Disclaimer: I do not own anything but Jeremy and the storyline.
A/N: This is for all veteran's, those who died and those who served and did the behind the scenes work. We thank, remember, and appreciate you.
He heads out early from the Jeffersonian, and when Cam leaves less than five minutes later, her anger immediately flares. Why does he have to do this to her?
She watches from the window as Cam tries to talk to him in the parking lot, but he shakes her off. She watches as he gets into his own car, and Cam returns to the museum. An idea pops into her head, and she races from her office and into the parking structure just as he is starting his car. "Wait!" She calls out, racing to the passenger side, and opening the door.
He looks at her as she slides in the seat. "Buckle up," is all he says, and she does just that.
He doesn't question why she's here, just like she doesn't question where they're going. They ride in silence, and she is surprised when he pulls up to the street near the World War II Memorial. They sit for a moment before he opens the door. "C'mon."
She follows him, the wind playing with her hair and blowing it around her face. She tries to tuck it behind her ears, but it won't stay, and finally she gives up.
Its cold and they lean together for warm, her hand in his. He leads her around by the Lincoln Memorial, but they don't go up the steps. Instead, they take the path to the Vietnam War Memorial. "We're here." He says quietly. She sits on a bench, and waits as he walks up to a name. Jeremy Booth. He draws a small American flag from his pocket and places it on the ground directly below. He traces the letters with his finger, and then backs away to sit by her on the bench.
"My parents didn't think they'd be able to have kids, and so they adopted Jeremy about…10 years before I was born. He was five when they adopted him, which made him fifteen when I was born." He recalls, filling her in with this piece of information she never knew. "I loved Jere- he was so much fun, and he always played with me. Then he got drafted when I was three, and we were all really upset. Jere was a big part of our life. He would write us every week, but then suddenly, the letters stopped. We got a letter that said he'd been killed in action. I had never seen my mom cry before that." He says finally as an explanation. "He died in 1971, as you can see." He points to the wall with Jeremy's name on it. "I come every year on Veteran's Day, just to sit and talk to him."
She instantly feels like she's intruding on something, and feels bad. "I'm sorry Seeley," and the use of his first name surprises him. "I shouldn't have come- you need time alone with your brother." She stands to leave, but he grabs her wrist.
"I would have told you to leave if I didn't want you to come." He's silent again for a few seconds before speaking quietly again. "Besides, maybe it's time for Jere to meet my best friend." She blushes, but sits back down.
So she listens as she speaks to his brother, grinning as he recounts tales of his time with Parker, and also as he tells all about Brennan and their work together.
Soon it's dark, and he says his goodbyes. "I'll see you next year, Jere," They start to walk away together, but she reaches into her pocket, fingering the trinket she has there. "Wait here," she instructs him.
Racing back to Jeremy's name, she pulls the small Statue of Liberty out, remember how she had pleaded with Booth to stop and let her buy the keychain when they were in their last case in New York- she had forgotten about it until now. "For you, Jeremy," she murmurs into the wind, placing the charm down next to Booth's flag. "You're loved, and remembered."
She stands up slowly, and whispers it one more time. "You are remembered."
Charlotte