Hunter and Treyden were beyond happy to be able to get some sleep after such a long day. Flying a total of six hours with a layover for two, then the dignified transfer, and ending the day with a memorial service that Hunter ended up speaking at and giving everyone a reason to smile and rest assured that things would be okay. The highlight of Hunter's day was getting to eat and sleep. Now it was Monday morning, at the time 10 am, Hunter and Treyden finally woke up. The two got dressed in their civilian clothes; a t-shirt, jeans, and socks. There was no need for shoes right now since they didn't plan on going anywhere today. Perhaps tomorrow after the funeral they would stop by Trey's place so he could grab more clothes, but today they were staying right at the Haddock household.

"Man, I almost forgot what it was like to sleep in," Treyden remarked.

"Seriously. Don't get too used to it, after the leave is over we go right back to waking up at any hour of the night," Hunter chuckled a bit and then sighed while sitting on the edge of his bed.

"You all right?" Treyden asked calmly.

"Yeah, just...trying to settle with everything," Hunter replied.

"With being out of a war zone for the next three weeks, understanding that Jay and Liz are gone because it feels real after the service?" Treyden questioned as Hunter nodded to him. "I know, it's a lot to take in and adjust. But hey, we're home now so let's enjoy it while we got it. You know there won't be another leave, and there is still eight months to go,"

"True that. I suppose we should get upstairs and start the day, I could do with some breakfast and coffee," Hunter said with a small smile. In agreement, Treyden and Hunter made their way out of Hunter's room and down the hall to find Sal, Viola, and Caitlyn sitting in the living room.

"I thought you two were going to sleep the rest of the day," Caitlyn giggled a little.

"It feels like we could, but then we won't sleep tonight so better to tough out the day being a little tired," Hunter informed as he hugged Caitlyn and kissed her forehead, then hugged his father. After that, Hunter was faced with the decision to hug his mother or not. At the end of a brief hesitation, Hunter gave her a quick one and backed up. Of course, he was still upset with her, she told him she didn't support him anymore and that had hurt more than being shot did. However, despite the tension between them, Viola was his mother, and he could never hate her.

"There's some leftover breakfast in the kitchen for you two. Eggs, bacon, sausage, two or three hashbrowns, toast, and coffee," Sal told them.

"Great because I'm starving," Hunter replied as he led Treyden into the kitchen and the two fixed themselves up a plate of food each, warmed it in the microwave then sat down at the table to eat. Hunter had texted Audrey a good morning and that he just woke up then put his phone down and enjoyed the food.

"Wow, you're Dad is a fantastic cook," Treyden beamed after taking a few bites.

"Thanks. I know, I love it," Hunter responded. The two finished within fifteen minutes then cleaned up a bit. Returning to the living room, they took a seat to just talk a little with Hunter's Mom, Dad, and little sister; it was decided that the friends and Audrey could come over around 11 am since they were all waiting with anticipation to see Hunter again. As 11 am drew nearer, Hunter learned that his mother only had until Wednesday off and then she had to get back to work. Hunter had known at some point or another before he went back to Iraq, that the two of them would need to talk. No matter his mother's refusal to support him, Hunter wasn't going to deal with calling home when he got the chances too, and it only becomes an argument, so he was going to put his foot down on the situation and then play it as necessary based on his mother's choices.

(11 am)

Shane, Audrey, Renee, and Travis came together in Shane's car then Heather, Fisher, Eddie, and Drew showed up in Eddie's car since apparently Drew's was in the shop for repairs or inspection, Hunter forgot which when Heather texted him to say her brother and Eddie were coming too. Hunter didn't mind, it seemed like with him in the army now, Eddie and Drew were less inclined to give him a hard time, but Hunter still didn't like them. When Hunter saw both cars pull up, he was first to get the living room door, and Audrey practically tackled him down in an embrace. Hunter laughed a little and hugged her back, Gods, he'd missed her a lot. Especially the hugs and kisses, they always made his day.

"I swear you better not let go the rest of the day," Audrey warned.

"I had no intentions of doing so, Milady," Hunter replied softly before they shared a small but extended kiss together. After that, Hunter kept Audrey on his left side with an arm around her waist and greeted Shane with a hug and the girls. Travis, Eddie, Drew, and Fisher got handshakes then soon everyone was sitting down around the living room relaxing with Audrey sitting on Hunter's lap with his arms locked around her waist, refusing to let go as Audrey had demanded that he didn't and Hunter wouldn't anyway.

"So, if no one else is going to ask, I will. How long are you home for, cuz?" Shane stated first since nobody else had asked the question that everyone wanted to know.

"Until October 6th. We fly back on the 7th at 4 am," Hunter answered contently.

