I've been wanting to do an Oliver story for quite a while. His demeanor between 11.15 and 11.19 was an almost complete 180, so I've touched on what I think happened to facilitate that change. I have also taken a bit of creative license, but I don't think anyone will care.

Rated T for a couple swear words and other stuff.

Enjoy folks.

Takes place during 11.19: The Head in the Abutement

On Monday, May 13th, Oliver arrived at the employee parking garage of the Jeffersonian Museum and pulled into a spot. Turning off his vehicle, he sat for a moment trying to get his nerves to relax. No way would he show that he was nervous on his first day back at the lab.

Today marked the end of the 30 day suspension from the Medico-Legal Lab Doctor Saroyan gave him for stealing Christine Booth's report card from Doctor Brennan's office and tricking Hodgins into analyzing it. For the last month, he has been off except for his one week rotation in Cultural Anthropology and then was banned from the lab that week. It annoyed him during those seven days when Doctor Edison always let him know that he was head of the department and that he, Oliver Wells, was a mere student.

Oliver thought about how the lab must have suffered without him. He was so valuable because he was not only Doctor Brennan's intern, but also a part time intern to Doctor Hodgins, a spot he rotated with Jessica Warren and Wendell Bray. Just last week, Jessica took his place with Hodgins when a camera crew was there filming for a documentary on the lab. Even Doctor Vaziri got in on the action and where was he?

Stuck documenting remains from a Neanderthal while Clark was interviewed for the documentary.

Seeing the time, he took a deep breath. He quickly mentally rehearsed the cover story he created to cover his other time. Grabbing his work bag and lunch, he climbed out of the car, locked it, and started walking towards the entrance. He got three steps and stopped in his tracks.

At two o'clock to his right, Daisy Wick was helping her son out of her minivan. With a grace he would never possess, she was able to effortlessly walk her son, carry what looked like a backpack on her shoulder with another bag with letters and numbers on her other arm. Before he could stop himself, he moved forward.

"Daisy, let me carry something for you."

He watched as she turned around, shocked. "O-Oliver. Did you really just offer to help me?"

Inwardly, he groaned. He usually didn't lower himself to help others as he was better than the rest. However, ever since Doctor B's bachelorette party he uncharacteristically always had a soft spot for the petite woman. Only to himself would he admit it hurt when she got back together with that dork FBI profiler Lance Sweets again. While he was genuinely sorry Doctor Sweets died, the fact that Daisy was single was an appealing fact. That he would keep to himself also.

"Yes. I do try to be nice and helpful. You look like you have your hands full."

"I do. Um, sure. You can take Lance's bag. I have to take him to daycare first if you don't mind."

"Well, I do, but I'm early for my shift at the lab anyway." He replied in his usual snotty tone.

"Thank you for breaking away from your busy schedule, Doctor Wells." Daisy said with sarcasm. "Here."

Oliver caught the bag Daisy thrust into his arms and almost fell over. With an effort he hid, he hoisted it over his shoulder and caught up with Daisy and her son.

"So, ready for day care today, Lance."

"Yay!"

The three walked in silence except for the toddler's incoherent speak until they got to the Jeffersonian Day Care. Daisy took the bag and turned to her son. "Lance, can you say thank you to Oliver for helping us?"

"Tank you." Lance said.

"You're welcome, young man." Oliver said.

"I'll see you at the lab, Oliver. I have to get him settled in," Daisy said.

The tall man started to walked away, but stopped. "Wait, at the lab? Why are you here? You're not scheduled. This is my week."

Daisy turned around annoyed. "I am grading papers for Doctor Brennan since I'm her TA for two of her entry-level courses. She said I could use her office and take Lance to the day care, telling them I was working in the lab today. Anything else you need to know?"

Before he could respond, Daisy walked into the room in a huff.

Oliver inwardly smacked himself for a moment before watching her in the room. As Daisy was talking to a teacher, he realized he had a goofy smile on his face. Quickly removing it, he walked to the lab, annoyed at getting soft. For no one would he compromise his vast intelligence and abilities.

Five minutes later, he walked into the lab and punched in. He inhaled, taking in the aroma of the facility, a bouquet of formaldehyde, bleach, and other chemicals.

Damn he missed this. Cultural Anthropology didn't have the excitement that was always here.

As he got to the locker room, Jessica was walking out while putting on her badge to start her week with Doctor Edison. He didn't understand how such a flake like her got the respect of everyone here while he got bupkus.

"Ah, Ms. Warren, long time no see," Oliver greeted, watching her lift her head up.

"Doctor Wells. It's been so different without your hot air around here."

