COD Oneshots

Carousel of missed Chances (Gaz)

The dusky twilight painted the skies over London in hues of indigo and violet as Sergeant Kyle "Gaz" Garrick sat on the balcony of the team's safe house, gazing into the distance. His eyes weren't on the horizon, though. They were fixed on Y/N, her laughter filling the air as she shared a joke with Soap and Price inside.

Gaz had always admired Y/N from afar. They had met during a mission years ago, back when she was in a relationship. A warm smile and compassionate spirit had drawn him to her, but he respected her commitment. Later, the tables turned. He found himself in a brief, yet tumultuous relationship, and by the time he was single, Y/N had met someone new. It was as if they were on a carousel, always missing each other by a fraction of a second.

His feelings for her never waned. He wanted nothing more than to see her happy, even if it meant standing aside, watching her be with someone else. They had been through hell and back together—endless missions, firefights, and the silent battles of the heart. Each experience bound them closer, yet kept them at arm's length.

Tonight, the team planned to unwind at a local pub. Price's gruff voice carried from the kitchen, calling for a headcount of who'd be joining.

"Who's in?" Price asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"I'll be there," Soap responded enthusiastically.

"Count me in," chimed in a few others.

Gaz glanced over at Y/N, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she considered. Before she could answer, Gaz's heart tightened in his chest. He had seen her chatting on the phone earlier and assumed she was still with her boyfriend. He spoke up, trying to hide the bitterness that crept into his voice, "Y/N probably won't join us. She's got a boyfriend and all."

Y/N's head whipped around, confusion evident in her eyes. "What?" she asked, frowning. "No, I don't. Why would you think that?"

Gaz's heart skipped a beat. His mind raced as he processed her words, the hope he had buried deep down flickering to life. "I-I just thought..." he stammered, feeling a blush creep up his neck.

"Count me in," Y/N said decisively, a small, curious smile playing on her lips.

The pub was buzzing with activity, filled with the sound of clinking glasses and the murmur of conversations. Gaz found himself seated at the bar, nursing a drink while watching the reflection of the group in the mirror behind the counter. His gaze kept drifting back to Y/N, who was animatedly talking to Soap about something.

As the night progressed, Gaz excused himself to the bathroom, his mind a swirl of emotions. When he returned, he found Y/N at the bar, a stranger leaning in close, clearly trying to charm her. A surge of panic shot through him. He could feel the moment slipping away, the carousel of missed chances threatening to spin once more.

Without a second thought, Gaz crossed the room in long strides. The stranger was laughing at something Y/N had said, but his laughter died away as Gaz gently but firmly placed a hand on Y/N's shoulder. She turned, surprise and a spark of something else in her eyes.

"Gaz—" she began, but before she could say another word, Gaz leaned in and kissed her.

The pub seemed to fade away, the noise dimming to a distant hum as his lips met hers. For a heartbeat, the world stood still. Then Y/N responded, her hand coming up to cup his cheek, returning the kiss with a fervor that made his heart soar.

When they finally broke apart, Gaz could see the same realization in Y/N's eyes that was burning in his chest—they were finally on the same page, at the same time.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Y/N whispered, her voice barely audible above the din of the pub.

"I thought you were happy with someone else," Gaz admitted, his forehead resting against hers.

"And I thought you were still seeing that girl," she murmured, a soft laugh escaping her lips.

They both laughed then, the tension and years of missed opportunities melting away. Gaz pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her in a protective embrace.

"Well," Soap's voice cut through their moment, a grin plastered on his face as he raised his glass in a toast, "It's about bloody time."

The team cheered, and even the stranger who had been flirting with Y/N clapped, albeit a bit awkwardly.

Gaz looked into Y/N's eyes, seeing the future he had always dreamed of reflected back at him. In that moment, he knew that the carousel had finally stopped, and they were right where they were meant to be.

They spent the rest of the night at the pub, their hands intertwined under the table, sharing smiles and stolen glances. And as they walked home under the London sky, the air filled with promises and the warmth of new beginnings, Gaz knew one thing for certain: he was never letting go again.

In the blink of an eye, everything had changed, and for once, they were exactly where they wanted to be—together.