Memories Left Beneath Ground Level...{COD}

Night 5: A Drink

Present day, Wine Cellar under bar
Time; Unknown

John lays peacefully on his stiff bedding, lazily opening his eyes. Immediately being greeted with a throbbing headache, most likely from the concrete floors he'd slept on. A low groan as he sits up, holding the side of his temple. "Jesus on a cross.." Soap looks to the bars, across the way, he sees him.

"Ghost?" He calls out, Ghost is laid on the floor. He crawls closer to bars getting a better look, seeing him still on the ground. "Gh-" Soap stops himself, looking up at the ceiling. Unknown of the time, or if the ones who captured them; could be above, listening. Stay silent, what do you hear...

Laughing? Muffled voices, and laughing, not night yet. "Argh.. fuckin-" Ghost sounds, Soap watches as he struggles to get up. Holding his leg, pain sounds in his voice. "Ghost?" Soap whispers, trying to get his attention. Ghost is able to prop himself back up against the wall. His breaths heavy on his chest, "What happened?" Soap asks worried, staying cautious of his volume.

"I must've cut myself while trying to rest, the ground is sharp in this cellar" Ghost explains. "Is it bleeding?" Soap asks, "Barely a scratch, just fresh" he responds. Soap lets out a relieved sigh, resting his head on the bars, the cold soothes his headache. Ghost hisses in pain, "Never thought of the day I'd hear my lieutenant in such a manner" a smirk heard in Soap's voice.

Ghost lets out a hefty chuckle, keeping his volume low. "I guess you can say you're special" this comment makes Soap smile. "You know what this reminds me of?" Soap asks. Ghost adjusts himself, "What?" He questions. "Last year, when I caught you in the parking lot that one time" Soap says. Ghost sighs, "I think you've caught me in a lot of places you usually wouldn't."

Soap tilts his head in agreement, "What happened this time for you to bring it up?" Ghost asks. Soap lets out a soft chuckle, "Well.."

Two years ago, Orlov Military Base Parking Lot
Time; 11:18pm

Soap POV

"You have a good one too, hopefully we don't get called back so soon" I put on my jacket, pulling my bag on my shoulder. The locker room door loudly shuts, leaving me by myself. The week before holidays, I usually fly back home to visit family. I'm meant to be on the plane by now, but I had to step in on some last minute training.

I enjoy my job, but do I like my job more than seeing my family? Debatable. I exit the locker room, waving to the remaining people in the building. I have less than an hour to get home, quickly pack, and get to the airport. Leaving me a, hopefully, short wait. I walk into the parking lot, juggling my keys in my hand.

"It's unfair to take away my holiday, while every other member of command is off doing whatever the fuck" A voice is heard. I look around, seeing someone pacing the parking lot next to a truck. "NO! I will worry about what they're doing, when you try to have me stay here DURING the fucking holiday's, I'd... Sir I wouldn't-"

I watch him let out a long sigh, hanging his head, it's sound's like Ghost. "Yes sir.. I'll be there early" I watch as he hangs up. I look around the lot, only a few cars remain. I check my watch, I got time, I start to make my way over. "Lieutenant!" I call out, he turns his head, quickly turning away. I walk over, "Sorry to say I heard a bit of your conversation."

He turns back to me, "Then you probably know why I'm pissed" he tell me. I nod, "Little bit, yeah" I say. I examine his face, he's not wearing his usual skull baklava. His ears red from the cold, "What are you doing leaving so late?" Ghost asks. "I was just doing the last bit of some paperwork, then I'm heading out for the holidays" I tell him.

He scoffs, "At least one of us is" he says. "Why aren't you?" I ask, he leans back on his truck. "High command hates adding people into command, so they've decided to haze me as if I was a cadet" he explains. I chuckle, "Congrats on the premotion" I say. He lets out a groan, "It's honestly a curse" he admits.

"Well what would you be doing if you were on holiday?" I ask. His eyes shift, placing his hands into his pocket. I watch his cold breath in the air, "Drink, go to sleep at an unreasonable time" He says. I look to my watch, Hm.. "Wanna hit the bar?" I ask. He looks to me confused, he takes notice of my bag.

"Aren't you going on holiday?" he asks, I adjust the strap on my shoulder. "Early tomorrow, I have a plane back home I need to catch, but I can get a few drinks in, I'll just sleep on the plane" I say. He doesn't seem interested in the idea, but at the same time, he's never really seemed interested in anything going on.

Always working, always wearing that mask, always those same dead eyes. But it was different, cause even if it was for a moment, I saw him smile. What meaning lied behind didn't matter, what mattered is that I could distract his mind from the current that constantly breaking him down. Smaller and smaller.

"Is that a yes?" I ask, tilting my head to the side. I watch as he unlocks his truck, "I'm driving."

Present day, Wine Cellar under bar
Time; Unknown

"Did you catch your flight?" Ghost asks, Soap chuckles to himself. "No I missed it completely, and didn't end up going until a few days later" he admits. Ghost lets out an unapproving grunt, "This is why I didn't tell you, I knew you'd blame yourself" Soap says. "I'm not blaming myself, I just don't want you missing out on things because of me" Ghost says.

Soap leans back, "I didn't, if anything, I helped get your mind off work for a couple hours" he says. Ghost scoffs, "I guess you're right, those couple hours were honestly the most fun I had the entire 'holiday'" he admits. "Should we make a habit out if it?" Soap asks. Ghost looks over, seemingly caught off guard by this question.

"Going to the bar during the holidays?" Ghost questions. A moment goes by, "Johnny?" Ghost calls out, expecting an answer. "Maybe, I was thinking we could just go out more" Soap says. Unsure in his words, he was nervous. "I don't think others would be fond of the idea of a lieutenant showing favoritism to their subordinate" Ghost counters.

He was right, they wouldn't. "We're both in command, me a Sergeant, and you a lieutenant. I'm not sure they'd care what we do off duty" Soap says. Ghost chuckles, "You want to hang out with me out of work?" He asks. "I thought that'd be obvious" Soap says. "Didn't want to assume, I'm not that interesting you know."

"I'd disagree, it would be like now, minus us being trapped here" Soap says, looking around his cell. Ghost sighs, "So I'd have to listen to you talk without alcohol then also?" Ghost asks. Soap scoffs, "Bastard" he says, a smile obvious in his voice. Ghost chuckles, followed by a painful cough. "You doing alright?" Soap questions, his tone worried.

Ghost adjusts himself, "I'm fine, when we make it out of here, I'll let you plan this 'hangout' session" he says. Soap smiles, "I'll make sure it doesn't have alcohol so you'll have to listen to me" Soap says. His comment causes Ghost to jokingly groan. "Where's the rescue team when you need them" he says, Soap rolls his eyes.

"Let's hope they find us, before these maniacs torcher us" Soap says, turning away. Indifference settles in Ghost's mind, his eyes shift around. While he wanted to tell him, he couldn't risk John trying to defend him if they did take him again. It was his job as a lieutenant, to give direction, and keep his soldiers safe.

And right now, John was the one, and only, priority. Keep him safe, along with keeping the focus on himself. If they keep thinking Soap has nothing to offer, they'll leave him be. Ghost didn't know when back-up was coming, if at all. He trusted his team, and that's all he needed. Trust. Maybe along with some much needed aid to his wounds, but he'd survive.

Hopefully.

{Chapter 2, let's go}