Hanson stood there in a bit of shock after hearing what Aubree said. Aubree admitted that she couldn't do it anymore and wanted out of the military because of the events two weeks ago. Of course, they had all been there for eighteen months and seen a lot of things but barely any deaths. Aubree and the others would see people be hurt, and hear of deaths but never seen. Two weeks ago, Aubree and the others saw six soldiers get killed in front of them and all in a matter of an hour during a mission. Everyone passed their psych evaluations, but now Aubree had come to him and revealed she wasn't okay and suffering PTSD, to a point she almost hurt herself before coming to him about it. Hanson was glad she recognized she needed help, but she should not have waited this long to seek it out.

Another problem is that Aubree was under a five-year contract and had only served three of them come June 2020. Unless a soldier broke military laws or was medically discharged, getting out of contract was a process to go through, and it could take months or even a year to come to pass for the soldier. What did Hanson do here? His love for her wanted him to hold her close and tell her it would be okay but of course, that wasn't allowed right now with them still on tour in Afghanistan. The leader side of him was supposed to get her the help she needed, but that would go against Aubree's wishes of not wanting to see and military psychologist, she just wanted out to get help and then be done with the military.

Hanson could get in so much trouble for this if anyone found out, but Aubree needed him to not be her CO. She needed her best friend that she always relied on. Hanson pulled her into his arms tightly and embraced her, Aubree let go of the tears she had been holding back for the last fifteen minutes and gripped his uniform to cry into it.

"I can't do this anymore, please Hanson," Aubree sobbed out against his chest.

"Ssh, it's alright. You need to relax and breathe, Aubs. Everything will be okay, I promise. You have to remember you're under contract to be in the military for the next two years and that's no easy process to get through to get out. But I will do what I can with my pull as Lieutenant Colonel, okay? Why don't you go lay down for a while in your room while I figure this out, all right? Will you be okay in there or do I need to check for things you could hurt yourself with?" Hanson asked her. Aubree shook her head to him, "If you feel that way again, will you come straight to me?" he asked.

"I will," Aubree told him.

"Good. Don't...scare me like that again, Aubree. I already lost one person I cared about, I don't want to lose you too because I might lose it," Hanson admitted as he hugged her again and then kissed her lightly. "Now go lay down. I'll get you an appointment for today, and I'll talk to King about how to go about this,"

"Thank you, Hanson," Aubree said as she left his arms and then exited the room to get to her own. When Hanson saw the door shut, he moved to back to the main area where the others were looking at him confused.

"Where's Aubree?" Heather asked.

"Taking a nap," Hanson said before going to his desk, he wouldn't tell them about what Aubree was going through because she didn't need that right now. Hanson collected a few things from his cubicle and tucked them under his arm. "Thatch, you're in charge until I get back. Hofferson isn't feeling well and taking a rest so leave her alone; I'll be back by dinner."

"Of course, Hanson, but why does it feel like there is more going on?" Thatcher asked.

"It's nothing you need concern yourself with," Hanson stated before leaving the main room, then the barrack shortly after.

(Major General King's Office)

Hanson reached the building for his CO and knocked on the door. "Come in," Hanson walked in and offered a salute when Andy looked up to see him. "Lieutenant Colonel, what can I do for you?" Andy asked curiously.

"One of my soldiers needs out of their contract," Hanson said firmly to him as Andy arched a brow.

"All right, Haddock. Sit down and tell me what's going on," Andy sighed, and Hanson took a seat before the desk, then began to explain everything that he talked to Aubree about. None of it took long, but Hanson made sure to get it all in so Andy would understand. When Hanson finished, he took a breath. "I see. I noticed you left out names, any particular reason why or just being courteous?"

"It's Sergeant Hofferson, sir. She came to me about an hour ago and revealed it all, she's agreed to see the psychologist, but her decision hasn't altered. Hofferson admitted she can't do this anymore and wants out before she loses it, I said I would do what I could to help," Hanson said.

"Where is she now?" Andy asked.

"Resting in her room, assured me she would tell me if she felt like hurting herself again and I trust her word," Hanson informed.

"Getting out of a contract is no easy feat, Haddock. There is a lot that goes into such a process, and it can take months to carry out," King reminded.

"I know, sir, but I don't need to tell you that I care about her on a personal level. I won't lie to you, Aubree broke down in my arms, begging me to help get her out. I won't lose her; I can't go through that again. Losing someone else I love," Hanson stated.

"I know, Colonel Haddock. You took almost two months off after Miss. Bog's death and then the custody hearing with your son," Major General King sighed heavily, "As her CO, you can refer her to the Medical Evaluation Board under the pretenses you don't feel she can perform her job duties. They will evaluate her and determine if what you say is true or not, if it is, she will be sent to the Physical Evaluation Board where they will confirm what MEB gave them and then decide a course of action. This is a mental health problem, the PTSD, and they will decide if she can remain on duty or not."

