The Home Front

After being picked up and brought back to base both Bobby and Sonya were taken to sickbay. Bobby was treated for the minor injuries he had, a few cuts here and there. Sonya however was in a more critical condition, she in any condition dying however her wounds might become serious if not treated soon.

But Bobby's examination did not last long and was out within only a few minutes. It was on his way out that be bumped into Sonya's superior Jax.

"You." He said as he approached the young man. Bobby began to bring his hand up to a salute but Jax caught his hand before he could and began shaking it." I hear you're the one that saved Sonya's life. Thank you." He said.

"Just part of my duty, sir. "Bobby answered half-heartedly. He just wanted this day to be over and right now more than anything he wanted to sleep. But the Major had others plans. Jax put his arm around Bobby and led him in off in the other direction.

"Take a walk with me for a minute Corporal." He said as he guided Bobby along. Bobby could do nothing but go along with him, thought Jax didn't say anything until they were outside." Alright." He said turning and looking at Bobby." I'd once again like to thank you for saving Sonya. I know this might seem strange but that girl means a lot to me."

"I understand, sir. You're welcome, sir." Bobby nodded. He was hoping the sooner he spoke the sooner this conversation would be over and he'd get to go to bed.

"Let's be real here. Right now we're not talking Superior to Subordinate or Officer to Enlisted. We're talking man to man. You don't gotta do that sir stuff now."

"Then what do I call you?" asked Bobby making eye contact for the first time.

"My name is Jackson Briggs. But everyone calls me 'Jax'." He stuck out his hand.

"Alright Jax." Said Bobby taking his hand and shaking it." I'm Bobby Hill."

"And where do you come from Bobby?"

"Arlen, Texas. It's a small town just outside of Houston."

"And why did you join the Army?" Jax pried.

"To be honest." Bobby sighed." I had nothing else to do. I wasn't going to college, I didn't have a job. And…And my grandfather always talked about his time in the Army, so I don't know it just all worked out like that I guess. I never thought I'd end up on a battle ground." The Major looked him over curiously as he spoke.

"And where did you learn to fight?" Jax continued.

"I don't know how to fight. When I get in those situations I just get so mad I go crazy." Jax ran his fingers along his chin." Besides, I'm more of a lover than a fighter." Then Jax reared his head back and burst into laughter, a good hearty laugh that Bobby hadn't heard from someone in a long time. So it brought a smile to his mouth.

"That's a good one!" Jax said as he stood back up. He laughed for several more seconds and then took a few more to regain himself." You're a good kid, Bobby. Too good to be in a place like this." The young man just nodded in reply." So what would you say if I could get you out of here?"

"What?" asked Bobby in astonished shock.

"I can get you out if here if you'd like. You'd come work for me in my unit."

"And what is your unit?" Bobby asked with a raised brow. Jax paused for a moment and glanced around. Once he realized nobody else was there he continued.

"I'm part of a unit of Special Forces." He told." A team hand-picked by myself go out and encounter some of our nations more 'colorful' enemies."

"I-I don't know if I -" Said Bobby.

"I don't expect an answer right now." Said Jax putting his arm around Bobby and walking with him again." But I'll tell you what I will do. Since you saved Sonya I see it fit to reward you and send you home. Take your time and think about my offer." Jax reached into his pocket and pulled out a small business card, handing it off to Bobby." We'll be in touch."

Then Jax turned and walked away leaving the boy by himself.

But Bobby had little time to think about Jax's tempting offer because the next day he was packed up and on his way back to Texas, back to home. And his parents were waiting for him at the airport.

"Welcome home soldier." Hank chuckled with a firm handshake. Peggy walked up and hugged her son. Hank moved over and grabbed Bobby's bags.

"My big, strong son. "said Peggy." Did you do your duty over there?"

"Yea mom, I did." Bobby said with a stern face.

"Well we'd like to hear all about it." Said Hank as he put Bobby's bags in the back of the truck. Then he walked over to the driver's seat." Your grandfather might be coming up this weekend. " Bobby turned and looked at his dad." Would you like to drive my truck?"

And for the first time in forever Bobby smile. All the simple wonders of home were being brought back to him and it started with this.

"Of course I would." He beamed. And Hank tossed the keys in the air and his son caught them. Then Bobby jumped into the driver's seat with his father in the passenger's and his mother in the back. And then they drove off home.

The first thing Bobby did when he got back home was set himself up in his room. He put his bag on the floor and began unpacking. It was then as he moved his stuff all around that a small, paper thin item floated out of one of his pockets and onto the floor.

Bobby slowly bent over to pick it up. Then he realized that it was the business card given to him by Jax just a day earlier.

"What you got there son?" asked Hank was he walked in behind his son.

"Nothing." Bobby said putting the card away on the desk. Hank ignored whatever he had been doing and instead slapped his son on the back.

"I'm happy to have you back son." He said." So I've broken out the grill and making some good old fashion Hamburgers." He smiled at his son who didn't share his enthusiasm. But then it slowly crept up on Bobby that he would be able to live a normal life and eat real food.

"I would like that very much Dad." He said.

"Alright." Said Hank as he slapped his son on the back and headed outside. As his father grilled the food Bobby went down to relax.

Then he enjoyed a few fruit pies while lounging about on the couch. It was the most relaxed he'd felt in a long time.

Hank opened up the sliding doors and entered into the living room with a tray of burgers in his hand.

