I've finally finished the sixth chapter! I tried my hardest to make it up to you by writing an extra long chapter, but I don't really think that makes up for the 3 week wait that you so longly endured. The non-cliffy at the end of the last chapter kinda killed me for a little while. Then, my car broke down and I had to stay at my grandparents who don't have a computer. How ironic. And last weekend, the power went out three times. In two days! I'm not trying to make excuses. I suck. That was clarified in the Author's Note.

Disclaimer- I do not own Bones. If I owned Bones, this would happen in the show. Even in the slightest, tiniest, teeniest chance that these events happen in the show, I still won't own Bones.

Author Says- I'm really sorry, readers. I hope that you will forgive me for my horrible behavior. Please, enjoy!

--

Bones, who was staring out the window, sighed for the fifth time since she and Booth had left for work.

Booth turned his head in her direction and, with a sad shake of the head, pulled the car over, taking the keys out of the ignition.

The anthropologist flipped her head around immediately, "Why have we stopped?"

"Oh, you noticed, Bones? I didn't think you would because you've been off in lala land ever since we got out of the hospital, two days ago!"

"I don't know what that means."

"You know what? I'm not ever going to respond to that!" Booth groaned, "I just want to know what's up with you!"

"What do you mean what's up with me?" Temperance furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"One minute, you're hugging Cam…Cam of all people…and the next you've locked yourself up again. You just sighed 50 times in the past 10 minutes!"

She shook her head, "If I had sighed that much, I would be hyperventilating right now. And why is Cam excluded from all people?"

"You know what I mean, Bones. Why is this so hard for you?" he inched closer to her face.

"Why is what so hard?"

"Dealing with Zach! Bones, he just said there was another apprentice. Someone just shot him, for Pete's sake! You act like I don't care about you. You know what, Bones, it was hard for you when your family left, and I get that. You built walls to protect yourself from being hurt again. You didn't want to care again. But, you don't understand, no one is going to leave you!"

"You did!" she lashed out with poison echoing through her words.

Booth backed up in his seat, looking wounded. That had struck a wrong chord.

"You left me," she whispered, "On purpose. Now Zach almost left me for real. He's a criminal, Booth, but I really still…I'm still his mentor. I still feel like I should have been watching out for him. He nearly died. I nearly watched him die," she closed her eyes and turned back around to the window, "I nearly watched you die."

Booth sighed. She was right. She was always right.

He slipped the car key in the ignition and pulled back onto the road.

--

"Are you sure you wanna go in alone?" Jack Hodgins asked his fiancé who was situated in the passenger seat, holding a manila folder in her lap.

Angela leaned over and briefly kissed the entomologist on the lips, "He's not dangerous, Jack. It's just for the day."

"I know that, Ange. I just worry about you."

"You are way too overprotective. You can pick me up right after work, and if you don't feel like arguing when we get to my apartment, maybe I'll even let you spend the night," she tilted her head to the side.

"Ange, I love you. Truly," he put one gentle hand on her knee, "I really hate myself when I yell at you. I'm just really stressed right now."

"We're all really stressed, Jack," and with that she stepped out of the car and made towards the hospital as Hodgins drove away.

When reaching the information desk she asked the receptionist for Dr. Zach Addy, and a nurse led her to his room.

"Right in here," the nurse nodded at the door, "We moved Mr. Addy into another room. I'm glad you asked the receptionist, or else you probably would have walked in on Mr. Ottowit. Old man, nasty temper. He came in last night," she chuckled until she realized that Angela Montenegro had not even cracked a smile, "You have two hours to visit. Take your time."

She left Miss Montenegro facing the door of her beloved colleague. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

Zach sat up in bed and leaned to his right to get a better view of who was walking through the short hallway into his "suite." Seeing that it was Angela he let out a nervous "uh" and cleared his throat, "Hi Angela."

She smiled, "Hey Zacharoni."

She could see him shudder at the nickname. Those were the good times…before all this mayhem.

"You came back. Is there news about the phalanges or the…a...apprentice?"

Angela frowned, "No. That's not why I came to see you."

"Then why…?"

"I miss you Zach, when I'm at the lab. All of us miss you. That's why I made you this," she handed him her manila folder and went on, "I've been trying to get Cam to come visit you with me, too."

Zach took the folder, set it on the bed, and shook his head, "I hurt her most. I don't deserve any kindness from her."

