Hunter laid wide awake in his bed; it was 2:45 in the morning and he just couldn't sleep like everyone else was. Hunter didn't know what was wrong with him; he felt tired and weak. What sucked the most was feeling like he had to throw up but it would go back down. Hunter's body ached, he felt sick to his stomach and didn't understand why because it was coming on so suddenly. Hunter knew he wasn't supposed to leave the barrack between the hours of 9:30 pm and 5 am so telling someone he didn't feel good was out of the question until morning and he certainly didn't want to wake anyone up because they were all graduating in eight hours. What did that leave him for options? Nothing more than to tough it out. It was probably just a stomach ache and would pass later on. Hunter closed his eyes trying to go back to sleep.
Now at 3:15 am, it was getting worse in a sense he was shivering cold but sweating bullets. Hunter forced himself out of bed and down the ladder from his bunk to the floor and silently moved to the restroom where he proceeded to enter one of the stalls and throw up a few times. In the central area, Andrew had woken up to the sound of someone puking and wondered who it could be. Andrew looked around the dark barrack to see everyone in their beds, still sleeping except for Hunter. Andrew made his way out of bed but accidentally woke up Treyden and Theo with the light from his cell phone while doing so.
"Where are you going? It's like three in the morning," Theo yawned tiredly.
"I think Hunter is sick," Andrew mentioned calmly.
"What makes you say that?" Treyden asked.
"Can't you hear the throwing up from here? And Haddock is the only one not in his bed. I'm gonna go check on him," Andrew said as he started for the bathroom.
"Hang on, we'll come too," Theo offered as Treyden, and he got up and walked with Andrew towards the restroom, they entered quietly, and of course, the sound of throwing up was louder and sounded horrible. Hunter coughed hard after another bout of nausea had hit him.
"Hunter?" Treyden asked. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, just fine," Hunter replied weakly.
"You're throwing up, how is that fine? You sick or something?" Theo inquired.
"A little. I'm okay. Feeling better already. You guys can go back to bed, I'll be out in a minute," Hunter managed as convincingly as he could.
"Are you sure? We can go get the drill sergeant for you," Andrew offered.
"Nah, don't both them. We can't...leave the barrack anyway. I'm okay, no worries. Got too hot is all," Hunter told them.
"If you're sure," the three said unsurely before leaving the bathroom and returning to their bunks. Hunter took a few more minutes to let the nausea pass before he got up, flushed the toilet then splashed his face and washed his hands. Hunter returned to his bed and laid back down, not that it helped any, but he would deal with it.
Thankfully, he didn't throw up anymore from the 3 am spurt, but he didn't eat breakfast, at least not a lot of it. Most of the morning was filled with preparations until 8 am when it got announced that graduation would work by each company going at a different time to keep down the number of people coming onto the field at one time. Plasma Fire would be going last at 11 am, apparently this whole idea got decided last night after he went to sleep. Hunter was asleep by 8 pm when everyone was leaving the base since the family day was over. Honestly, Hunter wanted to go to bed now. He felt worse than when this started at 1:15 am, that's about how long he'd been awake for. It was fine, he could handle this. Graduation ceremony, time with his family, and back to bed to get better before AIT started.
(11 am)
Just like the day before, the soldiers were dressed in their ACU's and marching out after the bombs went off. The ceremony was meant to be small with only a few words and then presenting them as privates and graduated from Basic Combat Training. After that, it would be more celebrations. The weather was a scorching eighty-three degrees and not helping Hunter's illness any, but he would be fine. This time, he was standing in the middle with Treyden, Theo, and Andrew so his family might not have such an easy time seeing him like yesterday. But they would see him afterward when they came down to congratulate him on graduating, he just hoped he could keep from throwing up with all the hugs he was sure to get.
A half hour into the ceremony, Hunter was dizzy but forced himself to stay still and focus on things, the ceremony was almost over and he could take the uniform coat off at least. Treyden noticed Hunter's miserable attempt at trying to hide that something was wrong.
"Hey, are you okay?" Treyden whispered knowing he wouldn't be heard over the man speaking at the podium.
"Ju-Just...fine, Trey," Hunter forced out.
"No, you're not. You look terrible, I'm getting our drill sergeant," Treyden glared at him and prepared to pass the message up since that's where Richard was standing with the others.
"Don't Trey, it's okay. I'll be fine until this ends and then I'll say something. Come on, don't stop the ceremony over me," Hunter asked.