He missed his verbal sparring with her and a few others, too. "I know you missed me and my vast intelligence, Jessica."

"Yeah, my 168 IQ missed your 160 IQ pretending you're in Mensa. Now, if you excuse me, Clark is waiting for me. Bye."

Oliver was prepared for a retort, but then he saw Doctor Saroyan looking at him with her eyebrow arched. He knew he was on thin ice, so he had to contain himself for a while. If today was slow enough, he and Doctor Hodgins could sneak in a game of Aerial Attack in later that morning.

As Oliver finished his lunch in the upstairs break area, he heard voices coming up the stairs. After a second, he recognized the voices as Daisy and Jessica.

"Thanks for grabbing me lunch, Daisy. Aubrey's busy with the case so he grabbed a quick bite with Agent Booth and Doctor B."

"No problem. I needed a break from grading Doctor B's final exams for her Theory class. Sorry Aubrey got busy with the case and couldn't meet you. How are the exams from her Human Origins class?"

"Not bad. I got enough done last night so I can finish grading them tomorrow."

"So…any plans with Aubrey later?"

"Playing some games before he makes missing lunch up to me. He's always so…through and considerate."

"Don't you mean thoughtful?"

"No, through. When he makes up dates with me, he always makes that extra effort to show how much he appreciates me and I appreciate that."

As the two girls got to the break area, they were giggling. They stopped when they saw him stare at Daisy.

"Take a picture it'll last longer, Oliver."

Embarrassed at being caught, the anthropologist stiffened his spine. "I wasn't staring, Jessica. I was just in deep thought."

"Sure you were, Oliver." The redhead said with a knowing tone as the two girls sat on the couch and pulled out their lunches from the paper bag Daisy had.

"Excuse me ladies. I have to get back and do real work, not gossip."

Oliver got his stuff together, cleaned up, and left. As he was going downstairs, he listened when he heard his name.

"Jessica, just when I think I know him as a jerk, he does nice things. Today, he volunteered to carry Lance's diaper bag to daycare for me when my arms were full."

"Oliver Wells did that?"

"Yeah, Oliver Wells. He's nice to me sometimes, but I don't understand why."

The tall man was about to listen further when he saw Doctor Saroyan and Angela staring at him at the end of the stairs. Knowing he had to finish separating the post and perimortem injuries for Doctor Brennan, he reluctantly left.

An hour later, the anthropologist was settling in next to Hodgins as they prepared their drones to fly to the Anacostia River to search for Seth Lang's head. He was going to agree to a rematch of Aerial Attack later, but this was much better.

His mission? Find the head…get his lab mojo back.

"Doctor Hodgins, I'm going to find the head first and then you'll have to realize just how awesome I am."

Hodgins turned to the intern. "Ahhhh, hot air. The air conditioning always works better when you're not talking smack you can't back up, Oliver."

"Don't be jealous because you know I'm right. How about a friendly wager? Say loser has to record a new voice mail for the winner?"

The entomologist smiled. "I've got an even better one."

Oliver heard him explain his idea and loved it. "Oh I can't wait to win and have you do that."

"It's you that's going to be stuck."

Confident, Oliver smiled. "You're on. Commence Operation Anacostia Head Retrieval."

The two men started up their drones and watched them take off from the platform before going out the automatic doors.

Forty minutes later, the two men were coming up short in their search for the head. After a few minutes of smack talk, Hodgins figured out to try the bridge abutments. It didn't take long for Oliver to see the head.

'That head is mine! Suck it, Hodgins!' Oliver thought to himself as he stopped his drone over it. "That's it! Next to the abutment, or what's left of it. I win!"

Oliver's celebration was short-lived as he caught on too late to Hodgins sneaking under him to get the object.

"No, no what are you doing? That's my head! I got there first!"

After they bickered for a moment, to Oliver's annoyance the entomologist successfully obtained the head with his drone.

"Oh and now I am off to my triumphant return back to the lab!"

The anthropologist refused to go down without a fight. "You stole my head, Hodgins! That's my head!"

"Snooze, you lose, Pal."

A short time later, Oliver and Hodgins were laughing at Aubrey's embarrassment in front of Cam when the agent put his hands on his hips, showing his side arm as he stared the two men down.

"You think that was funny, guys?"

"Oh hell yes." The anthropologist said in between snickers. "Considering you suggested giving us an intense spanking I think it's very appropo. Don't you agree, Doctor Hodgins?"

Hodgins stopped laughing as he saw Aubrey's face. "Ummm, I think I'll stay out of this one, Oliver."

"Chicken." Oliver said back.

"I'm hearing testosterone at play here. What's up?"

