Thanks to everyone who left comments, it really is nice to hear your kind words. Sorry this one took so long, life has a way of keeping us from what we enjoy. This is more of Andrew's story, and more will come as I find time to write. I hope you all have enjoyed it thus far and continue to enjoy it.
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Deployment was over, but returning to life afterward is a whole new battle. Sure it seems easy, but when two people have been apart from each other for so long; leading separate lives, having different priorities, valuing different things, things can get a tad, strained.
We were released by 9, getting late in the restaurant business. I'm sure there were a few places open, but it would easily be an hour until we were ready to get food. Our return home needed to be marked by celebration, yet it would have to wait until tomorrow night. Aside from the late hour, most of us were feeling energized.
Carl, Jeanna, Lauren and I headed to the hotel. We had all dropped our things at the barracks when we arrived, even before dropping the guns at the gun park. We hit up a taco bell on the way, more for the necessary sustenance it provided than for actual quality. I will admit though, having a Baja Blast was a nice thing to return to.
If I didn't know any better, I'd think there was tension in the air. Nobody was making suggestions of things to do or offering ideas for the following day. I assumed they wanted me to make the plans, since I had been gone what amounts to an obscene amount of time. As far as deployments go, it wasn't all that long. The Army is gone up to 15 months sometimes, making my paltry 9 months feel like no time at all.
Once we got inside, and I got changed back into civilian attire, we met back up in Lauren's room. She had gotten a room for herself and Ryan, while the rest of us couples had our own rooms. Ryan had told her that he would catch up with us later, and stay with her while his family got their own rooms.
"So, what's the plan?" Carl asked.
Lauren, Carl and Jeanna sat on the bed, while Becky sat in my lap on the desk chair. Nobody responded, and though I had my eyes closed, I could tell that all eyes were on me. I knew what I wanted to do, but I had to make a call first. I shifted Becky's weight, what little there was, and got my phone out.
"Ryan, what are your plans?" I asked when he picked up.
"The family and I found a bar. What about you guys?" He asked.
"We thought we would join you, if you don't mind being associated with us vagabonds."
He laughed at my description of us. "Please, you guys aren't vagabonds, not compared to the vagrant I have with me."
"Tyler?" I asked jokingly.
"The very same," he said. His tone was serious.
"OK, we'll be there as soon as we can. Try and keep him from getting arrested before we get there."
"Is Lauren coming?"
"Is the Pope Catholic?"
"Touché. See you soon."
Carl had rented a minivan, though not without a fight. He drove with Jeanna riding shotgun and the rest of us in the back. I sat in the middle with Becky to my right and Lauren to my left. Both women held my hands as we drove, which was kinda strange until I remembered that someday I'd be her brother in law.
That thought got my wheels turning. I had to properly propose to Becky, and I had to do it well. I also had to tell my parents about the engagement.
My parents. I needed to call them. They hadn't come to welcome me due to my mother's health. They had said it had something to do with my dad's upcoming retirement, but I knew better. Mom had a heart valve replacement not long before I deployed and her kidney function was starting to drop. It didn't surprise me that they couldn't come, I just wish they had been honest with me. Guess they didn't want me to worry too much.
We filed into the noisy atmosphere that was Johnny Ray's bar. It was small, with most of the floor space taken up by a stage and dance floor. The long bar had several sets of taps featuring various micro brews as well as the usual fair. The live band they had playing wasn't too bad, playing mostly cover songs of rock classics. We searched for Ryan and Tyler, though it wasn't hard to find them.
"Sergeant Anderson!" Tyler yelled in a slurred voice. "It's so good to have you back!"
"Tyler, how you holding up?" I asked.
"Fucking great!" He said, hugging me when he finally staggered over. "I've missed you!"
Carl laughed at the sight. He leaned in close to be heard over the music, "Well, an enchanted moment."
"Tombstone," I said, "Nicely done."
Tyler moved from person to person, trailing the unmistakable scent of scotch with him, and hugged everyone, including Carl. Once he was done, he escorted us to Ryan's table.
"Danny Ryan, how the hell are you?" I asked.
"I'm great now that reinforcements have arrived," he said, giving me a hug. Guys, this is my brother Nick, My father James and my mother Rita. Family, this is Sergeant Andrew Anderson, his fiancé Becky, best friend Carl, his fiancé Jeanna, and this," he took Lauren in his arms, "Is Lauren."
We exchanged pleasantries, then Becky and I went to fetch drinks for everyone. Tyler was trying to get me to get him another round, but I cut him off. I knew he wouldn't drop it there, but it bought us some time.
"So Andrew, how did they do over there?" James asked, his voice like a baritone.
"They did very well, I was impressed. I've deployed with Tyler before, but never with your son. He exceeded my expectations," I said.
"That's great, how long do you have left before you're out?" Rita asked.
"Monday morning."
"Drew got called back for this deployment," Ryan explained. "After Monday he is free of any obligations to the military."
"So why did you go back?" Nick asked. "Isn't there like a deferment or something you could have used to stay home?"
"Nick!" His mother scolded.
"No no, its fine," I said. "I could have gotten a deferment if I wanted, but its my duty to go. Besides, how else was I going to make sure these boys came home?"
"Yeah, but isn't there some way you could have done it without being in harms way?" Nick asked.
"How old are you?"
"21."
"OK, you may be a bit too young to understand it, but if I don't go, someone else will. Some other mothers son would have taken my place, and might not have come home. How would I be able to live with that?"
"Well, my psych professor says that wars are started by politicians to get more money out of us, and by supporting the war, you're supporting those politicians."
"Well, I'm not in politics, so I can't say that's true or not, but make no mistake, I don't support the war. I support those who have to go and fight it. If that means going back for round three, then so be it."
"Three tours?" James asked. "Wow, that's impressive."
"I wish I could agree with you sir, but all I've seen over there is hell."
We talked for a while longer, then Lauren, Becky and Jeanna pulled us guys out on the dance floor. We danced a while before returning to the table, only to find Tyler missing.
"Where did that little spawn of destruction get off to now?" Carl asked.
"I'll find him," I said, standing. I kissed Becky and went to the restroom first. He wasn't in there, and, after relieving myself, I headed out front to see if he was there.
He was sitting against the side of the building, smoking a cigarette. I went over and joined him, sitting next to him on the ground.
"You OK?" I asked.
"Yeah, just trying to sober up. You?"
"I'm OK I guess. It's so strange being home."
"I know, I keep wondering when I'm going to wake up back on ship."
"Yeah, I hate those dreams. Good thing this is real."
"Is it? I hope it isn't." He sounded so depressed.
