Behind The Mask (Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 [2022] Fanfiction)

- TWENTY -

Ghost was waiting for us by the stashed vehicle, his sniper rifle across his arms as he leaned casually against the tailgate, heavy frame tilting the truck slightly. I had been silent during mine and Soap's walk back, head lowered as I glanced at my light wounds. Soap gave a knowing look to Ghost as they went to get in the truck.

    Ghost's eyes raked across me, pausing on my arm. I ignored him the best I could, opening the back door to the truck and hauling myself inside. Soap was the one to carefully shut the door behind me. The two of them exchanged a few low words as they, too, entered the vehicle.

    "That was fucked," Soap grumbled lightly as he started to drive us back to the base.

    It had not gone according to their plan, that was for sure. I blamed myself, but I also knew it had fallen to the guard who failed to stop the original three cartel men.

    "Can I join Valeria's interrogation once you get her? Can I help get her?"

    "No," Ghost's voice was sharp, cold. "You've done enough."

    I felt my eyebrow twitch as I narrowed my green gaze. "What?"

    "You blew everything with your little stunt with Diego," Ghost still held a snappy tone, that serious and intimidating one. 

    I bowed my head, unable to argue with that one directly. In a lower voice, I responded. "It's not my fault your guard failed to stop the men that got me."

    "What if Soap hadn't been there?" Ghost tilted his head, voice seething, as he shot a glare at me. 

    "I had it under control!" I lied, my mouth twitching at the action, and I noticed Soap grow tense as the air heated in the cab.

    "Didn't sound like it," Ghost snapped, glaring out the window. "You almost got yourself killed because you can't control your emotions."

    I crossed my arms. Ghost's silence was suffocating in the cab of the truck. 

    I only crossed my arms tighter, glaring out the opposite side of the truck, as Soap navigated that direction once through the gates of the base. He parked the truck and Ghost promptly got out, the door slam a bit extra.

    Sighing, Soap half turned in the driver's seat to look at me. "You did what you needed to do today, lass. It's no one's fault they rigged the office. It's not your fault the guard didn't shoot. Don't mind LT...while he's right, he has the worst way of showin' it."

    I only nodded once, uncrossed my arms, and then shoved through the back door on my left. Storming off, I headed in a random direction—anywhere but the direction Ghost had gone. 

- • - • -

"Hello?"

    "Hey, Uncle Josh, it's Lily."

    A phone call ordered by General Shepherd, according to Soap, to get me home. The ranch was the safest place for me to stay out of the way and, hopefully, escape the money Hassan had on my head for my safe return to him. Soap had dug into all of that once we'd returned.

    "Lily! What have you been up to?"

    The rancher wasn't even aware I had been missing. The realization stung. "Just getting ready to head home from a vacation. Hey...umm...do you have some space out there in Wyoming?"

    "Always for family. Is everything okay? You sound...off."

    "Yea," I cleared my throat, looking down as I bit my lip. "I...I can explain everything later. I will explain everything. Can I come within the week?"