A/N: I know that there was nothing to indicate that Alex Duffy was an obnoxious person while making the documentary, but I need a reason for Hodgins to spout off...
Alex Duffy was more than a little frustrated. Even though she was pleased with how her documentary on the Jeffersonian was progressing, her producer kept pushing her to get on a more personal level with the people she was interviewing. "We need some backbiting and gossip to spice this story up, Alex. Otherwise we'll look like a lame copy of Sixty Minutes. You need to start poking around in their personal business. We need some angst!"
"It's not my fault they all seem to get along with each other and don't want to gossip about each other.", she said to her reflection as she combed her hair the next morning. "I guess that's why they're so successful...they like and respect each other and they look out for each other. No one's willing to dish on anybody's personal business…not even their own." She sighed as she thought about the producer's comment as he looked through yesterday's footage. "Angst, smangst. Why go stir up trouble when there is none?"
She could still hear the producer's exasperated answer. Because that's why people watch, Alex! You know that. So go find some angst." Yeah, right...whatever. She wracked her brain trying to figure out how to penetrate the shell of this intelligent group of people that had closed ranks with each other, preventing her from getting any closer to the good stuff, and then it hit her. She needed to do another interview.
She walked into Hodgins office and sat down on the stool in front of his desk. "Dr. Hodgins, thanks for seeing me this morning. I know we've gotten a lot of footage of you already, but it occurred to me that there might be another angle that we need to discuss for our program. I was wondering if you could tell us how the members of your team have managed to deal with your disability."
"What?" Hodgins stared at the young woman in surprise. "What disability...oh, you mean my paralysis? That's not really a disability…I mean, I can't walk, but my brain works just fine, and that's really all I need to do my job."
"I don't understand. You're confined to a wheelchair. How is that not a disability, Dr. Hodgins? It seems that the Jeffersonian has had to take several steps in order to make sure the laboratory is accessible to someone in a wheelchair. Your equipment had to be rearranged so you could work. I'm sure there were emotional repercussions from the incident since it was the result of a crime, and it seems your co-workers had to put up with some uncomfortable outbursts from you…"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Just a minute there, Ms. Duffy." Hodgins moved his wheelchair out behind his desk and held up his hand to interrupt her. "First of all, most of what you've just asked me about is way out of line, and secondly, my team doesn't have to deal with my 'disability'. I have to deal with my paralysis and my disability. It's my problem, not theirs. The people I work with have been nothing but supportive of me…"
"Really? Supportive? How would you define supportive, Dr. Hodgins?"
"Is the camera on?" Hodgins glared at the cameraman who stood behind the reporter. "Turn that damn thing off. I'm going to answer your questions, Ms. Duffy, but I don't want to see any of this in your documentary. Do you understand? All I want to do is to set the record straight, not stir up more trouble." After she nodded sullenly, he continued. "I work with an outstanding group of human beings here at the Jeffersonian. They've done everything they can to make my return to work successful since I've been injured. They never complained when their work space was disrupted by the changes needed to make the lab accessible for a person in a wheelchair. Several of those people helped me figure out the best way to arrange my equipment in this office so that I could use it easily while in a wheelchair, and then they actually helped me move things around because I couldn't do it by myself." Hodgins exhaled slowly as he studied the corner of his desk, trying to control his anger. "My paralysis is a health problem. That's true. My disability is my bad attitude. I was a really nasty son of a bitch when I first became paralyzed in the explosion. I was extremely angry at everybody I worked with, even though it wasn't their fault that I was in a wheelchair. I was angry because I thought I was going to lose a job I loved, even though the people here made sure that things were arranged so that I would be able to keep my job. Several people on my team took the time to rattle my cage because I was so awful to deal with. They didn't want me to stay trapped in my anger and despair. They wanted me to rise above it, and they were honest in their expectations that my behavior should improve, because if it didn't, I was gonna be out on my ass without a job. They pushed me to get past my anger, and I'm almost there. I still have bad days, but I'm improving little by little. I wouldn't have gotten as far in my recovery as I have without them to stand behind me. That's how they've managed to deal with things. Does that answer your questions, Ms. Duffy?"
Alex Duffy sat stunned as she processed the emotional tirade she'd just witnessed from the seemingly mild mannered bug and slime expert. "Yes, I believe so. I'm sorry I bothered you, Dr. Hodgins." She stood up to leave, but turned to face him again. "I know you consider yourself King of the Lab, Dr. Hodgins. It appears that the kingdom you rule is a truly wonderful place. Thank you for your time." She and the cameraman smiled politely and left the office.
Hodgins nodded and smiled to himself as he looked at the expansive space outside of this office door. His little kingdom really was a wonderful place, and someday soon, he hoped, with a little more time and effort, he'd deserve to rule over it again.