"If you don't say something when this is over, I will kick your ass when you're better. Got it?" Treyden sighed, Hunter offered a smile to him in thanks. It was almost done, Hunter knew he'd be okay. It couldn't possibly get worse than it already was, right? Wrong. It got a lot worse the time was nearing the end, and Hunter couldn't even focus anymore. On top of that, he was light-headed and having a difficult time breathing with all the heat between weather and uniform. Treyden looked over at him again without moving his head and saw Hunter in bad shape. "Hunter?" he asked when he saw Hunter dazed out and swaying slightly.
Without warning, Hunter blacked out and fell back. Treyden grabbed his wrist as Andrew and Theo helped out by making sure Hunter didn't hit the ground hard. "Hey! Someone passed out back here!" got shouted as everyone suddenly had their attention on the group of soldiers around one who was being placed on the ground and checked over. Asher, Harry, and both of the Grimborn brothers hurried back and broke through the others.
"What happened?" Richard asked kneeling down next to Hunter to make sure he was still breathing.
"We don't know. He just blacked out," Andrew said.
"I asked him at 11:30 if he was okay because he looked horrible and said he was fine. I was going to get one of you, but he told me not to stop the ceremony on his account," Treyden sighed.
"Let's get him off the field and to medical. Victor, Richard, Asher, take him on foot and update me. The ceremony won't be too much longer and I'll tell his family when they come looking for him," Harry ordered.
"Yes, sir," the three males stated as they worked together to pick Hunter up.
"Fury, you're his battle buddy so go with them and I'll expect a full explanation afterward," Harry informed. Treyden nodded and followed after Asher, Victor, and Richard. Not long after they left, the ceremony continued after Harry assured the official there who was heading the event that everything was fine. Around 12:15, the graduation had ended and families began making their way down to give hugs and congratulations to their soldiers. Harry found Hunter's group looking for him and approached with a soft smile. "Looking for Hunter?"
"Yes, where is he?" Viola asked.
"I'm afraid your son was the one who passed out earlier and had to be taken to medical," Harry informed gently as they grew worried.
"Why did he pass out, Major Andersen?" Salvatore asked being the one to stay calm as he could.
"Unfortunately, I do not know the reason behind it. I saw him all morning and he appeared fine, I have not received and update from Asher, Richard, or Victor so I'm heading there now if you'd like to come?" Harry offered.
"Major Andersen, how's Hunter?" Theo asked coming over with Andrew.
"Not sure yet, going to check on him now. Joining us?" Harry inquired as the two nodded quickly. With nothing else said, Harry led them to the medical building, though, it was more like a small house with tons of cots laid out on the left and right with curtains to section each off for privacy. Upon entering, they were able to see Hunter laying on the bed, but thankfully, he was awake.
"You idiot!" Treyden remarked with a huff to his friend as the others blinked. "Why do you have to be so goddamn stubborn, Hunter! You gave Theo, Andrew, and I a friggin heart attack!"
"Oh, come off it, Trey. I was fine," Hunter glared.
"You weren't though! YOU BLACKED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CEREMONY ON THE FIELD MISTER I'M FINE!" Treyden yelled at him. "I asked you fifteen minutes prior to that if you were okay and to let me get someone for you and you told me to leave it alone,"
"I feel as though I'm missing something incredibly imperative and I demand to know what it is," Harry stated now making himself known. "You seem to have known that Haddock wasn't fine, Private Fury, care to explain?"
"Wait, does all this have to do with last night?" Theo asked.
"What happened last night?" Caitlyn inquired. Treyden crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Harry now.
"Hunter has been sick since last night, Major Andersen. Andrew noticed it first around 3 am when he found Hunter not in his bed rather in the bathroom throwing up and told us. We offered to get the drill sergeant for him, and he refused it saying he was okay and to go back to sleep. Hunter didn't eat breakfast this morning, and during the ceremony, he got dizzy and light-headed from the heat, couldn't breathe. I told him I was going to get our drill sergeant and he said not to stop the ceremony because of him, then he blacked out," Treyden informed.
"You're the one who found him sick, Private Kingston?" Harry questioned.
"Well, I didn't find him per say. I heard throwing up and scanned the barrack to see who wasn't in their bed and noticed Haddock was the only one missing. I went to check on him, Theo and Treyden came with me and second witness to Trey's statement, Hunter said he was fine and got too hot," Andrew replied.
"I will third that statement," Theo added in.
"We asked Hunter why he didn't tell anyone last night and he said he knew it was against the rules to leave the barrack between 2130 and 0500 hours," Asher stated.
"Being sick is a different story, you're allowed to leave the barrack or send someone for help if it's for medical," Harry sighed.
