A/N: Sorry for the delay in updates everybody! I'm in a show run right now, that on top of classes and I don't have a lot of time. Though I think that this weekend I'll be able to get two chapters up. Next week I have that week off so I'll probably get a few more chapters up then as well.

Look forward to the reviews (they make me smile!). I hope you guys are enjoying the story.))

16CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Jack Hodgins sat in his lab, turning a vial of purple liquid from side to side. He had been doing so for the past ten minutes. In reality, he should have ceased the action about a minute in but had become swept up in thought and now just stared blankly ahead at nothing in particular. His bearded chin rested against his chest and he let out a heavy sigh.

Tonight had been interesting to say the least. Sure, at the diner some things had been of the usual norm: Doctor Brennan and Agent Booth having one of their little tiffs for example, but other parts of it had been more interesting. Vince, the new intern, practically swapping spit with the new data analyst outside for example. Who knew the kid had it in him? Certainly not Hodgins and though usually he'd be amused by the whole scenario humorous thoughts of the situation were soon replaced with missing Zack Addy and remembering what had transpired. Remembering everything. And watching the kissing outside made him think of Angela, who lately seemed to be trying desperately hard not to even look at him the wrong way. Jack, plagued by these negative worries excused himself from the diner, and despite the late hour, made his way back to the Jeffersonian. It wasn't like he was going to sleep anyways.

His white gloved hand twisted at the wrist again, very slowly now. And then again, and again, and again. A tired sigh escaped his chapped lips and he found his head shaking, looking down at his lap wrapped up in some awful thought of never being able to touch Angela again, to hold her. Someone else had that pleasure, and to make matters worse it was an attractive woman. How he loathed her. He was well aware that it was petty, Roxie was a nice woman, talented, intelligent, but there was one thing wrong: She wasn't him. Sometimes life just wasn't fair, and all of the money in the world couldn't fix it.

"You should really take advantage of what little personal time you're allowed." Came the angel's voice from the dark doorway, or in this case Angela. Her black hair flowing down her back, looking beautiful as ever, even in the dark. True she had obviously just come from the diner, where he had come from, and yet she looked wonderful, just wonderful. How could she always do that? "Hey Hodgins." Came her quiet, yet oddly sure voice, a small smile on her lush lips.

Jack blinked with surprise, sitting up in his rolling chair yet he couldn't seem to rise to his feet. "Angela." Had she come here knowing that he would be here, or had she forgotten something? Either scenario he was willing to accept.

"I somehow doubt that you're on the clock right now." Angela deducted, ever the scientist (perhaps the squints were rubbing off more than she would have liked). Her arms crossed over her chest and she walked into the dark room.

"No. I..." Jack blinked, glancing around before he realized that he probably resembled a small geek being asked to dance at prom, finally he stumbled to his feet, setting the vial on the table. "Pushing for some overtime. Big case and all." Lie. Blatant lie. And Angela knew it. Hell, he knew Angela knew it. He wasn't the best liar in the world, especially with her. He just couldn't do it admirably. All he could do now was turn the tables on her and hope that the answer was what he thought. "What are you doing here?"

Angela seemed surprised that he had redirected the line of questioning, though she should have expected it, and blinking she shifted. Should she tell him she was worried? That she actually came to check on him? Would that seem awful? Inappropriate? All of the above? Perhaps if she worded it better...

"I know that you haven't been going home Jack." In hearing her words plus his first name, Jack lowered his head in an attempt not to look at her. Angela's brow furrowed with concern and she attempted to gently pursue the topic further. "Since we caught the Gravedigger and got this case you haven't been home once. Cam even caught you sleeping in the lab." She tilted her head some, trying to catch his expression but he hid it too well, like a little boy. "You're drinking coffee. You hate coffee." A little smile crossed her lips though she wasn't sure where it came from. She liked it. Jack however seemed set on avoiding the questioning and her eyes as he stepped around her, sorting some empty vials. Angela was determined however, and she followed, now directly behind him. "Hodgins. Something is wrong. Something is obviously wrong. And you can't keep avoiding it because it'll build up inside of you and you'll be even more bitter than before and I don't think that anyone else can handle that. I'm used to it but everyone is halfway to-"

"I can't sleep." The words left Jack's mouth without thought or barrier. And as quick as they had come out he was quiet again, moving past Angela and back to his rolling chair where he plopped right down, then turning the back to her. He didn't care if he was being childish. He was tired, he was upset, he missed her. She had Roxie to go back to. He had a mansion with no one in it.

