I'm so incredibly excited about writing this fanfic, words cannot describe! Thanks to all those who have subscribed and reviewed already!
Disclaimer- I still don't own Bones. To my great disappointment Eric Millegan still doesn't own me. xD
Author Says- Review or perish?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Her alarm clock buzzed for a half an hour before Temperance Brennan finally tumbled out of bed. She had to admit that she hadn't got much sleep since the night of Zach's confession, but only to herself. From the outside, she was still Dr. Brennan. She was never late, worked extra hours, and always managed to keep a clean, fresh appearance. On the inside, her heart hoped fervently that all of the new grad students that she was interviewing to replace young Dr. Addy would be deep disappointments. She couldn't let herself make the same mistake again. She couldn't train someone for more than three years just to watch them fall farther down than they were in the first place.
These thoughts stayed with her as she took a long shower, dried her hair, and put on her lab coat.
She was not all too surprised when she exited her apartment to come face to face with Agent Seely Booth standing in the hallway.
"What are you doing here, Booth?"
"I'm not letting you drive yourself to work again, Bones. We haven't had a real conversation in at least a month," Seely Booth firmly stated.
"I am perfectly capable of driving myself to work and your alpha male tendencies are really pressing on my nerves," scoffed Bones as she made her way down the stairs.
Booth rolled his eyes, shut her apartment door, and ran to catch up with her.
"Bones! Bones. Bones. Bones. Bones," he panted, "Wait up!"
"I told you Booth. No." she said as she climbed into her car and buckled her seatbelt.
Booth caught a hold of the door. "Please, Bones," he begged, "Please?"
Dr. Temperance Brennan sighed. She'd never get to work on time if he didn't have his way.
"Fine, Booth! Just…stop making that face at me!"
Seely Booth let go of the door and motioned for her to slide over. She did to her reluctance.
"Keys?"
Bones handed the keys over on his command. He would drive her insane someday soon, she swore.
"So…" she smirked.
"Huh?"
"What did you want to talk about?"
"I…uh…well," he stammered.
Bones turned to the window, trying to conceal her satisfied smile all the way to the Jeffersonian.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Angela? You're here early," Cam remarked striding through the door of Angela's office.
"I've been busy. Bren wants this picture complete by this afternoon," Angela lied.
Cam raised her left eyebrow in suspicion.
"Okay," Angela confessed, "I've actually been meeting with Sweets before work every morning."
Now both of Cam's eyebrows were raised.
"Things haven't been so hot with Jack. He's really depressed, but you've probably noticed. You've been the same way."
Dr. Saroyan sighed. Angela had her pegged.
"You're right. I haven't been so wonderful these past few months. I'm not the only one, though. Even you haven't been yourself," the former cop remarked.
"Well of course not," Angela scoffed, "Zach was family. He practically lived with Hodgins, for Pete's sake. I loved him. I mean…I still love him, you know, like a brother."
"He doesn't deserve our friendship, Miss Montenegro, let alone our love."
"You know you don't mean that, Cam. I mean, you said yourself…well what did you mean by saying you knew he would hurt you as soon as you met him?"
Cam bit her lip, but before she could answer, the noisy partners came bursting through the door.
"For the last time, Bones, I believe that I need to confess my sins because it makes me a better person!"
"It's totally illogical. How can going to a confession with a man in flowing robes and a headdress signifying power possibly make you a better person?"
"It just does, okay?" Booth turned to the open mouthed Angela.
"Finally got her to come to work with you?" she questioned in shock.
Booth opened his mouth to say something right as Jack Hodgins ran through the door.
"Sorry that I'm late, I had to…" he stopped mid-sentence, "Hey, Ange. I thought I was supposed to pick you up, but then you didn't…answer the door, and…"
Angela sadly shook her head, took her drawing pad, and marched out.
"What's wrong with her?" Jack directed his question toward Cam.
"I think you need to spend more time with her." Cam replied and walked out, as well, followed by the still arguing couple.
Dr. Hodgins sat down in Angela's chair.
"What the heck was that all about?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"These bones belong to a male Caucasian, his age ranging from about 40 to 45 years," Dr. Marissa Chase, young grad student, answered confidently, "These fractures on his left metacarpal show that when he was about 25 years of age he experienced some damage to it while participating in some sort of extracurricular activity. It was most likely golf."
"Yes," Dr. Brennan responded, "Only his fractures were caused most definitely while participating in tennis and his age range is more around 35 to 40 years. It was a thoughtless miscalculation."
Melissa looked down at the floor in embarrassment.
"Bones…" Booth grumbled from behind.
"What?" she snipped and shot him a look that shut him up immediately.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Dr. Chase," Dr. Brennan muttered looking down at the evaluation papers that she held.
Melissa Chase stumbled over her black, leather shoes as she quickly walked to the exit.
"Rough day, Bones?" Booth remarked.
"Why would you say that?"
"God, Bones, must I spell it out for you? You scared that girl half to death."
"She's a grown woman, Booth. I'm sure she can take some criticism. Don't be so melodramatic."
"I think he's right Bren," Angela walked over, "You haven't given any of these grad students a fair chance."
"They should know what they are getting themselves into, Ange. I need to pick someone who is prepared for the stress of a high risk job such as this. I need someone who won't make mistakes. Our whole purpose is accuracy." Bones retaliated.
"Sweetie, think of Zach and how he was when he started out."
Bones grimaced in pain.
"I think I'll take her home now," Booth whispered in Angela's ear before turning around, "Come on Bones."
He grabbed her arm and went to lead her out of the building.
"Dr. Brennan!" a woman's voice sounded out, "Wait!"
Temperance spun around to see a startled Dr. Saroyan half-running, half-jogging, to catch up to her.
"It's a package. I don't know where it could have come from. I found it on my desk…and…it's addressed to you."
The forensic anthropologist's eyes widened as she hesitantly reached for the box.
"Booth, hand me my keys."
Seely handed her the keys without any protesting. It was an order.
Dr. Brennan took the keys in her quivering hands and sliced open the cardboard box. She opened the flaps and stared down at the bones that the box held.
"It's a set of female phalanges …" Dr. Brennan gasped as she looked closer at the contents of the package.
"What is it, Bones?" Booth murmured, sensing her frantic tone.
"Cam…come see this…" she motioned Cam over with her left hand.
"Is there something wrong?"
Dr. Brennan nodded, "Cam?"
"Yes?"
"Do these look like…bite marks to you?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dun, dun, dun! I wouldn't say this chapter is as well written as the previous one, but I loved writing the ending. I gave myself goose bumps. xD
Expect a new chapter featuring Zach, soon! :]