Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing.

Chapter Eight

‘Interns in the lab, part two’

“I can’t believe he just left me here!” Veronica exclaimed, pacing back and forth. “I mean, the whole point of me making that stupid bet was so that I could be involved. I was the one who found out the information in the first place. I did the searching. This isn’t fair.”

Veronica was in Angela’s office. Early this morning, Booth had picked her up and dropped her off there and left her there without a word. He hadn’t told her where he was going or what he was doing. He had just picked Brennan up and then told her to stay there in the lab until he got back.

“Booth didn’t tell you?” said Angela. Veronica stopped her pacing and cocked her head to the side and looked at Angela curiously.

“Tell me what?” Veronica demanded.

“It didn’t have to do with this case,” said Angela.

“What do you mean, it didn’t have to do with this case?” asked Veronica.

“Booth said something about it being a personal matter,” said Angela.

“What personal matter?” said Veronica.

“I don’t know,” said Angela, “he didn’t tell me.”

“If it was a personal matter, why take Brennan?” said Veronica. A suspicious look crossed her face. “Hmmm….are Brennan and Booth-“

“No, they’re not a couple,” said Angela.

“They should be,” said Veronica, “the sexual tension between those two is enough to drive anyone crazy.”

“Yeah, well,” said Angela, “try having to deal with that for several years. It’s not fun. You should have seen the two of them when they first started working together. They were impossible to deal with and Booth is practically mature compared to how he was back then.”

“Really?” said Veronica, arching an eyebrow.

“Uh huh,” said Angela, “it was like watching two teenagers. Of course, Brennan is completely oblivious and doesn’t realize any of it.”

“Yeah, she’s not really good at the whole noticing thing,” said Veronica, “I mean, obviously when it comes to her work, she is, but not with the whole relationship thing.”

“I could say the same thing about you,” said Angela.

Veronica looked at her in curiosity. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” said Veronica, “what haven’t I noticed?”

“You haven’t noticed a certain other intern, looking at you with puppy dog eyes and dropping things every time that you enter the room?” said Angela.

“Uh,” said Veronica, “no, not really.”

“You are just as bad as Brennan,” said Angela.

“It’s very nice, you trying to set up the interns,” said Veronica, “sweet, actually. But boys and I-we’re not exactly on good terms right now.”

“Right, right,” said Angela, “Booth told me about the ex-boyfriend with the baby from the dead girlfriend and the kidnapping thing.”

“Well,” said Veronica, “my guy list isn’t exactly good, so I’m taking a boy hiatus.”

“Oh come on,” said Angela, “Zack likes you. He’s a good guy. You can’t go wrong with Zack.”

“Angela, my first boyfriend ended up getting a girl knocked up and kidnapping him,” said Veronica, “and then I dated said boyfriends friend, Troy, who turned out to be a drugie, and then I dated Logan, my best dead friends ex and my first boyfriends sister, who ended up having a major melt down, and I broke up, and got back together with him several times, and then I dated Piz-“

“Wait, wait, wait,” said Angela, “you dated someone who was actually named Piz?”

“Don’t ask,” said Veronica, “Anyway, Piz was nice and normal and then I pissed off some Skull and Bones type group and they then were able to post a rather risky video of me and said boyfriend Piz and then, after that, my ex beat Piz up because he thought Piz was the one who posted it. So I severed ties with Logan, the ex that beat up Piz and yelled at him, and then after that things with Piz were all tense and weird so needless to say, I’m giving up on guys.”

“Wow,” said Angela, “and I thought my dating history was bad.”

“Sadly enough,” said Veronica, “the boy that’s the kidnapper and the one who got the girl pregnant and has a kid?”

“Yeah?” said Angela.

“Most stable relationship ever,” said Veronica.

“Wow,” said Angela, “I’m feeling slightly superior. And I got married on an island, while drunk.”

“Really?” said Veronica, looking at Angela in surprise.

“Yes,” said Angela, “don’t ask. The drinks that I had that night were particularly strong.”

“Hmmm,” said Veronica. She then started pacing again. “Booth could have at least given me something to do so that I wasn’t just sitting here.”

