Unseen | Ghost x Soap

Chapter 11: Back From the Dead

Ghost's POV:

Weeks had passed, and slowly but surely, Soap began to heal. The physical wounds closed, the bruises faded, and his strength returned. Every day, I watched him grow stronger, each step a victory against the darkness that had threatened to consume him. His spirit, though scarred, remained unbroken.

Today was a milestone. Soap had been cleared by the doctors to walk and talk normally, a testament to his resilience and determination. He was back on his feet, ready to face the world once more. We had a debriefing scheduled, a chance for the team to regroup and move forward.

As we entered the meeting room, the air was charged with a mix of relief and camaraderie. The team was already assembled, their faces lighting up at the sight of Soap.

"Well, look who decided to join us," Price said with a grin. "Good to see you up and about, Soap."

"Thanks, Captain," Soap replied, his voice strong and steady. "Feels good to be back."

We took our seats, and Price called the meeting to order. "Alright, let's get started. First, I want to say how glad we all are to have Soap back with us. You've been through hell, mate, and we're all proud of how you fought through it."

Soap nodded, a faint blush creeping up his neck. "Couldn't have done it without you lot."

The meeting continued with a detailed review of the mission, the intel we had gathered, and the steps we needed to take moving forward. But despite the serious nature of the discussion, there was an undercurrent of lightheartedness, a sense of relief that Soap was back where he belonged.

At one point, Gaz leaned back in his chair, a mischievous grin on his face. "You know, Ghost here nearly lost his mind while you were gone, Soap."

I shot him a warning look, but it only seemed to encourage him. "Seriously, he was like a bear with a sore head. Snapping at everyone, couldn't sleep, wouldn't eat. It was like he was possessed."

Soap glanced at me, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Is that so?"

"Oh, you should have seen him," Gaz continued, ignoring my glare. "He was pacing up and down, muttering your name, barely holding it together. Never seen him so worked up over anyone."

The room erupted in laughter, the tension of the past months dissolving in the shared humor. Even Price couldn't help but chuckle.

"Alright, that's enough," I said, trying to maintain a semblance of dignity. "Let's focus on the task at hand."

But Soap leaned over, his voice low and teasing. "Didn't know you cared so much, Ghost."

I felt my face heat up, the uncharacteristic blush creeping up my neck. "Just doing my job," I muttered, looking away to hide my embarrassment.

Soap's smile widened, but he didn't press further. Instead, he turned back to the group, his expression becoming serious. "I owe you all my life. I know it wasn't easy, and I know I put you through hell. But I want you to know how much it means to me. You didn't give up on me, and I won't forget that."

There was a murmur of agreement, the bond between us stronger than ever. The teasing and jokes were a way of coping, a way of reaffirming that we had come through the darkness together.

"Let's make sure we finish what we started," Soap continued. "Karak's still out there, and we've got work to do."

"Well said," Price agreed, his tone turning serious. "We'll regroup, plan our next steps, and make sure this never happens again. But for now, let's take a moment to appreciate what we've accomplished."

As the meeting wrapped up, I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride and relief. Soap was back, and despite everything, he was still the same resilient, determined soldier I had always known.

We stood to leave, and Soap caught my eye, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Thanks, Ghost. For everything."

I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. "Always, Johnny."

As we walked out of the room, the team's laughter and camaraderie filling the air, I knew that no matter what lay ahead, we would face it together. The bond we shared was unbreakable, forged in the crucible of hardship and tested by fire.