Disavowed: A Call of Duty Fanfiction

Chapter 25: The Return

Price couldn't fight the anxious knot in his stomach while he waited in Moscow. Peace talks would begin soon and hopefully things would be alright. But, of course, the peace talks were not the only thing on his troubled mind.

Vorshevsky walked by and took a seat beside him. "You've looked downcast since the mine," he said.

John nodded solemnly. "Yeah... I left someone behind I didn't want to leave."

The President folded his hands in his lap. "Talking to your friends, it sounded like she was important to you."

"She was..." He sighed. "I lost her before, I just got her back and now she's gone again... I'm not sure anymore if I'm hurt or mad."

"I understand the feeling," he replied. "I lost my wife some years ago. We were on and off for a while after Alena was born, but finally losing her forever, especially when things were getting good again... it was hard."

Price felt deep sympathy for the man. "I'm sorry. That's awful."

Vorshevsky smiled. "I've had many good days since her, though. I have no doubt you can recover, too. You're strong, and you must persevere."

John heard his cell phone ring and gave an excusing nod to Vorshevsky. His brows set when he saw the number. "You're shitting me," he murmured. "Jessica..."

"Hey," she said. "I'm learning the hard way that Siberia is a long way from Moscow. Any chance I can get a lift?"

He gritted his teeth. "Say you're sorry first."

Jessica was quiet on the other end for a second or two. "... I'm sorry?"

"Like you mean it."

She sighed. "I'm sorry you worry about me too much," she teased.

"Jess..."

"Fine," she droned. "I'm sorry I scared you. Now can I please get a bird out here? It's colder than a witch's tit out here."

He laughed breathlessly. "Alright. I'll talk to Sandman, see what he can do."

"Alright," she said. "I love you, I'll see you soon."

"Love you, too. Bye." John hung up and sighed, head bowed.

Vorshevsky almost looked betrayed. "... was that her?"

"Yeah. She made it out of the mine."

"Oh, so my woman can die of breast cancer, but yours can just walk out of a collapsed mine. Alright," laughed the President.

Price shrugged, walking after Vorshevsky down the hall. "Hey, it's a shock to me, too, mate."

The helicopter touched down and Sandman walked off, shaking his head. "I'd say it's bullshit- it's gotta be bullshit!- but I've seen everything now, so what do I know..."

Truck himself looked unimpressed. "I'm still convinced I'm having the most fucked up dream I've ever had..." he said. "Skinwalker goes into a blind rage, kills Ultranationalist forces, comes out of collapsed mine unscathed? Sounds like a headline from Babylon Bee if you ask me."

"You're the ones who asked how I didn't die!" retorted Galaxy, shifting as she came skipping out of the aircraft. "Don't bitch when you get the answer you asked for."

Price was standing there with his arms folded across his chest. Sandman gave his shoulder a tap as he walked by, and once the others were gone, it was just him and Jessica, who he stopped at arm's length before she could get too close. He was smirking, but there was a shadow of exasperation in his eyes. "When are you going to stop scaring me?" he rumbled.

She tilted her head back with a grin. "Well, when are you going to stop worrying about me?"

"Never."

"Then there's your answer." She crept closer and kissed the tip of his nose apologetically.

He wrapped his arms around her with a deep sigh. "How'd you survive that, eh?" he whispered. "That whole thing came down on top of you. People don't make it out of that."

Jessica closed her eyes. "By the sheer force of rage, I made it fall everywhere but on me."

"I'm serious, Jess."

"I honestly don't really know," she said. "I've felt a new power coursing through my veins since my return... like anger but stronger. I went blind while chewing up those Russians, kind of like a white haze, so I don't know exactly what happened, I just know when I crawled out of that mine, everyone else was dead and the mine, literally, had fallen around me, not on me."

Price chuckled. "Maybe you did survive by the sheer force of rage," he said. "We saw a white flash, though... maybe it was you?"

She rested her forehead on his chest. "Whatever it was, it's made me kind of tired... you in the mood for a nap? 'Cause I certainly am."

He smiled, twining his fingers with hers. "Absolutely, I'm in the mood for a nap." John led her inside, only for Jessica to be attacked by Yuri and Soap in hair ruffles and shoulder punches.

"What the fuck, mate?" guffawed Soap.

"They all thought you died again."

She chuckled. "Wouldn't be the first time..."

"Or the second," said Soap.

"Or the third," said Price.

Yuri cocked a brow. "The fourth?"

"The fifth," she said flatly, covering her eyes in what must have been embarrassment. "Can we bark about this later? I need some rest."

Soap saw their intertwined fingers and scoffed. "Sure, that's all you want, 'rest'," he said.

"You offering to join us, Stud Muffin?"

His face turned indignant. "ALRIGHT, alright, i hear ya," he growled. "Go take your nap."

As they walked away, Yuri locked eyes with Soap and blinked slowly. "... Stud Muffin?"

"Shut up, Yuri."

John settled down behind her in the dignitary suite and draped an arm over her side. "Seriously, I cannot wait for the day you stop scaring the hell out of me."

She kissed his hand and yawned, closing her eyes. "Once we cap Makarov, I'm sure that day will come." Jessica cuddled closer, feeling his abs tense up when she pressed against him. "Everything will be okay from now on, I promise," she whispered.

He grinned softly and kissed her cheek. "You better keep that promise," he said.

"I will." She rolled over in his arms and laid her head on his chest. "I love you."

"I love you, too." He looked down at her as she fell asleep, and felt a warmth swelling inside him; protectiveness and affection. John held her tighter and closed his eyes feeling himself drifting off with her.