A man walked the streets a brown paper bag in hand a knit cap pulled down low over the tops of his ears. His skin pale from sickness due to the infection in his body yet despite that he carried himself with a sort of confidence usually found in veteran soldiers. A pair of dog tags dangled loosely around his neck confirming that he was once a colonel in the military. The cold air burning his lungs and he let out a raspy cough clutching his chest where the infection the cancer infested his body. He knew he didn’t have very much longer to live yet he was still fighting still trying to figure out a new way to survive without being in the military. Eventually he heard his phone ring and he looked at the caller ID it was his general. 
“Sir,” he said quickl answering. 
“Elric… You have been trying to close portals again haven’t you. I told you it’s too dangerous to do that sort of thing on your own please just relax and let yourself rest my son. I’m worried that you’re going to get yourself killed,” Hammond said with a sigh. 
“But sir,” Elric started only to stop when he heard a sad sigh. 
“Dad… I don’t want to just sit still and let people get hurt. Those portals are a menace and even if I’m sick that doesn’t mean I should just sit back especially as a grim.”
“Elric you’ve already done more than enough! The entire reason you are sick is because of the fact you were saving someone’s life during an outbreak.”
Elric touched his pained chest grimacing in pain as the memory of being slashed across the chest by one of the nethercorpses replayed in his mind. Of the searing pain as he took the hit before the monster could reach its true prey an innocent child. Elric’s began to cough soon black blood escaped his lips making him grimace and use a magic item to safely dispose of the infected blood. 
“I know but, my entire reason for existing was to serve and protect. I can’t sit idle I don’t even know how.”
Hammond was silent for a bit he’d heard his sons painful coughs and had to suppress the tears from falling or it showing in his voice. 
“I want you to promise me you will try Elric, I will come visit you with Dante next Monday. Please for my sake try to find something calming to do and for the love of all that is good no more closing portals. You are going to give me a panic attack.” 
Then Hammond huh up and leaned back closing his eyes and let out a deep sigh before looking at his once commanding officer now turned NCIS commander, Dante. Hammond and Dante were enjoying a nice peaceful very late dinner together when Dante had brought up Elric’s elicit and dangerous portal closing activities. Prompting him to immediately call his adopted son to try settling his nerves and to try getting it through his thick skull that he needed to stop. 
“Sorry about that, I know I said we would have a peaceful meal but it’s just… that boy worries me. So Serena is finally coming back from her military service what does she plan on doing now?”