AN: I thought of this sitting on the couch. I typed it up in an email on my phone before transferred here into word to post. This could be set in season 6 maybe or closer to season 7 since I don't know anything much about those two seasons besides that Hondo got a little girl then. I'm still working on the seasons don't own since cost little more than earlier seasons. Might be season 6 since Deacon hasn't brought up retirement. I of course went with Rocker not being married. In my mind he's 1000% gay too or bisexual.
AN2: I saw an episode yesterday where Rocker and Hondo were tossing cornhole bags I think was season 6 or 7 so don't quote me on it. Hondo one and I thought about what if since he has his daughter and Deacon has his four kids so what if Rocker being nice had thrown the game so that 20 squad didn't have to work Christmas parade. It's just something in my head and going with that this came about too.
Summary: Hondo figures out something that Rocker has been doing, but it's nothing bad at all. It's kind of sweet and has to do with 20 squad's work schedule on a certain day since Hondo and Deacon both have kids.
Title: It's All I Wanted To Say
The idea had started years ago after he'd taken over the 50-Squad from Mumford. There was only one person on his own squad that had a kid and he'd gotten it approved every year to borrow one a person for the shift. Rocker hadn't told anyone the reason behind it and no one had ever suspected either.
Every year if 20 squad had to work on Father's Day he had planned ahead and did a little bet. He made it look like he was going to win and then choked at last second. He always made sure the deal was just between either Hondo or Deacon and his self. That way the other team members couldn't some how come out ahead and have no chance of 20 squad winning.
Today had been no different he'd made the bet that morning since both squads had been on duty. He had also checked the schedule 20 squad was supposed to work Sunday, which had been a little weird since he could have sworn, he'd saw Monday they were supposed to have been off. He always checked more than once in case something changed though. He'd seen Deacon and Hondo talking and gone over. He always tossed in something extra so it didn't seem like it was just Sunday. He figured that if he didn't make it obvious they would be none the wiser. He had been making bets for years. The rivalry between the squads went back to Buck and Mumford days. For the most part he kept it going, but never got dirty or cruel with it.
He didn't mind working since he was single and the others always grumbled some sure, but the day of they didn't complain about it. The over time was good these days. He had done like usual too. Double or nothing and since this year like another time they'd been doing cornhole throw to see who won he hadn't put as much into the last throw. It worked like a charm, and he'd acted like it had sucked. Shaked hands with Hondo and Deacon before he'd helped pick everything up while 20 squad celebrated the victory of winning and getting to switch the two days. The second day had been Thanksgiving. It was one of the holidays that he didn't mind working. Tommy usually worked it too, they did something the day before or after together. It was the two of them since they never did anything with their parents who sucked.
Now he was changing out before he left for the day. He already had plans for the night to go home and crash. Order something and hang out with his brother. Tommy was thankfully off tonight and he was the only one that actually knew what he did every year. It had been where the idea came from since Tommy did the for one of the pilots at harbor. More than once Tommy had traded Christmas so the guy could be home. If he was off he'd go down and spend a while with his brother on the day.
He had been lost in those thoughts and hadn't even heard someone come in. It was a good thing he wasn't somewhere else. It could have been bad if it had been. He usually was watching everything around him. He'd just been happy he could once again switch the shifts. Thankfully he didn't jump so they didn't know they'd startled him.
"I know what you did, Rocker." Hondo said looking at his fellow S.W.A.T. sergeant.
It didn't matter that Rocker out ranked him they never did go there. Didn't throw blame at the other if something went wrong on an op either. Rocker could have given him hell years back over Erika, but he hadn't. He had been borrowing her for the shift. Losing Erika had affected all of them. He'd been spinning out that day and Rocker had talked to him. Told him to keep his head up. There had been another conversation though when he'd gone in the locker room. He'd thought that Hicks or someone else would have cleaned Erika's locker out. Chris had been spinning out at the time too, blaming herself. He'd found Rocker doing it instead. It had been more of him standing there at first. It was when he'd been asked to make sure if he was ever killed on duty to never let Tommy find out from the news. They respected each other and more than once Rocker helped him and vise versa. They had more than once joined squads. He had realized now it might have been more than few.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Rocker said lacing his boots back up. "I lost guess I was having an off day. I'll get a rematch Monday if you want. Though you won so don't know why you'd want that." He said knowing he wasn't giving anything away with his tone.
"You want to deny it fine but thank you. I figured out what you claim you didn't do. I know because I had Hicks do a fake schedule to see if my hunch was right. 50 squad was already set to work Sunday. Every year since Mumford retired you made sure Deacon didn't have to work on Father's Day, this year same goes for me with my daughter. So, thanks. It's all I wanted to say." Hondo said moving so he was in front of Rocker. He put his hand out.
Rocker shook his head with a laugh taking Hondo's hand. Though instead of the shake he got pulled in getting a hug instead. He gave it back before pulling back. It was close to another one they'd had years back in this same locker room. One of the only times he'd ever broken at work. They never talked about and he was glad. There had been a few other hard times he'd dealt with at work, but those he'd talked to Tommy about it. They'd have a few beers and he locked it away. That day he hadn't been able to do it. The walls had finally cracked. He brought his self back from that though. Even if at times it still haunted him.
"You two have got kids, I don't. You should spend the day with them. That was sneaky though with the schedule. I thought read it wrong Monday." Rocker said. It made since now and he hadn't been wrong. He'd gotten tricked which was kind of fun for a change.
"No, it's when I started piecing it together. Deacon said you had asked Hicks about the schedule for Sunday." Hondo explained.
"You didn't tell anyone else did you, besides Hicks?" Rocker asked.
"Nope, and he doesn't know the real reason. I said it was a prank like we usually do and didn't hurt anyone." Hondo said. Hicks got in on the bets and pranks at times too. It was kind of nice they had a commander like that. He knew that Mumford and Hicks had done bets all the time back when Mumford ran 50-David.
"Good, don't need them thinking I'm getting soft. I'd never live it down." Rocker said grabbing his bag.
"I know it's rare for both squads to be off, but I checked this year and both 20 and 50 squads have Christmas off. If Tommy's not or is working come over to the house. It's like 6 plus months away, but you two are always welcome." Hondo said.
It was months away but the last two years both squads had ended up having to work. Hicks had told him this was the year less world ended they'd be off.
"Thanks, I'll check with him." Rocker said kind of glad they'd all have Christmas off. He kind of hoped Tommy would be too. He left the locker room with a laters. He checked his phone finding Tommy had already picked up something. Beers included. He needed a few of them and time with his brother.
THE END
EN: Thanks in advance for reviews and kudos. I am in a slight obsessive mood right now because I didn't want Erika killed that episode nearly broke me so sorry if got brought up. I'm thinking of doing a story on just that, write the pain out as they say. I just need to watch more of the episodes with her in it leading up to then if I survive them.