Warning: Mac is out of character but he was hard for me to write. I apologize in advance.
"When I first met Hector I didn't get along with him to well. He was too serious all the time. I kept trying to get him to loosen up and have fun. It took him a whole week before he'd even crack a smile. Of course by then I was about spitting nails. One day I finally got mad and yelled something about him being an annoying ass when he started laughing…hard. It turns he'd been trying to break me all week long."
Mac stopped and laughed with the rest of the crowd. He noticed that through his tears, Grey had laughed with everyone else.
"After that Hector and I became friends. He always remembered everyone's birthday; even my kids. One year my wife and I had forgotten that our youngest had wanted this doll house. So, she opens all her presents and even though she's happy with everything she's obviously disappointed about something. We didn't get a chance to ask her what the matter was…"
Mac took a deep breath and stared at his wife. He knew that she remembered the story and he knew that one way or the other the truth would be told to his children. He would make Hector a hero again one last time.
"Hector suddenly jumped up and starting laughing. He told her to close her eyes and then he carried her outside. On our lawn was the doll house. My wife and I were stunned that he'd remembered when we'd forgotten. She sees the house, tears off the bow and finds a card. It says from mom and dad; Hector had brought it for her and refused to let us pay him back. He kept saying that he didn't buy it."
Mac clenched his jaw tightly. He refused to break down. Besides, he was never one to show any emotion other then anger. There was a glint in his eyes that showed his hurt though.
Mac started to speak again but then decided not to. He'd already shared a part of his family that he hadn't intended to. He closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath. He looked around the base chapel and settled his eyes on his teammates. Jonas nodded his head, telling him it was ok if he was done.
Mac straightened up and mimicked Grey's motions of saluting the man-less boots.
"Good bye friend," he whispered softly.
He walked back to the pew and took Bob's position of holding onto Grey. With a reassuring pat on the younger man's back he turned his attention to what Bob Brown was saying.
TBC…