His friends were actually worried for him after he said to wake him up when they landed in Germany for their first layover which was to be three hours. All they got from him was that Astrid-the girl who broke his heart two years ago-had kissed him right before he boarded the plane leaving Berk at 6am. It was more confusing for Thaxter, Evan, Viktor, and Ryan because they didn't know what happened the night before with Astrid and Jessie breaking up because of her flirting with Hector and outright telling Jessie that Hector was more of a man than he was, also about the fact that Hector put Jessie on his ass with only three moves when he had raised his hand to Astrid at the Haddock house. Tallon was the one to inform them of all that information while Hector was sleeping peacefully-or that's what his friends assumed anyway. It made sense to the guys later on after a fifteen minute explanation about why Hector was all confused and shocked when he boarded the plane and it had taken off. Tallon even told them that Hector admitted to not having a crush on Astrid, rather he was in love with her still to this day regardless of what she did to him two years prior.

"So he doesn't know what to do-that about all of it?" Thaxter asked.

"Seems that way. She admitted to liking him in front of his parents, me, him, the others who he doesn't see as his friends. Her and Jessie got into it and then Hector jumped in to protect her when Jessie was about to hit her after she said Hector was more of a man than Jessie was," Tallon said nodding.

"Poor guy-makes things harder for him," Evan frowned.

"And her kissing him before we left had to of made it worse. He's thrilled that she likes him back but he's scared to get hurt again-can't say I blame him either," Ryan sighed. "Guy can't catch a break,"

"It doesn't appear that way. But I see now why he never told anyone why he joined-and I see why he did join. Aside from what he told us," Tallon stated looking to his sleeping friend.

"What do you mean?" Viktor asked.

"You were there yesterday for his birthday. He asked them all straight out-why did it take him joining the military for them to notice him? To care? To have time for him? You heard how those bullies always made him feel. Like a worthless, useless, hopeless, nothing. That he felt so alone he would have preferred death over living every day with no change. With how everyone made him feel before meeting Cody, he almost gave in and ended it all. Joining the army-gave him a new purpose in life," Tallon stated.

The others now gasped a bit, "To prove them wrong. To prove they were wrong about him. He even said it-he joined because he wanted more than what he had which he also added on to say that he didn't have anything to begin with. No friends, his family didn't have time for him..." Thaxter stated as Tallon nodded.

"I heard a lot staying with him these last three days. Those guys-they called him a nothing and his life would never go anywhere. They were talking about the day in lunch when Skylar-his cousin told Hector those words. They were trying to figure out when Hector made the choice to join because they were trying to figure out if it was Skylar's words that set him off and honestly...I think they were. Hector was bullied so much he started to believe he was a nothing and his life was going nowhere. Then he met Cody and made the choice to change his life to prove to them and himself that he was something and his life could go anywhere," Tallon told them.

"And now they see how much he's changed and suddenly think he's cool, wanting to be his friend," Evan scoffed.

"That's why he snapped yesterday-because he realized they only just now noticed it. Now that he wears the uniform of the men who protect the Archipelago, that he wields several guns, is a high rank-all that plus the fact they've seen his upper body and noticed he's far from weak, he can sing, draw, play instruments, write and sing songs. It's now they notice how awesome he is but what they don't understand is that Hector has always been this way and they just didn't give him a chance so they are trying to suck up to him," Viktor sighed some.

"Exactly-and now all this with Astrid liking him. She even kissed him so he's more confused than ever what to do for that situation," Tallon mumbled.

He personally didn't like it, it was too strange that all of a sudden she liked him when she made it clear two years before that Hector could never be a guy she was with. Tallon didn't want Hector to get hurt again but what could he do-it was Hector's choice if he wanted to pursue being with Astrid or just let it go. Tallon would have to watch closely-the first sign of something being off and he was going to step in and stop it. He wouldn't let Hector be hurt again. They'd been in the air for two hours already-still another hour and thirty minutes to go before they reached Germany. Tallon and the others tried to relax but they were worried for their friend in all truth. Only home for three days and had to deal with so much.

Tallon had told them about Luna-Hector's cat that had to be put down, as well that his main bullies and the girls had to stay at the house night one because of the storm. Hector got no real time to relax except for when they'd gone to the shooting range on his birthday-which also went horribly wrong when Jessie started with him on how Hector apparently hid who he really was although he didn't-they just never gave him the time of day. It was true what Hector said-it took him joining the military for them to all see who he really was. Tallon hated that-he hated it more than he hated the fact his own family pretty much didn't have time for him when he was home too but thankfully, Hector has his back and let him stay with him. Tallon was grateful to Hector for that-they really were the best of friends. They could be real with each other no matter how serious, sexual, or funny it got. That is how all of Inferno was-no bounds to them and they all liked it just like that.

"Well guys, we just gotta be there for him as much as he'll let us and remind him that he's got us if nothing else," Thaxter stated after two minutes of silence. They all nodded in agreement-Hector was there for them so they would always be there for him.

