Graduation Day

Summary: Drew graduates from Ranger School

Warning/Disclaimers: No warnings, usual disclaimer.

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"Hey mom," Rick said tiredly as he entered the mud room of his home, with the dog enthusiastically following him. "Hi to you too Scout," he added, taking a moment to fuss over the mutt.

The young man was tired and sore, ready for the day to be over and to crawl into bed. It had been a long night for the officer as his team worked a barricaded suicidal subject. Thankfully, it had been a good outcome, with no one injured and the negotiator had been able to talk the women into coming out peacefully. Sitting on the bench, he pulled off his boot and his prosthetic leg, taking a moment to itch the skin savoring the relief.

Nancy Lincoln, Rick's mother, was in the kitchen of the farmhouse that he and Drew owned. The petite lady was busy making breakfast, but she looked over at her son with a warm smile, "hi honey. How ya doing?"

Grabbing his crutch, Rick yawned much to his mother's amusement. "That good, huh?" She teased. Rick laughed in reply as he hobbled into the kitchen.

"It was a long shift, but not a bad day. How was your night? Did Bri behave?" He asked, pouring himself some water.

Rick's parents had moved from Montana several months ago into the in-law suite of the house Drew and Rick owned so that they could be closer to their sons and new granddaughter. His parents were extremely excited to have a grandchild, finally, and were more than happy to babysit while Drew and Rick worked overnight. This was especially helpful while Drew was away in Ranger School.

"Oh, she was a gem, as always," his mom answered. "Although Drew needs to hurry up and get back so he can help her with that math homework. It took us an hour to figure out one question," she laughed.

Rick shook his head, "yeah… math… I'm useless too. Now, I'll take history any day."

"It's not history she needs help with," his mom said.

"Fair point. Where's dad? And is she still asleep?" Rick asked, frowning when he looked at the time. If Bri was still sleeping, then she was going to be late to school.

"She emailed her teacher last night asking for assistance with the homework and she said she could come in early so your father's taking her to school. He should be home soon. You want sausage or bacon?""

"Bacon please," Rick answered, "Did Drew call last night?"

"Yes. He did and she was very excited to talk to him. He said he was doing well and that things were fine, but he sounded exhausted," Nancy said, finishing up with the eggs, "get the bacon out."

Doing as instructed, Rick responded, "he's in the last two weeks, so that would be accurate. It's probably the last call we're going to get from him until the final."

"I remember, Ranger Boy," his mom teased, taking the bacon from him. "How excited are you getting to go back to where you trained?"

Rick shook his head, a wistful smile on his face as he scratched Scout's ears, "It's still weird not being in the Army, but at the same time, it's like I never left. It's going to be kinda bittersweet."

His mom gave him a sad smile of understanding, "Drew wasn't at your graduation from Ranger School, was he?"

"No. He was in specialist training. He already had his civilian paramedic, so they were training him to be a medic and hospital tech. I believe he went straight from training to his first unit. We didn't get a chance to see each other before he shipped out. Besides, we weren't dating yet."

"Oh, like that would have mattered. You two started dating when?" his mom teased.

"Uhhh… after our first deployments? I got home before him and picked him up from the airport and that was, I want to say, the first date," Rick answered.

"First date, huh? How romantic," she teased.

Rick was saved from having to respond when his father returned home. "Rick! Come help me get the chicken feed outta the truck," his dad called.

Rick sighed dramatically, "but I'm tired?"

"Too bad," his father, Paul Lincoln said, still standing in the mud room but now petting Scout. The man looked like an older version of Rick, just with a little more of a gut. He too had been an Army man and had recently retired from being a ranch foreman and the first thing he did when coming to Texas was buy chickens.

"They're not even my chickens," Rick grumbled as he made his way over to help his dad.

"Funny, I said the same thing about your dogs while you were growing up every time, I walked them," his father shot back making Rick laugh. His mom just shook her head at the pair as she finished preparing breakfast.

