Chapter 29 – Homecoming
The commercial plane touched down in Los Angeles with a slight jolt. Grant, or Cine, as he was known to his fellow soldiers, felt the vibration of the runway ripple through the plane as the engines slowed. After months in Afghanistan and a brief return to Fort Moore, he was finally back for his month-long leave.
He stretched in his seat, feeling every muscle in his body protest. The trip had been long, and after all the operations, training, and the unexpected reunion with the Delta man, Grant felt mentally and physically exhausted.
As the plane taxied to the gate, he pulled out his phone and checked the messages in the family group.
Cam: "I can't wait to see you, son!"
Mitchell: "We're already at the airport! Lily is super excited!"
Lily: "I'm hungry. Dad, can you buy me a milkshake while we wait for Grant?"
Grant smiled slightly. Despite everything he'd been through, it was good to know that some things never changed.
After grabbing his backpack, Grant walked through the terminal. He wore a backwards cap, sunglasses, and a black jacket over his shirt. His beard was fuller than usual, and he looked very different from the boy who had left home years ago.
As soon as he crossed the arrivals area, he heard an excited shout:
"GRANT!"
Lily came running and jumped into his arms. He caught her easily, laughing.
"Hey, brat. Have you grown?"
"You're the one who's smaller," she mocked, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder.
Cam and Mitchell quickly surrounded him, hugging him tightly.
"My God, son, look at you!" Cam said, cupping Grant's face with both hands. "Bearded, tan… and even more handsome! What genetics!"
"Okay, Cam, give him some breathing room," Mitchell laughed, pulling his husband back. He looked at Grant with pride in his eyes. "We're so glad you're home."
Grant smiled and gave his father a big hug.
"I'm glad to be here, too."
"Let's go home, son. I bet you're exhausted."
Grant just nodded.
In the car, Cam and Mitchell tried to maintain a lively conversation, but Grant was fighting fatigue. His eyes felt heavy as he watched the city of Los Angeles pass by the window. He'd spent months in hostile terrain, and now he was here, surrounded by lights, traffic, and the familiarity of home.
"We made your favorite meal for dinner," Mitchell said cheerfully. "But if you're tired, you can eat tomorrow."
"Thanks, Dad… But I think I'll go straight to bed."
"Normal," Cam said. "Soldiers come back exhausted. I saw a documentary about returning from war. You need rest and…"
"Cam," Mitchell interrupted. "Let him sleep first, then you do the debriefing."
Grant chuckled softly, leaning his head against the window.
Soon, the car pulled into the driveway.
As soon as he got in, Grant dropped his backpack on the living room floor. He looked around, feeling the familiarity of home. Nothing had changed, and yet, everything seemed different.
Lily tugged at his hand.
"Come see your room!"
He followed her down the hallway. When he opened the door, he saw that his room was exactly as he'd left it, except for one thing:
"Did you wash my sheets?"
"Sure," Cam said. "You wouldn't want to sleep in dust, would you?"
"Good call."
He took off his cap and tossed it on the dresser, then removed his glasses and set them beside them.
"Okay, guys… I love you, but I'm going to sleep now."
"Good night, son," Mitchell said.
"Sleep well, my hero," Cam added dramatically.
"Whatever you dream, I hope it involves explosions," Lily joked.
Grant just laughed, kicked off his shoes, and threw himself onto the bed. The mattress felt like a hug, and before he could even process how comfortable it was to be back, sleep overtook him.
He was home. Finally.
Chapter 30 – A Quiet Morning
The sun was already high when Grant opened his eyes. Golden light filtered through the curtains, softly illuminating the room. He blinked a few times, feeling his body sink into the mattress. For a brief moment, he thought he was still in Afghanistan, but then the silence and sense of security reminded him: he was home.
He turned his head to the side and saw the clock on the dresser. 10:37 AM.
"Damn…" he murmured in surprise.
He had slept like a log, no dreams, no nightmares. Just a deep, restorative sleep.
The smell of coffee and bacon drifted in from the kitchen. His stomach growled. It was definitely time to get up.
He stretched and got out of bed, feeling the weight of fatigue finally lift. He pulled on a t-shirt and sweatpants before heading downstairs.
When he reached the kitchen, he found Cam and Mitchell sitting at the table with Lily, already halfway through breakfast. Cam was reading something on his tablet while Mitchell drank coffee, and Lily was scrolling through her phone, probably on Instagram or Snapchat.
As soon as Grant appeared in the doorway, Lily looked up and widened her eyes.
"Look who came out of the cave!"
Mitchell looked at his son and smiled.
"Good morning, sleepyhead. How are you feeling?"
"Much better," Grant replied, heading straight for the coffee maker. He grabbed a mug and poured himself some coffee. "What time did I fall asleep last night?"
"I think before your head even hit the pillow," Cam said with a smile. "I came into your room to see if you wanted dinner, but you looked like a hibernating bear."
"Yeah, bro, you slept SO much," Lily added, biting into a piece of toast.
Grant pulled up a chair and sat at the table.
"Yeah… I think you needed this."
Mitchell slid a plate of bacon and eggs to his son.
"Eat. You need to get your energy back."
Grant smiled and picked up his fork.
"Thanks, Dad."
While eating, the family continued to chat about lighthearted things. Cam told him about a recent drama at work, Mitchell talked about a court case, and Lily commented on a viral video of a dog "singing" Taylor Swift songs.
"Too bad you didn't get here sooner," Cam said. "There was a wonderful fundraiser at the club yesterday."
"Yeah, it was a formal dinner," Mitchell added. "But I think you'd rather sleep than put on a suit."
Grant laughed.
"Absolutely."
Lily then clapped her hands.