Seeing Angela's confused expression, he continued, "She was the last one I was with when I was still…me. When none of you knew, she was here, reading to me," he sighed, "I was enjoying her presence. I've always been rather close to Cam."

Angela nodded slightly and let him go on.

"During the daily work hours, Hodgins and I were always together. After work…well…you and Hodgins were inseparable. Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan, well, those two being separated for more than 3 hours would be rather unlikely."

Angela smiled at his last remark.

"Often I would find myself alone at the lab, studying some results. I was alone…except for Cam. She would almost always stay until I wrapped up whatever I was working on. Occasionally we would converse. I got to hear a lot about her sister and her other relationships, whether family related, or well, sensually, I assumed. It was really the first time anyone had confided in me. I didn't give her any grand advice or tell her what to do, but I did listen. I suppose that counts for something."

Angela didn't know what to say, so she quickly changed the subject.

"You were going to sing for me," she reminded him.

Zach grimaced, but took a deep breath.

"Love is a many splendored thing,


It's the April rose that only grows in the early spring,


Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living,


The golden crown that makes a man a king."

Angela closed her eyes and let his smooth voice rush around her.

"Lost on a high and windy hill,


In the morning mist two lovers kissed and the world stood still,


When our fingers touch my silent heart has taught us how to sing,


Yes, true love is a many splendored thing!"

Zach coughed and looked down at his sheets as Angela's pinkie went up to brush the small tears cascading from her deep brown eyes.

Before Angela could thank him, a man in a surgeon's outfit opened the door and leaned his head out the hallway. Angela spun around and the man ushered her over with his pointer finger. She joined him in the small hallway.

"Hello," the middle aged man whispered through his surgical mask, "My name is Dr. Jonah Whitt," he stuck out his hand, which Angela accepted with slight hesitation.

"What's with the mask? Last time I was here, the nurse said Zach didn't need an operation."

The surgeon paused, "Oh…this? I was just with one of my patients, ma'am. He has a deadly illness that the doctors and I cannot yet identify. It's very contagious, even by respiration. I wouldn't take a chance giving anything to Dr. Addy or any of the patients…especially not at his critical condition. Or so I've been told," he handed Angela a clip board with Zach Addy's records on it, "To tell you the truth, this is the first I've heard about Dr. Addy. The hospital is low on doctors today. They just handed me this clipboard and sent me here. I didn't even know his name, to be honest, until 5 minutes ago while I studied his sheets. Here, take a copy."

Angela squinted at him skeptically while receiving the documents.

"Don't think I don't know what I'm doing. It's a routine inspection. I do these sorts of things all the time."

She shook her head and sighed, "Okay…"

"You need to leave now, ma'am."

"But the nurse said…!" she started.

He ground his teeth, "I'm not playing around!"

Angela spun on her heel, "I'll see ya later, Zach!"

She stormed out leaving Zach peering out to see behind the corner.

The artist sat down on a bench outside the room and she took out her phone. After a quick check in with Hodgins, she stretched her hand to the side to reach for her purse…but it wasn't there.

She rolled her eyes, mumbled a few curses, and then knocked on the door.

"Excuse me! Surgeon guy, open up! I left my purse in the room."

Miss Montenegro strained her ears to perceive a muffled grunt and some clattering equipment. Finally the man spoke.

"You can come a get your handbag after I examine Dr. Addy," that was all he said.

Styling a perplexed expression, the woman took Zach's sheets and her cell phone and went to the lobby of the hospital.

"Ahem," she leaned over the reception desk to catch the attention of a young nurse with florescent green glasses who was listening to a headset.

The nurse looked up, "Ma'am, I'm kinda on my break."

Angela put on her most fearsome face and pointed at the lady before her, "Look here, I don't care what you're on; I need to know if a Dr. Jonah Whitt is registered here."

The nurse peered over her frames and sneered, "I see what I can do, ma'am."

Angela tapped her foot impatiently to the clicking and clacking of the woman on the keyboard.

"Nope," she shook her head, "There's no Dr. Jonah Whitt registered."

"Are you sure?"

The nurse glared, "Absolutely."

"You checked all the spellings?"

"Yes."

"Are there any Dr. Whitts at this hospital?"

"I'll check. One moment, please."

The artist began to pace. "Maybe he goes by his middle name. Or maybe the nurse is just a ditz...there was something fishy about him, though..."