The three men looked to see Jessica swipe her card on the platform while holding a skull. Walking towards them, she set the skull down and gave Aubrey a kiss. "Okay, boys, what did I miss?"

"Nothing much." Oliver said. "Your boyfriend tried to be uber tough with Cam and she knocked him down a peg or two."

"Sorry, Aubrey." Jessica said before seeing the drones. "Holy shit, Curly. Are these the drones you were telling me about earlier that found the head? They're just like the ones in Aerial Attack."

'Jessica knows games?' Oliver thought before speaking. "Hold up. You've played this game before?"

"I've played a game or two with Aubrey. Girls can be gamers too, Oliver."

"Wow Loverboy…playing video games with your girlfriend at your apartment. That's some hot stuff." Oliver said in a cocky tone to Aubrey.

"We do a hell of a lot more than that." The agent mumbled before being smacked in the chest by Jessica.

Turning to the redhead, Oliver spoke again. "What happens when two play? Does Aubrey jump in when you're about to lose?"

"Oliver, some friendly advice. Quit while you're ahead." Hodgins said.

"Why? Because this girl here thinks she's good at video games?"

"Is your genius smart, hot girlfriend good at games?" Aubrey said. "Oh wait, that's me. You don't have a girlfriend, do you Doctor Wells?"

Oliver's ego ran rampant at the mention of his lack of female companionship. "I have women readily available to me. There's nothing I can't be the best at."

"That's true. You proved that by getting yourself suspended for a month for being a douche with Christine's report card." Aubrey retorted.

Aubrey's words reminded Oliver that so far no one cared to ask what he did during his time away from here. Not once did someone mention how much the lab suffered without him or while he suffered for a week in Cultural Anthropology unable to go into the lab for any reason. Fired up, he turned to the couple.

"That was just politics and your Agent Booth getting pissed off because I got one over Doctor Brennan."

"Big talk for someone who almost got his ass kicked by Booth." Hodgins chimed in.

Oliver didn't like the reminder of the senior agent coming down to the lab and grabbing him by the scruff of his shirt. Then, in front of the entire lab, he was dragged to his mentor's office where he was forced to apologize to the agent's wife. Worst of all, then Cam suspended him immediately due to theft.

"I don't get my ass kicked. I'm the one who kicks asses, with everything. I can even kick anyone's ass at Aerial Attack, especially Jessica here."

Aubrey held back a smile as his girlfriend stepped forward. "If you think you can kick my ass, put your money where your big mouth is, Doctor Wells. I'll definitely play you, anytime, anyplace."

"You're on Warren. Tonight, 7:00 PM, Ookey Room. You're going to eat my game."

"Whatever, Oliver. It's going to fun taking you on and knocking your ego down."

"Well Oliver, if I'm going to get back here to watch my girlfriend hand you your ass on a platter, I should get back to the Hoover now."

Oliver was certain he saw the agent's hand lower down the red-headed intern's back towards her posterior for a few seconds before moving back to his side. The smile on Jessica's face confirmed it.

"Walk me to Angela's office so I can drop off this skull to her for Clark? Then I'll walk you down to the garage, Superman."

The two men watched the couple walk away towards Angela's office. Oliver had a moment of envy which was interrupted when he heard a snicker. "What's so funny, Doctor Hodgins?"

"Dude, you are so screwed."

"Whatever. She thinks she's so much smarter than I am."

"Dude, she is. 168 is higher than 160."

"Once again, whatever. I'm the one with the doctorates."

"Yes but you're also 37 years old. She's 28 and already has two bachelors, a masters and should have her doctorate by the time she's 30, the same number you have. Plus I have a feeling that playing 'a game or two' with Aubrey is more like several. My conclusion? You're toast, Doctor Wells."

'Toast my ass. I'm fucking brilliant. I'm Oliver Wells, polymath extraordinaire.' Oliver thought to himself. "As fun as this is, I have to go get a new blade for the bone saw and complete my work for Doctor Brennan. Excuse me." Oliver said.

"Toast! Toast! Toast!" Hodgins chanted from the platform.

Oliver turned around and flipped the scientist the middle finger before heading to the hallway of storage rooms by Angela's office. As he turned the corner, he thought he could hear heavy breathing. As he got closer, he realized it came from one room in particular. Then, he heard the voices.

"Damn it, Aubrey, your zipper is stuck. We've only got about fifteen minutes."

"Jump on the table. I'll get this. Damn it, son of a—yes! Now, where were we?"

"Getting my panties off me, Agent Aubrey for our first quickie at the Jeffersonian."

Oliver was making faces when he heard the voices again.

