A/N: This is a bit of self indulgence. Whenever I see Booth's lighter in an episode it makes me think of my dad. As a little girl, I was always so fascinated with my dad's zippo lighter, so I decided to write a story about how Booth got his lighter. This is set about seven years in the future.
oooooooooo
"Hey, Dad. How's it going?" Parker was boxing up the last of the stuff from his tiny room when his father poked his head through the doorway. "I think I finally got everything taken care of here." He looked past his dad into the hallway. "Where's everybody else?"
"They're over at the parade ground getting ready for the graduation ceremony. Bones took Hank and Christine to find some good seats so we can see you walk across the stage and become an official ensign in the US Coast Guard. I guess we're gonna sit with your mom and Meredith. Brent's participating in the ceremony, right?"
"Yep. He even promised not to trip me when I walked past him on the stage." Parker grinned as he nudged his dad with his elbow. "You know, Brent's not a bad guy…."
"He's a great guy, and I'm glad he was there for your mother and you. You turned out okay, I guess.", Booth said with a teasing smile.
"Thanks….I guess." Parker rolled his eyes. "I think I'm maybe a little better than okay."
Booth stood back to get a good look at his son in his dress uniform. "You look great, son. With all that good food and exercise the academy really got you to beef up while you were here."
Parker laughed out loud. "C'mon, Dad...I'm still as skinny as a rail. I guess I took after Mom's side of the family. Remember how thin Grandpa Ralph was?" He pretended to flex his muscles. "I'm probably never gonna be as buff as my old man."
"Aw, you're just sayin' that because it's true." Booth grinned as he plopped down into a chair next to the desk. "So how soon you do have to report for active duty?"
"I got a month. I figure I'll come see you guys for a week or so, and then go see Meredith for a week. I'll come back to DC and then on to Miami. I gotta get settled in my new place before my rotation. I'm getting pretty excited about being on a cutter in the Atlantic." He moved another box toward the door. "Are you sure you have room at your house to store my stuff?"
"Yeah, we can probably store it until you and Meredith get married…" Booth walked over and jabbed Parker playfully in the ribs, laughing at his son's protests that they were just friends.
"C'mon...if anyone can see through that 'just friends' garbage, it's me. I used to try to pull that stuff when people asked me about Bones, and look where we are now...married with 3 kids. I know what you've been thinking about...you and Meredith. I may be old, but I ain't blind and deaf…"
"Dad….." Parker broke into a big grin. "Okay, but it's just between you and me for now! I haven't officially asked her yet, and I don't wanna jinx it."
"That's my boy...gotta have some good ol' Boothy superstition in the mix." They laughed as they moved more boxes, enjoying a bit of father and son time as they talked about Parker's future plans in the Coast Guard and his hopes for his relationship with Meredith.
"Actually, Parker…" Booth grew serious. "There's another reason I wanted to see you alone. I've got something for you. Kind of a small graduation gift." Booth reached into his pocket and pulled out a shiny metal object. "This is yours now."
"Your lighter? Dad, I don't even smoke...why would I need it?" Parker took the lighter, turning it over in his hand. It was nicked and scratched from years of use.
"Well...that lighter has quite a history. Your great grandfather's brother, my Great Uncle Jake, got it before he left for Papua New Guinea in World War II. Zippo used to provide these lighters for soldiers going overseas. The design is great...they light almost anywhere and in all kinds of weather. Anyway, Uncle Jake made it through the Second World War in pretty good shape, so when Pops left for Korea, Uncle Jake gave it to him for good luck."
"So it's been around a while…" Parker ran his fingers over the satiny metal. He could just barely make out some etching on the side, and the corners were rounded with age. He opened the lid and gave the tiny wheel a spin, laughing with delight as a small flame jumped from the lighter. "It still works!" He closed the lid, and rubbed the small dent on its top.
"Yeah, well, they were made to last… Anyway, Pops gave it to my Dad to take with him to Viet Nam…" Booth wiped a tear from his cheek. "My dad made it back in good shape physically, but that war changed him, and a lot of other guys, in ways that we couldn't see. You know that my dad had some problems…PTSD and alcoholism. He never could get over the things that happened to him in Nam."
"Yeah, Dad...I know it must've been rough for you and Uncle Jared with your dad's drinking and Grandma leaving you guys." Parker stood quietly as his dad was lost in thought. Those things had happened so long ago, but to Booth it always seemed like it was just yesterday…
"Well, my Dad wanted some hooch, so he pawned the lighter. He probably got a few dollars for it, but he could use the money to buy a bottle of rotgut. Turns out, the pawnbroker knew Pops and called him to come get his lighter. The guy knew how much Pops had cherished that lighter and the memories that went with it, and he didn't want to sell it." Booth stood looking out the window. "Pops paid the money to get it back, but he didn't tell my dad. Pops kept it at his place."
"I bet Pops was angry." Parker blinked away a tear, trying to imagine the hurt that Pops felt at losing something with so much meaning attached to it.
"Nah...Pops told me later he was more sad than anything." Booth frowned. "...sad that my dad was so desperate for a drink that he'd pawn something for three dollars." Booth put his hand on his son's shoulder. "People didn't know a lot about PTSD or addictions back then like they do now. My dad wasn't a bad guy, Parker...he just had a disease and some mental health issues. It took me a long time to figure that out so I could forgive him…but I did...just like my family forgave me for all the stupid things I did when I relapsed back into my gambling addiction." Booth shrugged. "That stuff with my dad is all in the past, anyway….time to move forward."
Booth turned to look at his son. "When I shipped out to the Rangers, Pops gave me a St. Christopher medal, and I gave one to your Uncle Jared when he went to India."
"Yeah, you gave me one, too...I wear it every day." Parker was trying to figure out what his dad was telling him.
Booth held up his hand to interrupt. "When I came home to visit before I went to active duty, Pops gave me that lighter, kind of like a good luck charm. It worked, I guess...I got out of plenty of scary situations in a lot of scary places. Anyway, I've carried it with me for years, but you're going to be on active duty soon, so now it's your turn, Parker."
"More Boothy superstition?" Parker laughed until he saw his father's serious expression. "Dad….are you sure?" Parker turned the lighter over in his fingers again, brushing his thumb along the worn lid. "I mean, you've carried this as long as I can remember….it's like a part of you…."
"That's what makes it special for you. Family tradition, Son. A Booth in military service, and carrying that Zippo lighter….even if you don't smoke." Booth slapped Parker on the back. "And when you have a son or a daughter, you can maybe pass it on to one of them….maybe the oldest, or maybe one who joins the military. I don't know….that'll be your decision."
Parker stood quietly palming the lighter before he slipped it into his pants pocket. "I promise to take really good care of your lighter, Dad." He ran his fingers across his eyes to hide his tears. "It'll be safe with me."
"I know, Parker." Booth smiled at his son and extended his right hand. "Congratulations, Ensign Booth. We're all so proud of you."
"Yeah." Parker took his dad's hand and pulled him into a bear hug. "Thanks for everything, Dad."
"Alright...alright...enough. Are you ready to go become an ensign for real?" Booth checked his watch. "I think it's time for us to get going.''
Parker flashed his own version of a Boothy smile. "Yeah, Dad. Let's go. Time for another Booth to carry on the family tradition."
Father and son walked toward the parade grounds together, each proud of the other, and each thankful for the opportunities they had to honor their family traditions and to serve their country.