Chapter 37: Farewell at the Pier
It was a bright morning in Norfolk, Virginia, and the pier at the naval base was bustling. Crewmen from the USS ENTERPRISE were loading equipment aboard, while officers and sailors were bidding farewell to their families.
The giant aircraft carrier was an imposing symbol of power and strategy, as it prepared for another overseas deployment. Catherine, dressed in her impeccable Navy uniform, was among them.
Aaron, Joseph, and Elizabeth were there to bid her farewell. Cathy always found it comforting to have her family there for important moments, and today was no different.
Elizabeth adjusted the collar of Cathy's uniform with careful hands, trying to hide the emotion in her eyes.
"You look beautiful, my dear," she said with a proud smile. "As always."
Cathy laughed softly. "Mom, I'm going to work. This isn't a fashion show."
"Maybe it isn't," Joseph interjected, placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "But you're still the prettiest intelligence officer who ever lived."
Aaron watched the scene with a smile. He looked calm in his casual Navy uniform, but there was a glint of concern in his eyes. He knew what it was like to be away from home for months, and he understood the weight of duty.
"So, Cat," he said, breaking the silence. "Are you ready for another mission?"
Cathy looked at him with determination. "Always ready, sailor. It's what we do, isn't it?"
As Joseph and Elizabeth gave Cathy space to adjust her belongings, Aaron approached her. They walked a short distance down the pier, away from the crowd.
"Will you miss me?" she asked, trying to break the tension.
Aaron smiled. "Of course I will. But I know you'll rock out there, like you always do. I'm proud of you, Cat."
She looked at him, surprised by his serious tone. "You don't usually say it so bluntly."
"Well, it's true," he replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're brilliant at what you do, and I know the ENTERPRISE is in good hands with you aboard. Just… take care of yourself, okay?"
She nodded, touched by his words. "You too, Aaron. I know your missions are more dangerous than you're admitting. Don't think I don't know what you go through."
They sat in silence for a moment, staring at the massive aircraft carrier ahead. Aaron broke the silence.
"Oh, and another thing," he said, grinning mischievously. "Are you going to leave Steve here? Who's going to take care of him while you're gone?"
Cathy laughed and rolled her eyes. "Steve can take care of himself. But seriously, he promised he'd stay in touch. He's heading to the Pacific soon, too."
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Then he'll miss you, for sure. He better behave while you're gone."
When the loudspeaker announced that the crew was to board, Elizabeth held Cathy tightly.
"Take care of yourself, my love. And keep us posted whenever you can."
"I promise, Mom," Cathy replied, her voice cracking slightly.
Joseph was next, wrapping his daughter in a firm hug. "Remember, we're always here for you. No matter where you are."
"I know, Dad. I love you."
Aaron was the last to say goodbye. He gave his sister a long hug, tighter than usual.
"Be safe, Cat," he said softly. "You're my little sister, and nothing is more important than knowing that you're safe."
She smiled at him, trying to hide her tears. "I'll be fine, Aaron. And so will you. Promise me you won't do anything crazy while I'm gone."
He gave a soft laugh. "Crazy is my job. But I promise."
Cathy walked toward the ramp that led to the aircraft carrier, pausing for a moment to look back. Her family was there, waving at her, and she waved back, feeling the warmth of their support.
As she disappeared into the crowd of sailors boarding, Elizabeth took Joseph's arm, and they were both silent for a moment.
"It's always hard to see her go," Elizabeth said, her voice shaking.
Joseph nodded. "But we know she's doing what she loves. And that's all that matters."
Aaron watched the USS ENTERPRISE with a stoic expression, but his heart was filled with pride. He knew that, like him, Cathy was serving something bigger than herself.
On the way home, Aaron drove while his parents talked in the backseat. He listened to their stories, but his mind wandered to what was to come. He knew the world was changing rapidly, and that new and more challenging missions were on the horizon for both him and Cathy.
As he drove, he thought about Cathy's words. She trusted him to be okay, just as he trusted her. And that mutual trust was what kept them strong, even from a distance.
Chapter 38: Family Ties and Duty
It was 2006, and Aaron was at the peak of his career. At 34, he had already served six years in DEVGRU, accumulating an impeccable record in high-risk operations.
