The Ghost and the Phoenix

Part Nineteen

Simon pulled his shirt on, covering the fresh Phoenix tattoo on the left side of his chest. A magnificent beast of flames and feathers.

He stared out the window as he slowly buttoned the shirt closed, tucking it into his trousers before doing up his belt. Reaching for his tunic, there was a knock at the door.

'Come in.'

Soap stepped into the room, looking out of place in his dress uniform.

'Ready to go Lt?'

Simon turned to face Soap, fixing the last of the buttons on the tunic. Taking a couple of steps before pausing, he looked down at the balaclava that had been thrown onto the foot of his bed.

He stared at it for a minute, then continued to walk past Soap and out the door, leaving it behind.

......

Simon watched the soldier place the folded Australian flag into his hands. The coarse fabric heavy in it's symbolism. König appeared in front of him, placing Mel's dog-tags on top.

He looked over at her portrait standing at the end of the casket surrounded by flowers. Her green eyes were filled with mischief, her smile enhancing her beauty. Simon clenched his jaw, a lump forming in his throat as memories flooded his mind.

'When I first met Captain Carter, she had gone through hell and back. Such a tiny thing to be sent to work with a bunch of degenerates like us.' König's cloth fluttered in the breeze as he delivered the eulogy.

'She was the little sister I always wanted... my Little Bird.' He took a deep breath. 'Over the years, Mel went from strength to strength, but until she was placed with the 141, I had never truly seen her happy. Here she found her home. The place she belonged and the person she belonged with.'

Letting out a shaky breath, lip trembling, Simon finally allowed the tears to flow unchecked. Soap placed his hand on Simon's shoulder in support.

'She loved you Lieutenant, right to the end.' König nodded, the first signs of emotion creeping into his voice. 'You should've had more time, but this game we're in doesn't play fair.' He paused for a moment before looking up into the sky. 'So Little Bird.... Simon's Phoenix.....Fly high.'

Four jets approached as the congregation watched below. When they were overhead, one of the jets banked away from the rest, honouring Mel by leaving an empty space in the formation.

Once the flyover was finished, the team including König, carried Mel's casket to awaiting chopper. They slid the casket inside, climbing up and settling in around it for their final ride with her.

As it rose in the air, Simon rested his forehead on the cool wood. Unable to hold back any longer, he closed his eyes and let his grief take over. She was gone.

......

.....One Month Later.....

'Ghost!' Soap cried out as he scrambled to his friend. 'Bravo Six! Medic to my location. Ghost is down.' he called into the radio.

They had just cleared the last of Marakov's hideouts when they'd stumbled on a hidden room. The three men who had been positioned inside were all dead, but not before one of them had let off a number of rounds into Ghost.

Simon lay there struggling to breath as Soap frantically removed his mask and vest to assess the injuries. From what he could see, Simon had been hit multiple times in the chest, abdomen, and upper thigh. The carpet under his body began to turn a darker shade of blue.

'Fuck.' Simon gasped, eyes wide in shock. Blood trickled from his mouth as one of the bullets had punctured his lung.

'Shit Lt, what part didn't they hit.' he murmured as he tried to stem the flow of blood by shoving bandages from hi Med Kit into the wounds. 'Bravo Six. Where's the fucking Medic!' he yelled into the radio. Glancing back at Simon, what he saw made him pause.

Simon's eyes were tracking something moving from behind Soap, his face lit up in amazement and joy. Reaching his hand out into the empty space, Simon uttered one word.

'Mel.'

Looking between Simon and the empty space next to him, Soap realised quickly what was happening. He looked down at his best friend, who'd lost a part of himself the day Mel died.

'Go to her Simon.' he whispered.

Simon flicked his eyes back to Soap and smiled. He took one more shuddering breath, then remained still. Soap was suddenly hit with a strong scent of vanilla, musk and tobacco.

'Take care of him Captain.' he said, gently closing Simon's eyes.

'Soap this is Bravo Six. Medic on route to your location. Status.' Price's voice crackled over the radio.

Soap wiped away a tear as he let out a sigh and lifted the radio to his face.

'Medic can stand down Bravo Six.' He smiled sadly down at Simon before continuing.

'He's with Phoenix now.'