Chapter 16 - Bear
The team gathered in the conference center aboard the carrier, the atmosphere buzzing with a mixture of adrenaline and exhaustion.
Thankfully, there were plenty of water bottles on the table for them to grab, and Bear made sure to hydrate as he settled into a chair.
But even the cool liquid did little to ease the mounting stress.
The mission had been intense, and the physical exertion, combined with the anxiety of Flora being in a coma three thousand miles away, was beginning to take its toll on him.
Link moved to the front of the room, setting up the video conference equipment.
As he connected the system, the familiar hum of the technology filled the air, but Bear felt restless.
He glanced around at his teammates—Warden, Moose, Nova, Dog, Link, and Blast—each of them still riding the high of their successful operation, but his mind was elsewhere.
The screen flickered to life, and Commander Michaels, alongside Admiral Grayson, appeared at the head of the conference table, their facial expressions carefully neutral yet hinting at the relief behind the formality.
The room was tense; echoes of metallic footsteps and distant radio chatter still lingered from the operations far behind them, but now the focus was on debriefing.
“Team,” Michaels started, “I want to commend you for your exceptional performance during this mission. You’ve successfully neutralized what we believe may be the last shipment of Silent Dust. Your quick decision-making and precision prevented what could have been a catastrophic disaster.
” He paused briefly, eyeing each team member sharply.
“Your actions directly prevented a potential mass casualty event and safeguarded countless lives.”
Admiral Grayson nodded in agreement, clearly proud.
“The details of how you handled this — from the stealth insertion, to the careful placement of charges, to the rapid exfiltration — demonstrate the highest standards of operational excellence. Your teamwork in the field, especially under extreme pressure, prevented Al-Harb from transferring that shipment to China, which could have resulted in a major escalation. This was a critical mission, and you executed it flawlessly.”
The weight of the words settled heavily in the room, and for a moment, pride flickered across Bear’s chest. Yet, a gnawing impatience lurked beneath the surface; the unspoken urgency of wanting to be with Flora now pressed down hard.
He shifted slightly in his seat, voice rising just enough to cut through the thick air. “Sirs, with all due respect, can we go home?” His eyes bore into Commander Michaels. “I need to be with Flora. She’s... she’s fighting to wake up. I have to get to her.”
For a second, the room went still. All eyes on him, waiting for a response. Bear’s chest tightened, the ache for his wife especially sharp now — an overwhelming need to be by her side, to hold her hand, to tell her to hang on.
Then, unexpectedly, both Michaels and Grayson broke into laughter — their chuckles breaking the heavy silence and catching the team off guard. The tension dissolved into bewildered glances and uncertain smiles.
“Do you think you can be ready to board a helo in thirty minutes?” Admiral Grayson grinned, a twinkle in his eye.
“As soon as I heard you guys were back on board, I made arrangements for a Black Hawk to pick you up and fly you straight to US Naval Base Guam. There, a C-130 will be waiting to take you to Norfolk.”
A cheer erupted from the team, a wave of relief washing over them. Moose clapped Bear on the back, nearly knocking him out of his chair. “Did you hear that? We’re getting out of here! Time to go home, my friend!”
“Finally!” Nova exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I knew we’d be back in time for the weekend. I’ve got a date with my couch and a pizza!”
Link hesitated, then raised a hand. “Wait a minute. Have arrangements been made for Samir? He’s going home with me—I promised.”
“Of course, Link,” Michaels replied, his expression turning serious again. “We’ll make sure Samir is included in the transport. I don’t know how you did it, but there will be a passport for him when you get to Guam. He’ll be on the same flight.”
“Good,” Link said, relief washing over his features. “I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.”
“Swede from Brotherhood Protectors has been working on it,” Michaels explained, his tone softening. “He’s been in touch with the right people to ensure everything is in order, including the adoption paperwork. It’s all underway. And the wives have been shopping, he will have everything he needs.”
Link felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. “I can’t wait to get back to my bunk and see Samir. He’s been waiting for this moment, and I want to make sure he knows he’s coming home with me.”
“Trust me, he’ll be thrilled,” Moose chimed in, a broad grin on his face. “That kid is going to be so spoiled.”
“Yeah, and I’ll be there to tell him all about our adventures,” Link added, his heart swelling with anticipation. “I want him to know that he’s a part of this team, part of something bigger.”
“Just make sure to keep him away from Moose’s cooking,” Nova teased, earning a playful glare from Moose.
“Hey, my culinary skills are top-notch!” Moose protested, crossing his arms defensively.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t involve mystery ingredients,” Bear joked, the closeness of his team lifting his spirits.
Just then, Admiral Grayson broke in, his tone shifting to a more measured, official note.
“Bear, I understand you're worried about Flora. I want you to know that, although she’s still in a medically induced coma, the doctors are gradually reducing her sedation. They’re optimistic that by the time you arrive home—roughly seventeen hours from now—she should be waking up. ”
Bear’s heart raced at the news, a mix of hope and anxiety flooding through him. “Really? You’re sure?”
Michaels nodded, his expression reassuring. “The medical team is doing everything they can. They believe that once the sedation is lifted, she’ll start to regain consciousness. Just keep that in mind as you travel.”
Bear felt a surge of relief wash over him, but it was tinged with impatience. “Thank you, sirs. I just want to be there for her when she wakes up.”
“Understandable,” Grayson replied. “And you will be.”
“Alright, enough joking around,” Michaels said, trying to maintain a semblance of order. “We need to get you all prepped for the helo. Make sure you’re ready to go in thirty minutes.”
As the team gathered their things, Bear felt a renewed sense of purpose. The thought of Flora waking up, combined with the excitement of bringing Samir home, made the long mission worth every second.
“Let’s move,” Bear said. “Time to get back to the States.”
With that, the team sprang into action, their spirits high as they prepared for their return home.