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Brianna Allister-Lincoln was a mix of excitement and nerves. She had last spoken to her dad a week ago and today was the longest she had gone without talking to him since he went to Ranger school. But that was about to change; currently she and her other dad were on their way to the hotel after their flight to Georgia. This was her first time on the east coast and that alone would have been thrilling but seeing her dad after roughly sixty-two days was making her antsy.

"You're shaking the whole car," Rick teased her, gently tugging on her ponytail as he drove their rental car.

Bri smiled at him, "I can't help it. I'm so excited."

"Trust me, I know," he assured her, smiling.

"Why don't we get to see him tonight?" she asked.

"Because he's got a lot to do right now. There's the graduation prep, final unit checks, and sometimes they give you new assignments. So, he's got to be there for all of that," Rick answered her.

"New assignments? Like deployments?" and Bri sounded worried, Rick didn't blame her.

"Yes and no. Sometimes it's a new unit, sometimes a new rank or duty within the old unit, but yes. There is a chance they could be given a deployment," Rick answered carefully. He didn't want to upset his daughter, but he knew firsthand that it was better to be prepared for the worst. His dad had never liked surprising them with Army postings, always being honest about them with his family, and that was something he and Drew were determined to do for theirs.

"What is the chances dad's going to be deployed?" Bri asked.

"Mostly low. So, Drew is in the Army but he's in the reserves which means he has civilian obligations to fulfill that the Army has to honor. So, he agreed to two months of training for Ranger School, but now he needs to go back to work at SAM for a little bit. The important thing to know is that Saturday afternoon, all three of us will be flying back to Texas," Rick answered and gave her a smile. He was relieved that she smiled back, seemingly appeased.

"What's the graduation going to be like? I've never been to one," she said, returning to being excited.

Rick laughed. "I have," he teased. Bri stuck her tongue out at him in response making him laugh harder. "Well, we're gonna get there early to see the Rangers in Action, which is a demonstration drill the class does for their families. You're gonna like that, it's pretty cool. Then the actual ceremony starts at eleven and it'll be about an hour. Then you get to see your other dad."

"That part's gonna be my favorite," Bri said.

Rick gave her a huge smile as he pulled into their hotel, "mine too."

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Rick was full of a jumble of feelings. Pride, excitement, antsy, happiness, as well as several other emotions were coursing through his mind as he sat with his daughter watching the ceremony. It was amazing to be back at Benning, walking the grounds he had spent two months proving himself at. He had spent hours last night telling Bri about Ranger School and his time there and the pair had come early so he could give her a tour. There was some jealousy and grief mixed with this though; it was a reminder of what he had lost and how badly he missed the Army. Those feelings were short lived, however, and long forgotten by the time the demonstration had started. That had been a thrill.

He could remember when he had done it and being too caught up in the moment to actually enjoy it. Watching now, he felt like a little kid watching his first ever action movie. It was also adorable to watch Bri's reactions and he loved every time he heard her say, "you did that?" Or, "There's my dad!" Now they were at the ceremony and compared to the demonstration it was grueling. He was antsy and board, ready for this to be over with. It didn't help that he could see Drew, standing so damn stoically in uniform as if he had been freshly pressed. His husband was pretty freaking sexy, and he was really glad he was gonna be sleeping with him tonight.

"Ugh… why won't this end?" Brianna scuffed under her breath. The preteen was bouncing slightly in her seat, equally as antsy as her dad, just not able to hide it as well.

Rick chuckled, putting his hand on her back in a calming gesture. "It's almost over, they're giving out the awards now."

"How much longer is almost?" Bri all but whined and Rick shook his head, smiling. He couldn't blame the kid; he knew how she felt.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to take a moment to give some information in regard to our next award winner." The speaker on the stage now had Rick's full attention; he had been to a number of Army ceremonies and this wasn't the normal 'script'. "When our students come here, they have no rank and any past service does not give them any kind of favor over anyone else. However, in the case of this particular officer, today I would like to take a moment to highlight his career before he arrived as it very clearly set the foundation for his achievement today. He joined the Army at the age of eighteen, already having a paramedic degree, and after completing basic training he went on to combat medic training. He would complete two tours as a combat medic, serving with distinction both times. He then moved to reserve status in order to go to medical school…"

"He's talking about dad!" Bri said excitedly, and all Rick could do was smile as pride filled him.

