Aubree barely slept a wink when returned to the Alpha Wing barrack after she saw Hanson wounded and hardly conscious and bleeding badly from being shot in the arm after she and the other nine soldiers escaped on the helicopter while Hanson stayed back with Toothless to protect them. Hanson was their leader and mentioned many times that he took the fall to get his soldiers to safety, but that also worried her to no end if he would be okay. The soldiers returned a little after midnight and got ready to sleep, some took showers first, and some just went right to bed because they were tired. No wonder Hanson always looked tired after a mission, they didn't sleep on them and had to stay on guard at all times. The time now was 8 am, no update on Hanson according to Ella who Aubree had asked when she first got up at 6 am to use the bathroom.

"I'm sure he's okay, Aubs. Hanson is strong, and he wouldn't let something like this take him down," Sylvia tried to comfort her worried friend who they all knew still had deep feelings for Hanson.

"I-I know that Syl, but we shouldn't have left him there with no help. Someone should have stayed back," Aubree whimpered a bit.

"You know why Hanson did what he did. And come on, he's too stubborn and wouldn't have allowed us to stay. We're still newbies to all this, that was our first mission, and it went horribly," Sylvia reminded.

"I've never seen him hurt like that before, and it's been eight hours since and no update from Thatcher, Ricky, or Vincent who went with him to the infirmary," Aubree sighed heavily while lowering her head onto her arms and trying not to cry.

"Alpha Wing, fall in!" called a male voice and Aubree's head shot up. That was Vincent's voice, "Meet in the main room on the double!" he added. Aubree wasted no time scrambling out of bed and getting out the door to hers and Sylvia's room, the others soldiers were doing the same thing. When the the ten of them reached the main room they saw Ricky and Vincent there, Ella and Nikki rushed forward wanting news. Thatcher wasn't with them, did that mean he was still with Hanson at the infirmary?

"We have news about Hanson, he's alive and resting. The bullet didn't do a lot of damage to his arm, but it will have him recovering for the next month or so," Ricky informed as there was a group sigh of relief.

"The bullet was removed, and the wound is stitched closed with a wrapping around it while it heals. The medic says he will return to the barrack in a few days and the remainder of his recovery will be done here. It could take longer than a month; they aren't sure yet. Not much keeps Hanson down for long," Vincent went on to explain. Aubree wanted to cry; he was okay thank the Gods.

"Can we visit him?" Nikki inquired.

"Medic says it's best if you don't, he's going to be sleeping a lot until he gets back here. The most damage was the blood loss, he'll be back in a few days, but it's best not to pester him so he can get better. Thatch is with him now, but he'll be back by lunch time," Vincent replied. There was a lot of relief to hear Hanson was going to be okay after recovering for a bit, Aubree could breathe a little easier knowing that even if she couldn't visit him right now.

(Two Months Later)

Entering the month of October, Hanson was back on his feet and cleared for missions again. The recovery took a little longer because it got infected once and that had him back in the infirmary for three days, afterward, he returned to the barrack and spent his recovery there. Thatcher was temporary leader of the squadron and platoon while that was going on. Aubree was happy to get to see Hanson when he got back to the barrack, his arms was wrapped and in a sling but at least he was awake and walking around with the smile she loved so much. Officially, they had been deployed six months now and wondered when they might get some leave time to go home and be out of the war for even just a week. No one wanted to ask Hanson because he seemed pretty busy after he was cleared to return to duty.

At the moment, the soldiers of Alpha Wing barrack were sitting in the main room watching the news while Hanson was in his cubicle being hard at work like always. This was one of those quiet times when not much was going on except to just wait for something to happen, Hanson hadn't been lying when he said that to them before they left back in April.

"Ask him, Aubs," Heather mentioned.

"No, he's busy, and I don't want to make him mad," Aubree sighed, they had been trying to get someone to go talk to Hanson about leave because before they left, Hanson mentioned it usually happened around this time. Six or seven months into the deployment they would get a week back on Berk before having to return to continue the tour of duty they were on.

