Through The Ups & Downs

Couple; HarrisonXBriana

Rating; Mature

Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD or any songs I might use! Also, from this point in the story and in future chapters, I do not own the character; Ella(Eira) Solveig. She belongs to my good friend, ShadowSpirit020.

22) Missing In Action

{Harrison's POV}

[4/20/2015-Camp Arifjan D Barrack-10:45 am]

I knew upon making my choice to return to Kuwait early that I would get asked why I was back and honestly, I didn't want to talk when Aaron inquired why I was there three days earlier than scheduled. I said the best thing I could; that it was personal and I didn't want to talk about it at the moment. I was tired; I'd been flying all night with Toothless. I decided on getting a shower, then returning to my barrack room and getting some sleep. In the shower, I had a lot of time to think about things. Addilyn and the others were right about me; I was a complete coward. Leaving the way I did only make what they all said about me right.

I was called a coward for being afraid they would judge me about Briana being my girlfriend. Addilyn's hatred was more centered on the fact she had feelings for me and had been waiting on my response if I liked her back or not. It was true that I didn't, but I had been home for three days and could have said something right away about not returning her feelings for me. Also, they were all correct about calling me a liar; I did say last October upon coming home from training that I wouldn't keep them out of the loop anymore and getting a girlfriend was grounds for an update on things.

What made me more cowardly than anything else was running away. I know Dad only said 'go back to Kuwait' in the heat of a tense moment where I'd disappointed everyone. I reacted immaturely to the whole situation. Addilyn walked out on me, not the others. Frankie, Regina, and TJ just said to let them know when I was back since my body was in Berkville, but my attention and mind were still in Kuwait. They were right; I wasn't all there when I should have been. Gods, I was such an idiot. Nineteen-years-old and in the army but can't be mature enough to tell my family and friends that I have a girlfriend because I was afraid to be judged and didn't trust them not to do such a thing.

I should have known better than to assume they would do something like that. I ran away like a scaredy cat after everyone said their piece about being disappointed in me. What was worse about this; I didn't want to face them anytime soon because of what I'd done. After my shower, I grabbed the leftover grinder I had and ate that because I was hungry and then I laid down and let sleep take me.

{Normal POV}

[7 pm-Mess Hall]

"Is it bad that I'm worried about him?" asked Syrus out of nowhere during dinner with the others.

"We all are, Sy. Harrison wasn't due back from leave until Sunday night, and now he's here and admitted to not wanting to talk about what happened," Olivia mentioned softly. Harrison had been sleeping since about 11 am and hadn't left the barrack at all, so his team was wondering if he was all right or not.

"Well, maybe he'll talk to us tomorrow or something. Harrison mentioned flying all night, so he's gonna be exhausted," Trevor pointed out.

"Are you talking about Harrison?" came Briana's voice.

"Yeah, we are. And glad you're feeling better finally," Chelsea smiled.

"Have you heard from him at all? The last time I talked to him was yesterday afternoon when he had Ella and Stephanie bring me to the TMC," Briana replied.

"You don't know yet?" Dexter blinked.

"Know what?" Skye wondered.

"Harrison is back here, he flew in this morning around 9:30 am," Syrus informed.

"What?" Briana asked, a little surprised at the information. "Why didn't he tell me? Is he alright?"

"Sadly, we don't know if he is or isn't, Bri. Harrison showed up on Toothless, and when Major Hagebak asked what he was doing back so early, Harrison said it was personal, and he didn't want to talk about it. Last we know, he took a shower and had been sleeping in the barrack since." Trevor answered. Briana frowned, she didn't like wondering if Harrison was okay or not. It wasn't like him not to tell her or anyone else what was going on.

"Lieutenant Belmore said to leave him alone for the rest of the day, and maybe tomorrow he'd talk to us," Olivia informed. Briana nodded to her as she began eating her food, thinking about Harrison.

[Friday, 4/21/2015-Mess Hall-8:00 am]

Harrison slept all night, and with it now being the next morning, the friends were in the mess hall for breakfast, wondering if Harrison was going to join them or not since Trevor reported that Harrison was still knocked out when he left the barrack half an hour ago. However, much to their surprise, Harrison walked in at 8:15 am.

"Harrison, you're awake. Thank Thor, we were starting to get worried about you," Chelsea stated first.

