ahh so it was Seeley and his father and not Parker and Booth. Cool. I like it.

Wow, what an amazing piece of writing. I understand and love the structure of the story in relation to the structure of the song. In fact, my speed of reading matched the song and pace of your story so I reached each section at the appropriate moment. I like how you highlighted the "gunshot" in the middle section - for me, that part of the song was also the climax.

What you have chosen to write about was moving and heartfelt, a little angsty and very emotional. No names are mentioned so technically it could be about anyone, not specifically Booth and his father as is the case, and I find that extrordinary - in all honesty this piece could be written for publication anywhere, not just for fanfiction. It applies to life today, life in the past and life still to come.

I also found the story believable - the idea that Booth's father would be concerned about his son doing what he did, knowing how it affected him. I appreciate that you didn't pay much attention to the lyrics but your plot highlights a particular line in the song for me - "The boy they loved was a victim, left with a killer mind" Very poignant and true to what Booth did in the Rangers.

Your writing style was amazing and being completely honest here, it sent shivers down my spine as I read the story while listening to the song.

I also enjoyed reading something that took a completely different perspective to my own submission. We used the same song yet we saw and felt something completely different in what we heard.

I'm really pleased you decided to write an entry for this month's challenge and I hope to read another entry for the next challenge. Jemb

That was just lovely. I was a bit confused at first because I thought we were looking at a Booth future fic, and then you got to the part about the bombs dropping and I realized that it must be Booth's father that we were with. That was nicely and subtly done.

I really liked the way that you bookended this fic with the idea of the tattoos, first Booth's father's and then Booth's, closely tying them in with the idea of it being a memorial to fallen comrades.

A very nicely written piece and different as it was mostly from Booth's father's point of view, so that was a great angle as well. Great entry for the challenge!

I don't know why this only has two reviews, because this is one of the few shots that I have found that are incredibly powerful. I think because, you included a very small part on Booth's actual time in the army, and had the fic centered around before and after, shows exactly how much Booth had changed and the impact everything had, which makes it more heartbreaking.

Having Booth's father try to talk him out of it, and having Booth so sure that he would be okay sets up an angsty feeling, because we all know that will not be the case. It's excellent use of dramatic irony, seeing the brash and young Seeley Booth going into something that will change his outlook on life, probably for the worse.

And the tatoo bit cinched it all. Don't even get me started on symbolism cuz I could spew all whole book on that. Basically, it got the point across that both men are scarred. They have seen war, and because if it are damaged.

My favorite part was when Booth's father pushed back the cuff of Booth's arm to see the tatoo, and have everything hit for him, including my favorite line, "But the son turned away and the father began once again to mourn the loss."

Excellent job, incredibly poetic and tragic.

Very excellent. I could have used a little more explanation of just what the tats meant to each of them, but not enough to change any of the story as it stands.

Holy Mary Mother of God...How did you...That was...AnaG, where the hell did this come from? This was just...poetic! Yes, poetic! I can't find any other word to describe this deep and heart wrenching one-shot. It's absolutely a different take than everyone else's that I've read so far. I think you have captured what war does to a man perfectly. It's also interesting to see you have done most of it from Booth's father's POV. It would've been great if it had been from Booth's POV, but opting for his father's is just a tad more unconventional - something I can always appreciate.

You mentioned that the song made you think of a loss. I believe you have captured that perfectly. The tattoo on his wrist now has a much deeper significance. Cheers to you for noticing such a detail and using it to your advantage.

My favourite paragraphs are, without a shadow of a doubt, the first three. How you described the tattoo there and what it stands for...Heartbreaking, shiver inducing, simply breathtaking. You are, in my humble opinion, the master of description!

Excellent take on the song. Thanks for the more than lovely read and for participating. I hope to see another entry from you next month!