"So I have to refer her to MEB saying I feel like she's going to hurt herself if she stays and let it go from there?" Hanson asked.

"It would be the fastest way to get her discharged under medical reasons," King nodded.

"I'll do that then. Thanks," Hanson told him.

"Of course, lad," King shook his hand, "Oh, while I have you here. The tour ends at the end of April, the 30th, you will go home." he added. That was some good news; they were going home soon. Aubree would cheer up a little but she still wanted out, and Hanson had to be the one to start that process. Hanson gave King a salute and then left to return to the barrack.

(Alpha Wing Barrack)

As Hanson reached the barrack, he heard a voice from within say, "Aubree, wake up. You need to wake up; it's just a nightmare!" Hanson hurried inside to see them huddling around Aubree's room.

"What is going on?" Hanson asked.

"I don't know, Aubree is stuck in a nightmare or something. We were just sitting in the main room and heard her start thrashing around; she won't wake up." Thatcher told him. Hanson pushed through everyone and got inside the room; he had them inch back a little as he crouched by Aubree's bed.

"Aubree." Hanson said, "It's all right now, wake up and look around. I promise you're safe," he soothed while holding her hand and stroking her cheek a little. "Come back to me, Aubs. It's Hanson, your best friend. Follow my voice, you're not alone, and I'm with you,"

The others watched as Aubree's thrashing slowed and stopped, her breathing was heavy as Hanson continued to hold her hand and whisper to her to wake up and return to him. Finally, after two minutes, she sat up in bed quickly looking around. "Hanson?!" she asked.

"Hey, relax. I'm right here, take a few breaths. You're okay," Hanson coached as Aubree as she looked at him, tears filling her eyes and bottom lip quivering before she threw herself at him and broke down crying again.

"I saw you die..." Aubree whimpered against him.

"It's all right. I'm not dead, see? Just a nightmare, you won't lose me. I promise," Hanson cooed as he held her in his arms and noticed the others wondering what was going on, so he gave the hand signal for them to shoo and Vincent got the message as he pulled them away and shut the door. "Ssh, it's okay," he soothed. After ten minutes, Aubree calmed down and let go of him to wipe her eyes again.

"I'm sorry, I just...can't stop seeing these things, and now I feel like I'm being shown my worst nightmares," Aubree told him.

"PTSD will do that, Aubs. Listen, I talked to King, and I might have a way to get you out but...I won't be able to be with you when you go through it, and you have to be completely honest with them," Hanson informed.

"What do you mean?" Aubree asked as her fear rose a little.

"I have to refer you to the base medic for evaluation, and if they deem you have a medical or mental health problem, they send you to the doctors to confirm the diagnosis. If both are in agreement that you're unfit to continue your duties on active duty, they will release you from your contract. You will get a medical discharge from the military," Hanson explained, "But I can't go with you, and you have to tell them the truth about how you feel, and these nightmares,"

"What if they don't deem me unfit?" Aubree inquired.

"They will. Look at you, I was gone less than half an hour, and you freaked out in a nightmare thinking I died and wouldn't listen when the others called for you to wake up. I can see you're unfit to stay in the military; they will too." Hanson told her.

"Okay," Aubree nodded.

"I will put the refer in tonight before dinner, and you will likely be seen tomorrow. Are you all right or do you need a few minutes, I have an announcement to make home to Alpha and Blast." Hanson asked her.

"I'm all right. I'll come hear the announcement," Aubree replied as she wiped her eyes again and got off the bed with Hanson's help as he then led her out when Aubree collected herself and Hanson then opened the door. Together they walked to the main room, and Hanson eased her into a seat.

"Aubs, you okay?" Heather asked quickly.

"I'm okay, just had a nightmare from...when my Mom died four years ago. They come back sometimes when I remember her telling me to follow my dreams and be happy, then she flatlined and was gone," Aubree lied. "Anyway, what was your announcement, Hanson?" she looked at Hanson with a smile.

"I got word from King. The tour ends end of the month; we go home April 30th, 2020!" Hanson told them with a smile as everyone began cheering loudly, "Go tell Belmore to let the Blast soldiers know," Hanson pointed to Thatcher as he nodded with a salute and hurried off to do what he was told by Hanson. The news was better than great; they would be going home soon and getting to enjoy a normal life until the drill weekends started again. For Aubree, things were just beginning. Aubree was scared to go through these evaluations without Hanson, but if she did this, then she could get out of the military and never have to worry about seeing these horrid things again. However, the day was not all bad; the tour was finally over.