Title: It Proves Something
Author: Tressa
Rating: K
Summary: Brennan reflects on the value and power of physical objects.
SPOILERS: The Man in the Morgue
The earring was proof of things to come. She had claimed that objects held no intrinsic power. That a person's future didn't depend on objects alone. That they didn't have any magical powers. Briefly, her mind jumped back a time and place where friendship had been tested, loyalty brought to the forefront, and the power of one object had inadvertently changed the course of her life.
He had held her mother's earring, a relic from the past that pained her to part with. Once thought lost in the dark period post hurricane Katrina, he had presented it with a tiny bit of flair that fit his personality to a 't'. Her question of how he had gotten it was only answered in a vague, round about answer.
What does it matter. It's just a thing, right?
She could still here her own voice, confused, and yet in awe. My mother's earring.
He had handed it to her while getting up, a smirk on his lips as he left the room. No, uh, magical power over your future.
Does that prove something? Angela had asked, confused. It wasn't easy for her to answer. It was a small gesture, but deep in meaning. His comment about betting his career had come to the surface of her memory, making the historical relic take on a second meaning for them both.
Yeah, she had answered. It proves something.
Later on the evening, while in bed, she pondered on the meaning that one simple object could have. It was true- many cultural groups and societies as a whole had relics; physical artifacts that contained meaning to those who were familiar and integrated into that particular custom. For one group, something as benign as a snake had great spiritual meaning to another group. Children traded charms and toys as tokens of friendship.
At the time, she knew that his seemingly small gesture had proved something, even though she alone knew that it wasn't a small gesture to begin with. She didn't believe in destiny, she didn't believe in fate. Objects only had power if the bearer allowed for it to.
But that earring, that one earring, did something to her. Something which did indeed change the course of her life. Frighteningly enough, she could not remember the lines of logic she had drawn which made up her explanation that his gesture had proved something. But looking back, at that moment, she realized it did in fact play a large part in determining her future. It was at that point she fully realized that she could trust him. He would stay by her side. He would be there for her no matter how difficult and bleak a situation might appear.
He had proven that he was her friend. Her partner. Perhaps someday, something more? Maybe. But, many months later, sitting at her dining room table with Chinese take-out and piles of papers scattered across the available space, she knew he had her back. And that she had his. She risked a glance. As though he sensed her gaze, he set down his fork and the document he was reading and looked up to meet her eye to eye.
And smiled.
That one object held power over her future. She would never let him know that. But for her, it had sealed a loyalty, partnership and friendship that she had always questioned. Smiling back, she reached up to brush that same earring with her fingers before settling back into her work. He chuckled and followed suit.
Who said objects didn't have power over your future?