The party for Caleb's homecoming was a complete success! Hanson's father even made it home early to enjoy it with them; it was an excellent time with music, dancing, few gifts, food, and drink. Hanson honestly had a good time, and he felt better than he had in a long time since losing Caylee and then suffering through the three-week custody battle. Hanson was still ways off from being completely okay, then again he might never be knowing Caylee was gone and never coming back. Hanson knew that Caylee wouldn't want him to stop living his life, which she would want him to be at his best to take care of the kids, work his job, and maybe even move on to someone else. As much as he knew she'd want that last one, Hanson wasn't sure he could love anyone else as he loved Caylee. Only time would tell he guessed.

Hazel and Caleb were back in school and doing great, Hanson had been going back to work little by little every day that passed since the party. It had taken Hanson two weeks before he was back seven days a week from 5 am to 5 pm, and of course, there was still the drill weekend that took place at the beginning of November when Caleb was brought home. Hanson didn't take part, but he did for the December one. Now it was February 2019, and things had returned to normal with work, kids at school, Steven working, and Hanson hanging out with his friends when he could which seemed to only be once or twice a month and the longest when they had drill and were at the base for three days. Hanson got to see his children every night for dinner and to tuck them in; it was a good feeling.

"Hanson, you need to calm down," Thatcher sighed heavily at his friend who had been holed up in his office and looked utterly exhausted.

"I have to get this shit done, Thatch. I'm almost caught up from all that leave time," Hanson replied.

"You're going to pass out again!" Ella scolded him. It was drill weekend, Hanson hadn't taken part because he was busy with files, requests, orders, and letters. The soldiers were in their barracks as it was almost 9 pm, but given how things were set up for their Company, all the soldiers could hear Thatcher, Ricky, Ella, and Vincent yelling at Hanson to take a break.

"I'm okay El," Hanson muttered before turning his head and coughing hard into his arm.

"You are not! You look like you haven't slept in days and it sounds like you're getting sick," Vincent pointed out.

"We just want you to take one break. Come on, put all this away and come back to the barrack for a shower and some sleep?" Ricky tried next.

"I'll come to bed when I'm done. Now, will you get out and let me work, please? This base doesn't run itself. Do not make me have to make it an order. Go check on the others or something," Hanson stated firmly. With a group sigh, the four friends left the office, and Hanson put his head on his desk with a groan of frustration. Hanson was stressed out with a possible deployment breathing down his neck plus it was almost his and his children's birthdays to celebrate. Hanson had so much work to do, and true, he was over tired and getting sick with the lack of sleep. Maybe he did need a break but just couldn't take one right now. Hanson picked up his pen and got back to work on signing things or filling them out.

(Two Hours Later)

Okay, he was sicker than he thought. Twenty minutes after his friends had left, he threw up twice and thought nothing of it, but he continued to feel like crap and throw up at random. Wasn't that just perfect? Not. Hanson looked at the clock; 11:07 P. Hanson sighed and decided to call it a night, this work wasn't going anywhere between now and tomorrow morning. Hanson didn't feel like going back to the barrack to sleep, so he just pulled out the cot that was in his closet and set that up with a blanket and pillow. Toothless laid down beside him as Hanson finally closed his eyes and let sleep take him.

(Two Days Later)

Oh, it got worse. When Saturday morning came around, Hanson never showed up for PT or breakfast to follow that. Thatcher went to check on him and found him in the office bathroom throwing up. Hanson gave Thatcher orders to continue to drill exercises and not worry about him; Thatcher did as he was told and left while Hanson went back to bed. Now with it being Sunday, he was still sick as ever with a fever and couldn't hold anything down but water and just barely at that. The rest of them were at dinner now, and Hanson once again wasn't joining them.

"How is he?" Aubree asked when Thatcher sat down with his food.

"I peeked in before coming here; he was sleeping," Thatcher shrugged.

"Poor guy, it sucks to be sick," Sylvia sighed.

"Well, let's not forget how much he works and doesn't take breaks when he should. Hanson overworks himself, and his body needs time to recover," Ricky added in.

"And he won't go to the doctor, will he?" Grant inquired.

"Likely not," Ella mumbled.

"So stubborn," the group sighed together all knowing Hanson as well as they did.

"We'll check on him after dinner before leaving," Thatcher informed as they continued to eat their food. It was now the time of night when they could all go home since drill was over, but the friends wanted to check on Hanson first, so they made their way to his office and just as Thatcher was about to knock, they heard a loud thud and then Toothless's whine of worry. "Hanson?" Thatcher questioned with concern as he quickly opened the door and saw Hanson passed out on the floor. "Hanson!" he rushed inside with Vincent, Ricky, and Ella following to see the sight as well.

"Oh, my Gods!" Aubree brought her hands to her mouth in fear.

Vincent was checking his pulse and breathing, "He's out cold,"

"And running a high fever too," Ella pointed out after putting a hand to Hanson's forehead. Toothless whined trying to nudge his friend to wake up.

"Let's take him to the medic, then we can call his father and let him know Hanson will be late coming home," Ricky suggested.

"Right. El, get the door. I've got his arms, you two take his legs," Thatcher ordered as they got ready and the others moved out of the way. Thatch, Rick, and Vin carried Hanson out and to the medic's office for Hanson to be treated and hopefully they could find out what was making him so sick.

(An Hour Later)

After dropping Hanson at the medical office on the base, the others were just sitting in the waiting area for news about him. Steven and the children showed up, and there was no update, the Medic couldn't find out what was causing it and admitted she lacked the equipment to run the tests to figure it out. Without much choice, at 7:20 pm, Hanson was taken to Berkian General Hospital, and that is where all of the friends were now with Hanson's Dad and two children.

