Hemingway - Zoe Dawson Page 0,81
you will be presented with. Do your fallen teammate proud. Take a moment to reflect on all our fallen brothers who gave their last breaths and very lifeblood to their oath. Be proud of your accomplishments, but also, never forget those who have sacrificed everything. Keep honor and integrity your watchwords and never tarnish the reputation and tradition you inherit. Be that SEAL every day and earn this trident every day. Welcome to the brotherhood. Welcome to the teams!”
Hemingway closed his eyes and bowed his head, offering up his determination and strength to work hard to earn the honor he was receiving today. He and the men standing with him had been the ones to forge ahead and never quit, through adversity and pain they had formed into one solid team. It wasn’t just a BUD/S mentality, but the mindset of every SEAL who drew breath. Brothers in arms, brothers in creed, brothers in sweat and brothers in blood. And, the tip of the spear would always be sharp. SEALs were never out of the fight.
“As you join your platoon, I wish you good luck and good hunting. Now you will be presented with your tridents.”
He began calling out names starting with the officers, and there was one in particular that made him beam with pride to have been part of his boat crew.
“Special Operator and SEAL Team Seven, Lieutenant junior grade Adrian Foster Lane.”
Then they moved onto the enlisted. He smiled as they called out “Special Operator and SEAL Team Eight, Petty Officer Third Class, Matthew James Hitchcock. Special Operator and SEAL Team Seven, Petty Officer Third Class Milo Steven Prescott.”
Finally, it was Hemingway’s turn.
“Special Operator and SEAL Team Seven, Petty Officer Third Class Atticus David Sinclair.”
He walked up to the podium, received his diploma and knife. The Commanding Officer of the Navy Warfare Center pinned the trident above the left breast pocket of his uniform.
“Good job, young man.”
“Thank you, sir. It’s an honor.”
As the twenty of them funneled through to the end, the CO got back up on the podium and said, “Now is the time we normally name our honor man, but this BUD/S class rotation has been more than just routine. During our training we were required to deal with terrorists. To that end, one of our NCIS agents tirelessly worked behind the scenes to protect our candidates and instructors from harm. We will be naming two people here. The first woman to ever be presented with an honorary trident at one of NSW’s ceremonies, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Special Agent Shea Palmer, our honor woman. It was her brilliant deduction, quick thinking, and exemplary service that saved all of our candidates lives that day.”
Hemingway couldn’t believe his eyes when Shea, dressed in a beautifully tailored navy-blue suit and white blouse, rose from the audience. She was still gorgeous in a kickass way, and more striking than he remembered. Her vibrancy showed through in her stunning dark eyes, her hair pulled severely back in a long ponytail, glinting like obsidian in the sunlight. The room was silent except for the tap of her blue high heels against the concrete. When she reached the CO, he pinned the trident to the left side of her jacket.
“The honor man for this graduating class is a commendable, hardworking, courageous member of our SEAL Team. He showed time and again that commitment to excellence, leadership, and humility are in our genetic code. Please rise and acknowledge Honor Man, SO Atticus David Sinclair.”
It took a moment for him to absorb it was his name being called. Professor nudged him. “Man, that’s you. Go.”
He rose, still disbelieving. As he walked up to the podium, he looked back at his teammates and his family. His sister was openly crying, his dad looking so proud he was about to bust, but it was the look in Kid’s eyes that almost did him in. He had been his friend, mentor, brother-in-law and a pain in his ass throughout this process, but now…now he was one of them, and it was more than he could have imagined it would be. Overcome, he worked to keep his composure.
He accepted the plaque from the CO and shook his hand. He turned and met Shea’s eyes. Her heart was showing in her gaze, and he had to remain neutral or he would break down. Overwhelmed at seeing her, overwhelmed by the day, he wanted to find a private place to expend all his emotions. They walked back to their