章節 60: Chapter 60: Truths Revealed
The sun had already set, and the night was quiet. Grant Ward was lying on the couch in the living room of his apartment, with Maria Hill cuddled up next to him, her head resting on his chest. They were both relaxed, enjoying a rare moment of calm in their hectic lives. On the television, the news was playing, a soft voice filling the room, while Maria adjusted herself to get more comfortable.
"This is good, isn't it?" Maria murmured, her voice low, looking at Grant.
"Yes," Grant replied with a soft smile. "We need more moments like this."
The sound of the TV was just background noise for the two of them, until a headline caught Grant's attention.
"In literary news, a new book is quickly gaining notoriety and has a good chance of becoming a bestseller," said the presenter. — The book, which tells the story of a member of the famous team that killed Osama Bin Laden, is attracting public curiosity, with many eager to learn more about the man behind the mission that changed the course of recent history.
Grant, who had been distracted, froze when he heard the mention of the mission he had participated in. His body tensed, and Maria, noticing the change, raised her head and looked at him.
"What is it?" she asked, noticing Grant's serious expression.
"Wait a second…" he replied, his attention completely focused on the TV now.
The presenter continued:
"The author wrote the book under the pseudonym Mark Owen, but what many don't know is that behind this fictitious name is one of the most respected members of the elite Navy SEAL Team Six. The book begins by recounting the author's difficult childhood, his military enlistment, his training in the SEALs, and of course, the operations he carried out, including the rescue of Captain Phillips and the infamous Neptune Spear Mission, which led to the death of Osama Bin Laden."
Grant was silent for a moment, absorbing the information.
He knew exactly who the author behind that pseudonym was: Matt Bissonnette, one of his former SEAL Team Six colleagues. Matt had used the pseudonym "Mark Owen" on a mission that Bravo Team was involved in, a highly classified mission that Grant remembered very well.
"Matt…" Grant murmured, shaking his head slightly. Maria looked at him in surprise.
"Do you know him?" she asked, now fully interested. Grant let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair as he tried to process what he was hearing.
"Yes, I do. Matt Bissonnette. He was part of my team in SEAL Team Six. We served together during some of the most difficult missions." — Grant said, his voice heavy with memories of the past.
"So, he wrote a book about it?" Maria asked, surprised, sitting up to look at him better.
"Apparently, yes." Grant replied, still staring at the TV.
The presenter continued:
"The book also details the relationships within the team, the camaraderie and the sacrifices each member made throughout their careers. The author, however, also highlights the absence felt by everyone when the team leader, a key figure in many missions, retired. Despite the sadness, he mentions that the team was happy that he found a path outside of the military and that he continues in the world of security."
Grant let out a bitter laugh.
"So he wrote about me too," Grant said, a little more surprised than irritated.
Maria arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she watched him.
"Are they talking about you?" she asked, her voice more serious.
"Yes, it seems so. I was the leader of Bravo Team at the time. When I retired, it was a big milestone for them. We had worked together on so many missions... It was hard for everyone, including me. " Grant admitted, remembering his decision to leave the Navy after eleven years.
Maria was silent for a moment, absorbing what he had said. She knew Grant was secretive about his past, especially his military experiences, and he rarely spoke about his life in the SEALs. It was something he kept to himself, almost as a shield against the difficult memories he carried. But now, it seemed like those memories were being brought back to the surface in an unexpected way.
"And did you know he was writing a book?" Maria asked, genuinely curious.
"No," Grant replied, shaking his head. "Matt has always been the type to keep things to himself. He's never talked about writing a book. I'm surprised he decided to share so much."
"Does that bother you?" Maria asked, noticing the tension on Grant's face.
Grant thought for a moment before answering. "I don't know if it does." — he said, his voice slow and thoughtful. Part of me understands why he did it. The story is important, people want to know what happened. But another part of me, He paused, looking Maria.
"Another part of me thinks there are certain things that should stay between the team. What we went through together, the hard decisions, the losses, it was all part of who we were. Putting it in a book… it feels weird."
Maria nodded, understanding. She knew Grant valued loyalty and privacy, and something as intimate as his experiences on SEAL Team Six missions wasn't something he'd want to see exposed to the public.
"I understand," she said softly. "But on the other hand, maybe this is his way of dealing with it all. Maybe writing the book was a way for Matt to process everything you've been through."
Grant sighed, relaxing a little at Maria's words. "Maybe," he agreed, looking back at the TV, where the news report had switched to another story.
Silence settled between them for a few moments, and Maria rested her head on Grant's chest again. As he gently stroked her hair, her mind drifted back to those missions and the people she'd served with. He remembered Matt, how dedicated and competent he was, but also how he, like everyone else, struggled with the ghosts they carried from each mission.
Grant knew that the memories of Mission Neptune Spear, where they had captured and eliminated Osama Bin Laden, were especially heavy. It had been the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice, but also a moment that had scarred them forever.
"I wonder how the others are dealing with this," Grant said, breaking the silence. "The book, I mean. Some of the guys… They won't like seeing our stories exposed like this." Maria looked up at him, realizing the weight of his words.
"Do you still keep in touch with them?" she asked. Grant shook his head.
"Not many. Some have moved on, like me. Others… are still active or have simply walked away from it all," he explained, his voice thick with melancholy. "Sometimes it's easier to move on when you cut ties with the past."
Maria nodded in understanding. She knew Grant had a complex past, full of sacrifices and difficult choices. And while he had found a new life at S.H.I.E.L.D., that part of his life would always be with him, one way or another.
"Well, no matter what, you did what you thought was right," Maria said, her voice soft but firm. "And from the looks of it, Matt had a lot of respect for you. That's clear from what he wrote in his book."
Grant smiled slightly, appreciating Maria's support.
"Yes," he said, nodding. "I think he did what he thought was right, too."
As the night wore on, Grant allowed himself to relax again, Maria still in his arms. The past would always be with him, but for now, he was grateful to have someone by his side who understood the weight he carried, and who was willing to share those burdens with him.
The news switched to another segment, and the apartment fell back into comfortable silence. Yet Grant's mind still wandered, thinking about his team, about Matt, and the choices they'd all made along the way.
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