"Wow, that's like three weeks. Daddy, didn't you say most leave times are only a week or two?" Caitlyn inquired looking to her father.

"In most cases, yes so I guess I'm curious as to why you and the others all got three weeks, son?" Salvatore questioned next.

"Our situation was different," Treyden chimed in now. "Originally, none of us were set to take leave yet. Well, Hunter and I had tried to go in July. He wanted to see everyone before you all went back to school, and my Dad happened to be home on leave too but things were rather heavy with the fighting, and it wasn't granted,"

"When Jay and Liz passed away, Jay's family asked if Striker One would be his escorts home and do what we could for the family. It just happened to work out that Liz was shipped back the same day, so Harry asked if we do the transfer for both then take Monday through Friday as mourning period, anything after that would be our leave time until the 6th," Hunter explained.

"Mourning period?" Drew arched a brow.

"It's rather self-explanatory, Drew. What do most people do when they lose a loved one or friend? They mourn them," Hunter stated.

"Harry just felt that those of us on Striker One would like a little extra time to get ourselves together before engaging in family activities. You know? We've got one funeral on Tuesday at 10 am, then another one on Friday at 9:30 am, both with an after party to follow. The mourning period is for the sake that funerals are notoriously worse than memorial services and Major Andersen figured some of us would want to be alone after those two events took place this week," Treyden added into the conversation.

"I guess we won't see you two on those days?" Caitlyn inquired.

"Well, you'll see us in the morning and when the parties end," Hunter nodded.

"I meant with the mourning thing," Caitlyn rephased.

"We'll be okay. Just like I said yesterday, might not see them anymore but they're always around," Hunter smiled at her.

"So why don't you tell us how the last ten months have been over there? What's it like?" Renee asked curiously.

"It's hot as hell," Treyden chuckled.

"How hot, like 90?" Travis inquired.

"Pfft, that would be a godsend. No, it gets as hot as one hundred and twenty degrees June through August. Then as cold as the forties in January. You try dealing with that heat wearing a full ACU and battle gear the weighs about sixty to eighty pounds," Hunter informed.

"I'm good. How do you all handle it?" Fisher asked, rather astounded by the information.

"Water becomes your new best friend. It's all we drink unless someone in the barrack gets a care package with soda or juice," Treyden interjected.

"How do you keep things cold?" Eddie asked.

"Well, each room in the barrack has a mini fridge, so we keep about eight cold and store the rest away until it's time to restock," Treyden replied.

"Room in the barrack? Aren't they set up like the ones at Draco?" Salvatore blinked a few times. Hunter shook his head as he went and grabbed his laptop along with an HDMI cord from his gaming console, then he hooked it up to the big flat screen before powering the computer on and giving it a few minutes to start up. After that, Hunter typed in his password, and the desktop could be seen with a picture of the platoon-one with everyone there before the deaths starting occurring. "What picture is that?"

"I think that was the next morning after we arrived on the 25th, well, it would technically have been the 26th of November 2016 since we get there around midnight and crashed sometime after 1 am. Morning came, and we decided to get a picture in front of our barrack to commemorate being together for the first tour. I think I made this my background after RJ died, way to see everyone together again," Hunter smiled.

"Have you taken a lot of pictures?" Viola tried nervously. Hunter almost didn't answer her but decided not to be an ass instead. Hunter pulled up the folder marked; Camp Draconia-Plasma Fire Company-Baghdad, Iraq. Within that folder held pictures and videos, all from the last ten months the group assumed. "Wow," Viola said in surprise.

Hunter showed his friends and family some of the pictures and videos that he had, not all of them because it would take hours to cycle through. Hunter showed the shots from the barrack, explaining that it was four to a room and that the girls stayed on the opposite side of the hallway, also about the shower and bathroom arrangements. Salvatore was intrigued by it all; the others might have felt the same. The videos contained things from their times in the entertainment hall or during dinner. There wasn't much for in the barrack since it was a very small area.

Hunter got to the picture from some of their patrols in the different towns and districts, showing the soldiers in their almost full gear with helmets, guns, gloves, vests, sunglasses, etc. While Hunter was going through pictures, Audrey stopped him on one where Hunter was kneeling next to a three-year-old girl.

"Who is that babe?" Audrey asked quickly.

"Hm? Oh, that's the little girl I saved on the mission where I got shot in the side and cracked a rib. I went to see how she was doing a few weeks after the incident and Theo took a picture of us," Hunter smiled gently and continued flipping through photos.

"What's that video?" Drew asked when Hunter had gone by a video where there were soldiers with their guns at the ready to fire.

"I believe that was one of the times they checked up to make sure we could still shoot at the level we made during Basic," Treyden stated. "It's the firefight training with paintball guns. Put it on, Hunter. That was so much fun even though you kicked our asses,"

"So I'm quick on my gun, what do you want from me?" Hunter shrugged.

