Chapter 68: The Last Honor
Dawn broke in Virginia Beach with an air of farewell. DEVGRU headquarters was silent, but charged with emotion. For Scott, this was the last day of his long and illustrious career in the Navy. After more than two decades of service, he would leave behind the routine of leading the best operators in the world.
Dressed in his impeccable formal uniform, Captain Walker made his way to the main building. His steps were slow, reflective, as if he wanted to soak up every moment of this place that had been his second home. He knew it would be a special day, but he had no idea just how much.
As he entered the building, Scott was greeted by his assistant, Chief Marissa Doyle, who seemed to be hiding a smile.
"Good morning, Captain," she said, handing him a coffee.
"Good morning, Chief Doyle," Scott replied, accepting the cup. "Anything new for today?"
Marissa shrugged, trying to sound casual.
—"Nothing out of the ordinary, sir. Just the usual reports."
Scott raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
—"Okay... I'll pretend to believe that."
He headed to his office, where he spent the morning reviewing documents and signing paperwork. The building was unusually quiet, and Scott sensed something was brewing. He smiled to himself.
Around noon, Marissa entered his office with a serious expression.
—"Captain, we need you in the hangar. Something urgent requires your attention."
Scott looked at her, puzzled.
—"In the hangar? What happened?"
—"You'd better see for yourself," she replied, trying to suppress a smile.
He stood, straightened his uniform, and followed Marissa down the halls. As they approached the hangar, Scott began to hear the sounds of conversation and muffled laughter. When the doors opened, he was greeted by a sight that left him momentarily speechless.
The massive hangar was filled with people: operators, analysts, support, logistics, intelligence, and even former DEVGRU personnel who had served under his command. American and DEVGRU flags hung on the walls, and a large table with medals, photos, and other decorative items occupied the center.
Scott paused at the entrance, looking out at the crowd. Everyone was standing, and a respectful silence fell over the room. Then, almost in unison, they saluted.
"Captain Walker," a familiar voice said behind him. He turned to see Admiral Richard Fanning, the commander of JSOC, approaching.
"Today, we pay tribute to the man who personifies excellence, leadership, and sacrifice."
Scott was led to the center of the hangar, where Admiral Fanning began a speech.
— "Captain Walker, your career exemplifies what it means to be a SEAL. From Annapolis to DEVGRU, you have led with courage, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the mission. Today, as we bid you farewell as our leader, we want to remember not only your accomplishments, but also the impact you have had on all of us."
The Admiral listed some of Scott's most memorable missions, including the capture of terrorist leaders and the raid on bin Laden, a role Scott played only within the special operations community.
— "You are not just a commander; you are a mentor, a friend, and an inspiration. Your leadership has shaped generations of operators and ensured that DEVGRU remains the most formidable force in the world."
When it was Scott's turn to speak, he stepped onto the makeshift stage, looking out at the hundreds of faces that made up his military family. He took a deep breath before beginning.
— "Thank you, Admiral Fanning. And thank you to all of you. It's hard to put into words what this moment means to me. When I joined Annapolis more than two decades ago, I never imagined my journey would lead me here, leading the best of the best."
He paused, looking around.
— "Each and every one of you is the reason DEVGRU is what it is. It's not the medals or the fancy equipment that make this unit special. It's the people. It's you. It's the sacrifice, the hard work, the dedication. I've had the honor of serving alongside the finest operators, analysts, technicians, and support personnel the world has ever seen. No matter where life takes me from here, I will always be one of you."
The emotion was palpable. Many in the audience were teary-eyed, and Scott had to fight back tears as well. After the speech, several operators and team members came to the stage to present gifts to Scott.
One was a wooden plaque with the DEVGRU emblem and the words: "To Captain Scott Walker, in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and invaluable service."
Another gift was a memoir, filled with pictures, letters, and messages of thanks from people Scott had served with over the years.
"This is… amazing," Scott said, flipping through the book and recognizing faces and moments from the past.
Finally, one of the senior operators handed Scott a custom holster engraved with the DEVGRU emblem.
"So you'll never forget that even in retirement, you'll always be one of us," the operator said.
After the ceremony, Scott took time to talk to the operators and crew members individually. He heard stories, shared laughs, and said goodbye to each one, thanking them for their contributions over the years.
At the end of the day, when the hangar emptied and the crowd dispersed, Scott stood alone, looking at the space where so many memories had been made. He felt a mixture of pride, longing, and relief.
Returning home that night, Scott picked up the memoir and spent hours revisiting the past. Each page was a reminder of the impact he had made and the lives he had touched.
He knew he was leaving behind a legacy that would last forever, not only at DEVGRU, but in his own life as well. Now, he was ready to start the next chapter with Jane and the children in Hawaii.
