The Reporter in the Lab Parts 1-3
The Jeffersonian was abuzz that Tuesday afternoon, with gossip. But not the usual gossip about who’s dating who. No. This was different. This gossip was about a certain Forensic Anthropologist and her nomination for the Nobel Prize.
Dr. Temperance Brennan was out of the lab, working on a case with Agent Seeley Booth, as per her normal routine. Still working were Drs. Camille Saroyan, Jack Hodgins and Zack Addy, and resident artist, Angela Montenegro-Hodgins. Cam was staring at an X-ray, paying attention to every tiny detail of the skeleton that had just been brought in. Nearby, Zack and Hodgins were cleaning and taking samples from the skeleton that was still covered in moss, soil and bugs.
“Apparently Goodman wants to have this big party for Brennan. Black-Tie, dinner, dancing. The whole works.” Hodgins muttered, putting a dab of soil into a Petri dish. He handed it off to Zack. “Of course, dates are also included.”
Zack rolled his eyes and turned around. “Of course they are.”
Hodgins looked up into Angela’s office and smiled. “Angela will look hot, as usual. Brennan will actually wear a dress and not be in court. It’s a good day to be alive, my friend.”
“What about all those people who usually get invited who pay big money. Aren’t you afraid of them?”
Hodgins looked over at him and scowled. “I’m not afraid of those people. Besides, now that Brennan knows how disgustingly rich I am, as do all others in this place, it doesn’t matter.” Hodgins looked into his microscope and turned the dial. “You gonna ask Naomi?”
“Yeah. That sort of isn’t happening anymore.” Zack replied, a little too quickly. Hodgins looked up, trying to disguise a grin. “Apparently, she found someone she liked better up in the executive office.”
Hodgins started to laugh, but pretended to choke. He patted Zack on the back. “Sad day, dude. Oh well. Still time.”
Cam looked up from her work and walked over to them. “Working hard or hardly working, boys?”
“Making conversation.” Hodgins replied, returning to his petri dish.
“Well, just so you know, some science journal is coming next week to interview all of us about Dr. Brennan. Choose your words carefully because what you say not only reflects Dr. Brennan, but the whole of the Jeffersonian.”
“No pressure.” Angela noted, approaching them with her sketch pad.
“I know I don’t have to tell you guys twice to behave.” Cam said to Zack and Angela. She looked at Hodgins. “You on the other hand…”
Hodgins looked away from his microscope and smiled, wryly. Angela put and arm around his shoulders and he put and arm around her waist.
“Will they be interviewing Agent Booth, too?” Zack asked.
“We can certainly point them in that direction.” Cam replied. “They are ‘Partners,’ after all.” Everyone laughed, knowing exactly what that meant.
* * * * * *
The following week, Brennan and Angela were in Brennan’s office, Brennan at her desk, Angela lounging on the couch. The phone kept ringing off the hook. Brennan looked at it and pushed her voicemail button. “These calls! They won’t stop!” Brennan groaned. “They know I actually work, right?”
“Sweetie, they just want to interview you.” Angela replied. “I can’t wait for that one magazine who wants to interview all of us.”
“Well, twenty interviews in two days is my limit. I never thought I’d get so sick of hearing about myself!”
“We all know that’s not true, Bones.” Booth laughed from the doorway. He held a file folder in one hand and leaned against the doorframe.
Brennan scowled at him. Angela snorted back laughter. She stood and walked to the door. “I’ll just leave you two to talk.” She winked at Booth on her way out.
Booth closed the door behind him and sauntered to Brennan’s desk. He leaned against it and smiled down at her. “I’m really proud of you, ya know.” Brennan blushed and looked at her computer. She tried typing furiously, but it came out as gibberish. “Anyway, the reason I’m here, is because I wanted to ask you if I could be your escort to the banquet next week.”
Brennan looked up, a slight smile covering her face. “How do you know I haven’t already been asked?” She flirted.
“Then I can go ask Cam.” Booth stood up and started for the door. Brennan grabbed his arm and pulled him back. They put their arms around each other and kissed. “So, I can request Foreigner and you’ll dance with me?”
Brennan laughed and shrugged.
* * * * * *
Zack, Hodgins and Angela stared up at Brennan’s office. While Booth had remembered to close the door, he’d forgotten to close the blinds.
“How unobservant does he think we are?” Angela asked, smiling widely.