Even so, he remained the same protective and loyal brother he had always been. But unexpected news brought a new layer of concern to his life: Catherine, now 28, was operating on Afghan soil as part of a special unit of Marines.
Aaron was at the base in Dam Neck, reviewing intelligence reports from recent missions, when he received a message from Cathy over the intercom system.
"Hey, Red. We need to talk."
He raised his eyebrows. Cathy never used that urgent tone without reason. Without delay, he returned the call.
"Cathy, what's going on?" he asked, straight to the point.
"It's nothing serious," she replied, trying to reassure him. "I just thought you might like to know that I've been assigned to a special women's unit. We'll be working directly with local civilians and leading some intelligence gathering operations."
Aaron was silent for a moment, processing this information. He knew exactly what kind of work this unit did infiltrating local communities, gaining the trust of women and children, and extracting vital information that the male teams couldn't access.
"This is serious, Cathy," he said, his voice thick with concern. "You're going to be in hostile territory, and it's not just intelligence gathering. You know it could involve crossfire."
"I know," she said firmly. "But I was trained for this, Aaron. Besides, don't forget who taught me half the things I know."
Aaron let out a sigh, a mixture of pride and concern.
"You know I trust you, Cat," he said. "But I'm still your big brother. I'll worry, that's what I do."
"And I'll take care of myself, that's what I do," she replied, with a smile he could practically hear.
Later that night, Aaron was at the operators-only bar in Virginia Beach. He was sitting with a few of his fellow Bravo Team members, discussing the details of an upcoming mission, but his mind kept wandering back to Cathy.
One of the men, Bravo 2, noticed his distraction. "You okay, Red?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Aaron looked up and shrugged. "My sister. She's assigned to a special unit in Afghanistan. She's going to be on the ground."
"Cathy?" Bravo 3 asked, with a smile. "Man, she's one of the best analysts we know. If anyone can handle this, it's her."
"I know," Aaron said, taking a sip of his beer. "But that doesn't make it any easier."
Bravo 4, a father of two daughters, patted Aaron on the shoulder. "I know how you feel. But sometimes, the people we love have to forge their own paths. She's following your example, Red. That's something to be proud of."
Aaron nodded, letting his colleagues' words comfort him.
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, Cathy was stationed at a small forward base nestled in the mountains of Kunar Province. The environment was hostile, but she had already adapted to the routine.
One night, as she was reviewing maps and reports, one of her unit members, Sergeant Riley, approached her.
"You're focused, huh?" Riley said, sitting down next to her.
"It's necessary," Cathy replied. "The more details we can get here, the more lives we can save."
Riley smiled. "You know, I hear your brother is a legend in DEVGRU. That must put a little extra pressure on us, huh?"
Cathy laughed. "Actually, he's always been more protective than demanding. He's taught me a lot, but he's never made me feel like I had to prove anything to him. He just wants me to take care of myself."
"Well, you're lucky to have a brother like that," Riley said.
"I know," Cathy replied with a smile.
Back at base in Virginia, Aaron managed to video chat with Cathy during a rare break in his schedule.
"Look who's tan," he joked, seeing her on the monitor.
"I'm not as tan as you were on your last deployment," she replied, rolling her eyes.
They talked about work, family, and some funny memories. Despite the distance and the dangers around them, these moments brought them both comfort.
"So, Cat," Aaron said seriously. "If you need anything, you know you can call me, right?"
"Of course I know," she replied. "And the same goes for you, little brother."
Aaron chuckled. "Little brother? Who's older here?"
Cathy shrugged with a mischievous smile. "Older, yes. But I'm the smart one."
After the call, Aaron sat in his living room, staring at a family photo. He knew that both he and Cathy were living in a dangerous world, but he also knew that they were both exactly where they were supposed to be.
Cathy was making a difference with her intelligence and courage, and he couldn't be more proud. Still, the burden of being the older brother never left him. He would do anything to protect her, even if it meant facing hell himself.
Chapter 39: New Paths and Old Acquaintances
The afternoon was quiet at the Rollins home in Virginia Beach. Elizabeth, as usual, was making tea while Joseph read the newspaper in the living room. Aaron was relaxing after a hard morning workout when Cathy walked through the door. She had just returned from her deployment in Afghanistan and had something important to share.
