Chapter 37: Grant's Return
Grant arrived in New York on a low-key flight in the early evening. He was exhausted, but relieved to finally be home. The operation in Southeast Asia had been successful, but also extremely draining, both physically and emotionally. He knew Isobel would be waiting for him, and that was all he needed at that moment.
When he walked into the house, the familiar scent of Isobel's perfume and the quiet of the apartment enveloped him. She was in the kitchen, preparing something to eat, but as soon as she heard the door open, she dropped everything and ran into the living room.
"Grant!" she exclaimed, relieved to see him.
He barely had time to react before Isobel wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. "You're back," she said, her voice cracking.
"I told you I would be back," he replied softly, holding her close.
She pulled away just enough to look at him. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Grant assured her. "Nothing a shower and a good night's sleep can't fix."
Isobel ran her hand over his face, noting the lines of tiredness in his expression.
"Come on, sit down. I'll make you some coffee."
Grant sat down on the couch while Isobel made the coffee. He looked around the apartment and felt an immediate sense of relief. After days in hostile and dangerous environments, being home was a luxury he was grateful for.
When Isobel returned, she brought him a steaming cup of coffee and sat down next to him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, handing him the cup. Grant took a sip before answering.
"It was… intense. Joe meant a lot to me, and to all of us. He was like a father. Finding and dealing with Hassan was necessary, but it wasn't easy."
Isobel took his hand. "You did what needed to be done. I'm sure Joe would be proud."
He squeezed her hand in return, but said nothing.
After a hot bath and a simple meal that Isobel had insisted on preparing, Grant finally began to relax. They sat together on the couch, with Isobel curled up next to him.
"I hate seeing you put yourself in situations like this," Isobel said, looking up at him.
"I know," Grant replied, running his hand through her hair. "But some things can't be ignored. Joe was one of the most important people in my life. I owed him that."
Isobel sighed. "I understand, but that doesn't make it any easier. I just don't want to lose you."
Grant kissed her forehead. "You won't. I promise."
As the evening wore on, Isobel decided it was time to lighten the mood. She got up and went to the kitchen, returning with two glasses of wine.
"You deserve this," she said, handing one to Grant.
He smiled for the first time that night. "Thank you, Isobel. You always know what to do."
"It's my job," she joked, sitting down next to him again.
They clinked glasses silently before moving on to lighter conversation. Isobel told him about her work at the office and the latest on the team.
"Tiffany and Scola have been asking a lot about you," she said, laughing. "They're still processing who you are."
"Let them speculate," Grant replied, with a tired smile.
After a while, a comfortable silence enveloped them.
Grant looked at Isobel and took her hand again. "I couldn't do this without you," he said sincerely.
"Do what?" she asked curiously.
"Everything," he replied. "Work, live… You're my balance, Isobel."
She smiled, touched. "And you're mine."
Later, when they were getting ready for bed, Grant climbed into bed and pulled Isobel close.
"You know," he said as she rested her head on his chest, "today, for the first time in a long time, I feel like I can truly rest."
"Then rest," she whispered. "I'm here."
As Grant closed his eyes, surrounded by the comforts of home and Isobel's presence, he finally felt like he was where he was supposed to be.
Chapter 38: Back to Quantico
Grant headed to Quantico, where he would spend a few days lecturing and leading training for new FBI recruits. It was a rare opportunity for him to share his vast experience while also reconnecting with friends and colleagues from his days with the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). Although he was accustomed to field action, he had always considered training and mentoring to be an essential part of his job.
Upon arriving at the academy, Grant was greeted by the assistant director of training, who shook his hand enthusiastically.
"It's an honor to have you here, Grant," the director said. "Our recruits are eager to learn from someone with your experience."
"I hope I can teach them something useful," Grant replied humbly.
