The Face with Two Skeletons
By: Tropicwhale
Disclaimer: Are they gay? No? Then they're not mine and I'm just playing with them for my own amusement and not for profit. I promise to put them back when I'm finished....dusted off and everything.
Author Talk: Color me surprised when I saw the reviews in my inbox this morning...cool. Guess I should continue this story.
Chapter Two
Booth drove them to the Royal Dinner. Zack ordered the mac-and-cheese until Booth glared at him and he ordered a ham sandwich to go with it and an iced tea. Booth ordered a cheeseburger with a black coffee and fries with slaw. The two of them sat in silence until their food came. Zack opted to look out the window and tried to imagine the bones of the people walking by. It was a taxing and fun exercise that kept Zack's mind sharp for his job and effectively off his precedent arousal toward the federal officer sitting across from him. Booth watched Zack. Zack looked over. "Yes?" Booth shook his head.
"I'm trying to figure you out."
"What is there to figure out?" Zack was confused. He tried to be straightforward as possible like Booth and bones.
"You're a squint, and a way weird and creepy squint at that, but you get involved in a mystery and you conduct yourself like a rookie federal officer."
"I don't understand."
"Forgetting to eat? Cloistering yourself away from others until you figure out what the truth is? That's stuff that rookie detectives do."
"So you are comparing me to a law enforcement officer who doesn't have a lot of experience? Is that suppose to be a compliment, an insult, or a observation?" Booth blinked.
"I guess it's an observation." Zack nodded, filing it away in his mind, and turned back to the window. Their food arrived. Zack ate the mac-and-cheese first while Booth chomped into his burger.
"So why were you involved with the drawing? Usually it's just Hodgins, Angela, Dr. Brennan, and, recently, Dr. Saroyan."
"I was in the lab doing some follow-up on the last case with Bones." Booth popped a fry into his mouth.
"So you never were involved with the drawing before?" Booth swallowed and picked up another fry.
"No, I get roped into it when I'm around. This the first time I've ever drawn the short straw though." Zack nodded.
"So your luck 'ran out' as the saying goes."
"What? No. I didn't mean it like that."
"Okay." Zack went back to eating.
"Wait, that's it?" Zack looked up at Booth in between bites.
"I don't understand."
"You're just going to accept that I didn't see having to take you out to eat as bad luck?"
"Do you see it as good luck?"
"No. But that's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
"I mean…taking you out is neither good nor bad luck. It just is."
"I believe you. Past experience has taught me that you usually have no cause to lie nor do you care to. You're straightforward. Like bones. So I tend to believe what you say at face value." Booth cocked his head and smiled at that.
"Thank you Zack."
"For what?"
"For saying that you believe me to be truthful."
"It's what I perceive as fact." Zack was confused again. It seemed to happen often around Booth, Zack being confused and he wasn't at all certain if he cared for it.
"Thank you." Booth said sincerely. Zack blinked. "Finish your food, Zack." Zack nodded and obeyed.
After he finished eating, Zack went into the bathroom to wash up while Booth paid the bill. As the waitress came up to him to hand his credit card back she smiled. "I think you and your boyfriend look so cute together." Booth blinked at her, confused as hell. Then he caught on.
"OH! No. We're not-I'm not gay. He's my partner's assistant and he sometimes forgets to eat." She smiled knowingly and walked away. "Wait! I'm not-! Oh forget it." Booth slouched in his seat, momentarily annoyed. Zack chose that moment to reappear. Zack wasn't even Booth's type. How could she think that they were a couple? Bones and Booth, that mistake he could understand. But Zack? Zack was…not Booth's type. Not his type at all.
"Are you ready to go?" Zack asked. "I need to get back to the Jeffersonian."
"Why?"
"I would like to make some notes on the remains I was working with before you took me out to dinner while they are still fresh in my mind."
"No." Zack's face crumpled into something between a pout and anger.
"Why not?"
"This may be the first time I've had to do this but I was informed of the rules. Get you to eat and get you home, make sure you're going actually go to bed and not sneak out and back to the Jeffersonian." Zack looked slightly miffed at that. He had only done that once. "What?"
"I miscalculated. It frustrates me." Booth laughed. Zack froze and reared back slightly. "Why are you laughing?"
"Because what you just said was funny." Booth cracked a smile. Zack looked confused.
"I don't understand."
"You, Mr. Science and Calculation, underestimated not just me but Bones, Cam, Hodgins, and Angela in thinking that they wouldn't considered the possibly of you trying to trick me to go back to work. That is funny." Zack thought a moment then finally nodded.
"I can see where that would be amusing."
"Good for you." Booth was smiling again. He seemed relaxed to Zack. It was a nice change from the usual circumstances in which Zack came into contact with Booth. Although, Zack reasoned, that under the usual circumstances it would be highly inappropriate for Booth to be relaxed as he was at the moment.
"Ready to go?" Booth stood and laid down a tip.
