Note: Again, thank you so much for the amazing support I have received for this story. I hope that it continues being something you want to read. This chapter is explained through a flashback, just to keep mixing it up.

Chapter 8

When he walked back into the room at 2pm, he recognized he felt somewhat lighter, dare he even say confident. Though it was painful, and he was in a situation where it should have felt unnatural to him, there was something to be said about it.

Menendez welcomed him back to his seat with a warm smile. This was probably the last major speed bump she had to get across with Steve. It was one thing having him turn up the first time, it was quite different to get him back the second time.

Danny sat down in his space. He hadn't talked to Steve about any of it over the break, instead they had watched a rerun of a game that Steve had seemed mildly interested in. He figured it was a hint of normality for his best friend, and that is what he wanted to represent. Normality.

"You ready?" Menendez asked softly.

"Yeah…" Steve replied, his answer floating out on a sigh.

"The mission in Kabul on November 17th, 2007… you had an interpreter with your team. Omar Al-Kazari. Tell me what you can about that."

"We were stationed in Kabul, only a couple of weeks into our tour." He paused. "We had a request to go out to a town in the foothills of the Hindu Kush… a place called Arghandeh…"

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The Sacrifice

The sun was high over the base and the best place to be at this time of day was inside, although conditions in their digs were no real escape. Blistering heat enveloped the group of men within, all dressed in fatigues, as they sat on their beds.

"I can't do this anymore!" Petty Officer, Evan 'Holly' Holland, called out with frustration as he sprawled out on his cot. At the tender age of twenty-four he was the newest and youngest member on the team. Only just out of his SEAL Qualification Training and although he'd been to the middle east before, his time had been limited to a ship.

Freddie Hart turned to him and grinned. "We're only three weeks in, man."

"At least Qatar had air conditioning… I like air conditioning." Holly replied.

"Yeah, well… you're really going to hate it when we're out over the wire, nothing but sand, direct sun and jock itch out there." Lieutenant Cameron 'Stitch' Davies replied. "Didn't you read the travel brochure?" The forty something veteran growled. This was his seventh tour of the region, not counting three dozen or so standalone black ops missions he had done in that part of the world.

"You'll have chance to experience it soon enough." Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Taylor, nodded, as he slammed the magazine of his gun into position. He was fairly seasoned but becoming more and more disillusioned and frustrated with his role in this war.

"What makes you think that?" Petty Officer Lincoln Williams questioned. A quiet kind of guy who was extremely levelheaded with a solid history. The Military was his family business, his grandfather was one of the first African Americans to become a SEAL, just after it's official inception in 1962. His father was a fighter pilot during Desert Storm and had a brother in the Marines.

"Commander Ling came over to him half way through PT, hauls his ass off in the direction of the operations buildings… he's getting orders… for sure." Taylor added.

"I'd rather be weapons ready than sitting around here all day anyway." Freddie announced.

"Good…" Steve said as he ducked through the door and stepped inside with full gear on and paper in his hand. "Good attitude to have… I'll remind you of it in a couple of days."

"We got something?" Stitch asked.

"We do…" Steve nodded as he handed out the notes. "Heading out after dark… a town west of us… apparently the Taliban are moving down the mountains… the villagers informed a British Unit that they'd seen a couple of guys hanging around that they didn't know. It's believed the men are on a recon mission for the insurgents."

"So, what's our job?" Holly asked.

"To protect the village. Simple as that." Steve shrugged.

"I don't get it." Holly shook his head. "The Taliban are taking over villages left right and center, we can't protect all of them… why is this one any different?"

"Because this one is either strategic or there is someone of importance in there." Freddie answered as he glared at Steve.

"That's my guess too." Steve nodded. "And with these tourists walking around they obviously believe there is a credible threat to whatever or whoever it is."

"Okay… I still don't get it. Since when have the Taliban been tactical?" Holly pushed.

Steve grinned. "That's your first mistake… you go out there underestimating them and that will get you killed."

"They pretty much the same strategies we have." Stitch answered. "A small recon team goes in, surveils for a couple of days, establishes information like the if the village is unprotected or if there are coalition troops embedded. Gather intel on assets, and then determine if it's of any use to them."

"If they determine it's an easy take over and they want the village, they send around twenty guys from the main group down to secure."

"That's why we have to be invisible, and why we will arrive at the village in the middle of the night." Steve finished. "Our objective is to provide security only if there is contact… we are not to initiate or provoke it. If the recon team gets a hint that we are there, they will have more than just a couple of dozen insurgents coming down that mountain… and they will be on top of us before we can get any air support."

"That's why it has to be a small and low-key op. Too many of us means it would be hard to stay under the radar." Lincoln added.

"Do they know how many fighters are in the main group?" Taylor asked.

"No official intel." Steve shook his head. "But I think we can safely assume there are hundreds up there."

