Chapter 9: Home Sweet Home

Tucker pushed down with all his might against the hard cased suitcase. He felt every fibre of his arms stress, and his teeth grit with effort as several grunts escaped him. As soon as he eased even for one second, the suitcase would come undone like an explosion just waiting to happen. "Shit, why won't this thing just stay shut?"

Church and Sigma materialized to his side as they took somewhat of a sadistic pleasure in the scene. Church hovered down to the suitcase and observed the several gifts inside. "Want me to call Junior for help?"

"No, I can do this myself, I'm not that helpless," Tucker snarled. "But I wonder if I got too many souvenirs."

"There is no such thing as too many souvenirs," Church commented. Sigma agreed in a nod. "Especially not when there are people waiting for us back home."

"Yeah, maybe I will give them these souvenirs in exchange for favours," Tucker thought for a moment with a sigh. "That would be pretty cool."

"Slow down there," Church hovered to Tucker's eye level and said, "As badass as you are right now, even you can't stop a canyon full of competent soldiers."

Tucker stopped a moment from what he was doing and stared rather intently at his friend. Church felt the stare to be most uncomfortable as he shifted in his spot. "W- what?"

"I'm just surprised to hear you use the word competent when talking about the Blood Gulch."

"My bad, I guess its mostly competent."

"Ah, a downgrade," Tucker laughed. "Now that's more like you, Church."

Outside, Junior stood with his chest held out wide and a smile painted all across his face. The sun covered the top of his head in a warm bask and the gentle breeze painted the sides of his face in a refreshing chill. The two feeling mixed to create a sense of calm. The streets were bustling with the lives of others, people going shopping, kids playing in the streets and other animals going from individual to individual, wanting attention. He observed every detail that made this moment of his so blissful, so perfect. All of it, everything seemed to be at peace except for one little detail. He heard the echo from Tucker's room. Several curses spat out his room's window and the young Sangheilli looked in his father's direction with a smirk. I guess that does constitute for normal with him, so the day is still normal. He went back inside to his own room to retrieve a memory he was very fond of and walked towards Tucker's room. Tucker took notice of the figure in the door frame before Junior even had a chance to knock. "Hey son, what's up?"

Junior held up a baseball glove, one of which he already wore and the other he motioned towards his dad. "How about it?"

Tucker grinned as he saw his son's hopeful smirk, the very same he would get whenever Junior asked for his dad to play with him in Blood Gulch. "You are on. Let's do this."

Junior threw his dad the glove and Tucker could feel an instant difference in strength. He has certainly gotten stronger. I guess I shouldn't need to hold back then. Tucker followed his son outside as he tightly fastened the glove around his catching hand. He threw the ball up in the air and caught it with the glove. Again he did the same, as if getting himself into the rhythm. Alright, here we go, he thought throwing the ball with all his strength. Junior caught it firmly with a little kickback. "Good throw dad!"

"I should be saying that to you instead," Tucker announced as he nearly lost balance at the sudden spike in power of Junior's throw. He nearly fell back, and just barely managed to retain his balance. "Something on your mind?"

"No, nothing much."

"You know," Tucker caught another and threw it back to his son. "I can still tell when something is bothering you kiddo, come on, talk to me."

"It is just that it is your last day here," Junior said with a resolute catch. He threw the ball back and stretched his arms. "I just wanted to make sure to spend it with you as much as possible."

That's cute, thought Tucker. Yeah, real adorable, echoed the sarcastic words in his mind. Tucker was less than pleased at the sudden intrusion. "Thanks Church, you know what I need, and just when I need it."

You're welcome, I'm so glad I stuck around with you to see this day. Daddy Tucker getting all gushy inside, Church mused. Junior caught the ball again and looked at it for a moment. "Dad, why is it that you always throw it first?"

"Why you ask," Tucker pondered upon catching the next throw. "I guess it's because I have always been the one to throw first ever since we played catch. I guess its like a tradition for me. So, no working around that one kiddo."

Junior reached out to catch another, but it fell through the little opening in his hands. He bent down to pick it up with a gentle sigh. Staring down, he gazed at the clean ball with his eyes half closed. Tucker walked closer and bent down to his son's level. "Everything alright?"

"I will miss you when you are gone, dad."

Tucker quickly reached out and flicked his son's strong head. "Me too, its been fun while I have been here. But let's not get all sad about this now."

He stood up, taking the ball in one hand and walked back to his original spot. "There are tons of interesting people here, and the community is very welcoming. Plus, the women are not a bad sight to look at either if you catch my drift, even if they are alien chicks."

