Disclaimer: I do not own anything associated with Bones. Only Kat, Jerald, McKinley's layout, and this story's story line. It's really a pity though- I think some of us could do a good job as writers for the show.

'How is my case coming?'

Zack's question broke the tranquility of the open air. McKinley was continuing to let them come outside together, when it was only the two of them. So long as the weather was good, it was quite nice. Kat was quite glad for the sunshine herself; she had taken Hodgins' advice, and was now doing most of her work in Limbo.

'We're completing the last few points of your appeal, and checking the last of the paperwork—or I should say Hodgins, Sweets and Mr. Brooks are. I think they are sending in everything tomorrow.'

A furrow of confusion appeared on Zack's forehead. 'Why are you no longer helping them?'

'It's not that I can't, or don't want to…' She paused. 'Sweets has been getting to me lately, and Hodgins advised me to spend less time around him.'

Zack looked very serious, and Kat wondered what was going through that extraordinary mind of his. 'I'm really glad that you haven't responded to Sweets' attention, but I wouldn't blame you if you did. I'm in here, you're out in the rest of the world, and you might have needs I cannot fulfill because of that…'

His low expectations of her made Kat a little sad. 'I'm not Naomi—I believe that if you love someone, you wait for them and you stay faithful to them. How do you think I managed to survive Africa for five years?'

Zack nodded, and gave her hand a gentle squeeze of appreciation. His hands were as healed as they were going to be—80% of full function. He'd given up wearing the gloves, and Kat could plainly see the scars and the fused joints in some of the fingers. But they were still Zack's hands—hands she'd held, and shook, and loved for almost half her life. And she'd still love them—him, hopefully for the rest of her life.

'I wonder what's going to happen, when you get out Zack.' She mused aloud, staring up at the clouds that were gliding overhead. 'Maybe I'll find a teaching position, or try freelance lecturing, or even find a place in the Archaeology department of the Jeffersonian.'

'You seem to be expecting me to take my old position away from you.' Zack said humourlessly. 'There is always a chance that Dr. Brennan will agree to having us both—I wasn't officially her assistant, after I earned my degree. Dr. Saroyan hired me as a second Anthropologist. Maybe she'll hire you as the team Archaeology expert.'

The possibility that they might eventually work side by side was almost too much to hope for. It was the same as when Kat had spent four and a half years expecting that Zack would be there, at the airport, when she finally came home. Instead, she'd learned from a friend, via email no less, that he'd been arrested for aiding a cannibal. It was best not to hope for too much, and just focus on what was in front of you.

'So, has anyone told you about Booth and Dr. Brennan?' She asked, switching the topic.

'They are finally dating?'

'Yep!' Kat said with a smirk. 'The same day as you and I finally got straightened out, they admitted how they felt about one another. Apparently, it was around the same time as Sweets was making me eat his "homemade" cheesecake.'

She couldn't help but feel a bit of pride, and Zack seemed to catch on. 'You had a hand in this, didn't you?'

'I only told Dr. Brennan to not make my mistakes; though it is possible I'm the one who made her "wake up and smell the roses".'

'I'm glad that they are happy together. We spent over three years watching them struggle to understand and help each other, and it was horrible to see Dr. Brennan so devastated by Booth's fake death. This time, it looks like everyone will have a happy outcome.'

Kat didn't know what else to say. There was something she knew would have to be said soon, before Zack got out, but it would ruin the positive atmosphere of this moment. But it wasn't fair to keep this secret from Zack any longer.

'Zack, I don't want any secrets between us, so there's something I have to tell you.' She began slowly. 'It's not good, and I really wish I could change it, but I can't. I got a call from the doctor a little while ago, and she told me that I won't be able to carry a baby to full term. It's just not going to happen.'

She watched as Zack's expression from hopeful, to sad and concerned. 'I'm sorry Kat.' He said, pulling her into an embrace as she began to cry softly. 'It isn't fair, and the world isn't always fair, and I wish I knew a way to make it better.'

'That almost sounds like something I'd say.' She said, looking up at him with a watery smile. 'And I guess if I ever really wanted a baby, there is always the whole surrogate mother thing. I bet we could even get Angela to agree to be a surrogate.'

The idea of trendy Angela walking around the lab with a baby bump made them both laugh lightly. 'To be honest, I rather like the idea of being a father,' Zack said as he wiped away a lingering tear on Kat's cheek. 'Though I don't think anyone I know would ever expect it of me.'

'Let's leave that until we're a little older though. We have lots of time, and we don't have to jump into anything, just because we entered the adult world early.'

He nodded in agreement. 'Most people at our age, in our respective fields of work, are either still earning their degrees, or establish a solid career. They haven't had the advantages we've had, like graduating from high school early, or taking specialized courses at the university level. We are very fortunate, Kat, in that we are young, and generally healthy, and—'

'Don't jinx us Zack!' Kat exclaimed, and then fell into helpless laughter at his confused expression. 'I won't be able to explain that one Zack—not with the limited amount of time we have.'

It was true. Once again, the sun was beginning to sink below the western roof of McKinley, and it felt as if the sun was taking their time together with it.

Someday soon Zack, we'll get to be together after dark again. We'll walk in the moonlight, and take advantage of that freedom.'

Zack looked up at the sky, which was now taking on the colors of sunset. 'You never realize the freedoms you have, until they're taken away.'

So, a bit of a fluffy, yet still a little angsty, filler. I want to finish this story, but not cut out too much stuff that I had already writen. R&R, and I'll get this thing finished! (In another six or seven chapters, mwahaha!)