Christmas Homecoming, a Hammer Club story

Grady rang the doorbell to Oliver's place, two bottles of wine under his arm. Another Thanksgiving without his Joey. He didn't want to be here, not really. He wanted to be at home, in his house, with Joey.

He sighed and shook himself. "Come on, Grady. Buck up. At least you're home and among friends." Joey was the one in a warzone.

Jack opened the door, bounced into his arms, the little sub all smiles. "Master Grady! You came!"

He summoned up a smile for Jack. "I did. How could I refuse you and Oliver?"

"I'm so glad." Jack kissed his cheek. "We miss your smile." The best part was that the words sounded true, like Jack was truly pleased to see him.

He handed over the wine bottles and patted Jack's shoulders. "Thank you, boy."

"Come in. We're a good-sized group today -- about fourteen, I think."

"You and Oliver are too good to us strays." He was relieved, actually, that he was just one of a group.

"Nonsense, my boy. Having my family around me is most important." Oliver came to him, face wreathed in smiled. "Jack, that darling little caterer has some questions."

"Happy Thanksgiving, Oliver." Grady gave the man a hug as Jack dashed off.

"Happy Thanks..."

His phone buzzed, interrupting them. He frowned. "Sorry, Oliver, I'll just be a minute." He flipped open the phone. "Hello?"

"Grady. Happy Thanksgiving." Oh. Oh, his Joey.

"Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Joey. Have they done you a special meal?" The last thanksgiving they'd been together they'd had peanut butter sandwiches and it had been the best he could remember in a long time.

"They did shit at the mess earlier, yeah. I'm fixin' to go out on a night patrol, knew you'd be up."

Grady slipped into one of the rooms off the front hall, knowing Oliver wouldn't begrudge him the privacy. "I am. Oliver was good enough to invite me."

Joey's voice sounded so good.

"Yeah? He bring you a boy to serve you turkey?" Oh, his green eyed soldier. It felt good to know the wanting and the missing weren't all one-way.

"The only boy I'm interested in has night patrol."