"He won't yell at you, though, you two are best friends," Grant reminded.

"Can I remind you that he snapped at me first back in training and offered me to leave the group and live on another island?" Aubree remarked recalling that argument with Hanson.

"Yeah, but you two have made up from that. So go try!" Raelyn urged. Aubree got up slowly and moved towards the cubicle; she took a deep breath before knocked on the flimsy wall of it. Hanson looked over at her curiously.

"Come in, have a seat," Hanson invited with a small smile to her, Aubree walked in and sat down in the chair next to his desk. "Something on your mind?" he asked.

"Sort of. I was just wondering about leave time and when we might be getting it. It's...almost the anniversary of my Mom's death and much like you and your Dad do every year, so do my Dad and me" Aubree stated. Hanson sat back in his seat now and looked at her.

"Did Thatcher not tell you guys how leave time works on deployment? I thought I told him a couple of weeks back to inform you. Go back out there with them, I'll explain it all at once," Hanson told her as Aubree got up and moved outside the cubicle with Hanson following behind. "Okay, so Aubree brought to my attention that you're curious about leave time, and I thought I had Thatch explain it, but I guess he forgot. How leave works is that you request the time off. Then I will try and arrange for you to take that leave on your requested time or as close to it as possible,"

"So we just have to request it with you?" Sawyer asked.

"There's a stack of forms on the wall outside my office. You have to fill it out and submit it, and then I'll do what I can. Rules, though, you cannot take it all at the same time because we'd be down too many soldiers at one time." Hanson explained.

"So do we only get one leave and how long can we request off for?" Eli asked.

"Your leave time is based on how long your tour is scheduled for. Such as this one, it's a year, so you get one around the half-way mark. For tours that are over fourteen months, you are allowed two, one week tours. This tour, you're allowed one week, seven days, and you pay for your flight home and back. You'd leave from Bagram Airfield on a commercial flight with other civilians, then return the same way and when you come back, a soldier will meet you to bring you into the base," Hanson told them.

"Seems fair," Heather shrugged some. "Would my brother and I be allowed to take ours together?" she inquired.

"Yes, siblings can take leave together," Hanson nodded to them. "Like I said, I cannot promise you will get the time you want off, but I can get you as close," he added so they would know.

"Okay, thanks, Hanson. When you do plan on going?" Aubree questioned.

"Next month when the anniversary for my Mom comes around. I leave right around Thanksgiving," Hanson smiled. Aubree gave a thought to maybe taking leave when he did but then she would miss the anniversary of her own mother's passing, and it had only been a few years since the event. As much as she wanted to, Aubree would just wait to spend time with Hanson, they were talking a lot recently since his injury took place two months ago and Aubree enjoyed it. "Well, I better get back to work," he informed before turning heel and returning to his cubicle out of sight. At least they knew about leave time now and would have to work on those forms to get it.

(Later On)

When dinner came, Hanson stayed back in his office, and the others went to enjoy the little musical even that was being put on in the chow hall. It was an after-dinner show, the tables would get moved, and soldiers would play instruments and sing for anyone there. A good way to boost their spirits, especially to soldiers who just came off a mission or guard shift. Aubree typically stayed, but she was feeling tired tonight and decided to return to the barrack after eating her meal. No one questioned her about it, so when Aubree got back to the barrack, she chosen to relax in the main room and watch some TV, maybe read a book and kill time until it got later and she could go to sleep. Aubree knew if she tried now, she wouldn't sleep all night and she hated laying awake for hours until the sun rose.

"Aubs?" Hanson asked as he was coming out of the cubicle and noticed her there.

"Hey, Hanson," Aubree greeted with a smile.

"Didn't stay for the after dinner show?" Hanson inquired as he walked over to her.

"Nah, I was feeling a little tired, so I decided just to come back here and relax. Are you going?" Aubree looked to him.

"I just finished my work, for now, chose to come out here and relax while it was quiet. Are you okay, you seem kind of down tonight," Hanson said.

