(The Mastodon on the Room)
Thank you for reviewing my story. I really appreciate it.
I don't own Bones.
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Sitting in the military transport plane, Private Jerry Benson sat facing the flag draped coffin and felt both sorrowful and restless. As he stared at the casket he realized that he was on the verge of tears. Not wanting to appear unmanly in front of the Sergeant Major sitting next to him, Benson cleared his throat and spoke quietly. "So Sergeant Major, how did you end up here?"
His gaze also on the casket, the Sergeant Major ignored the Private, lost in dark thoughts.
Irritated with the Non-com, Benson complained rather loudly. "Oh come on . . . are you still mad at me? How is that fair? I didn't have anything to do with Corporal Casey losing his entire months pay in that card game. How many times do I have to tell you that I was in the game until they started making wild bets? My mother didn't raise a fool. I'll play for a dollar here and there, but not for the stakes those idiots were playing for. I quit playing and I tried to get Casey to quit too, but I'm just a lowly private. He told me to fuck off and I did."
Crossing his arms against his chest, Benson lowered his voice. "You're being unreasonable. That happened four days ago. We're going home. Won't you talk to me now? . . . Come on Sergeant Major, give me a break." Frustrated when his companion didn't reply, Benson moved his gaze back to the coffin. "Okay, I get it. Still, you are acting kind of childish you know? . . . . Shit, be stubborn, I don't care."
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Arriving at Dover Air Force Base, both soldiers stood to attention as the military escort transferred the coffin to a hearse from the plane. Watching the hearse pull slowly away, Benson and the Sergeant Major followed the hearse on foot to the Mortuary Affairs Operations Center a short distance away.
Once the casket was transferred to the building, Benson followed his superior as he walked away. "So where are we going now Sergeant Major?" Walking slowly behind him, Benson shook his head. "Okay now you're just being an ass . . . You are such a girl, Sergeant Major. Wow, I've never seen such an unforgiving bastard like you . . . What, aren't you going to dress me down even for that? . . . Really?" Furious, the young private flipped his middle finger up on his right hand and waved it at the retreating figure. "I'm not going with you."
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The next day, sitting in another plane, Benson sighed in frustraton. "This is ridiculous, Sergeant Major. Are you telling me that you are not going to talk to me at all. We're home, for God's sake. Lighten up. We're going to be civilians real soon . . . oh come on!"
Furious, Benson crossed his arms across his chest, "Screw you Sergeant Major. Screw you and you're greater than thou attitude. I'm human. I'm allowed to make mistakes."
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Following his superior off of the plane and down the gangway, Benson walked with as much dignity as possible. Leaving the gangway, he followed the Sergeant Major until they were on the tarmac and watched while a military escort removed the flag draped coffin from the plane and carried it to a hearse. Maintaining his salute, Benson finally lowered his arm when the casket was no longer in his sight.
Curiosity eating at him, he turned and stared at his silent companion. "Do we know him? Is this why you're following the casket? I mean, I didn't realize we knew him. Who is it Sergeant Major?" Exasperated at the continued silence, Benson shook his head, "You're a jerk, you know that?"
Following the non-com once more, Benson got into a cab and chewed the fingernails on his right hand. Watching the buildings whiz by, he soon realized that he recognized the streets. "Hey, wait, I know this road." Turning, the young private asked his companion, "What are you up to? Are you going to rat me out to my parents? . . . I can't believe you. Why are you involving my parents? I told you I don't have a gambling problem. I'm fine . . . You cannot rat me out to my parents, for God's sake. I'm a man. If I want to gamble then it's my business . . . I'm not hooked on gambling . . . Don't be a jerk, don't tell my mother, it will break her heart."
The cab, pulled up in front of his house and parked on the curb. Worried about the Sergeant Major's motives, Benson leaped out of the cab and marched up to the front door. Calling back, he shook his fist. "Listen asshole, you say one thing to my mother about my gambling problem and I swear to God . . . I'll rip your heart out . . . Well, okay . . . I'll try to rip your heart out . . . Please, don't tell her Sergeant Major. Please don't break her heart."
Watching his superior come up the front steps and then knock on the front door, Benson shook his head in disgust. Watching the door open, Benson smiled at the sight of his mother, it had been so long. "Mom, hey Mom, don't listen to Sergeant Major. He's just being pig headed about a little problem I have."
Clearing his throat, Booth pulled his cap off of his head and held it in his hands. "Mrs. Benson . . . I'm Sergeant Major Seeley Booth."
Mary Benson smiled sadly at the youger man and held her hand out for him to shake it. "Jerry wrote about you all of the time, Sergeant Major. He just adored you."
Blushing furiously, Benson protested very loudly. "Mom, for crying out loud . . . Why don't you just show him my baby pictures while you're at it."
Not sure what to say to her, Booth gave her a sad smile. "I'm very sorry for your loss, Mrs. Benson. Your son was a very brave man."
Tears springing to her eyes, Mary placed her arms around Booth and hugged him. "Thank you so much for trying to look out for him. Thank you so much for being there for my boy."
Horrified, Benson stared at his mother and Booth. "No . . . no, wait a minute. What the . . . What's going on? Wait. . . ."
A white wall appearing in the yard, Benson noticed his grandfather standing in front of it, smiling at him. Curious, Benson walked down the steps and over to where his grandfather was standing. "Hey, Grandpa . . . um, this is impossible. You died two years ago, didn't you?"
Amused, Nicky Benson placed his hand on his grandson's arm and chuckled. "I've missed you, son. I didn't think I'd see you so soon, but well, here we are . . . You ready?"
Realization finally hitting him full force, Benson looked at his grandfather and then at the porch where he saw his father now standing in front of Booth, shaking the Sergeant Major's hand. "Wow, I've been a total jerk for the last few days. I've been really mean to Sergeant Major Booth."
Squeezing his arm, Nicky assured him, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure he forgives you."
Benson stared at the white wall and frowned at the glimmering whiteness of it. "Will it hurt? Will I feel it?"
Shaking his head slowly, Nicky smiled at his beloved grandson. "No Jerry. The pain is done. There will be no more pain, ever."
Glancing once more at the porch, Jerry placed his arm around his grandfather's shoulders. "Okay." Stepping through the wall, Jerry glanced back once more and smiled as his view of his parents faded from view.
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Any good?
I wrote this for my cousin, Bruce. He passed away yesterday.
