Operation: Loose Ends

For whom the bell tolls

How was I supposed to react? How did he expect me to react? Did he expect me to look shocked? Did he expect me...to break down in tears? Did he expect my breath to catch in my throat? To look up at him with a confused glance after examining those pictures? Those tell-tale pictures of Soap and...Price...? Well, I hoped he got what he wanted.

I gulped as I placed the open folder down on the table. It just...It couldn't be. Soap would NEVER...Ghost was his best friend. It simply made no sense. And then, Price. Price was dead, for Christ's sake. He was killed in Operation Kingfish, in 2013. I knew that. I was the one who comforted Soap upon his return home, to Credenhill. He had stayed at our place that night. Simon had thought it best, as his best friend healed from his wounds. I remembered he was in a hysteria. Screaming, crying...he exhausted himself to sleep that night. That night had been a long one for us. I hadn't had so much as a shut-eye.

"With all due respect, sir..." I began, shaking my head. I could feel his gaze on me, and I couldn't care. I just...couldn't stop gazing at Soap's photo. There's no way... "Your intel must be mistaken."

"How so, Lieutenant?" his deep voice reached my ears.

"...Captain Price is dead." I finally looked at him. The bastard had lit up a cigar, almost oblivious to the bomb shell of an intel he had just dropped on me. "He died in Operation Kingfish, in 2013. He stayed behind to ensure the safe evacuation of his team."

"...I guess the term 'Classified' means nothing to a Task Force member when it comes to family." He almost sneered. "That mission was supposed to be confidential."

"Ghost brought Soap back to our place after they returned to Credenhill, to allow him to recover from his injuries." I shook my head. "He was inconsolable. The two had an incredible bond."

"So I heard." He let out a puff of smoke. "But he is alive, Lieutenant. I saw him with my very own eyes." Before my questioning glance, he continued. "4 days ago, I led a mission with your husband and Captain MacTavish to storm a Gulag to the east of Petrovpavlosk. We had acquired intel that there was only 1 thing Makarov hated more than Americans. Prisoner 627. We thought that freeing that prisoner would bring Makarov out from hiding. But, well...things didn't go to plan." He paused for a few moments, letting the cigar fall down to the floor before he put it out with his foot. "When MacTavish broke into his cell, we discovered it was indeed Captain Price. Alive, and ready to fight. We got him out, and he was reinstated into Task Force 141 soon after." 4 days ago...the same day I received that message from Simon... my heart ached at the memory.

"He was imprisoned for almost 3 years..." I nodded in realization. "I can only imagine what Soap must've felt." Soap...what truly happened at the safehouse? You'd never do such a thing... "Why though..." I shook my head as I crossed my arms over my chest. "Why would they do such a thing? Ghost...Ghost was his best friend..." What aren't you telling me, Shepherd...?

"They must've tortured Price relentlessly." He shrugged. "He must've gone insane. But now, he's become a danger. That's why I need you. MacTavish won't be expecting you. You'll have the element of surprise in your favor." He gave me a small smile. "Meet me here in one hour. We'll be going through the mission details. And...I'll see to it that you'll go alone, as you requested."

"Thank you, General." I gave him a thankful glance. "I'll think over what materials I might need." And with that, I began to walk away, my mind muddled with troubling thoughts. But one thing was certain. There was something...off about Shepherd's version of the story. Though I could believe that Price was alive...I just couldn't imagine the thought of Soap killing Simon. No...those two had gone through thick and thin together. He'd never do such a thing. Soap was innocent, that much I knew.