"I'm okay, just thinking about Mom I guess," Aubree admitted to him, Hanson knew her mother had passed away much like his mother had.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Hanson took a seat beside her, "I'm always here to listen," he offered.

"No, it's okay, Hanson. Thank you, though. I had always wanted to join the military when Mom got sick I stopped wanting it, but she told me before she died to shoot for my dreams. And what do you know, they led me to you again since you vanished for eight years," Aubree chuckled a little.

"Funny how things work out that way in life," Hanson smiled leaning back on the couch.

"I wish you could have been there for the funeral, I needed my best friend back then," Aubree looked down a little and Hanson looked her way.

"You know how busy I get, and you've seen it first hand now. I knew she passed away, Dad told me. I sent flowers," Hanson informed as Aubree looked a little shocked. "You didn't know?"

"No, I-I never looked at the flowers. It was painful at the time; Dad has all the senders cards in a box back home." Aubree told him.

"I sent a bouquet of yellow and white roses to the funeral home the day of the service. White for sympathy, yellow for friendship. There was a little card that said; I'm sorry I couldn't be there in person to hold you and offer comfort. I hope the roses do. Please know I've got you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. -Your friend, H.H." Hanson recited.

"So you did make contact, and I never knew," Aubree sighed looking down again. Hanson lifted her head up with a finger under her chin as her blue eyes met his green hues and a form blushed on her cheeks that she prayed to Odin he didn't see.

"Aubree, don't blame yourself. Losing your Mom was hard on you and to notice something so small that day would be difficult. It was a small bouquet of roses, only had six in it with a little card. I know what it's like to lose a parent, remember? I disappeared for two weeks and didn't want anyone around me," Hanson told her softly, although he didn't realize how close they were.

"But if I had seen it back then, I wouldn't have felt like I lost my Mom and my best friend at the same time. Hanson, I felt so alone with you gone after Mom died. I was plagued with nightmares that you had died, that you just...abandoned me," Aubree said as Hanson noticed the tears forming in her eyes.

"Hey, ssh, don't cry. You know I can't stand to see tears in those blue eyes. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you that day, Aubree, there was a lot going on, and I believe I was deployed at the time too. I tried to be there another way, I never forgot about you guys, especially you," Hanson told her as Aubree's eyes widened some at his words. "Aubree, I've said it before. You were my first real friend and crush. No matter what happens to us or where we go in life," he paused as his other hand rested on her which was on her lap. Hanson moved a little closer, "You will forever hold a place in my heart, and I will always be here for you even if I'm far away. I care about you, Aubs, that is something that can never be erased," Their lips were inches from touching, eyes closing slowly and then...

"I can't believe the show got canceled; I was looking forward to it too!" Taylor complained when the door to the barrack was heard slamming against the wall as it was opened. Being snapped from his thoughts, Hanson saw how close and Aubree were as he pulled back and released her hand just before the others walked in to see them on one of the couches together. Aubree's eyes opened as she understood what almost happened; she and Hanson nearly kissed!

"Hanson? Aubree? You two okay?" Nikki inquired. Hanson got up from the couch and put his hands in his pockets with his eyes closed.

"We're okay. Aubree was just asking if I'd approve her requested time off in two weeks and I have. I have to get back to work," Hanson said in a slightly cold tone as he walked away, gathering his laptop and files from the cubicle then leaving the main room to enter his room in the barrack, shutting the door tightly. Aubree was still in shock, Hanson was going to kiss her, and she was going to let him because she wanted him to, Aubree only dreamed of something like that happening a million times, and it almost happened then and there if the friends hadn't walked in.

(Hanson & Thatcher's Room)

'I almost kissed Aubree, what the fuck is wrong with me!?' Hanson scolded himself with his head in his hands. Hanson loved Caylee even though she was gone, why did he almost kiss Aubree just now? Of course, he cared about her, but that didn't mean he could kiss her because of such a fact. Hanson needed to think as he was suddenly very confused about his feelings for someone he told himself he didn't like anymore.