A long quiet fell between the two. Angela bit down on her lipstick painted lip carefully. A little twinge in her chest. A familiar twinge, not of guilt, but something else. Something that actually kept her in the room and not running the other way in her high heels.

"I know it was awful for you Jack. It was awful for all of us." She said quietly, taking a step toward his chair and then around it. Standing in front of him now, her voice quiet. "But she's gone. She's gone and she's not coming back. You're safe." Slowly she moved down on her knee in front of him, her hand resting on his leg giving him a light squeeze. "You're safe in your own bed. Go home." Angela lifted her hand and rested it on her ex's cheek. Of course if she looked back on the action and actually thought it through, she wouldn't have done it, but in the moment, as she lived her life, it seemed fitting.

Jack felt color and warmth rush to his cheek at the contact. She was touching him, she was actually touching him. It had been so long, he felt light hearted. What would science call this? "It's not just that Angela." He admitted honestly, his light blue eyes stared at his lap as he spoke, his hands squeezing his own thighs. "I feel like if I even close my eyes someone will just come out and snatch me. Smother me. Gut me. Something. I know it's not logical. I know she's in jail but I can still smell the dirt, feel the hotness, feel like every breath I take is getting shorter and shorter." His voice was becoming shallow, as if he was losing it. His blue eyes sparkled with what looked like tears. "Being alone. When I close my eyes I feel like I'll be alone, buried, in some contraption unable to do anything about it."

He took a deep inhaling breath before lifting his head up quickly, his blue eyes locking on Angela's before she could speak. "But not waking up to you every morning, waking up alone, that's even worse." Came the soft admittance. His words hung in the air and washed over Angela like a cool wave,

"You're not alone Jack." Angela found herself comforting softly, her eyes never wavering from his.

Jack felt his heart skip a beat yet every other part of him was unable to move. Stuck in the chair. Her hand on his face, the other on his leg. He could feel her thumb idly stroking his cheek. He felt like he was burning up. "I miss you Angela." The scientist said quietly, looking like a lost child in a mall, able to be moved if anyone gave him the slightest nudge.

"I miss you too Jack." Angela admitted, a heaviness to her usually whimsical voice as she looked at him.

The two looked to each other for a few long seconds before Angela leaned forward and her lips connected with Jack's. Lightly at first, just a comforting kiss. Hodgins had been surprised but closed his eyes willingly taking it all in, just to feel this again. Her hand clutched to the side of his face as their one soft kiss turned into a series of shorter, more passionate ones that caused Angela to raise up on her knees and Jack to lean forward to the point that he was nearly falling right off his chair. And as suddenly as it had happened, it was over.

The two could only look to each other wide eyed and breathless. Angela looking much more startled than Jack as it settled in. Her face became infused with worry and shaking her head, horribly embarrassed, she stumbled to her feet.

"Oh god. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." The artist apologized, looking back and forth so frantically so she didn't have to look at him. What was she thinking kissing Hodgins?! She was with Roxie, her girlfriend! How did she always manage to get herself in these predicaments?

Hodgins swallowed, attempting to regain his composure which was minimal. "Angela. It's alright. Really." She had kissed him. That meant there was hope! But not seconds after it she already felt regret? Should he be worried? Moving to his feet he followed her to the door but she wouldn't even look at him. "Angela... Please don't.. You can't just leave."

"Good night Hodgins." Angela said in a muffled voice before hurrying out, her head hung low.

Jack gritted his teeth and gave the edge of the door a rough punch in his frustration. "Great. Just great."