#sorry Kuwait airport but you are not my favorite

[inyri]

god why is this airport so BORING

[internationalfandomgirl]

Dubai Airport

Part two of my Summer Vacation series. Catch up here

Characters: Jensen x Reader, Jared, Misha, Richard, Rob, Briana

Length:  1,483 words

Summary:  You get bumped off your flight back to Kuwait. How will you pass the time?

Warnings: None that I can think of. If you find something and think otherwise let me know and I will add it!

A/N: This is short, but I didn’t feel like this fit with part one quite enough to put it there. I’m sorry that it took me so long. Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon! The gif has nothing to do with the fic, I just thought it was funny!

A little while later you are deep into an episode of Kings of Con when you feel hands come gripping your shoulder. Jumping you turn your head to see the blue eyed curly haired man smiling at you. “Holy shit Rob you scared me,” you exclaimed pulling your headphones out of you ears.

Rob smiled at you and raised his eyebrow to your iPad sitting on your makeshift table of your suitcase. “I see you are watching the better actors now,” he says giving you a wink. You reached over to pause the episode you were watching.

“Oh, ummmm,” you blush a little, “I had only seen the first episode on YouTube so I went and bought it on iTunes. I haven’t had time to watch it. Since I am stuck here until Chuck knows when I figured now would be a perfect time to get caught up.”

Rob laughs at your reference to the show. “Y/N, our flight isn’t for another hour, come hang out with us. Seriously, we are right over there, you will still be able to hear if they call you to get on an earlier flight,” he says pointing to the other side of the large room.

Your eyesight follows Rob’s to the group sitting around all staring down at their phones. “Wow, it looks like everyone is riveted with their phone” Rob laughs and grabs your iPad and carry-on leading you over to the group. “Look who I found guys.” Everyone looks up and gives you a welcome before turning back to their phones. Jensen smiles at you and puts his phone down so you go to sit next to him.

“Hey, long time no see,” he says wrapping his arm around your shoulders giving you a side hug. “Get tired of sitting all by yourself?”

“Nah, Rob just scared the shit out of me and then convinced me to come over and liven up this crew. Y’all look like a group of teenagers on your phones,” you say looking around the group smiling.

“Did you just say y’all,” Jared asks laughing as he looks up from his phone.

“Yea I did moose. Got a problem with it? I lived in Nashville for a summer while I was in college and it just kind of stuck with me,” you says shooting him a pointed look.

He throws his hands up, “hey I get it. That’s awesome.” The three of you continue to talk about your pasts until Briana looks up and cuts in.

“Y/N, do your write fanfiction.” she questions you looking up from her phone.

You couldn’t help but blush as the others looked up from their phones waiting for your answer. “Ummmm...yes I have. I have written a few,” the blush continues to grow on your face.

“I’m pretty sure I just found your Tumblr blog,” she says smiling.

“H, h, how did you find that,” you ask.

“I like to check my hashtags every once in awhile. You put my name in a hashtag when you posted your photo ops from this weekend,” she says smiling at you. “Ohhh you have a master list. I am totally going to read everything you have written on the flight home.”

“Dude B! Share that with me,” Misha exclaims looking over at Briana’s phone screen. You couldn’t help but shrink down in your chair in embarrassment. Jensen chuckled before nudging your shoulder.

“What do you write about Y/N? Now I’m curious, but I don’t want to intrude like some others do.” He smiles down at you, while the others watch you waiting for an answer.

“Well,” you say hesitantly, “everything I write is reader insert. No ships like many people do,” Misha frowns a little at that comment. “It started as just writing in the Supernatural universe. Then last summer I was introduced into RPF and I went through stages of who I would write about. It is a hate free blog and honestly I have about six RPFs in drafts, but now that I know you guys I probably won’t publish them because it feels weird to work on them now. When I write reader inserts I imagine I am actually there and it is happening in the moment.”

“Wait, hold on now. What exactly is RPF? I’m confuse,” Jensen says throwing out a bitch face.

“Real person fiction, come on, get with it Ackles,” Misha exclaims.