(Iraq)

As planned but only off by a few minutes-maybe ten at best, they landed in Iraq around 12:15am and they were incredibly tired. They'd gotten something to eat both in Germany for the three hour layover, and then again in Turkey for the four hour layover. Both layovers equally sucked due to the long wait time but it was okay-Hector actually called home both times to let his parents and siblings know where he'd made it to. They all got off the plane when it set down in Iraq although even then they couldn't go right to sleep because they had to be told what the updates were and move the cargo off the plane and into the storage areas on base to be inventoried by those guys. Needless to say it was about 2am by the time all that was done. Hector had been up twenty-four hours and was so done and ready for bed. Even though he slept on the plane-he was tired as shit. They finally reached their barracks: A and C just like before and got comfortable after spending half an hour checking for spiders-no one wanted to be feasted on while they were sleeping-they finally all laid down to sleep. Thankfully they were getting a full day to recover from the flying and late night before being sent to do any missions-that was a relief.

(A Month Later)

Things had been quiet-no real missions to do but a lot of guarding the base on eight to twelve hour shifts for them. It was easy to do but could be incredibly boring. Hector hadn't really called home a lot due to bad reception or internet connection but he managed to get instant messages through to Darius and Heather-some to Astrid but not a lot because he still didn't know what to say to her or what to do about the fact she liked him now. Heather and Darius were working on teaching their parents how to use Skype on the main computer at home and also on their newly upgraded smartphones. That had been comical to hear about but they were getting it so now Hector got messages from all of them on a daily basis but he didn't always answer-most of the time he his online status to offline so they'd think he wasn't there. It might have been mean of him to do but he just wasn't in the mood to talk to them-he was still pretty pissed off that it took joining the army for anyone to give a damn about him.

Right now it was a pretty quiet night and they'd just gotten off their shift. It had only been eleven hours total, the current time was 10:30pm as they were taking showers and winding down for the night after eating dinner in the chow hall. Their shift had ended at 9pm-they ate fast then moved back to their barracks for showers. They could go six at a time and tried to keep it down to only ten minutes showers, sometimes fifteen. The temperatures for Iraq being it was March were in the high sixties but at night it dropped to about forty-five. Sometimes lower than that but it was hard to tell, the guys were just glad it wasn't over eighty. Hector had finished his shower twenty minutes ago and was now relaxing on his bed with his eyes closed.

"You good over there, Hector?" Tallon asked him.

"Yeah, just a headache." Hector turned his head looking over to see the guys playing a game with the playing cards he'd brought along with him in case of nights like these there they weren't tired yet and bored. Contrary to belief, they actually didn't do a lot of fighting-sometimes they did just sit around and wait for something to happen.

"Your phone is lighting up," Thax pointed out as Hector sat up and took his phone off the charger to look it over: a text from brother asking if he had time to call because everyone was over for dinner and missed him. He'd only been gone a month thus far.

"Ugh," he grumbled-he supposed he should just so they didn't think he was mad or anything, even though he was.

"They want you to call huh?" Viktor asked as Hector nodded slowly before hitting the video call button and held it up for when it would connect in like a minute due to shitty reception and connection.

=Hi son!= his father greeted sitting front and center of the camera, aside him was Darius, his mother, and sister. Beyond them he could see Skylar, Astrid, and the others who he didn't care so much to see right now.

=Hey,= Hector replied calmly.

=You look beat dude,= Hector heard Trent's voice.

=Just got off an eleven hour guard two hours ago. But most of us aren't ready to go to sleep yet,= Hector answered with a yawn but it was hard to hear his family with all the noise in the barrack, =Hang on,= he added as he got his boots on and then stepped towards the door.

"Hey, where ya going?" Tallon asked.

"To noisy in here, be back when I get off the phone guys and try to keep it down-it is almost 2300 guys..." Hector responded lightly.

"Yes, Lieutenant Haddock." they replied as Hector stepped outside now with a sigh.

=So how long do we get you for?=Heather asked with a smile.

=Until I feel like going to bed or the connection starts to shit out,= he replied now as there was a scream from the C barrack and Hector jogged across and rushed in. "Who the hell screamed and what is wrong?" he asked quickly.

"Get it out, get it out, get it out!" the girls squeaked in fear as Hector looked down to see a camel spider under one of the bunks near the door as he chuckled.

"It was Iris, Trish, Star, and Casey who screamed sir." mentioned one of the girls sighing.

"Really girls? Come on-it's just a baby. Hold this," Hector handed the phone to the girl closest to him as Hector crouched down and gave the spider a push on to his hand and brought it up to normal level, "See, nothing to worry about. Harmless-just hold it," the girls backed up quickly. "Honestly we fight heartless enemies who love to spill blood but you're afraid of a spider," he sighed and took it outside to safety before coming back in, "Are we good now?"

"Can you check for others, please?" asked another one.

"Fine-but I want you all in bed afterwards got it. We got guard at 0700," Hector made his way around the barrack checking under beds, closets, and in shady corners, "Alright-you're safe for the night. Off to bed, ladies." Hector said taking his phone back. Two of the girls giggled and jumped on him-kissing his cheeks.

"Our hero," they said.

"Alright get off of me-come on, keep it a little professional. You know I think you're all beautiful but I've made it clear plenty of times that I'm not datin any of ya. We're teammates and friends-that's it," Hector told them.