"Honk-Chika-Honk-Honk!", Junior quickly exclaimed. Tucker laughed saying, "That's my boy!"

Junior caught the next throw and passed it back with equal, if not more strength. Tucker once more nearly stumbled back as he looked at the ball in his hand now. "You have grown up to be very strong."

"Oh, sorry dad. I will throw it more gently next time."

"Don't," Tucker retaliated as he held the ball up towards Junior. "This is a proud sign for me that you are doing just fine in life, and that you are slowly finding your way in it, especially with family matters, like with Rheai."

"You know, If I do, how should I ask her the question?"

"Just ask her, be straight about it with her," Tucker threw the ball in his son's direction and said, "If there is enough trust built between the two of you, then you don't need any fancy theatrics or some crap like that."

Junior held the ball for longer than he should have as Tucker was beginning to feel the onset of annoyance. Junior looked at the built-up dirt and asked, "Will you ever get married father?"

"Let's not go into those unsettling waters," Tucker smirked as Junior finally threw the ball. Tucker firmly caught it and bounced it up and down in his gloved hand. "That time is long gone for me now. I have chosen to make those at Blood Gulch my family, and with you here, I think I'm kept busy enough."

"Muuunnn..."

Tucker had a soft chuckle to himself as a memory from Junior's younger days surfaced. He made the same sound when he was young, it's cute hearing that again. Tucker threw the ball in his son's direction and said, "Don't be sad about that kiddo. I'm still alive, which is more than what I can say for some people I have lost in my life. I just hope not to lose anymore in the way they died."

Tucker looked up at the stars with a widened grin. "Plus, I have learned after being a soldier for so long that my calling is in doing what we do best, to take down evil jerks that are out to make other people's lives miserable for bullshit reasons."

"But are you not ever afraid of death?"

"I'm terrified of it," Tucker admitted, and in one quick swoop he shared the dread with his son. "I'm even more so terrified of it because I know I have so much to lose. But I also accept that no one lives forever."

"Careful there buddy," Church quickly interjected between the two players. "You are starting to sound a little mature there."

Church quickly retreated into his storage unit however upon getting a most displeased look from his host. Junior bounced the ball of the side of his house as he stretched his throwing arm. "Do you ever regret joining the military, father?"

"Nope," he quickly answered. "If I hadn't, I wouldn't be the person I'm today. You wouldn't be here, I wouldn't have had such a great son. Sure there are many bad, even tragic things that have happened, but a lot of good things have also come out of me sticking with it."

"Well, you are welcomed to come back any time you want here father," Junior opened his arms and pointed to the house. "Be it as a soldier, or as a civilian."

"I may take you up on that offer the next time I can make time for a vacation," Tucker mused as the two finished playing catch. Sigma burst from a ball of fire. "Gentlemen, it is almost time for our departure. You would not want to miss your flight Tucker."

"Good point," Tucker noted as he rushed inside. Junior headed for the garage and slowly backed out his car. Junior unlocked the trunk and helped his father settle the bags inside. Junior took the driver's seat and asked, "Ready?"

"As ready as I will ever be for these moments."

Junior slowly backed out into the street and quickly drove off. Every store on the way was etched into Tucker's memory. He looked back to one and shook his head. I never visited that one. I should make sure to do so the next time I come here. He looked ahead at the bustling street and noted. "I will miss this place. It's very alive, and vibrant."

"Then next time, I will show you even more places," Junior offered to which Tucker nodded his head. "Deal."

At the airport, Junior gently pulled into the parking just as Tucker collected a baggage cart. Junior with his mighty strength loaded all the bags onto the cart and guided his father inside to the check-in console. As Tucker checked in and watched his bags disappear into the darkness behind the rubber flaps, he checked the time to his flight and gently patted his son on his back. "Well, looks like this is it."

Junior quickly reached in for a hug, nearly crushing Tucker in the process who soon after returned the gesture. "Thanks for the hospitality. And maybe the next time I come, I may bring more people along to see the cool things I saw here."

"The more the merrier," Junior smiled as he loosened his grip on his father. Tucker's AI companions popped up beside him with Church slowly rubbing his mouth piece. "I don't know why, but I feel kind of bummed out about this."

"Thanks for visiting uncle Church and Sigma!"

"No problem," Church replied as he snapped his fingers in Junior's direction. "Make sure to take care of yourself and your lady."

Tucker rubbed his son's back once more and agreed. "Yeah, and I hope to see some grand kids real soon."