“He’s government.” Hodgins replied. “They think they know everything and everyone else knows nothing.”
“At least it looks like she’s going to the banquet with him.” Angela stated. She looked over at Zack. “How about you? Ask Naomi yet?”
Zack shook his head and turned away from them. Angela looked at Hodgins, who just shook his head. Angela nodded and walked away. Hodgins turned to Zack. “What’s going on? I introduce you to hundreds of women.”
“They’re all scared of me.” Zack replied. “How did you get Angela to go out with you?”
Hodgins looked over at Angela, who was sketching the remains of their current project. Hodgins smiled. “Flirted shamelessly until she agreed, then got shot down, and then almost died.” He sighed. “Ah, memories!”
“Frankly, I don’t spend enough time with any other women besides Angela, Dr. Brennan and Dr. Saroyan.” Zack sat on his stool. “Two of which are taken.”
“So ask Cam.” Hodgins replied.
“She’s still hung up on Agent Booth.”
Hodgins nodded. Zack had a point here. Hodgins patted Zack on the back and turned to his microscope. “I guess you’re on your own.”
Zack looked around the lab and noticed a sophisticated young woman enter the lab with Dr. Goodman. She had long brown hair that flowed down her back. Zack noticed he was staring, but he tapped Hodgins on the back.
“What?” Hodgins asked, irritated. Zack didn’t answer. Hodgins pushed himself away from his microscope and turned around, glaring at Zack. He followed Zack’s gaze and his glare turned to a smile. “She’s cute. Think she’s the reporter?”
Dr. Goodman nodded at Zack and Hodgins and they whipped around to their work. “Dr. Hodgins, Dr. Addy, might I introduce Sarah Pierce? She’s the reporter from Scientific News and Life.” Hodgins turned and shook Sarah’s hand.
“Actually, it’s Dr. Pierce, but it’s just a title, right?” Sarah chuckled.
Zack felt himself go weak-kneed. He braced himself against the desk. Everyone looked at him.
“Are you all right, Dr. Addy?” Dr. Goodman asked.
Zack nodded. “I think it’s lunch time.”
“Well, why don’t you and Dr. Pierce go have lunch and she can interview you there, if that’s all right with you, doctors?” Dr. Goodman looked at Sarah. She nodded and smiled at Zack.
Dr. Goodman led Sarah and Zack away. Zack looked back at Hodgins, who gave Zack a Thumbs Up.
* * * * * *
Zack and Sarah sat in the cafeteria. Zack had his usual Macaroni and Cheese and glass of Juice. Sarah had a Cheeseburger, Fries and Soda. She had her tape recorder on the table and was taking notes. Her food remained untouched.
“Dr. Addy, I understand you were a pupil of Dr. Brennan’s. How did she influence you in your work?”
Zack finished chewing and gulped down his juice. He took a deep breath before answering her. “She pretty much left me to my own devices. Whenever I needed help, though, she was right there to answer any and all questions.”
“So, you’d say that she was a good teacher?”
“Well, I suppose. She’s not really a people person. She and I are a lot alike. She’s a real role model for me, even now.”
Sarah smiled and bit into a French fry. “Was she a big help to your success in the forensic anthropology department in regards to your dissertation?”
“She would share stories about when she was a grad student and how nervous and stressed she got. Made me feel a lot better about everything.”
Sarah nodded. “I know exactly what you mean. The whole process was torture. I was so relieved when they told me I’d passed.”
“What’s yours in? Journalism?”
Sarah shook her head. “Astronomy and Math.”
“You doubled?” Zack was incredulous.
“Didn’t you?”
“Well, yeah. But I’m still working on my engineering doctorate.”
Sarah smiled. “Well, I graduated college when I was fourteen. I guess I’ve had a little bit more time to work.”
Zack sat back in his chair, amazed. He looked at her, hopefully. “I know this is awfully forward of me, but there’s a banquet in Dr. Brennan’s honor next week. Would you like to come with me?”
Sarah looked up from her notes and smiled at him. “I’d love to.”
Muffled giggles and grunts came from inside the utility closet. People who passed just looked, smiled and went on their way. Moments later, Hodgins and Angela emerged, straightening their clothes and clearing their throats. They walked hand in hand back to the lab.
“You know, I have an office, Hodgy.” Angela whispered.
