With the holidays approaching, so was the army's holiday block, ten days to allow senior drill sergeants and basic training staff to go home and be with their families over the festive period.

You knew that you were among the small few that chose to stay, any number of reasons between you all as you chose the base over home. Nobody to go home to, didn't celebrate, would rather stay with their friends and brothers in arms over the holiday.

You were a similar case, you'd rather stay here with the found-family you'd made.

The base was oddly quiet, but peacefully so, the absence of soldiers and staff not daunting or eerie but rather comforting since you knew they were off having a holiday and some well earned rest.

You'd still be granted your ten days holiday of course, but you'd simply chosen to stay, as had a few higher ups, should the worse come to pass and a scramble was needed.

You weren't aware that Price had stayed behind too until you met him in the rec room one afternoon reading a book.

"Afternoon," he looked a little puzzled, "figured you'd gone back home with your friends, but now I see that's not the case." he offered a kind smile.

"Don't do Christmas?" he asked.