So it's Boxing day. I wanted to get this chap done in time for christmas, but my folks ran me ragged: the usual crap. so things are coming to a head. Disclaimer: I do not own Bones, or any of it's associated characters, settings, or story lines.

'What the hell is that?'

Hodgins worked hard to conceal his annoyance. Ever since he had agreed to help Sweets and Kat, Sweets was hanging around; more so than ever. He didn't even work for the Jeffersonian, yet he spent more time in the lab, than his own office.

'It's an exoskeleton I was examining before you showed up.' He said, not trying to hide the stressing on the last four words.

'This "angry at the world" phase is tanking much more time than I expected.' Sweets noted, seemingly perplexed.

'Based on your theory, I should be equally pissed at everyone, correct?' The psychologist nodded. 'Thing is, I'm not; you're wrong again.'

Sweets just stood there, unable to say anything in his own defence. Oh, this was priceless—the little snot was completely lost for words. 'Hodgins—1, Sweets—0.'

'You know, someday, you'll all miss me. You'll miss my charm, my insight, my knowledge of the psyche—'

'More like your fat head.' Hodgins muttered as he turned back to the exoskeleton. It was definitely a cicada—a fascinating beetle that would stay underground for seventeen years after hatching. If only Sweets would do the same… 'You ever realize that there are fifteen year olds who are better spoken than you? Most of them have lower IQs too.'

'Who do you know that's fifteen?' Sweets asked, skeptical.

'My cousin was only fifteen a couple of years ago. He went up to Canada, and was arrested for urinating in a public fountain in Montreal. He was very well-spoken at the hearing.' Hodgins added.

'What did he say?'

'He was intoxicated, and therefore not of sound mind. Strangely enough, they didn't charge him for underage drinking, just drunk and disorderly.'

'That's just how Canada is.' Sweets said knowingly. 'It's a strange place where they have no capital punishment and you can leave your coat on a pile on someone's bed, and know it won't get stolen.'

Booth was surprised, and a little alarmed when Cam dragged him into her office. He hadn't been in there alone with her since before they'd cut things off—again. This time though, he doubted she had anything even remotely romantic to say to him. It was insane how scary she could be when she was all business.

'Why aren't you giving my team any cases?'

Her question was sharp and to the point. It was an undeniable truth that he hadn't brought a case to the squint squad since before Kat had been hired. 'I, uh, wanted to give Kat a little time to settle in—get used to the Jeffersonian.' The excuse sounded pathetic even as her said it.

'Almost three months is long enough.' Cam said sternly. 'According to the other agents, you've been handing off a lot of cases, or letting the FBI forensics team work them. That doesn't sound like you at all Booth.'

She was right—it wasn't like him. 'It just doesn't feel right around here. You guys deserve a little more time to recover from losing Zack. I know he tore a big hole in this place; and Kat's trying to fill it, but it's not working.'

He hoped on some level, Cam would understand. But she wasn't always the most understanding person when it came to work. This was one of those times. 'Don't underestimate the team Booth. We all do better when we're busy and working. Especially Brennan—she needs to keep doing her job. The world doesn't stop spinning, and people don't stop dying suspiciously.'

As he left her office, Booth knew he disagreed with Cam. If what she'd said was true, why did it feel like time had stopped in the Jeffersonian's Medico-Legal lab? And why did it feel like everyone was waiting for Zack, so they could go on living?

She didn't want this to be a confrontation between her and Kat. She disliked open, emotional confrontations—unless they were with Booth. The idea of confronting someone, whose emotional geography was foreign to her, was almost scary. But when Dr. Temperance Brennan resolved to do something, she did it; usually.

'Dr. Brennan, you paged me?' Kat was at her office door long before she was actually ready to start this.

'Come in Kat. I was hoping we could talk for a little while.'

The words were falsely reassuring. They concealed the damage that might come to be. Brennan didn't want to think of the emotional wound she might open up; the emotional pain she might put Kat through. But it would be good for her in the end, right?

Kat, obviously not being born yesterday, saw through the falseness, but decidedly ignored it, and agreed to humour her boss. 'A general discussion?'

'Yes.' Brennan floundered for a topic. 'How are you finding the lab?'

'It's surprisingly lax. I noticed there is a lot of unprofessional behaviour between Hodgins, Angela, and Sweets.'

'The lab has been that way for a very long time. So far, we've had no problems, but if you're finding it to be an issue—'

'I like it.' Kat said quickly. 'It reminds me of all the best things of working in the field in Africa with my old colleagues. Though Sweets is a pain.'

Brennan felt a warning signal go off in her brain. 'Is he making you feel uncomfortable? Maybe even harassing you?' This was Sweets they were dealing with.