“Well,” said Angela, “you could help Zack.”

Veronica looked at Angela. “Angela,” she said, “you’re not trying to set me up or anything would you?”

“Hey,” said Angela, “you’re the one that’s bored. I’m just giving you suggestions.”

“What’s he doing?” asked Veronica.

“Rebuilding old skulls from the civil war,” said Angela.

“Really?” said Veronica. “Is that anything like doing a puzzle?”

“Um,” said Angela, “kind of except you know, a lot harder.”

“Okay,” said Veronica, “I will go and help Zack. But I swear, Angela, if I end up locked in a room mysteriously, or there is somehow a love song playing on the radio or something cheesy like that I swear, Angela, I will kill you or at the very least tazer you.”

“Always with the tazer,” said Angela, “I think you have anger issues.”

Veronica smiled. “You have no idea,” she said.

“Don’t scare Zack,” said Angela.

“Wasn’t planning on it,” Veronica called as she headed out the door.

Veronica headed off to Zack’s little office where he was, indeed, putting together skulls. “Wow,” said Veronica, “this is so nothing like a puzzle. You don’t even have pictures to help you figure out where they go.”

At the sound of her voice, Zack jumped and turned around to face her.

“Uh, Miss Mars,” said Zack, “what are you doing here?”

“Miss Mars?” said Veronica, wrinkling her nose. “Seriously-do I look like a Miss Mars?”

“Well,” said Zack, “you are Veronica Mars. So that would mean that you’re a Miss Mars.”

“Wow,” said Veronica, “you take everything very literal.”

“I’m sorry,” said Zack, “I’m not very good with people.”

“It’s okay,” said Veronica, “so um, do you need help? Because Booth left me here and I don’t really have anything to do and I’m going crazy just sitting here doing nothing.”

“You’re not sitting, you’re standing,” said Zack.

Veronica just smiled. “Right,” she said, “so, can I help you?”

“Um I don’t think-“

“I don’t bite,” said Veronica, “honest.”

Zack sighed. “I didn’t think you did,” said Zack, “it’s just that…well…you…”

Veronica heard a tapping sound just then and looked down. She realized that the tapping sound was Zack’s hand shaking as he held a small piece of skull bone. “Zack, are you alright?”

“I have to…go,” said Zack quickly and Zack put down the piece of skull bone in his hand and then he quickly left the room. Veronica watched him go, looking at him in complete and total surprise. Did she really have that much of an effect on Zack? Veronica had never thought that she’d had that much of an effect on anyone.

Veronica felt bad about scaring Zack off and when she looked back at the skull she decided that she was going to put the skull together for Zack.

Zack himself, once out of his small lab area, started breathing heavily. He was completely unused to spending so much time in close proximity with a girl that he actually liked. Usually, he barely even got close to them because he was too shy to talk to them.

He took a second and looked at his watch. It was one o’ clock, time for lunch. Zack thought of Veronica back there, in his office. Well, she was going to be there for the entire summer. He couldn’t just avoid her. He was going to have to interact with her sometimes.

Well, it was time for lunch. There was no reason that he couldn’t ask Veronica to lunch as colleagues. They did work together, of course, and they were working on the same case, so that would give them plenty of things to discuss. Booth and Brennan worked together and they sometimes had lunch together.

If it was appropriate for the two of them, it had to be appropriate for him and Veronica. Besides, he would make certain that she knew that it was nothing more than a lunch between friends. After all, Zack was a realist. He knew that there was a very slim possibility of Veronica actually being interest in him, and he wasn’t going to entertain the idea of something he knew that wasn’t going to happen.

Zack took a deep breath and headed back into his lab. Much to his surprise, Veronica was still there, and on the table was a completely finished skull. Admittedly, there hadn’t been much left to do when he was gone, but still it was completely finished.

“Oh hey,” said Veronica, “you came back. I’m glad. I was worried that I’d scared you off completely. Honestly, I don’t try to make you nervous; I really did want to help. I finished the skull for you because I figured it was the least that I could do.”

