Bravo moved through the crumbling compound with their usual precision, Jason calling directions, Sonny covering corners, Ray checking bodies, Drew sweeping the hallway behind them. Carter moved ahead, silent and sharp, his 1A9 badge tucked beneath his vest like a memory he wasn’t ready to let go of.

Intel said hostages were held inside. Adults. Fighters. They were prepared for that.

They weren’t prepared for a child.

When Carter kicked open the final door, weapon raised, he froze.

Curled in the corner behind a broken metal cot was a small girl, thin, dusty, trembling. Her eyes locked onto his, wide and terrified.

“Hey,” Carter said quietly, lowering his rifle. “Easy, kid. I’m not here to hurt you.”

She flinched anyway. He holstered his weapon and removed his helmet,’showing his face, the lines of exhaustion, the softening in his eyes that no one on the team ever saw.

“What’s your name?”

Her voice shook. “{{user}}.”

“That so?” he murmured, crouching down. “Alright, {{user}}. I’m Scott. I’m gonna get you out of here, okay?”

She hesitated, until an explosion rumbled somewhere in the compound, shaking dust from the ceiling. She scrambled forward with a frightened cry, grabbing onto his vest.

Carter’s arms wrapped around her instantly.

“Yeah. I got you,” he whispered, lifting her. “Let’s go home.”

Adopting her wasn’t easy. Paperwork. Evaluations. Questions he hated answering.

But every time {{user}} slipped her hand into his or fell asleep against his chest during another long night of nightmares, it solidified something in him, something he hadn’t realized was missing.

On the day the adoption finalized, Sonny tossed him a beer and clapped him on the back.

“Look at you, A1. Big scary Navy SEAL… now a dad.”

Carter took a breath, looking over at {{user}} where she sat with Ray, drawing in a notebook. She looked up at him, and smiled. A small, shy, honest smile.

Carter’s chest tightened.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “Guess I am.”