"No one mentioned that in the rules of Basic so excuse my lack of knowing. I said I would tell someone when the ceremony was over," Hunter told Harry and the man sighed heavily. The medic came over now with a soft smile.
"What's the diagnosis for him?" Harry asked.
"Has to be some kind of bug for it to have come on so suddenly, Andersen but the passing out was due to the fact he was running a temperature of 103.6 and standing in full ACU out in the eighty-five-degree weather, perhaps a little dehydration too," the woman replied calmly.
"Will he be staying here for the duration of the bug?" Richard inquired.
"Hunter can return to his barrack twenty-four hours after it started, he won't be contagious after that. So, Kingston said he heard Haddock throwing up at 3 am, I do believe only Hunter here knows when it started," the medic informed as all eyes fell on him.
"The depends on what defines the 'start' of it?" Hunter asked.
"Well, most bug starting symptoms are fatigue and loss of appetite followed by feeling cold but sweating, nausea, weakness, and body aches. Any of that hit before this morning or did it just all start at once," Fisher mentioned now.
"Friday night I was more tired than usual and not hungry. Last night after dinner I was exhausted and everything else started around 0115," Hunter responded.
"First time you threw up?" the medic questioned.
"0245 hours, ma'am," Hunter answered.
"That was ten minutes before I heard him," Andrew interjected.
"I'm safely going to assume this started last night at dinner and got worse through the night into early morning so I will release you back to your barrack at 1900. But you will be on bed rest the next few days, understand?" the medic stated sternly.
"Ma'am, yes ma'am," Hunter gave a salute. The medic checked his forehead and smiled.
"Least the fever is dropping," she said before walking off.
"You boys best get back to your families. Haddock isn't going anywhere the rest of the day," Asher informed as Treyden, Theo, and Andrew nodded preparing to leave.
"Still kicking your ass when you're better, Hunt," Treyden warned putting his hand out to Hunter who connected his own to Treyden's.
"I'll hold you to that bud. Go on with your families and don't worry about me," Hunter smiled while they released hands and the three of them left.
"We'll go too so you can spend time with yours," Richard said as he, Victor, and Asher got up to leave next.
"I best go as well but before I forget since you had to be rushed off before it got announced, you did not graduate as a private," Harry said as Hunter arched a brow.
"Are you saying he didn't pass Basic?" Audrey asked quickly.
"Hm? Oh, heavens no. What I meant was that Hunter graduated Basic at a higher rank than the rest of his company," Harry smiled.
"Higher rank? What am I then, private first class?" Hunter asked.
"No, Hunter. You've graduated Basic Combat Training at the rank of Sergeant," Harry said as Hunter's eyes widened and he suddenly couldn't find his words.
"Wait a minute-WHAT!? Ser-Sergeant? That's...a four rank jump from private, Major Andersen. I didn't...do anything more or less than the others. Why in the name of Odin am I being promoted so high after only...nine weeks of training?" Hunter asked still in shock.
"You're one of the youngest soldiers here, sixteen years old and I've seen you do things that some of the fully grown men I know that have been here ten or more years can't do. You have top marks in all areas of training that haven't been seen in fifteen years. You made Expert shooter with various weapons, didn't miss a single target during the marksmanship test. You aced all three phases of Basic, you've taken the lead in exercises, and as Asher told you on Thursday after a few days in the forest, you're a damn good leader. You went above and beyond the field training exercise when your platoon was in trouble," Harry told him.
"I don't...see how any of that merits being made a sergeant," Hunter said confused.
"Because you lead others, Hunter. In the forest, your platoon was pinned down about to be ambushed by your commanding officer enemies. You took charge when the rest panicked, you broke them up into four-person units and made it harder for your enemies to attack or find you. Hunter, you even turned the ambush on Richard and Victor by capturing and bringing them out with you! That's leadership, that's what a sergeant does, they lead. If that had been done in war, you would have saved your entire platoon, Haddock. Get it? SAVED twenty-four people from being severely wounded or killed in action with your quick thinking, fast response times, and leadership skills. " Harry informed as he handed Hunter the envelope containing the new badges for his uniforms.
"I-I really don't know what to say except thank you, I guess?" Hunter replied.
Harry shook his hand, "You're welcome but I didn't do this. You did so take pride in it, you've earned this. Feel better soon, kid. This military has some high hopes for you, and we know you're going to go far with us," Harry told him as he ruffled Hunter's short hair then walked off. Hunter couldn't believe it, and in the moment he forgot his family and friends were there as he looked at the badge in his hand that signified him being a sergeant now. The whole day had been crazy with getting sick and blacking out, but this, getting promoted to Sergeant from Private had been something completely unexpected.
