Snow falls softly outside the cabin window, a delicate blanket of white against the dark pines. Inside, the fire crackles in the hearth, but Hesh felt none of its warmth. He sits on the worn couch, staring at the Christmas tree you, his partner, had decorated. It's lights twinkled cheerfully, but Hesh's heart felt too heavy to match their glow.

It's his first Christmas without his father, who was killed in action, and his brother, Logan, who's been missing for a few months- captured at the hands of Rorke. The intelligence reports were grim, and every passing day made it harder to hold onto hope.

Hesh felt the weight of failure like a stone on his chest. He was the older brother, the one who should've protected Logan. He was just feet away when Logan was taken, yet he couldn't do anything to stop it.

"David?" Your voice pulls him from his thoughts.

He turns to see you in the doorway. "Yeah?" he asks, voice thick with emotion.

"Can you come to the front door? There's... something you need to see."

Hesh frowns. "What is it?"

You don't say anything else in response, just waving him over to follow you. With a sigh, Hesh stands, his joints aching. He follows you to the door, Riley following close behind.

On the porch stands a man, bundled in a military-issued parka and wearing a knit beanie. He had the same recognizable broad shoulders, the same determined jawline- but his face was thinner, covered in mental and physical scars, and his eyes carried the weight of captivity.

"Logan?" Hesh's voice cracks, disbelief washing over him. Riley barks joyously, recognizing his other owner.

Logan smiles, albeit a tired one, but a smile nonetheless, and he drops his bag to the ground. "Merry Christmas, big brother."

For a moment, Hesh stands frozen. Then, in a burst of emotion, he crosses the porch and wraps Logan in a bear hug, gripping him like he might disappear again.