"Not the speed, man. Your accuracy is god damn incredible," Treyden chuckled.

"Good eyes," Hunter stated as he pressed play and moved back a little while the video started.

"All right, Hooligan platoon. It's gotta be done; the base leaders want to make sure you can still shoot as good as you did in Basic before you're cleared to go on recon, ambush, or contact missions. So, we're gonna give you a gun, and you're gonna take one another on," Harry informed.

"These are airsoft guns, right?" asked Danielle.

"We thought it would be a little more interesting to use paintball guns. Every soldier for themselves, to create the scenario that you're alone in enemy territory. Can you use your shooter and stealth skills to reach your extraction point without getting killed," Harry stated. "If you get shot in the head, neck, or heart, you're considered dead. You're objective is to reach this spot and ring the bell. Those who end up 'dying' will radio in. It ends when everyone has checked in whether be by radioed death or reaching the extraction,"

"Got it. I assume this is red, washable paint?" Andrew inquired.

"Correct. So, come get your guns, and one reload, you'll get ten minutes to spread out and find a spot to hide. When you hear the snap gun, you can start," Harry chuckled. For fifteen minutes, it was the soldiers grabbing their weapons and taking off to hide behind the tents, boards, fake trees, and bushes. The snap gun was heard, and it began right away. By the ten minute mark, Hunter had taken out four members of his platoon with head or heart shots.

While everyone watched, it was apparent that Hunter was superb at a silent kill from behind. "How long did you survive, Treyden?" Heather asked.

"Theo, Andrew, and I lasted until the end but Hunter still got us, but not with a shot to that would consider us dead. Only five us reached the bell," Treyden stated. Continuing to watch, the group watched as another fifteen minutes passed with Hunter taking out eight more. The last person he encountered tried to sneak up on him but Hunter crouched low, swept the guy onto his back then jumped back as the male sat up, that's when Hunter shot him in the head. Hunter was seen getting Theo in the shoulder, Andrew in the leg, and finally, Trey got it on the right side of the leg, but Hunter was first to reach the bell and ring it. After him it was Jay, then Trey, Nikolas, Theo, and Andrew.

The rest of the platoon came out mumbling about most of them being taken out by Hunter who was casually leaning against a wall with his eyes closed and the only one not covered in red paint.

"Well done, Sergeant Haddock!" Harry patted his back. "You've certainly proved you can handle yourself out there and showed you still got your Expert shooter lever,"

After that, the video ended. "That's my boy," Salvatore chuckled.

"I did learn how to shoot from you, Dad," Hunter reminded. Viola instantly looked at her husband as he tensed up and Hunter noticed. "You never told her that you taught me how to shoot a gun in the backyard, did you?"

"YOU DID WHAT!?" Viola screeched quickly. "How long ago was this?!"

"U-Um, he was...thirteen," Sal mentioned. "Oh, come on. Hunter did great! Only took him two tries to hit the target and after that, he never missed again. I'm proud to say my thirteen-year-old son mastered a handgun and rifle at that age!"

"What if he had gotten hurt?!" Viola countered.

"Why are you worried about a what if four years later? Seriously, Mom. I'm seventeen now; I was thirteen then. Nothing happened to me, so what does it matter now?" Hunter asked with a bored look in his eyes.

"Because it's one more thing your father didn't tell me. How many other things have been done behind my back, Salvatore Haddock?" Viola crossed her arms over her chest angrily.

"Will ya leave it alone, Ma? Geeze," Hunter sighed. "A lot of things have been done behind your back because you get like this. Unfortunately, you're going to have to accept that Dad and I have a stronger relationship than you and I do," Viola was going to remark, but at that moment she felt everyone staring at her as if to say; don't tick him off again. Viola stayed quiet this time and sighed looking away. Before another word could be said, Hunter's cell phone beeped on the table as he reached for it and held the button on the side for three seconds before it beeped again.

=Andersen to Haddock, am I coming through all right?=

=Loud and clear, Major Andersen. Good morning to you, sir.= Hunter replied after holding down the button and talking into the microphone.

=Aye, good morning to you as well lad. Have I caught you at a bad time?=

=Not at all, Major. Finally figured out the walkie-talkie feature on your phone, did you?= Hunter chuckled a bit.

=Yes, very effective method indeed and it doesn't seem to be affected by our distance. I thank you for informing me of it. Anyway, wanted to check in and make sure Striker One returned to Archi safely and that there were no problems with the transfers of Privates Michaels and Campbell?=

=You're welcome, sir. All of Striker One arrived safely to Archi Island Airport around 1500 hours. The transfers went smoothly. Both of the fallen were placed on the belt, Corporal Fury and I gave the families a few minutes with the caskets, and then we moved to the funeral home for the joint service. From what I understand, the burial for Michaels will be on Tuesday at 1000 hours, and Campbells will be Friday at 0930 hours," Hunter explained briefly.

