Wish The Fight Away

**Wish The Fight Away** is the seventh episode of the first season of the Paramount+ espionage thriller *Special Ops: Lioness*. It aired on August 27, 2023.

## Synopsis

While shopping in Manhattan for the wedding, Aaliyah and Cruz get closer. Kate returns home only to say goodbye to her mom once again. Joe guides Cruz through internal struggle and doubt in completing the mission.

## Plot

Joe, Kaitlyn, and Westfield run point from the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. There, Joe gets word from Bobby that Cruz is on the move in the city. Joe orders them to come back to base, so they can set up in country. She'll get someone else to cover. Joe then calls Kyle, who assures her everything went as planned regarding the safe house break-in. He's now headed to Puerto Vallarta. However, Joe needs part two of her favor. Her lioness is on the move, and she needs Kyle to track her. After hanging up with Kyle, Joe asks if they have any gear stashed in the consulate in Palma. Unfortunately, Kaitlyn reveals it's all in Madrid. Kaitlyn suggests she keep her gear on a boat and rent a house with a dock. Westfield proposes giving CIFA a courtesy call, but Kaitlyn believes that if they tell Spanish military, then they'll have to follow NATO protocol, and then it is going to end up reaching joint chiefs, thus forcing them back in a room in the White House with a senator, telling them how to fight a war. Westfield argues that they've already lost control, but Kaitlyn proceeds with her plan, though he warns Kaitlyn that her actions will lead her to a congressional hearing, but Joe backs Kaitlyn's move, as there's no way to safely abort the mission. The only way out for Cruz is mission success or mission failure. That said, Westfield wants Kaitlyn on the ground in Mallorca as well, so it Will at least appear they tried to stop it. He then puts in a call for a destroyer to be parked near Palma.

Cruz and Aaliyah make their way through New York City, where they must shop with urgency, as they soon leave for Mallorca, though Aaliyah isn't sure exactly when, explaining that it's the "Arab way." Marriage is a contract that has already been signed, and the wedding is a celebration. Her father worries that she or her mother will be kidnapped. The oil business is a dirty game, and it happens enough that the worry is real. So the date announced is never the actual date. For Aaliyah, it's perfect. She plans nothing, only having to show up for various parties before going to the beach, having a feast and going home. Cruz then asks if she likes having her own driver, but Aaliyah has no choice in the matter. Not to mention, she doesn't know how to drive. Though, she does enjoy the comfort that comes with having Asif around to protect her. Cruz claims that no one would try to kidnap her in New York, which Aaliyah remarks is Cruz naivety. In Beverly Hills, if they see you with valuables, they follow you home, rob you, rob your house, and if you're pretty enough, they take you too. She then tells Asif to take them to Mendels, which is part of a special world she intends to expose Cruz to.

Cruz and Aaliyah arrive at Mendels, a high class luxury designer store, where they drink wine and shop for clothing. Aaliyah asks Cruz what she thought about this morning, as it's all she's been thinking about. Cruz has been thinking about it as well, admittedly. In nothing but her underwear, Aaliyah calls Cruz over, and she proceeds to kiss her stomach until being interrupted by one of the store hands. They agree that this is not the place to figure this out. Fortunately, Aaliyah knows of another place where they can. Unbeknownst to the two of them, they're being tracked by Kyle, who maintains a safe distance.

Cruz and Aaliyah are escorted to an apartment building, where they proceed to have sex once they're finally alone, all the while Kyle listens and continues to maintain a safe distance.

At The Farm, a CIA facility in Williamsburg, Virginia, Joe informs Bobby they'll be flying out of FBO at Dulles, meaning they're on their own again. Joe then gets a call from Kyle, who reveals Cruz checked into the Pendry and has progressed her relationship with Aaliyah in a more intimate manner.

As Aaliyah sleeps, Cruz sneaks into the bathroom and begins to cry while texting Joe, who intends to send Cruz to Kyle's room, as he's two floors below them. Joe then tells Kaitlyn that she needs a chopper to meet with Kyle and Cruz.

Aaliyah awakens and finds Cruz fully dressed and on her way out the door. She claims that she needs to take a walk to process what happened. Aaliyah ask her if she's coming back, but Cruz isn't sure, saying that what they have has no future, but Aaliyah refuses to accept this. Nonetheless, Cruz makes her exit.

