Disclaimer: These characters are the property of FOX--but they have escaped to have a little fun with me.

Summary: Post "Judas on a Pole." Dual-pairing story featuring Brennan/Booth and Angela/Hodgins. Some chapters include erotica, so mature readers only!

"Learning Curve"

The Diner

"Toast everyone, toast!" Jack Hodgins called for attention while clinking his fork against his bottle of Newcastle. All around the table, hands raised bottles and glasses and smiled broadly at the young man sitting at the far end of the table.

"Here's to Doctor Addy, may he go on to do great things—including buying a better fitting suit!" Jack toasted, grinning at his fellow scientist.

"Here, here," added Booth, who, seated next to the man-of-the-hour, treated him to a hearty slap on the back.

"C'mon you guys, stop teasing Zach," admonished Angela, giving Jack a sharp nudge with her elbow. "We are so proud of you," she said, turning to her new colleague, the emotion rising in her voice.

"And no one is prouder than I am," added Brennan sincerely, placing a hand over Zach's own.

Doctor Zach Addy, fresh from achieving his doctorate and being offered a position at the Jeffersonian, flushed with embarrassment and pleasure at being the center of attention. "Thank you, thank you everyone," he began, fumbling nervously with his napkin, "I hope that I can make a positive contribution to the field of forensic anthropology—just like Dr. Brennan." He gazed shyly at his former teacher with a look of admiration.

"Of course you will," Brennan agreed, squeezing his hand in encouragement.

Zach continued to bask in their praise, but suddenly remembered something that he needed to do. "If you'll excuse me," he said, standing up, "I have to make a phone call—I need to tell my parents the big news. My dad told me to call him as soon as I found out about the job…"

"Your father will be very proud of you," offered Booth, smiling up at Zach as the young man walked away with cell phone open to make the call home.

His eyes traveling beyond Zach, Booth noticed Brennan's own smile fade and a dark shadow cross her delicate features. He realized then that he had said the wrong thing—wrong at least to say in front of Brennan considering the events of the previous days.

Jack and Angela also paused, looking with concern at Brennan.

"What? Why is everyone looking at me?" asked Brennan sharply, trying to wipe away a tear that was forming at the corner of one eye. "I'm fine--you don't need to monitor your conversation around me." Yet despite her assurances, she stood up and headed for the door.

Angela began to move in Brennan's direction, but Jack held her back. "Let Booth go," he advised, nodding toward the FBI agent. Booth took the cue, and raised himself to follow Brennan.

Alone now at the table, Angela turned to Jack, the irritation evident in her voice, "She's my best friend. I think I should have gone after her."

Jack stared into Angela's eyes and spoke frankly, "If you want them to get together, you need to let Booth be her best friend--and beside," he added quickly, "you need to come home with me tonight. It's been two days and… well… I miss you."

"You know I was doing my artist friend a favor by teaching her night class for her while she was out of town," Angela reminded him. "Besides, didn't I tell you to come over afterwards? We could have been shagging like bunnies the last two nights."

"I don't want it to only be about the sex," Jack replied, exasperated. "I want to spend time with you, Angela—vertical as well as horizontal time." He took her hand, playing with the rings on her fingers. "That's why I think we need to get out of town together for awhile. We both have vacation time coming, and we can go anywhere you want… Paris, Madrid, Zimbabwe, the Himalayas, Dollywood?" he grinned at her hopefully.

Angela, touched by the appeal in his voice and the openness in his eyes, paused before answering, "I don't know Jack, I mean, it's kind of soon to be thinking of going away together, isn't it?" She didn't believe her own words as she spoke them, and knew that he didn't either.

"What is it you're afraid of, Angela? That I'm going to end up a skeleton in the desert like your last meaningful relationship? Or that this might actually end up becoming a meaningful relationship?" Jack felt the frustration rising, and struggled to keep the anger out of his voice.

"Jack, Sweetie…" Angela answered uncomfortably, his accusations a little too close to the truth, "Can we talk about this later?" He was looking away from her, his face set like stone, so she moved toward him to nuzzle his neck, adding, "I do want to be with you, and I want to come home with you tonight. You need to be patient with me… okay?"

"You're speaking to me like I'm a child," Jack responded grudgingly, his voice softening. After a second, he finally turned his face to nuzzle her in return.

"That's because most men are, Hodgins, and you're no exception," Angela teased, happy to have lightened the moment and restored the intimacy between them again. "And I'm glad you sent Booth after Brennan. You know, I worry about her—she can be about as clueless as a stick of wood."

"Not a very generous appraisal coming from her so-called best friend," Jack chuckled.

"Yeah, but you know I'm right," Angela insisted, sighing into his shoulder as she thought of Brennan and the happiness that in the past always seemed to elude both of them.