Zach leaned on the rail. A plastic cup sat before him. He leaned forward. Washington, D.C…. Zach could've gone anywhere. He had more than enough college offers and scholarships, but where was there to go for someone like him? New York had its huge library, but it was far too densely populated for Zach's liking. Los Angeles was unlivable without a driver's license.
Washington, D.C. offered the Jeffersonian institute, decent public transport, and of course when Zach heard of the possibility of a position with the Dr. Temperance Brennan, well! That sealed the deal. So he came to the capital of the United States of America, and things were not different. Except, of course, that this rule was inapplicable in Dr. Brennan's domain. There Zach was normal. There Zach belonged.
He had belonged, anyway, until now.
Why did things have to change? Zach whined silently to himself. He leaned further forward and suddenly the comfortable warmth of his cup was gone. Zach bit his lip as it tumbled, spilling, and finally landed on the asphalt, splattering a puddle of cocoa.
Angela leaned on the rail beside Zach. She followed his gaze to the splashed drink on the ground. "Wow. Gravity makes some really pretty patterns," she remarked, then glanced at Zach. He didn't react. "Brennan know you're out here?" she asked.
"Yeah," Zach murmured. He had never been a good liar. This particular falsehood brought a blush to his cheeks.
Angela nodded. She wished in that moment for nothing more than she wished for a cigarette. "So if Booth is your dad, does that make Brennan Mommy?" she blurted.
That won his attention. Zach stared for a moment, his mouth flapping pathetically, then finally he asked, shying away, "Does… everyone know about that?"
She nodded once more. "Everyone." Brennan had mentioned it to Hodgins, who relayed the information to Cam. Later he attempted to tell Angela and they finished the story together.
Zach bit his lip. "Does… Dr. Hodgins know?" he asked.
"Jack knows."
He paled. "Dr. Saroyan?" Zach asked, silently begging Angela to say she had no idea.
Angela only confirmed what she knew: "Everyone."
Zach groaned. He turned away and stared at the spilled cocoa. It was pretty, he supposed—geometrically fascinating.
Angela leaned on the rail beside him and rubbed Zach's shoulder gently. She hadn't thought he would be so upset. "So what am I?" she asked.
Knowing there was no way out of this, Zach replied, "You're the big sister."
Angela smiled. She liked that analysis—occasionally protective, good for advice, but just plain sexy. For someone with sum zero social skills, Zach showed amazing perception. "And Hodgins?"
"Brother-in-law."
Well, at least he wasn't the brother. Considering that, Angela might have had difficulty doing girlfriend-and-boyfriend things that evening. "Cam?"
"Dr. Saroyan is a distant but very beloved aunt," Zach replied obediently. He had learned a few things about behavior in his childhood, and it had been strongly drummed into him that if you can't behave normally, the least you can be is polite. "Please don't repeat this to anyone."
Angela turned. She rested her back against the rail, propping herself up on her elbows. Tilting her head upwards, she saw that it was close to rain. "So why did you mention it to Booth?" she asked. Zach blushed. Angela punched his shoulder playfully. "Hey—I didn't tease you about the family thing. I won't tease you about this."
Zach faced Angela with an unfamiliar pinched look on his face. "You have a funny way of being nice," he said in as sharp a tone she had ever heard him employ.
to be continued!