Chapter 34: Alliances and Conflicts
The FBI office in New York was abuzz with activity when Omar Adom "OA" Zidan approached Grant Shawn's office. He looked tense, and it didn't go unnoticed by Grant, who was reviewing classified files from a previous operation.
"Shawn," OA began, closing the door behind him, "I need your help. It's about Vega Assad."
Grant looked at OA, frowning slightly. "The informant? What happened?"
OA sighed and sat down in the chair across from Grant's desk. "Vega was supposed to be helping monitor potential suspects in a terrorist attack, but he's stopped responding. Isobel is already frustrated, and now Rina Trenholm is pushing even harder. They think he might be hiding something, but that's not it. He's scared."
Grant leaned back in his chair, thinking. "Scared of what? Retribution? Or something more personal?"
"Retaliation, yes," OA replied. "But he's also tired of being used by the FBI without getting anything meaningful in return. He's already risked too much for us."
Later, OA, Grant, Isobel, and new FBI Assistant Agent Rina Trenholm gathered in a conference room. The mood was tense.
"Zidan," Rina began, her tone cold and authoritative, "I want to know why you're still defending Vega Assad. He's not holding up his end of the bargain."
"With all due respect, Rina," OA replied, "he's already held up more than enough. Vega has helped expose terrorist networks on three separate occasions. He's risked his life and the safety of his family."
"That doesn't matter now," Rina snapped. "He's not cooperating, and that puts us all at risk."
Before OA could respond, Grant intervened, his voice low but thick with authority. "Rina, maybe you should back off."
Rina turned to Grant, surprised and a little irritated. "Excuse me, Agent Shawn?"
"You heard me," Grant said, crossing his arms. "An informant's job is not an easy one. They put their lives on the line for us, and often receive little or no support in return. If Vega is hesitating, perhaps we should ask ourselves what we did or didn't do to ensure his safety."
Rina was silent for a moment, visibly upset, but Isobel intervened before the situation could escalate.
"Grant is right," she said, shooting Rina a warning look. "Let's approach this another way. OA, if you think you can convince Vega to help, do so. But we need results."
Grant and OA decided to go see Vega themselves, who was holed up in a small apartment in Queens. Mona Nazari, OA's girlfriend and defense attorney, was also there to help mediate the situation.
"Vega," OA began, as Grant watched silently, "we need your help. I know you're scared, but you know what's at stake."
Vega shook his head, his eyes filled with exhaustion. "I've given everything I can, OA. My family is under threat, and the FBI has done nothing to protect them. How can I continue to help?"
Grant finally stepped in, his presence solid and calm. "Vega, I understand what you're going through. And so does OA. But you're not alone in this. If you give us the information we need, I promise we'll do everything we can to ensure your safety and that of your family."
Vega looked at Grant, impressed by the firmness in his voice. After a few moments of hesitation, he nodded. "Okay. But I want assurances, not just empty promises."
"You'll get them," Grant replied firmly.
While Grant and OA secured Vega's cooperation on the operational side, Mona worked to ensure that he had adequate legal protection. She spent hours preparing documents and negotiating with the FBI to ensure that Vega received adequate support.
"Are you sure you can trust them?" Vega asked Mona as she reviewed the papers.
"Yes," Mona replied, with an encouraging smile. "Grant and OA are men of their word. And I will be here to make sure the FBI holds up their end of the bargain."
When OA and Grant returned to the office with Vega's information, Isobel was waiting for them.
"Did you get what we needed?" she asked.
"Yes," OA replied, handing over the documents Vega had provided. "But we only got that because we promised protection for him and his family."
Isobel nodded. "We will make sure of that. Good job, both of you."
Rina, who was standing in the back of the room, watched the exchange in silence. Though she was still visibly skeptical, she didn't say anything.
Later, as Grant prepared to leave, OA approached him.
"Thanks for that, Shawn," OA said sincerely.
"No problem," Grant replied. "But remember, Zidan, sometimes protecting our informants is just as important as catching the culprits."
"I'll remember this", OA said, smiling.
Grant nodded and left the office, leaving OA to reflect on the complexity of her work and the unwavering support Grant always seemed to offer.
Chapter 35: Titans Rally
Steve McGarrett sat in a small cafe in Montana, with Catherine Rollins at his side. The atmosphere seemed peaceful, but the atmosphere between them was tense. The weight of the death of Joe White, Steve's mentor and father figure to him, seemed unbearable. Catherine held his hand, trying to offer some comfort.
"Steve," she said, her voice soft, "Joe wouldn't want you to get bogged down in this. He believed in you and what you stand for."