"Well, now that you've slept and eaten… how about spending some time with me? It's been ages since we've been out together!"
"I can't," Grant replied, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "We're having lunch at Jay's, remember?"
"Oh, yeah! The whole family's going to be there!"
Cam clapped excitedly.
"That's right! Jay and Gloria organized a special lunch for you!"
Grant nodded, warmed by the idea. After months away, spending a day with the whole family sounded perfect.
Mitchell looked at his watch.
"Well, we still have a few hours before lunch. What do you want to do until then?"
Grant took a sip of coffee and smiled.
"I think I'll take a shower and then just relax until it's time to go."
Cam sighed dramatically.
"Oh, what a typical response from an exhausted soldier."
Everyone laughed, and Grant stood up, feeling lighter than ever.
He was home, surrounded by love and normalcy. And for now, that was all he needed.
Chapter 31 – Lunch Revelations
The day was sunny when Mitchell's car pulled into Jay and Gloria's driveway. Grant stared out the window, feeling a mix of nostalgia and comfort. He'd grown up visiting this house countless times, and now, after so long away, it felt like a familiar refuge.
As he stepped out of the car, he was immediately greeted by Gloria, who opened her arms dramatically and ran to him.
"Mi amor! You're here!" she exclaimed, hugging Grant tightly.
"Hi, Gloria," he laughed, returning the hug.
"Look at you! All masculine with that beard! You look like an action star!"
"I told him he looked like a bear," Lily joked as she got out of the car, making everyone laugh.
Jay, who was standing on the porch with a glass of whiskey in his hand, smiled as he saw his grandson approach.
"Finally, a real man in this family."
Grant walked up the steps and extended his hand to Jay, who, instead of shaking it, pulled his grandson into a quick, firm hug.
"Good to see you back, kid."
"Good to be back, Grandpa."
Soon, Claire and Phil emerged from the doorway, followed by their children.
"GRANT!" Claire shouted and practically threw herself into her nephew's arms.
"Hi, Aunt Claire," he said, laughing as he was crushed by the hug.
"I'm so glad you're back safe!"
Phil appeared at his side, wearing his usual smile.
"Grant, my champ! I missed our private army!"
"Good to see you, Uncle Phil."
Hailey, Alex, and Luke were close behind, waiting their turn.
"What's up, Soldier of Fortune?" Hailey joked, giving him a quick hug.
"You've become a bad boy now, is that it?" Alex asked, studying his beard.
"Hey, man," Luke greeted Grant with a friendly punch on the arm.
Manny and Joe appeared soon after, and Grant greeted them with a smile.
"You look like someone who once killed a man with their bare hands," Manny commented, without a hint of irony.
"Manny!" Gloria scolded him.
"It was a compliment…"
Everyone laughed, and, with the warm welcome over, they headed inside, where the smell of delicious food filled the room.
The table was laden with food, with Gloria serving the dishes with care. Grant helped himself generously, savoring every bite as if it were a luxurious experience. After months of MREs and basic food, this felt like a feast fit for the gods.
The conversation was lively, filled with stories about family, what everyone had been up to in the past few months, and, of course, questions about Grant's experiences.
It was then that Claire, with a curious expression, asked the question that many there had been wanting to ask:
"So, Grant… We saw that operation against a Taliban leader on the news. The reporters mentioned it was probably carried out by the Rangers. Were you involved?"
Silence fell over the table. All eyes were on him.
Grant smirked and put his fork down.
"I can neither confirm nor deny that."
Hailey snorted.
"Oh, come on! Are you sounding like a government spy now?"
Phil tapped the table lightly.
"That just proves he was! Because if he hadn't, he would have said 'no' right away!"
Jay watched Grant appraisingly.
"Whatever you did, kid, it looks like you did a good job."
Grant nodded.
"We did our job, Grandpa."
The conversation drifted to other topics, until Grant, sensing the moment was right, cleared his throat and said:
"There's something I need to tell you."
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to him.
"I'm thinking about quitting the Rangers."
The shock was immediate.
"What?!" Claire was the first to react.
"What do you mean?" Mitchell asked, confused.
Jay frowned, clearly surprised.
"So what are you going to do then? Work in an office?"
Grant laughed.
"Definitely not."
He then recounted the conversation he'd had in the commander's office before coming to Los Angeles, when a Delta Force operator showed up with a proposal.
"They want me to try to pass the OTC, Delta's training. If I pass, I'll become a Tier One operator."
Silence fell for a few seconds.
"That's… big," Alex said, impressed.
"But does it also mean we'll see even less of you?" Lily asked, worried.
Grant shook his head.
"Not really. Tier One units do shorter deployments, lasting a few weeks or months. Unlike Rangers, who spend long periods away. And contact with family is easier."
Claire was still processing.
"But that means your training will be even harder, doesn't it?"
"Six months," Grant confirmed. "If I pass, I'll join the most selective and secretive unit in the Army. If I fail… well, I'll go back to the Rangers."
Jay crossed his arms and looked at his grandson.
"And you want that?"
Grant looked at his grandfather and nodded firmly.
"Yes. I do."
Jay smiled slightly and raised his glass.
"Then go and do what you have to do, kid. If anyone can do it, it's you."
The tension at the table eased a bit, but there was still a sense of concern. Gloria looked ready to cry, Claire was still apprehensive, and Cam, who had been silent until then, finally spoke:
"I just want you to know that we love you and that we're here for you, no matter what you choose."
Grant smiled.
"I know. And that means a lot to me."
Phil raised his glass.
"So… here's to our soldier, who's always leveling up!"
Everyone laughed and toasted, and so the lunch continued, with the family accepting, however reluctantly, that Grant was about to embark on the most challenging journey of his life.
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