Hello, and welcome to the fourth and final part of the Afghanistan arc. Whoop whoop. Yay! Switched at Birth does not belong to me, nor do Ty, Aida, Briggs, or any other of the Switched at Birth cast members, although I have made up some personalities of those who are only heard of on the series. *cough* Justin, *cough* Anyways, freedom returns to Ty's Region, and someone gets to go home.

Heart of a Distant Soldier

By lightning-storm

Ty returned to his own barracks early the next morning, adjusting his shirt as he quietly opened the door. Lights up was in about two hours, so Ty had barely enough time to sneak into his room without getting caught. Trying to hide from the night watchmen, Ty felt much like he did back in high school when he would go out and come back so late he'd have to crawl through his window. He was about to go to his cot when he heard a voice on the other side of the room.

"Well, lookie here." Justin spoke, and Ty jumped up in surprise.

"Geez!" he spit, "What are you doing." Justin shrugged his shoulders as he turned away from the computer screen, deep shadows under his eyes.

"I couldn't sleep, and Mary Beth sent me another video." The soldier smiled just a bit. "Check it out."

Ty went over to the computer, and Justin started sniffing the air, "What the," he looked at his friend, and Ty ignored him, "Is that honeycomb?" Noticing some scratches and bruising around Ty's collar, "Well, well well," Justin grinned, "You move fast."

"Shut up," Ty growled, and Justin smiled, feeling just a little better. He showed his friend the video of the two sock puppets, one of Mary Beth and her brother. It was a sweet video of all the things they enjoyed together, and then, "Promise me." the girl said at the end of the video, "Promise me you'll be back!" and the sock Justin hugged her goodbye, "I promise." Ty felt his heart pound. It wasn't really about him, but considering what he had been thinking before he left, his chest hurt. 'Bay,' he thought, and shook his head as he backed away from his friend. He turned around, the poster still on his bed from the previous night. He quickly knocked it down.

"Ty," his friend asked, "are you-" Justin's voice cut off, as a flashback breached his mind.

-Flash-

He was on duty. They had just received news of a bomb threat in a nearby building. Justin was asked to stay behind as some of the marines they were working with hurried to check out the threat. Justin stood back, irritated that he couldn't go in just yet. Just as he was about to accept, the building blew up, and his face paled.

"Go, go go!" he heard his commander say, and Justin hurried into the building, looking for his fellow colleagues. He hadn't gone far when a fetid smell of burnt skin and decaying flesh assulted his nose. Justin turned, seeing bits of blown flesh in different parts of the building. Holding back his lunch, Justin stumbled to the left, tripping over a small hand. Horrified he looked up to see at least ten children huddled together, their large dead eyes frozen into a expression of sheer terror.

-End-

"Justin. Justin!" The soldier blinked his eyes his as he heard someone calling his name. Shaken from his nightmare, Justin looked up to see Ty looking at him, a concerned look on his face. "Are you ok?" he asked, and Justin shook his head rubbing his hand across his sweaty forehead.

"Yeah, yeah," he said, "I just..."

"Flashback?" Ty said knowingly, and Justin nodded his head, "You've been having those more frequently as of late."

"I know-"then looking towards Ty again, he remembered his sister, "Ty." he said, tugging the sleeve of his shirt, "If something happens t-"

"Ah." Ty said, cutting him off. Justin was usually the one looking out for him."You'll be fine, this operation will end, and you will return home to your family."

Justin, slowed his breath," But still, promise," he paused, "promise me that if anything happens, anything, you will look out for my sister in Kansas"

Ty grit his teeth, not liking the sound of this at all. "Don't be silly," he said, "We'll both go home."

"Promise me!" Justin said more urgently, and Ty placed his hand on Justin's back, closing his eyes. "Okay, I promise"

And with that Justin released his hold on Ty's shirt, and collapsed on his cot, a relieved look on his face, "Thank You," he said simply, and closed his eyes. Ty stared for a moment longer, a bad feeling creeping in the back of his mind.

Two months later, the campsite was bustling about with life, as soldiers, medics and officers alike tore down the majority of the camp. They had just received the news today. The fighting in this part of this country had slowed and they could move on. Some of the soldiers had heard that they were no longer needed and could finally return to their home. Ty was not one of those soldiers, but he had a feeling he would be soon. Ty watched as his friends ran off to their different assignments. Since he had hooked up with Aida, they had actually become great friends, admiring the other for their strengths and physique, but neither willing to commit Although, if he really needed a release, Aida would be willing to 'help'. She had introduced him to a few other people, including Blaine, a cool guy with a quick temper, Briggs, a quiet guy with a good sense of humor, and Peanut, a young African-American with an easy smile. Like Ty, this was his first tour, but unlike Ty he was a bit new. "Hey! Ty heard his friend Briggs say, effectively clearing his distractions and Ty turned to see a soccer ball flying his way. Ty caught it as his friend pointed towards some citizens a little ways away. "You're on provisions." He stated.

"Thanks." Ty said, lifting the soccer ball in the air as he waved off his friend. Ty turned towards the citizens, sighing as some of them gathered around his tank and traced the image of Bay's artwork. Ty hesitated, though he had attempted to remove that picture the day after Bay told him about Emmett, Justin had convinced him otherwise saying something about the pride of a soldier coming from all their experiences, good and bad.

"Hold on to that, " he said, "as a symbol of before, of the time when you were at your happiest."

Though he still thought of getting rid of it sometimes, he had grown accustomed to it's unique beauty. After the phone call, him and Bay had virtually stopped talking, but he still got numerous compliments on her work. Some friends were curious about the face behind the artwork and Ty did everything he could to evade them. They didn't need to know about his prior history, although some were quite persistent. Ty sighed as he thought of their never ending questions of Who? What? Where and Why?

