I'm so glad you're enjoying this story. I'm having fun writing it. I hope you keep enjoying the journey.

Booth awoke to Chester sitting beside him with both paws on his chest.

"Whazzgoinon?" he mumbled, looking about blearily. Then he remembered. He had rescued a dog that was now acting as his alarm clock. He thought Chester had been sent to the floor after three attempts of sleeping with him. When had he gotten back on the bed?

"All right, all right," Booth said, pushing Chester off. "I'm up." It was another day. Booth sighed, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He wasn't even really sure what to do with himself. Chester started doing a dance then, and Booth realized he needed to go out. When he opened the door, Chester bolted and lifted his leg onto the first thing he saw: a truck tire.

"Aww, Chester," Booth groaned. "Don't do that!" Chester trotted back happily and hopped back inside the door frame. Booth began making himself some breakfast, and before too long, he felt Chester pressing into his legs, whining.

"Yea, yea," he said, laughing. He tossed down a few bacon strips, which Chester practically inhaled. If he didn't know any better, the dog appeared to be grinning. Booth knew he was going to have to find some proper dog food and soon. He'd have to talk to his superior.

"Hey, Sarge," Lou said, coming in. "Nice dog." Chester wagged his tail at him.

"Yea, he's a character," Booth agreed. "What's up?"

"Nothin' really. Just wanted to catch up," Lou replied. He was a big man at six foot six. African American. Huge muscles, and a permanent grin on his face. Booth had liked him instantly. Apparently Chester did too as he was trying to wash his face as soon as Lou bent down to pet him.

"The mission was a bust," Booth said. "Our target was not there."

"A trap?" Lou asked, getting up and sitting down on the chair across from Booth.

"No. I don't know what it was, but something didn't feel right," Booth sighed.

"Nothing over here feels right," Lou commented. Chester was now lying at his feet while Lou rubbed his belly with his foot.

"You've done your time," Booth said after a while. "Why don't you go home?"

"There's nothing for me at home," Lou replied quietly. "My fiance left me for another man. My sister is 'anti-war' and won't talk to me. My parents are dead. I have nothing back there."

"So you stay here for what?" Booth asked.

"To keep fighting the fight. To feel. To live. I'll probably die over here," Lou answered. Chester made a moaning sound in his throat as Lou kept assaulting him with rubs to his belly.

"You make it sound good, Lou," Booth said. "I sometimes wonder if I'll go back."

"You have a son, Booth. That right there is more than enough reason to go back," Lou said sharply.

"I know. That's why I used the term 'wondered,'" Booth laughed. Lou grinned then.

"Up for a game of Cribbage?" he asked.

"You know I'll just cream you," Booth answered haughtily.

"Oh, we'll see about that!"

Chester

I liked Lou. He had a gentle soul. I could tell he was sad about something too. I was learning very quickly that most of the men over here were either sad or angry. Not a lot of happiness floated around in the air. Having said that, lots of happiness was now flying around this room as Lou and Booth played some kind of game. I was happy for my new master that he was at least having some fun. Ethan had let the sadness overwhelm him to a point he was never going back to his old self. I worried about him. I wished I knew how to find him, but then I reminded myself that I kept coming back for some kind of purpose for each and every master I'd had. I needed to finish this purpose before trying to find Ethan, and maybe I wasn't supposed to find Ethan again, that it was a one time shot, but I knew he needed me. I needed to right my failure. Booth started laughing again, and I barked with joy.

"See? He's happy too," Booth commented. I wagged my tail fiercely, letting it thump on the floor loudly. Of course I was happy, aside from missing Ethan. All I really needed to be happy was food and love. And somewhere to relieve myself. That was about it.

"Mail call," someone shouted outside. Booth jumped up immediately while Lou stayed sitting. I watched as he answered the door and took something from the man outside. He stared at it for a bit.

"Is it from her?" Lou asked. Her? Who was her? What was he talking about? I cocked my head.

"No," Booth shook his head. "It's from Parker." He tore it open and started reading eagerly. Parker sounded fun because Booth laughed out loud a few times while reading. He shared some stuff from it with Lou. I liked Parker already. He seemed like a good boy. Despite the smile on Booth's face, I smelled sadness. He had been hoping for something, but what? This is where having either a voice to talk and ask questions or hands to look through stuff myself would come in handy. Paws just aren't great to work with sometimes.

"I'm sure she's written you," Lou said.

"It doesn't matter," Booth shook his head. He stuck Parker's letter on top of his desk. That was where he was writing last night. Had he been writing to Parker? Or to her? I was dying to know who the "her" was. Booth sat back down and started playing with Lou again. I knew that conversation was over. I would have to just wait and find out for myself.

Booth

He took Chester for a long walk. He needed to clear his mind. Brennan hadn't written him. He couldn't stop thinking of why. Chester kept zigging and zagging along the road, smelling absolutely everything. Booth gave up waiting after the tenth time of Chester wandering and kept walking until Chester ripped past him at full speed. The dog definitely made him smile and laugh more than usual. It was nice. He couldn't wait for Parker to meet him. He knew they would be best buds. Booth pondered on when he should return home. Aside from Parker, there was no real desire to go back. What was he going to go back to? Brennan was probably not coming back. He'd be working alone or with a different anthropologist that would annoy him. Nothing would be the same. Maybe Lou had a point. Booth would just make sure he went home to visit more often. Nothing was set in stone, Booth knew. They were just thoughts he was having. Until something made him sure of what he wanted to do, he was content to just stay here for the time being.

Chester

Oohh the smells! I couldn't get enough of them. There were some critter scents that I wanted to follow, but after a few times of being left behind, I knew Booth would not wait for me. I made the decision to stay by his side. Well, as best as I could anyway. We walked for a while before turning back. I could smell that it was dinner time. I was excited. I hoped the other men would share. I also hoped that soon I would get real food, not that I didn't mind people food. Bacon was the best. I don't know how Booth knew that. Ethan's grandfather used to sneak me some under the table and earn a scolding from Ethan's grandmother. When we neared what I heard Booth call the "mess hall," I caught a scent I hadn't smelled in a long time. MEAT LOGS! Oh, how exciting! This was going to be so good! Just like old times!

...

Dear Bones,

I had such hope today that you had sent me a letter. I was disappointed again. I wish I knew why you weren't writing me. I know I pushed too hard for you to love me, but I didn't realize you would stop talking to me once we were apart. I'm trying to think that you're just off somewhere in the bush where you have no idea what is up or down. It's better than thinking you're intentionally avoiding me.

Chester hit it off with Lou today. He seems to get along with everyone. He got a little too friendly at the mess hall begging for food, and he ate so many hot dogs that he threw up. Now he's been farting up a storm, and it's bad. Like, really bad. I am considering putting him outside for the night. He must realize that cos I'm getting the sad eyes right now. Mine, however, are watering so bad he looks like a blur. I can barely see to write. I am exaggerating a tad. Well, not really haha.

I hope you're all right. I miss you so much. I'm sorry again for everything. I just want things to go back to the way they were before when we talked and flirted with the idea of possibly being together. I knew you weren't ready. I don't know why I thought I could push through that. Anyway, I'm not going to hash that out again. I'm sure you're sick of hearing it.

Chester is doing this thing where he spins around and grabs his tail before looking at me. I think he's trying to show me how cute he is to make me feel bad for sending him outdoors. Yes, outdoors. I can't take it anymore. Sorry, Chester.

Please write soon.

Yours,
Booth

For those of you who haven't seen A Dog's Purpose, the meat log incident was perhaps one of the best parts. Also, the spinning and biting of the tail is Bailey's "trick."