Zack walked slowly and cautiously over to the table where the skull was. He examined it and tried to find something wrong with it. Much to his surprise, everything was exactly where it was supposed to be. “Well,” he said, “this is exact.”

“Oh, good,” said Veronica, “I’m glad.”

“Would you like to accompany me to lunch?” said Zack. “As colleagues, of course or co-workers or whatever term you wish to use-I have seen Dr. Brennan and Booth do it often so I know that it is okay to do that. Do not feel obligated to, though. I just thought that it would be nice for us to do…as colleagues.”

Veronica realized for the first time that she was actually hungry, and she didn’t really have anything better to do and Zack, despite his awkwardness, did seem nice enough. She wouldn’t mind spending the afternoon with him having a nice lunch. After all, considering all her boy disasters she could use a guy who was just a friend.

“Sure,” said Veronica, “that would be nice. Let me just tell Angela where we’re going in case Booth calls and freaks out because I’m not here.”

“Really?” said Zack. “That would be nice?”

“Yes,” said Veronica.

“Um, okay,” said Zack.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” she said.

Veronica headed over to Angela’s office. “Hey,” she said, “Zack and I are going to go get lunch.”

Angela smiled a little too innocently for Veronica’s liking. “Lunch, huh?” said Angela. “Enjoy yourselves.”

“Stop,” said Veronica, “no insinuations. It’s purely innocent. Look, if Booth calls can you tell him where I went so he doesn’t start being all-Booth?”

“Sure,” said Angela, “but you know, Booth’s not going to be happy about this.”

Veronica rolled her eyes. “It’s nothing,” said Veronica, “it’s just lunch.”

“Sure, sweetie,” said Angela, “you keep on telling yourself that.”

Veronica sighed and grabbed her things from Angela’s office and then she and Zack headed off to go and grab something to eat, while Veronica tried to ignore Angela’s comments swirling in the back of her mind. It was nothing. It was like Zack said, just a lunch between two colleagues. Besides, Veronica was on a boy break.

Right?

Meanwhile, Dr. Temperance Brennan sat in the passenger seat of the Booth’s car as they drove to god knows where. “Okay,” said Brennan, “Booth, I really don’t understand exactly where it is that we’re going.”

“We,” said Booth, “are going to go and visit Duncan Kane’s family-his aunt and uncle. I told you that.”

“I know,” said Brennan, “but what I don’t understand is why. If the boy is on the run and they know something, they’re obviously not going to tell us, especially you. I mean, you’re a fed.”

“We’re not going to ask where Duncan is,” said Booth, “I could care less where the Kane kid is. I’m just going to tell them that Stewart Manning is leaving threatening messages for Veronica, and maybe they can deliver it to the Kane kid if they know where he is, and then the Kane kid will give himself up so that Stewart Manning will stop trying to freak out my intern.”

“You’re awfully worried for someone who claims to not like your intern,” said Brennan.

“Hey, just because I don’t like her doesn’t mean that I want her dead,” said Booth, “she is a pain in my rear but it does not mean that I like some freak sneaking into her apartment and trying to scare her.”

“Uh huh,” said Brennan a smile crossing her face, “you know, if I didn’t know any better, I would say that you were starting to respect Veronica. If you don’t, you really should. I mean, she’s a very bright young woman. She’ll go very far in her career.”

“Hey,” said Booth, “I’m not starting to respect her. She is an intern. She hasn’t done anything to earn my respect.”

“Well, she saved me,” said Brennan, “and I’m your partner. I’d say that should get her some respect. Oh, and she found us a lead on the case-you know, the thing about Mrs. Anderson having a sister. That should get her some respect.”

“Look, I respect her,” said Booth, “I just don’t respect her too much. I mean she hasn’t done her part yet.”

“And when, exactly, will she have done her part?” Brennan asked.

“When I say she has,” said Booth.

“You know, that’s not a very mature answer,” Brennan commented.

Booth just rolled his eyes and kept on driving. They reached the Kane house, and it was about time. The drive had taken them several hours. Booth and Brennan got out of the car and they headed up to the house.

Booth knocked on the door and was met by an elder, matronly looking high society woman. She looked at them for a moment.

