INFECTIOUS [GHOSTXSOAP]

XI. FEEL SOMETHING

WARNING - FLUFF / ANGST

A/N ... I appreciate every single one of you who have stumbled upon this story of mine and would be absolutely grateful if you could leave a like or sneaky comment on this. It helps me know I'm on the right path but also keeps me motivated to write more stories like this.
Much love.

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Mmm, that's nice.

A soft noise had been slipping from Soap's parted lips as he slept, head cradled against his arm, still sitting in the crappy hospital chair he had pulled up alongside Ghost's bed.

He'd been there for nearly 10 hours when his body was finally ready to wake the way it wanted to. Not pulled in and out of sedation like it had been for the last 2 days. 2 horrible days of tests, X-rays, blood draws, being poked and prodded in his sleep, completely unaware of everything going on around him, save for when his body tried pulling him from the drug induced sleep and he caught those few discussions.

Slowly, as the sleep began to drift away from his subconscious, Soap's senses heightened again.

He could hear the dull beeping of the monitors, stable sounds that gave him hope. He could scent Ghost, still mixed horribly with whatever drugs they had given the alpha to help, and probably keep him under sedation as well. Soap's mind flashed with the image of his CO in that bed, how broken and bruised he was, remembered the way he had protected him in the bunker, knew he'd have sustained serious injuries.

And that guilt pulled on him again. Guilt that anyone would do that for him, risk their life like that. Even when he knew that Ghost was just doing his job, it didn't stop the guilt.

Burning stung the backs of his eyelids, as hot tears built, but he forced them back, refusing to be weak like that. This was Ghost, he'd make a full recovery, Soap knew that.

He has to be fine.

A gentle touch made him still. His body on high alert as he felt what he could only describe as a caress, run over the top of his head, through the lengths of his mohawk, right down to his scalp, pulling that noise he'd been making in his sleep from his throat. And the moment it did, his cheeks burnt red in embarrassment.

Purring!? I'm fuckin’ purring?!

Cracking an eyelid open, Soap took in where he was, before he gulped and rolled his head back a smidge, glancing up, praying Ghost was just asleep.

“Ahh, you're awake.” Ghost grumbled, voice strained, hoarse, but still full of wit, given his state.

Eye's wide, Soap just stared, unable to speak. Worried to say anything. Unsure what to say. ‘Thank you’, wasn't enough, not after Ghost had put his life on the line like that. Yet he slowly raised his head, just staring at the alpha, heart racing.

Ghost's hand had already pulled back from his hair, those dark amber eyes watching Soap intently, curiously.

He had been awake for about 40 minutes himself, just gently stroking Soap's hair, enjoying how it felt between his fingers. Even though Soap desperately needed to wash it, it was surprisingly soft. And he had been enjoying the soft purrs the omega had been making in his sleep, a sound he hadn't ever heard before.

Shifting slightly, Ghost grunted, still suffering internally, though thanks to his sped up healing he was making progress, but that didn't mean he didn't feel every ache and pain, especially as his body was pulling itself back together. The broken ribs hurt the most, nothing worse than having bones broken, only for them to then pull themselves back into position, feeling the fragments begin to fuse themselves back together.