My dear friend Jen (jsq here on this site, jsq79 on Twitter) tweeted out recently that though she did not foresee writing anymore #BONES stories, she thought someone should continue on her People in the Story series. Little did she know that I would jump at this opportunity so quickly. Her original set of OS's have been in my favorites list. It's a lovely opportunity and I appreciate the gracious challenge she has given me. Gracious to share her idea, challenge to live up to her great set of installments.

The idea is to use StoryPeople(dot)com's site of teeny ficlets as inspiration for our #BONES characters. Since I am not normally a deep repository of ideas, this kind of system works beautifully for me.

I'm not much for disclaimers because I figure that anything posted at this site is obviously not mine or any other participant's, but I will say this: the inspirational ficlets are simply that, inspiration. The original stories belong to the contributing authors of StoryPeople's website. Also, you should read jsq's original series before this one.

This Is My Legacy

From StoryPeople(dot)com:

"He kept a piece of algae behind his ear to remind him of his roots. A million years ago every place was a little place by the sea, he would say & my mind would go blank & I would swim through the day without a care in the world & it all seemed so familiar that I knew I would go back someday to my own little place by the sea."

He knew it was vain to want to be on the big screen. He was even kind of ashamed to admit that he wanted it, especially considering he had spent so much energy all those years ago in hiding his connections to the Cantilever Group, chief donors of the Jeffersonian. The way Cam and Sweets had responded to him when he blurted out how it wasn't fair that the other actors playing the scientists didn't get interviewed for Dr. Brennan's movie told him he was probably overreacting.

It didn't change how he felt, though.

So when Angela didn't laugh at him, and when they saw that even Cam had had her moment of fame so many years ago, he felt better. And when they ended up getting that cameo in the movie trailer? He thought he couldn't be happier.

Then one day he read an article about a woman who had been living out of her car because she had entrusted all her money in a Hollywood agent who had sworn she would get all the best auditions. Instead, the "agent" ran off with her money and all the would-be actor could say was how ridiculous she felt, telling all of her family and friends back home that she was going to "make it big" or die trying. How could she have known that she really could die trying with barely enough money for food?

The next day he analyzed particulate evidence that directly helped the FBI apprehend a murderer.

The next afternoon he watched the eggs of his ring-necked snake (diadophis punctatus) hatch.

On Saturday morning, he and Michael Vincent explored at a nearby park, venturing into the woods. Michael Vincent toddled ahead, and Hodgins had to trot to catch up to him, making sure he didn't take too big of a spill. Angie would scold him if "her" little boy came back all scratched up.

"Oooh, BUH!"

"That's right, MV. Bug. Isn't it great?" Hodgins crouched next to him, and Michael Vincent giggled gleefully. "Do you know what kind of bug it is? It's a dermaptera. Do you know what is so special about dermaptera? It's one of the few bugs where the mama still takes care of her babies after they hatch."

"Mama!"

Talk of "Mama" ended the excursion. Michael Vincent double backed before Hodgins could convince him otherwise, but he smiled as he listened to his son chant "Mama mama mama" all the way.

What had he told Angela all those weeks ago? That he wanted their son knowing they were in some hyped up movie? She had told him no one could do what he did, and he agreed, but he was wrong. Others might fill his shoes one day; maybe it would be his son. Maybe not. She was right about him in another way, though. No one could love his son like he did. What he did was more important than explosions in a movie (although, the explosions were pretty awesome). He helped catch murderers. He worked to understand the natural world – the parts many others choose to ignore. That was what he wanted his son to see.

That was his legacy.