Chapter Four

The next Monday, Erin was reassigned to her usual job when they didn't have things to catalog, which was pouring over copies of old writing and making translations. There were only a couple people in the world who were as adept with the ancient Egyptian language as she was, and all the others were in Egypt. Her abilities came from her interest in other languages as a child, and grew in middle school when she discovered hieroglyphs and began studying them in her free time, then moved on to the less formal ancient Egyptian writings of Hieratic, Coptic, and Demotic. In university, she had been the person able to decipher the language the most quickly, so that job was given to her in nearly every group assignment she worked on.

When the head of Egyptology had discovered that Erin actually enjoyed going over the old writings, she had permanently assigned the young grad student to going over the old copies. Over the past three years, Erin had memorized every variation of every glyph and what they meant when adjusted, written in different inks, turned, or were added to, and she was able to read through the writings almost as quickly as she could read literature written in any of her second languages, like Spanish, Latin, German, and, of course, Arabic, the main language of modern Egypt.

She wrote pages of notes on the copies to be looked over by Dr. Lawrence, then, if needed, sent back to Egypt to be verified as correct. Most of the things she translated were names and titles, serious family histories of people, but once in a great while, there were stories. Usually, stories were passed down through generations by mouth rather than written word, since only the very rich could afford and were allowed to educate their children, but once in a while someone would write them down. Most of them were children stories, probably for the rich children to learn to read from, and those were always interesting. Most of the Hieratic writings were very old, dating from what was officially called the Old Kingdom, roughly 2500 B.C. and those ones were always the hardest to translate, because the way the letters were formed changed slightly from person to person, and more from village to village, but those were always the most interesting stories as morals and social norms had been so different back then.

There were hundreds of thousands of copies of old writings to go through, and more documents were added to the translation list every time old rooms in castles were discovered, or old tombs unearthed. Many of them were similar in content, but it was impossible to be sure without actually translating them all since the figures for the same word or sound varied so greatly.

Some documents, Erin was able to analyze and feel satisfied with her translations in less than an hour, but some of them were difficult, smudged or bad quality photocopies, crumbling stone or faded ink. Those ones she could spend an entire day on.

Monday had been such a day. The document she was going over was older than most, judging by the carving style and letter formation, Erin placed its origin date between 2700 and 2800 B.C., one of the only Early Dynastic Period pieces she had worked on since joining the Jeffersonian. The only copies of the information she had to go off of were old photocopies, black and white ones. The letters had been carved very close together in Hieratic, not Hieroglyphs, which told her it was an informal writing, so not a family history or gravestone. They hadn't recorded stories back then, not with the limited number of people who were able to read or write, and the amount of time it took to carve out each symbol. The letters were very carefully formed though, and the writing spanned several stone tablets, also called Stelas, so whoever had written it must have thought it was very important.

Erin spent most of the day going over every inch of the photocopies under the magnifier, then copying down exact replicas of each shape, and the spacing between the letters, then jotting down her own thoughts about the glyphs before moving on to the next one.

"What are you working on?" Dr. Lawrence's voice drew Erin from her analysis.

"I'm not sure yet," Erin said, looking up. "I haven't started translation yet. This is the oldest piece I've every worked on though. I've dated it as 27-2800 B.C. but that's just a guess at this point."

"Well you should head home now, it'll still be here in the morning," Dr. Lawrence said. Erin glanced around in surprise. At some point it had gotten dark outside, though she hadn't noticed.

"Yes, of course," she said, separating her notes and her own copies of the tablets from the official ones, and shoving her things into her backpack. "I didn't notice it was so late."

"You never do Ms. James," Dr. Lawrence said, chuckling. "You are very dedicated to your work."

Erin tucked her things into her desk and began walking beside him out to the hallways.

"Thank you sir," Erin said, smiling.

"Which is why I've scheduled your dissertation presentation for two weeks from now, Wednesday," he said, and she froze in shock, falling a couple steps behind.

"Two weeks sir?" She asked, her voice raising a little.

"Don't try to tell me you aren't ready," he said, shaking his head as she caught up with him. "I read your subject proposal and you have obviously done large amounts of research. I wouldn't be surprised if you have the entire project finished already, and have had it finished for months."

"I…" She began, but she couldn't deny it. She had finished her dissertation research over a year ago and probably could have presented her work and graduated last year around this time, if she had wanted to. At the time though she hadn't wanted to leave the Jeffersonian yet. "Yes sir. Will you be on the panel of judges?"

"I will," he said, nodding. "And I look forward to hearing your presentation."

"Thank you sir," she said, continuing toward the parking lot as he split off toward the administrative building.

Two weeks to get her dissertation together… that would be very difficult.

