Spoke too soon on things getting worse. They'd already lost power and it was 6pm-meaning it was dark and the room was lit with flashlights or lanterns. Not a lot but enough to see-everyone got the joy of experiencing what an MRE tasted like since there was a huge supply of those in the building as were blankets but nothing to sleep on. Those were in the storage building outside-not a far walk but it was dark, cold, and blizzard outside and it would take a team of twelve to get what they needed from one place to another. Currently there were one hundred and forty-four soldiers, plus their families which ranged from just parents or possibly parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, lovers too. Safe to safe there was a lot of fucking people in one room but thankfully with the place they were taking shelter in being a military base building-they were built to hold massive amounts of people comfortably. Soldiers were told to stay with their families and keep them calm but every now and then they had to leave to help out. One of the first things Hector was happy to do was get off his Class A coat but remained in the pants and shoes which sucked.
They were soldiers-they always came prepared for anything but of course their bags with their ACU's and civilian clothes were all in their barracks which were all about a ten minute walk to the right of where they were now.
"Haddock, how's your lot holding up?" Cody asked him.
"Just fine, Cody," Hector replied.
"Good to hear. Get two of your units ready. Bludvist is gonna send two out from each platoon to get bags from barracks. He's got coats and boots you can put on for the walk," Cody informed.
"Got it, Cap." Hector nodded as he stood up as his eyes searched the room-most of them were in groups and sitting according to platoon so it made life easier to find who he was looking for, "Units Inferno and Blaster, get ready to go." he ordered.
"Yes, Captain Haddock." the men replied. It took close to thirty minutes but two units from each of the four platoons were ready in their gear to go outside and brace the storm to get bags from barracks so the soldiers could change out of their class A uniforms and be comfortable for however long this lock down would last.
"Be careful out there," Astrid said softly to him.
"Always, Milady. Alright boys, listen up. Blaster you go to Barrack C and get the girl's bags. We'll take A barrack and get ours. Remember, four bags per soldier." Hector reminded them.
"Yes sir!" his units replied as they opened the door and headed out. They were gone close to forty-five minutes before they began to return in groups but not Inferno or Blaster.
"Where's Haddock's group?" Cody asked quickly.
"We don't know-can't see anything out there sir," replied one of the girls from the Wolf platoon. It took another fifteen minutes bringing it to a full hour before Blaster came through the door and then the guys of Inferno right behind. Hector was in first holding someone on his back.
"Out of the way," Hector said as a few people made a clearing for him while he set down the soldier he was carrying. It was Tallon who seemed to be unconscious. "Tal, come on you asshole-wake up," he told him firmly but Tallon wasn't responding. "You ain't dyin on me-you hear? I'm not gonna lose you too," Hector tilted Tallon's chin up slightly and plugged his nose as he gave him CPR twice before Tallon's eyes flicked open and Hector pulled back to help Tallon sit up and rub his back so he could breathe easier. "Slow down-you'll knock out again stupid," he told him lightly with a smile.
"Fuck...you, Haddock..." Tallon panted but he smiled back and the two hugged.
"Should I even ask what happened?" Alex asked now.
"It's hailing out there-Tallon got hit hard and blacked out so I carried him back," Hector explained calmly.
"I'm glad everyone is safe-you boys should go change up and get warm like the others have," Cody added now. They nodded as Hector helped Tallon up and the two as well as the rest of Inferno and Blaster went to go change in the kitchen where they couldn't be seen by the mass of people. They returned around 7:15pm and sat around with their families again-people were moping around about Christmas being ruined due to their lock down.
"People are starting to get really pissed about this," Thaxter pointed out now.
"Well it does kind of suck. Locked down on Christmas Eve on a military base-tomorrow being Christmas where kids won't be able to wake up at the ass crack of dawn and open presents, all the family time and food. Hell we missed all that last year because of deployment and now we're gonna miss it again," Viktor sighed.
"Now you sound like them. Come on guys-sure it's not normal but nothing beats everyone being together for the holidays," Tallon interjected.
"There's like zero Christmas spirit in here right now. They think it's ruined," Ryan added.
"Well maybe we should remind them what Christmas is really about," Evan stated sitting beside Mia and Aiden who was in her arms.
"Oh yeah and which one of us is gonna go up there and talk to this many people and try to revive the obvious Christmas spirit in here?" Thaxter questioned with a grin almost. Suddenly they all looked at Hector who peered over at them seeing their hopeful smirks.
"No way. No how. I ain't doing it," Hector said quickly and with a firmness to his voice.
"Come on, Hector. You're good at riling people up!" Tallon told him.
"Yeah on missions! Not...this..." Hector motioned to the whole of the room.
"Just try, I already see people arguing-we gotta do something," Thaxter offered. Hector looked around the room-he was right too. People were starting to fight among one another with there being nothing to do and they were spending Christmas Eve locked down from a huge storm. Groaning, Hector sighed and closed his eyes-the other sighed too. Hector was pretty adamant on his answer and they knew he didn't like crowds-much more how many people he'd have to face now.
