March 20th, 2540 (Military Calendar)

Manassas, Reach

"And tell me, how does that make you feel?" Igroaned as I faked the military therapist's voice; lighting a cigarette as I walked down the sidewalk.

We had arrived back on Reach over a month ago and had finally reported into the High Command. They were at least glad to have the mystery of the Iron Justice under wraps and have been sending us to therapy since we got back; making sure we were still all there. Honestly, the therapists was going to make me go crazy; not being away for over seven years.

Sucking in the nicotine-laced smoke, the civilians gave me a wide berth as I walked down the middle of the crowd. Most recognized the all-black uniform with ODST stamped on my chest. I smirked as a few women whispered amongst themselves and pointed in my direction.

"Ladies." I said, tipping my service cover as I walked by. "Taxi!"

A bright yellow taxi stopped and I climbed inside. The driver turned in his seat and gruffly asked where to. Giving him the directions I settled in the back and watched as the city whirled past. It was only a ten minute drive, but it was still enough time for the memories to come back of when we first arrived.

One Month Earlier

I paced back and forth in my room, glancing at the comm module on the wall. Marx had left about an hour ago and Kaipo had taken the first shuttle down to the surface to see his family. And that's what I was supposed to do as well, but just couldn't work up the nerve.

Finally, I straightened up and quickly typed the number in before I changed my mind again. The UNSC logo flashed half a dozen times before a line of text scrolled onto the screen.

Connecting…Connecting…Connected.

I sucked in a breath when my brother's face flashed onto the screen; a thick beard covering his jaw and a new fresh scar on the side of his scalp. He rubbed his eyes before blinking and looking at the screen with wide eyes.

"Hey little brother." I said, an anxious smile on my own face. "Been awhile."

Ian rolled out of bed and starting shouting for our father; turning on the light and setting the view pad on the main screen in the living room. I grimaced slightly when I noticed his heavy limp.

"What happened to you?"

"I could say the same to you, Eric." Ian said as he lifted the right pant leg of his sleep pants. What was once flesh had become hardened titanium and it seemed to grow right out of his kneecap. "Mission went badly and I lost my squad and the lower part of my leg…They've got me on medical leave before deciding what to do with me."

"Shit…I'm sorry-

"Eric?! Son, is that really you?" My father interrupted as he rushed in; wrapping a robe around his body; he looked to be even thinner than the last I saw him.

"Yeah, dad, it's me." I said as I sat on my bed and rubbed the back of my neck. "I'm really sorry…the mission is classified, but we were stuck in cyro the whole time. It's all I can say."

Waving his hands, my father just smiled. Damn, he looked tired. "I'm just glad to have my son back. I lost one son already and gained two back; when do you come home?"

My heart sunk at the sound of joy in his voice. I had wanted to go home, but High Command deemed it unnecessary and only allowed us to contact family in the immediate system.

"I'm not going to be able to dad, we've got a lot of work to do before I can get leave to come home." I lied through my teeth. "Just glad I could see you…where's mom? She asleep?"

My brother looked at my father before stepping up to the camera. He sighed heavily before looking at me. I already knew what he was going to say as the tears began to fall.

"Mom died a few months after she heard you had disappeared. She couldn't handle the radiation therapy and losing you too. She would be glad knowing you made it back…she's buried in the garden out back."

Nodding, I wiped the tears from my face and held my head in my hands. I tried to listen to what else Ian and my father were saying but it just didn't matter at that point. Looking up, I saw that Ian had left the room and my dad just gazed at the screen.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't there dad. I should have been." I whispered softly, pulling myself up and standing closer to the screen. "I'll be home as soon as I can, okay?"

Nodding once, my father just placed his hand on the screen and I did the same. He smiled before reaching off screen.

"I love you son."

"Love you too dad."

The image of my dad froze as he disconnected the signal. It stayed there for a few seconds before flashing back to the UNSC icon. I stumbled back to the bed and crawled under the covers; only taking the time to take off my boots.

Even Helljumpers need to let go sometimes.

Present time

"Gunnery Sergeant Eric Banner, you are hereby cleared for duty aboard any UNSC vessel and are ordered to report back to the Iron Justice as soon as you are able to get your gear together."

I snapped to attention and saluted before about-facing and striding out of the High Command council chamber. The receptionist nodded as I walked past her and into the elevator; Marx and Kaipo trailing behind me.

The big man clapped me on the shoulder and Marx smiled as she squeezed my arm. I grinned at the thought of getting back into the fight, but also wished there was more time to get home and see what remained of my family.

"What's the plan, Eric?" Kaipo asked as he tugged at the collar of his dress uniform. "We back in the fight?"

Wrapping my arm around Marx, I lead the way out of the elevator and to the parking lot where Parker and Towers waited by the warthog we came in.

"Myself and Echo squad are ordered to report to the Justice as soon as we can scrape our gear together and say our goodbyes." I said as I gunned the engine and speed out onto the freeway; the wind blowing through the vehicle and tearing at my uniform.

"Hell yeah! No more docs!" Parker pumped his fist and Kaipo shifted in his seat behind me.

"Also, Kaipo, you're now a Staff Sergeant and Marx is a full corporal. Parker is a Lance Corporal now so drinks are on me when we get on board." I laughed as the group cheered and high-fived behind me.

It seemed like our ordeal had finally been put into the past and we could get on to the job that we were so good at…killing aliens.

"Hey, why didn't I get promoted?" Towers asked from the back as she leaned back against Parker. "I was in all that same shit as you were."

Parker just laughed and pulled her in tighter. "You're already an officer so they don't have to promote you to keep you happy."

We all laughed again as she rolled her eyes and sighed against Parker. I smiled as I glanced over at Marx as she gazed out at the city. She told me she loved the way the skyscrapers looked as the sun set and it was just about to; the sky turning a deep orange.

Gripping the wheel tighter, I changed lanes and headed to the spaceport; a new sense of purpose making me drive faster.

The quicker we get this mission done, the sooner I get to go home. I just have to kill a few hundred Covies before then. Seems like a fair deal.

I know short chapter but the next one will be packed full of action. Just been super busy since I recently swore into the United States Marines and been busy getting everything set up! Man, I'm pumped!

So hit the little review button and let me see what you think!