That night Hector didn't say a word to anyone and by the time Tallon had gotten downstairs, Hector appeared to be asleep already. His shoes were off and by the foot of the bed, he was laying on the bed with no covers but he was facing the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Hector's wallet, phone, and keys were sitting on the nightstand-carelessly tossed there. Tallon wanted to ask if he was alright but knew better, of course Hector wasn't alright. He just found out the girl who hurt him once four years ago-hurt him again after nine months of dating and this time it was worse because she had been cheating on him for months, lying to him about everything. Tallon got off his shoes, shirt, and belt as he laid on the pull out bed. He got his phone and checked it over to see messages from the guys of Inferno asking if he'd told Hector and if he was taking it okay. Tallon put them in a group message and replied to them all at once:

[Stopped him right before he was about to make love to her, told him everything, she tried to lie her way out of it, I cornered her, she stammered and Hector realized I was telling the truth. He left her, we're at his house, he went right to bed. -Tal]

(The Next Morning)

Hector ended up sleeping all night-he woke up around 6:30am and got dressed in his jogging pants, sneakers, and one of his gray tee-shirts. He needed to run-this was something he did a few times a week, just woke up early and went running since it was a good way to stay in shape when they weren't at drill. Hector grabbed his wallet, phone, and headphones before slipping out the basement door silently and starting his jogging once his headphones were in and music going. Hector didn't care where he ran-he just wanted to get away for a while, hopefully clear his head but that was easier said than done. He couldn't believe it-played by Astrid twice. This was...worse than the first time. The first time this happened, they'd only been dating a week before Hector found out it was nothing but a lie. This time was different and hurt a lot more.

This time-they'd been dating nine months and Hector thought they were happy together. He gave her everything any woman could ever want, he was good to her. Was that not how a boyfriend was supposed to be? Good to the woman he's with? Astrid had been lying about her feelings for him, cheating on him with Jessie since January and she wasn't even a virgin. Hector was beyond glad that Tallon showed up when he did because he stopped him from making a huge mistake. Hector had plans to make love to Astrid last night because he loved her so much and felt they were ready-he knew she was, she'd been eyeing him for weeks prior, and their make out sessions always got heated. If Tallon hadn't come when he did-Hector would have made love to Astrid and still continued to be lied to and cheated on. Didn't that just make him feel great-twice he was played by her. Hector ran a few miles, jogged some of the way back, then walked the rest. As he reached the house he saw people were there-checking the time he noticed it was almost an hour and a half later. It was now 8am-why were there so many people there?

Hector mumbled some as he just walked up the path and through the front door-he noticed right away that everyone in the room whipped their heads around to see him there. "Hector. There you are son-you had us worried," Spencer said first.

"I went running at 6:30 this morning. There was honestly no need to bring everyone over," Hector retorted as he wrapped his headphones around his phone and stuffed it back in his pocket then crossed his arms over his chest now scanning the room to see who was there: Gobber, Drew, Trent, Freddie, Mandy, Danielle, Carmen, Reina, his parents, his siblings, his uncle Simon and aunt May along with Skylar obviously. Tallon was there, so were Thaxter, Viktor, Ryan, and Evan too. The last two people he saw in there were Jessie, and Astrid.

"We were worried if you were okay," Thaxter told him calmly. "Tallon woke up and saw you were gone, we tried calling and texting you but you didn't answer. We called everyone to see if they'd seen you and when they didn't-they came here. We were getting ready to call the police,"

"Come on-you guys know I go running almost every morning. As for if I'm okay? I'm perfectly fine," Hector said as his voice was dripping with sarcasm-he closed his eyes and went downstairs now, then returned two minutes later with a towel over his shoulder and set of clothes under his arm while he moved to the bathroom to shower. Hector returned after twenty minutes-fully dressed and clean shaven face with his arms crossed over his chest again. "So...we know I'm okay, why is everyone still here?" he asked curiously, "Especially you two. I made it very clear where I stand with you last night," he remarked shooting a glare towards Astrid.

"I am very confused right now," Spencer said looking between Hector and Astrid.

"It's nothing that concerns you, Dad. Astrid and I broke up, that's all you need to know." Hector remarked.

"But...why though?" Val asked next.

"Doesn't matter. We did and it's over now," he replied trying to hold his temper.

"You found out, didn't you?" Skylar grinned a bit.

"Why am I not surprised you were in on it too. Just like last time right?" Hector stated.

"I want to know what's going on," Simon stated now wondering why Hector and Skylar weren't being nice to one another.

"You want to tell them or should I?" Hector asked.

