Thank you so much for your kind reviews. We really have been thrilled to see such nice reviews for our story.

Penny and I are both the proud daughters of Veterans. My father served in the Korean Conflict and Vietnam and Penny's father served in the 41st Infantry Division in the Pacific during World War II. We are releasing this story today in honor of all the brave men and women who have served during time of war as well as peace time. Thank you for your sacrifice.

We don't own Bones or NCIS. We did borrow it for awhile and we hope you've had fun with our crossover story.

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Helping his grandfather off the path and towards the oak tree near James Rawlings grave, Booth watched the ground in front of them to make sure they didn't trip on roots. "We're lucky that James' grave is this close to the oak tree. It's pretty warm today."

Rolling his eyes, Hank Booth huffed. "You say that every year, Seeley. You'd think this was Iraq the way you go on about how hot it is."

Used to Hank's ways, Booth glanced back at Parker and set down the small cooler he carried. "Parker, if you could set up the lawn chairs under the tree, I'd appreciate it. Bones, there's a fairly flat area for the blanket for you and Christine. We're lucky this oak tree is so big. The shade is pretty deep."

Everyone carried out their assignments, Booth and Hank waited until Parker finished setting up the chair and when it was open and leveled, Booth helped his grandfather over and tried to help him get settled.

Annoyed, Hank brushed off his grandson's arm and grumbled. "Alright, alright, I'm not helpless yet. I can sit in a chair without your help."

Stepping back, Booth watched his grandfather get comfortable in the chair. Making sure that the chair was steady, Booth turned and looked at the neat row of nearby tombstones. The American flags, planted in front of each stone were flapping in the gentle wind. Overcome by the emotions he always felt in the setting, Booth glanced at Brennan,

"Okay, I'm going to go over and check on Teddy. I see Claire is already here. I want to go over and say hello."

Brennan nodded her head, sat on the blanket and made sure that Christine's bonnet was covering her head properly. Her daughter had been fussy earlier and kept pulling it off of her head. Parker stood next to Hank's chair and read the names on the tombstones in front of them. Finally seeing James's gravestone, Parker pointed. "I see Corporal Rawlings grave. It's between to Cyril Feight and Daniel Snyder."

Looking at his friend's stone, Hank smiled. "Yeah, that's the one. That James was a real character. You'd have liked him Parker. He had a great sense of humor and made friends with everyone he met. I'm sure if he'd have lived he would have eventually gone into politics. He really wanted to change the world."

Curious, Parker asked him, "How come no else is here is to visit with Corporal Rawlings?"

Hank gave his great-grandson a solemn look as he replied. "James didn't have any family when he died, Parker. All he has is me and Seeley. That's the way it is with a lot of these fine soldiers buried here, Son. World War II was a long time ago and a lot the families have died out or they're not living in the area. Some are just too old to visit. It's a shame really; but, James has me until I pass and Seeley has promised me that he'll keep up the tradition of visiting when I'm gone."

Concerned, Parker placed his hand on his great-grandfather's arm. "Don't worry, Pops, I'll help Dad with the tradition. I promised him that I'd visit Teddy Parker once a year, so I can visit your Corporal Rawlings too."

Proud of his great-grandson, Hank patted Parker's hand. "Thank you, Parker, you're a good boy. I appreciate your promise. It takes a weight off of my mind."

Looking around, Parker spied his father walking back towards them. Seeing someone approaching along the path they'd just walked, Parker felt his jaw drop. "Oh my goodness, Pops! Look at that. If you weren't sitting here next to me, I would think that was you walking with those people over there. He looks just like you! Do you know him? Who do you think he is?"

Curious, Pops looked around to see where Parker was staring and saw his brother, a younger man and an even younger woman approaching the oak tree. Hank turned and looked at the young woman and child sitting under the tree. He inhaled deeply as he turned back to the group moving in their direction. "Okay, Tempe, it looks like our company is here. Now I hope this goes well, but if it doesn't then I don't want you or Seeley getting upset. It's going to be what it's going to be."

Standing, Brennan held Christine in her arms and watched the trio get closer. Booth, spying his cousin, grand-uncle and Abby, jogged over to the shade tree. Arriving next to Hank, Booth exhaled deeply. "Okay, Pops . . . it's show time."

