Brennan woke stiffly the next morning. There was no light in the lounge, as the windows had metal shutters covering them, but Brennan glanced at the digital watch on Zack's arm, and saw that it was five thirty in the morning. It appeared that Zack had collapsed on the couch, and fallen asleep sprawled in a heap. Angela was still sleeping soundly, to Brennan's relief.

And Booth was right where he said he would be when she woke. Lying next to her, his breathing deep and even. He still had his arms around her, as if to subconsciously make sure that nothing would take her while he slept.

Even as she watched, he stirred slightly and opened his eyes. He stared into her own, and mumbled. "Told you I'd be here." They smiled at each other, then Booth released her and she sat up. He sat up as well, and stretched. She got up to walk over to the coffee machine.

There were several security guards already awake and watching them. Brennan felt comforted by this, but still no less anxious. Angela was still in danger. She decided to wake her friend with coffee. She turned on the grounder, and stared off into space as it hummed.

"Bones." Booth mumbled. She turned to where he was slowly standing.

"Yes Booth? You don't need to get up yet, it's very early." He shook his head.

"No Bones, I think Zack is bleeding." Booth got up too quickly and stumbled, but quickly scrambled up and went to Zack's side. "Zack, buddy, are you alright?" He shook him awake. Brennan ran over to where Zack was and looked for the blood. There was indeed a small pool of blood under the young man staining the couch.

"Zack, come on wake up!" Brennan shouted. Zack inhaled sharply. He was sweating profusely, but shivering as though he was cold. "Zack what happened to you?" Brennan asked as she still looked for the blood source.

"Doctor Brennan. I think… I think I was stabbed…" Brennan's eyes grew wide.

"Where were you stabbed Zack, who did this to you?" Zack's eyes were glassy and unfocussed, and as he shifted to make things more comfortable for himself, he groaned through gritted teeth as pain shot through him like a bullet.

"I don't know who did it, I was attacked from behind. But my assailant stabbed me in the lower abdomen, on the left side under the ribcage." With shaking hands, he lifted his shirt slightly, and there was a deep gash in his left side.

"We have to get you to a hospital Zack." Brennan announced. Angela stirred at the noise.

"What's going on?" She mumbled as she slowly sat up. The she saw Zack's injury and she clambered over to where he sat. "Oh my god, Zack are you alright?"

"Actually, I'm feeling a little dizzy. I think I might faint…" He swayed slightly, but Brennan kept him upright with a hand on his shoulder.

"He's lost a lot of blood, I think we had better tell Hacker and get Zack to a hospital." Booth said. "I'll go, you two stay with him, keep him awake."

Angela and Brennan watched Booth walk towards Hacker's office. When he disappeared from sight, Angela threw her arms around Zack. "Oh Zack, I can't believe that bastard hurt you too." Zack shifted slightly, then patted Angela's back.

"I'm sure once I receive some medical attention, I'll be back to my usual standard of efficiency." He said softly. Brennan put her hand to his forehead – he was running a temperature.

"Zack, maybe you should lie down until Booth gets back. We'll make sure you remain conscious – here's a pillow." Brennan put a pillow behind Zack's head.

"Thank you Doctor Brennan." He mumbled. His eyes were slits, and it looked like an effort to re-open his eyes every time he blinked. "I think I'm still bleeding…" He drawled.

Brennan lifted his shirt once more and saw that the wound was indeed still oozing blood. Angela saw the blood as well and gently stroked Zack's forehead. "Don't worry Zack, Booth shouldn't be long now." Zack moaned and nodded. He was still shivering, so Angela draped a blanket over him.

Booth by this point had reached Hacker's office. He had decided while making his way there that he would not be violent with Hacker as he had before when Hodgins disappeared. He would remain calm and strictly business. Zack's health was more important than a score to settle with Hacker.

He reached Hacker's office, which had increased in security since Hodgins' disappearance, and walked in, his expression even. "Andrew. One of my Squints has been stabbed, presumably by the kidnapper. He needs medical attention."

Hacker looked up when Booth finished this statement. "The kidnapper didn't take him? Oh right, that Asian woman is next on the list. Was he trying to protect her?"

Booth shook his head. "He was gathering forensic evidence that could lead us to the kidnapper, and although we haven't checked, it was most likely stolen after the attack." Hacker stood up sharply.

"Those scientists were withholding evidence the whole time?" Booth nodded.

"Yes. Forgive me sir but I believe that they would have done a better job."

"If my team of experts had been given that evidence in the first place, it would still be in our possession. That young man, Zeke…"

"Zack, sir, his name is Zack Addy." Booth corrected him through clenched teeth.

"Whatever the lad's name is, he will stay here and answer questions, give the FBI everything he knows. We will get some surgeons in if it is absolutely necessary."

"Andrew that's not fair, this kid spent all night with a gaping hole in his side, he's giving it everything he's got not to black out! He needs to go to a hospital!" Hacker stared Booth down. He knew from the look the agent had that he wasn't going to win this one.

"Very well agent Booth, I will arrange to have him transported to a secure wing of St Joseph's hospital a few blocks away. But he will be interrogated as soon as he is in fit condition."

Booth left the room. This was as good as he could get for the kid, and Zack wouldn't have too much of a problem with the interrogation. His logical mind could get over the recent events quicker than your typical assault victim.

But it wasn't fair what happened to that kid. He wasn't strong enough to defend himself, despite what he was able to inflict on Hodgins. The kidnapper was an immoral bastard, and hurting a defenceless Squint was crossing the line for Booth.

He heard them talking softly amongst themselves as they awaited his return. "Hey buddy, how do you feel?" He greeted Zack warmly. The young man had gone pale, and he looked drawn and tired.

"It's quite painful actually Agent Booth. I think that I was stabbed with a broken bottle, I heard one break moments before I was attacked. I think it would be beneficial to find the bottle, and see if the kidnapper's prints are on it." Brennan nodded.

"That's not a bad idea. Booth, why don't you check the forensics platform for the bottle that was used to harm Zack." Booth nodded and left for the platform.

"Poor Sweetie." Angela whispered, hugging Zack again. He hugged her back, a little more confidently this time.

"Please don't cry Angela. I am glad I was attacked and not you. Though I do wish Cam was here, so I could get some sort of medical assistance."

"Booth just went to see Hacker, and when he comes back from the forensics platform with the bottle, he can tell us what Hacker said about getting you to the hospital." Brennan supplied.

"I even wish Hodgins were here, so that he could insult the fact that I did not physically harm my assailant in the same manner as I attacked him earlier." Zack said, attempting to continue conversation so as to keep himself conscious.

Zack was rather worried actually. The stab wound was quit painful, but it did not have the potential to cause the symptoms he was experiencing. Perhaps there were particulates in the glass that caused an allergic reaction.

Just then, Booth came sprinting into the lounge, the look on his face a shadow of terror. "I found a bottle, it was broken but it used to be full of Ethylene Glycol." Zack's face matched Booth's.

"W-what's Ethylene Glycol?" Angela asked. Brennan took a deep breath before stating.

"It's anti-freeze. Put directly into the blood stream, death is slow, knocking out organs systematically over seventy-two hours."

"Zack, how long ago were you stabbed?" Booth asked frantically, upon learning the implications of the chemical. Zack thought for a moment, then looked at his watch, which was fastened to a now shaking hand.

"Around eight hours ago." He said, calming slightly. "But it all depends on how much was injected into my bloodstream. I was stabbed deeply, the shards were held in my flesh for around thirteen seconds… from now I have around thirty-six hours before my heart malfunctions and I go into cardiac arrest."