Hodgins put an arm around her waist and leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear. “Yeah, but I like having you in such close proximity.”
Angela smiled and kissed him, but then sat down at her desk. “Yeah, but you’re not the one with a hook in your back.”
Hodgins hopped up onto her desk and gazed down at her. She smiled up at him, as if she had something to hide. “You like it.” Hodgins chuckled. Angela just shrugged and brought up her computer. “Yeah, you do.” He jumped off the desk, kissed her head, but stopped to smell her hair for a quick moment. “God, you’re beautiful.”
She took his hand and they kissed once more before he left, passing Brennan on his way out. She watched Hodgins leave and then turned to Angela. “I see married life has made a nice impact on him.”
“I always said, don’t knock it til you’ve tried it.” Angela sighed.
“Still not planning to get married, thank you.” Brennan sat down across from Angela. “Weird case. Check out the facial bones.”
Angela took the X-rays from Brennan and held them up to the light. She shuddered as she brought it back down. “I can’t imagine why someone would literally shave their bones just to get a new look. Creeps me out.”
“Can you try to get a picture?”
Angela shrugged. “I doubt I can. Remember that one case a few years back? You and Booth went to LA? I couldn’t even do that.”
“But she had a lot more work done.” Brennan replied. “See what you can do.”
Angela sighed, but nodded. Brennan stood again, but Angela stopped her. “Going to the party with Booth, I hear?” Brennan nodded. “Good. That’s really great, Bren.”
“Did Zack ever find a date?” Angela nodded toward the door. Brennan looked. Zack was standing, talking with that reporter. Brennan looked back at Angela. “Really?”
Angela nodded. “She’s got two doctorates, and works at George Washington. She writes the articles in her spare time.” Brennan was amazed. “And she’s only twenty-five.”
Brennan let out a breath. “I was still working on my one doctorate then.”
“Apparently her IQ is higher than Zack’s. And he doesn’t find it threatening. It’s a little refreshing, actually.”
“She’ll probably challenge him.” Brennan replied before chuckling. “Perhaps he’ll finish that engineering doctorate.”
They looked back at Zack and Sarah. They were shaking hands and Sarah turned and left. Angela cocked her head to the side and grinned. “Now that’s just precious.”
“Anyway, back to work.” Brennan walked out.
* * * * * *
Hodgins and Zack sat at their tables, backs to each other, each doing their respective work. Hodgins kept looking back at Zack, trying to muster the courage to ask about Sarah, but Cam or Brennan would pass. Finally, Zack turned around.
“Hodgins, I have a favor to ask.” He asked.
Hodgins whipped around, eagerly. “Ask away, buddy.”
“As I don’t drive, Sarah and I decided to meet at the banquet. I was wondering if you could give me a ride.”
Hodgins’s face fell. “Seriously?” He groaned and turned back to his own work.
“Well, I can call a cab or just bring my clothes here, but that seems like a long time between when we get done and when the banquet starts.”
“And you didn’t think it’d be an imposition on me and Angela?” Hodgins demanded.
“What would be an imposition?” Angela asked, sauntering over and putting her arms around Hodgins’s neck.
Hodgins turned around. “Zack wants to bum a ride with us to the banquet!”
Angela shook her head. “So? It’s not like we don’t have the room.”
“But-!” Hodgins started, before realizing that he’d have to explain his intentions for that evening to Angela before he could surprise her. He looked at Zack. “Tell you what. Call Dr. Pierce, tell her you’ll pick her up. I’ll rent you your own limo! How do ya like that?!”
Angela and Zack stared at him, unsure of what to make of this outburst.
“It’s okay. I’ll just call a cab.” Zack replied, returning to his work.
“No, Zack.” Angela interjected. “Jack, seriously? We can afford to help out a friend.”
“I am!” Hodgins replied. Angela scowled at him and very firmly grabbed the rubber band on his wrist. She gave it a quick snap. Hodgins turned red and counted to ten in his head. “Zack, I think it’d be nice if you and Dr. Pierce had your own limo and Angela and I had our own. I didn’t mean to imply that it’d be an imposition. I promise.”
Angela patted his back. “Nice, honey.” She turned and walked back to her office.
“I’ll just see if Sarah can drive. She likes it. Calls it Therapeutic.”
“No, I think it should be a special night for all of us.” Hodgins held out a hand to Zack. “Friends?”