Chapter 69: The Journey Home
The morning on Oahu was calm and bright with a bright sun shining over the ocean. At the family home, Jane, Alex, and Julie were gathered in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. The breeze coming through the open windows brought the sound of the waves crashing in the distance, mingling with the occasional laughter of the children as they discussed the day ahead.
"Alex, pass me the butter," Julie asked, holding out her hand.
"Only if you stop stealing the orange juice," Alex joked, holding the pitcher out of her reach.
Jane smiled as she watched the two of them. It was a simple moment, but she appreciated the normalcy of it. Since they had moved to Hawaii, life had taken on a more leisurely pace, something she knew Scott needed as well. However, his absence was still felt, even with the frequency of calls and texts.
"Mom, has Scott said when he's coming home?" — Alex asked, interrupting her own thoughts.
Jane looked at him and gave a small smile.
"Not exactly, but he said he won't be long. I imagine he's just finishing up the last details there."
Julie sighed.
"I hope he comes soon. I miss when he makes breakfast. He makes the best waffles!"
Jane laughed, shaking her head.
"Well, let's enjoy what we have here for now."
They continued to chat as they helped themselves to fruit, toast, and juice. Little did they know that at that moment, Scott was already approaching the house, carrying a small suitcase and smiling at the excited voices inside.
Scott quietly opened the front door, holding back a laugh when he heard Julie comment again on the waffles. He walked down the hall to the kitchen, pausing at the door for a moment to take in the scene: Jane, beaming, laughing with the children; Alex, now a tall teenager, helping his sister; Julie, excited as ever.
Finally, he walked in, crossing his arms dramatically and saying:
— "Is there room for one more here? Or will I have to settle for the waffles you all spoke so highly of?"
The sound of his voice made everyone turn at once. For a moment, silence filled the kitchen before the explosive reaction happened.
— "Scott!" Julie shouted, jumping from her chair.
Alex also stood up quickly, and Jane stood still for a moment, surprise written all over her face. Julie was the first to reach Scott, throwing herself into his arms. He lifted her easily, laughing.
— "Look who grew up while I was gone!" he said, squeezing her in a hug.
Alex approached soon after, with a wide smile on his face.
— "Finally decided to show up, huh?" he joked, before hugging Scott warmly.
Scott ruffled Alex's hair, laughing.
— "Of course, I couldn't leave you to take care of the house by yourself, kid."
When he looked at Jane, she was still standing by the table, her eyes shining.
"You didn't tell me..." she said, walking slowly towards him.
"I wanted it to be a surprise," Scott replied, opening his arms.
Jane smiled and went straight to him, hugging him tightly. For a moment, the world around them disappeared, and all that mattered was the fact that they were together again.
"Welcome to Hawaii," she whispered.
"It's good to be back," he replied, gently stroking her hair.
After the initial emotions had calmed, they all sat down at the table. Scott took off his jacket and settled in, grabbing a slice of toast while Julie ran to get more waffles.
"So, how was the trip?" Jane asked, watching him with a smile.
"It was quiet, but long," he replied. — "And while I was on the plane, all I could think about was how great it would be to finally be here with you guys."
Julie placed a plate of waffles in front of him, interrupting their conversation. — "Here you go! Now you can judge if mine are better than yours."
Scott laughed, taking a bite. — "Let's see... um... they're pretty good, Julie. Maybe I have competition now."
Julie smiled proudly, while Alex rolled his eyes playfully. — "He's just saying that to please you," Alex teased.
— "No, I'm serious," Scott said. "She's got talent!"
Jane laughed as she watched their interaction. It was exactly what she had hoped for when she moved to Hawaii: moments like this, simple and full of happiness. After breakfast, Jane gave Scott a tour of the house. She showed him the bedrooms, the spacious living room, and of course, the incredible ocean view.
— "You guys did a great job here," Scott said, looking out the living room window. "It's even better than I imagined."
Jane smiled. — "I wanted it to be perfect for when you got here. The kids helped a lot, too."
Scott looked at her, holding her hands. — "Thank you, Jane. For everything. For taking care of me, for making this home, and for waiting for me. I know it wasn't easy."
She shook her head. "You're worth it, Scott. You always have been."
That night, they decided to have a barbecue outside the house. Michael and Jennifer, Scott's parents, also showed up to join in the celebration. The whole family was together, laughing, eating, and sharing stories.
Michael, holding a glass of lemonade, looked at Scott. "So, how do you feel now that you're officially retired?"
Scott smiled, looking around at everyone. "Complete. That's how I feel. Complete."
Jennifer put her hand on her son's shoulder. "You deserve this, Scott. More than anyone else."
As the night wore on, the stars began to appear in the sky, and Scott looked out to sea, feeling at peace. For the first time in a long time, he wasn't thinking about missions, responsibilities, or sacrifices. He was thinking only about the future he would build with Jane and the children, and he knew that this was the beginning of a new and happy stage in his life.
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