As soon as Cam announced that it was time for a break, Angela and Hodgins dragged Zack off towards the lounge area above the lab.
"So how did you meet?" The words were out of Angela's mouth before the even sat down. Cam and Brennan had wandered upstairs to hear the story as well, interested in an explanation for that morning's events.
"Well it was my first day there. I'd just been briefed, and told to
get something to eat before I started work, so I went to the mess tent. The only edible item on the menu was the macaroni cheese, which was fortunately for me. I helped myself to a plate and went over to the corner. I was just getting started, when suddenly there was a shadow looming over me. I looked up and found myself staring at a tall, handsome man in uniform. I never believed in love at first site before, until I met Howie. Zack took a breath as his thoughts wandered to the man
that had been so nice to him, and eventually captured his heart.
Hodgins cleared his throat noisily, reminding the young scientist that he had a story to finish.
"He kept me company that day, and every day after that. We talked about everything, and he seemed genuinely interested in me. He understood why I was awkward, and made me feel good about qualities I possessed, besides my intellect. We would sit for hours in that mess tent, just talking; he once told me he had become a wing commander in order to have some power over the scheduling, making it possible for our lunches to always coincide. Our relationship blossomed quickly, and the night before I was to leave, he made love to me." Zack again got a dreamy look on his face, the memory of that evening still fresh in his mind.
Suddenly he jumped up from his seat as his cell phone shrilled loudly; Howie was calling.
"Hi" Zack answered, moving away to get a little more privacy.
As he spoke with Howie, his colleagues started to discuss Zack's startling revelation.
"Well that was unexpected." Cam stated simply, shaking her head.
"Yeah, I'll say. I lived with him for years, and I never knew about this side of him." Hodgins said, obviously still in shock. He was a little hurt, thinking he knew his best friend pretty well, but it was obvious he had much to learn. They continued to talk until Zack came back with a smile on his face. Soon, break was over and they had to go back to work; there was still the matter of the young male on the autopsy table
downstairs.
While each member of the team did their own thing Zack had a hard time concentrating, as he boiled the head and the bones to make sure there was no excess skin muscle or ligaments still attached. He couldn't stop thinking about his last evening in Iraq.
