I know, I know. It's been forever. I'm doing my best to get in the writing mood. It's a struggle but at least you know I'm still around.

This chapter is much shorter than I would like. I tried to go longer but couldn't get a decent transition rolling. I wanted to go ahead and get this up since I have had it written for a while already. I have the next little bit written so hopefully I can get another update up in a few days. I also have Chapters of my other stories, Blast and Pressure 90% done. I'll try to get those up too.

Please continue to let me know what you think. I always appreciate your feedback. This chapter was hard for me. I haven't written Zack very much at all but maybe I did the scene some justice and all you old Bones fans will hopefully enjoy it.

As always, I don't have anything to do with the TV show Bones. I just watch it.

"I really appreciate your visit today, Dr. Brennan," Zack said.

He and Brennan were seated on opposite sides of a table in a very drab room. Booth was leaning by the window in the corner of the room. It was obvious that he was making every effort to afford the student and the teacher as much privacy as possible.

"You don't have to be so formal, Zack. It's just us."

Zack maintained his formal tone and folded his gloved hands in front of him on the table. "I know that with your role in high profile cases, you need to maintain a professional distance from me. It is highly likely your services will be required if I end up going to trial."

Brennan's stomach rolled at the thought. She bit back the tears that threatened to spill out of her eyes. She gently reached across the table and placed her hand atop of Zack's folded ones. "Dr. Sweets and Caroline have both assured us that your mental instability plea had merit and will hold up in any court," she said firmly. "Plus, we have no forensic evidence linking you to the actual lobbyist. You say you did it, I understand that but I'm certain the Jeffersonian can be of no assistance in proving guilt in a trial." She swallowed hard. "We have already run the scenarios and they don't exactly add up."

Zack became a little defensive at her statement and chose his words wisely as he spoke. "I can assure you that my actions caused his death."

"You say that but..."

Brennan began but Zack immediately cut her off. "Dr. Brennan, I would rather not talk about this," he stated dryly yet firmly. "I have been reading copious amounts of professional journals." He changed the subject. "I find the typical pastimes of television and poker to be a waste of time."

Brennan smiled. "I'm sure I would feel the same way, Zack."

Zack relaxed slightly. He was pleased at his ability to avoid talking about his associations with the master. He wanted to talk with his original mentor but he didn't want her prodding into his crime. "I saw an interesting case study in The Journal of Orthopedic Surgery."

Booth perked up at the comment, "I told you so, Bones!" He came and sat at the table next to Brennan. It was a protective action and the trio in the room knew it. Zack was of no threat to Brennan but if had figured out who Brennan was based on a scholarly article, there was no telling what other nut jobs had done the same.

Brennan tilted her head to the right slightly, "What indicators?" She also shot a comforting look to Booth as if to tell him that Zack was the only one who could have gleaned the information about her from the article.

Zack just smiled. "You trained me well, Dr. Brennan. Your height and weight matched the data in the table. Plus, the mechanism of injury matches what Hodgins and Sweets have told me."

"That's not enough, Zack." Brennan pushed him a little. They quickly fell into their old routine.

Zack took a quick breath before he went on. "I worked with you everyday for almost 5 years. You have always favored your left foot when walking - especially in heels. When standing for long periods of time you tend to lift your left foot and roll it repeatedly. Obviously, that was an effort to alleviate pain in the joint. That all aligns with the patient history in the article."

"Very good, Zack!" She said. "You really are an excellent anthropologist." Her words conveyed the pride she obviously still had in her protege.

Booth stared at the pair, dumbfounded. He couldn't believe that Zack had noticed her previous ankle issues and he hadn't.

That simple conversation was enough to lift some of the tension from the room. The next thing any of them knew, they had talked for over an hour.

Zack was the first to notice the clock's progression. "It's getting late. I better get back to my room."

Brennan put her hand on his before he stood. "Do you need anything, Zack?"

"I have everything I need but it would be nice to see some of your ancient remains work from time to time," he said simply.

She gave his hands a simple pat. "I'll bring you some X-rays or send some with Sweets or Hodgins next week."

Zack gave her a simple nod and stood to leave.

Booth considered speaking but he didn't. This visit was all about her. He didn't want to take away from that.

They waited for Zack to exit the room and Booth checked his watch. "Bones, it's almost 7. You want to go get something to eat or want to get home?"

Her emotions were still spinning wildly from her meeting with Zack but she felt better about it. "I think I would prefer takeout tonight," she answered plainly as she

"Chinese it is!" He said with more excitement than needed.

Brennan smiled lightly and said, "I'm quite certain your enthusiasm for Chinese dumplings isn't healthy, Booth."

Booth just shook his head and guided his partner out of the facility. "Oh, come on, Bones. If I didn't get so excited, you wouldn't have as many to steal."

They both laughed slightly and it was as if a cloud disappeared from above them. Meeting with Zack wasn't a major event but it was a sign of the start of the healing process.