Cruz takes the elevator two floors down and joins Kyle in his room. Joe arrives shortly thereafter and asks Cruz what happened. She reveals they had sex and that she's not trained for this. Her emotions are getting the better of her, and she's beginning to fall in love with Aaliyah. Cruz doesn't think she can go through with the mission, but Joe attempts to comfort her. Joe knows all about Cruz's past, how she has no friends or family, and how she gave herself to the marines to fulfill her emptiness and give her a purpose. Unfortunately, none of that makes her feel loved or wanted. And Aaliyah made Cruz feel that, but Joe tells Cruz not to delude herself into thinking that Aaliyah loves her back. She's simply Aaliyah's last hoorah before she assumes the role of baby maker and baby raiser. Aaliyah will soon be going to a compound in Riyadh, where she will stay covered in a burqa to get pregnant and raise children. Cruz has been to war and killed many a father, and she will do it again. What's different about this one is he is financially responsible for every conflict in the Middle East since 9/11. Neutralizing this man is the equivalent of blowing up the only bank accessible to terrorists. They lose their ability to borrow money, move it, and launder it. Joe assures Cruz that Aaliyah is using her as a last attempt at feeling free, and Cruz is more than welcome to make her feel that, but she will do so with the knowledge that making contact and eliminating the target, Amrohi, will break Aaliyah. Joe tells Cruz that this will all be over in a week, and she just needs seven more days from Cruz, who agrees to pretend further, through she doesn't think Aaliyah is.

Shortly after Cruz leaves to reconvene with Aaliyah, Kyle returns to the hotel room, where he and Joe listen to the audio of Cruz's ongoing conversation with Aaliyah, who asks what she did wrong. Cruz insists she didn't do anything wrong, but she is getting married, to which Aaliyah replies that she's getting traded. Cruz turns off her audio transmitter, preventing Joe and Kyle from listening in as she explains that she can't go with Aaliyah to Mallorca, as she doesn't want to see Aaliyah's father give her away to someone who she doesn't want to be with. Aaliyah explains that Cruz won't get to see that no matter what, as her father can't be seen out in public. She only gets to see him in Riyadh, meaning he won't be at the wedding, and so Cruz turns the transmitter back on. She tells Aaliyah to cancel the wedding, but if she does so, she'll be killed. Having gotten to know Cruz, Aaliyah says that it's worse to feel love just once; it's better to never feel it. She leaves for Riyadh in the morning, where there will be 500 people at the wedding, and no friends, unless Cruz comes, an invitation that she accepts, which pleases Aaliyah, who kisses her on the forehead.

The following morning, Cruz meets with Joe and Kyle at the heliport, and the trio make their way back to the Farm, where they debrief with Kaitlyn. Joe asks if she's blown and why she shut off her transmitter. Cruz admits to thinking about telling Aaliyah the truth, but she decided against it after Aaliyah said her father wouldn't be at the wedding. Kaitlyn questions why Cruz didn't stay with her. Cruz explains that she can't sleep beside the woman whose father she's supposed to kill. She admits that she's out of her league. Kaitlyn questions why Cruz didn't fly to the wedding with her, but Aaliyah is going to Riyadh first. Going under is always stressful and the lines of reality always get blurred, especially for someone with no training. Kaitlyn proposes that Cruz doesn't show for the wedding and abortion the mission. They lose the op but save the program. Cruz insists all she needs is sleep to get her head back. Joe tells Cruz to remember what she's fighting. To give her time to think, Joe says Cruz will miss her flight and take a ride with them to Barcelona, where she will travel on her own from there with Kyle shadowing her. Joe asks Cruz if she's ever been in a battle that she didn't think she would survive and fear wanted to curl her in a ball and try to wish the fight away, but she fought through it, and this is no different. The only difference is how heavily the guilt weights. She advises Cruz to get some sleep and a shower because they leave at 1500. After Cruz leaves, Kaitlyn confesses that she doesn't think Cruz can be glued back together, but Joe believes otherwise. All the same, a missile strike is the surest option. Joe disagrees with the decision, but will do so if necessary. But first, Joe will return home, as Kate gets back from the hospital.

Randy attempts to comfort Cruz, telling her how she has the most difficult job in the entire unit. Cruz feels she messed up, but Randy insists she on the right path and directs her towards the bunks.

