Chapter 13 Home
Later they were getting ready for bed. "So what DID you write on that paper anyway?" Bogg asked, his curiosity finally getting the better of him. Jeff had refused to show him before tonight, so he didn't really expect him to show him now, but he had to admit that he was more than a little curious, especially after seeing the Bishop's reaction to it.
Jeff turned to him, took the paper out of his pocket and handed it to him.
Bogg sat down and took it. Then he began to read.
Home *
It means so much
To so many.
Defined differently
To everybody.
Home for me
Is not a house.
It's not a place.
My home
Has no walls.
No roof,
No doors.
There is no
Room of my own.
No place for toys and things
What I need
I carry with me.
What I don't need
I leave behind.
My home is better
Than any house
Ever built.
My home
Are two strong arms.
They shut out the world
Better than any four walls
Ever could.
My home
Are two shoulders.
Big enough
To carry all my fears.
My home
Are two hands
Both
Strong and gentle
To wipe away all my tears.
My home does
Have a hearth.
It's tender beat
Sometimes lulls me to sleep
This hearths fire,
Of gentle loving warmth
Never flickers
Or falters.
My home
Has a name...
Bogg.
Wherever we go
I am home.
When Phineas finished reading, he sat quietly looking at the paper. "This is... beautiful," he said in a soft voice.
In the silence that followed, Jeff moved to sit beside him on the edge of the bed. "I've been having a hard time since we got here. A lot of things reminded me of my mom. Thanksgiving was her favorite ..." he stopped and swallowed hard. "And it seemed like I hadn't thought about her in a long time. I'm sorry I haven't been very nice to you."
"This is pretty nice," Bogg said in a voice full of emotion.
"It's true too," Jeff said. He leaned his head against Bogg's shoulder and slid his arm around his back.
They sat in silence for a moment before Bogg spoke.
"All I care about is whether you're okay."
"I am," Jeff replied and smiled.
On a hunch, Bogg reached for the omni and opened it, "green light," he whispered.
"I guess you had to read that poem, huh?" Jeff said and Bogg smiled too.
"I guess."
"But, that means we have to leave," Jeff said quietly.
"Well, I've been thinking about that. Since we wanted a green zone next anyway, and your leg still hasn't healed completely, why don't we stick around here, for awhile, what do you think?"
Jeff nodded, "I'd like that."
"Can I keep this?" Bogg asked, meaning the poem, and when Jeff nodded, he folded it up and slipped it into his pocket. He didn't carry much with him, but he wanted to keep this scrap of paper.
* This poem was written by Dawn Owens and is posted on the Voyagers! Fanfiction site. It inspired this story. Special thanks to her for allowing me to include it.