“We’re not interested in buying anything,” she said automatically, starting to close the door on them. Booth rolled his eyes and put his hand on the door to stop it from closing.

“We’re not here to sell you anything ma’am,” said Booth, and at this point he took his badge out from his pocket, “I’m Agent Seeley Booth from the F.B.I. This here is my partner, Doctor Temperance Brennan. We’d like to speak to you about something.”

The woman’s face changed automatically. “From the F.B.I?” she said. “This isn’t about Celeste and Jake’s boy, is it?”

“Something like that,” said Brennan.

“Come on in, come on in,” said the woman, ushering them inside. Once in the house, they were taken to the living room and they took a seat on one of the couches and the woman took a seat on the other one.

“Is Duncan in trouble?” asked the woman. “Did they finally catch up to him? Is he-is he dead?”

“No ma’am,” said Booth, “nothing so horrible. This really concerns an acquaintance of Duncan’s.”

“An acquaintance?” said the woman.

“Yes,” said Booth, “do you know a Veronica Mars?”

“Veronica Mars,” said the woman, “the name does sound familiar….oh, that was the name of Duncan’s little girlfriend. Yes, he was seeing her at the time that he disappeared. Celeste was none too pleased. She’s not exactly a fan of Veronica.”

“Hmmm,” said Booth, “well, you see we came here about her. That same girl is being threatened by someone Duncan is involved with.”

“Really?” said the woman. “Who?”

“The Manning’s,” said Booth, “the other grandparents of Duncan’s child. They seem to think that Veronica was involved in helping Duncan vanish and that she might know where he is.”

“That’s ridiculous,” said the woman, “they broke up before he left.”

“Yes,” said Booth, “we know that. The thing is The Manning’s don’t get it. They’ve been leaving her some threats. So you see miss, if you by any chance should here from Duncan, or know where he is and how to contact him, could you please tell him to turn himself in? Before something bad happens to Veronica?”

A strange look crossed the woman’s face.

“Well Agent Booth,” she said, “as you know I have absolutely no idea where Duncan is. However, if I find anything out about him, such as a way to contact him, I’ll let him know.”

“Thank you,” said Booth, “you’ve been very helpful.”

“You’re welcome,” said the woman, “I hope that nothing happens to Miss Mars.”

Booth and Brennan said goodbye to the woman. Then the two of them left and headed back to the lab. “Okay,” said Brennan, “I’m going to go and see if Hodgins has come up with anything real quick. What are you going to do?”

“Take Veronica back to the F.B.I building and try and figure out exactly who Amy Anderson’s sister is,” said Booth, “if we find out anything, I’ll let you know.”

“Alright then,” said Brennan, “I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah,” said Booth, “see you.”

Booth headed to Angela’s office where he had last left Veronica. “Hey Angela,” he said when he headed on inside, “Veronica didn’t give you too much trouble, did you? All the evidence is safe and sound and everything?”

“Yes,” said Angela, “everything was fine. I actually had her help Zack.”

Booth raised an eyebrow at Angela. “Do you really think that is a really good idea?” asked Booth. “Zack can’t exactly function when she’s around.”

“Yeah, well,” said Angela, “everything seems to be fine, or at least it was last time that I saw them.”

“That’s good, I suppose,” said Booth, “where is she?”

“Off at lunch with Zack,” said Angela.

“At lunch,” said Booth, “with Zack?”

“Uh huh,” said Angela.

“You know,” said Booth, “Veronica will never take an interest in him. At least, not like that. I don’t think encouraging this is a good idea.”

“Why Booth?” said Angela. “You’re not interested in your intern are you?”

“That’d be a no,” said Booth without any hesitation, “But you know, partners working together and dating, that’s just not a good idea.”

“Zack and Veronica aren’t partners,” said Angela pointedly. She then looked at Booth suspiciously. “This wouldn’t be about you and Brennan would it?” Booth was taken aback by this accusation, and actually turned a little red at it.

“Where did that come from?” asked Booth.

“Well,” said Angela, “it’s very obvious-that is to everyone but Brennan-that you have a thing for Brennan.”

“I-I don’t-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Booth, “Bones and I, we’re just partners.”

