Dr. Daisy Wick stood in the doorway of Dr. Hodgins' office and knocked tentatively. "Dr. Hodgins?"

"Hey, Daisy...or should I say, Dr. Wick." Hodgins grinned as he wheeled himself out from behind a giant display board designed to look like hilly terrain covered with grass. "I was just trying to figure out if I really could set this up for model trains now that the case is over." He brushed a loose bit of dirt from the corner of the display. "I think Michael-Vincent and I could have a lot of fun setting up some train tracks and buildings on here, and maybe when your kiddo is a little older he could come over and play trains with us, too."

"That sounds like fun. Thanks for thinking of us. I'm sure he'd love it." Daisy wore a wistful expression as she looked around Hodgins' office. "I'm really going to miss this place…"

"Oh, that's right. You're starting your new position next week, aren't you? I didn't really get to tell you congratulations while we were at Brennan's party, but I know you'll do a wonderful job over there at the NFL." Hodgins beamed as he rolled his chair over to shake Daisy's hand. "You're gonna be a great forensic anthropologist."

"I hope you're right, Dr. Hodgins. I've been well trained by everyone here. You and Dr. Brennan have both taught me so much…" Daisy bit her lip nervously. "...but…"

"But it's still a little scary isn't it?" Hodgins nodded as he busied himself with pulling the hundreds of tiny red flags from the display. "I remember when I started at my first job. I was really worried that I'd blow it…" He saw the slightly panicked look on Daisy's face and hurriedly reassured her. "Not that you'll blow it, mind you. Just remember, Dr. B wouldn't have recommended you if she didn't think you could do the job."

"I keep telling myself that, and I know it's true, but you're right. It's a bit scary to think I'm going to be leading that department." Daisy stood and looked at the harness that Hodgins had rigged from the ceiling. "What's that piece of equipment for?"

"Oh…" He chuckled softly as he moved toward the switch on the wall. "I was using it to get a bird's eye view of my model." He flipped the switch and used a joystick to move the contraption around the room. "I was hovering like a hummingbird. I had to have someone help me get in and out of it, but at least I didn't feel it pinch me in inappropriate places like I did the last time I used it."

Daisy laughed at the thought of Hodgins flying around the room. "I wish I could've seen that."

"Maybe we can arrange for you to fly around the room, too, if you want. You've always had a lot of fun helping me with my experiments, even if you did manage to shoot me from time to time. But most of them worked out well, right? Remember how we figured out that victim had been gaffed like a fish?" Laughing at the memory, Hodgins wheeled back to his desk.

"Yes, and Cam was horrified when you went backwards over the side of the 'boat' because she didn't know we'd put pillows on the floor. The look on her face was priceless." Daisy laughed as she sat down opposite of her mentor. "I also remember how often you listened to me ramble on about Lance and so many other things while I was supposed to assisting you, and I really appreciate how you put up with me. I know I talked incessantly when I first started working here. I was so immature, and I worried constantly that I wasn't good enough to be Dr. Brennan's intern."

"Yeah, well...we all have our quirks. You had to listen to me be a grouch from time to time, right? So I guess we're even." Hodgins crossed his arms over his chest and smiled. "I really am proud of you, you know…"

"Thank you." Daisy blushed a bit as she held out a small gift bag to Hodgins. "Here...this is for you."

"This isn't necessary…" Hodgins pulled a picture frame out of the bag. In the frame was a picture of him standing next to Sweets that had been taken at Booth and Brennan's wedding. Both men were smiling broadly as they raised their glasses to toast the happy couple. "Wow, Daisy...I don't know what to say...except maybe thank you. What a great picture! Thanks so much."

"I found that picture when I was cleaning out some of Lance's papers, and I knew he'd want you to have it." She cleared her throat, trying to maintain her composure. "Lance really respected you, Dr. Hodgins. He told me that he thought it was amazing that you were such a strong, emotionally resilient person. You've had so many upheavals in your life, what with Pelant stealing all of your money and finding out you had a brother you'd never met...you know, things like that. There have been so many unpleasant things that have happened to you over the years, and yet things never seem to keep you down for long. You always seem to bounce back from them and move on with your life. Even with your paralysis…" Daisy brushed away a tear. "It seems like you were never defeated. It's like you thrive on those sorts of challenges, even when they're life altering. That kind of strength...that sort of resiliency is an amazing personality trait. Anyway, I thought you'd want to know what Lance thought…"

Thoroughly humbled, Hodgins blinked back tears as he looked at the picture again. "Thank you, Daisy. I really appreciate it. Maybe when I'm feeling like things in my life are going badly, I can look at this photograph and it'll help me remember that."

"I hope so." Daisy glanced at her phone to check the time. "I have to go. I have an appointment with the daycare director at the NFL." She put her hand out towards Hodgins. "Thanks for everything, Dr. Hodgins."

"We're equals now...you should call me Jack." He held out his arms to give her a hug, and she complied happily. "Hey, now that you're a big shot, don't be a stranger, okay? I expect you to bring that baby around to see us on a regular basis."

"You can count on it. Goodbye, doctor...I mean, Jack." Daisy waved and turned to leave.

"Goodbye, Dr. Wick...and good luck at your new job." Hodgins watched her walk away from his office, sighing happily. It was a great feeling knowing that he'd helped mentor Daisy, and now she was moving on to begin a great new career. He was confident that she'd be successful. Humming softly, he turned back to the diorama, removing more flags before he paused and considered Daisy's gift. He'd never thought of himself as being particularly brave, but looking back over his life, he realized that maybe Sweets had been correct...maybe he was strong and resilient. Wheeling around to a different side of the platform, he nodded to himself. He'd lost the use of his legs, but metaphorically, he was still kicking. Life's problems weren't ever going to keep him down...not any more. He'd bounced back from the explosion, and he was still going strong. Glancing over at the picture frame on his desk, Hodgins smiled as he turned back to his work. Even after being gone from this Earth a couple of years, Dr. Lance Sweets was still counseling him, and Hodgins was thankful for that.