As I drove home, my mind never left what exactly was going on. “The country is a mess, how in the hell do they expect me to head back out there? Shit the rate the country’s going, I’m gonna be deployed here. I can’t believe this shit. I don’t want to keep doing this anymore. No! I can’t think like that! The guys need me! Jackson, Jasper, Doc, Patterson, Carmine, they All-.” The ringing of my phone pierced through my thoughts as my attention was pulled towards my console. “Jackson”. “Shit, speak of the devil and he shall appear.” I grabbed my phone and answered.

“This is Thane, send it.” My voice stern and eager to find out what he knew.

Jackson, putting on a nasally voice, “Uh this is Lieutenant Thane! Reporting for duty sir!” His voice returns to normal, “That’s what you sound like, come on L.T.” He chuckles a bit, but it’s obvious something’s wrong.

“Shut up, what’s wrong jackson.” A concerned tone gripped my voice.

“What? I can’t just call to talk to my boy!” His voice cracked.

“Jackson, what’s going on?”

His voice turned stern. “D’you see the checkpoint in Elkhart?”

“Yeah, I did.” My voice turned to one of concern and disappointment.

“It’s already at a couple million views. I had Wright call me, asking if we were safe to go home.”

“Wright? The new Machine Gunner In Carmine’s squad?”

“Yeah!”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him he’s okay to head home, see his fam, and forget ‘bout was happening politically, that’s not our job. Y’know, the basic shit.”

“Sounds like you have it handled, so why call me?”

“Lieutenant. Uh.” He took a pause, as he began to speak his voice became a bit raspy, “It is safe for us to be home, right?” Uncertainty emanated from his voice.

I could feel my eyes widen from the realization. Jackson, the man who got me through a war, was solid as a rock throughout and never thought twice about charging into machine Gun fire, was afraid. I didn’t know what to say, so I stopped. A few moments passed.

“Lieutenant? Are you there?”

I quickly snapped back, “yeah! Sorry! I went through a dead zone. Jackson, we’re fine, look, enjoy this leave, spend time with your family, think about marrying that “Beautiful African queen” you couldn’t stop talking about in those fucking truck rides.”

“Right! Ha! Oh shit! Have you asked that shorty of yours?” His attitude changed almost immediately. I quickly realized how much my words meant to him.

“Oh, she’s on vacation, I called her dad though, He is meeting with me sometime soon, we are going fishing!”

“That’s great L.t.! Sounds like you tryin to get in with the daddy first!” A chuckle left his mouth.

“Yeah! He knew me pretty well before that though.”

“Eh, it’s whatever, I see what your doin! Ha.”

“Shut up, did you even check on the platoon last night like I asked?”

“Uh, well you see, I started too, then Jasper turned out to start asking everyone, and I just let him handle it. Didn’t wanna step on his toes, ya feel me?”

A large sigh left my mouth, “Yeah, I feel you.”

“But! I did ask the other platoons!”

“Really? Anything?” My brow rose with astonishment.

“Not a fucking thing, everyone else was good over there. No weird messages from command, but a few of their families were threatened because of them being military, I remember your dad said something about that right?”

“Yeah! What was said to them?” My curiosity peaked.

“They wouldn’t exactly tell me, I tried everything short of paying them for the info, they wouldn’t elaborate. Something about internal affairs looking into it, whatever that means.”

“What?”

“Dude i know! They wouldn’t tell me shit though.”

“Well fuck, listen I gotta head home, keep me posted.”

“You got it.”

“Thane out.” I said as I hung up the phone. Why in the fuck was I the only one that had gotten one of these shitty death certificates! Surely I’m not the only one! I refuse to believe that. The rest of my ride was uneventful as I listened to music. I turned onto my street and headed towards my house. That’s when I noticed a brand new Blue Ford F-150 Lightning sitting across the street. “Damn, looks like the neighbors are finally stepping up in the world. Good for them.” I smiled as I passed the beautiful truck. Finally I pulled into my driveway. As I got out of my car and walked up the path to the front door, I could hear Jager going nuts from the backyard. He knew I was home. I opened the door. As soon as I crossed the Threshold of the house, I was hit by an aroma that I hadn’t smelled in years. It was almost euphoric, my mom's homemade cinnamon and chocolate cookies. It was so enticing that I could feel myself floating towards the kitchen. I entered the kitchen and found cookie sheets full of different kinds of cookies and foods. With my mom in the center of the room, moving like a master chief in their childhood kitchen. She looked as if she was moving on air, while singing her favorite songs playing on the speaker in the corner of the room. He loved rocking out to the 80s hits and 90s country. Singing along to the outfield as she pulled another cookie sheet out of the oven. As she turned and placed the sheet on the counter, she looked up and noticed me, her eyes shot wide, and with a huge smile she rushed over to me shouting.