"Sorry. It was a long flight back, and I just wanted to sleep," Harrison replied.

"Not that I'm not thrilled to see you, babe, but what are you doing here. Your leave wasn't over until Sunday?" Briana said first, wanting answers to know if Harrison was okay. Harrison sighed as she sat down now, as expected, Glenn and Aaron made their way over too.

"Morning, lad," Glenn greeted.

"Morning, Lieutenant Belmore and Major Hagebak," Harrison said softly.

"In a better mood to tell me why you're back?" Aaron asked.

"There was an argument at my parent's place, and I decided it was best if I just leave and return here," Harrison said calmly.

"Define fight?" Dexter wondered curiously now.

"Addilyn went snooping through my phone and found out that Briana is my girlfriend. It started a huge fight about me not telling them anything and keeping secrets. Addilyn is only upset that I don't feel the same for her as she does for me, she even slapped me," Harrison rubbed his cheek a little. "Frankie, Regina, and TJ all left after Addy did, saying to let them know when I was back. Then my parents started on me breaking a promise to keep them up to date on things, and Dad commented about just returning to Kuwait,"

"So you packed your stuff and came back here?" Glenn arched a brow.

"It was a complicated situation, Lieutenant. All of them are mad at me because they think I wanted to be here rather than home since I've been staying in contact with all of you about how things are going. My Dad said to come back here because apparently, you needed me more, and that's not how it was, but I thought with the tension so high, it was easier if I left," Harrison sighed.

"Sometimes walking away is easier than staying," Olivia mentioned.

"No, I didn't walk away, Liv. I ran away because I don't like being in the same place as them knowing I let them down. Addilyn called me a coward for not trusting them enough to tell them about Briana and me being in a relationship. I told them that I wanted to wait until I knew if things were gonna be okay with us dating while working together. I know she's upset that I don't like her back, still, I know I disappointed them and I felt like the rest of leave would just be more fighting and tension, so I grabbed Toothless and left. The only one who knows is Nate," Harrison sighed.

"Don't let it get ya down, lad. I would have tried apologizin' first and if that didn't work, then leave. But still, trying to avoid a fight was a good call too, give everyone time to cool off," Glenn shrugged.

"That's what I was hoping for, but still gonna be a while before I can apologize in person. After the tour, we're going to the US, remember?" Harrison mumbled.

"Just 'til January, help out with the dragons a bit more," Aaron informed.

"I suppose so," Harrison replied as he hugged Briana. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better today," Briana smiled lightly.

"I'm glad. I've missed you," Harrison smiled back, kissing her forehead. "This...isn't gonna be a problem, right? With us dating?" he asked looking to Glenn and Aaron.

"Nah, it shouldn't be. Just as long as you two are doing your work and keep the PDA to what you just did, you're fine. If ya were in the same platoon, it'd be different," Aaron told him. Harrison was grateful for that news, and it meant Briana and him could stay together as long as they abided by the guidelines they had been given a moment ago. Harrison wished he could go back to Berkville and just apologize to everyone, but stupid and hasty decisions had him in Kuwait again, and now he had to stay where he was until October, then after he left the US in January, he could return home and hopefully fix things.

[September 12, 2015-Camp Arifjan-9:45 pm]

{Harrison's POV}

So, things weren't going great for me with my family and friends back in Berkville. I still called home to talk to Nate, Mom, and Dad, I made up with my parents and apologized to them for what happened. My parents also said they were sorry to me for saying the things they had; that it was a heated moment and they were just surprised and hurt that I didn't tell them I had a girlfriend. My parents and Nate now hoped that they would be able to meet Briana one day and I said that once we figured out how things were gonna go in a more...stabilized setting, they would get to meet her in person. Other than that, they were happy for me.

Frankie, Regina, and TJ only spoke to me on Skype, instant messaging only. Addilyn refused to talk to me, but I had assumed that from the day she said goodbye and wished that I have a good life. I know I hurt her but was it bad enough that she wouldn't even stay my friend? It hurt a little, to know that things just fell apart so easily. Regina let me know she was trying to talk to Addy about it but so far, Addilyn shut down when the subject of me came up around her. I also had this sneaking suspicion that Frankie and the twins were just telling me what I wanted to hear and that they still hadn't forgiven me. I assumed that maybe an in person apology might make it more genuine that I was sorry. However, I had to wait to do that until January.