"Yup." They walked out together. Their waitress grinned at them. Booth glared at her and regretted the tip he gave her. Booth opened the car door for Zack before walking past the front of the car to the driver's side. Zack slide into the car and shut the door. "Why so quiet, Zack?" Zack looked over at Booth but the federal officer was already concentrating on getting out of the parallel parking spot. When he was moving in traffic Zack answered.
"I wasn't aware that I was being unduly quiet."
"You weren't-I was just trying to make conversation."
"Oh. I'm sorry. I'm not very good at that…unless the conversation is scientific in nature." Booth nodded. "What about you? You are acting out of character as well."
"Am I?"
"You are being nice to me."
"I'm always nice to you, Zack."
"You prefer if we have no direct contact. How is that being nice?" Zack could tell he struck a metaphorical nerve because Booth shifted uncomfortably.
"It's…you're right. It's not nice of me. It's just…during work you're a little tough to handle and the situations we're in usually aren't particularly…" Booth struggled with the words.
"They are stressful. Solving murders should be…the truth needs to be found out-"
"Exactly." Booth interjected.
"-and I'm not a socially adept person. You should not waste time on trying to figure out how to communicate with me effectively while solving a murder. It is counterproductive."
"Exactly."
"But you try to pass it off as proper social etiquette which is the not nice part." Booth had nothing to say to that.
"I'm sorry, Zack. You're right. That's wrong of me."
"Your apology is accepted."
"Robot." Booth laughs to show it's a joke. Zack smiles too. He can see the humor in the word. Hodgins had made a similar comment just last week.
"Normal person." Zack jibes back and Booth roars with laughter. For some reason, it's incredibly funny to him. Perhaps it was the dead beat of Zack's voice. "Please watch the road."
"I am." It didn't seem like it. Booth glances over to see Zack's worried look. "I am, don't worry." Booth slaps Zack's thigh good naturedly. "I'm a good driver." Zack nods and turns back to his window. The nerve ends on his thigh tingled in a pleasant way from where Booth had touched him. The effect was rippling out toward Zack's sexual organs and his face was flushed. It would not do to break the fragile peace that had unexpectedly occurred between him and the federal officer because Zack couldn't control his physical reactions to Booth and then have Booth notice. "Hey? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Agent Booth. I suppose I'm becoming a little tired. It is approaching my bedtime."
"It's barely eight."
"I go to bed at nine-thirty. It's an optimum time to fall asleep and get the recommended eight hours, fit in my morning routine and get to work on time."
"You know, Zack, if you were more normal you would have fit right in with the army."
"Except I couldn't." Booth forgot about that.
"I know." Booth sighed.
"It's not your fault you know. Turn here…it's quicker." Booth obeyed even as he replied.
"I told you to go."
"No. I turned to you to seek guidance in dealing with Dr. Brennan and my decision to go. I was going to Iraq either way." Booth glanced over at Zack. "My sister's over there. As her older brother I should want to look after her…even though she was the one that would beat up bullies that picked on me."
"Zack…I didn't know."
"She knew I was in Iraq. I had sent her an email. We actually managed to get leave at the same time and met up in Bagdad. That was kinda cool. I worry about her now that I'm home." Zack looked over at Booth. Booth glanced at him and focused on the road.
"As you should be." Zack nodded. There was a moment of silence then Booth snorts in amusement and slaps the steering wheel with the palm of his hand. "What do you know, the littlest squint got layers like an onion." Zack looked at him clearly confused and a little wary. Booth snorted again. "Don't worry. You wouldn't get the reference."
"You were combining a quote from the character Spike of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer from the Angel episode "Destiny" with a bit of dialogue from the first Shrek movie along with the Federal slang for scientists. I got it. I just thought it was weird that you thought it was funny." Zack commented drily. "Turn left up at the light." Booth stopped at the red light and turned on his turn signal before looking at Zack.
"You are a surprising person."
"Not really."
"So what other hidden pieces are there of Dr. Zack Addy?"
"Light's green." Booth turned back to the road as he turned so did Zack. "I can sing…I'm award-winning actually. I am also a fairly good dancer. I can play the piano and list all fifty states alphabetically. Also, I'm a fairly decent forward." Booth stopped at a stop sign. "Straight, please…there will be two turns on the right then take a left…the name of the street you're looking for is Mulberry Drive."
"Forward…like in basketball?"
"Not like in basketball. In basketball. I play forward for a recreational team on the weekends. I am deceptively strong and quick."
"Doesn't Hodgins know?"
"He never asked." Zack stared into the dark night counting streets and trees.
"Do you follow professional?"
"Yes. I'm a great Blazers fan."
"They're not doing too well this season."
"No, they are not. Their star player had microfracture surgery on his right knee last season and now has a sprain on his right foot this season. It's been very frustrating for me. Left here, see?" Zack pointed. Booth turned. "Third house on the left there's going to be a private road with no outlet. Take that." Booth turned. "You forgot the turn signal."
"Sorry." Booth said automatically. Zack hypothesized that he was confused about how he had misjudged Zack so badly. Zack focused his attention on Booth. He wasn't even multitasking using his photographic memory to figure out the mystery of the woman's bones back at the lab. That was a lot of attention.
