"Booth, I assume that you don't know why you are here?" Cullen waited on Booth's answer before proceeding. "It appears that the Rangers need you for another mission. You know of the troubles in the Middle East, I know. And you know of the terrain and gear needed for that area. Pack it. Write your letters. I'll keep them this time. Is that alright?"
Booth just nodded. The last time he had been in the Middle East was horrible. He had done numerous things he wished daily that he could forget. Now, he was being sent back just as the memories and nightmares were becoming less frequent. However much he wanted to, he was unable to turn down this mission. Only missions that were of utmost importance and security clearing were sent to him. In other words, he next to never got an assignment from the Rangers since he had joined the FBI. He was still able to be called back by the Rangers at anytime for another few years, unfortunately.
He went home and packed the gear that would be required. He checked his mental list numerous times and tried to call Bones. His phone was cut off. "Damn it." There was a knock at his door as soon as he had finished his last letter. Usually, he wrote only three: one to his family, one to Rebecca, and the final to Parker. This time, oh this time, he had written nine at least. One to each of the following: Bones, Angela, Hodgins, Zack, Cam, Cullen, his family, Rebecca, and Parker. "Coming."
The Ranger that had been at his door took him back to Cullen's office. Present there were his CO Commanding Officer, Cullen, his 'partner,' and him. "Booth. Have you got the letters?" Cullen took the letters, hid them in a secret part of the safe in the wall behind his desk, shook Booth's hand which led to the two men hugging, and left. This was Ranger business, not FBI.
"Sgt. Booth. Nice to see you again, although I wish it weren't under these circumstances. Here is your partner for this mission. Sgt. Booth, meet Sgt. Clark. Sgt. Clark, meet Sgt. Booth." They each exchanged the niceties expected of them. Clark seemed to know that Booth didn't think of him as his partner. He undoubtedly had a FBI partner he would rather have beside him. Familiarity, something Clark didn't get to have with people too often…
"What is the mission?" Booth was to the point this morning. He hadn't been able to say bye to his child, family, or friends. He was pissed. "It must be urgent seeing as I was just told and wasn't allowed to tell anyone I would be gone. I'm damn glad I had finished the damned case I had been working on." Booth had been excused of his actions for the simple fact that it was understandable that he would be upset. He had a new life and had been trying to forget all of the horrors he had seen while in the Rangers. And he had been called back from that new life.
Booth's CO had promised that his family and friends would be notified of where he was. They would also be told of his anger at not being able to tell them. They would not be given notice of the severity of this mission nor the likely hood of what would become of Seeley Booth.
Cullen had been immensely saddened at seeing his best Agent being called away. He had been told of the probability of Booth's return. It wasn't very high. In fact, it was basically a suicide mission. Cullen knew that there would be several battles between himself and Booth's 'Squint Squad," especially from Dr. Brennan and Miss Montenegro. This was going to be a long few months.
A few months after Booth had left, Cullen got the call. Now, it wasn't exactly one that he had been hoping for. He had actually been dreading it. Booth was gone. His best Agent was dead. Cullen knew it was time to give out the letters. Little did he know what he would find when he began looking at whom they were addressed to.