"Just remember, when we celebrate you kicking Oliver's ass tonight you promised….oh yes…to show me…God this feels good…how you…uhhhh…"

"How I…yes, Aubrey…examine bones…don't stop, Superman…for Doctor…yes…yes…ummm what's his name."

Feeling spiteful, Oliver banged on the door with his fist. "People should be more professional at work, folks. I don't think sex counts."

"Go the fuck away, Wells. I'm armed."

"Fancy talk for a federal agent. Good day." Oliver said as he went across the hall to grab a blade.

As he came out, he saw Daisy standing there giving him a dirty look before walking back to Doctor Brennan's office. To his anger, her being upset at him affected him more than he wanted to admit.

'Some first day back.'

A while later, he and Doctor Brennan were going over the victim's bones, comparing injuries in an attempt to find a murder weapon. For several minutes, there as a comfortable silence as he was now plain ass mad no one asked him about his absence.

Before he could stew further, Brennan spoke up, "So Doctor Wells, where else did you work besides with Doctor Edison the thirty days you were banned from the lab?"

Oliver effortlessly told his cover story. "Um, I did some work with an attorney I know here in DC. I also did some consulting work with a professor I know at Georgetown."

"I see. Which professor? Perhaps I know him."

"Todd Andrews in the Chemistry Department."

Oliver waited for a moment but got no reply from the forensic anthropologist. Realizing he was in the clear, he went back to his work, but the silence didn't last long.

"You worked with Doctor Andrews on campus?"

"Yes, I did."

"What did you assist him with?" Brennan asked.

"Oh, grading his students' final exams, helping him create new experiments for his classes next year. Things like that."

"That's very interesting, Doctor Wells."

Her tone had him suspicious. "Why is that, Doctor Brennan?"

"I was an undergrad with Todd at Northwestern and we've kept in touch over the years. In January, he called me and we discussed his upcoming sabbatical until August. He is temporarily working with the FBI to train laboratory technicians with new lab techniques."

There was a pregnant pause as a speechless Oliver tried to come up with something to say.

"You're very quiet, Doctor Wells, but that is to be expected when one is caught in a lie. Do take care not to make up stories with me again. Now, I need to call Booth. Catalog the rest of the injuries and I'll be back shortly."

Oliver watched as Temperance Brennan left the Bone Room. He worked to control the blushing he was sure was on his cheeks.

'Son of a bitch!'

Two hours later, Oliver came down from the break room after having dinner only to be greeted with Doctors Saroyan and Vaziri in an embrace outside the autopsy room.

"You know Cam, any other office I would love to lock the door, lift you up against the wall, and make love to you."

"Well Arastoo, it's understandable that a room where dead people go isn't your ideal spot. However, with your new part time position at UVA…"

"Camile Saroyan! I thought you were a professional."

"I am…here."

The two laughed together before holding hands as they walked out the door of the lab.

'Disgusting,' Oliver thought to himself.

He only got a few steps when he overheard giggling from Angela's office. Looking through the windows, his face contorted as he saw Hodgins and his wife making out in his wheelchair with the scientist's hand in her blouse. Shamelessly, he listened in on their conversation.

"So you said Aubrey and Jessica are taking you home tonight after the video game contest?"

"All taken care of, Angie. You can get Michael Vincent and feed him dinner. We can eat when I get home, probably about 8 – 9ish."

"Sounds good. So, after we put our son to bed, do you want to try those positions the specialist recommended?"

"Hell yes. It's been too long and I've missed you."

"Me too, Hodgins."

Oliver saw Angela climb off from Hodgins before he hid away in a corner. He watched as the couple were together until the exit doors when they kissed and separated as Angela left.

He was happy for his beard buddy, but at the same time annoyed. Hodgins was in a wheelchair and still have ample opportunities. However, Oliver had a dearth of loving in his life and being around it all the time on his first day back was starting to make him pissed off.

'Well…maybe not a complete dearth…nope, not happening. Going there would make him appear weak and he won't stand for it.'

First Jessica and that Agent Aubrey, then Doctor Saroyan and her new fiance, then Hodgins and Angela. What's next? Wendell and his nurse girlfriend?

"Oliver, ready to get your ass kicked by Jessica tonight?"

Hearing the voice, he turned around to see a smiling Wendell and Andie. Stiffening his spine, he carefully retorted with, "So she's played a few games with her FBI boyfriend. Big deal."

The couple in front of him snickered before Andie spoke up, "A few? Is that what Jessica told you?"

"Like when we met up with them at his apartment last weekend before heading to the Nationals game? They had a three hour marathon going on." Wendell said with a laugh. "See you later, dude."