"It will be the house at the bottom of the court…you could leave me at the gate. I'm sure Hodgins is home to let me in." Booth pulled out his cell phone when he hit the bottom of the cul-de-sac. "Who are you calling?"
"Hodgins." Zack was quiet. Obviously Booth didn't know about the intercom system on the outside of the gate and it wouldn't do for the federal agent to feel inferior if Zack pointed it out to him after they had such a good time. After a few moments Zack could hear Hodgins pick up in the silence of the car over the hum of the engine. "Yeah. Hodgins. Are you home yet? On a date. Is it safe to let Zack to let himself in or should I make absolutely certain that he makes it to-Got it. Thanks Hodgins. What's the code again? Why not?" Booth sighed irritated. "Hodgins," He said patiently "you know me. I'm not going to-Hodgins, you're weird. Hodgins…Hodgins, just because I'm a federal officer doesn't mean I'm going to plant bugs in your house if you give me the passcode." Zack looked out his window and grinned. Hodgin's paranoia was amusing sometimes. "I don't have a photographic memory…You Know That Because I'm Telling You. Hodgins…" Booth held the phone at arm's length then growled. Zack smothered a laugh and looked away so Booth wouldn't notice. Booth snapped the cell back to his ear. "HODGINS!! You know," Booth's voice went suddenly soft and conversational. "I think you're protesting too much. Maybe you have something to hide. Maybe I should call in Homeland Security to check out your place for the good of the country." Zack chanced a glance at the federal agent as Booth shifted the car into park. He had an evil smirk on his face but was clearly enjoying the effect that he had on the entomologist. "Try me. Almost, let me get out of the car." Booth got out of the car with the engine still running and went up to the keypad. One by one he punched in the numbers. The gate started to open and Booth raced back to the car, pulled the door shut slammed on his seat belt and threw the car into drive just as the gate fully opened. He slowly edged out and into Hodgin's home. Zack was feeling very sleepy.
"I liked how you used Hodgin's paranoia against him." Booth snorted.
"Just don't tell anyone, okay? I'm not suppose to threaten private citizens like that."
"But it was amusing."
"Amusement value aside, I shouldn't have done it. The good guys don't use their powers for evil."
"Understood. Am I a good guy too?" Booth glanced over at the squint that had sort of slumped in the bucket seat in a failed attempt to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. Zack thought that there was elements of pride and surprise and confusion on Booth's face but that could have been a trick of the low lighting in the car.
"Of course. You help us catch the bad guys." Zack looked at him blankly. "The murderers and stuff."
"Oh. Okay. I suppose I'm more of a sidekick then an actual hero. You and Dr. Brennan are the heroes…I'm Robin." Booth laughed. "I'm sorry. He's the only side-kick I can think off."
"Well, you're the Boy Wonder."
"I suppose."
"Zack, can I give you a piece of advice?"
"It will be unprecedented." Zack observed. Booth flinched again, quickly, just around the eyes. If Zack hadn't been completely focusing on Booth he would have missed it.
"I'm sorry I keep making you flinch."
"It's not your fault, Zack. I'm just-I shouldn't underestimate people." Zack nods. He understands. Booth pulled up in front of the garage.
"What's your advice?"
"Oh. Don't take life so seriously. You above all people should know that it can be too short so why not enjoy it? Take life by the horns and give it a good shake." Zack sat up.
"I don't understand the metaphor."
"What I mean is…don't let logic get in the way of your life…it can be as blinding as emotions sometimes. There is a middle road you know, of balancing out everything. If you see something you want, don't try to think yourself out of trying to get it."
"I see."
"Do you?" Booth looked over at Zack. It was very dark and the house lights that were on cast an eerie half-glow on one side of Booth's face that made him look both young and old at the same time.
"Yes. I had a very good time tonight. Would you like to come up to my apartment?" Zack was aware of the sexual connation of the phrasing but that did not explain Booth's almost violent tensing. "Agent Booth? I know it's late but it is Friday and I can afford to stay up a little later then on a usual weeknight. I also am not that tired and was wondering if you would like to watch a basketball game with me. I TiVo'd the Blazers/Pistons game from Wednesday night…that is unless you already watched it."
"No, I missed it." Booth seemed severely distracted. Perhaps he was calculating his own sleep regime. Zack waited patiently for him to finish.
"I have chocolate ice cream as well. If that's any temptation." Booth started and looked at Zack. "Agent Booth? Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine, Zack."
"I also have beer. I don't drink but Hodgins and my basketball teammates like to come over and partake occasionally so I find it's better to be well prepared against such an eventuality." Booth looked close to having a stroke. "You can always say no, Agent Booth. You've more than done your duty in taking care of me. The others would have just gotten me Chinese take-out so that I could continue working and then driven me home when they were ready to head home themselves. You're more than cleared from duty. It was very nice of you. Thank you for a good time." Zack unbuckled himself and opened the car door and got out. He closed the car door and started toward the side entrance to the garage.
Author Talk: I'm incapable of writing a one shot. I thought you all should know.
Tropic