"Cathy!" Elizabeth exclaimed, hugging her daughter. "How was your deployment, honey?"
"Intense, as always," Cathy replied, with a tired but genuine smile. "But I'm glad to be back. I needed some fresh air and some peace."
Aaron, sitting on the couch, gave her a half-smile. "Welcome back, Cat. It looks like you survived once again."
"Of course you did. I had the best teacher," she replied, winking at him.
After a few minutes of casual conversation, Cathy gathered her courage and decided to broach the subject that was on her mind.
"I have something to tell you," she began, immediately drawing the attention of her parents and Aaron.
Elizabeth leaned forward. "What's wrong, honey? It sounds serious."
Cathy hesitated for a moment, but finally dropped the bombshell. "I'm seeing someone… a SEAL."
Aaron raised an eyebrow curiously. "A SEAL? I thought you and McGarrett were having a thing."
Joseph, who had been quiet until then, put down the newspaper. "That's true, Cathy. You mentioned Steve last time. What happened to him?"
Cathy sighed, crossing her arms. "Steve broke up with me… out of the blue. Said he needed space or something. Didn't give much detail."
Aaron frowned. He knew Steve to be a dedicated operator, but he also knew that relationships required a different kind of commitment.
"And you're okay with that?"
"It took a while, but yeah," Cathy replied. "Actually, I'm with someone else now. He's from Team 5… Billy Harrington."
The name made Aaron lean forward. He was silent for a moment, processing the information.
"Billy Harrington?" he finally asked. "I trained this guy. He was in the same BUD/S class as McGarrett."
Cathy nodded. "Yeah. We got close after Steve broke up. He's been amazing to me."
Elizabeth looked confused but intrigued. "And does he treat you well, sweetie?"
"Yes, Mom," Cathy assured. "He's thoughtful, respectful, and understands my life because he's lived something similar."
Joseph stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, if he makes you happy, that's all that matters."
Aaron, however, still looked thoughtful. "I just want to make sure he understands what he's doing. It's not just because you're my little sister, but because he knows the kind of life you lead. You don't need any more complications, Cat."
"I know, Aaron," she replied patiently. "And I wouldn't have told you if I didn't think he was a good person."
Later that evening, Aaron walked out into the backyard of his parents' house, stargazing as he processed this new information. He knew Billy Harrington to be a capable operator and a good man, but the fact that he was now involved with Cathy added a layer of complexity.
Bravo 2, one of Aaron's teammates, had mentioned Harrington on several occasions as a reliable guy in combat, but Aaron knew that being a good SEAL didn't always mean being good at relationships.
"Billy Harrington…" he muttered to himself, remembering the days he'd trained the young operator.
Two days later, Cathy invited Billy to meet the family. He arrived promptly, dressed casually but clearly nervous. When Aaron opened the door, the two men stared at each other for a moment.
"Harrington," Aaron said, crossing his arms.
"Lieutenant Rollins," Billy replied firmly, but with a hint of anxiety.
Aaron stepped aside, making room for him to enter. "Relax, Billy. I'm just the big brother today, not the instructor."
Billy walked in, greeting Elizabeth and Joseph respectfully before finally sitting down next to Cathy. Dinner started with light conversation, but eventually Joseph decided to ask directly.
"Billy, what do you like about our Cathy?"
Billy, who had been expecting a question like that, smiled. "She's smart, determined, and has a big heart. She challenges me in ways few others can."
Elizabeth smiled, pleased with the answer, but Aaron continued to watch, as if weighing every word.
After dinner, Aaron called Billy aside for a private conversation.
"So, Billy," he began, his tone serious. "You know I won't tolerate anyone hurting my sister, right?"
"Yes, sir," Billy replied firmly. "And I have no intention of doing so."
Aaron studied him for a moment, before finally giving him a small smile. "Good. Because if you do, we're going to have trouble. Other than that, welcome to the family, Harrington."
Later, as Aaron watches Cathy sat talking and laughing with Billy in the living room, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of pride and relief. His sister deserved happiness, and if Harrington was the man to provide it, he would support her.
"You're growing up too fast, Cat," he muttered to himself with a smile.
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