"Hey man, back off. Don't be a sore loser that you lost to me again. I can't believe you fell for it and didn't see it sooner. Don't they train you guys to be aware of everything around you?" Jessie remarked with a smirk.

"I wouldn't if I were you, Jessie. I am far from in the mood to deal with your childish behavior right now and I'm not held responsible for my actions if my temper gets the better of me," Hector warned.

"What temper? You're still got nothing on me. I've been waiting for this day. I told you that you'll never have my girl, loser. Even your big and bad military lifestyle isn't enough to hold her interest. You don't know how to please her-she'll always come back to me. You didn't do anything noteworthy by joining the military-all you did was run away from your problems. You're still a nothing," Jessie stated-without warning, Hector brought his fist back and punched him right in the face hard. Jessie stumbled a bit as he glared-before he could even counter, he fell back from losing his balance and looked up at Hector a little surprised.

"I warned you not to push me," Hector crossed his arms over his chest again. "But as usual-you continue to push so this time, I pushed back. Didn't like it very much, did you? Now maybe this time-you'll shut that hole in your face, listen and stay down because you get up and get in my face one more time, I won't hold back," everyone watched to see if he'd get up but he didn't. "I don't do the things I do to please others. I didn't join the military to please anyone. I didn't do it because I wanted anyone to like me, and I especially didn't join to get anyone's fucking approval about me. I joined because I wanted to." he turned his attention to Astrid now. "Take your boyfriend and get out," he ordered.

"Hector please, let me explain..." Astrid tried.

"There is nothing to explain, Astrid. Everything that happened was clear enough," Hector said. "Jessie and I are done for good, I want to be with you, those were your words to me when I was in Iraq and we talked on the phone. Nothing but lies-everything you've ever said has been a lie. I don't feel like listening anymore-how am I supposed to know if it's truth or just another lie coming from your mouth?" Hector asked.

"Please, you don't understand..." she pleaded to him.

"What the fuck isn't there to understand!" Hector snapped angrily, "You've been lying to and cheating on me for five fucking months with him-the guy you said you were done with. I don't care for the explanation of how it happened or your pitiful attempts to make is sound better than what it really is! If you really want to tell me something-tell me how the hell this happened! Tell me what in the name of Odin I did to deserve this shit and twice at that!"

"Nothing, you didn't do anything to deserve it, Hector!" Astrid cried now.

"Well I must have done something, Astrid because up until last night I actually thought you loved and were happy with me-but clearly I was wrong and I want to know what I did to apparently change your feelings for me," Hector stated firmly.

"I-I was happy with you. I just...I don't love you like I thought I did, Hector..." Astrid whimpered slightly.

"Then why didn't you just tell me and we could of ended things peacefully instead of you keeping your mouth shut, lying to me, and cheating on me. One of my many qualities is that I'm an understanding guy as long as you're honest with me and you weren't. You could have told me you weren't happy and wanted to break up, that would have been a lot better than this. Anything would have been better than this. I wouldn't of even cared if you told me you still loved Jessie and wanted to be with him again, as long as you were honest about it. But you chose to keep me in the dark," he responded colder now.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, Hector," Astrid sobbed.

"Sorry doesn't turn back the clock now does it? I'm still waiting on my answer. When and how did this happen? I think you owe me that much," Hector stated, "I want the whole truth-from you. Stop worrying about all the people in the room who actually don't need to be here right now. As far as I care, its just you and me. So why don't you be honest with me for once in the last five months and tell me what I want to hear know,"

"It was...when you went away for drill in January. I was bored and texting everyone in a group message asking what they were doing-they said they had other plans or were busy. Jessie was...in that group message and messaged me separately saying he was free if I wanted to hang out. I figured...we were still friends so I called him and we started talking-I told him it sucked that you always had to go away for drill and couldn't talk during those four days-that everyone was busy and I had nothing to do. He told me he missed being with me and was sorry for raising his hand to me-that his anger got the better of him...we met up the next day-watched a movie in the living room and...then he kissed me and everything I...felt for him came back and I realized that I still loved him and I didn't love you like I thought I did..." Astrid said softly looking down.

"Don't stop now-I know there's more to it," Hector insisted.

"I just unloaded everything on him and he said if I gave him another chance that he'd be better to me. I told him I had to think about it first and wait for you to get back so we could talk but then...we just...ended up making love and I couldn't face you after that. Jessie said he didn't care if I was with you and him as long as you and me didn't have do anything sexual. So twice a week-I told you I was working and I was...really with him. And every time you've gone to drill, he and I were going on dates and making love behind your back...I didn't...want to tell you the truth because...I was afraid of...triggering your depression again. I never meant for it to get this far, Hector...I mean that, please believe me..." Astrid pleaded to him.

