The phone interrupted Terri's dreams at three in the morning that night. She groggily pulled the covers off her head and grabbed the phone in her and Taryn's room.

"Hello?" She said groggily

"Hey Kiddo." Her father's voice said.

"Dad?" Terri asked as she sat up. "It's 3 am."

"I know, Terri." Jack sighed. "Listen, I have been recalled to Active Duty."

"WHAT?!" Terri yelled, waking up her sister. "Dad, you promised!"

"I know, but it's important." Jack said.

"Important like last year after Charlie died you disappeared for a week and Sarah left Taryn and I with nothing just because we weren't her kids?" Terri asked.

"It's related to that mission, yes." Jack said. "A friend of mine is in trouble. I have to help him."

"When will you be home?"

"A couple of days, hopefully." Jack said. "I'm coming back, Terri, I promise."

"Alright…"

"Is Taryn up?" Jack asked

"She is now…"

"Let me talk to her."

Terri handed the phone over to her sister as she fought back tears.

"Dad?" Taryn said, her voice shaking.

"I've been recalled, Taryn…"

"No… Dad…"

"I'm sorry, Sweetheart, but I have to do this…"

"But my game tomorrow…" Taryn whispered.

"I am going to miss it, I am sorry." Jack said. "I'll be home in a few days…"

"Alright…"

"I love you both very much…"

"Love you too, Dad."

"Don't try to call me, I won't be any place in cell range."

"Alright… Bye…"
Taryn set the phone down and let her tears fall. "It's not fair…" She cried.

"I know…" Terri whispered. "Let's just get to bed, we have to catch the bus tomorrow for school."

"I'm not sure I want to go."

"You have to Taryn, we don't have dad here to write a note."

"I know…" Taryn whispered as she laid back down.

.

.

.

.

Taryn woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon frying. Even though her sister was a vegetarian she still knew how to cook the best meals, meat or not. She walked downstairs in her pajamas and sat down at the breakfast nook.

"Smells good sis."

"I figured you needed a pick me up," Terri smiled as she put some bacon and eggs on her plate before pouring her cereal and picking up her ancient histories book.

"Geek."

"So are you." Terri pointed out. "Our 300 IQ points are identical."

"Yeah, Yeah, at least I don't go to a geek's school." Taryn laughed softly.

"Hush."

"Where do you think they sent him?" Taryn asked suddenly as she looked down at her plate.

"Iraq maybe?"

"Why do you think that?"
"Wasn't his friend, Kawalsky, doing some stuff in Iraq?"

"I don't know… I just hope he comes home."

"Come on, eat, your buss comes before mine." Terri sighed as she took a bite of her cereal.

"Fine…"

"He promised he would come home, Taryn…"

"I know, but sometimes you can't stop a bullet from hitting you no matter how much you want to keep a promise."

"Great… Now I am going to be worrying about that all day and I have an exam… Thank you very much." Terri whispered.

"Sorry."

"Let's get out of here before I actually want to stay home from school." Terri whispered as she put her bowl in the dishwasher.

"You never want to stay home from school." Taryn said. "You had the measles and you begged dad to bring you your homework in the hospital."

"I like school what can I say?" Terri asked as she flung her backpack on. "Come on."

"Coming…"