Joe returns home just in time to greet Kate and Neal. They help her out the van and into her wheelchair. Charlie waits at Kate's bedside and asks a number of questions regarding her injury. Hopefully, Kate should be able to use crutches in a week and walk in a month. Joe and Neal then help her into her bed, at which point, Joe asks for a moment alone with Kate. She asks Kate to forgive her for not being here this week, as her job is calling her elsewhere to save lives. While she loves her father, Kate would prefer if her mother was helping her use the bathroom and bathe her. Joe understands that this job should be handled by a woman, which is why a nurse will come to stay with them for the time being, which only upsets Kate further, though she asks if it's dangerous where her mother is going, which it is. She could be killed, but Kate asks if she's going there to kill someone else. Joe says she can't answer, but that was an answer in itself. Joe makes Kate promise not to speak of this to anyone else. She promises and asks her mother if she's scared, which she is, and she promises that she'll try her best to come back. On her way out, Kate tells Joe that she loves her.

Charlie checks on Kate and asks why she's crying. Meanwhile, Neal follows Joe upstairs, where she is in tears over the choices she's made. Joe insists that this is the last mission and that she's putting in for a desk job, as she can't do this anymore. Neal encourages her to think about her decision a bit more, but she's already decided. She then kisses Neal and tells him ghat she loves him, leading him to deduce that Joe's mission is a dangerous one. On her way out, Joe sees Charlie crying on the steps. She's crying because everyone else is, but Joe assures her that everything is fine and that they're just happy that Kate is home, thus uplifting Charlie.

Kaitlyn returns home to say goodbye to Errol, saying that he deserves a proper goodbye. They have so thoroughly messed up the political structure of the gulf states. The leaders they placed in power need them to be the enemy of the people. Unrest in the regions, protect people in power, and they need them to stay in power. Iran is what happens when they don't. Errol fears that Kaitlyn is on the verge of removing the financial center of that unrest. And as tragic and awful as their attacks may be, they worry that the unknown is worse. They sit on the precipice of a third World War every day, and none of the global powers that be, including their own, have the leadership to navigate them through that without nuclear war. The sooner they get their energy from anything besides oil, the better chance they have not exterminating themselves, which brings a tear to Kate's eyes. He tells her that morality doesn't factor in at all. And at the end of the day, her job is to make sure the textbooks aren't in Russian. Errol warns Kaitlyn to be careful, as everyone will be watching. "Careful is why they send me," Kaitlyn says, before departing for a week's time.

The team arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport, where they all board a private jet. Joe checks Cruz's mental state and instructs her to watch news footage, surveillance footage, and satellite imagery of every single terrorist attack they can conclusively link Amrohi to. It's an eight-hour flight, and she's not going to finish it, but Joe wants her to watch it nonetheless because she needs Cruz to become the same marine who volunteered to join the lioness program.

Bobby has surveillance over the house she believes to occupied by Amrohi. Her eyes on the ground count a security team of eight doing the advance. Their recon is staged in a house about half a mile away, but Bobby wants to get them out of there, fearing his team is already marked as a sniper's nest. Should they need to intercept, the best approach is a disaster, as it sits on a peninsula and the shoreline is a cliff. However, there is a stairwell that leads up from the beach. They haven't cracked that yet but they're working on it. Infil and exfil will most likely be from the water. Kaitlyn instructs them to set up base off a yacht, something that's fast to insert. Bobby adds that the Roosevelt does have a crack team of PJs assigned to it. They could insert and yank them from the water on the exfil.

While Two Cups and Randy ravage the food, Cruz watches the video of every terrorist attack linked to Amrohi.

## Cast

* Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos
* Dave Annable as Neal McNamara
* Jill Wagner as Bobby
* LaMonica Garrett as Tucker
* James Jordan as Two Cups
* Austin Hébert as Randy
* Jonah Wharton as Tex
* Stephanie Nur as Aaliyah
* Hannah Love Lanier as Kate McNamara
* Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade
* Martin Donovan as Errol Meade
* Thad Luckinbill as Kyle
* Celestina Harris as Charlie

Co-starring* Richard Haddad as Asif
* Maddie Moore as Hillary
* Jacob Heimer as Analyst
* Michele Ammon as Mindels Manager