"It doesn't matter what you meant to do or not do-you did it with clearly no regard for me. I'm glad the only thing you were worried about was my depression triggering again. If you three were aiming to hurt me to get me low enough to kill myself-well, sorry to disappoint but it's not enough. I'm a lot stronger than I used to be: physically, mentally, and emotionally. Here's a fun question for you though-why are you jealous of Tallon?"

"I-I'm not," Astrid said quickly.

"I wouldn't advise you to lie to me right now. Tallon heard everything that was said by you to Reina, Carmen, Mandy, and Danielle while I was on the phone," Hector remarked now.

"Because you've kissed him before-and liked it. You two are always so...sexual comments to one another. We were all here when you came home on leave and talked the way you did. You always run off to help him-and he lives here with you. I told you I was sick weeks ago and you said you wished you could help...but Tallon had a headache yesterday at the mall and you just took him right home without a second thought. It's like you two are lovers and it ticked me off because I felt second place to you when it came to him. And who are you to tell me I cheated when you kissed him Christmas Eve!" Astrid stated now.

Hector arched a brow at her then actually laughed a little, "Wow. Really, Astrid? I didn't kiss Tallon on Christmas Eve-that was CPR you idiot. It's a way to save someone's one life if they can't breathe-which he couldn't after blacking out when getting hit in the head with a chunk of hail. It doesn't matter the situation-we have each others backs. All the sexual comments-they are jokes. Yes he's kissed me before when we were single-yeah, I liked it. I'm bisexual-I'm attracted to both males and female. Was that a problem for you? Not that it should matter because since getting with you, all my loyalties were to you,"

She looked down again, "I'm sorry..."

"I suppose while we're being honest-then I should too. When I got with you, I didn't fully trust you. Something kept holding me back and I assume that was the fear of something like this happening again. But last night-I gave in and said you earned my full trust. But boy, was I wrong to do that. All that aside-maybe you should tell Jessie the truth about what you did," Hector offered.

"Truth about what? I was in on what was going on-so was Skylar..." Jessie stated as he got himself to his feet now.

"I'm aware. But what did you tell her not to do. You said you didn't care if she dated both of us as long as what?" Hector asked.

"As long as she didn't have sex with you..." Jessie looked over to Astrid now, "Did you sleep with him?"

"Oh, don't get it twisted-we haven't had sex. Would have last night if Tallon hadn't shown up to stop me though," Hector said casually. "Last night I gave her my full trust-bad decision on my part, but we started making out an after twenty minutes she told me she wanted me. Told her I wanted her too-soon as we were going to start, Tallon showed up to tell me he was saving me from making the biggest mistake of my life. I didn't believe anything he said at first until he mentioned that he's never lied to me before and that he's never given me a reason not to trust him. I asked Astrid if what he was saying was true and she couldn't even look at me or keep a straight voice when she said that she would never do such a thing. That was all I needed to hear. I ended things-thanked Tallon, and left. Looks like I wasn't the only one who got lied to," Hector informed. "You got played as much as I did. Bet it doesn't feel to good, does it?" Jessie didn't say anything now.

There was a knock on the door as Hector moved over towards it and opened it revealing Cody, Alex, and Drake standing there, "Please tell me they didn't call you over to worry about me too?"

"Should we be worried?" Cody asked.

"Never mind. Come inside-we're just wrapping up personal business here," Hector stated stepping aside for them to come in now, he closed the door and moved back to his spot.

"No need to be an ass about it, Hector," Skylar stated.

"Boy, if you don't want to be the next one to get knocked the hell out-then I suggest you shut your damn mouth or I'll fucking shut it for you. You got no room to talk when you were in on all this. You're supposed to be family and you stabbed me in the back-just like four years ago. You knew the game, that she was playing me and instead of having my back-you all left me to get hurt and didn't a shit either because you all laughed at me. But you know what-I don't care anymore-it just sucks that military has been more family to me in two years than my actually family has been to me my entire life. And yet everyone wonders why I do so much for them and so little for all of you. They've had my back-none of you have." Hector remarked.

"We told her it was wrong and to tell you the truth," Carmen said softly.

"Well-she didn't. Tallon ran twenty minutes to her house to tell me the truth of what he'd heard at the mall," Hector stated coldly.

"Are you...mad at us?" Reina asked.

"That depends. Were any of you aside from Skylar aware of what was going on before yesterday at the mall?" Hector asked.

