A month had passed since that moment where Hanson and Aubree nearly kissed, something that was initiated by Hanson leaning towards Aubree and then Aubree having only dreamt of such a thing happening, went along with it. What stopped the kiss from taking place was the after-dinner show being canceled for an unknown reason and the other soldier to the Alpha Wing squadron returning to the barrack since they no longer had anything to do. Hanson was thankful that he heard them come in and had time to back away from Aubree before anyone could ask why they were so close together, though, it still seemed off to those who had known Hanson since the start of his military career. It wasn't like him just to get cold and walk away, which is exactly what he did after asked what he and Aubree were talking about.
Hanson had not lied. However, he did approve Aubree to go on her week leave two weeks after the situation of the almost kiss, and she just returned three days ago. Now, they were entering the beginning of November. Thatcher, Ella, Nikki, Ricky, and Vincent tried to find out what was wrong with Hanson but he didn't tell them for once, he needed to figure this out for himself. Why had he leaned in to kiss Aubree? Yes, they were friends, and she'd always have a place in his heart because of the fact they were friends first before anyone else joined in. Regardless, Hanson didn't know why he went in to kiss her. Was it a moment of weakness knowing how upset she was and needed that comfort? Why would a kiss fix that? It was likely due to the fact Hanson knew Aubree had feelings for him.
Hanson was slowly discovering, those feelings for Aubree he said were gone, were in fact still very much there. And in that, it made him angry and confused because his heart still yearned for Caylee who was no longer of this world. Caylee had been dead for a year in September, gone fourteen months now. It was decided by Hanson that he would visit both his late mother and former fiance when he took his leave in three weeks, Hanson already had his flight booked and ready to go, and Gobber would be in charge of the troops for that week. Hanson didn't want to talk to Aubree until he figured his feelings out, he needed a clear head to do that. More to that point, Hanson had a mission this morning and needed his head in the game; he could figure everything else out later on. The mission was a priority above all else; he wouldn't allow old feelings that were resurfacing hinder his job.
(Early Morning; 4 am)
Gods, Hanson just wanted to sleep for a few hours. The mission was extended but a complete success, they got the information needed and evacuated before it turned into a firefight. The mission lasted a total of three hours, starting at 1 am, and Hanson couldn't go right to bed, though, he had to write a report and leave it for Major General Andy King to read when he woke up. With the time reaching close to 4:45 am, Hanson sent the report with another soldier headed that way as he climbed into bed and let sleep take him away. Maybe when he woke up, he could figure out these returning feelings for Aubree. However, no sooner than he closed his eyes and fell asleep, a knock was heard on the door, and Thatcher got up to answer it.
"Private Ostbarg, something you need at this hour?" Thatcher inquired.
"I'm sorry to bother you so early, but we have a guard at 0600 hours, and we might be down one member of the team," Sylvia informed softly.
"Who is hurt?" Hanson asked while sitting up in bed, then getting up and walking over to the door as Thatcher moved off to the side slightly.
"No one hurt, sir, but Aubree is sick," Sylvia told him gently. Hanson was much more awake now hearing this, "She started not feeling well a few hours after dinner and went to bed early. Just two hours ago, she was throwing up, and she seems to be getting worse," she continued.
"Why hasn't she gone to the medic?" Thatcher asked now.
"It's Aubree, she's stubborn and said she'd be all right, but at this point, she's been throwing up every half hour to twenty minutes since 2 am, and I'm starting to get worried about her," Sylvia told him. Hanson sighed tiredly as he moved across the hall to Aubree and Sylvia's room, he knocked on the door. No answer.
"She's decent, right?" Hanson asked, and Sylvia nodded to him. Hanson opened the door to the room and peered in to see Aubree on her bed, shaking and whimpering in pain it seemed. "Sergeant Hofferson," he stated to get her attention and Aubree turned slightly and looked at him after he flipped on the light to see her better. Aubree moved as fast as she could out of bed to salute him.
"Yes, sir?" Aubree replied.
"As you were, Sergeant. Private Ostbarg informs me you haven't been feeling well the last few hours, is this right?" Hanson asked her. "And don't lie," he added as he saw her about to say she was okay. "I know you better than that,"
"I'm okay, just feeling a little under the weather, Hanson," Aubree admitted.
"Throwing up every twenty to thirty minutes isn't fine, Aubree. Why haven't you been to the medic?" Hanson sighed.
"I'm sure I'll be okay if I just rest, my Mom was a nurse. I know how to take care of myself," Aubree reminded.
"Your Mom was a nurse, not you, Aubree. You know the rules, you start feeling sick with vomiting, and you go to the medic. If you're sick with a bug or virus, you give it to the rest of the barrack. Private Ostbarg, assist Sergeant Hofferson in getting ready as she will be visiting the infirmary," Hanson ordered as he stepped out of the room.
"Yes Colonel Haddock," Sylvia nodded as she closed the door to help Aubree get ready, after ten minutes the door was open and Aubree standing there but holding onto Sylvia for support. "She's a little weak sir," Sylvia told him when he arched a brow questioningly.
"Why don't you let me take her, Hanson. You just got back and need your sleep," Thatcher offered.
"It's fine; I got her. Go back to sleep, Thatcher. You have a guard in an hour with Alpha Wing," Hanson reminded as he moved towards Aubree and picked her up bridal style, effectively making Aubree blush in surprise. "Not a word, it's easier if I carry you. Lay your head down and stay still, the rest of you who are awake can go back to sleep until your guard," he announced when he saw doors cracking open. Hanson carried Aubree out of the barrack and to the infirmary.