She had been sort of avoiding Zack since her realization on Saturday, that he was a long term kind of guy. Not because of that fact alone though, it was because she had remembered how intense he had been during their one sexual encounter, and her mind kept bringing him up at the most random of moments.

It hadn't been difficult to avoid him though. From what she had gathered, their anthropology team had just solved the murder of an ambassadors son who had been found hanging from a tree at his private school, and they had immediately been assigned to another case, this one stemming from Washington State. Dr. Brennan had left to be on site, but she was going to start sending X-rays and samples to be identified, which, as her assistant, would be Zack's job. She had gathered all of this from a brief run in with Angela that morning.

Her avoidance lasted until Friday that week. To be fair, she had a very good excuse for not making time to go see Zack. He wasn't the only one who was busy with work. She had found her current project to be much harder to translate than usual. She had successfully copied down all the letters, but when she deciphered them, they didn't make sense together, and nearly every letter had odd irregularities that she had never seen before, and neither Dr. Lawrence, nor the other intern, Paulo, were able to explain. It was if the person who had done the writing had done so in their own personal language that only happened to resemble the ancient language of Egypt. The only thing that kept her convinced it was written in Hieratic was the name signed at the bottom of each tablet. She had tentatively deciphered it as Karanebti, which led her to name the project as the Karanebti Files. She had herd variations on the name when studying past monarchs and their households, but she didn't recall anyone with that exact name, so she had been pouring over all ancient Egyptian people mentioned in anything. If she could verify that the name was correct, maybe she would be able to use it to translate the other letters.

"Erin."

Or maybe she was looking at the name incorrectly. She had disregarded a couple oddities in the letters, but they were the same on every tablet, more or less. Maybe they weren't meant to be a name, but those symbols together couldn't be anything else.

"Erin."

Maybe if she could find out who the person mentioned was and what their occupation had been, she would be able to guess at what content might be written here. They would have had to have access to money, the stones looked like they were made of marble, which was why most of the letters had been preserved so nicely.

"Erin?"

She jumped as strong hands touched her shoulders, but then relaxed a little as they began to massage her sore muscles. She leaned back a little, recognizing the voice as Zack's, now that she was paying attention. Then she realized what he was doing and jumped to her feet, looking around. It was dark outside, and the department was empty, though she hadn't heard the others leave.

"Zack?" She asked, turning to face him. "What are you doing here? And where did you learn that?" She gestured to her shoulders. It was something that a lot of people did, she knew, but Zack was not a lot of people. He smiled in satisfaction.

"I've been observing some of the people at the lab," he said. "And I came to see if you would be able to take me home today. Hodgins left already."

"Sure," she said, yawning, then beginning to collect her paperwork. "What do you do on days that Hodgins and I am both gone?"

"I take a cab," he said. "But I prefer not to. They always smell like feet." She chuckled, hoisting her backpack over her shoulder and heading to the door.

"How is your case in Washington going?" She asked as she used her key to look the doors behind her.

"How did you hear about that?" He asked, walking beside her down the hallway. "Cases are supposed to stay in the lab."

"Angela told me," she said. "She didn't give me any details, she just said that you would be busy for a while because as Dr. Brennan's assistant it was your obligation to identify the things she sent to you."

"Oh," he said, looking a little relieved for some reason.

"What's wrong?" Erin asked, walking out into the slightly cool night air. Summer was definitely over now, she wouldn't be surprised if the leaves started changing colors soon.

"Well I was under the impression that after a sexual encounter, if your partner doesn't speak to you for a week it is because they are avoiding you for some reason," he said, and she immediately felt bad. She was no better than Naomi, sleeping with Zack and then avoiding him. "But now I see you were just giving me time to work because you knew I was busy." She almost let him believe that. It would have been so easy to just not tell him. But she already felt terrible.

"To be honest Zack," she said, climbing into her car. "I was avoiding you, a little."

"Oh," he said, and this time he sounded a little upset. "Did I… do something wrong?" He sounded like a hurt puppy.

"No, not at all," she said, shaking her head. "It's my fault, really. It's been a long time since I've had a… sexual partner and I was just adjusting to the change, I guess."

"I see," he said, sounding like his normal self again. "Have you adjusted?"

"Yes," she said, smiling in amusement.

"Then in that case, would you like to stay at my apartment tonight?" He asked, surprising her with the offer. "I assume that is fair since last time we stayed at your apartment."

"Is this going to be a weekly thing then?" She asked, trying to buy time to come up with an excuse to distance herself without hurting his feelings. Her emotions when thinking about Zack had been confusing her. She wasn't sure what they meant.

"I did some internet research like you told me to, and there were multiple results about 'friends with benefits' and most of them said that sexual encounters happen once a week," he said, and she chuckled.

