It had been an exhausting couple of days for Eric, especially given recent events, and exasperated by the fact that Eric wasn't on the first scheduled flight back. As both a senior agent and one of the few who wasn't wounded at all, he volunteered to stay behind another half-day and help with the embassy evacuation. Communication of it was supposed to be sent to HQ, but it apparently got lost in the chaos of the situation.
Eric's extra 14 hours became two more days though as the embassy came under siege by ISIS. Eric manned the perimeter with DSS & the remaining marine guards. He even ended up in the national papers, manning a captured PKM machine gun on the roof of the main building with a marine lance corporal. His face was blurred and he was misidentified as a DSS agent, but Cleo know who it was; knew his physique & posture. Halfway through the second day, they were reinforced by Sayerat Matkal, Israeli special forces who'd infiltrated into the city, and early the next morning they were relieved by elements of 26th MEU who'd landed days earlier and steadily pushed towards them.
Finally relieved and properly evacuated, he now just wanted to get home, see Cleo, and curl up & sleep. Part of that could be solved immediately though. As his plane lifted off, he popped a couple prescription sleeping pills and was out for most of the trip, only being awoken as they settled into their holding pattern above the home airfield. He hasn't really talked to Cleo at all since he left; first he was pissed then he was too busy, and he was sure he was going to get an earful.
Eric was mostly unharmed, and her even managed a shower before he left, but he was a bit battered. His eyes were red, he had a few minor burns (first degree, from accidental contact with hot weapon parts) and a decent cut to his brow that had been closed with steristrips & what looked like superglue.
Finally, the ramp of the stopped aircraft dropped and Eric walked out to Cleo, wrapping her in a hug.
"Whatever, you win. Dress how you want; doesn't matter. I just wanna to sleep somewhere for a week." he said with a yawn.
It honestly didn't matter to him anymore. It was such a stupid fight anyway, he just wanted it to be over. And for Cleo not to stab him while he slept.
"Oh yeah, I got you something too..."
He reached into his bag, and pulled out a stuffed dog which bore a striking resemblance to Sarge. It was a bit dirty, and slightly matted on one side, nothing a couple good washes wouldn't fix though.