"Here you go son." He said leaning down. "I've cook you some burgers, medium rare."

"Thanks Dad." Said Bobby grabbing at one. Hank walked up and into the kitchen.

"Bobby in the kitchen honey." Said Peggy.

"Ah Peg let the boy relax." Said Hank to her." He's one leave, let him have some time to sit down." And Bobby sank back into the couch as he ate his burger and watched tv.

After a few minutes Bobby was licking his fingers for the last of his burger. It was then that he heard the sound of tapping on the glass door. Bobby turned his head and saw Joseph standing there on the other side.

Bobby jumped up from his seat, walked over and opened the door.

"Joseph!" he greeted.

"Bobby! When did you get back dude!"

"Early today. How have you been, what have you been up to?!"

"I'm still working as a janitor." Joseph told. Bobby nodded.

"And um.. what about Connie."

"Come on." Said Joseph putting his hand on Bobby's shoulder." Let's go out into the alley." And Bobby and Joseph much like their father's had for the past forty years stood out in the alley, thought they drank soda instead of beer. And there Joseph told him about Connie." Connie started out going to the local community college. She went there for a semester but then she transferred out." He stopped as he took a sip of his drink.

"Transferred?!" Bobby asked confused." Transferred, where?!"

"To New York. Going to some school in Albany." Joseph took another sip of his drink while Bobby stood back frozen with shock.

"Do you… Do you have her cellphone number?" Joseph turned and looked at his friend, looking at the painful longing in his eyes.

"Yea." He replied. He dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone, handing it off to Bobby. Bobby snatched it from his hands and quickly began pawing at it, looking for Connie's name and number. Once he found it he quickly punched the call button and brought it to his ear.

"It's ringing!" He told Joseph excited. Joseph just nodded and took another sip of his drink. Bobby continued to listen with hopeful eyes as it kept ringing. The something clicked on the other end of the phone.

"We're sorry." Said a mechanical voice." But the number you are trying to reach is no longer in service." Bobby slowly slid the phone away from his ear and closed it.

"What did she say?" asked Joseph after watching Bobby stand there silently for a few seconds.

"She didn't pick up." Bobby said handing the phone back to Joseph. Then Bobby turned on his heel and with his hand sin his pockets slumped off.

"Where are you going?" asked Joseph confused.

"Inside. I'm going to be." Bobby grumbled.

"Okay, see ya later dude." Joseph said. Bobby did not reply. Joseph now stood in the alley alone with nothing but the chirping crickets and setting sun to keep him company." Yep." He said with another sip of his soda.

Bobby tried to get in touch with Connie over the only way he had to at this point, over Facebook. He'd message her once asking her How she was doing, expecting almost instantly a reply of an ecstatic Connie happy to hear from him. However no such thing came and Bobby found himself looking and looking at his Facebook again and again, sometimes with only minutes between looking to find the same result every time.

Three days had passed since Bobby returned home and he heard nothing from Connie, nothing from Jax or the Army. That all left Bobby was in a world of his own.

It was on the evening of the third day that his father offered him a job at Strickland. Since he had nothing to do but sit around the house all day Hank thought the boy must be bored out of mind, which he was. Bobby wouldn't be paid in money of course he'd be paid in 'Life Experience', plus it would almost guarantee a job with Strickland once he was out of the service. Bobby with nothing else to do accepted.

So the next morning Hank and Bobby drove off to Strickland Propane. Buck was more than happy to give Bobby a job not just because he was Hank's son but because now he could put up a sign that says 'Support our troops' to bring in more revenue.

Bobby was given the title of Assistant to the Assistant Manager which pretty much entailed everything from tank wipe to office clerk, excluding delivery since he couldn't drive a bobtail. Though most of the time he ended up sitting at a desk nearby his father's making a new pot of coffee every so often.

Bobby found the overall experience to be rather droll and simple but it passed the time better than sitting at home. And this process of working with his father continued for a whole month. But one night all that began to change.

The Hill family was sitting around the tv, Hank and Peggy in their chairs with Ladybird at Hank's feet. And Bobby was close by laying down on the couch. Then the phone began to ring though the family.

Hank stood himself up halfway to get up but Bobby was faster and got to it first.

"I got it Dad." He said as he was already up and holding the phone in his hand. Hank sat back down and pet Ladybird across her back while Bobby turned his attention to the phone." Hello." He said into it.

"Hello." Said a man's voice on the other end." Is this the Hill residence?"

"Yes." Bobby nodded.

"Then I'm looking for a Mr. Bobby Hill."

"I am Bobby Hill." The boy said somewhat confused into the phone.

"Bobby!" the man said sounding more excited." It's Jax." Bobby nearly jumped in response." I told you we'd be in touch, so I'd like to know if you've considered my offer yet?" But Bobby was frozen in his place, the phone shaking in his hand. He thought back to the sand and the heat, to all the blood, bullets and death. He couldn't go through all that again." Hello? Bobby, you still there?" said Jax. Bobby shuddered for a second as he looked at the phone but then slammed it down with great fury.

"Bobby." Said Hank getting his son's attention." Who was that?"

"No one!" Bobby shouted turning back to his Dad. Then he turned and went back to his seat, though he sat tense with his shoulders tight and his arms crossed together. There wasn't a phone call the rest of the night and when Bobby went to bed that night he thought he was free of the military's control. However he was in for big surprise the next day.