"...his third tour of duty would give him the unfortunate distinction of POW. When he came to Benning, he had basically already endured Ranger School, just not with all the paperwork." The speaker paused as the crowd laughed then continued, "however, it was clear that he took it very seriously, being here. He proved himself to be dependable, trustworthy, and essential to his unit not only as their medic, but as a leader and friend. He asked for no special treatment due and worked just as hard as everyone else. Ladies and gentlemen, to put it plainly, he showed up to earn his title and earn it he did. His dedication and skill were noted not just by his instructors but by his peers as well. It is my pleasure to award Army Captain, Dr. Drew Allister the LTC Keith Antonia Officer Leadership Award."

The speech was followed by applause and cheers, and Rick had to laugh watching Drew accept it. He knew how uncomfortable he was standing there as all these people cheered for him and what an effort it was for him not to hide. But like a good soldier, he stood at attention and took the praise. Rick was pretty sure he was the only one who could see him squirm.

"What is the LTC...whatever award" Brianna asked as the cheering died down and the ceremony continued on.

"LTC Keith Antonia Officer Leadership Award," Rick said, "and it means his peers really respect him."

"Did you get an award?" Bri asked, looking over to him.

"Yeah. I got the Hall award, that's like the valedictorian for enlisted guys," Rick answered.

"But you're a captain?" Bri asked, confused.

"I wasn't in Ranger School. Now come one, get ready to cheer again, they're wrapping up."

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The ceremony was completed, the class had been dismissed and given leave. Those who had come to see the graduation had gathered on the field and there was a festive air surrounding them, it was very similar to when a until would return from deployment. Everyone was ready to celebrate the return of their soldier and thus there was a clog of people that blocked the way of the soldiers who were filtering out. Rick had had to keep a hand clamped on Bri's shoulder to keep her from running off as the pair searched for Drew.

Rick, being taller, was the first to spot him in the crowd and he waved to get the other man's attention. Drew's face broke into a smile and he waved back, making his way towards them. Rick squeezed Bri's shoulder and said, "there he is!" He pointed to her other dad, and once he was sure she saw him, released his hold. Like a shot, she was gone, making her way as fast as she could to him. Drew saw her coming, and paused, preparing to catch her.

As soon as she was in reach, he picked her up and spun her around in an enormous hug, both of them laughing. By the time he put her down, Rick had joined them, and it was his turn to hug his husband. He held him tight for a long moment, breathing a sigh of relief at finally having him back. "I missed you," Drew said, pulling back just enough to kiss him.

Rick smiled, "I am so proud of you." He hugged the man again, laughing at the blush that was now on his face. It was a quick hug though, as Drew once again pulled away, this time to hug their daughter. The young girl held on tightly to him, so very happy that he was back, and she excitedly told him about her favorite parts of the demonstration. Rick shook his head, all smiles as Drew laughed and Bri went on.

"Rick Lincoln?" Came a gruff sounding voice from behind him. It was almost comical how both he and Drew snapped to attention for a moment as they instantly recognized the man. "Well I'll be damned, it is you," the voice said, as the man who owned it now appeared in front of him, "Alister, when I read your file, I didn't think your husband was the same Lincoln I had to put up with. But what are the chances?" The man was Master Sergeant Vincent McKenny and he was one of the toughest drill instructors that Ranger School had to offer, but he was also one of the most respected. "What are you doing out of uniform, Ranger?" He said, extending his hand.

Rick smiled as they shook hands. "I lost my leg so the Army said I couldn't play anymore," he answered, making the other laugh as they shook hands.

"Damnit boy, didn't I teach you to keep track of your limbs?" That made both Rick and Drew laugh, and Bri gave all three men a confused look. That happened to be when the Master Sergeant noticed her, and he almost blushed realizing he'd cursed in front of her. "Well hello there young lady, and who are you?" He asked, offering his hand out to her.

"Brianna Allister-Lincoln," she said, taking his hand, "but call me Bri."

