Chapter Text
The sound of the jet under my feet is deafening as I watch the lieutenant pace back and forth in front of the team. I can’t hear what he’s yelling but everyone is staring mesmerized at whatever it is he is saying. All I can focus on is the skull mask that blocks his face, concealing the man beneath. The sergeant seems to be fixated as well. His blue eyes flick to me as if he can sense my stare. I quickly drop my gaze to my M4 tightly gripped in my hands.
The entire plane shifts as it lands on the ground and the engine is cut off. My ears ring against the change of volume and I follow suit as my team rises to their feet in unison. “The goal is taking him in alive, let’s move out,” Lt. Ghost orders before taking up the head of the retrieval team.
I flick on my night vision and take up the back of the line. I swap out my M4 for my sniper and scope out the area ahead. Having my sniper in my hand soothes my racing heart and I feel my brain shut off. Nothing else matters but protecting my team and getting this mission done. I can picture my family's faces as I walk through the door, one more week and I get to go home. All of this will be worth it, one more week and the nightmare of this war is behind me.
Our target building comes into view and I take cover behind a large rock before scoping out the perimeter. “Armed guards Northwest and Southeast,” I report.
“Are they in range?” Lt. Ghost's deep voice comes over my earpiece.
“Yes, sir.”
“Fire when ready,” he orders and I feel the hair on my arm stand on edge. I double check my suppressor before taking a deep breath and firing two shots, dropping two of the guards before repeating the execution on the other two on the south east of the building.
“Stay back and cover,” Sergeant Soap orders, his voice coming out right next to me and not through my earpiece. I nod and keep my focus on the perimeter, preparing to drop any hostiles that come into view. I steal a glance at the sergeant before he takes off after the team that’s already 100 meters ahead of us.
“I got your back,” I whisper knowing he didn’t hear me. I clear my mind and just fire at will every time an enemy pokes his head out or gets too close to one of my guys. It’s a surreal feeling knowing this is my last mission before I’m discharged. 10 years of service for the armed forces, it’s time to hang up the sniper and live a new life.
“Target secured, let’s get the fuck out of here,” the LTs voice comes through and I count each body that exits the building. I wait until everyone has run by me before leaving my position to follow. It’s not until I’m buckled and in the air that I allow myself to relax and breathe.
“Good work team,” Sergeant praises and I lean my head back and close my eyes. Freedom.
2 Years Later
The smell of coffee wakes me from my sleep and I stretch my muscles before pushing the blankets off my body. “Good morning beautiful,” Dallas greets with a steaming mug.
“Thank you,” I murmur before taking a sip.
“Are we going for a run later?”
I hum against my coffee and he flashes me a bright smile before leaving me alone in the room. I glance around and stare at the safe positioned in the corner. I haven’t touched my sniper since being discharged but Dallas has been helping me stay in shape, as best he can.
A knock on the door forces my feet to move towards the living room and my heart starts to race. I wipe my sweaty hands on my cotton sleep shorts and press my back against the wall. “Can I help you?” I hear Dallas’ confused tone and find myself frowning.
“I’m looking for Sloan Brig,” an all too familiar voice sounds out and I feel my entire body tense. I haven’t heard that voice since the last day of my deployment.
“She’s here…” Dallas drifts off and I can sense him looking down towards our bedroom. “Can I ask why you’re looking for her?”
“That’s classified,” Sergeant John MacTavish says and I feel my stomach turn. I take a steadying breath and walk the rest of the way to the living room. Soap’s blue eyes land on me and I don’t need to read his mind to know why he’s at my doorstep.
“Sergeant, this is a pleasant surprise,” I force the words. “Please come in,” I gesture towards the couch and watch Soap walk in and take a seat. I try to keep my shaking to a minimum as I sit on the armchair across from him. “Dallas, can you get our guest a cup of coffee,” I ask.
“Of course,” he says slowly before receding into the kitchen.
“Sloan…” Soap sighs and runs his hand through his dark brown hair that’s still in the mohawk style cut he’s been sporting since I’ve known him.
Dallas approaches and offers Soap the cup. Dallas’ eyes flick to me and I give him a small nod. “I’ll just run to the store…”
“Thank you,” I say with a small smile. We watch him leave and it’s not until the click of the door does Soap look back at me. I run my fingers through my hair and force my eyes to remain on the sergeant.
“Why are you here?” I ask my voice quieter than I intended it to be.
“You’re my best sniper—“
“Was,” I cut in and he draws his lips in a thin line giving me a short nod.
“I wouldn’t be here if I had any other options.”
I drop my head in my hands and take a deep breath. “10 years Soap,” I sigh and force my eyes back to him. “I’ve done my time.”
“I know, you did everything right. But I need the best team I can get on this, please. Lieutenant Riley agrees, we need you Sloan.” The mention of Ghost sends chills up my spine and the image of his skeleton mask appears in my mind.
“I haven’t touched my rifle in two years,” I say quietly, shaking my head to get the image of Ghost out of my head.
Soap sets an envelope on the table between us and I stare at the classified stamp. “I leave for Mexico in the morning, the address on where to meet me is in the folder…I really hope to see you there.” With that Soap pushes off the couch. I rise to my feet and walk him towards the door. He pauses and spins around forcing me to stumble back slightly. “Please, we need you.”
“I’ll think about it,” I agree and he nods before leaving. I shut the door behind me and lean against it feeling lightheaded. The sound of my phone ringing makes me jump and I run towards the bedroom and my heart stops when I see the caller ID.
Simon Riley
I stare at the screen until the call ends. The room feels too quiet and the screen lights up again. “Fuck,” I huff and grab my phone. “What,” I snap into the phone.
“That’s no way to greet an old friend,” Ghost’s deep voice sounds out on the other end of the phone.
“I wouldn’t consider us friends,” I snap and run my hand through my hair.
“Soap told me he paid you a visit, should I be expecting you?”
“I wouldn’t hold your breath,” I say before ending the call and tossing the phone on the bed.
“You’re going back aren’t you?” Dallas’ voice makes me jump. He leans against the door, his lean frame only blocking half the exit.
My response freezes on my tongue as my eyes shift to the safe in the corner of the room. “I don’t want too,” I manage to get out. “I’ve served my time, I—I have too,” I sigh, plopping down in the bed.
Dallas moves to sit next to me and his hand strokes my back sending waves of comfort washing through my stressed body. “You can say no.”
I close my eyes and brown eyes stare back at me, surrounded by a skeleton mask. I force my eyes back open and look at the man next to me. His face, free of any blemish or mask, no idea what war is like, just an average man with an average life, exactly what I needed fresh out of the armed services. Two years with no gunfire, no drama, no death, a life of contentment.
“I'm not going,” I decide and Dallas plants a small kiss on my lips.
“Good, I bought fresh Haddock for fish and chips tonight,” he says excitedly and clapping his hands together.
“Sounds great,” I say with a smile and watch him skip out of our bedroom. My feet move on their own accord to the safe. Beep. Beep. Beep. The beeps echo through the room as I enter my code. Click. I hold my breath and open the door. My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I brush my fingers along the steel of the rifle. The moment my hand wraps around the gun it’s like a switch is turned on, the part of me I’ve locked away for two years emerges and it’s like I’ve never let it go.
“Fuck.”