Star-Crossed Lovers

Coming Home Pt. 1

A few weeks passed by. The two men were on the sofa, watching Mister Roger's Neighborhood. Destiny napped next to them. "We need more shows like this one. Pure goodness," Simon said with a content smirk. "Aye, we do." A comfortable silence filled the room, except for the TV.

"Hey, Simon, I havnae heard from Gaz in awhile. Have you?" Soap looked over at his partner. "You're right, Johnny. It sure has been awhile. I wonder if he's just been busy with missions." "I'll text 'im." The Scot grabbed his phone and texted Kyle.

Soap: "Hey, Gaz, y'alright?"

He was left on read. Usually, Gaz answers quickly. But now he wasn't.

"Well, shite. He isnae responding." "Text Price." "On it."

Soap: "Hey Cap is Gaz doing okay? We haven't heard from him in awhile."

A few seconds later, Price responded.

Price (or OldFart, on Soap's phone): I'm sorry, John. But Gaz died during a mission. I meant to tell you earlier."

John's face went blank and he turned off his phone. He stared straight ahead. "Johnny, luv what's wrong?" Ghost asked him. "... Nothing's wrong. I dinnae ken what you're yappin' aboot." He answered in a monotone voice. "Bullshit. What happened?"

The Scot stood up and walked into the guest bedroom. He opened the closet, where his de-stress room was. He grabbed the noise-cancelling headphones and laid his head on the pillow. Then he covered himself in the weighted blanket.

Simon grabbed Soap's phone off the couch and read his text to Price. "Oh, fuck me," he whispered as he placed a hand over his mouth. He covered Destiny in her baby blanket and walked into the guest bedroom.

He sat by the closet and looked at John, who was staring up at the fairy lights on the ceiling. The Brit placed his hands over his eyes and sobbed. "Why is my life full of death?!" He struggled to say, as his breathing became shaky and uneven.

Soap looked over at his partner and his eyes went wide. He quickly threw off the headphones and crawled over to him. "Hey, hey, Simon, talk t' me. Tell me hoo you're feelin'." "I – gasp! – I – gasp! – I can't...!" Ghost struggled to say, as he clutched the top of his head.

"Hun, you're hyperventilating. Please, take deep breaths. Can ye do that fer me? In through yer nose... Oot through yer mouth." "I-I can't...!"

Soap reached out his hand. "Don't touch!" "Okay, okay. I won't touch you. Just, take yer time."

It took a little over an hour for Simon to calm down. He wore himself out, so he fell asleep on the floor. "Oh, Simon, I'm so—" Suddenly, the weight of the situation sunk in and John started quietly crying.

Destiny walked into the guest room to find her Papa laying on the ground, snoring lightly, and her Dada crying next to him. "Dada? Papa? What's wrong?" She asked as she walked up to Soap. "Oh – sniff – hi, Dezzi. We're fine. Just gettin' our feelings oot."

"Why are ye cryin', Dada?" The Scot wiped his eyes. "Oh, um..." *What do I say? I can't just tell her Gaz died... Can I?* "Um... Uncle Kyle went away on vacation, Dezzi." Pause.

"When will he be back?" The little girl sat in his lap. "Um... He won't be back." "Why?" Destiny looked up at her Dada. "Well, sweetie, some people go on vacation... And they never come back." The Scot said, as he got choked up. "Oh... Is he happy?" "I-I hope so..."