"I know, Cath," Steve replied, looking out the window. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to let this go. Omar Hassan needs to be stopped. He's the son of a man who's caused enough chaos, and now he wants revenge."
Catherine nodded. "We already have his location thanks to the lawyer. We need to act fast before he disappears again."
Back at the lodge, Steve gathered his team. Danny Williams, Junior Reigns, Wade Gutches, Harry Langford, and Catherine were all present. All wore serious expressions as Steve laid out the plan.
"We found Hassan," Steve began. "He's holed up in a compound in Laos. But we need someone else for this mission. And I already know who to call."
Danny raised an eyebrow. "Anyone else? We've got a solid team here, Steve."
"Yeah," Steve replied. "But we're not talking about just any target. Omar Hassan has a heavy security network, and we need someone who knows the terrain and tactics better than anyone. I'm going to call Grant Shawn."
The name dropped like a bombshell in the room. Junior was the first to react. "Grant Shawn? The legendary DEVGRU operator? Are you serious?"
"Yeah," Steve confirmed. "He's perfect for this. Plus, he was friends with Joe. He won't turn us down."
Wade Gutches gave a slight smile. "Grant and I crossed paths in the Middle East a few times. He's as good as they say, maybe even better."
Catherine nodded. "I've worked with him on a few operations. He has a unique way of making the impossible a reality."
Harry Langford, a former MI6 agent, smiled. "I had the pleasure of working with him on joint FBI/MI6 missions. A remarkable man. If Grant is with us, Hassan doesn't stand a chance."
Danny, still skeptical, crossed his arms. "And how did you meet this guy, Steve?"
Steve smiled slightly, remembering the day. "It was in a bar in Virginia. Joe White introduced me to him. Grant was on leave from DEVGRU. The connection between the two was obvious. Joe always talked about how Grant was one of the best he'd ever trained in BUD/S."
Danny sighed. "Okay. Let's bring in the legendary guy then."
Hours later, in Laos, Grant Shawn arrived at the team's rendezvous point. Dressed casually but with a confident posture that exuded authority, he walked into the small makeshift camp. All eyes turned to him.
"Shawn," Steve said, stepping forward and extending his hand. "Thanks for coming."
"You know I would, McGarrett," Grant replied, shaking Steve's hand. "Joe was a great man. And I'm not going to let that go unanswered."
Junior couldn't hide his excitement. "It's an honor to finally meet you, sir."
Grant smiled slightly. "Just Grant is fine. You're Junior, right? I've heard of you."
Wade shook Grant's hand. "Good to see you again, Shawn. It seems like the circumstances are never ideal when we meet."
"That's true," Grant replied. "But we know how to make it work."
Harry gave a slight nod. "Always a pleasure, Shawn."
Catherine approached, smiling warmly. "Welcome to the team, Grant."
Grant nodded at her. "Cath, good to be here. Let's get this over with."
Danny, still a little wary, introduced himself. "Danny Williams. For the record, I hope you're as good as everyone says."
Grant smiled faintly. "You'll see."
The team had spent hours planning the assault on the building where Omar Hassan was holed up. Grant studied maps and satellite imagery with Steve and Harry, plotting routes of entry and exit.
"The place is heavily guarded," Grant noted. "We'll need precision and speed. We can't give them time to react."
Steve nodded. "You lead the infiltration team. Catherine and I will cover you."
"Junior and Wade will man the perimeter," Grant continued. "Harry, you take the extraction. We need an experienced pilot to get out quickly."
Danny held up his hand. "What about me?"
"You're coming with me," Grant replied. "It'll be nice to have someone to hold the fort on my side."
Danny looked surprised, but nodded. "Okay. Let's do this."
In the dead of night, the team approached the building. Grant led the way, moving with the precision and calm of a veteran. They split into smaller teams, following the plan they had drawn up.
Grant and Danny entered from the side, taking out two guards silently. Catherine and Steve took up strategic positions on the roof while Junior and Wade surveyed the surroundings.
When they reached the room where Hassan was hiding, Grant gave the signal. With a controlled explosion, they opened the door and burst in. Hassan tried to resist, but was quickly subdued.
"You don't know who you're dealing with!" Hassan yelled as he was handcuffed.
Grant leaned forward, looking Hassan directly in the eye. "Actually, I know exactly who I'm dealing with. And now you're done."
With Hassan captured, the team gathered at the extraction point. Harry piloted the helicopter, as everyone breathed a sigh of relief at the successful mission.
Steve placed a hand on Grant's shoulder. "Thank you, Shawn. I don't know how we would have done this without you."