I did inform everyone that I would be back in January 2016, wasn't sure of the day just yet but it would be after the New Year started and before my birthday. Tonight, I was getting ready to get some sleep. I had just gotten off the phone with my parents and Nate, I took a shower earlier, and I would need the rest because I had a six-hour patrol at 9 am tomorrow morning. Briana was doing a contact mission with Skye, Andy, and another three from her unit. I think their names were Jason Tarelto, Darryl Lennox, and Steven Ritka. I was almost positive that Andy and Steven were battle buddies, as were Jason and Darryl, then Skye and Briana were a set too.

Briana's team was due back for 10:30 pm, so I was trying to stay awake to welcome her back. "How's your family doing?" Trevor inquired from on his bed.

"They're good, miss me a lot," I replied with a smile.

"Well, Hagebak said that maybe we'd get a week between the tour ended and have to return to the US," Trevor informed.

"That would be nice since I kind'a fucked up my leave time with my immature decisions," I sighed.

"Don't beat yourself up, Harrison. It happens to everyone. You're only nineteen, dude, and it's not easy to tell your parents and friends that you met a girl from another country who you're madly in love with," Trevor teased.

"Still, I should have told them I at least met someone, even if I didn't mention names," I remarked.

"It's in the past now; you can't worry about it anymore. What's done is done, and if you ask me, that Addy girl shouldn't have given you such a hard time. Sure, she liked you, but that does not obligate you to like her back," Trevor reminded.

"But I did say before I left for Kuwait that I would try and figure things out if I returned her feelings," I stated.

"Well, she shouldn't have gone through your phone," Trevor shrugged.

"True that. And they never found out from her about Briana, Addy started to say it, but I said the words. So I did technically tell them myself," I replied.

"See, you did tell them, even if you were cornered and had no choice," Trevor smiled.

"Not helping, Trev," I arched a brow.

"You get my meaning, man. You told them about having a girlfriend, and they blew it out of proportion just like you did with leaving under the impression they didn't want you there anymore. Both sides were wrong, and it's behind everyone now. Your parents forgave you, and I'm sure those other three will too when you see them face to face. Addy, well, I don't know about her, but I think she'll come around eventually," Trevor informed.

"Yeah, I suppose so. Thanks, Trev," I smiled, and he gave me a thumbs up. Suddenly, we heard a lot of noise outside the barrack and got curious. A horn blew, Trevor and I moved to the window to see that Briana's group was returning. I slipped on my boots and hurried to the door, then outside. As I got there, I saw Briana's group and searched for her, but I didn't see her and got this sickeningly nervous feeling in my stomach. I saw Skye crying and the others looking down, dragging their feet to their barrack. "Wh-Where's...Bri?" I hesitantly asked.

"MIA, Harrison," I froze when Andy said that. "Everything happened so fast, and by the time we looked back to make sure everyone was together, she was gone. The camp is already launching a full-scale search for her, that was the horn you heard a second ago. We told them where we were and everything that happened, the rest is up to them, and we'll keep you posted as much as we can. A soldier will stay MIA unless found alive or dead, if dead, it goes to KIA or POW if she's found being kept prisoner by those bastards," he explained.

I immediately rushed to get to Toothless, but Colonel Dunbar stopped me. "I know what you're thinking about doing, son, and I can't let you. Briana is one of ours, and we have to keep to the protocols in these situations. I promise you; we're going to do everything we can to find her," I felt utterly useless! Briana could be hurt and need help, and Toothless could find her in a heartbeat with his speed, yet they weren't going to use the dragons?!

"B-But!" I started and saw Aaron approach next.

"I know it's not what you want to hear, Harrison. The Americans do things their own way. Taking the dragons into hostile territory is dangerous without a lot of planning. Every effort is being made to find her, and we'll keep you posted, lad. It's late, return to your bunk. That's an order," Aaron said softly. I shoved Colonel Dunbar's hand off my shoulder and backed away angrily. I turned heel and stomped to my room. If anything happened to her, I was going to flip out. For now, all I could do was sit back and hope they found Briana because from this moment on unless something changed, she was missing in action.