A/N: My, my... Fancy seeing you here! Come here often sweetheart? Yes, I'm having a very weird day today so please excuse me and any blatant errors in this chapter I haven't had time to check. Still a little on the angsty side, but you know what? Isn't love basically angsty until you get to the admission and the fluffiness of the relationship (or in some cases, best to replace fluffiness with torture... Maybe that's just because of some of the guy's I've dated though.) Anyhoo, hope you like it. Next chapter should be up tues night / weds morning. I'm very excited for wednesday's episode by the way. Stephen Fry is in it. I think I just peed my pants with excitement. Not really obviously. That would be wrong. And messy. Ewwwww... Oh, and just to make this the longest author's note in history, just one more thing. The top 10 Bones moments are at the end of this. Please vote for your top 5 and I'll have the video up soon as I can, probably by the end of the week. If you don't vote, you can't complain later. So there... I'll let you actually read the story now. I can't believe you actually read all this guff... Thanks though!

Angela Montenegro had spent well over an hour attempting to contact as many of the hospitals and clinics she could find that performed gender reassignment surgeries in an attempt to get their help identifying the body from the park. While everyone she had spoken to had been polite, Angela felt increasingly exasperated with their lack of help.

Slipping past the numerous workers milling about the lab, Angela clutched the pile of files to her chest and marched up the metal steps to the gangway. Glancing around to check the area was empty, she sat herself down at the table with her back to the lab.

She had to focus incredibly hard on not turning around and scouring the place for Nate. The truth was she was scared, scared to see someone else in her office, terrified of yet another intrusion.

I can't stand to be in my own office anymore. Someone violated my space, my life, they ruined my work. I don't even know how much longer I can stand to be in this building.

Why would someone do this to me? What have I done to deserve this?

She stared down at the file in front of her, her hands in her lap as she tried to decide whether or not to open it. Eventually, she gave in and flipped open the manila folder.

Ignoring the taste of bile creeping up her throat, Angela carefully removed the individual evidence bags and arranged them in front of her on the table.

First came her white shirt, now stained with blood. Pushing it aside, she focused on the letter that had caused her to run. Under her breath, she read it aloud.

"He that is without sin amongst you, let him cast the first stone." - John 8:7

You're hardly without sin, are you sweet Angela? You've entered the world where Angelas fear to tread. Time to run little painter, run away.

You know what's coming. Or did you already forget me? Don't worry, you'll be joining your little Kirk soon enough.

Big kisses baby girl.

I'll see you soon."

Even now, I don't understand. It doesn't make any sense to me.

Shaking her head, Angela turned to the photos that lay crisp and seemingly untouched in the plastic baggies.

Kirk…

She traced the contours of his face with her finger, smiling at the memories frozen in front of her. The way she was laughing as she nuzzled his neck, the way his arm curled around her protectively, the way his smile and the look in his eyes mirrored her own.

We were in love…

She closed her eyes to steel herself against the images that came flooding back, not noticing the single tear which managed to escape until she heard it plop on the plastic. Worried she may have inadvertently contaminated the evidence, Angela's eyes flew open and immediately focused on the one thing she didn't want to see again.

The torn up photo of herself, her eyes streaming blood. Swallowing hard, she stared at the reassembled pieces, trying to make sense of the message scrawled beneath her mutilated figure.

Why am I a traitor? What have I done?

After a long couple of minutes hopelessly staring at the evidence, Angela dropped her head in to her hands and closed her eyes.

Normally, she would go and talk to Brennan but that wasn't even a choice today. Her best friend was far too absorbed in the whole Booth situation for Angela to go and bother her.

She'd try and help, but all she'd really be doing is distracting herself from Booth's potential reassignment. I want those two almost-lovebirds to sort things out and they can't do that if I'm pulling Bren away.

So where does that leave me? I know I could talk to Hodgins but it's still early days between us. I've already screwed things up before by telling him to back off after our date. I don't want to push him away again.

But how can I tell him? How can I possibly admit just how scared I am to walk in to my own damn office, to check my own mail? I know it's completely irrational but I'm terrified.

Angela tensed up, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as she felt the sensation of someone watching her. Slowly, she straightened up, staring right ahead of her. She paused for a few seconds before snapping her head to the left and right, her eyes narrowing as she scoured the area around her.

Nothing. There was nobody there.

See, I'm even getting scared by my own shadow now.

Sighing heavily, Angela glanced down at the evidence in front of her and remembered what had happened to her when she ran away from it all, when she escaped the lab. She hadn't dared to say anything yet, not with the warning she'd received. She'd not even told her closest friend.

If I told them what really happened, maybe that would help, maybe that could sort everything out, maybe then I'll stop being scared.

She felt a chill run through her entire body as she remembered the menacing voice as it dealt her the grave warning all those hours before.

Or maybe it'll just get us all killed.

oo00oo

Hodgins gathered up the stack of papers in front of him, excited by his new discovery. Marching round his work station, he quickly circled a few key results and made his way towards his boss's office.

So what if Cam's technically in charge? She might be doing a great job and all but Brennan was my boss first. Plus, the amount of money I pump in to this place, it's not like either of them can fire me…

Looking up, he saw Brennan leaning back in her chair and staring up at the ceiling. From behind the closed door, he could have sworn he heard the muffled chorus of some old Foreigner song.

Man, this is whole reassignment thing has really gotten to her. I just hope Booth sucks it up and admits what a jackass he's been before he drives her away completely.