"That isn't what I told you to research," she said, laughing.

"I did a lot of other research too," he explained. "Social conventions, regularly used terms, usual event timelines, sexual positions, how to conduct a proper date, conversation topics that are acceptable to most people, and body language."

"Wow, okay," she said. "You did all that while still working on the case?"

"Most of this case has been waiting for the things Dr. Brennan ships to us," he explained. "Oh, that reminds me. Over the last week, we have gotten all our shipments from the delivery girl, and Hodgins and I have had a competition to see who she likes more, because she is very beautiful. Today we made her close between us, but she picked Angela. Hodgins said that was hot, but I don't understand the situation and he refused to explain it to me."

Erin ignored the very small part of her that was upset by the fact that Zack had said the woman was beautiful. She had no right to be jealous, she had been the one to tell him that this wasn't a real relationship. She forced herself to chuckle.

"Some guys think that its hot when two attractive women engage in sexual acts together," she explained. "I think it has something to do with the male desire to have multiple sexual partners at one time."

"Oh, that makes sense then," Zack said, nodding. Erin sighed, gripping the wheel as she turned up the long driveway to Zack's place. She had never been there in the daytime, so she wasn't sure how much further the driveway went, just that it was well cared for, paved over with no potholes or cracks, and the trees and plants alongside the driveway were very well cared for. She had to decided whether she could continue this fake relationship, or if she should break it off now.

Well, she wouldn't think about it tonight, she could always decide tomorrow.

"Where can I park my car?" She asked, not wanting it to be in the way of the garage doors.

"I think around the corner should be okay," Zack said, pointing. "I've never had a car here overnight before so I'm not sure."

"You've never had a girl over for the night?" She asked, smirking as she climbed out of the car and followed him to the stairs.

"No," he said, unlocking the door to reveal a tall case of stairs. "Naomi and I only slept together one time at her place and before that I haven't had a partner since my second year of college."

"Really?" She asked, a little surprised. "Only two other girls?"

"Yes," he said. "Is that bad?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I just would have guessed more."

"Is that a bad thing?" He asked again, frowning.

"Not at all," she said, chuckling as they made it to the top of the stairs. The apartment was much larger than she had thought it would be. The garage must have been huge. There were at least three bedrooms that she could see, and the rooms were all very good sized, the living room especially. The whole place was… not messy, but for some reason she had expected Zack to be as OCD clean as he was at work.

"I don't know how to cook very many things, so if you would like food we will have to order out," he said, frowning in thought.

"I'm not very hungry," she said, chuckling. "But thanks."

He had been standing slightly awkwardly till this point, obviously not sure how to proceed with her, so she made the first move and stepped forward. His hands automatically came up to rest on her hips, and she smiled. He was more comfortable with touching her today, at least, a little more comfortable.

"Are you stressed today?" He asked as she pulled away from a short kiss.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because you said that sex is a way for you to release stress, and you are much more eager today than last time," he said, and she chuckled.

"I am a little stressed," she said, nodding. "I've been stuck on this project at work, and my dissertation presentation is on Wednesday."

"Are you nervous?" He asked. She shrugged.

"Not really, I've been done with it for almost a year now and I think I will do well," she said, leaning into him a little more.

"I'm nervous about mine and it won't be until next year," he admitted, and she leaned back a little to look up at him.

"You will do fine, Zack," she said, smiling.

"How do you know? I haven't told you what it's about," he said.

"You are the smartest person I know," she said as though that settled it. "There is no way you won't do well."

He leaned down to kiss her as a response, and she responded eagerly. It was nice having someone who cared about her, or at least, appeared to care about her.

"Which way is the bedroom?" She asked, breaking the kiss and breathing a little hard.

"Second door on the right," he said, and she was glad to see that he was also breathless, and obviously excited. She grinned.

Erin woke up the next day and was instantly confused at the lack of sunlight. She was so used to waking up to the sun warming her face, but now the sun was casting a bright square over the far wall at an angle completely incongruent with where her window was located. She blinked against the light and slowly became aware of a light brushing movement on her ribs.

It was then that she remembered where she was, and who she was with. Her back was pressed against Zack's chest, his arm wrapped around her abdomen, his hand coming to rest on her lower ribs. His fingers were tracing the shape of the bones that stood out against her skin, letting her know he was already awake. His lips pressed against the back of her neck, and she shivered a little as a bolt of desire raced down her spine at the gentile touches.

When he realized she was awake, his motions stopped and she turned her head to face him. He kissed her once, chastely.

"Good morning," he said, and she turned around in his arms completely to curl up against his chest, burying her face in his shoulder. She felt more than heard him chuckle, but he made no movements to get out of bed. His arm was still wrapped around her waist, his hand tracing up and down her spine lightly.