To the Sangheili's ears, they were words from which a deep blush quickly painted across Junior's cheeks. Tucker laughed heartily as he held his stomach tightly. "You know, now that I think on it, I do sound like a nagging parent, don't I?"

"That is not a bad thing," Junior replied with a wide smile. Tucker shook his shoulders and said, "Maybe so, but regardless of what I say, remember to take things at your own pace. Things will happen when they happen."

With one last exchange, Tucker walked beyond the gates from which Junior could no longer accompany him. He browsed the area as soon as he was past the security and made his way for the departure terminal. An area simple in design which led out with two sliding doors, splitting apart to the outside runways. Tucker stared out at the various long distance travel luxury ships, and the one UNSC Pelican that sat snuggled up into the one corner. Two humans waited out and about. Tucker knew instantly that this was his ride. Wow, I get a Pelican all to myself, fancy. He rushed over and they proceeded with his identity check. One of them nodded to the other and all three boarded for a quick take off. The pilot entered the cockpit to begin the pre-launch checks as the co-pilot helped Tucker familiarize himself with the safety rules of this trip.

"Dude, I get it. Just don't move from my seat and all should be fine," Tucker spoke up as he checked the restraints around him. The engines revved up with a loud roar. The co-pilot raised his arms and with a very thick Indian accent, he said, "As long as you get it, it will be a joyride!"

"But it sure is nice of the UNSC to give me the royalty treatment going back," said the aqua soldier. The co-pilot looked to the cockpit and knew his time to take his place neared. "Well that's because you are a badass, and that gets you them perks now. Also, I love the colour of your armour buddy!"

The co-pilot entered the cockpit just as the back door lifted into the air against the locks. Tucker took a quick peek into the cockpit and cleared his throat to speak. "By the way, will any of you guys be coming back here again for the rest of the trip?"

"Only when we reach Blood Gulch."

"Cool!", Tucker exclaimed as he snuggled up into his seat. Church materialized beside him, onto the seat to his left. "Why would you even ask that?"

"Shh," Tucker raised a finger promptly towards his friend's mouth piece. "It's alone time now Church, and what happens in alone time-"

"Okay, I'm going to stop you right there," Church checked Tucker's data banks in his armour and shook his head in disappointment. "Let's get rid of this and this. There, now you can't even dare to do it."

"Wha- my in-flight entertainment, bastard!"

"Don't make yourself so obvious then."

"You guys could have always logged off if you didn't want to see the action," Tucker moaned as he slumped backwards with a whine. Church stepped onto Tucker's shoulder and leaned close to his visor. "I will not be caught in public with my host jerking off."

"Pussy," Tucker looked away with his cheeks puffed. Beneath his feet, he felt the floor shake as the bird began to take off. The turbulence increased with the rising altitude. Soon they were out into space, and as Junior watched from the ground, he wished his father a safe journey home and for the next trip to be even sooner than this one.

At Blood Gulch, the several echoes of gun fire bounced from wall to wall of the canyon, and into the bases. Caboose ran around the whole canyon, doing several laps in a matter of minutes that would put even the healthiest of athletes to shame, and break all records. "Wooohoooo, today is the day that Tucker and Church come back, yaaaayyyy!"

He reloaded the magazine in his rifle and began firing once more. Bonnie from Red base's roof looked at the wasteful use of ammo and felt a little agitated, some much so that she wanted to go down and tell Caboose otherwise. "You know what, his wasteful use of our ammunition bothers me, it really bothers me."

"Don't think too much into this!", Daisy said gently holding her friend back. "Let him be. It's kind of fun seeing Caboose be this excited for something. Around here, you and I both know that we can use a bit more of that daily."

Atop Blue base, Marcus looked up at the sky as Caboose began another barrage. Maybe something tasty will get hit up there and fall from the sky. Then I can have something different than the usual military rations. Maybe something like chicken, a man can dream. To his side, Cholo tapped his feet and felt his voice dance to the happy tune of Caboose. His voice grew louder and higher in pitch. A few moments in and he felt his lungs dry. With a deep breath in, he continued to sing his merry tune to the cheerful cries of their blue companion. "Come on Marcus, join in. You know you want to."

"No thanks."

"Well I'm going to join regardless," Cholo prepared his rifle and ran down to the area Caboose inhabited and both began to scream in unison of their leader's return. Now with both shooting ammo into the air, like money vanishing into thin air, Bonnie felt a nerve pop up. "Ugh, the self control is so difficult to maintain. I have to go down there and stop it!"