Gibbs grimaced and shrugged his shoulders at his cousin and the others standing next to the oak tree. He started moving off of the path and gently steered his father towards the others. Abby, aware of what was coming up, held back and watched with trepidation as Gibbs and his father approached the group.

Noticing the small crowd in front of him, Jackson turned and commented to his son. "Looks like we may have company, Jethro."

Gibbs smiled nervously. "Yep. Dad, looks like we do."

As they got closer to the oak tree, Jackson realized that the older gentleman, standing with the help of a cane, had a very familiar face. Stopping, Jackson pursed his lips. "Jethro, what the hell did you do?"

Rubbing his forehead, Gibbs responded, "I wanted to give you the chance to talk to your brother one more time before it's too late. Please give it a chance, Dad, for me."

Sharply exhaling, Jackson glared at his son. "We're going to talk about you interfering in my life later."

Nodding his head, Gibbs bit his lower lip. Under his breath, he muttered. "I'm sure we will."

A little uncertain, Jackson stepped closer to his brother and tried to school his features into an unemotional mask. Hank, seeing the blank look on his brother's face, nodded his head. "Hello, Jackson."

Stopping a few feet from his brother, Jackson nodded his head. "Hank."

He knew he had to make the first step, so Hank Hank stepped closer to his brother. "I'm just going to say it, I'm sorry Jackson. I really am. Seeley showed me some charts a few weeks ago and I know that Jethro has shown them to you. I didn't know. I should have checked into the accident along time ago and I didn't. I'm sorry for that and I'm sorry for blaming you all these years for something you didn't do."

Surprised, Jackson nodded his head. "Thanks Hank. I can't let it all be on you though. I should have looked into the wreck. I just assumed the same thing you did. I thought I killed Dad."

Glancing down and then back up toward his brother, Hank continued, "Yeah, well, I'm sorry about that too. I should never have blamed you for Dad's death to begin with. He didn't die because of the boat accident. He died because we didn't have enough life vests on the boat. I can't blame you for that and I shouldn't have in the first place. I was just so . . . I was . . . Anyways, I'm sorry. What I did was wrong."

Suddenly moving closer to his brother, Jackson put his arms around Hank and hugged him. "Thank you Hank. You don't know how times I've wanted to talk to you over the years. I've missed having you in my life; but, I knew you hated me and I was afraid you were still mad and would reject me."

Patting his brother's back, Hank nodded his head. "Yeah, fact is, I probably would have. Seeley tells me I'm stubborn as a mule and I guess there are times when I am." He chuckled. "I can't blame you though. I was a real ass and I'm sorry for that."

Releasing his brother, Jackson wiped his hand across his eyes. "So . . . is this your family? How about you introduce me to these fine people."

Carefully Hank turned and pointed at Booth. "That big one there is my grandson, Seeley. I'm sure you've been hearing about him from Jethro there, since they've been working together."

Jackson nodded at Hank as he continued the introductions. "This handsome youngster is Seeley's son, Parker. You may recognize the beautiful woman with the baby. She is a very well known author. This is Temperance Brennan, Seeley's girlfriend and that beautiful child she is holding is their daughter Christine."

Smiling, Jackson waved his hand a little. "It's nice meeting you folks." Turning, Jackson stared at Gibbs and Abby. "So, I guess you know my son Jethro and his foster daughter, Abby."

Hurumphing, Gibbs responded, "Abby is not my foster daughter. She's a friend, Dad, a colleague."

With a smirk on his lips, Jackson turned back to his brother. "Yeah, okay, if you say so . . . So, Hank, who are you visiting here?"

Turning and pointing to James Rawlings grave, Hank replied, "My buddy, James Rawlings. He died during the Battle of the Bulge. We were military policemen together in France and Germany."

Proud of his service to his country, Jackson stared at James' gravestone. "Yeah, I lied about my age to get into the Army Air Corps. I flew a P-51. I did escort duty for bombers over Germany."

Impressed, Hank whistled. "Wow, I hate flying. You couldn't get me in a plane with a gun to my head."

Shrugging his shoulders, Jackson remarked. "I love planes. I don't fly anymore, but when I was younger, I loved to get up in the air."