"You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout-I'm telling you why. Santa Claus is coming to town..." they heard as their heads snapped over to look at Hector. "He's making a list, he's checking it twice. He's gonna find out who's naughty and nice. Santa Claus is coming to town." he was singing a Christmas carol, with no music. He was just winging it and people were taking notice. "He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good-so be good for goodness sake," a few children giggled now as they left their parents to get closer. "You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout-I'm telling you why. Santa Claus is coming to town!" Hector opened his eyes as the few kids started clapping.
"Can you do more?" one little girl asked.
Hector leaned forward now with a smiled to the small group of five kids before him, "I'll tell you what-I'll keep singing if you all sing with me. No fun if only one person does it, right?" he asked them with a wink.
"Okay!" the kids nodded together.
"Alright-what do you want to hear then?" Hector asked them.
"Um...Jingle Bells?" one of the boys asked.
"Good choice," Hector told them. "Dashing through the snow. In a one-horse open sleigh. All the fields we go, laughing all the way. Bells on bob tails ring, making spirits bright. What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight, oh," he paused as the kids joined in now. "Jingle Bells. Jingle Bells. Jingle all the way! Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh, hey! Jingle Bells. Jingle Bells. Jingle all the way! Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!" the small group of them laughed a bit. They knew it was longer but right now-it was enough to get people to shut up and listen for a while but Hector was sure it was because more kids between the ages of four and twelve were coming over to sit before him.
"Lad, what are ye doing?" Gobber asked.
"Trying to keep the Christmas spirit alive," Hector shrugged as he got up and moved with the children to a more open area so it wouldn't be so crowded in one spot. "Here's one you kids will know..." he said now as the kids smiled around him, "You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen-Comet and Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen-but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all..." he paused as the kid's eyes lit up with happiness, "Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows. All of the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolph, join in any reindeer games. Then one foggy Christmas Eve-Santa came to say,"
"Rudolph with your nose so bright-won't you guide my sleigh tonight," the kids began to sing along cheerfully.
"Then how the reindeer loved him, as they shouted out with glee. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer-you'll go down in history!" Hector and the kids finished smiling wide.
"Can we do Frosty the Snowman?" asked one of the six year old kids now.
"Sure can," Hector nodded. Most of the room was watching now-everyone was miserable about missing Christmas but yet this one male decided to be bold and start singing children Christmas carols and the kids were loving it because they weren't bored anymore. Christmas was everything to a child and this soldier wasn't about to be the one to ruin it for them by not doing what every kid loved to do on Christmas-and that was to sing silly songs and have fun.
"Frosty the Snowman, was a jolly happy soul. With a corncob pipe and a button nose-and two eyes made out of coal. Frosty the Snowman, is a fairytale, they say. He was made of snow but the children know, how he came to life one day," they began singing together. Now it was Tallon who walked over and stood beside Hector with a smile.
"There must have been some magic in that old silk they found. For when they placed it on his head-he began to dance around!" Tallon joined it with them now as Hector smiled at his friend-thank Thor he wasn't the only one anymore.
"Frosty the Snowman, was alive as he could be. And the children say he could laugh and play-just the same as you and me," Hector heard a new voice join as he looked to see Thaxter and Evan joining in from where they were with the others.
"Thumpety thump thump. Thumpety thump thump. Look at Frosty go. Thumpety thump thump. Thumpety thump thump-over the hills of snow!" more and more people were joining in-the smiles returning to everyone's faces.
"Frosty the Snowman, knew the sun was hot that day. So he said, 'Let's run and we'll have some fun-now before I melt away'. Down to the village, with a broomstick in his hand. Running here and there, all around the square-sayin', 'Catch me if you can'." this is what Christmas was about-the laughter and being together with your closest family and friends. Doing stupid, silly shit to make the kids and yourselves happy.
"He led them down the streets of town-right to the traffic cop. And he only paused a moment when he heard him holler, 'Stop!'. Frosty the Snowman, had to hurry on his way-but he waved goodbye, sayin' 'Don't you cry, I'll be back again some day.' Thumpety thump thump. Thumpety thump thump. Look at Frosty go. Thumpety thump thump. Thumpety thump thump-over the hills of snow. He'll be back again someday. He'll be back again someday!" everyone who had been singing finished. Now it was laughter all around and Hector was grateful for it. It only took four songs to get people to stop being assholes to one another and enjoy Christmas. Kids were laughing and playing with one another talking about what Santa would bring them or if the man would make it in the storm.
"Will Santa find us here?" one of the kids tugged on Hector's pants leg now.
