Gone - Author: Puppet

Ok all, here is the puppet's first attempt at fanfic. It is completely based on my son's first day of sixth grade, junior high school. I changed the characters to reflect Booth and Parker. I want to thank the two special ladies at the Nonsense Thread for helping with the betaing and the calming of the nerves, you know who you are. And I owe you both a huge debt of gratitude. Now, on with the fic and reviews and any suggestions will be appreciated. Oh and I don't own anything except this story.

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GONE

The day started like any other typical first day of school would start. Alarm clocks were blaring, sheets were rustling, and doors were being flung open.

"Morning Daddy, I'm up", the brand new sixth grader stated.

"Morning, Buddy, good job with getting up on time. I’m up also, go and get dressed so you won't be late for the bus." With that he strolled back to his room to begin preparations to start his day. Like any other morning, Booth went to the kitchen to get himself a cup of coffee. As he finished pouring the delicious caffeine filled beverage into the cup, he heard a soft voice say, "Daddy, I'm hungry."

"Well hey there big boy, did you sleep good?" he asked.

"Yeah, but I had a weird dream", replied the brand new sixth grader. "Can I tell you about it?"

"Sure buddy, just help me with breakfast and you can tell me all about it, okay?"

Parker agreed and went to the fridge to get the eggs and sausage. The perfect, first day of school breakfast, according to his dad. Handing over the goods, he perched himself on the stool and began to tell Booth about his dream. "Well, it was weird, there was this guy and he, ya know, I can’t remember, but he was all like big and fighty like and well, he asked me to join his group so we could fight the other guys, you know" he said, knowing that Booth knew what he was talking about.

As Parker was telling him about his dream, Booth put the sausages in the skillet and began to cook them.

"Like the guys on the game you were playing on the computer last night?" he asked. Flipping the sausages he noticed they were almost ready, so he took six eggs and cracked them into the awaiting skillet.

"Yeah, just like that, and they invited me to help them get the big scary guy they wanted, and ooh if that were true I would be at level 60 by now and I could get the update!" he said excitedly.

"Well that sounds like a very cool dream, but you know that you need to make sure you have all your school supplies ready for the first day, right?"

"Scrambled, like always?"

"Yes, sir" came Parker's reply. "Let me go check and make sure everything is in my book bag, I will be right back!"

Setting the two plates full of eggs and sausage on the table he waited for Parkers return. As he was waiting, he thought, *Thank God, this is my week with him*, according to the custody agreement Booth got him every other week and this week just happened to include the first day of school, luckily. Sixth grade is a huge step for a kid.

Parker made his way back to the table and they sat down and enjoyed a nice breakfast. He finished in record time, obviously nervous about the bus ride and the new school.

"May I be excused, please?" he said.

"Of course, Parker, go and brush your teeth it’s almost time for the bus." he replied.

"Kay, daddy, I love you!" the small little boy replied, and scampered off to change into his brand new first day of school outfit. Booth proceeded back to his bedroom to get dressed for the day ahead.

30 minutes or so later, Booth checked the time, 6:36 a.m. he yelled, "10 minutes buddy!"

"Okay dad, I just have to put my shoes on and brush my teeth and then I will be ready," came the response from the room down the hall. Sitting in a chair Booth began catching up on the happenings around DC and the world via the reporters on the news. As he watched a thought crossed his mind. *I used to have to help him tie his shoes and brush his teeth.* and as quickly as the thought entered his brain it was gone.

Checking the clock again, he saw it was 6:46 a.m. "Ok, Bub, it is time to head to the bus, got your key?" Booth asked as he headed to the front door.

"Yeah, I'm coming, hang on!" came the reply. A few seconds later, in sauntered Mr. Parker, in all his glory, with a very finely tuned look of anticipation of what today was to bring, sitting upon his face. His new book bag, filled to the brim with brand new school supplies, was dangling precariously from one shoulder. Booth helped the little man secure the other strap over the remaining shoulder. He was set.

"Ok, let's get going" Booth said, as he opened the front door, "Sure don't want to miss the bus on the first day, huh?"

As they headed out the door, Kyle, Parker's best friend since kindergarten, walked up the driveway. "Hey, you ready for your big day?" The look on his face said plenty, he was just as nervous as Parker was, he too was starting sixth grade today.

Yes, sir, I think so." he replied hesitantly.

Booth turned around to see his handsome boy checking his book bag, smoothing down his shirt, and checking his brand new Levi Strauss'. When he was finished Parker looked up at him and said "I know dad, take a deep breath."
Booth's reply came with a faint tug on his heartstrings, "That’s right buddy, it will be ok, just take a deep breath. I love you and call me when you get home, have a good day bub!"

After a quick hug and kiss, the new students headed down the driveway to begin their block long trek to the bus stop. As he watched their figures advance into the world of math, science, history and all, Booth wondered, was Parker saying that to him or to himself.

As the new students may their way to the bus stop, talking to each other about whatever two nervous and timid new sixth graders would talk about, Booth couldn’t help but feel that tug on his heart once again. A few minutes later he saw the familiar yellow machine pull up. The yellow flashing lights were quickly changed to red. The students filed onto the bus and it proceeded to take the most precious asset of Booth’s life into the world of education and fun.

And with that, he was gone.

Going back into the house, Booth closed and locked the front door. Then refilled his cup with another dose of caffeine and proceeded to his bedroom to get dressed and ready for the day at work ahead of him. An eerie silence filled the house. Something was gone. He couldn’t quite place his finger on it but it definitely was gone.

He finished getting ready, gelled his hair, and straightened his tie, he brushed his teeth, and gave the mirror a final look. He studied the well dressed professional looking back at him. *Your son is growing up; there mister and you have no control over it. He will be fine and Kyle and the rest of his friends will take care of him. Don’t worry about the little boy, he will be fine.* But the father on the other side of the mirror would not accept that encouragement. He sighed and, as a single tear ran down his cheek, silently walked to his bedroom to gather his cell phone and keys.

Making his way down the hallway to open the garage door, he turned around expecting the little boy to come bouncing down the hallway, as he has done every school day for the last three years. But he was gone.

Booth pushed the button to lift the garage door and made his way to open the door of the car. Gone was the little boy who checked his do in the reflection of the side window of the car.

Backing out of the garage onto the driveway, that familiar sound of rustling change in search of the three quarters for that extra cookie everyday after lunch was gone.

He pulled onto the street and adjusted the sun visor to block the beautiful rays of sun that were blinding his eyes. When he made it to the stop sign, he turned to give the little boy a hug and kiss and to wish him a good day. But that small little gesture of goodwill was no longer to be made in the car. It was gone. That small last little contact with dad, having to be made before they were within 100 feet of the school, so the little boy's friends wouldn’t see, that too was gone.

Pulling up to the curb and letting the little boy bound out of the car, all the while laughing at the security guard waiting for him to cross the street, as slow as he could go. That too was gone.

And at that moment Booth knew, deep in his heart that his little boy was no longer a little boy, he was growing up. As the sound of a horn reached his ears, he was pulled roughly out of his memories. Turning on the left turn signal, he checked both ways and pulled into traffic to begin a new phase of his life. His baby was growing up and he had to accept that or be left behind.

The innocence was gone.