(Two Hours Later; 7 am)
After being checked over, Aubree was diagnosed with the twenty-four-hour bug that was going around. As Hanson and she arrived back at the barrack to find the others gone for their shift, made it easier because Aubree could rest.
"You heard the medic, off your feet and resting while I keep an eye on you. I have work to do also, so you're camping out the rest of your day until the others get back from their guard." Hanson told her while making it to his room and opening the door for her, then leading her to his bed to lay down in. Hanson covered her up and moved to his desk, "If you need anything, let me know," he added.
"I-I will. Thank you, Hanson." Aubree said.
"What for? I haven't done anything; I'd do this for any one of my troops," Hanson replied.
"I know, but you're missing out on your sleep to keep an eye on me and took me when Thatcher had offered," Aubree stated.
"I'm the leader of Draco Battalion, Aubree. I protect and take care of every soldier to the best of my abilities," Hanson responded as Aubree closed her eyes with a soft sigh, looking down a bit. "What's wrong, stomach bothering you again?"
Aubree shook her head, "No, I just-" she didn't look at him, though, he grew curious, "Hanson, can I ask you something?" Aubree finally said.
"Sure," Hanson told her.
"Why have you been, well, different towards me since last month when we were alone in the main room?" Aubree inquired.
Hanson hadn't been prepared for such a question, of course, he knew the answer but couldn't tell her. Hanson had been avoiding her to figure out his feelings, but it was becoming more clear to him that the feelings he pushed aside and buried when he met Caylee were steadily returning. Aubree was more to him than just another soldier or friend, she was his first ever friend and crush, and that was something he couldn't just banish from his emotions. With Caylee gone, as sad as it was to say, his feelings for Aubree were resurfacing. Hanson knew that Caylee would want him to move on, the problem he faced with engaging in such was that he wasn't ready to move on and aside from that, Aubree was a Sergeant and himself as Lieutenant Colonel.
That type of relationship wasn't allowed on military bases and Hanson had been in trouble for it once, he didn't want to go through it again. As much as he cared for Aubree, they couldn't be together with how things were now, and Hanson had to consider his children. For now, he couldn't lie to Aubree because she knew him as well as he knew her.
"I was conflicted and confused about my feelings for you," Hanson admitted as he saw her eyes widen a little. "Aubree, I cannot lie to you. When I joined the military and met Caylee, I pushed all my feelings for you aside to bury them and forget the chance of there ever being you and me together. I will always love Caylee, and I need you to understand that just as Caylee knew that you, Aubree would always be in my heart. My feelings for you have been returning since that night in the main room. I was going to kiss you until the others walked in and I suppose I retracted from you to figure things out," he explained without looking at her.
"You're saying that you still have a crush on me?" Aubree asked.
"Yes, maybe deeper than that. I'm still figuring things out, but Aubree, I need you to understand my side of stuff aside from my feelings for you. I don't need to remind you that you are a Sergeant and I am a Lieutenant Colonel and your commanding officer. Caylee and I got into a lot of trouble for such a relationship, and I don't wish to repeat it. Does that make sense?" Hanson questioned.
"It does. I remember you saying that Caylee was placed in another platoon to avoid deployment because she was pregnant with Hazel, right?" Aubree asked.
"Yes, and such would have to happen to you too, Aubree." Hanson looked at her now.
"But I'm not...pregnant or anything," Aubree insisted.
"It wouldn't matter. Our ranks would not allow us to date and stay in the same platoon, maybe not even the same company. Your home island would be Berk so you would report to Fort Riddari for drill weekend. But it would be like how it was with Caylee, we'd be on different tour times, and couldn't act like a couple at Fort Riddari or even here. It would have to stay strictly professional, and you wouldn't be able just to see me on the base either. Caylee was able to recently because she made officer ranks, but we still had to keep PDA to hugs and light kisses," Hanson informed.
"I-I see. What you're saying is that we could be together off Riddari base and only there unless I'm promoted to officer ranks?" Aubree looked off to the side a bit.
"Even in the officer ranks, on tour, we would have to be professional and on base too aside from a hug or kiss. And aside all of the job aspects of a relationship we would have to endure, Aubree. There are other factors, such as my two children who lost their mother just over a year ago. And...myself, still mourning her. I know Cay would want me to move on, I'm not ready yet," Hanson said lightly.
"I-I understand, Hanson," Aubree nodded as she closed her eyes again.
"I do care about you, Aubs. You're more to me than another soldier or best friend, you're my first friend, and I have deep feelings for you. I'm just not ready to pursue them right now and have other things to take into account before engaging in such elements as a relationship. I'm not saying it will never happen, but for the time being, we have to put it aside and stay friends," Hanson moved beside her now and put his hand on hers as she looked into his eyes.
"Friends or lovers, I don't care what we are, Hanson. Just don't leave me again, I need you in my life," Aubree smiled at him, Hanson smiled back as he hugged her tightly.
"I promise I won't leave again. I need you in my life too," Hanson replied, "Now you need to get some rest, and that's an order," he winked at her as she blushed and nodded while lying down again and pulling the covers up to her chin, then relaxing.
"Sir...yes sir," Aubree responded tiredly before letting sleep take her. Hanson leaned down and kissed her forehead as he saw her smile lightly. Hanson moved to Thatcher's bed and laid down on it knowing his friend wouldn't mind, Hanson needed his sleep too after all. One thing was for sure, sickly conversations certainly got deep fast, but Hanson was glad it happened because he got to tell Aubree he still had feelings for her and now it was just between them and would remain that way until things changed and allowed them to be together. Hanson wanted to be with Aubree; the question remained how long until he was able to and ready to move on.