Angela rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say,” she said.

“Look do you have any idea where Veronica and Zack are right now?” asked Booth.

“Nope,” said Angela.

“Great,” said Booth with sarcasm, “I guess I’ll just have to sit and wait then.”

“You do that,” said Angela, “but before you go, I’ve got the sketch of our victim for you.”

“Hey, that’s great,” said Booth, “why didn’t you say so before?”

“Because,” said Angela, “you were too busy wondering where Veronica was.”

“Right,” said Booth, “show me the sketch.”

Angela walked over to her desk and grabbed her sketch pad. She showed Booth the sketch once she had it. “You know,” said Booth, “that woman looks really familiar.”

“You don’t know her, do you?” said Angela.

“I don’t think so,” said Booth, “at least I hope not. But I swear that I’ve seen her somewhere before…maybe I should go back to the Andersons place. Maybe I saw her in a picture there or something.”

“That would be a good idea,” said Angela.

Booth looked at the clock on the wall. “Damn it,” he muttered, “where are those two? How long can it take to get lunch?”

“You’re kidding me, right?” said Angela. “You and Brennan have taken lunches longer than the two of them.”

“I just don’t like interns canoodling,” said Booth.

Angela looked at Booth suspiciously. “Booth,” said Angela, “you wouldn’t be showing concern for Zack’s welfare, would you?”

“No,” said Booth, “I just voicing my opinion.”

“Uh huh,” said Angela.

The door opened in just then, and Veronica and Zack came inside, laughing about something. Booth turned and glared at Veronica. “Hey,” he said, “where were you?”

“At lunch,” said Veronica.

“Okay,” said Booth, “when I tell you to stay in a place, you should stay in that place. What if I needed help on the case or something?”

“Well, you see Booth, there’s this new invention and it’s called a cell phone,” said Veronica, deadpanned, “you use it to call people.”

“Very funny,” said Booth with sarcasm.

“I’m sorry Booth,” said Zack, “It’s my fault. I was the one who asked Veronica out to lunch. It won’t happen again.”

“It had better not,” said Booth, “because I don’t like it.”

“What don’t you like?” said Veronica.

“The whatever it is that you two are doing,” said Booth.

“Did I or did I not say that I would not take Veronica out to lunch again?” said Zack. “I assure you-“

“I’m not talking about the lunch,” said Booth, “I’m talking about the other thing.”

“Wow,” said Veronica, “Booth’s wigging.” She looked directly at Angela. “You didn’t give him something, did you?”

“Nope,” said Angela.

“Right,” said Veronica and she turned and looked back at Booth, “well, you can stop with your little freak out now. Remember, we have a case to solve. There’s something we’re supposed to be doing with it, right?”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Booth, “Actually we have to go back to the Anderson house and look at their pictures. Angela’s drawing looks like someone, and I think I might have seen them in a picture there. Come on, let’s go.”

“Sounds good,” said Veronica. She then turned to Zack. “Thanks for the lunch.”

“You are very welcome,” said Zack, “thank you for the help with putting back together the skull.”

“You’re welcome,” thanked Veronica, “anytime you need help with anything, just ask.”

“Same,” replied Zack.

Veronica and Zack were both smiling at each other, much to Booth’s annoyance. “Okay, okay,” said Booth, “you can stop that now. Come on Mars. We’ve got to go and get Brennan. We have places to go, and people to see.”

Veronica rolled her eyes. “Bye Angela,” she said, “bye Zack.”

Booth headed out of Angela’s office and Veronica sighed. Angela gave her a sympathetic look, and then Veronica headed out of the office, following him.

Angela looked suspiciously at Zack. “So,” she said, “how was lunch?”

“Very good,” said Zack, “I liked the meal that I had.”

Angela rolled her eyes at that and muttered under her breath, “Sometimes, I swear to god, I am the only normal person around here.”

A/N So there it is, chapter eight. Zack and Veronica bonding makes Booth twitchy. Not for reasons you think, however. I’m actually trying to think of ways for Veronica to make some mischief and get Booth and Brennan together….hopefully I will think of something that won’t be a cliché or anything.