=An excellent job as always, Sergeant. Have the families asked you or Striker One to do anything else?=

=Yes. We were asked to perform the flag folding and three-gun volley ceremony for both fallen soldiers. Not to worry, the team and I accepted the job so Tuesday and Friday, we will be in our formals and seeing that request through, sir.= Hunter informed.

=I'm pleased to hear that. Well, I won't take up much of your time then. I just wanted to make sure everything went all right. Enjoy your leave, Sergeant, and we'll see you and Striker One back on the base October 7th.=

=Yes you will, Major. Have a good day.= Hunter said before holding the button on the side for three seconds, and it beeped twice, and then he noticed his family and friends arching a brow at him. "It's a feature to most of Hooligan platoon's mobile phones. A walkie-talkie that can communicate with one other person or we can preset contacts in a group and talk to all of them at once. It was an upgrade we made before deploying since we're not supposed to use the primary radio unless we're on missions, guards, and patrols. For some reason, the walkie-talkie feature isn't affected by the signal, so I'm assuming as long as there is at least one bar of service, we're able to contact one another between long distances," he enlightened.

"That's kind of cool. Can all phones do it?" Audrey asked.

"Most of the newer models can. The two-way starts with a person on one end holding the button to contact another after selecting the person they're communicating with. A signal gets sent to the other person, which was the beep you heard on mine. Then I return the signal to connect the two phones for talking. Or as I said, I can contact everyone who uses this feature in the platoon by selecting the group labeled; Alpha Hooligan," Hunter shrugged.

"But I meant like if we upgraded our phones to use the feature, would it be easier to talk to you?" Audrey questioned with a hopeful look in her blue eyes.

"I suppose it would, but you know once I get back to Iraq, I'm going to be busy again. I won't always be able to answer just like before," Hunter replied gently.

"If you were to send the signal to his phone and he doesn't respond to it within two minutes, then it will give you a message saying user unavailable. But he'll also get a message informing him that someone tried to contact him via walkie-talkie. Much like when you get a notification about missed calls and text messages," Treyden added in.

"We know, but we thought maybe it might be better than hoping Hunter gets a good enough signal to call with," Caitlyn mentioned.

"You're welcome to make the upgrade if you like," Hunter smiled, "Do it before I go back, and I'll set things up, so you don't have to struggle with it as poor Andersen did," he chuckled a little.

"Does it cost any extra to upgrade?" Salvatore asked.

"$10 a month," Treyden answered. "It's already a feature on most phones that were released in the last four years, but it's not active unless you pay for it. We only learned about it from some of the people we worked with at the Berkton base while preparing for deployment and decided to go for it. Hasn't let us down since,"

"I'm down to add it," Travis stated. Renee nodding in agreement.

"I'm on my parent's plan, so I have to ask them first," Heather said.

"Same here," Fisher put a hand up.

"My parents won't care," Audrey giggled after kissing Hunter's cheek, and he held her close against him, and she blushed but snuggled into the embrace. "You owe me a date, remember? You promised when you came home for leave,"

"So I did. Well, I never go back on my word," Hunter smiled as he held her hand seeing the promise ring still in place then he brought her hand up and kissed where the ring was. "How does Saturday? We can do whatever you want,"

"Saturday sounds okay but are you sure you're going to be up for it after having one of those funerals on Friday?" Audrey looked back at him gently.

"I'll be all right," Hunter replied, "Saturday it is then. You think about what you want to do; movie, dinner...I think fall fest is this weekend too," he told her and Audrey nodded. Of course, in their silence with them staring into each other's eyes, they knew what else they would likely end up doing as it had been a very long ten months without one another.

"I'm glad you're home for a few weeks, Hunter. I've missed you like crazy," Audrey sighed out contently while closing her eyes and relaxing into his arms.

"I've missed you too, Milady. Just think, only eight more months and the tour will end," Hunter reminded.

"I can't wait," Audrey responded. Despite the fact this leave was granted because of losing Jay and Liz, Hunter was glad to have it. After all the deaths that took place in ten months leaving Plasma Fire with eighty-five soldiers now, Hunter needed the break. Tuesday and Friday would be a little hard but he would have Striker One standing with him, and they'd lean on each other for support while saying goodbye to their friends. Hunter was home for about three weeks, and he was going to use the time to the fullest since he wouldn't be home again until May 2018 when his deployment was over. All there was left to do from this moment was enjoy the time he had to the best he could.