"You've been the only thing that's right in all I've done
And I can barely look at you, but every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere from here…
Even if you can not hear my voice, I'll be right beside you dear.
To think I might not see those eyes makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbyes, I nearly do.
Have heart, my dear, you're bound to be afraid
Even if it's just for a few days,
I'm making up for all this mess."

'Run', Snow Patrol

oo00oo

Booth stretched his legs out on the sofa with a broad smile, watching his son re-enacting what the monkeys had been doing at the zoo during his school trip. Bouncing off the seats and swinging round a lamp, Booth didn't have the heart to tell him to calm down, the boy's enthusiasm infectious as the FBI agent drunk in every detail he could, determined to burn every second in to his memory.

Jumping up to grab his son under the arms, he swung Parker up and round his head, grinning at his giggles and not hearing the phone vibrating down the side of the couch. He had switched it to silent and taken the home phone off the hook, wanting no one to disturb his precious time with his son.

He's just so beautiful, so perfect. How did I ever create something this wonderful?

Parker stretched his arms out, giggling above Booth's head.

"Look daddy, I'm a plane! I'm a plane!"

Booth laughed, sweeping the little boy through the air, round and round the living room, extracting giggles of glee. Slowing down before they both got to dizzy, Parker extended his arms out and wrapped them round his father's neck, resting his head on the broad shoulder.

Booth wrapped his arm's tightly around his son, resting his chin on the top of his head and laying gentle kisses on his blonde curls.

My Parker, my beautiful Parker…

Those blue eyes stared up at him, a tiny frown creasing his smooth skin.

"Daddy?"

He smiled, a look of pure peace in his eyes.

"Yes, Parker?"

"When do you get on your plane?"

Booth blinked rapidly, suddenly remembering why he had his son on a weekday and why he wasn't at work.

"Tomorrow, son. I go tomorrow. Like I told you, I won't be gone too long."

Parker seemed to be considering something, his eyes distant before snapping back up to his father, his hero.

"Daddy?"

"Yes Parker?"

"Why'd you have to go to Iarack?"

Booth couldn't help but smile.

"It's called Iraq, son. And I have to go to teach some people how to do some new things at their jobs and keep themselves safe."

Well, it's not like I can tell him that I'm going to teach them how to kill other people better, how to do the things I've already done myself.

"Are you going to be a solderer again?"

Booth blinked slowly, placing his son down on the couch carefully.

He and Rebecca had never hidden his past as a Ranger from Parker, but nor did he yet fully understand the full scope of what his father had done, just what it was that a soldier really did. Some part of Booth hoped he never would have to understand.

"I won't really be a soldier, no. I'm just a teacher really. I'll still be an FBI agent when I get home."

"And you'll be home soon?"

He nodded, ruffling his young boy's hair with a sad smile as Parker cocked his head to the side, one eyebrow raised.

"And if you're not a solderer, the baddies won't shoot you, right daddy?"

The buoyant hope in his voice caused Booth's stomach to clench, the taste of bile strong in the back of his throat.

How do I possibly explain to a four year old the complexities of war, the fact that no one is safe in this time of terrorists, hatred and fear? How can I tell my son that no matter how far back from the front line I am, there's always a risk? That even just going to work on a morning as a FBI agent could mean some 'baddie' gets a lucky shot in.

Swallowing hard, Booth wrapped his arm around his son's shoulders, squeezing him tight.

I hope he never has to know how close I've come to death, and not just my own. I've taken lives, I've felt the hot splatter of blood on my cheeks, I've caused pain and suffering to the few in the hopes that it would prevent it happening to the many. I hope he never knows. And now I'm going back, no matter how much I want to stay here with my perfect little boy.

"Parker, I…"

Oh God, protect him. Keep him safe while I am gone. Don't let him know the pain that comes with what I have to do, don't let him fear a thing. Shelter him, protect him, guide him. Keep him safe till I get home.

He sighed heavily and saw a flicker of doubt in his son's wide eyes. He forced a smile on to his lips, his voice thick with emotion.

"I swear to you, Parker, I'm coming home to you. I promise. And even when I'm not here, just know that I'll still be with you in my own way, I'll still be thinking about you and missing you because I love you so much. I promise, I'm coming home."

That was enough for the little lad who made a show of giving his father a solemn nod, imitating Booth's own position. Slowly, an enormous grin spread across his excitable features as Booth turned his face away, blinking back tears.

"And are you gonna bring me back a big present?"

Booth laughed, heartily and happily.

"The biggest! And it'll be even cooler than the robot you got for Christmas!"

Parker dived at him, knocking his father back in to the cushions as Booth wrapped one arm round his son's shoulders and used the other to start tickling. Giggling and squirming, the pair's rough housing spilt over the side of the couch and on to the living room floor.

Slightly winded, Booth lay chuckling on the carpet as Parker scrambled to his feet, his never ending energy just kicking in.

"Can't catch me, daddy!"

Chasing the blonde head bobbing through the apartment and weaving in and out of the furniture, Booth's troubled mind was finally calmed by the love of his son.

Even so, one thought kept tugging at the back of his mind.

I wish Temperance was here.

A/N: And you all thought he wasn't answering his phone because he was with Cam or some skanky blonde… Ha ha! Angela's evil plan should kick in next chapter which should be up tomorrow evening, work permitting. Let me know what you think of Booth and Parker. Just hope I did the father & son thing justice.