"Where did you learn to be so nice in the morning?" Erin asked, her voice muffled by his shoulder.

"The internet, yesterday," he said, his tone conveying that he wasn't sure if the internet had been correct or not. "I read that small sensual acts sometimes lead to sexual acts."

"You want to have sex right now?" She asked, pulling her face away from him to raise an eyebrow in amusement.

"As I have told you before, I am a male and you are a beautiful, willing female, so there is not a time that I don't want to have sex with you," he said as though that should be obvious. She smiled.

"I like it when you call me beautiful," she said. "Did the internet teach you that too?"

"No," he said, smiling. "I learned that on my own." His hands were still gently coasting over her skin, making her shiver again and draw closer to him.

As neither of them had bothered putting clothes on the night before, this had a very obvious affect on him, and she grinned, moving to wrap one of her legs over his waist.

"Zack," Erin began, then hesitated. They were currently both sitting at his dining table eating cereal. She was dressed in her clothes from the day before, sort of. She had been unable to locate her shirt among the blankets and pillows, so she had borrowed one of his.

"Yes?" He asked when she didn't continue. She had meant to bring up the growing feelings toward him that she had been experiencing recently, but she lost her nerve.

"Could you do me a favor?" She said instead. "Could you read through my dissertation and tell me what you think?"

"I know very little about archeology or Egypt," he said, frowning in thought. "But I can look through it if you want me to. I won't be able to give any viable opinions."

"That's okay," she said. "I just want to make sure there aren't any obvious mistakes in it."

"Sure, do you have it with you?" He asked, and she smiled at him and went to get her backpack from where she had left it by the door.

She had just barely bent down to get it when the front door burst open.

"Erin?" She heard Zack call from the other room, but she didn't reply. In the doorway was a sort of short guy with red curly hair. Erin recognized him as someone that Zack worked with, probably Hodgins, if she were guessing correctly.

"Uh, Zack, I think you have a visitor," Erin said when the man just stood there with his mouth open, staring at her in shock. Zack came to the door, frowning.

"Hodgins, why are you here?" He asked, getting the mans attention at last.

"Uh," he said at first, still obviously shocked by Erin's presence there, which was when she realized that she was wearing one of Zack's shirts that was mostly unbuttoned, exposing the middle of her bra and part of her stomach. She quickly buttoned it all the way up. "I didn't mean to interrupt anything," his tone was a joking suggestive one now, and Erin was surprised to see Zack blushing a little. "But we were supposed to be at the lab, about now."

"Shoot," Zack said, looking at his watch, then at Erin, then back to Hodgins. "I need a minute."

"Take your time," Hodgins said in an amused tone as Zack disappeared into his bedroom. "So… I'm Jack Hodgins."

"Erin," Erin said, shaking his offered hand. She pulled her dissertation binder from her backpack, and went to leave it on the dining table. Hodgins followed her through the apartment, obviously wanting the full story of why she was there. She put their used cereal bowls into the sink since their breakfast was obviously over now, and then she went back to the door to put her shoes on, purposefully avoiding the questioning look Hodgins was casting her way.

"So is that your car out front?" He asked, and she glanced up, wondering if he was just making conversation or if she had parked in a bad spot.

"Yeah," she said. "Sorry, I wasn't sure where to park to be out of the way of the garage doors."

"No, thats fine, park wherever," he said, and she sighed.

"I suppose you are wondering why I'm here," she said, wanting to get that out of the way. Zack had obviously been embarrassed earlier and she didn't want Hodgins to make fun of him or anything.

"No I think I have that part figured out," he said, chuckling a little.

"Erin is here because her apartment building had a water leak and she has no other friends in the area," Zack said, coming to her rescue. She was grateful. Usually she was good at lying, but she hadn't wanted to do something that would hurt Zack, and she wasn't sure if lying to his friends would fall into that category.

"Zack offered to let me stay here until it's fixed," she said, nodding along with Zack's story. She hoped Hodgins wouldn't question her choice in clothing too closely.

"Uh huh," he said, nodding, and she knew he was probably going to bother Zack about it all day at work. "If you say so. Come on Zack, lets go." He turned and disappeared down the stairs.

"Sorry about him," Zack said after they heard the downstairs door close. "I forgot that we were supposed to go to the lab today."

"It's fine," Erin said. "And if you want to, you can tell him about us hooking up, I know he's going to ask you about it later. Just, no details, if you don't mind."

"I never understood the phrase hooking up," Zack said as they walked down the stairs together.

"It's just one of those things that everyone says," she said, smiling a little. "I'll see you later." She said as they split ways outside.

"Bye Erin," he said, giving her a smile, then heading towards Hodgins' car. She smiled and shook her head, walking to her own car.