"Okay… do we know how long it could be before they take a run for the town?" Freddie looked up from the paper.

"No intel on a definitive timeframe either." He shook his head again.

The team looked at him with frustration.

"So, if they have no intel on the numbers, I'm going to guess they don't have any intel on what kind of weapons they have their hands on?" Stitch asked.

"Three for three." Steve thinned his lips and nodded.

Taylor coughed with frustration. "Awesome."

"Okay… so this is face to face with locals, right?" Freddie shrugged to Steve. "Something tells me that the tiny bit of Pashto you know is not going to cut it on this one."

"Yeah… about that…" Steve said hesitantly then turning to stick his head back out the door before leading in a young Afghani man. "Guys, meet Omar Al-Kazari… he's with the Afghan National Army and has been placed with our team as a translator."

The guys glanced around to each other with concern. This was not a soldier; this was a kid.

"I'm pleased to be with you…" Omar said nervously.

"This just keeps getting better and better." Taylor groaned under his breath.

Steve glanced at his boys, his eyes wide and doing all the talking. He was just as taken aback by this as they were. "Linc, I need you to run Omar through our SOP's." he ordered.

"Sure…" Lincoln answered cautiously.

"A word…" Freddie growled as he neared his friend.

Steve dropped his shoulders. He knew what was coming, he knew what they were all thinking, he knew because he thought and felt the same way too. He followed Freddie outside with Stitch closely behind.

"Are you serious?" Freddie hissed as he raised his hand back to the door.

"I mean… at this point… nothing can shock me…" Steve shrugged and shook his head; he was just as confused as the next person.

"That's a kid… he doesn't look older than eighteen." Freddie pushed. He was hard to rattle, but every now and then he would go into a wild tangent of stress that Steve couldn't help but find amusing. "Has ever been on a mission before?"

Steve thinned his lips. "Nope… I don't believe he has."

"Has he held a gun in anger?" Stitch followed up.

"I'd doubt it, he only just finished his basic training in the last month." Steve answered.

"Please tell me you are joking." Freddie shouted as he raised his hands over his eyes. "Where's Tariq? He been down range with us before… knows how we work, experienced. He was with us in Doha… where's he now? Where did he go?"

"Redeployed to Kandahar." Steve whispered.

"When we were here last year, we had a say in the outsiders working with us. They don't do that now?" Freddie shrugged.

"There was a choice… it was either Omar or another guy who wasn't yet signed up." Steve nodded.

"Steve, you are seriously killing me with how well you've taken this." Freddie hissed.

"Look… I'm far from happy with the situation. Believe me." Steve pushed calmly and with a grin. "This op is going to be hard enough without having a rookie following us around. I expressed my concerns; I was told that they were noted and then told to be ready at 1900 hours. Apparently, it is what it is, and we need to just get it done."

Stitch sighed. "That gives us just under four hours to prep this guy."

The moon was hidden behind the vast mountain range ahead of them which provided them cover but not enough light to navigate the loose rocks on the narrow trail. Their guns were crossed over their chests, fingers hovering over the triggers and their bodies weighted under their gear and packs which held their supplies.

Steve was on point, scoping the surroundings through the sight of his gun every couple of steps. They had been going for a couple of hours now, and while they were earlier boiling in the Afghan heat, they were now freezing in the frigid mountain air. The journey so far had been challenging. Omar had been unable to fully understand the hand signals and shorthand language of the team around him, which had provided a couple of close moments when they had to quickly duck for cover.

They reached a bend in the track. Around it revealed, in the distance, was the small village they were to defend. Steve held his arm up, his fingers fisted into a ball. The others ducked down, hugging the side of the hill with their backs, but Omar stood upright and seemingly unaware.

"Yo!" Taylor snarled quietly as he grabbed the young mans arm and pulled him down. "Man, you need to work that hand signal out damn quick, because the next time it might be to save your life."

Omar nodded with embarrassment. "Apologies." He whispered.

Stitch glanced to Freddie, both mirroring the same frustrated look.

"Okay…" Steve started quietly as he pulled out his papers from a pocket in his bullet proof vest. He studied for just a second. "That's the village right there…" he pointed. "We are supposed to go to the compound on the left… meet with one of the elders. Farreek Abid. He'll get us established."

"Don't suppose by 'established' you mean a hot shower and a cup of coffee?" Holly asked.

Steve grinned at him. "You were spoiled on The Enterprise, weren't you?"

Holly smirked.

"Moving…" Steve said as he got to his feet.

"Yeah… that means you too!" Stitch growled at a still Omar.

They had been situated in one of the buildings in the center of the village. It was an abandoned clay structure with a few rooms and nothing but dust and dirt inside. They were unable to use any light, or talk above a whisper, to avoid anyone else knowing they were there.