Zack looked at Hodgins’s hand. He shook it.
* * * * * *
Zack had only been in a limo once before in his life. Well, twice if you counted his grandfather’s funeral, but that was technically a hearse. He had just gotten inside and sat twiddling his thumbs, watching unfamiliar streets pass by.
Sarah was standing in front of her building, waiting when the limo pulled up. The driver jumped out and ran around to the other side. He opened the door and Zack poked his head out, his blue tux and light blue shirt now obvious under the street lamps. When he saw Sarah, he could feel his throat tightening.
She was wearing a green strapless sheath that fanned out near the bottom. She held a green clutch and took a step toward him. Zack felt his jaw drop and didn’t do anything to try and hide it. Sarah smiled at him. “Thanks.” She replied.
* * * * * * *
Cam sat at her table, dateless. It was a little embarrassing, being Seeley Booth’s exgirlfriend, and she didn’t even have a hot date to show off to her coworkers. At least she made up with her old friend, Jack Daniels. She stared down at the empty glass and looked around for the nearest waiter. Instead, she saw Booth and Brennan slow dancing, Hodgins and Angela slow dancing, and even Zack and his date dancing. As she looked around, she noticed she was one of a select few without a date. She swallowed hard and stood up, making her way to the bar.
Zack and Sarah returned to the table. Zack pulled out Sarah’s chair for her and she smiled at his thoughtfulness. Sarah turned to face him.
“Huge family, huh?”
Zack nodded. “Three brothers, four sisters.”
“But you don’t see them often?”
“Holidays.” They sat in silence for a moment. Zack looked up at her. “Did you always want to be an astronomer and mathematician?”
Sarah shrugged and took a sip of champagne. “When I was a kid, my dad would take me out to the state park. He’s a ranger, and he’d point out all the constellations to me. Then my mother would take me to her math classes, assuming I’d just sit in the back and color. Instead I was following along with the other students. They had to take me to a child psychologist to prove whether or not I was a math prodigy.” Zack smiled. “Calculus at five years old, sounds like a prodigy to me.”
“How could you catch on so quickly?”
“My mom taught me times tables when I was learning to talk. Numbers just always seemed to click. How about you? Always want to be a forensic anthropologist?”
Zack shook his head. “Interestingly, not really. Engineer, yes. In fact, that’s what I went to college for in the first place. But I had to take this one class, human anatomy or something and I just memorized every part of the human body. Around the time I was graduating, I was looking into programs and met Dr. Brennan. I found her job fascinating and decided on it.”
Hodgins and Angela approached, holding hands. They kept gazing at each other as if they had something to hide, but everyone just came to know this as two people very much in love. Cam returned with her drink and sat down. She saw Hodgins and Angela, stared into her glass and downed the whole thing. Everyone stared at her. She sighed and looked at them. “What?” Everyone looked away.
Dr. Goodman took to the stage and silenced the band. Booth and Brennan turned to go to the table, but Dr. Goodman stopped them and called Brennan up to the stage. She smiled at Booth He kissed her hand and they parted ways. Booth sat down next to Cam and she gave him a drunken glare.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce the woman of the hour. She is our lead Forensic Anthropologist and Best Selling Novelist. She was valedictorian of her class at Northwestern, and has helped the FBI solve many crimes both old and new since her first day here at the Jeffersonian. And now she has the great accomplishment of a Nobel Prize. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dr. Temperance Brennan!”
The entire room erupted in applause. Brennan shook Dr. Goodman’s hand and he kissed her cheek. She stepped in front of the microphone and smiled at everyone.
“Good evening. Thank you so much for that warm welcome.” She could feel her face start to turn red and looked at Booth for reassurance. His eyes were fixed on her and he nodded. “I’ve been here at the Jeffersonian for quite a few years. I’ve found a kinship among my coworkers and now call them my friends. I owe everything to them: Drs. Camille Saroyan, Jack Hodgins, Zack Addy, and my best friend, who isn’t a doctor, but completely brilliant in her own right, Angela Montenegro-Hodgins. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for your hard work and dedication for the last few years. You are so special to me, and I want you all to know it.”
They all beamed back at her. Angela kissed her fingertips and blew them at Brennan. Hodgins winked and Zack looked down at the floor.