Oliver pushed down his feeling of dread. To lose to that flaky redhead is not possible. She conceded to have Hodgins' bet honored with some assistance from Aubrey if she won. To have to follow through is not an option.

Needing a break from all the lovey dovey crap, he walked to the storage area to climb up to the balcony where he went for occasional quiet time. It was going to be another hour before he would kick the squintern's butt, but so far his first day back was a disaster, save beating Hodgins in the morning at Aerial Attack.

As he was almost to the stairs, he heard noises from the storage room he caught Aubrey and Jessica at earlier.

'Good grief, can't those two have some decorum once in a while? A little decorum goes a long way.'

Then he figured it would be fun to knock the woman off her game. 'A little edge never hurt.'

Going to the door, he banged hard on it. "For crying out loud, can't you two screw at the FBI building? Surely, there's a storage room you can rip each other's clothes off and interrogate one another or whatever weird sex game you two have planned tonight."

His feeling of triumphant remained until the door opened. When he saw a disheveled Seeley Booth, he almost pissed himself.

"What did you say to me, Oliver?" Booth said as he advanced on the terrified anthropologist. "You've got balls after the shit you pulled with Bones and my daughter last month."

Suddenly, Brennan appeared as she was pulling her shirt past her breasts. "Booth, don't hurt him. We have to get home anyway and get ready for the rink."

To Oliver's relief, Booth backed down and grabbed his jacket from the storage room. "I'm watching you, Wells."

The tall man watched the couple leave and didn't relax until he heard the lab doors close. Feeling nauseated, he walked to the steps towards the balcony. He definitely needed to relax before his game later.

Hodgins's Ookey room had the two squinerns in the middle of a match while being cheered on by Hodgins, Aubrey, Andie, Wendell, and Clark.

They were almost neck and neck when the redhead pulled an end run, causing Oliver to crash. The tall man watched his player in Aerial Attack disintegrate in flames. "No, no, no! Son of a bitch!"

"Aw, Oliver…you're now barbequed. I win! Not too bad for a Level 42 pilot with all red gear."

"I demand a rematch!"

"Like the one you offered me this morning?" Hodgins said.

Ignoring the scientist, he looked at Jessica, who was hi-fiving Aubrey. "Rematch!"

"Nope. I won. Now, Aubrey brought his guitar and Angela said we could use her office."

"I think we can negotiate here, Ms. Warren."

"Um, no. Hodgins found the head first and I kicked your ass at Aerial Attack. Now, get in Angela's office. The quicker you do this, the faster you can leave."

Two hours later, a tired and shamed Oliver walked into his apartment. Feeling his phone buzz, he saw that his Twitter was lighting up. Seeing one with a video from Doctor Brennan, he pushed it and instantly regretted it.

It was his punishment for losing, a video recorded by a hysterical Hodgins of him singing Beck's 'Loser' wearing a big sign saying LOSER in front. Aubrey and Andie were cracking up while playing the guitar and drum stolen from the Pop Culture exhibit. Jessica, Wendell, and Clark attempted to be the cheerleaders from the original video, but couldn't stop laughing.

Suddenly, every other tweet was the video being retweeted by others.

"Son of a bitch!"

He was about to toss his phone across the room when he felt another buzz. Seeing it was a text with an unknown number, he checked it. When he saw who it was, he was shocked.

It's Daisy. Cute video. Glad u took yr cough med.

Intrigued, Oliver responded. A bet is a bet.

Then he saw Daisy's reply and he felt fluttering in his stomach.

Yr not 2 bad guy when u r not being a douche.

He didn't know what possessed him to do it. It was like his fingers had a mind of their own as he sent the reply message.

Do u want 2 get coffee sometime?

He spent the next five minutes on pins and needed alternating anticipation and annoyance for being as weak as the others today. Then, he felt another buzz.

Sure. Tmrw, say 6:00 at RD? Parents will have Lance 4 night.

Oliver couldn't explain the feeling of almost…giddiness he was having. Never had a simple invitation made him feel all happy and…sweet. He should be disgusted, but for reason, he wasn't.

Cool. C u then.

He waited for the text where she would cancel, but the only reply he got was the following:

Good night, Oliver.

After sending Daisy a text with the same request, he got up to get ready for bed. As he brushed his teeth, one thing came to mind.

'Maybe I need to be more humble with people at the lab.'

He considered that thought while he spit out the toothpaste before looking back up. "Not everyone, just Daisy, Doctor Brennan, Saroyan, and Hodgins. Maybe Angela. The others can kiss my butt."

Oliver went to bed with a slight spring in his step, excited for the next day.