(A/N: To all you people out there who've been wondering if this will turn out as a H/BJ slash... NO!!! I don't write that kinda stuff. ;) And this was just a little thing that had been haunting me at about 2 in the morning... when that happens, there usually isn't an identifiable plot to start with. Don't worry, it'll show up soon. Aaand... the Marine isn't really relevant.Thankee for all the reviews! I'm working on that next chapter of Henry.
And Mrs. Wilberding... you can't spell. Perhaps you should just give up? Eee! *Ducks* Nuuu! I'd be out a review! :D)
BJ's heart began to race faster and faster as the plane came in over the US. Some of the military men and women who were coming home for the first time in years began to cheer, and nobody made any attempt to quiet them. Gripping his bag tighter and tighter, BJ felt about ready to burst as, with a bump, the plane touched down. They all waited until the announcement was given to proceed from the plane in a calm manner. ...And then they did.
The world spun around him. The airport was filled with people meeting one another, some suited men coming together in a businesslike manner, others as families that had been apart for the duration of the Korean War. It all went silent around him, and the joyous feeling left him in an instant.
Peg was not there.
His anxious eyes searched everywhere. Maybe she had died her hair? Changed her appearance somehow? No, she would have told him, so he could find her. But he should be able to recognize his own wife, even in a crowded airport full of people... right?
But she wasn't there.
Still watching, and tapping every woman on the shoulder who even resembled Peg in the slightest, BJ got his luggage, which consisted of very little, and hauled it outside with some difficulty. As he walked through the door, probably to aimlessly walk the parking lot in search of their car, he almost dropped his bags. It wasn't Peg, but the sight was still beautiful. It was California. Home. The rushing of the traffic on the streets, the sound of those annoying scavenging seagulls, the smell of the ocean and resturants cooking.
After going in and out of the airport several more times, BJ did what felt right and hailed a Taxi. The drive was not long from Sacramento to Mill Valley, but it felt as long as the war. He had to driver drop him off at one of his favorite places to eat and paid with what he had, but walked right past and started down the street to his house. His mind was spinning with nervous thoughts. Had something happened to Peg? Or Erin? Where was his beautiful wife and his adorable little girl, who didn't even know him? The dream kept coming back to haunt him, and as his house came into view, he broke into a run, not even realizing that there were two cars in the driveway. It didn't matter.
He stopped a moment on the steps, tears beginning to pour from his eyes as he looked around. Everything looked exactly as he remembered it last. BJ opened the front door quietly, hesitantly, not even caring to notice that it was unlocked. Choking back the hurricane of emotion, he took in the sights and scents of just the hallway. Toys scattered, a few pairs of ladies shoes, Peg's perfume, the smell of breakfast... But BJ stiffened, horrified, at the sound of voices.
"Don't you think I should leave?"
"No.. mm, you know I don't have to pick BJ up from the airport for another hour..."
"Peg, when you came to me, I thought you just needed somebody to help you, you know, around the house, until BJ came back."
"I did, but it's just been so long..."
"I don't want to hurt BJ, he's my buddy!"
"I don't want to hurt him either! He's my husband!"
"Well... maybe a few more minutes..."
And Mrs. Wilberding... you can't spell. Perhaps you should just give up? Eee! *Ducks* Nuuu! I'd be out a review! :D)
BJ's heart began to race faster and faster as the plane came in over the US. Some of the military men and women who were coming home for the first time in years began to cheer, and nobody made any attempt to quiet them. Gripping his bag tighter and tighter, BJ felt about ready to burst as, with a bump, the plane touched down. They all waited until the announcement was given to proceed from the plane in a calm manner. ...And then they did.
The world spun around him. The airport was filled with people meeting one another, some suited men coming together in a businesslike manner, others as families that had been apart for the duration of the Korean War. It all went silent around him, and the joyous feeling left him in an instant.
Peg was not there.
His anxious eyes searched everywhere. Maybe she had died her hair? Changed her appearance somehow? No, she would have told him, so he could find her. But he should be able to recognize his own wife, even in a crowded airport full of people... right?
But she wasn't there.
Still watching, and tapping every woman on the shoulder who even resembled Peg in the slightest, BJ got his luggage, which consisted of very little, and hauled it outside with some difficulty. As he walked through the door, probably to aimlessly walk the parking lot in search of their car, he almost dropped his bags. It wasn't Peg, but the sight was still beautiful. It was California. Home. The rushing of the traffic on the streets, the sound of those annoying scavenging seagulls, the smell of the ocean and resturants cooking.
After going in and out of the airport several more times, BJ did what felt right and hailed a Taxi. The drive was not long from Sacramento to Mill Valley, but it felt as long as the war. He had to driver drop him off at one of his favorite places to eat and paid with what he had, but walked right past and started down the street to his house. His mind was spinning with nervous thoughts. Had something happened to Peg? Or Erin? Where was his beautiful wife and his adorable little girl, who didn't even know him? The dream kept coming back to haunt him, and as his house came into view, he broke into a run, not even realizing that there were two cars in the driveway. It didn't matter.
He stopped a moment on the steps, tears beginning to pour from his eyes as he looked around. Everything looked exactly as he remembered it last. BJ opened the front door quietly, hesitantly, not even caring to notice that it was unlocked. Choking back the hurricane of emotion, he took in the sights and scents of just the hallway. Toys scattered, a few pairs of ladies shoes, Peg's perfume, the smell of breakfast... But BJ stiffened, horrified, at the sound of voices.
"Don't you think I should leave?"
"No.. mm, you know I don't have to pick BJ up from the airport for another hour..."
"Peg, when you came to me, I thought you just needed somebody to help you, you know, around the house, until BJ came back."
"I did, but it's just been so long..."
"I don't want to hurt BJ, he's my buddy!"
"I don't want to hurt him either! He's my husband!"
"Well... maybe a few more minutes..."