Stitch, Taylor, Freddie and Holly leant up against the walls of one of the rooms with their legs stretched out in front of them.

"Okay… I'm just going to come out and say it… anyone else anxious over our new recruit?" Taylor started.

"I think we all are." Stitch replied. "But it's the deal we've been given… so…"

"He has no idea what he is doing." Holly shrugged. "I can just see one of us getting killed trying to save his ass."

"He's way out of his depth, that's for sure." Freddie whispered, resting back his head back and closed his eyes.

"I saw enough on the way over here… he's nervous, clueless and I'm willing to bet a weeks pay that the minute bullets start flying… he'll be a runner."

"Maybe we could convince him to stay here when we're done? Might get someone more competent when we get back." Taylor growled.

Omar stood just outside the doorway, he had heard everything that they had said and understood that he was perceived to be a liability that no one wanted. He picked up his pack and walked out into the small courtyard, sitting down on the sandy ground and opening a packet of nuts.

Steve came back through the gate with a bucket of water he had gotten from the well. He frowned at the young man. "Hey… buddy… you alright?"

"Yes, thank you Commander. I am fine."

Steve didn't buy it, hovering before taking a seat next to him. They sat in silence for a couple of minutes.

"I am sorry that your team is forced to have me." The kid whispered in his thick accent. "I know that I am not the perfect fit."

"They say something to you?" Steve asked, his inflection sounded protective.

"No. No. They have been very kind." He lied. "I can just see the reality."

"We were all new once… trust me… the first time I went past the wire I was far from up to standard, but it will get easier." He sighed. "I'm impressed with your English."

"My father learned English when he was a boy… he taught me, my brothers and sisters. He'd always say that it might be useful in the future."

"Looks like he was right." Steve replied. "Your family must be proud?"

Omar smiled bitterly. "My mother and father both died at the hands of Taliban before the war started. I was nine… my older brother looked after us. He had to show his allegiance with them, so that they would leave us alone. A year ago, he was killed by a fighter because he would not follow orders to attack a convoy."

"I'm so sorry Omar." Steve said softly as he lowered his head.

"My three younger brothers and my two sisters, they are being cared for by my aunt and uncle in Farrah… but my uncle is a Taliban supporter… and he doesn't want me back there again. I'm too much of a risk to their safety after signing up."

Steve frowned. "What made you join the ANA?"

"In this place, you are forced to choose two very different roads." He sighed. "There is the easy way, aligning ourselves with the monsters who have done so much bad in this country… and then there is the hard way… putting yourself on the line to support the coalition, turn your back on your families for what you think is right." He shrugged. "I know why my brother chose to support. He wanted protection for us. And my uncle supports them because he fears you guys will one day leave before the job is done… and all those who supported you will be captured and killed. I have no one to protect… and I have to believe that this will be carried through until the day my country is back to how it used to be."

Steve nodded.

"To achieve the country we deserve would be the best vengeance for my parents and my brothers deaths. I plan to see that day… and I can not wait for it."

"Well, it's your job to translate… and it's my job to see that happens." Steve answered as he extended his hand out to the kid. "It's an honor having you here."

"Thank you, sir." He said with sincerity.

It had been eight long days, holding out in the small shack with no signs of movement from the mountains. Though the team had mostly kept their distance from Omar, Steve had included him in everything he could and continued to strengthen their bond.

It was another cold night in the hut. The icy air off the ranges came through the open windows like a freight train. Stitch and Linc were on watch, positioned on the west and east side of the structure, scanning for anyone who might approach.

Steve found it hard to fully rest on ops like this. He was always on edge and for good reason. He had seen the quiet still of the night erupt into fierce and deadly gun fights, within the blink of an eye, before.

"Yo, yo!" Linc said as he pressed his cheek against the side of his gun and looked through the scope. "Looks like the old man is coming in…"

"What?" Freddie whispered as he sat up. "What does he want at this time of the night?"

"Guess we're going to find out." Stitch replied as he turned to Steve.

"McGarrett." Linc muttered as loudly as he was permitted too.

Steve opened his eyes and sat up.

"You're friend's here."

Steve frowned before grabbing his gun and standing up. He moved over to Omar, patting him on the shoulder to wake him. "You're up…"

Omar stumbled to his feet and then both moved to the door and into the small courtyard.

"Wa alaykumu as-salam." Omar greated the elder.

"As-salamu alaykumu." The elder responded before breaking into his reason for the visit.

Steve could pick out certain words but by no means could he get the full story. He simply watched the two men engage in conversation. There was one distinctive moment that he saw Omar's demeanor change. He looked ashamed, concerned and saddened all at once. The two finally finished, the old man turned to Steve and nodded with a friendly smile before he took off into the darkness.

"Omar?" Steve said cautiously.

Steve and the kid walked back into the hut. The others were now all awake and eagerly awaiting news. They knew it had to be something important.

