New Years was largely uneventful. Sure Price and his family came but they seemed so out of it. As if Price had dragged them, leading to them leaving after dinner. Price apologized to us, but clearly we weren't their crowd. Seems they had wanted to fulfill plans in another way than hanging out with a bunch of old people.
Soap had ended up proving that when Price was gone, it really added years on him. He was first out, then Mum who wanted to turn in early. Price stayed up with Simon, Cal, his family, and I which was nice. He told Ruby and Pearl stories, which were kid friendly, and enjoyed new ears to tell stories to. Overall it was successful besides Cal not talking to me. He was too mad, it was obvious. Which led him to coming over more and more as Simon and I recovered. The girls loved it, and each time Cal would take me aside to kick the football or toss the rugby ball around. He'd talk to me. Try to convince me to stay for Mum, but nothing worked.
February 2017 came and Simon and I had our lives packed up once more. Mum came to terms with it all, despite a look in her eyes wanting something else. She wants me to stay, but knows I'm as stubborn as Dad was. It's a losing battle, for her, but not for Cal. Cal who now drives Simon and I to Manchester since we turned in our rental already. He's silent and angry with my choice.
"You really won't stay. Will you," Cal glances over to me. Simon's sitting in the back while I'm in the passengers seat.
"Callum."
"Why? Is this really so important to you? That you'd risk dying, again?"
"We didn't die though," Simon interjects.
"You might as well have..." Cal sighs.
My eyes watch as the trees slowly turn into buildings. The city grows near after a painfully tense car ride. Cal's only commentary begging me to stay, when he knows it's too late. "Callum... What if I told you after a bad injury that you had to retire? What then? It's the same for me but I don't want my bad injury to be the end. Don't you get that?"
Cal is silent in response.
"Football is your life. Why can't my work in the military be my work? I've given it everything, just like you. Yet you can't see why I'm drawn to it, like how you're drawn to football."
"Gary..."
"Don't 'Gary' me," My tone is a little mocking before I sigh. "I don't want you to hate me for my decision but you have to get that your anger is misplaced. I... I don't want to die, I want to make sure the world is safe for your kids. For my future. All because I don't want to waste any more time—or waste my second chance."
Cal glances over to me for a second, "That's why people in the military retire when they get hurt."
"Then maybe I didn't get hurt enough."
Cal falls silent once more. I don't want to explain myself every time he questions me. Sometimes I don't have a good reason. Right now, I feel that Dad would be the only person that could get Cal to understand. I wish I had half of his charisma. Like when we were little and I had my heart set on rugby. Cal didn't understand then either. He complained and tried to get me to change my ways. To change what I was doing, to do what he liked. Maybe he's more like Mum than I ever thought. He doesn't do things for himself, he does things for her. I think that's the difference between us.
When we finally reach the airport, Cal gets out while we unload. He goes to me, grabbing my arm before I leave. We hadn't said anything to one another, no goodbyes, no nothing. Yet he still grabs me.
"B...Be safe, Gary. Come back more. C...Come back alive. Please..."
"We will. I will." I turn and pull Cal into a hug. "You might not get it, but I want you to understand that this is my choice. Please."
"I have to..."
"You are going to. I'll text you when we land, when we're safe. After missions if I have to. I will always come back. It's my promise to you, the same one I made all those years ago."
"Then... then go. I..." He pulls away, "I expect to see you back soon then..."
With that, he lets me go. His next breath looks shaky and I notice some tears. All I do is smile. I show him what I'm going to do with my confident steps inside, my arm holding onto Simon's. "We'll come back, and we'll come back alive." My voice is low but Simon hears. He kisses the side of my head in response.
"Always, buggy. If Shepherd couldn't get us, then Makarov has no chance."
"Copy that, sir."
Simon chuckles lightly. It's nice to hear he can still laugh. That we can still laugh together. For us to have our soft moments. It's what we deserve after everything. Although the one thing that's the worst is waiting for the plane. Price wanted us to meet back in America. Maybe it's gotten something to do with those Americans, the Ghosts. Price must have a plan. Something big if he's opening out a hand to a different special forces group.
We will kill him. Words Price has no doubt spoke, and words that we'll make come true.
Once we land, Price is waiting for us. He takes us to the base from the airport, of course making comments about the "fuckin' American's" and how he "can't stand how they drive." Simon chuckles a little, offering advice and comments as we proceed to get cut off a few times. Lieutenant Walker is waiting for us with Soap and Merrick standing behind them. Elias smiles a little as Simon and I get out.
"Been a while boys. You two ready to get back to it?" Elias questions.
"Aye, sir." Simon replies. "Give us an hour to settle in and we're all ears."
"That's what I like to hear."
YOU ARE READING
Roach
Fanfiction"I promise I'll come back in once piece." After the death of his father, Gary "Roach" Sanderson thought that he should join the military just like his dad. He never really gave it much thought and as a seven year old, it never meant much to him. As...
