?"

The two socially inept scientists looked at each other in confusion. "No." The said simultaneously.

Hodgins chuckled. "Man, if Angela were here…"

"Is she your girlfriend?" Abby asked in interest.

Hodgin's grin faded. "Oh, look at that. It's getting late. We should go."

Abby looked confused as Zack helped her with her jacket. "Why was Dr. Hodgins so eager to go?"

"I believe it was an attempt to refrain from answering the question."

"Why does he not just say he did not want to answer?"

Zack shrugged. "People are confusing."

"I do not think you are confusing, Zack." She finished buttoning the jacket. "And that was a compliment."

Zack smiled awkwardly. "I'm glad that you think so. I must admit talking to you is a reprieve from many others that seem confusing to me." He held the door for her. "That was intended as a compliment as well."

Abby hoped the cold air camouflaged her blush. "Thank you. Hodgins is probably waiting."

"It is most likely." They started walking to where Hodgins was waiting.

A/N: Aww… Zack is such a gentleman…and yes, Abby is a germaphobe. Not anything that would make it difficult for her to work in the lab, but she doesn't like public places like taxis, park benches ect.