Jensen raises an eyebrow at you. “That’s why I don’t think I will finish them. You guys are my friends now, and it is hella awkward to write about friends in that way,” you state as you look at Jensen, Jared, Misha, and Rob. Jensen looks at you curiously, Jared shakes his head with a chuckle, Rob raises and eyebrow questioningly as your eyes meet, and Misha bounces in his seat like a child on Christmas day. “I will probably finish the one with you and Kim though,” you say nodding your head at Briana, “that was is smut free so that one is not awkward, and I feel like I can do it better now that I have gotten to know you a little bit.” She smiles wide at you.

“I mean not everything I write is smut,” you say sheepishly, “some things I write as a way of personal therapy. Sometimes when things just get to be so much that I have to let out emotions somehow that usually ends up in some sort of fiction story involving some of my favorite actors and actresses in the world.”

“What, I don’t get any love in your writing? I’m hurt Y/N,” Richard fakes crying.

“I never went through a Rich or Gabe faze in my writing, and honestly I don’t think I could ever do your personality justice in writing. You do make an appearance in some of my stories though,” you throw a sympathetic look his way as the rest of the groups laughs at him.

“I guess I will have to take what I can get,” he smiles at you. At this point most of the group goes back to what they were looking at their phones.

“So, have you written any smut about me,” Jensen leans into you so only you can hear him. You shrink a little more and shake your head yes.

“I have three in drafts that involve you,” you say so quietly that he can barely hear you.

Jensen smiles and kisses the top of your head, “I would love to read them someday, with your permission. I promise I will not look at that blog unless you want me to.”

You look at the green eyed man next to you sheepishly, “thanks.” At that moment a voice comes over the loudspeaker.

“Well it looks like it is time for us to board. I’m glad we got to spend a little more time with you Y/N,” Rob says. You say goodbye to the group as they collect their belongings, each giving you a hug and head towards the doors. Jensen hangs back so he is the last one near you.

“Seriously, I’m glad to have spent a little more time with you, Y/N. I enjoyed getting to know you this weekend. Let me know when you get to Texas and we will meet up okay?” You nod in agreement, “hey, I will text you when I can. I know I will probably be in the air, but please text me when you make it back to Kuwait,” he leans down to give you a hug and leave a kiss on your cheek.

You stand staring out the window watching the plane pull back from the gate and take off before you head back over to your gate. About an hour later you receive a text.

[joshsgoldstarsister]

A token . . .

As I mentally unpack the journey that was my trip to Afghanistan, I struggle to find the words to share with you the experience. That being said I might as well start somewhere, even if it is in the mundane task of ‘unpacking’. 

Warning, this may be longish, but has pictures. So, there is that. 

Throughout my trip, I was given tokens of appreciation and respect. Most notably, I was ‘coined’, a word here that means, “given a specialized military token to commemorate the meeting of an individual or unit”. 

You can learn more about military coins here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_coin

I will do my best to share with you the many coins I received and if I can, who gave them to me. 

To begin, I want to share with you my brother’s coins. While he was posthumously promoted to Corporal. He achieved rank of Specialist during his life. Which is why his collection of ten coins is rather impressive. Nine of these coins are unit specific, six are specific tokens of excellence and one is a Regional Command North coin (I am guessing Josh was in the right place at the right time). 

Since his death, I have been given two coins. The first a National Guard coin given to me in honor of my brother (does that technically make it his??) which I wrote about here: http://joshsgoldstarsister.tumblr.com/post/127635379872/challenge-accepted

I also have a National Military Bereavement Study coin, because I participated in the National Military Bereavement Study. So, I actually EARNED this one. 

Now to unpack my coins from my trip to Afghanistan: 

I want to feature my Troops First Coin, first. This is the nonprofit which organizes the Operation Proper Exit mission.  You can learn more about them here: http://www.troopsfirstfoundation.org/ But beyond a picture of this wonderful coin, I would like to say this organization has gifted me with the most incredible experience of my life. In a few days I will write more on that, but just know, this coin represents a huge weight being lifted from my heart. 