She smiled and took a deep breath. “And I’d also like to thank Agent Seeley Booth and the FBI. A great deal of what I’m able to do is because of what you help me find. My life has been fulfilling because you help me to live my life like this. I’m not sure if I truly deserve this award, but I do know that all of you deserve something all because of the help and friendship you’ve brought to me. Thank you.” She stepped away from the microphone and made her way down the stairs.
* * * * * *
Zack and Sarah walked down the street. They stood a good foot apart from each other, hands behind their backs.
“It was a wonderful evening. Dr. Brennan must be great to have as a boss.” Sarah said. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“You’re welcome.”
Sarah waited for more of a reply, but Zack stared at the ground as they walked. “Although, I wasn’t a huge fan of the food. I noticed you didn’t eat your main dish.”
“If you knew what I knew about Shellfish, you’d stay away, too.” Zack replied.
“I don’t eat Shellfish. Bottom feeders.”
Zack stopped walking. “Uh, yeah. That’s right.” They stopped in front of her building and looked up at it.
“Well, I’ve got to be going to bed. Church in the morning.” Sarah said, turning to go upstairs.
“What church?”
“St. Matthew’s Lutheran.”
Zack took a step back and fell off the curb. His mother would be thrilled.
Hodgins sat at his desk, playing around with soil. Zack was behind him, yammering on about something, but he wasn’t exactly sure what it was. Their latest case was getting harder and harder to decipher, and Brennan was at her Wit’s end. He’d never seen her so angry, so Hodgins did what all men did when they didn’t want to hear a shrill anyone: He tuned them all out.
A tap on his shoulder brought him back to reality and her turned around. Cam stood there, holding a petri dish of maggots.
“Present for you, Hodge-Podge.” She handed it off to him and turned around. “Why don’t you take a break from ignoring Dr. Addy and work on those maggots?” She continued down the stairs as Hodgins turned around. Zack was eyeing him.
“What?” Hodgins asked.
“You don’t listen.”
“I do when I’m not busy.” Hodgins replied standing and taking the maggots across the lab.
Zack sighed and returned to his work. He heard the familiar click-clack of Angela’s heels as she approached, but he didn’t look up. She stopped.
“Hey, Zack. How’d the end of the date go the other night?” She asked, sitting on Hodgins’s stool.
Zack just shrugged and continued on with his work. “My mother would like her.”
“Always a plus. My mom isn’t that fond of Jack. Dad is, though.” Angela leaned forward, hoping for more information, but Zack wasn’t very forthcoming. “Anything else? Are you going to see her again?”
“I don’t know.”
“I think you should. I really think she liked you.” Angela looked over her shoulder and then back at Zack.
“I doubt it. She’s probably too good for me.”
Angela sighed. “That’s not true, Zack.” Cam approached again. “Cam, what did you think of Zack and his date from the other night? Success?”
Cam reddened at the memory, but shrugged it off. “I think it was a success, judging from the after effects.”
“What after effects?” Zack asked, finally tearing himself away from his work.
“The one where she’s standing over there, waiting to talk to you.” Cam replied.
Zack looked up and blushed. He stacked his papers into a file folder and flipped it closed. He jumped up and strode over to Sarah. Hodgins approached them.
“Geek love. Gotta love it.”
“What do you call us, honey?” Angela asked, wrapping her arms around him.
They kissed. “Like I said, ‘Gotta love it!’” He replied.
Cam rolled her eyes and walked away. “For once I’m feeling ill and it’s not the stench of rotting corpses.” She passed Zack and Sarah. “Dr. Pierce.”
“Dr. Saroyan! Wait a second.” Sarah followed her. “I have a transcript of the article, if you’d like to see it.”
Cam turned around. “Isn’t that a little unorthodox?”
“Well, I want to paint an accurate picture of Dr. Brennan and the Jeffersonian, so I thought you, as the head of this department, would like to read it first.” Sarah replied.
Cam accepted the article, but was still confused. She nodded and turned around, retreating to her office.
Sarah turned to Zack. “Well, I should be off. I’m sure you have a lot of work to do.”
Zack nodded. “Yeah. Brand new case. Dr. Brennan’s a little stressed right now.”
“I was just going to have lunch…” Sarah was fishing, but Zack wasn’t biting. A metaphor that he wasn’t going to get, but it was all she thought about.
Hodgins and Angela approached hand in hand. “Lunch?” Angela asked. “We were just going, too. Would you two like to join us?”
