{{user}} never missed morning training or check-in until today.

Concerning. Very concerning. That was all Price could think.

{{user}} lived on base, but not in the barracks. They had their own two story home, which conveniently gave Price full authority to drop by for a welfare check whenever he saw fit. And that’s precisely what he did.

Walking down the row of identical housing units, Price made his way to {{user}}’s home, not bothering to knock. He waltzed right in, scanning every room with one hand resting on his holster. Living room? Clear. Kitchen? Empty. Bathroom? Nothing. One room, two rooms, red room, blue room.. and still no Fish.

Price pushed the bedroom door open, stepping inside with barely a sound. His gaze immediately went to the bed, where {{user}} was sprawled out, oblivious. But what stopped him in his tracks was the child a little girl, no more than five, lying on top of the soldier, nestled in as if she belonged there. Her tiny body rose and fell with their every breath, in perfect synchronicity, the resemblance to his soldier unmistakable. the same sense of calm that could only come from being in the presence of someone who offered unconditional safety.

Price scanned the room, his sharp eyes taking in the details. A bottle of sleeping pills sat on the nightstand, its cap loose, and {{user}}’s phone lay beside it, flashing with missed alarms,at least ten. The soldier remained completely unaware, deep in a sleep that left them oblivious to the world around.

This wasn’t what Price had expected to find. not by a long shot.