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The mission was not meant to go like this.
It was meant to be quick. In and out. No casualties. No delays.
“Fucking hell.” Ghost muttered as himself and Soap ran past the gates of the compound and into the forest surrounding it. He held onto his rifle tightly, his legs burning from running full speed.
Everyone kept yelling into comms.
“Get out while you can!”
“Assess when you’re safe!”
“Run! Run!”
“Just keep going!”
Ghost decided to keep quiet on the comms, but he could hear Soap’s voice ring through the ear piece as he ran behind him.
He had to keep running. He could not die here. He had to get back home. Back to you.
You were always something that was on the back of Ghost's mind. You were the reason why Ghost completed his missions quickly and always came home early. But this mission? He wasn’t so sure…
“Where are we going LT?” Soap called out, he could hear that he was already getting tired.
‘Just shut up!’ He wanted to shout at the sergeant, but held his composure.
“Just keep running.” He grunted, he wasn’t even sure if Soap had heard him or not, but did not turn to find out.
—
Ghost slowed his running, and slumped against a nearby tree, he was so out of breath. His heart rate was high, it felt as though he was about to throw up. He looked over at Soap, whose face was red and sweaty, breathing in and out big puffs of air.
“Do you know where we are, LT?” Soap walked over to him. Ghost only grunts in reply, pulling his hand up to comms.
“Price, do you copy?” All he hears is static, he tries two more times, but there is no reply. “Guess we are on our own Sergeant.” Ghost pushes himself off the tree, walking around the area to see if he can see anything that would be useful for them.
As he walked around, he was able to be left alone with his thoughts. Glad Soap had an understanding that he needs to be left alone. All he could think about was you. He did not know when he would be able to come home now, he told you tonight. It will definitely not be tonight. He sighed, he does not have any way to contact you, and he can just think about how you would sit on the couch waiting for him.
He thought about the other times where he could not contact you and you were stuck at home thinking he was dead, waiting for Price and the rest of Task Force 141 to show up at your door with his dog tags, telling you the bad news. He remembers you telling him about how you felt, glad that he had come home anyway.
His hand unconsciously comes up to his left chest pocket, where he kept pictures of you and pictures of you both together. You had the exact same pictures with you as well.
—
Soap watched Ghost from a distance, he had noticed that whenever a mission ends up going longer than what was said, Ghost always becomes quiet, off in his own world.
Soap continued to follow Ghost as they made their way through the forest. Ghost reached into his left chest pocket, pulling out his compass without knowing the pictures he kept in there had fallen out.
Soap was about to call out, until he saw a glimpse of some of the pictures, reaching down and picking them up. There were three of them. The first picture was a picture of a person Soap did not know, the person's smile was bright, Soap recognised the background of the image. Ghost’s backyard?
He looked at the second image, his eyes widening at the sight. It was the same person, as well as Ghost in the image, Ghost with just his balaclava on and the other person planting a kiss on where his cheek would be. Soap looked closer, he could see the outer corner of Ghost's eyes creased. Ghost smiling huh? Soap smiled at the thought.
Soap’s eyes wandered to the third image that was peaking over the second one, he could see the top of the other person's head, as well as some dirty blond hair of another person. ‘Ghost’s face?’ He was about to pull the image up until he heard a voice behind him.
“Having a good look there?” Ghost spoke up. Soap turned his body around quickly.
“uh-LT!” Soap was frozen in his spot. Ghost gave him a hard stare before snatching the pictures out of Soap’s grasp. Ghost gave one last look before turning around.
Ghost looked down at the pictures, letting out a loud sigh, his fingers rubbing against the picture of your face.
“I-I’m sorry LT, I didn’t mean to-”
“That's enough. I found a way out of this forest. Made contact with Price.” Ghost started to walk forward.
—
As soon as Ghost got onto the helicopter to get back to base, he quickly made contact with you, apologising that the mission went over time, you replied with ‘that's okay’ and a ‘i have a surprise for you’. Ghost wondered what it was.
He looked around the helicopter, noticing Price giving him a wide smile.
‘The fuck?’ He thought, averting his eyes quickly.
They all stepped off the helicopter, he was ready to make his way over to his room to grab his things, till he saw his bags already packed next to the landing zone, as well as his car in the distance. ‘What the hell?’ He thought, he didn’t know this was a service they gave now. Price came up and gave him two pats on his back.
“Excited?” He questioned.
“About wha-”
“Simon!” His head whipped back around towards the voice, recognising it instantly, his eyes widened as he saw you running over to him. “Simon!”
He looked over to Price, who had a grin on his face.
“Sir?”
“Go ahead.” Price gestured to him to go towards you, Ghost had a small smile on his face as he started to walk over to your running figure.
He grunting as you jumped up onto him, your arms wrapping around his neck, as his own arms wrapping around your waist. His face instantly went into the crook of your neck.
“I missed you.” You whispered to him.
“I missed you too.” He replied, pulling his head away from your neck to look at you, you had a bright smile on your face. One of his gloved hands came up and cupped your cheek. You leaned into his touch. “I need to tell you something-”
“Hey, LT, whose this?” Soap came up to your both, Ghost looked down at you, his face holding disappointment.
“Let me guess. It's about him?” You chuckled.
“Yeah kind of.” Ghost muttered, turning his body fully to Soap. “What is it Johnny?”
“Leave them alone Soap.” Price walked up to you guys.
“John!” You smile brightly, walking up to him and giving him a quick hug.
“You knew about them?!” Soap’s eyes widened.
“Yeah?” Price gave a weird look over at the Sergeant. You let out a chuckle, moving back over to Ghost, who wrapped an arm around your shoulders.
“How about afternoon tea at our house?” You suggest, not wanting there to be any tension between anyone.
“Sounds like a plan.” Ghost agreed, before walking with you over to his car.