"Well nice to meet you. I'm Vinny. So, these two boys are your dads, huh?"

"Yes sir," she said, and smiled proudly.

"Poor girl, you got your hands full. They're nothing but trouble," Vinny said.

"Tell me about it, it's exhausting trying to keep them in line," the preteen said, making all three men laugh.

The conversation continued from there as Rick and Vincent caught up. Vinny also told stories of less than stellar moments about both Drew and Rick, mostly for Bri's benefit. After a few minutes, the Master Sergeant said, "well, I'm sure you all would like to enjoy the rest of this day now that he's free again." Then looking at Rick, the old soldier stood straight and saluted, "Captain Lincoln, good to see you." Rick quickly returned the salute, before shaking the man's hand as they parted ways. He caught a quick glimpse of Drew's expression and Rick felt himself blush at the love and pride there as well as the respect. Bri may not understand the significance of what had just happened, but Drew did, and it showed.

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It was now pushing midnight. They had, had a wonderful afternoon exploring Columbus, Georgia and then a nice evening in the hotel lounging at the pool and watching a movie in their suite. When Bri had finally fallen to sleep, Drew had carried her to her room and tucked her in. Finally, the two partners were able to have some time alone. Currently, Drew was on his stomach, head cradled on his arms trying to stifle grunts and groans as Rick worked on the knots in his back.

"You've lost a lot of weight," Rick commented, grimacing as he felt the other's bones through his skin. It wasn't like the other was skeletal, but it was still disturbing to feel the difference. Drew didn't respond, he was too busy trying not to groan as Rick found a particularly painful spot. "You're gonna have to be careful when you get home not to overeat."

"Yeah…." Drew grunted, "I know. Just like after a fight…"

Rick chuckled. "Okay, I think I got the worst of it. I'll stop torturing you now," Rick said as he eased off of Drew. He stretched out on his side next to his husband, propping himself up on his elbow. "How ya feel?"

"Better. Thank you," Drew said, giving Rick a sleepy smile.

"Good. Now what about your head?" Rick prompted, running his fingers along Drew's jaw.

Drew held his breath for a long moment before letting it out slowly. "I should probably make an appointment with Dr, Florence sooner rather than later," he said, "survival training was...interesting…"

"Nightmares?" Rick prompted.

"Not really. I was too tired. I'm still too tired," he said, "and I feel soooo old…"

Rick laughed, "I tried to warn you."

"I believed you," came the yawned reply, "but you were nineteen when you were here. I'm thirty-one."

"Poor baby," Rick teased as he leaned in and kissed his husband. Drew moaned softly, wishing he wasn't so damn tired. "Well, I have a surprise for you, and I promise it will help with the aches and pains," Rick said running his hand through Drew's hair. "Mom and dad are gonna watch Bri for a couple days next week before you go back to work and we're going to Galveston."

Drew smiled, "no Hawaii?"

"Yeah, no. That'll have to wait until the summer," Rick teased, then, growing serious, "I'm really proud of you. I don't think you understand…"

"Yeah I do," Drew said, "I just couldn't be there."

He then pushed himself up with a groan and climbed to his feet. Stiffly, he made his way over to where his uniform hung and unzipped the garment bag and began fiddling around with the uniform. Rick watched him, amused, knowing exactly what his husband was doing. Within moments, the other had returned to him and was stretching out on his side, in his hand was his Ranger tab. He stared at it for a minute, face blank but brown eyes full of emotions. Those emotions Rick understood and knew well. He remained silent and still as the other tried to process and come to terms with the last two months.

Drew eventually looked from the tab to his partner and with a shy smile he held out the patch. "Thank you," he said softly and there was a lot of weight in those words.

Rick took Drew's extended hand, clasping his own over it and the patch and pulled the other in closer. Tenderly, he kissed him, the intimacy easing a tension in both of them. "I will always wait for you," Rick whispered softly as he pulled away. He felt Drew lean on him, felt his head on his arm, and he smiled. "You falling asleep on me?"

"Maybe," came the mumbled reply.

Rick shook his head, "God it's good to have you back…"

-end-