Episode 2 of Special Ops kicks off with a crucial meeting between Kaitlyn Meade, alias Nicole Kidman, and Joe. Aaliya, having embarked on a journey to Paris, has now settled in the bustling city of New York. Cruz, determined to establish a bond of friendship with her, has taken it upon herself to initiate the process.
Joe presses for Cruz to undergo rigorous training with her CAG team, as he desires to eliminate any potential surprises that may arise in the heat of the moment. Kaitlyn agrees, but she urges an immediate transfer of Cruz from Fort Bragg. The risk of Aaliyah and Cruz crossing paths by chance is simply too great to bear.
We are then treated to a glimpse into Joe's personal life. Her partner, Neal, a doctor by profession, faces a challenging situation at work. The doctors discover that a six-year-old patient, Maddy, is stricken with cancer. Neal, sensitive to the family's emotions, strives to present all possible options before confronting them with the bleak reality of the situation. As he breaks the heartbreaking news to the couple, he gently explains that, based on his experience, Maddy's chances of surviving the surgery are slim. The aggressive nature of the cancer gives her a mere six months to live.
However, when Neal suggests forgoing the surgery, Maddy's father reacts with fury, fists flying. While Neal understands that the surgery would only prolong Maddy's suffering, the father's emotions have blinded him to this reality.
Meanwhile, Kate, Joe's daughter, finds herself in trouble, suspended from school for assaulting a classmate. Neal confronts her angrily in the car, as Kate lashes out with the insensitive remark, "A white man like you won't understand." Joe returns home to assess the situation and provides Neal with a shoulder to lean on. Neal confesses that the toll of his job, where he witnesses the untimely deaths of most of his young patients, is immense. Yet, he finds solace in the few who do survive. Joe wraps her arms around him in a comforting embrace.
Turning her attention to her recalcitrant daughter, Joe employs a mix of tough love and understanding to set Kate straight. She urges her daughter to show some compassion and love to Neal, whose day might brighten with such a gesture.
Our attention shifts to Cruz, who is struggling to find restful sleep. In the early morning hours, she ventures out for a run, seeking solace in the solitude of the dawn. Little does she know that this peaceful moment will be shattered. Suddenly, she is abducted, her world turned upside down.
Meanwhile, Joe and Neal are enjoying some precious time together, but their phones ring in unison, shattering the moment. Duty calls, and they must answer. While their actions are indeed heroic, they are also the source of dysfunction within their family.
Cruz is subjected to brutal torture by Joe's team. She endures the worst treatment imaginable, but somehow, she perseveres. Her anger towards Joe is palpable as he explains that he wanted to test her ability to escape the clutches of the enemy if her cover were blown.
Joe mocks Cruz's life choices, informing her that her abusive partner, Edgar, is now deceased. This revelation seems to be part of her training exercise, but Cruz squirms uncomfortably in her chair. Joe is determined to push Cruz to her breaking point and gives the order to continue the torture.
Cody piles on the pressure further, asking Cruz intrusive questions that probe deep into her past. It is revealed that her father, Josecito, had no one else to care for him in the house. Cody pins her to the ground, restraining her, as the man in charge calls off the interrogation. Joe reluctantly agrees to stop when he sees that Cruz has reached her limit.
As Cody backs down, Cruz erupts in a violent fury, beating him and the other operatives with all her strength. It takes several men to pull her back as she screams in anger and pain, her rage unleashed and uncontrollable.
Joe escorts Cruz to Fort Bragg, a mission-critical location. Prior to her departure, Joe eagerly seeks Cruz's insights, hoping to glean any information she might have gleaned from Aaliyah. However, Cruz firmly shuts down the conversation, refusing to utter a word about her father. Joe presses on, explaining that Asmar's motives are purely driven by greed, devoid of any religious agenda. Despite his family's obscene wealth, they remain tight-fisted, unwilling to share their fortune with the nation.
Joe's instructions to Cruz are clear and unwavering. Once she manages to infiltrate Asmar's circle, she must be resolute, pulling the trigger without hesitation. Moreover, she must steel herself against whatever ordeals they throw at her, enduring every trial and tribulation until Joe and her team can successfully extract her.
Cruz steps inside, meeting the team she will be staying with. These are the same operatives Joe has assembled, a formidable group of professionals. Upon learning that Cruz has undergone the grueling S.E.R.E. test alone, they rally together, heading straight for the bar. There, they confront Cody and his compatriots, sparking a fierce and chaotic bar fight.
In the midst of the commotion, Cruz's phone rings. It's Aaliyah, and Cruz quickly concocts a lie, claiming to have been involved in a car accident. Aaliyah proposes a meeting for the next day, and Cruz, caught off guard, finds herself unable to refuse.
