The next day, Booth woke up to his alarm at seven- forty-five. He wasn't going to have Mattie's incessant knocking wake him up again. Booth was already dressed and brushing his teeth when he remembered his dream the previous night. It was a weird dream:

Booth stood in a dress uniform, holding a rifle. The dream he was looking for someone with about five other people dressed exactly like him. He thought it was weird that he was at a funeral dress as such, but figured odd stuff happened in dreams. He didn't really pay too much attention to the words; he was more focused on a group of people. They had their back to him, but he felt a weird connection to them. He sat there watching them and the service when he realized that the memorial service was for a fallen soldier. That's why he was here, for ritual reasons.

The woman from the park was up in front of the casket talking about someone, Booth hadn't caught the name of the fallen man, but whoever it was had gained her respect. And according to her that was hard to do. She made a comment about how the man had died protecting someone he loved, when one of the people in front of him muttered something about taking the bullet them self.

Out of nowhere, another man appeared. The sniper watched as the placed a flower on top of the casket; it infuriated him for some reason. Booth had a sudden reaction and began running towards the man and the casket. He cut through two guys who both looked pretty young, and that started a small commotion. The suspicious guy looked up, but before he could do anything, Booth grabbed his shirt. Of course, the guy took the first swing at him. Next thing Booth knew they were fighting on the ground. The guy got a few good punches to Booth's jaw, but the soldier hit him right back. Once the guy was overtop of Booth he kicked him, sending him flying. A blonde woman from the mystery group came and hit the man with a branch or something that Booth couldn't really see, sending the mystery man down for good. Booth stood up and looked at her. His next sentence flew out of his mouth before he could register who was in front of him, "Nice shot, Mattie."

That's when his alarm had gone off. He had no idea why he had incorporated the blonde teenager into his dream, but thought it might have something to do with the relationship that they had crafted the day before. (Though, that didn't explain the woman from the park.) Still, he wasn't sure that Mattie would be able to defend herself in a fight like that, let alone watch his back too.

It was more surprising though, that it had been a dream with no base in reality. Every dream for the past few weeks had been based off of his memories from serving his country- except this one. He was thrilled not to have bullets flying at him or someone he knew dying in front of him, and he wondered if spending the day back in the real world had been what made them go away. He had been afraid he would come back from the war like his father did: angry and looking for someone to take it out on. But he had no temptation to harm a single person yesterday; it was that moment he knew he would be able to adjust back to civilian life.

He went to the kitchen and started making some coffee when he noticed the clock read eight o'clock. He thought Mattie seemed to be the time to always be early and never late, but then again, she could have just arrived early yesterday. When his coffee was done, he went into the den and watched some TV.

He heard Jett beginning to move and checked his watch. Eight- thirty. Booth just assumed that she had been early yesterday, but he'd check with his little cousin. About fifteen minutes later, Jett came out dressed in shorts and a red polo. The first thing Jett said was "Where's Mattie?"

"I don't know. What time does she usually get here?"

"Eight. What time is it?"

"Quarter 'til nine," Booth answered, a concerned tone on the edge of his voice. He was starting to worry now. "Is she usually late?"

"She's never been late before or missed a day. She's accidentally come on Saturdays and Sundays before though."

"Is there a number to call her at?"

"No. Mom and Dad have a schedule with her, and they discuss anything weird with her when they get home before she leaves."

"So, there's no contact info for her at all?" Jett shook his head. "Do you know where she lives?"

"No, she won't tell me or Mom or Dad."

"She's really secretive, isn't she?"

"I don't know. I guess."

"Maybe she didn't hear her alarm this morning."

"I guess," Jett repeated. Neither was convinced by Booth's words.

Booth went to make Jett some breakfast, and when he returned with a Pop-Tart and apple juice Jett thanked him before focusing back on the screen.

"Hey, Seeley, can we go see a movie today?" Booth wondered if he was trying to get his mind of the missing babysitter.

"Maybe." He didn't want Mattie to show up late for some reason and the house to be empty. "What movie do you want to see?"

"Batman Forever." Booth had seen the previews for that. "Would your parents let you?"

"Yes." Booth then remembered how Jett's parents also 'didn't give him a bedtime'.

"Okay, let me call them-"

"You really don't have to…" Booth looked at his cousin with the 'I- know- you're- lying- to- me' face.

"So, anything else you want to see they would let you?"

"Apollo 13?" Booth nodded in agreement.

Booth and Jett watched TV for a little while longer, but around noon both stomachs began to growl. Booth fixed some pizza for them, and made Jett sit in the kitchen to eat. Jett ate quietly, but Booth noticed he was sneaking glances towards the front door.

"You worried?"

"Huh?" The eleven year old almost jumped out of his seat at his cousin's voice.

"Are you worried about Mattie?"

"A little."

"I was thinking about where she could be. She probably got sick, and didn't have a way to contact us."

"Oh… That makes sense." Booth smiled, happy to come up with a reason why she didn't come.

After lunch, Booth cleaned up while Jett prepared to go to the movies. When the boy returned, he was practically bouncing off the wall to go to the movies right then. So, Booth called a taxi since he didn't have a car, and went to grab his wallet and things.

A few hours later, they returned from the movie. Booth was a little disappointed to find that there wasn't a note from Mattie, but hid it from his cousin. Jett went to his room and brought out some comic books that Booth hadn't read before. They spent the rest of their day doing that.

Around ten-thirty that night, Jett let out a yawn and got up to go to bed. He was about half way to his room, when he turned to Booth. "I'm still a little worried about Mattie, Seeley."

"She'll be back tomorrow; don't worry about it." Booth wouldn't tell his cousin, but he was still a little worried too.

So, what do you guys think?