She looked at the sheets that the so-called surgeon had given her and scanned them. These were real hospital documents, but a mistake was made in the first line.

"Mr. Zachary Uriah Addy..." it began.

The colleague of "Mr. Zachary Uriah Addy" rolled her eyes. Even the stupid surgeon knew it was Dr. Zachary…

"Wait..." she thought in realization, "If he just got handed the documents…wouldn't he make the same mistake as the hospital? Unless..."

She shot off running back to Zach's room, "Thanks for the assistance!"

"Anytime," the nurse sighed before mumbling, "Psycho…"

--

Agent Booth took the last bite of his cherry pie and patted his stomach.

"Are you going to finish that?"

Bones was pulled back to reality with his question, "Hmm?"

"I said, are you gonna finish your pie?" he answered a little louder than last time.

The female pushed her lonesome piece of blueberry pie to the FBI agent, "You know I don't like cooked fruit."

Booth accepted the pie and dug his fork into it eagerly, but he paused as the utensil hovered right before his opened mouth, "That's because you've never tried this cooked fruit."

Dr. Brennan shook her head defiantly, "All cooked fruit is the same. Besides, I don't understand why we are here. I could be observing the crime scene inside the Jeffersonian, but instead, you pull me out of work to waste time at the Royal Diner."

Seeley shrugged, "Is it a crime to take you out to lunch?"

"If it is preventing me from work…" she started to nod, "…then yes, it is."

The man rolled his eyes and was about to retort, but he was halted by the buzzing of a cell phone. He reached into his pocket.

"It's mine," Bones flipped the phone open, "It's a text…from Angela."

"Ah yes," Booth said, "Angela. Zach hasn't bored her to tears or tried to eat her yet, has he?"

Bren glowered at him, "That's not funny and, no. He's in trouble. Let's go," she picked up her lab coat and strode towards the entrance.

"But…" Seeley stopped, "Pie…"

He walked over to the waitress, "Can I get this to go?"

"Now!" the agitated anthropologist commanded.

A reluctant Booth handed the uneaten piece of pie to the waitress and trotted out the door. The waitress walked over to his table and let out a gasp. She ran out the exit only to watch a FBI issued vehicle drive off into the distance.

"You forgot to pay!" she hollered before re-entering the diner, "Psychos…"

--

Angela Montenegro was banging loudly on the door when the partners showed up at the hospital.

"Let me in!"

"Angela?" Brennan asked uncertainly.

"Guys!" the artist ran up and through her arms around Booth's neck, "I'm so glad you're here!"

The agent examined her tear stained face before she spoke again.

"You need to break the door down."

The man squinted, "Why?"

"Zach's in trouble. The man who checked on him isn't listed on the computer database and now I can't get in Zach's room," she answered exasperatedly.

"That doesn't mean anything," he frowned, "This hospital has made plenty of mistakes before. Like with the kid's title."

"That's another thing!" she exclaimed, "The surgeon said that he'd never heard of the kid and that the hospital just handed him the documents, but look!" she gave Booth her copy of the male anthropologist's papers, "The paper says 'Mr. Zachary Uriah Addy,' yet the so-called doctor referred to him as Dr. Addy."

"Well maybe…" Seeley wavered.

"Just break down the door!"

"Alright, alright!" he gave up, "But I have to give this guy a fair warning."

He pounded his fist on the door, "Listen, buddy! This is the FBI! Open up!"

The door remained shut and Booth turned around to see the told-ya-so grimace on the artist's face.

"Don't say I didn't warn you!" he yelled into the wood before kicking it down to the ground.

"Nicely executed," Bones remarked at his precision.

Booth smirked at her as all three slowly crept through the short hallway.

"Stay back," the agent warned prior to jumping out into the hospital suite.

"Oh my..."

"What? What is it?" Dr. Brennan took Angela's hand and leaned out into the room as well.

Angela let out a muffled wail into the forensic anthropologist's shoulder and Bren's eyes widened in horror.

No one was there. The bed was empty. The only thing remaining from the young man that had once been there was the blood that streaked the sheets.

Booth's eyebrows lowered at the scene before him. He only grumbled a single word.

"Apprentice."

--

Alrighty then…I promise never to promise when any chapters will be out again. I told one poor soul that this chapter was supposed to be issued two Sundays ago. I was wrong to make that promise.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review!