Grant was led into the main auditorium, where he would deliver his lecture. As he entered, he noticed that the walls were decorated with photos of notable agents and their accomplishments. Among them was a large photo of him, wearing an FBI uniform, with a brief description of his career: "Grant Shawn: Former DEVGRU, HRT Operator, Silver Star Medalist, Navy Cross. Experience in tactical operations and international intelligence."
As students began to file into the auditorium, some stopped to stare at the photo. Murmurs began to circulate as they recognized the man in the image as the day's speaker.
"That's him," whispered one recruit. "Grant Shawn. I read about him in pre-service training. They say he's operated on missions that even the president can't talk about."
"Do you think he really was the shooter on the Neptune Spear?" another asked, impressed.
"I don't know," replied the first. "But he seems like the right person for it."
Grant took the stage and waited for the auditorium to quiet down. He didn't need to raise his voice to capture everyone's attention. His presence was enough.
"Good morning," he began. "My name is Grant Shawn, and I am a special agent with the FBI. Before that, I served in the Navy as a DEVGRU operator. Today, I am here to share a little bit about what it means to be a part of this organization and what I hope you will learn during your training."
He began the talk with stories from his experiences in the field, without going into sensitive details, but making it clear the challenges and responsibilities that awaited them. He emphasized the importance of teamwork, discipline, and mental resilience.
"You are not here to be heroes," he said, looking out at the audience. "You are here to serve. The FBI is not about glory or fame. It is about protecting people, even if they will never know what you have done for them."
The students listened intently, taking notes and absorbing every word. After the talk, Grant led a tactical training session for the recruits. He took them to the firing range and went through basic and advanced exercises, covering stances, reloading techniques, and even close-quarters combat strategies.
"Be methodical," Grant instructed as he watched a group practice tactical entries. "Every move must be calculated. Leave no room for error, because mistakes cost lives."
The recruits were determined to impress him, but he remained firm and demanding, as they had expected. After completing his training with the recruits, Grant decided to visit the Hostage Rescue Team headquarters. It was a place he knew well, and returning there brought a mixture of nostalgia and pride.
As he entered, he was greeted by some of the operators who were still active duty and other veterans who had served with him.
"Shawn!" one of the men shouted, coming over to greet him. It was Marcus "Bear" Ellison, one of the team's leaders. "I can't believe you're here. It's been a while!"
"Bear," Grant replied with a rare smile, shaking his friend's hand. "It's good to see you still in action."
"Well, someone needs to keep things under control around here," Bear joked.
Other operators came to greet him, each reminiscing about the moments they had shared on difficult missions and high-risk operations. Grant was invited to a break room where the team shared stories and updates.
He heard about the changes in the HRT since he left, and in return, he shared a bit about his experience with the FBI and recent missions.
"So," one of the operators began, "do they still call you 'El Diablo'?"
Grant chuckled. "Seems like some nicknames never die."
"Well, considering what you did to the cartels, it's no wonder," another commented, chuckling.
As the day drew to a close, Grant bid farewell to the HRT team and the academy recruits. Before he left, one of the young recruits approached him, clearly nervous.
"Agent Shawn," the recruit began. "I just wanted to say… you're an inspiration to us all. Thanks for being here."
Grant placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Remember this when the going gets tough: the job you're about to do is bigger than any of us. Just keep learning and never give up."
With that, he left Quantico, grateful to have had the chance to give back to the FBI and the next generation of agents. The world he would help shape was in good hands.
Chapter 39: Well-Deserved Recognition
It was a quiet morning in the New York office. Isobel sat in her office, reviewing recent case reports. Despite the apparent calm, her mind was partially on Grant Shawn, who had spent the last few days at Quantico lecturing and training recruits at the FBI academy.
She knew Grant was exceptional, but it was rare for him to accept invitations to events of this kind. When he had decided to attend, she had felt a twinge of pride. Now, as she was leafing through the reports, an email from the deputy director caught her eye.
