A/N: Okay, this is kind of random but I watched The End in the Beginning while I was writing this. Did anyone notice that Jared was wearing Booth's Cocky belt buckle? I just saw that and I've watched that episode like a million times! But I've decided that Jared shouldn't have worn it. Jared's not Boothy enough! Ha!

Hometime

Stone throwing I've got nothing to do
Only hope I got the message to you
Because if we're lucky we might see the end of the world completely
And if we do than I hope that it's you waiting there to meet me

Collect all your things 'cause it's hometime
Come on
Collect all your things 'cause it's hometime

I sat in an airplane hangar just outside the base and waited for the crew to fuel the plane. We were flying to London first, to drop off a few other high ranking soldiers and to refuel, and then to the States. I had been sitting in the same spot for a few hours and I was getting restless.

"Booth! Come on, man! Let's go!" Joe shouted. He had been in Afghanistan for the same reasons as I was.

I leapt up and jogged toward the plane where Joe was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

"We ready?"

Joe nodded. "I can't wait to see my girls. They're gonna be at Dulles when we land. Abby and Liv have probably grown so much."

"I bet Parker has too," I told him.

We walked on the cargo plane and strapped ourselves in. Cargo planes are not my preferred method of travel. They were full of turbulence when there was no turbulence in the air. I sat next to Joe and we talked to a few British soldiers we were taking to England for a while until most of the men fell asleep. I couldn't fall asleep. I was twitchy and nervous. I was afraid to be late to the coffee cart.

The refueling at the London airport took longer than expected. There was an expected rainstorm which could've delayed us even longer. I began to bob my foot up and down, shaking the entire bench he and Joe were sitting on.

"Whoa, Booth. Man, you okay?"

"Hmm?" I looked up. I could hardly pay attention to anything. I felt the cargo plane shift and start up. I took that as my cue to strap myself back onto the bench and prepare for the rough takeoff cargo planes have.

Once in the air, Joe said, "We'll make it to D.C. earlier than expected."

"How? That refueling stop took forever!"

He nodded. There was a storm coming in from the East. We were granted special permission to take off before it hit land."

I nodded and took a sigh of relief.

XXXXXXXX

We landed several hours later and Joe couldn't get off that plane fast enough. He bounded down the stairs two at a time and ran to his wife and daughters, waiting just off the air strip.

I followed behind him and sent a prayer up to God that I was home safe.

Joe introduced me to his family.

"So," Madeline said to me, "What next?"

I knew exactly what she meant. Do I go see my son, or go see my girl waiting at a coffee cart just minutes away?