"This is starting to scare me," Aubree bit her bottom lip with worry.

"It scares us all, Aubree. Sit down, pacing like that won't help Hanson," Ella told her. Aubree sat back down and starting biting her nails a little; it was her scared and nervous habit. Finally, a female doctor emerged from the double doors of the emergency room and stood before Steven who was up first.

"You must be Hanson's father, yes?" the woman asked, Steven nodded quickly. "I'm Lauren Foster, overseeing your son's treatment. It seems the illness is nothing more than a stomach bug and the worst of it hits around three days in. As for the passing out, there's no medical reason for it. I'm safely assuming it was due to stress, lack of sleep, overworking. I'm aware he doesn't have what you would call a non-stressful job being the leader of Fort Riddari," Dr. Foster informed.

"So, he'll be okay once he gets some rest?" Thatcher asked.

"Well, he was suffering some dehydration from all the puking, so we're giving him fluids and fever reducer to counter those issues and monitoring him because you mentioned he walloped the ground when passing out," Dr. Foster replied.

"Is he awake?" Aubree inquired.

"No, I'm afraid not. You're more than welcome to wait in the room for him to do so until visiting hours end. If he wakes up before then, I'll send him home tonight," Dr. Foster smiled to the small group of friends and family.

"Thank you, Doctor," Steven nodded to her as she swiped her badge and led them inside and to the right and three doors down where Hanson laid on the bed looking peaceful.

"I'll be through to check on him and if there's a change, just let us know at the desk out there," Dr. Foster enlightened before walking away to check on other patients. The friends and three family members found places to sit or lean while looking at him silently, what could they say? Hanson passed out from being dehydrated and overworked.

"I told him to take a break on Friday," Thatcher sighed heavily.

"You know how he is, Thatcher, don't blame yourself," Steven replied. "Hanson doesn't take breaks, he knows how much falls on his shoulders, and he's never been one to let people down before, he strives to be on top of everything. Hanson did it as a kid too, worked himself every night with chores until he fell asleep during dinner," Steven chuckled a little.

"And you can't help him being sick, it happens to everyone," Heather pointed out.

"I just hope Daddy wakes up soon," Caleb said while sitting with Hazel.

(Thirty More Minutes Pass)

Visiting hours would end at 10 pm, and thankfully right now it was only 8 pm, and they'd already gone to the cafeteria to get something to snack on to pass the time. They were talking about how the weekend went and maybe an idea to get Hanson to lighten up on his workloads when they heard groaning. All heads snapped to Hanson's figure to see him moving his head a bit and opening his eyes slow.

"Daddy!?" Hazel and Caleb said together being they were closest to the bed. Hanson brought a hand up to his head and rubbed his eyes a little to focus them around the room. Hearing beeping, he already could tell he was in the hospital. Hospital! When the hell did he get there?! Hanson saw his friends, father, and children; even Toothless was outside near the window.

"Oh, thank Thor you're awake son. You've been knocked out since 6 pm," Steven sighed in relief as Hanson forced himself to sit up slowly, a pinch in his arm got him to see the IV line there and then the heart and blood pressure monitor.

"Are you okay?" Aubree asked him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I think? When did I get here?" Hanson asked.

"We came back from dinner to let you know we were leaving and I heard a thud, went in your office and you were passed out. The medic on the base didn't know what caused it, so she sent you here," Thatcher told him.

"You know I hate hospitals," Hanson muttered laying back again obviously still having a massive headache.

"Well, if you hadn't taken so much on at one time, you wouldn't have overworked yourself," Ella pointed out.

"You try being the base leader and tell me you wouldn't get overworked with all the things I have to do on a daily basis," Hanson retorted to her.

"We understand your rank and responsibilities, Hanson, but you need to take it easy alright? What if we had already left the base and you were alone there knocked out? Hm? You were dehydrated, man. Your kids need you," Ricky sighed. Hanson had a remark to it but decided not to say anything because his friend was right.

"How do you feel son?" Steven looked at him.

"Better, I guess. Still sick and tired," Hanson replied as the Caleb helped Hazel on the bed so she could hug her father, then Caleb used a chair to do the same. "I've missed you two all weekend," Hanson smiled while hugged them back.

"Well, we have school vacation this week. Can we do something fun?" Caleb asked.

"I will try, things are pretty hectic at the base right now," Hanson told them.

"What's so hectic about it, you won't say anything," Taylor stated.

"It's a need to know basis. When I know more, so will you." Hanson closed his eyes. Out of nowhere, his cell phone rang as he dug it out of his pocket and saw the caller ID. Restricted. That was never good, that meant it was military business because only one person called him restricted and it was his commanding officer. Hanson put his finger up for them to be quiet, "Lieutenant Colonel Haddock here," he greeted and then, "General King, what can I do for you, sir?" Hanson just listened and disliked it more and more as he did. After fifteen minutes, Hanson closed his eyes. "Of course, General King. Orders understood and confirmed. I will see you then," then Hanson hung up and lowered the phone.

"Although I'm afraid to know, what did the Major General King have to say?" Vincent inquired. Hanson was silent a moment before looking at them seriously.

"Deployment orders," Hanson informed as they gasped. "0400 hours, leaving from Fort Riddari for a twelve-month tour in Afghanistan. We're joining up with Caylee's old platoon; our two will make a full Company. We ship out in two months," Hanson said. This is what he had been stressing about, a possible deployment that breathed down his neck and he'd finally gotten that dreaded call with the orders telling him they would be shipping out very soon.