Bonnie looked back to her friend as she felt a surprise slap. Daisy shook her head and motioned towards the two carefree individuals. "Lighten up Bonnie, look at them having the time of their life right now. Maybe we should go join them down there."

"Yeah right, in your dreams. You will have to force me down there in order for me to be seen anywhere near that scene."

"Huh, well you know its almost lunch time and I was thinking of making something," Daisy smirked as Bonnie swallowed her own spit. "But if we go join the other two in the center of the canyon right now, we could put it off."

But before Daisy even needed to say anymore, Bonnie was already on ground floor, running at top speed with a fist high up in the air. Daisy quickly followed with a giggle. I'm so glad that works every time, like a charm. "Now Bonnie, let's scream in joy of Tucker's return!"

"Yeah," Bonnie mumbled in a most monotone voice her enthusiasm could muster. "Hooray, he is returning."

"He is returning!", Daisy shouted even louder than the two men who stopped in their track. A smile grew across their faces upon seeing the excitement expand. Daisy jumped up and down as she looked at the sky. "I can't wait to see what Santa Tucker brings back for us!"

In the Pelican, Tucker shifted to look around. He could see the blue atmosphere of the planet that Blood Gulch resides in. The door to the cockpit opened and allowed the co-pilot a clean exit. "We are about to enter the atmosphere."

"Cool," Tucker looked at the man and said, "By the way, no offence but it's hard to understand you with your thick Indian accent."

"Pssh, you totally meant that with offence," Church quipped to which Tucker remained quiet for a moment. As he thought for a minute he finally nodded, "Yeah, okay, I take back the no offence. We still cool Indian dude?"

"I will forgive you only because of your cool armour colour."

"Nice," said Tucker. "Good to know that there isn't a high bar here."

The Pelican's hull vibrated as an orange glow began to flare all around the ship. Tucker looked out to the burning rage of the atmosphere. With the aid of his gravity boots, he held fast onto the ground, as did the co-pilot. Sigma appeared beside them just as they broke through the atmosphere. "Gentlemen, I would say we are about 300 m out from reaching our destination."

"Where will you guys drop me off?", asked Tucker as he stretched his limbs. The co-pilot reached for a bag near the rear door and shoved it towards Tucker. The aqua soldier looked down at the parachute bag with a raised eyebrow. Before he could utter a single word, the co-pilot quickly moved to fasten the bag to the back of Tucker's armour. "Hey dude, what are you doing?"

As soon as the bag was tightly fastened around Tucker's back, the co-pilot released the safety on the rear door and slowly brought it down. Tucker's eyes widened at the clear realization, as clear as the cloudless skies, of what was going to happen. "No fucking way."

"We are now over Blood Gulch," said Sigma. The co-pilot walked back to the retreating soldier, only to force him out. "Hey, hey, you realize how crazy this is?"

"Yeah, fun times will be had!", the co-pilot exclaimed as he leaned Tucker over with force. Tucker's only saving grace was the hand that held him from falling at the moment. The co-pilot looked down below till they reached the mid-point of the canyon. He took out the bags and said, "Hope you enjoyed vacation time, but now that's over. Time for you to go back to being a badass!"

Tucker quickly retreated back into the safe confines of the Pelican only to be stopped by the co-pilot's disgusting action. The man threw out Tucker's bags into free fall. Tucker looked from the sky to the co-pilot and could only utter a few silent words. "I fucking hate you right now, I hope you choke on your own spit!"

As Tucker stared out, he suddenly felt a kick to his back, his balance gone and the skies took him into a free falling embrace. "Oh, fucking bullshitttttttt!"

"Bye buddy," the co-pilot screamed with a large wave. "Have a wonderful time!"

Tucker flailed his arms wildly like a baby bird trying to learn to fly. The air hitting against his armour only got fiercer with the decreasing altitude. But no matter the height, the heaves could still hear of his curses, worse than a sailor man's mouth on a drunken night out. Everyone at ground level looked up to the loud cussing that the skies saw fit to drop into their canyon. Yup, that's Tucker alright, thought all as they could soon make out the aqua form in its approach. Having neared the ground, the parachute on the luggage deployed with a gentle bump in the ride, and it landed safely onto the dry grass. Tucker looked back to his parachute as he now reached a level too close for comfort to the ground. "Eh, guys, what's going on?"

No answer, only silence. This silence which did very little for the health of his heart. "Church, Sigs, what the hell is going on with this fucking parachute?!"