Subject: Grant Shawn's participation in Quantico
From: Deputy Director Reynolds
To: SAC Isobel Castille
"Isobel,
I wanted to share my feedback on Special Agent Grant Shawn's participation in the FBI academy. We received numerous compliments from both recruits and instructors. Grant demonstrated not only his technical knowledge, but also a unique ability to inspire and motivate students.
His impact was immeasurable, and I believe his contributions will be long remembered. You have a true gem on your team. Congratulations on having him.
Reynolds."
Isobel read the email twice, feeling her pride well up. She knew Grant was reserved about his skills and experience, but it was nice to know that others recognized his greatness as well.
Later that day, as she sipped coffee in the break room, Jubal Valentine walked in, carrying a stack of documents.
"You look pleased," he commented, noticing the slight smile on her face.
"I got an e-mail from Reynolds," Isobel replied, still holding her cup. "About Grant."
"Oh, yes. I heard he impressed everyone at Quantico," Jubal said, sitting in the chair across from her. "You should have gone. I heard it was almost a masterclass in leadership and strategy."
"I knew he would do a good job," Isobel said. "But it's nice to hear it from other people."
At that moment, her phone rang. It was Deputy Director Reynolds. She answered it immediately.
"Isobel, good morning," Reynolds began.
"Good morning, sir," she replied, adjusting her tone to professional.
"I wanted to talk to you personally about Grant's involvement at Quantico," he continued. "The reports I've received from the recruits and instructors have been extraordinary. Not only has he brought technical knowledge, but he's also been able to connect his experience to the challenges the students will face. He's a rare example, Isobel. You should be proud to have him on your team."
"I am, sir," Isobel said. "Grant is one of the most dedicated people I've ever met."
"Well, that was clear to everyone here. He even visited the HRT and managed to rekindle the enthusiasm of some veteran operators. He has a natural ability to lead and inspire. I'd like to see him take on a bigger role in the future."
"I'm sure he'd be honored by the opportunity," Isobel replied.
"Great. Keep me posted on him. And again, congratulations on having him on the team."
"Thank you, sir."
Later, when Grant returned to the office after a quick case, Isobel took the opportunity to share what she'd heard. He walked into her office, still adjusting his jacket, looking as if he'd just come off an operation.
"How was your day?" he asked, approaching her desk.
"So far, it's been smooth sailing," Isobel said. "But I have something to tell you."
Grant arched an eyebrow. "Something good or bad?"
"Good," she said, standing up and closing the office door behind her. "I got an email from Reynolds, and then a call from him."
"About?"
"About you," she said, smiling. "He said your performance at Quantico was exceptional. The recruits were impressed, the instructors were impressed. And apparently you left the HRT feeling nostalgic."
Grant shook his head with a small smile. "I did my job. I don't think it was anything that extraordinary."
"Grant, they're talking about giving you a bigger role in the future," Isobel said, crossing her arms. "You have to accept that you're more than just a special agent. You're an inspiration."
He stared at her for a moment, realizing the sincerity in her words. "If it means the recruits learned something useful, then it was time well spent."
Isobel laughed. "You're impossible."
Later, during lunch, Jubal, Maggie, OA, Tiffany, and Scola joined Isobel and Grant in the break room.
"So, we heard you made an impact at Quantico," OA said, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"Impact is an understatement," Jubal added. "Sounds like he made the recruits think they were watching a living legend."
Grant snorted. "You're exaggerating."
"We're not," Maggie said. "Tiffany, you should have seen his picture up there in the auditorium. It was like the wall of fame."
Tiffany laughed. "Now I'm curious."
"You should have proud, Grant" Jubal said. "It's not every day someone gets this kind of recognition, especially from Reynolds."
Grant looked at Isobel, who was clearly pleased. He knew she was proud, and that meant more to him than any official accolade.
"Thanks, guys," he said, raising his coffee cup in a gesture of gratitude. "But in the end, it's all about what the next generation will do with it."
And with that, the group toasted the recognition of Grant, a man who, even as a legend, never lost his humility.
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