“Jason!” She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight.

“Hey mom!” I returned the embrace.

“How was your day? Did you have fun?” She asked as she released me.

“Yeah it was great, I really missed being at work.”

“Who did you work with?”

“RJ” I said with an eye roll.

“That’s great! I am sure everyone was so happy to see you!”

“Yeah they were. What’s with all the food?”

“Oh! I was feeling in a baking mood! There are plenty here! Take what you like!”

“Alright!” I walked over and grabbed one of the cinnamon chocolate cookies and took a bite. The incredible taste broke through my previously mundane pallet. “Oh my God!” I felt my knees become weak as I felt a tear in my eye. “This is amazing!”

My mom smirked, “I’m glad you like it!”

“Hey, where is dad? Usually he’s attempting to steal half a sheet by now.”

“Oh, he’s outside, Herold showed up, it’s been almost two years since he’s been over here, so Your father is chatting with him.”

“Wait Mr. Roberts is here? But where is his truck?” I said with a bit of shock.

“Yeah! He’s just outside, go stop out there and say hello! And I believe he parked across the street.”

“What? His old green truck isn’t out there!”

“No, he is driving the blue truck.”

“What?” I said in shock.

“Yeah! He just got it a few months ago.” Mom said nonchalantly.

“It’s a beautiful truck!” I said.

“Oh, I know! You should see the interior, it’s immaculate! Why don’t you head in the backyard. ” She said as she motioned towards the door.

“Alright, thanks mom! Ima head out back then!” I said as I walked towards the back door. I heard her say something, but I couldn’t make out exactly what it was. I walked out into the backyard onto our porch, I looked around and found my dad and Mr Roberts sitting in the shed. As I moved closer I began to hear what they were saying.

“I don’t give a fuck Herold! It’s bullshit! You’re not going to sell me like you did everyone else! What am I supposed to even tell him?”

“Tell him the truth, I’m sure he’ll understand.” His voice was calm.

“Yeah I’m sure he will! And I suppose you also want me to tell him how this was her “Greater duty!” Too don’cha. The kid’s already lived through a hell that you and I never even came close to seeing and-” *Snap* a stick broke under my boot as Jager rushed out of the shed barking. The commotion rocked them both to their feet. In an Instant, Jager lunged at me. At first in aggression, but as soon as his eyes met mine, his angered scowl turned to loving affection As he hit my chest. I fell to the ground and a barrage of licks hit me as I tried to wrestle out from under him. Quickly they rushed out of the shed,

“Jason!” My dad said in shock.

“Get. Him. Off. Of. Me.” I attempted to say in the middle of the lickening that had befallen me.

“Oh right!” Mr. Roberts grabbed Jager by his collar and rushed him back as my dad extended out a hand To help me up. I grabbed his hand as he pulled me to my feet.

“Are you alright, Jason?” Mr. Roberts asked.

“He’s fine!” My dad replied.

“Jason?” Mr Roberts asked, looking me in the eyes.

“Yeah, I’m fine, I’m used to the ninety pound fur missile we call a dog slamming into me.” I laughed a bit. I dusted myself off a bit as I spoke. “Now, what were you guys talking about?” I asked with curiosity. Dad spoke up first, “We-“ he was quickly cut off by Mr. Roberts.

“We were just talking about Westly, a guy in our biker club, he’s going through a really nasty divorce, and his kids are being brought Into it. Apparently his wife was cheating on him with his lawyer. And well I’m not super close with him, but your dad is. I’m hoping to have your dad break it to him, but it’s a really tricky situation and your father wants nothing to do with it.” My dad looked at him with a face I don’t think I’ve ever seen in my life. A mix of disgust and confusion. Something was wrong, and I knew it. But I played along to see what exactly was going on.

“Sweet, dad I think you should help the guy out, the only thing worse than a liar is a cheater.”

“Exactly! Now, actually, I have to head to Bass pro shop. Would you like to come Jason? We can find you a new rod for this weekend!” Mr. Roberts said.

“Sure, let me just go up and change.”

“No problem, I’ll be waiting.” He said as I rushed up towards the house.