"Quit being a pussy, you can handle it," said Church as he materialized beside his host. Tucker instantly shook his head at the mere thought of the proposition. "No, no, no! I will be a pussy all that I like here, get me the fuck down safely you assholes!"

"Panic will not solve anything," Sigma spoke as he activated the jets on Tucker's armour. Tucker felt his body hit against the padding of the armour. His whole body shook from the sudden impact. He looked at the rough textured gravel that neared as he gently touched his feet onto some much needed solid ground. All strength had abandoned him for he used what little strength he had to keep himself elevated on the ground. Just as the mere thought of his safe landing crossed his mind, he heard a most strange clicking noise. The bag burst open and the flap of cloth and strings ejected up into the sky, and quickly down atop him. "Oh, ha-fucking hardy ha! Gotta love this shitty UNSC equipment!"

He took the bag off and threw it up into the air with the violent shake of his fist. The co-pilot stretched his neck down far as he squinted his black eyes behind the visor to gaze at the safe landing. "That looked like fun, super fun yeah, did you have fun?"

"No."

"That's strange, it normally seems like they all have fun. But then again, I don't hear from them ever again when they touch the ground. Strange things happening!"

"I can't even begin to guess why that could possibly be happening," Tucker remarked as he bent a little down to lean against his knees. He felt his stomach still churn from the panicked experience. "It would be real good now if you guys can piss off."

"Cheer up," the co-pilot replied in his thick accent that seemed to only grow thicker with every word to Tucker's ears. "All that stress of being worked up is no good for your blue. Ta-ta, see you around my fantastically blue man!"

The Pelican was out of sight as it rose towards the atmosphere. Tucker finally felt his body give out as he held his stomach tightly. Oh god, not good. He slowly stood up with a slight limp. Everyone that had heard his cries mid-fall quickly appeared onto the scene. The strong, yet simple minded Caboose excitedly rushed over before anyone could approach Tucker close and raised his rifle into the air with an excited release of gunfire. "Yay, Tucker came home!"

Cholo promptly joined in as regardless of the strange looks he received from Marcus. Caboose holstered his rifle as he saw Church materialize beside Tucker. "I'm always surprised to see how you can always be in such high spirits buddy."

"Not always," Caboose mumbled as he recalled his lost ex-freelancer friend. "But I do my best, and that is why I will eat more cookies and drink more orange juice today!"

"Hi Caboose," Tucker greeted with slow, yet noticeable movements. His legs squirmed as he stood up even taller in an effort to straighten up. He instantly noticed a greedy aura in the group. Cholo's eyes shot a fixated stare towards Tucker's bags. The aqua soldier snickered, "Gee, how good it is to be missed as your dear leader."

As sharp as his stare was, Cholo's eyes turned to pierce the skies above them with a most unconvincing whistle. Suddenly, Tucker felt something drop in his stomach as his bowels moved far too much for his liking. He slowly turned towards Blue base, and with a hobble he limped away to his one singular goal at the moment. Bonnie stared at the long time canyon inhabitant with a raised eyebrow and asked, "Are you okay?"

"Brilliant, I just need to go use the toilet," Tucker moaned as he held back a painful groan. "It feels like my ass got turned inside out from that psycho's method of dropping me off here."

"Gross," said Daisy as Marcus simply rested his chin in his hand. The other hand supported his elbow with a most contemplative moan. "How does someone's ass get turned inside out? Maybe if they were to use a suction tool to do it, then maybe-"

He felt a sudden pressure on his shoulder as he witnessed Bonnie with her hand against her mouthpiece. "Not another word, don't go there."

For the pink Daisy however, it was already too late for the ground felt the full force of her disgust. Bonnie eyed her friend with an evident pity as she tightened her grip on him, only to have it quickly be deflected by him. "Don't go any deeper into that territory, Marcus."

"Oh, I would love to go deeper into your territory," Cholo slowly raised his eyebrows as he spread his legs wide open. The offer was met with a swift kick to the balls, so one could say his action for the offer was not a total waste. If the canyon had ears, all it would hear right now is the toddler like squeal of a grown man holding his crotch. "I...I regret nothing!"

A/N: Tucker is finally back from his vacation and hopefully a little more relaxed. Hopefully you enjoyed his time together with Junior and all the things that have happened in Junior's life worth outlining. Both are making progress in their lives regardless of speed, and I definitely wanted to show that. Now you can read some of the antics Tucker could get into with the rest of the BGC. See you in the next chapter!

~ Monty