"It was an honor," Grant replied. "Joe would have done the same for any of us."
As the helicopter flew over the ground, the team knew they had brought justice for Joe White and prevented future attacks from Hassan. For Grant, it was another mission successfully completed and another reminder of his mentor's legacy.
Chapter 36: Office Worry
The FBI office in New York was in its usual hustle and bustle. Agents coming and going, files being shared, and incessant phone calls filled the air. But today, something seemed different.
Maggie Bell, OA Zidan, and Jubal Valentine noticed that Isobel Castille was quieter than usual. Sitting at her desk, she stared at her computer screen, not really paying attention to what was in front of her.
Maggie, always aware of mood swings, was the first to comment. "Have you noticed how Isobel is today?"
OA glanced sideways at Isobel, who seemed lost in thought. "Yes, she's different. I think something's up."
Jubal approached the two. "If there's one thing I've learned from working with Isobel, it's that she doesn't show concern easily. If she does, she's serious."
Maggie suggested, "Why don't we go talk to her? Maybe we can help."
OA and Jubal nodded, and the three of them headed toward Isobel's office. Jubal knocked lightly on the open door. "Isobel, are you okay? You seem… distracted."
Isobel looked up, as if caught red-handed. She sighed before answering. "It's personal, Jubal. It's nothing to do with work."
"You know you can talk to us, right?" Maggie said, her voice filled with genuine concern.
Isobel hesitated for a moment before deciding to come clean. "Grant's out on a mission. But it's not with the FBI."
OA frowned. "What kind of mission?"
Isobel leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "His mentor in the SEALs, Joe White, was recently murdered. Grant went with some people who knew Joe to hunt down whoever did it."
The room was silent for a few seconds as they processed this information. Jubal was the first to speak. "Grant is more than capable of taking care of himself, Isobel. He's practically a living legend."
"I know," Isobel replied, her voice thick with concern. "But this isn't an official operation. There are no protocols, no backup. He's going in as a civilian, which means if anything goes wrong, he's on his own."
Back in the operating room, Maggie, OA, and Jubal began to discuss what they had just heard.
"Can you imagine what it would mean for Grant to do something like this?" Maggie asked.
"He has a huge sense of loyalty," OA replied. "Joe White must have been someone very important to him. But it's still dangerous. This is a revenge operation we're talking about, not a sanctioned mission."
Jubal, who had his arms crossed, shook his head. "And Grant is exactly the kind of person who gets involved in this kind of thing. He won't rest until the person responsible pays."
"Do you think we should do something?" Maggie asked.
OA seemed uncertain. "What can we do? This isn't our jurisdiction, and Isobel clearly trusts that he knows what he's doing."
"Yes, but that doesn't mean we can't worry," Maggie snapped.
Later that day, Isobel called Maggie into her office.
"I know you're worried, and I appreciate that," Isobel began, her voice softer than usual. "But Grant knows what he's doing. He's with Steve McGarrett, Catherine Rollins, and other former Special Forces operators. They have experience."
"McGarrett? The McGarrett from 5-0?" Maggie asked, surprised.
Isobel nodded. "Yes. He and Grant have a history. They were both very close to Joe. This mission is personal to all of them."
"Do you know where they are?" Maggie asked.
Isobel shook her head. "All I know is that they're in Southeast Asia, probably Laos. But there's not much I can do other than hope."
Later, OA and Maggie updated Jubal on what Isobel had shared.
"That explains a lot," Jubal said thoughtfully. "Grant's not the kind of guy to leave loose ends, especially when it involves someone important to him."
"But still," Maggie added, "it's a dangerous situation. This isn't a controlled operation."
OA agreed. "I hope he knows what he's doing."
Late in the day, Isobel received a call from Grant. Her face lit up momentarily, but she kept her tone serious.
"Grant," she said when he answered. "How's it going?"
"We're doing well," Grant replied. "We've located the target and are preparing to make a move. Don't worry, Isobel. I'll be home soon."
"You promise?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion.
"I promise," he replied firmly.
After hanging up, Isobel breathed a sigh of relief. Although she knew Grant was still in danger, hearing his voice momentarily reassured her.
As the day drew to a close, Maggie, OA, and Jubal were reunited.
"Isobel seems calmer now," Maggie commented.
"She probably heard it from Grant," Jubal said.
"I just hope he and the rest of the team come back in one piece," OA replied.
Maggie nodded. "We all do."
They knew that as long as Grant Shawn was involved, the odds were in their favor. But still, danger was never completely ruled out.
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