Chapter Four – You Will Follow

When Maria Booth and Candace Kinsley heard the news that their youngest children had chosen to attend UCLA they were less than thrilled. They both liked the fact that they would get a top notch education, but the distance that would be between them and home was unsettling.

With the help of Seeley's two year older sister, Katherine (Kate) and Tom's three year older sister Teresa, the young men convinced their mothers that with modern technology and visits home at Christmas and a few weeks in summer, they would hardly notice they were almost five thousand miles away.

Maria and Emma had a long talk and knew they had to let them go even though they didn't like it. They weren't giving up all control though. Agreement to help pay their rent was dependent on them having a say in where Seeley and Tom lived while away at school.

The boys had done research on Los Angeles housing and to say it was more expensive than Buffalo would be like comparing apples to watermelons. They loved their moms dearly but both had visions of living in a safe, well lit, security monitored suburb, miles from campus.

xxxxxx

First place was nice but small. Two bedrooms the size of their current bathroom, living room that hosted a chair and couch and was literally three and a half feet away from the fridge.

Second place, was a navigational nightmare from campus due to the location at the top of a rather steep hill. Sure, the view was breath taking – when the day wasn't smoggy and well, those are common in the metropolis of Los Angeles.

It was definitely three times a charm when the Booth's and Kinsley's followed the apartment manager to Twenty Seven Ninety Four Castor Court. Six floors, meticulously landscaped front entrance and natural colors throughout encouraged them on to "6C" which was displayed in shiny brass fixtures on double doors.

The foyer was quite large with a mirror and oak bench off to the left and a large vase of dried sun flowers to the right. The living room and dining room were of an open concept furnished with a fine black leather couch, two matching chairs, black and white dining table, shelves, and bookcases awaiting their personal belongings. Light colored hardwood floors gleamed in the natural sunlight sweeping through the patio doors off the dining room.

The two bedrooms were furnished with oak pieces and accentuated with brass fixtures, including a ceiling fan which swirled around above them.

The main bath housed a large whirlpool tub and separate shower with white marble flooring. The den that lay adjacent to the balcony allowing the sun to flood through the almost floor to ceiling window, was admired intensely by all onlookers. Floor to ceiling bookcases lined either side of the monumental window defining the calm ambiance of the room. This would be where they would pound keyboards until fingers blistered and blurry vision overtook them.

The stainless steel appliances in the kitchen reflected the angled sunbeam lights creeping through the single French door that opened on to the balcony. David Booth and William Kinsley knowingly eyed each other, both lightly tapping their wallets on the inside pocket of their jackets.

August 1990, Seeley and Tom's Apartment,

Los Angeles

"You're up early," Seeley said as he walked through the opened patio door onto the balcony.

"I couldn't sleep, I was thinking about something you said," Tom replied as he took the coffee mug Seeley offered him.

"I say a lot of things Tom, you will have to be more specific," Seeley cajoled as he sat on the lounger, stretched out and inhaled the cool morning air.

"I'm really going to miss California: the beautiful weather, beautiful girls, good friends. And this place," said Tom.

"Yeah, it is going to be a challenge going back to Buffalo after having all this for four years."

Tom decided to get to the point of conversation he wanted to have with his best friend, "I think you had a good idea when you said we should join the Army."

Seeley's head jerked towards Tom; he lowered it and peered over the rim of his sunglasses, "That's what you were thinking about? It was a joke Tom." He leaned back in his chair and shook his head slightly. Join the Army, yeah right.

Tom sat upright, tossed his legs over the edge of his lounger, took a deep breath and uttered the words he knew would alter the course of his life, "I think, no, I feel it is a good idea."

Great, he has to go and disrupt a perfectly quiet morning with another one of his in depth analytical ideas.

"Tom, we are not joining the Army, we are going to be police officers in New York, remember? Besides, Dave and Bill would never agree to it. My dad is still grumbling about how he can't go on his golf cruise until I finish school. It was a joke!"

Tom ignored Seeley's comments because he had already made a decision and he was doing it with or without his best friend.

"After you mentioned it, I brushed it off, until I read this article about how understaffed the reserves are. With this Iraq/Kuwait conflict brewing, war could break out any time.

"I feel for the government but it's not my problem they are choosing to do this." Seeley was getting a bit ticked off at Tom for even entertaining such a ridiculous thought.

"I'm going to join," Tom stated confidently.

Seeley sighed, took off his sunglasses and rubbed his eyes, "Tom don't be crazy, the Army is no place for you, or me. Let's just stick to our plan and finish our last year here, go home, join the academy and be good police officers and live happily ever after getting and hopefully keeping the bad guys off the streets."

"We can still do that after we help out our country." Tom decided to pull out the heavy artillery," God would approve of us helping our country in a time of need."

That did it. He just had to bring religion into it. Seeley Booth was a born and raised Catholic. Although he told his mom he attended church every other week, he really only went once a month while in Los Angeles. Back home, the small community he lived in held places of worship in high standard, whether it be a church, synagogue or mosque, and they were attended regularly each week by its members.

The community in which he had made his home for the last three years didn't equate the same beliefs as the one back on the east coast did. Tom and he had spent many hours as youngsters, helping those in need in their community. Mrs. Hansel a lovely elderly woman who had been a widow since Seeley could remember, had hip surgery and couldn't walk her beloved poodle, Brandy. Tuesday and Thursday were the only days her daughter didn't come by, so Seeley and Tom, with a nudge from their parents would walk Brandy those days. She offered to pay them and they took the money but would donate half to the church collection each week.

Although they were intelligent, hard working men, both Tom and Seeley had never taken much interest in politics or the state of the national defense department. Other people joined the Army. Tom did have a point that his country could use him and how selfish it would be of him to disregard that need.

"Tom, we have one more year of school left." Seeley felt himself wavering but didn't want to let it show.

"We can finish school, go home for a bit, break the news to our families, then head off to Georgia where we can start training and then wait till our number is called for active duty." Tom handed him a pamphlet of two men with machine guns standing point at what looked like border patrol.

Seeley thought for a moment. Active duty. Sure, he was preparing for a career in law enforcement but the Buffalo Police Department doesn't use rocket launchers, tanks or house nuclear weapons in the basements of their precincts.

But Tom was right – the country was on the verge of war, and it was selfish of him to expect other's to fight for him when he was more than capable of helping out. War. He hadn't really envisioned himself in a real war, more like gang wars where he was the neutralizer between sides.

Fighting for his country would mean neutralizing the enemy. Taking lives in droves during an ambush, or having lives of fellow soldiers taken. Scary times one hundred is what that was. Not to mention the emotional strain it would have on his and Tom's families. Their moms barely liked the idea of them entering local law enforcement.

"Would you really go without me Tom?"

"Yes Seeley, I will."

Trying to bring a light side to their conversation, he decided to comment on what had brought the Army joining joke to Seeley's mind in the first place, "You know there aren't any women in the army, well maybe a few but they will make Zara Warren look like Mother Teresa."

Tom knew why his friend had made the comment at the end of the year party, however, it literally stuck with him day and night, that maybe, just maybe this is what he and Seeley were meant to do.

"I am not making any promises Tom, but I will think about it and after Thanksgiving I will let you know what I have decided." Seeley looked his best friend in the eyes. "I think you are crazy, you know that, don't you"

"Yeah I know, and that's why you'll be coming with me."