Zack didn't realize that he was crying openly again until Angela hugged him.
They
stood at the autopsy table, crying over the bones of Jenson and Jack,
and his past love, Kenny. Angela led Zack to her office, to
give him time to calm down. He laid down on her couch, and was
asleep within moments. She smiled down at him sadly, and
quietly made her exit, joining the other
squints.
"He wore himself out crying" Angela whispered, motioning back towards her office.
"Does anyone know what happened?" Hodgins asked, worried about his best friend; everyone else shook their head in response.
As
they all stood talking about Zack they didn't see him standing in
the door of the office. "My first boyfriend was killed in
front of me the night
I asked him to the prom" Zack lamented,
feeling fresh tears well up in his eyes, holding onto the door frame
for support.
"Oh, Zack" Angela cried, throwing her arms around him again. Everyone was saddened by the story; even Brennan had tears in
her eyes.
"Did they get them?" Booth queried.
"No, he went in to hiding, and he hasn't been seen or heard from since." Zack replied from the safety of Angela's arms, which were wrapped protective around his waist.
"Zack⦠I know we've never been that close, but after this case is over, would you like me to look into the shooting?" Booth hated to see killers get away with their crimes, especially when the victim was one of his friends.
"Thank you, Agent Booth"
"Right, it's too late in the day to anything now, so I suggest we all go home or do whatever we have planned for this evening, and get a fresh start tomorrow" Cam announced, stealing a glance at the clock. It was already past nine; she was already very late for her date that evening, but at that moment, it really didn't seem all that important.
"I'll ring Howie to come get me" Zack mumbled as he pulled away from Angela, who went straight to Hodgins arms. He went in Angela's office and phoned Howie to come get him so
they could get some late dinner.
"That was nice, man" Hodgins said to Booth, when Zack was out of ear shot. Booth nodded, following Zack, intent on asking questions in regards to that painful night eight years earlier. He waited until the young forensic anthropologist was off the phone before approaching him.
"Zack, I'm going to need to know everything that happened on the night on the shooting."
"Okay, but can we move to the lounge? I need to get a drink."
They
walked up to the balcony above the lab, both getting refreshments
before sitting on the comfortable sofas. The others went their
separate ways, with the exception of Brennan, who stayed behind to
work on the case, making up for
the time spent with her brother
and father at the jail earlier in the day.
On the platform, Zack told Booth everything he wanted to know. They wrapped up just as Howie was arriving. Zack walked to the platform edge and called down to him
"Hey
Howie"
Howie looked up when he heard his name being called, and
saw Zack standing at the railing, talking to Booth.
"Are we finished, Agent Booth?" Zack asked as he heard Howie approach.
"Yeah, I'll go back to the office and see what I can find out" Booth said, patting Zack on the shoulder as he made his exit.
"But don't you have your son tonight?" Zack called out to Booth's retreating back.
"Yeah, I was supposed to, but it's past his bed time now. Don't worry about it." Booth stopped by the platform on his way out, saying goodnight to Brennan.
"Hey baby" Howie murmured, approaching Zack from behind and kissing him on the neck; the young scientist turned to face his lover.
"Hey, why the tears?" Howie asked, worried that something had happened.
"The case today was similar to mine and Kenny's" Zack could feel his eyes welling up again. Howie had heard about Kenny
when the anniversary of his death had happened while in Iraq.
"Agent
Booth said he'd look in to what happened and how he got away with
it" Zack said as he snuggled in to Howie's arms; he always felt
safe there, losing himself in the smells and the strength that was
all Howie. They stood there for a while, just hugging. After a while, they silently untangled and made their way down stairs
and out to Howie's car, driving off towards
Zack's apartment
above Hodgins' garage.
