"Parker, are you out there?" Booth half whispered into the unknown. Booth's team had been ambushed and most people got away, but the corporal was left behind. Booth had quickly turned around when he realized the kid wasn't with everyone. The kid might not have been the best soldier Booth had ever worked with, but he also had a lot of heart (and mouth). "Teddy Parker!" Booth heard a low moan. He dashed towards that direction. "Parker, that you?"

"Hey, Booth," he barely said, as Booth began to uncover his comrade from the leaves surrounding him.

"Happy to see you alive."

"I think you just barely caught me in time."

"Well, then, let's get you back to camp." Booth helped Teddy up, only to have the kid begin to stumble. Booth caught him, and began supporting him.

"Thanks."

"Come on, Teddy. We're almost back to camp," Booth egged on. Teddy was getting weaker with each step, and Booth had to drag him along a lot more.

"Booth, tell my girl that I love her."

"Come on, Parker; you can tell her yourself." Suddenly the sound of bullets surrounded them. Booth looked around, but couldn't find the source. But the sound just kept coming and coming…

Booth sat up, a cold sweat covering his body. Another freaking flashback, just what he needed. But what was with the invisible bullets in his dreams? He had been having dreams like this since he found out he was coming home, but the bullets were definitely a new addition to the memory. Then Booth realized the mystery bullets were coming from the front door. Being in the room closest to the door, he could hear the knocks echoing through house off the front door better than Jett probably could.

He rolled out of bed and ran a hand through his hair. He looked at the clock as he passed it. 7:55. He didn't know who would be at the door at eight in the morning. He opened the door to see a girl; he guessed around seventeen or eighteen. She was really thin, verging on sickly. And she had a square jaw line, and fierce, chocolate brown eyes. Her dirty blonde hair was short, barely to her shoulder, but of what hung was completely straight. She was wearing a purple Northwestern t-shirt that looked to be about a size bigger than necessary, and black shorts that looked like they had been worn for a couple of summers. She also had a jean jacket on, which Booth found odd since it was already about seventy- five degrees out. And she was kinda red, like she was pretty sun burn (and he might have been imagining it, but she looked a little redder in the face).

"Can I help you?" Booth asked.

"I'm Mattie Johnston, Jett's babysitter. Who are you?"

"Uh, Seeley Booth. Jett's cousin. I'm staying here until Friday." The look of confusion on the girl's face didn't change. "Elliot and Tia forget to mention that to you?" The girl nodded. "Well, I guess you should come in."

Once the girl and Booth were inside, the girl headed towards the kitchen. Booth was amazed that she didn't even really acknowledge him, but brushed past him like no one was there. In high school, most girls were a little smitten with him; he wasn't use to being completely blown off. When she was in the kitchen, she pulled out a coffee packet that looked like one you'd find in a hotel room, and began preparing it.

"Do you want something to drink?" Mattie offered. Booth looked up out of shock.

"Shouldn't I be offering you something to drink?"

"Why would you offer after I did?" the girl asked completely serious.

"I meant, shouldn't I be offering you something instead of the other way around?"

"I don't see why. I'm probably more familiar with the kitchen than you." Booth opened his mouth to argue, but was interrupted by a small, tired voice.

"Hi, Mattie."

"Good morning, Jett."

"Can I have some apple juice?"

"May you have some apple juice," she corrected. "And yes."

She quickly pulled out a plastic, blue cup and the juice and poured it for him. She handed it to the boy who gulped in down in a matter of seconds.

"While you get dressed, I'll get your pop tarts and more juice." The boy nodded and ran towards his room, and the babysitter turned and filled his cup up again. She reached up for a plate for Jett, and turned back to the Booth. "Do you want pop tarts, as well?"

"Uh, no. I'm good. Do you need help? I'm just sitting here watching you."

"I can handle it," she replied, pulling down a plate that matched Jett's cup. She placed a pop tart in the toaster, and placed the other in a plastic bag.

"So, Mattie, tell me about yourself. Jett said you were new to the area; where'd you live before?"

"I've in several different towns surrounding Chicago." A moment of silence passed before Booth tried again.

"What year are you going into?"

"I just graduated from high school, and will start at Northwestern in September."

"That's a good school. What'd you studying?"

"I'm not positive. I'm going to take several courses in different areas before deciding. Though most-likely something in the college of science."

"Just what I need: more squints," Booth muttered. He hated science since he was a kid, and the fact that his uncle was a squint was more than enough for him.

"What?"

"Nothing," Booth said louder. Mattie gave him a stare that showed that she didn't believe him, but the pop tart popped out of the toaster forcing her to break the glare. She placed it on the plate.

"Jett! Are you dressed?" Mattie called out. The little boy came out of his room.

"Yep!" Jett sat down and began eating his breakfast.

"Hey, Jett, what do you say to Mattie for fixing you breakfast?" Booth asked.

"Fank cu, Mattie," he said with his mouthful of pop tart.

"You're welcome."

Mattie and Booth just sat there watching Jett eat. No one knew what to say, until:

"So, what do you want to do today?" Mattie asked.

"Can we go to the park?" Jett asked excitedly.

"Sure. We can go as soon as you finish your breakfast and brush your teeth." The boy began to stuff the rest of the pop tart down his mouth.

"Hey, slow down, bub. The park isn't going anywhere." The boy kept on gobbling the frosted covered food down his throat. With one huge swallow, Jett finished his breakfast.

"Seeley, will you play football with me?"

"If Mattie doesn't mind me going with you all," he answered, proceeding to use his most charming smile on the babysitter. She however just rolled her eyes.

"I'm not going to stop you from going, Seeley."

"Yay!" Jett practically screamed as he stood up and ran into the bathroom. Once he was in the bathroom, Booth turned to the seventeen year old girl.

"Please, don't call me Seeley." The girl looked up at him.

"What do you want me to call you?"

"I don't care, just not Seeley."

"What do your friends call you?"

"Booth or Serge. Please, don't call me Serge either though."

"Why did they call you Serge?"

"It was my rank."

"Where you in the Army or Navy?"

"Army. I'm no squid."

"Clearly. You're human being." Her face was completely straight.

"Squid's a nickname for marines." Her mouth made an O-shape. For being so smart, she was sure lacking some common knowledge.

"Very well, then, Booth." They both had a feeling that the next few days would go pretty well.