Booth moved over to where the older men were talking. "I don't want to interrupt you two but I wanted to let you know that there are a couple of lawn chairs under the tree if you want to get out of the sun."

Rolling his eyes, Hank laughed. "My grandson has an obsession about the sun and shade trees. God forbid I stand in the sun too long. Actually," he glanced at the people around them and over at Jackson. "Would you like to take a short walk, Jackson? We could chat a bit without an audience." Sensing that his grandson was going to give an argument he gave Booth a stern look, "Don't you start on me young man. There are some things old soldiers need to say to each other and we don't need an audience."

Brennan reached over and placed a hand on Booth's arm. "Let them have their time, Booth. It will be what it will be and we are nearby if either of them needs our assistance." She smiled at the anxious man standing beside her.

"Okay, Pops, but if either of you need anything . . . Anything, you let me know and Jethro or I will be right there." Booth couldn't keep the concern out of his voice.

Nodding at the group gathered under the tree the two men turned toward the path taking them over toward the next section of the cemetery.

Gibbs and Booth moved a ways down the path behind the two men then stood and watched as their heads bent towards each other, the two older men made their way amongst the tombstones of the fallen heroes with whom each had served.

"Well, that went a bit better than I expected." Gibbs looked at the younger man standing next to him as he wiped his cheek.

Booth cleared his throat and looked off in the other direction. "Yeah, but the day isn't over yet, is it?" He looked back at the man next to him and smiled. "I think we did well. Of course you know we are still going to catch hell for this when they have us alone, don't you? Well, maybe just you. I might be safe since I did warn Pops I'd try this."

Gibbs chuckled. "Oh yeah."

Suddenly Gibbs gave a start. "Booth do you see that guy over there?" He motioned toward a man about Booth's age standing behind the two older men walking and talking on the pathway. "I think I saw him outside of Dad's store when I was there last week. He said hello to me and I thought at the time that he looked familiar, but . . ."

Booth looked in the direction Gibbs was indicating. "That fellow there?" Booth took in the dress of the man. He was wearing a pair of beige trousers and a white dress shirt. The sleeves were rolled up but there was a sense of formality about it all. He wore a straw fedora with a side dented crown with the front of the brim snapped down and the back snapped up. "He's a little oddly dressed, isn't he?" Booth asked, "He almost looks like . . . " He glanced over at this cousin. "Jethro he looks like the man in the picture that Pops has in his bedroom of Jackson and him when they were boys." He swallowed hard. "With their Dad."

Jethro looked from the man standing on the side of the path watching the older men. "I think I know that picture you're talking about. Dad has the same picture hanging in the back hallway of his store. Near the pictures of Kelly and Shannon." He turned to look at his cousin. "You don't think . . ."

Booth took a step towards the stranger as the man turned and appeared to take in the small family gathering under the oak tree. Smiling at the two men standing off by themselves, he reached up and tipped his hat at the two men then turned and walked in the opposite direction from the two veterans making their way among the tombstones. As the cousins watched from near the oak tree, the man seemed to fade away.

Gibbs swallowed hard then nearly inaudibly uttered. "Tell me you saw that Booth."

Booth stared at where he had last seen the stranger and replied, "Only if you don't tell anyone about it, ever."

Taking a deep breath, Gibbs turned and moved back toward the group under the tree. "Deal!"

Booth echoing his cousin's sentiments, replied, "Deal it is." Moving back under the tree, he clapped his hands. "We have peanut butter sandwiches and cokes too. It's a family tradition."

Abby was delighted. "Sounds like a very nice tradition."

Puzzled by Booth and Gibb's nervous demeanor, Brennan moved to stand next to Booth. "Is something wrong?"

Rubbing the side of his head, Booth suddenly placed his arms around Brennan. "Not at all. Did I tell you that I love you today?"

Brennan leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "You know you did. I'm glad Hank and Jackson buried the past."

Staring back to where the stranger had faded away, Booth smiled. "Yeah, the past should stay in the past."

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One more chapter to go. We hope you will take the time to let us know what you think of our story. Thank you. The last chapter will be released on Friday.

A/N: Congratulations daisesnfaffidols, you were the only one to mention the man Jethro met outside his father's store. You were right about his importance.