"Well, I don't know if he'll find us here-that's a lot of presents to drop off in one place," Hector started as some of the kids frowned, "But-I think as soon as this storm is over and we all get back home in our beds to sleep, Santa will make an extra trip to bring us any presents. I think he's taking a break tonight because he doesn't want his reindeer to get hurt in the storm so it's better to stay safe in one place like we are right now," he explained to the group of kids around him as their eyes lit up with joy.
"You think so!?" the kids asked beaming with bright smiles now.
"I know so because Santa always brings presents to good boys and girls," Hector nodded to them.
"What did you ask Santa for?" one of the girls asked him.
"I didn't ask for anything this year," Hector admitted with a smile.
"Why not?" they asked now as Hector chuckled.
"I'll show you why," Hector said leading them back over to where his family and friends were. "Because I already have everything I could ever want right here with me. I have my family and friends. That's all I could ever ask for and I have that so I don't need to ask anything from Santa," he informed them. "Christmas isn't about the presents, or toys, or even all the food. It's about spending time with the people you love most and being grateful that you have them in your life. For me, Christmas is a second Thanksgiving. Another day I can be grateful that I have these people in my life. That's why I don't mind being locked down here right now, because I've got my family and friends here too," he explained.
"And that's where all you kids should be too. With your families and spending time with them-so run along. We can do more songs later," Tallon stated gently. The kids nodded and rushed off to go find their parents and families to sit with them, "Nice work, Hector...Told you that you could do it,"
"Shut it..." Hector grumbled as he sat back down against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.
"You just spent half an hour getting everyone out of a grumpy mood and now you're grumpy?" Thaxter blinked a bit.
"I'm tired," Hector remarked closing his eyes.
"Get some rest son-been a pretty long day," Spencer told him.
"I'm watching the storm-that's why I'm stationed at the door right now," Hector stated calmly.
"One of us can watch it man. You need sleep-it's in your eyes," Evan informed him calmly.
"You weren't assigned here. I am so I'm doing my job," Hector remarked.
"Hector..." came Alex's voice as Hector glanced up at him, "Greysen, Bludvist, and myself need to talk to ya a minute," he said. "You five got the door?" he asked as Tallon nodded firmly while Hector got up and moved with Alex across the room and into one of the offices towards the back of the main building and shut the door. "Alright boy, what's eatin' ya?" Alex asked.
"Nothing at all, sir," Hector replied calmly.
"It's more than that. Where'd the singing come from?" Cody asked now.
"The guys were talking about the fact everyone thought Christmas was ruined because of the lock down so I just...sang to bring back some of the Christmas cheer-kept the kids happy at least," Hector shrugged some.
"And that whole thing I walked in on?" Alex questioned.
"I told them I was tired but it was my job to watch the storm so I wouldn't be sleeping," Hector explained.
"Lad, you can sleep if you're tired. It's normally not like you to be tired so early though," Cody said calmly.
"Just been a long day is all. Really-I'm okay," Hector answered softly.
"As long as you are sure. Go get some sleep-your team can take turns on the door guard. Likely the storm will continue through the night hopefully by tomorrow we can get a better idea of what we're dealing with," Bludvist mentioned.
"Yes sir," Hector nodded as he put his hand on the handle and turned it while walking out and returning to his family, girlfriend, and friends-and some tolerable acquaintances. Hector grabbed his backpack-got a blanket it out of it, used his backpack as a pillow and then covered himself up. He was asleep not more than fifteen minutes later as his team sighed some.
"So Gods damn stubborn," Viktor shook his head.
"That he is but he's a good leader and stands by his duties until relieved. That's one of our General Orders if you remember," Thaxter reminded now.
"Hard to forget-that shit was drilled into our heads," Tallon joked some.
"General...orders?" Astrid asked curiously.
"Three of them: I will guard everything within limits of my post and quit when properly relieved." Ryan stated.
"I will obey my special orders and perform all my duties in a military manner," Evan said next.
"And I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the chief," Tallon finished.
"Goes along with the seven army values, and Soldiers Creed," Thaxter nodded now.
"Oh, I see. Why is he so tired?" Astrid inquired now.
"No idea-just let him sleep for now. Been a long day as, Mr. Haddock said before. The drive, ceremony, the storm, being stuck here. It can take a lot out of ya," Tallon said. It remained pretty quiet as others were getting tired and starting to lay down to sleep as well. Some of the lanterns were left going for a dim light but flashlights were turned off to save battery power. It was black outside and they had no power so they couldn't really check the storm much-they decided to leave it until morning and hopefully get a better idea of what they were up against for lock down time being extended or lessened. By 11:30pm-everyone was laying down and attempting to sleep but it was uncomfortable for some, the soldiers seemed to have no trouble though and that came from being trained to sleep on hard surfaces and also be on high alert for anything. The night was peaceful-the Christmas spirit sparked once more thanks to Hector's cleverness of singing kid songs to cheer them up which in turned cheered everyone else up too. Hopefully things would remain that way for tomorrow: Christmas Day.