Next up, is the Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, Leroy Petry coin. Leroy accompanied us on the journey because Rangers Lead the Way. That being said, I learned you shouldn’t always follow the Ranger because he may not know where he is going (following Leroy got me into a little bit of trouble, nothing terrible, just somewhat lost or late on occasion). You can learn all about Leroy here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leroy_Petry . His coin, which he helped design, has both a Blue Star and a Gold Star to represent those respective families. Leroy talked about family and recognizing how important the families at home are to those who serve. I will add that he taught me the coin hand shake, which was really nice, since he was the first to give me a coin and there would be so many handshakes to follow. 

Our journey began with a luncheon where we were introduced to the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army General West. She was incredibly warm and personal as she wished us well. At the same luncheon I met Captain Thomas Feeks, Gold Star Father of Navy Seal Patrick Feeks. Captain Thomas was actually the first Gold Star Family member to participate with Operation Proper Exit. His coin, commemorating his son, is one of my favorites because of its motto, “Cry Havoc, Let Slip the Frogs of War”. 

Traveling to Afghanistan means going in through Kuwait. Our hosts there are part of Operation Spartan Shield. I received 3 coins during my time in Kuwait. It was so special to be in Kuwait because it is the hub for all our operations in the Middle East. Without their seamless organization we could not have had this trip. 

During our layover in Kuwait, we met with a British Officer, Major General Felix Gedney. Though our meeting was brief, his coin certainly made up for it in sheer size. 

Once we were in country our hosts at Bagram were incredibly caring and generous with their time. Seeing the medical facilities on site were inspiring, to know that the best care possible is offered to our deployed; to see them ever ready, the words fail me. We were coined by the 45th Expeditionary Medical Group. 

We were taken to Kandahar Airfield and given the grand tour. Walking into their hospital was like walking into any first class American hospital. There my fellow Gold Star Family members and I, were given a special token, a coin for ourselves, as well as a coin to put with our loved one’s collection. The gesture touched all of us deeply. 

I was gifted a coin by Chief Master Sergeant Roby Johnson who has a pretty cool job. His command includes making some big booms when called upon and while the his coin is great, he hooked me up with some sweet stickers for my roller derby helmet! 

Onward to FOB Feinty, where TAAC was the name of the game. Train, Advise, Assist Command (South) were not just welcoming, but enthusiastic to have us. 

In Kabul we were hosted by the U.S. Embassy, as well as NATO allies. There we shook many hands and a few coins came our way. Each one is unique and special but is there anything as neat as an FBI coin that serves as a bottle opener?? 

As we left Afghanistan, our farewell included what I will always consider an adoption ceremony. In addition to gifts of pictures, flags, patches, and coasters we were given coins of our Bagram hosts, the Third Infantry Division Dog Faced Soldiers. This coin, with a bite out of it from the mascot Rocky is incredibly special.

Finally, the most important coin was given to me, and only me. When I write about the care given to us along the way, the details put into our adventure, I don’t think anything demonstrates all of those things as much as this coin. Seven years after my brother’s death, by way of a series of chance meetings, I made my way to the country where he died. In the whole wide world, after all this time, I would never have expected to meet anyone who served with him.

 As it happened, awaiting me in Kuwait was one of my brother’s Officers. He was there to welcome me, patch me with the crossed swords of 10th Mountain and gift me with the coin my brother never received. As I said my goodbyes in the Kuwaiti airport, I was handed this coin. It is small, and plastic and it isn’t round, but it completes a collection that wasn’t mine to begin with. With a hug and that special handshake, I was given the coin of my brother’s battalion, commemorating their OEF 2010-2011 mission that he could not complete. Around it’s edges are the words, “LOYALTY, DUTY, RESPECT, SELFLESS SERVICE, HONOR, INTEGRITY, PERSONAL COURAGE”. 

It is a lite thing that grounds me. I can feel its weightiness in my heart when I hold it in my hand. When I began my journey, I felt like I was doing it for him, for my brother who didn’t leave the battle field with his shield, but on it. I went to learn about him and left knowing that I am always with him. 

*** Not all coins received were posted with pictures, because tumblr just couldn’t handle it. Sorry***