The Former Marine

It was a quiet afternoon at Kris Jenner's house, and the Kardashian-Jenner family was gathered in the spacious living room. Kris, Kylie, Derek, and the rest of the sisters Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and Kendall were relaxing after a long day. The kids were playing in another room, keeping the adult environment quiet.

"Shall we watch something on TV?" Kim suggested, already grabbing the remote.

"Yeah, let's see what's on," Kendall said, settling into the couch.

Kylie, with her head resting on Derek's shoulder, smiled at the sight of her family together and relaxed. Derek, on the other hand, was comfortable, enjoying the rare peace of the day. They had spent the morning chasing after the kids, and now was a time to relax.

As Kim flipped through the channels, she stopped at an episode of SEAL Team.

"Oh, I've heard of that show!" Kim exclaimed, interested. "It's about special operations, right?"

Kendall nodded. "Yeah, I watch it every now and then. I hear it's pretty intense and realistic."

Derek, who had been listening to the conversation until then, lifted his head slightly, recognizing the title. He glanced at the screen, where the episode showed a SEAL team preparing for a high-risk mission.

"I've heard of that show too," he said casually, catching everyone's attention in the room. "Some of my old teammates mentioned that SEAL Team is one of the most realistic, at least when it comes to special operations life."

Kylie looked at him in surprise. "Really? I thought all those action shows were a little over the top."

Derek smiled. "A lot of them are, but this one takes a different approach. Sure, it's still a show, so there's dramatization, but they try to capture a lot of the real aspects of SEAL operations and the day-to-day life of the SEALs."

Khloe asked curiously, "What do you think they portrayed well? Is there anything you saw that reminded you of your own missions?"

Derek thought for a moment, staring at the screen, where the characters were preparing to go out on a night mission. He remembered many similar nights.

"The preparation and camaraderie between the team members is very true to life. When you spend so much time with a small group, in life-or-death situations, those bonds become unbreakable. You trust these guys with your life, and they do the same with you. That's something SEAL Team captures so well."

"So would you say that team spirit is the most important thing in operations like these?" Kendall asked, always curious about Derek's experiences.

"Absolutely," Derek replied. "Without complete trust in your teammates, a mission can fail before it even begins. And it's not just about the battlefield, it's about knowing that when you come home, someone is there to support you, physically and emotionally."

Kourtney, who was quieter, watched the scene on TV. "And those rescue and infiltration missions they do… have you ever done anything like that?"

Derek gave her an enigmatic smile, as he always did when the questions got too close to sensitive areas of his career. "I've been on a few similar missions, but of course, mine were a little less… cinematic."

Kylie glanced at him sideways, curious. "You never really told us much about your missions. I know there's a lot you can't talk about, but do you think this show reflects what it was really like for you?"

Derek sighed and laughed a little. "Well, there are some things they get right. The adrenaline, the mental preparation, and even the quiet moments that come right before something big happens. But there are also a lot of things they tone down or make more dramatic for TV."

Khloe laughed, knowing how much television loves to exaggerate things. "I think if it was exactly like real life, it would be a little boring for the audience."

Derek nodded in agreement. "Exactly. They capture the essence, but in real life, most of the job is long hours of preparation, intelligence, and moments of pure tension that aren't as glamorous as they seem on TV."

Kendall, ever curious, asked another question: "But what about the emotional part? They show that even outside of missions, SEALs have a hard time letting go of the job. Is that something you've dealt with as well?"

Derek paused, thinking. "Yeah, that part is very real, too. When you've been in a high-pressure environment for so long, it's hard to let go. It takes a while to get back to 'normal,' if you can call it that."

Kylie squeezed Derek's hand, showing her silent support. She knew Derek carried a lot of memories and experiences that he rarely talked about, and she respected that.

"What I find interesting," Derek continued, "is that they show the impact on the operators' families, and that's very real, too. The people who are sitting at home, waiting, always worrying...they're hurting. And the operators know that."

Kris, who had been quiet until then, made a heartfelt comment. "It must be really hard on the families, especially not knowing what's going on or where you are."

Derek nodded. "Yeah, and that's why so many operators end up emotionally withdrawing. It's not because they don't care, it's because it's hard to share what happens on missions. Some things are just too heavy to bring home."

While everyone in the room sat in silence, absorbing what Derek had said, the episode of SEAL Team continued on the screen. The team on TV was in full action, engaging in intense combat. Even though it was entertainment for most, there was a depth to Derek's conversation that made it clear that, for him, this was a reality he had lived.

Kendall, always the curious one, smiled. "Well, next time I watch this show, I'll remember to ask you what's real and what's not."

Derek laughed. "Ask away. But remember, it's a TV show after all. Reality is much quieter... and much more dangerous."

The episode ended with a successful SEAL team mission, and everyone in the room seemed more reflective after their conversation with Derek. The tone of the afternoon had changed somewhat, but there was still a sense of connection and deeper understanding of the world Derek had lived in for so long.

Kylie, lying against Derek, whispered, "It's good to hear you talk about it, even if it's just a little bit. It helps me understand more of who you are."

Derek smiled, kissing the top of her head. "You already know more than anyone needs to know."

As the TV screen faded to black and the sound of children's laughter and chatter filled the space around them, Derek realized how lucky he was to be surrounded by this new life, so far removed from the old one, but just as meaningful.

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