The Devil Among Heroes : A SEAL Team Story

chapter one | commanding fate

lt. commander eric blackburn turned off his truck as he leaned back in his seat. It had been a long day, and they almost had to spin up, if it wasn't for Romeo team finally finishing their mission in Nigeria allowing them to meet up with Delta team in the Congo.
His home casted a warm glow from a series of lights on in the kitchen meaning his wife, Hannah was still doing paper work. By now his adopted six year old daughter Gracie would be in bed, but it wasn't so late that his older former foster son TK who was home from the Naval Academy for winter break would still be out with friends. The commander checked his work phone one last time before shoving it into his back pocket, grabbing his work bag and heading into the house. As he opened the side door from the garage into his house, he was greeted by his wife of eleven years putting a finger to mouth casting a glance over to the couch. On the couch laid their nineteen year old son, curled up with his sister in his arms a Disney movie on in the background. "I didn't have the heart to wake them." While the two kids were thirteen years apart, and non biologically related they were the closest of close. TK worshipped the ground his baby sister walked on, and Gracie thought her big brother was a hero. The stress of his second year at the academy was clearly catching up to the kid, well that in combination with his never ending D-1 baseball practices as well had obviously taken its toll. "that couch is far from being the most comfortable thing on the planet, I'll grab Gracie from him." Eric set his things down and made his way over to his kids, gently shaking his oldest even though it pained him to do so. "TK, you feel asleep on the couch." The teen slowly awoke, his arms still clutched around his sister. "Thanks Pops, ill head to my bed, and don't worry about Gracie I've got her." In the background, Eric could have swore he felt his wife smile at the nickname that the kids had for their adoptive father. The teen stood sat up, his sister still warm and content in his arms as her head nested on his shoulder. "see you in the morning." With that the youngest Blackburn's were off to their own rooms, leaving the husband and wife to finally talk amongst themselves.

"you still have all that paperwork?" eric asked referring to his wife's never ending job as a social worker. Hannah nodded taking a sip of her tea "obliviously this is classified, but one of my kids had drugs found on them in their last home so they're getting a formal report against them. it's a shame too, she's an incredibldly gifted kid, with a mind for languages and a heart of gold once you meet her, but her parents addiction ... ah I'm sorry for rambling just a frustrating case." eric never minded his wife talking, mostly because he could never talk about his without breaking national secuirty policy most of the time. he was always amazed at his wife's job, and he himself felt for these kids hence why they became a foster family. that and the heartbreak of finding out they couldn't have kids of their own, led them to fostering kids eventually finding TK, and Gracie who completed their family. Well, the kids and their german shepherd former navy dog Zeus completed their family. the six year old pup was sleeping by the front door, his favorite beat up bear under his paw. the couple enjoyed each other's company as Hannah completed her official report, and Eric cleaned up around the kitchen. eventually the two headed upstairs, their work phones plugged in and the tv turned to a re run of greys anatomy.

ZK Point of View

I stumbled around in the street, my eyes buried into my pocket as i look for my phone. eventually i find the old thing, and hit it twice against my thigh before it sputters to life. it was more than late, and hannah would hate me for calling but once again she would also hate me for not calling. the women was a mother herself, and had more than one over protective moment around me. she was a special type of foster care worker and not just because she cares about her job. she deals with classified and serious abuse cases, so she only has about five to ten cases on her load at one time. right now I think she has six, and of them I've been with her the longest. most other kids end up either adopted, dead or run away just sort of depending on the case. im a unique case as ive been all three, well i was legally dead for minute but they got the ole ticker working. the darkness only seems to be getting worse as civilization passes by and the woods become clearer. considering i don't want to get murder tonight, i submit to my will power texting the first person in my contacts.