"No-we heard the same time Tallon was listening in behind the pillar, just us girls. Heather and Darius were shopping and then Drew, Trent, and Freddie showed up after you left with Tallon, Viktor, and Ryan. They had been listening too and told Astrid to leave you last night but clearly she was trying to get in your pants. That's actually where the conversation started too..." Carmen stated.

"About her sleeping with me?" Hector asked curiously now as Mandy, Danielle, Carmen, and Reina nodded. "Clearly you left some parts out, Astrid. How did the conversation start?"

"After the guys left, and it was just us...we were joking with her asking when she was gonna sleep with you. She said you hadn't been showing an interest in such a thing, we kept telling her to drop hints she wanted too and you'd pick up on it. She said she was curious about it but would feel wrong about trying to have sex with you. We asked why and she just said that she didn't love you, only liked you-as a friend. Then went on about all the cheating and lying. We told her it was wrong and messed up," Mandy told him.

"And after you left with your guys, we came out and told her to break things off with you because she couldn't have both guys. That Jessie was using her to make you look like an idiot, and she was using you for whatever she was," Drew added in next.

"In that case-no, I'm not mad at any of you. I'm honestly thankful that you said something to her about it being wrong and stood up for me in a way," Hector stated calmly to them before looking back to Astrid and Jessie who was beside her but still looked a little shocked to of gotten the information he did about Astrid giving in to sleep with Hector and would have if Tallon didn't show up when he did. "Astrid." she looked over at him, "I care not for your excuses, explanations, and certainly not for anymore lies. I've heard enough to last me a life time. Jessie, you want her? She's all yours. Lose my information, Astrid. Don't call me, don't text me, don't Skype me, don't e-mail me. I don't want to listen to you. I don't want to hear from you. And I never want to see you again," he said in a calm but emotionless voice.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry," she cried.

"Sure you are. That's why this happened twice, right? Actions speak louder than words and words can only be backed up by actions. Your actions spoke louder and your words are only backed up by your words-your lies. Your sorry means to me about as much as it meant for me to give a damn to tell anyone I was joining the military. It doesn't mean a thing to me. Go. Get out of my life and for the love of Odin-Stay. Out." he warned coldly before facing Cody, Alex, and Drake. "I assume you've come for business if you're not here for the reason the others are?"

"That's correct, Captain Haddock," Drake nodded as he pulled a letter from the inside of his ACU and handed it to him gently. Hector opened it and pulled out the letter-reading it over silently. When he was done he put it down beside his leg and looked at them.

"You understand you could've just told me?" he asked now.

"We didn't know if you wanted it made public or not. Besides-every commanding officer of the platoons in Nightwave get one. Sorry if we came at a bad time and if the news isn't what you wanted to hear," Cody informed.

"Oh believe me, you didn't come at a bad time, Orders confirmed and understood," Hector offered a salute to them-they nodded and stayed there, seeming to be waiting for him to tell his unit about it and Tallon moved beside Hector.

"What orders did you get?" Thaxter asked him.

"Not just mine. All of us-as in all of Nightwave," Hector replied calmly.

"What orders did we...all get then?" Viktor asked. Hector lifted the paper again.

"Archipelago Island Military Headquarters. Deployment orders for Nightwave Company to Baghdad, Iraq. Category: Alpha. Departure from Berk Airport is scheduled for June 30th, 2018 at 0500 hours. Deployment Tour Time: Unknown," Hector read off the paper as the room gasped in shock.

"That's...tomorrow," Ryan said now.

"What does it mean that the tour time is unknown?" Tallon asked.

"It means they don't know how long we'll be there this time-things must of gotten really bad since we left last September. Regardless-we got orders to follow. I suggest we start getting ready to carry them out, I'll call the others. It's my job to tell them after all. This doesn't bother me in the slightest-I for one and glad to be getting out of Berk for a while. I'm beyond fucking grateful," Hector remarked before putting the paper down on the table and walking away towards the basement to go downstairs and start packing for the trip back to Iraq tomorrow morning at 5am. The others were shocked-but Hector was right and also the commanding officer to the Dragon platoon-they had orders and they had to follow them. They guys of Inferno said their goodbyes to one another and headed out to go home-tell their families and start packing as well. Tallon excused himself from the Haddock family and the others while he went downstairs as well. Astrid-still crying-left with Jessie. The others, including Drake, Alex, and Cody stayed because they were worried about Hector-but weren't sure what to do-Hector was leaving again for deployment and this time, there was no definite on when the tour ended but it worried them that Hector said about going: that he was grateful.