The Face with Two Skeletons

by Tropicwhale

Disclaimer: Not mine. But it certainly felt like they were. ALL THE Feelings

Warnings: Post-Gormogon

Author Notes: Final nail in the coffin. Thank you for reading.

Epilogue

The buzzer sounded and Zack was let through the reinforced steel door into the visitor's room. The orderly, Miguel?, helped him sit without using his hands to brace on the table then left. Zack stared at the man across from him. He was still a little loopy from the pain medication and his hands hurt. "Hello, Agent Booth." He said calmly.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Booth said, stern and under it, hurt. Zack was better at reading emotions now. He was working on it in therapy.

"I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought-"

"You knew that if you told me I would have stopped him."

"He said you wouldn't understand. That you were brainwashed like the rest of the government. I was trying to save you." Seeley looked away. Zack looked at his hands.

"Why, Zack?" Zack looked up and there was the man who was truly hurt by Zack's actions. The man that he loved. He really did love Seeley Booth. He had come to accept that as a fact as well.

"I was wrong. My logic"

"Drop the crap. Tell me why?"

"At first I was afraid. He made it seem like he could find and hurt me if I told anyone. That you wouldn't be fast enough to stop him. And then...I was wrong. I don't have another reason." Zack breathed through the throbbing in his hands by exhaling through his nose. "I should have told you."

"Yeah, you should have." The anger was back.

"I am working on it. Not telling people things I should. Telling them things that aren't true. Not lying or letting people tell me what to think. I hope to get better one day."

"You and I both know that's never going to happen. I won't let it." Zack was crying. It was mostly because the Vicodin was wearing off.

"I know." He looked down and mustered himself. "What happened to Kevin?" He asked.

"Hodgins took him."

"Good." Zack looked up. "Can I tell you something on a personal note?"

"Zack, what you did. It was on a personal note."

"For me it wasn't...I compartmentalized...thus the therapy. Sweets keeps trying to tell me that excessive compartmentalization of my life is why I missed the faulty logic of the Master. I am working on it. It is very difficult. It's much more logical and simpler to compartmentalize-"

"Zack," Booth cut him off. "I don't care. You betrayed all of us, me. The Master tricked you into helping him. He had no intention of letting you be his Apprentice."

"You don't know that."

"Yeah, Zack. I do. I wanted to know why and I got it." Booth stood. "It kinda of hurts seeing you like this. Hands all bandaged...locked up in the looney bin...I'm not coming back." Zack stood too as Booth moved toward the door.

"Wait. Please. Seeley." Booth stopped with his back toward Zack. "I love you. I have for awhile now. I know what I did was wrong now but I was just trying to keep the people I love safe. I thought that you would be proud of me...I just...I figured...I wanted to tell you. I want to….I want you to know that. I love you. Before you and I...I didn't believe in love and because of you I recognize it's existence as fact. Because of you I was able to recognize that I was in love with Bradley and told him so when he came back for me. I know what it feels like. You promised me you'd figure out what you felt about me and I took you at your word. You can take me at mine. I will get better. I will get out of here some day and it'll be because of you. You gave me more than I could hope for and helped me accept myself as myself. I know I can't go back. That it wouldn't be responsible for me to go back. I understand if you never want to see me again or hear from me...I just wanted to know...before you walk out of here for good...was there...was there ever a time you...could have...? Did you love me?"

The End?

Author After Notes: This is a scene I have had in my head since I started writing "Skeletons". The idea that something this messy couldn't have a pat ending and that the consequences of Zack's actions could lose him what could be the love of his life. I wanted an open ending. Also, I've already written the "I'm suddenly gay!...but only around this one person" and Seeley isn't Xander (not even a little...besides the gun carrying thing). Zack and Seeley have a lot to work through. Which is why there is a sequel. I regret nothing. There will be a sequel. Zack will have sex in the mental hospital...more than once. "The Squint in the Affair." I will start posting it when I have time. Thank you for your support, your love and your attention. I know I sort of became one of those writers we all hate...when I put this on indefinite hiatus. But I made a promise to you and to myself that I would always finish this story. I leave my one incomplete story (Flames) up as a reminder that I can write myself into a corner and I can make mistakes. But this story...is finished...and its sequel will follow. And I am going to write my Snarry story over in HP land...because that one...I'm also writing my own fantasy novel, properly vetted by someone whose opinion I trust more than anything and who tells me when I've gone of the reservation more quickly than anyone else. But that wouldn't have been possible without you reading this story...thank you.

Love from the Dorkside;

Tropicwhale