Not wanting to be rude, Jack knocked loudly on the door and waited for his boss's terse response over the muted music.

Strolling inside, he almost stopped in his tracks when he saw the state of the anthropologist. Her hair was in a messy ponytail, her blue eyes dulled by their redness and there were smudges of mascara down her cheeks.

Pretending he hadn't noticed the fact she'd been crying, Hodgins smiled as he laid the reports down on the desk in front of her.

"Hot blooded?"

She blinked rapidly as she looked up at him.

"Excuse me?"

"The song you were playing before. 'Hot Blooded' right?"

She blinked again, though this time she appeared to be forcing back tears as she bit her lower lip and nodded.

Hodgins just stared down at her as she read through his findings.

If Booth doesn't sort this out, I'm gonna kick his federal ass… Well, I might have to hire some big, burly weightlifter called Knuckles, but I'll get his ass well and truly kicked one way or another.

Temperance spoke without looking up.

"And you've double checked your results from the mass spectrometer? We were having problems with it yesterday."

"Yes, Doctor Brennan. I followed the protocol to the letter even though it's usually a complete waste of time."

He was surprised that she didn't even bother to defend the rules of the lab.

Woah, things really are serious…

It was then something occurred to Hodgins, something that hadn't really crossed his mind before.

Booth and Doctor Brennan are just as stubborn as one another. Maybe Booth's already tried to patch things up and she's not budging… No, because then why would she be crying? Well, if she's crying then that proves just how much she cares about the guy so maybe she'd be willing to make the first move here…

"Hodgins?"

He blinked, crash landing back in to reality as Brennan handed him back the reports.

"Sorry, I was, uh, calculating some things… In my head… Because I'm a scientist."

She arched an eyebrow at him but made no further comment, turning back to the blank computer screen and sighing heavily. Taking a deep breath, Hodgins decided he had to take the risk.

Hell, it might even work. Now that sure would impress Angela. That's it, I'm definitely going for it…

He took a small step forward.

"Doctor Brennan?"

She turned to face him but he didn't give her the chance to ask what else he wanted.

"Look, I don't want to be out of line here and I know Angela's the one you'd choose to talk to about this kind of thing but you gotta remember, I was the one who was down in that hole with you. I saw what you wrote. I saw what you really feel about him."

Brennan opened her mouth to say something but no words came out. She just sat there staring at him, her mouth agape. Hodgins felt slightly uncomfortable but he knew he couldn't back out, not now.

"Doctor Brennan, I know you've had it pretty tough. You've had to watch the people you love walk away from you. So why the hell would you want to push him away as well, the one person in the world you know for sure you can trust?"

Her mouth now shut, the anthropologist's somewhat bemused expression had been replaced by a look of indignant rage.

"All I'm saying is, life's too short. You've got nothing to lose baby."

He spun on his heel and marched away, pausing in the doorway with a sheepish grin.

"Sorry, but I swear the whole 'baby' thing really is just a reflex…"

Scurrying away before she'd have the chance to throw any heavy objects at his head, he spotted Angela trotting up the stairs. Curious where she was going and just wanting to check how she was feeling, Hodgins followed her up.

Reaching the communal area that looked down on the rest of the lab, he saw Angela sitting at the table going through a file and couldn't keep the grin off his lips.

She really is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

God, I love that woman…

Tip-toeing towards her, he felt the grin stretch from ear to ear.

And she actually seems to like me too. I'm the luckiest man in the world.

But then something stopped him in his tracks, something just registering in his love-addled brain.

Kirk. She's looking at photos of Kirk.

He watched as she trailed a finger down the side of her lost lover's face, a look of pain and regret burning in her eyes.

Jack felt his stomach tighten.

Does she like me? I mean really? The way that she lost Kirk was horrible and a complete shock. She loved him and he loved her. To lose him like that…

I'm just a temporary replacement, I'm the rebound guy.

Swallowing hard, Hodgins backed away and tried to ignore the pang of guilt he felt at seeing a single tear roll down her face.

I don't want to lose her but if she still loves Kirk, I'd be taking advantage. That's not the kind of man I am, especially not with someone as special as her. I'll be there for her as much as she needs but I guess she just needs space.

Practically sprinting down the stairs, he didn't see her turn and she didn't see him leave. Ignoring the urge to turn around, Hodgins headed straight for his workstation.

I'm practically the richest man in the world, I can have basically anything that I want.

He couldn't help but steal a glance up at her.

But all I want is her.

A/N: You know what, I actually kinda love Hodgins. He's just so darn cutesy! Anyway, here's the top ten Bones moments from season 1. You need to vote for your favourite five. So, in no particular order, here goes...
1.) Booth saving Brennan from Kenton. 2.) Dancing together in the bar in 'The Man In The Bear'. 3.) Dancing to Foreigner/Booth getting blown up. 4.) Brennan in court in 'The Girl In The Fridge'. 5.) Brennan breaking down in the barn with Booth's support in 'The Woman In Limbo'. 6.) The "You missed me" conversation from 'The Man on the Fairway'. 7.) Booth breaking down in the cemetery at the end of 'The Soldier on the Grave'. 8) Brennan accidentally getting in a fight in the club in 'The Man In The Wall'. 9) Doctor Goodman giving Angela a nice version of her job description. 10) Booth high at christmas in 'The Man in the Fallout Shelter'.

And don't forget, if you don't vote then you can't complain about the results later... Thanks for reading kids.