"We know but still-you always keep us safe. Night, Hector." a few said as Hector waved and left the barrack with a sigh.

=Oi vey,= he sighed heavily.

=Are you alright, son?= Val asked gently.

=Yeah, just need an aspirin. Suppose a quick trip to med tent wouldn't kill me,= he mentioned while walking through the mass of soldiers around the area. =So why are all of you there?=

=Dinner and hanging out,= Darius stated as Hector nodded understanding now.

=And you all suddenly decided to wanna talk to me?= Hector chuckled a bit reaching the medical tent-although it was a lot stronger than most would expect. He walked in now with a soft smile.

"Lieutenant Haddock. What brings you by this evening? Shoulder bothering you from two weeks ago?" she asked.

"Nah-barely feel that anymore. Actually was hoping I could get two aspirins off you before I go to bed?" Hector asked.

"Of course. You want the twos, six's, or eights?" she smiled at him heading towards the cabinet.

"Eights please," he asked as she grabbed them and placed them in his palm-Hector grabbed his canteen to take them before offering a salute to the medic, "Thanks, Bell. You're the best," she nodded to him with a wider smile as he then left heading back to his own barrack.

=Going to bed now?= Astrid asked him.

=Nope, gonna wait for the meds to kick in first.= Hector answered calmly. Still a month later and he had no idea what to say to her regarding her kiss to him when he left. It was part of the reason he had a headache-constantly now. He couldn't figure out what to do or say on the situation.

=You seem distracted tonight, Hector...everything okay?= Heather asked him.

=Yeah I'm just...on alert I guess. It's been way too quiet lately-no attacks in about a week. Usually means something big is about to happen or we have a storm coming-also room for shit to hit the fan and get chaotic," he replied.

=Wouldn't storms make you safer?= Skylar asked.

=Not in the slightest. Can't give you more than that-rules are rules,= Hector stated with a shrug to them.

=We understand that you can't tell us. So you're okay otherwise? What did the medic mean when she asked about your shoulder?= Val asked calmly but clear concern in her voice.

=I pulled a muscle two weeks ago carrying gear and moving shit to other locations on base or dropping it off to another base nearby is all. Nothing bad-it's fine right now as long as I take it easy,= Hector informed.

=Oh that's good. We thought you might have been injured again,= Spencer smiled some. Before anyone else could ask another question a loud horn was heard throughout the base and Hector's eyes widened.

"Mother fucker, I knew it!" he yelled out as he took off in a run towards his barrack and got inside.

"Storm warning?" Thaxter asked him quickly.

"I don't know." Hector shook his head as he reached for his radio now after putting the phone down. {Nightwave, Nightwave this is Dragon one. Do you copy?}

{Nightwave to Dragon one. This is Holgerson-I copy five outta five. Go ahead. Over.}

{What's with the horn sir. Over.}

{Something was spotted moving towards us. It was warning to be on guard until we have more information, Lieutenant Haddock. We'll keep ya posted in case of storm or attack. Stand by. Over.}

{Orders confirmed, Major Holgerson. Dragon one on standby for further instructions. Haddock over and out.}

He put the radio down and lifted his phone, =Gotta go.=

=Wait, can't you talk while you wait to find out?= Astrid asked quickly.

=I could but I rather be ready in case we get called to fight. This is a main operating base and if you don't know what that is: it means the soldiers here fight on the front lines. It's late anyway and if this is nothing, I'll be going to bed afterwards. I will talk to you the next time I can,= Hector said firmly.

=We understand son. Be safe alright and call as soon as you can?= Val asked him with a hopeful look on her face.

=No promises, Mom. Talk to you soon-that's all I can give...= he stopped when the radio began to static up.

{Nightwave to the front on the double. Big wave coming! ETA: Twenty minutes!} Hector's eyes widened a bit.

"Gear, guns now!" Hector ordered them as they dropped everything and started getting ready. Hector headed outside quickly, "NIGHTWAVE-get ready and fall in outside!" he called out loudly.

"Sir, yes sir!" voices replied.

"Gotta go," Hector then hung up the phone as he got inside and got ready with the others. Almost ten minutes later they were all outside in full gear, guns at the ready and heading towards the front lines with Holgerson, Peyton, Vasquez, and Greysen.

"Good man getting them all ready," Cody told him.

"It's what I do sir," Hector replied firmly. He would deal with his feelings for Astrid and hers for him another time-right now he had to deal with this wave of enemies making their way towards the base. It was going to be one hell of a fight but he didn't care-they would do it like they always did. Then after all that maybe he could sleep a little-he was beat tired but one thing he learned in Basic was the infantry didn't sleep. They were used to being up for hours on end between guards, missions, or straight of fighting the enemies to push them back and make them retreat-so he'd been up since 8am this morning and it was now going on 11pm and who knew how long this would take to do but it didn't matter. This is what he did in the military and he wouldn't stop just because of a little exhaustion. "Alright boys and girls-lets show 'em who they're fuckin with!" Hector called out to his platoon although the whole company heard it and cheered along as they set up their weapons and the battle began when the first RPG line was launched from their side. It was going to be a long night.