'He is disruptive. He keeps talking to me about all sorts of stuff that's gone on here— including Zack's involvement with Naomi. Though I'm not sure why…'

So he was being a nuisance—nothing more. She was relieved. 'I'll tell him to back off. He might even listen to me.'

An awkward silence fell between them, and Brennan wondered how she was going to go about saying what needed to be said. Kat wasn't as blunt as Zack, or it would have made things so simple. She had to use those metaphoric "kid gloves", which she couldn't stand.

'I went to see Zack the other day.' She began carefully. 'He told me… some of what you went through.'

Kat just stared down at her clasped hands. 'Another one of my many mistakes; I've made loads of them. It's funny, because I see you on the verge of making them too, Dr. Brennan. That's why I want you to consider the advice I want to give you; about you and Booth.'

'Booth?'

Kat finally looked up at her, and Brennan saw she looked ten years older, with the barest trace of a smile. 'I see the way you look at one another. The way he likes to always have his hand on your back, or shoulder, or arm. The way you always relax a bit more whenever he's around. So I'm going to tell you not to miss your chance while you still have one.'

'I don't understand what you mean.' Brennan was amazed at how quickly the tables had turned on her.

'Sometimes,' Kat began. 'You have someone in your life—an awesome friend—and you cherish that friendship a lot. But you also want more. You want to wake up beside him every morning, and fall asleep in his arms every night. You want to be with him always.'

She was out of her chair now, pacing back and forth in front of the desk where Brennan sat. Her eyes had an almost glazed brilliance to them, and she was almost certainly not aware of what she was doing.

'And you shouldn't run away from that feeling, that want, because you never know what might happen. He might get locked up, or get shot and die, and you'll be left forever wondering what you could have had. So you need to be brave, and take the plunge. Why settle for half, when having it all is within your reach if you're willing to jump. It's good to be scared; it means that there's a lot worth having at stake. But if you don't take the chance, it may be lost forever. You may be too late.'

Tears were rolling down her face now, and Brennan felt the urge to cry as well. 'This isn't about me and Booth anymore—it's about you and Zack. You love him, and you're not sure if five years is too late.'

Kat nodded; an odd, jerky movement. 'That's why you can't ever make the mistakes I've made—even for the lessons I've learned. I've spent the last five years regretting everything, because it's too late—I know it is.'

'It's never too late Kat.' Brennan said quietly, catching a hold of the young woman's hands, and trying to give her something to stay grounded with. 'You still have that chance. Because I'm fairly sure Zack is feeling the same way you do.' Maybe it wasn't 100% true, but close enough.

'Thank you Dr. Brennan.' Kat said as she dried her face, and then pulled her boss into a quick hug. 'Just promise me you'll consider what I said. It applies to you as well.'

She raced out the door, and Brennan sat back down at her desk. Was it really true, that it applied to her? Kat was very insightful, but she'd been wrong about her own situation—was she wrong again? There was a reason that Brennan would rather leave these things to Angela—less confusion.

For the first time in her career at the Jeffersonian, Kat desperately needed to find Sweets. Today was Friday, so she only had roughly twenty-four hours to pull her idea together. It would be so much faster with his co-operation and—she hated to admit it—help.

After darting around the building for nearly twenty minutes, (he could be anywhere) and seriously considering calling his office or cell, she spotted him. Sweets was in the break room, chatting away to Angela. This was going to be interesting, getting rid of her.

'Lance…' she began in her "I need the biggest favour in the world" voice. 'I need you to do me a little favour.'

Angela's eyes immediately lit up, and Kat knew this would take a lot of explaining, and adamant refusal that she wasn't sleeping with Sweets. 'I'll leave you two alone.' She smirked, and was gone in an instant.

'Did you… use my first name?' Sweets asked, baffled.

'To get rid of Angela.' Kat said firmly. 'Truth is, I need a very big favour from you. One that will entail you pulling some strings at McKinley.'

The psychologist looked disappointed. 'Don't you have your own strings to pull?'

'Tug, tug—I'm pulling one right now!' She exclaimed in annoyance. 'Just do this for me, okay?'

'But what am I going to get out of this deal?'

Kat hesitated. This was Sweets, so whatever he wanted could be pathetic, benign, embarrassing, or even down-right degrading. But she had to take the risk, for Zack. 'Anything you want.'

'Dinner at my place, with maybe a little action afterwards.'

Kat sighed—this was almost as bad as she'd thought it might be. 'Fine. Though Zack better appreciate what I'm putting myself through for him.'

Sweets shrugged, not really caring. He was getting what he wanted. 'Let's say… tomorrow at six-thirty. I'll give you my address.'

As you've probably noticed, I'm not crazy about Sweets, though he could learn... but you all will have to wait and see. I'm not posting the next chapter untill I get three new reviews- I don't care what they are, I just want to know someone is actually reading this thing.