A/N I just can't stay away, can't I? Darkest one, probably. Please review!

Disclaimer: I bought the show last night- oops… drank too much soda again..


Crash And Burn

Holding his breath, he carefully caught the insect in his fingers- stained-glass wings beating wildly and vainly as he lifted the specimen towards his work area.

Beautiful. That had been the thought that came to Hodgins' mind when he first saw the insect. Its gigantic, mesmerizing eyes dominating its being. Wings made of multicolored gossamer usually lifting it up and about in dizzying feats of agility.

Just like her.

He fought to steady his hand as it despairingly shook in response to the maelstrom of thoughts that bombarded his mind- like bees attacking a honey thief.

He still couldn't believe it.

He had watched her for so long; he had forgotten that there were other people in this world aside from the two of them. He had seen her go through multitudes of things- some dire, some triumphantly rewarding for them all.

He had watched her, but always from afar- for fear of damaging her, or so he told himself. To his keen eye, she had seemed too inwardly frail, despite her best efforts to mask that fragility.

Sometimes, he really hated his job.

He was a person who fundamentally played God everyday of his life. He made scientifically sound forensic conclusions based on the lives and deaths of hundreds of tiny living things. At times, experiments and recreations of the development and eventual extinction of life were called for.

And through these all, complete with demonstrations of the singular insignificance of these insects, he had been there- observant, vigilant; watching.

He was wealthy- extremely so. He really didn't need to keep this job. When asked, he had simply answered, for both himself and the questioner, that he had it because he was dedicated to his craft of science.

After all, he was a scientist. One of the best. A Rhodes scholar, respected and admired.

But she still managed to make him feel like a redneck who spent all his time watching the superbowl and chugging down beer through a straw.

Just like all his insects, she made him feel wholly inadequate.

So of course, he covered it all up with sensical nonsense like conspiracy theories.

Then he had appeared- like some spider. And she walked into his parlor with all the pomp and circumstance due her.

And all Jack Hodgins could do was watch. Like he had always done, for a very long time.

Sometimes, he really hated his job.

He had to end so many things, make so many meaningless games out of lives that could never be more than they were. He had tried to read more significance in the day-to-days of his life- but it came out just like all his other theories: nonsensically logical.

Beautiful- with large eyes that just ate all the existential baggage away; rainbow wings that took them to dizzying heights in his mind.

He couldn't watch her anymore. It was no longer his place. He had allowed his prize to fly away from his Plexiglas cage, and he had to live with that.

He tightened his hold on the scalpel, and cut.

The dragonfly jerked.


A/N: Sorry if this seemed like the most PWP of all, and the most jumpy. It was also the darkest, if you read it the way I read it.

For everyone who cares to know, I've decided to finish this collection. Only two more chapters left. However, since I already consider this a complete fic, I will maintain the 'complete' statues. (besides, more people read complete fics)

Thanks for all the reviews. Please give me feedback. I'd truly appreciate it. Also for the other chapters, I have too few reactions to the previous two chapters, I'm not sure if I should change my style or quit altogether.

Thanks for reading. I apologize in advance and request your excuse if you happen to find any incorrect spellings or grammar, because I wrote this in a rush on notepad.