Sarah gave Angela a look that screamed, “Thank you,” but Zack’s mind was elsewhere.
“I’ve got some work to do.”
“Zack, you can take an hour for lunch.” Brennan stated, approaching them. “I need you at your best right now, and you deserve a break. Please.”
Angela and Sarah both smiled at Brennan. Zack looked hurt. “Are you sure?”
“I won’t be here, Cam’s off to a meeting. Hodgins and Angela are leaving. Go. Have fun.”
Zack looked at Sarah and for once realized that she wanted to have lunch with him. He pulled off his lab coat. “Okay. Yeah. Um, to the cafeteria?”
Hodgins and Angela both rolled their eyes. “How about a real restaurant, Zack?” Hodgins muttered.
They all turned to the door, Zack walked a good foot away from Sarah. Angela grabbed his arm, pulled him back slightly and whispered something into his ear. He got into step with Sarah and offered his arm to her. She took it with a smile.
They passed Booth as they left and he did a double take as he saw Zack and Sarah. He shook it off and approached Brennan.
“Bones, did I just see Zack with a woman?”
Brennan nodded. “Yeah. Writer.” She looked up at him, waiting for a kiss. He looked at Zack, but then back at her. She smiled up at him, expectantly. He smiled and kissed her. “Thank you.”
“Great speech the other night, by the way.” He replied, following her up the stairs to her office.
“Really? It wasn’t too…root root root for the whole team?”
Booth smirked at her. “If you’re thinking of the song Take me out to the ballgame, the words are “Root for the Home team.”
Bones looked up at him. “I don’t know what that means.”
He sighed and shook his head. “Never mind. Thai food?”
* * * * * *
Zack, Sarah, Angela and Hodgins sat at a back table at the diner. Zack got his macaroni and cheese, and was completely content. Sarah watched him and found him endearing. She ate her salad, thoughtfully.
Angela watched both of them, hiding her own smile and ignoring Hodgins’s hand which was sneaking precariously up her thigh. She clamped her own hand down on his and looked at him. He smiled at her. She kissed him and turned back to her lunch.
“Sarah, what do you do when you’re not writing articles?” Angela asked.
“I teach Math.” She replied.
Angela nodded. “Yeah. I know that. But what about your spare time?” Angela bore her eyes into Zack. He was concentrating on his food. She kicked him. He jumped.
“Ow!” He looked up at her.
“Sorry, Zack. Spasm.” She nodded toward Sarah. Zack looked at her.
“I like watching movies. Star Wars are my favorite. The old, not the new.”
“Zack’s a huge Star Wars fan!”
“I’m an astronomer. It kind of goes with the territory.” Sarah smiled and looked at her food.
“They’re showing it at the Majestic. Perhaps you two should go.” Angela faced her lunch, but smiled up at them. Hodgins looked at her and rolled his eyes. “Zack?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Wanna go?”
“Sure. When should I pick you up?” She asked.
Hodgins and Angela chuckled.
“Friday?”
* * * * * *
The theatre was packed. It was all Zack and Sarah could do not to get separated. He clung to her arm for dear life as she led him through the lobby and into the theatre, which wasn’t as crowded, yet.
“Wow.” He breathed. “I didn’t think it’d be this busy.”
Sarah shrugged. “I did. It’s Friday night at what is a poor man’s Star Wars Convention. It’s gonna be packed.” They walked down the aisle and Sarah led him down a row, across people’s feet, to the center seats. “This okay?”
He nodded and sat down.
* * * * * *
People streamed out of the theatre behind them, and were shouting in the streets. Sarah laughed and led Zack down the street to her car.
“God, I love that movie! Harrison Ford was so hot back then!” She paused and looked at him. “Actually, he’s the only one who’s aged really well. The other two…a little dicey.”
Zack was confused, but he tried not to let it show. They got into her car and she pulled away from the curb.
“When I was a kid, my brothers always called me C3PO.” Zack muttered.
“I believe that.” Sarah chuckled. “He was always the smartest, next to Yoda.”
She turned into Hodgins’ driveway and pulled in front of the Garage.
“Thank you.” He smiled at her. He leaned in close, as did she, and kissed her on the cheek. He looked forward and then back at her.
“Good night, Zack.” Sarah leaned forward and kissed him on the mouth.