"Commander?" Holly frowned.

Steve closed his eyes, reluctant to even say what he knew out loud. "The news going around the village is that an ANA Soldier is here… there's been no mention of us… but that he is feeding information back to coalition forces."

"How! How did that happen?" Taylor snapped.

"It doesn't matter how it happened… it happened." Steve growled back.

"And you're assuming that the Taliban members, who are here on recon, would know this now?" Freddie answered with concern.

"If they don't right now then we can guarantee they will soon." Steve nodded.

"Okay… so we take them out?" Holly asked.

"We can't do that." Stitch shook his head. "Right now there is no confirmation that the Taliban is going to come down to this village… the guys down here might say it's all clear and they move on… if they drop comms with the fighters in the hills… we're all but signing off an attack."

"But if they know that an Afghan solider is here already, they're not going to move on… they're going to start searching… and they are going to find us." Taylor dropped his shoulders with defeat.

"Not if I find them first." Omar whispered.

"What are you talking about?" Steve answered.

"As far as we know, your cover has not been blown… you are still ghosts. And we need to keep it that way, no?" Omar replied.

Lincolns eyes shifted to Steve.

"I allow them to capture me… I can try to convince them that I am alone, that I am deserting and hiding in this town so the ANA can not find me… it's possible they may let me go."

"No." Steve shook his head. "No way… I can't let you do that."

"From where I stand, Commander… I don't think you have a choice." He shook his head. "I may not know how to physically fight like all of you… but I do know strategies. If they find any evidence of you being here, they are going to send down an avalanche of fighters to over run the village and take you on… but if they think it is just a lone ANA soldier… the worst you may get, if they do come, is a couple of dozen. They know I would be no match for them… and my resistance would be pointless."

"Omar… they will kill you if they don't believe you." Steve argued.

"Then I will have to be convincing." He replied. "Commander. I am the reason we are in this position. I am the one who has been identified. It is my responsibility to put this right."

The team had moved to a vantage point on the hill, covered by shrubs and large rocks, by the time the sun had come up. They fixed their sights on the hut they had sheltered in as Omar walked out of the courtyard and over to the well. He'd put on a sweater over his uniform but was still identifiable by his pants and boots. It was only minutes later when three men approached him. Steve glared through the binoculars. "Heads up…"

One of the men grabbed Omar from behind, curling his arm around the young boys neck and pulling him back against his body. The other hand held a knife to his prisoners throat. A second man stood in front of the kid, his hands behind his back as he appeared to inspect their pray.

Steve gritted his teeth, his heart pacing under the strain of trepidation.

A conversation was had, at some point the grip on Omar was loosened allowing him to stand up straight. The team hoped this was a good sign, that Omar may have worked his magic. But within a couple of minutes, the young man was dealt a blow to the gut by the butt of a riffle in the third man's hands.

Steve flinched, as if he was just about to push himself up but stopped himself. Perhaps it was a voluntary reaction or maybe a response to a subconscious instinct, whatever it was it made the others uneasy. Were they going to have to hold him down if this went south?

The second man pointed to the building they had occupied, clearly ordering the third man to search it. He then waved his hands around, shouting at Omar. The third man returned with an all clear. Omar's wrists were positioned behind his back and a rope was produced by the first man. His hands were bound tightly, causing him to wince with the tension. The same man grabbed the kid by the scruff of the neck and pushed him down the road with the others following.

Steve grabbed his gun.

"Hey… hey…" Stitch whispered. "Think about this."

"They're going to kill him." Steve growled,

"If they were going to kill him, they would have done it there." He sighed. "You heard the kid, he was right… if they know we are here they are going to send every insurgent they can down here. You, us… and whoever or whatever we are here to protect is not likely to survive. That would be a mission fail."

Every single fiber of Steve's body wanted to get up and take out these hostiles but Stitch was right. It was an impossible situation.

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Steve cleared his throat and sighed. "He was just a kid…" he whispered. "A kid that had more morals than all those men in the hills put together."

Danny's eyes floated down.

"We stayed on that hill for another five days before we were recalled. They said the there was no longer a threat." He paused. "I wanted to go in and find Omar, but I knew he would have been taken up into the mountains. After that, every time I had an insurgent in my sight, I would always make sure it wasn't him. Always scanning the faces of civilians in the hope he'd be there… but the reality is that they would have likely tortured him until he died or agreed to be sent off, strapped with an IED."

Menendez thinned her lips with sympathy.

"I know that in the real world, the sacrifice made by that kid was for the greater good. I get that. But it doesn't help me that I have no idea what we were there for. Why were put in that position in the first place. And I live every day knowing a kid like that wanted to make a difference, determined to be a part of the change and see it through. He never got the chance. And I never got the chance to thank him for saving our lives."