Ty hadn't walked very far, when a group of boys attacked him, trying to get access to the soccer ball. "Hey, woah now buddy," Ty said as he gently pushed the boy away. Ty shrugged his shoulders ass he joined his ally and started handing out treats to the kids. From gum, to cars, to balls the young boys looked at Ty as if he was some great savior come to free them of their woes. Ty smiled sadly as he thought of what all these kids must have been through, living under the cover of war their entire lives. Ty volunteered his time and willingly came to this war torn country, but these kids had no choice. Most of them had no idea how to live in peace, or even know of it's existence. Ty smiled slightly as he relinquished his last treasure. Now the only thing left was the soccer ball he had received from Briggs.

"All right kids," he said, a light glint in his eyes, "One more." Ty tossed the ball to the sky, "Who will be the lucky one to take this home?" he said, kicking the ball from side to side and throwing in the air. Ty grinned as the young boys crowded about him again. He was about to give it the smallest boy, when he saw a timid movement out of the corner of his eye. Ty looked up to see a small girl, obviously scared and neglected, look towards his tank, than towards him, than towards his tank again. She then looked up and made the pose on the picture, a pretend hammer in her hand. A proud, longing gaze exuded from her eyes.

Ty's world seemed to slow, as her strong, proud gaze breached the depths of his soul and images of her face and Bay's melded together as one. Thick black hair framed her small face, whereas deep brown eyes, far older than they should be, Gazed from her pale skin. Although she was dirty, Ty could tell her skin was quite fair. Ty paused for a second, taking in her image before he felt a huge grin spread across his face. For the first time since that fateful call, Ty felt a tickle in his throat, and he laughed, tossing the ball her way. Surprised, her eyes lit up in glee. Ty smiled and shook his head as some of the boys chased after her, angry retorts spewing from their mouths. However, she just laughed, kicking it about, before finally running into the distance.

Ty shrugged and looked down to see the one boy whom had almost given the ball to, stare after her. Taking two strides towards him, Ty lowered himself until he was eye level. "You really wanted that ball huh?" he asked quietly, and the young boy nodded his head. "Well don't you worry about a thing, I'll get you something just as great." Ty went to his companion to see about anything else, and the soldier sadly shook his head. He than he rummaged through the back of the truck to find small softball sized football. Ty grinned and returned to the boys side. "How about this?" Ty asked. The child smiled wide, grabbing the ball and giving a quick bow before hurrying away. Ty stood up fully and placed his hands on either side of his waist. Than, looking at the tank, he smiled. For once he was glad he had not gotten rid of that poster. It had not only inspired him and the other soldiers, but it now seemed to inspire the children as well.

After a moment, Ty gazed at the surrounding area and went back towards the camp, searching for anything else he could do. Three demolitions, and four clean ups later, Ty was finally able to go to his room and rest. He quickly collapsed on the chair, exhausted. Ty closed his eyes. A while later, his door opened, and Ty opened his eyes to see his friend trudge into the room, a weary, yet somewhat brighter look in his eyes

"Hey." Ty spoke as his roomer crashed on the cot."What's up?" After a moment, Justin sat up and rubbed his hands through his hair.

"I'm going home," he whispered, and Ty's eyes widened just a bit.

"What?" He asked, and Justin looked straight at him, a nervous look in his eyes.

"I'm going home."

It took a second for Ty to process, but he soon he clapped his hands on his thighs. "That's great." Ty shouted, "Now you can see your family again."

"I know." Justin said, a bit more light seeping into his dark green eyes.

Ty paused, contemplating, "So why aren't you jumping for joy like everyone else?" And Justin sighed.

"It's my second tour," he explained, "And at 14 months, it's definitely the longest." Justin looked at his Ty, genuine worry in his gaze, "What will it be like adjusting back home?"

Ty sat back in his chair, at times he wondered about that himself. He had been here about a few months less than Justin, and the stress had taken it's toll on him as well. Ty shrugged his shoulders. "Like every other time I guess," and Justin closed his eyes.

Not every time, he thought bitterly

Ty placed his hand on his friends shoulder, "Look at the bright side," pointing towards the barren walls, and dull furniture, "you'll be out of this hole." he paused, "Plus, you have family waiting for you... Isn't that enough for now?"

Justin paused for a second, contemplating and nodded his head. "My god" he said, a somewhat brighter look on his face, "I'm going home." A slow smile stretched across his face as he thought of his sister and the beaming look that she would no doubt have, and his mother's tearful eyes as he stepped off the airplane and she grabbed him into an embrace.

"Ty," he asked, pausing as he thought of his promise a few months back. "You remember that promise you made a few months ago."

"What?"

"About Mary Beth."

Remembering the shadowed look in his friend's face, Ty frowned, "Don't go there," he spoke, slightly irritated, "You are going HOME."

"I know," Justin smiled, then looking Ty straight in the eye,"But I'll still hold you to it."

And Ty smiled slightly, "You got it, "he paused, "But this time, we'll both be accountable."

Justin smiled slightly, "Yeah, I guess we will."

A few days later, Ty watched as his friend stepped onto the plane. Just prior, Justin had another flashback, but he didn't say much about it. Ty hoped he would be okay, but he didn't know. For now, he had to hope for the best. He had a feeling they'd announce the next people to leave shortly, and that he would be one of them. Ty couldn't wait for that day to arrive.

-Fin-

And that's that! What do you think? Should I start a new story, or continue with this part. Read and Review, as the next part deals with Ty's return to KC. Woo hoo! After all, There's only so much angst a girl can type. Haha