But the important consideration, the only consideration right now, was that Blake was safe, and that he was on his way home. Tensions had been so strained between them lately. The elder Murdock wanted desperately to close up that gulf between them, to make things right again.

He knew now that the way to accomplish that was to stop trying to ride Blake about his career decision, to let him go his own way. That was the hard part about being a parent, of course, watching the kids go their own ways, watching them make mistakes.

Or watching them do the right thing, even when Dad thought it was wrong. Murdock grinned. It was obvious that Blake Murdock had found his place with the SEALS.