The Tour Begins (2038)

Hoyt Fortenberry knew that this day would come, although he had not expected it to come this soon. It had taken him sometime to come to adjust to the idea that his son Lucas would soon be leaving again for his tour in Iraq. As much as he wanted to fight his son on this subject. He knew that he would fail, as strong headed as his mother, his spirit was strong as he believed that he was doing the right thing.

"I do not want you to go son...You have done your duty for your country" he pleaded with Lucas.

He turned to glance at Amy to hope that she may be able to say something that may change his mind. He did not want Lucas leaving, he had done his duty.

Amy looked at Lucas like the worried mother she was. "your father is right baby... you've done your tours... you did your job... why do you have to go again..and for so long?" she asked, sadness permeating her voice.

She was proud of her son, of all he'd accomplished. Both her sons were her pride and joy but at the same time she wished she could just hold them close and keep everything bad away from them

Lucas gazed down as his feet, he knew that this day was fast approaching, but the bus would soon be here to pick him up and take him to the base.

"....I knew what I was signing up for when I joined...This is what I want to do...You told me mom that I could be anything that I wanted to be. And this is what I want" he told her.

He glanced at his brother, hoping that he would be on his side about this.

He looked first at his dad, then at his mom "Mom... Lucas is smart. He won't do anything reckless out there" he said, trying to give her some confidence.

"His teammates need him out there, and he'll be fine. He'll come back and torment me like he usually does" he said with a smirk as he looked at his brother.

He walked over to Lucas and gave him a man-hug. "You better come back" he whispered into his ear.

As his brother loped him into a man-hug he responded and did the same as he patted his back.

"...Hey I got the rest of my life to torment you, its what brothers do" he joked.

He turned to his mother and father as he knew that this would be hard on them both.

"This is what I want...This is my last tour, after that I shall take my leave. Then I will be home again. I promise you nothing will happen to me. We can video call every day" he promised

Amy flung herself at Lucas into a very motherly hug despite Lucas being taller than her. "Oh just promise me...promise me you'll look after yourself" she said, fighting back the tears.

He shook his head at his brother but stepped back, knowing that Lucas had his mind made up on the matter.

"Come on mom..." said Elijah as he tried to gently pry his mother off her death grip on Lucas

"I promise you that I will come back....You have my word, and if I break it. Elijah, you can have my car" he joked.

Turning to his dad as he could see that he was fighting to keep himself under control.

"I promise that I will call every day..And I expect a care package sent every week" he joked trying to lighten the mood.

He could do this, he could do this. He had to do it for Amy, for Elijah. He wrapped his arms around his son as he fought back the tears from falling.

"You take care of yourself you hear...We got that fishing trip planned for when your back..." he sniffled.

He eloped Elijah into a tight embrace and did not want to let him go.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world dad" he promised as he hugged his dad back.

As Lucas heard the horn honking outside signaling that the bus was here to take him to base. He patted his dad on the back before he almost started crying. He turned to his mom and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"...I promise that I will be back...Don't worry. I love you" he whispered.