Bittersweet | Simon Riley

THIRTEEN

On a normal day, Lieutenant Simon Riley would never speak to his commanding officer like this. On a normal day, he would be understanding and listen to whatever had to be said and done. On a normal day, Ghost would never try to argue about something that needed to occur on a mission. Yet this wasn't a normal day. Not in the slightest and he wasn't afraid to raise his voice.

"You put her on my mission?" Ghost asked as he stormed into the war room, which was being occupied by Captain Price, a man who Ghost was usually respectful and careful around. Price raised his eyebrows a little, looking away from the map which he had been reviewing with Gaz and Soap while Roach was sorting through other files with a few other soldiers. They were in a crunch to finalize any details in order to catch the unit they'd been chasing for months and in reality, had no time for petty arguments about who was coming on the mission.

"We could use her." Price simply said, only glancing at Ghost for a second before returning his gaze to the map. Ghost grunted with frustration at the fact that Price wasn't even hearing him out on what he was saying. Ghost didn't want Belle on this mission, Ghost didn't want Belle anywhere near this mission at all.

"We do not need a shrink in a war zone." Ghost said, ignoring the glances that he was receiving from the other soldiers who were stood around the room. He was fully aware of how bad this looked, how wrong it looked for him out of all people to be arguing so openly with Captain Price. But he didn't care, he didn't want her in the field.

"She will be helpful with any possible hostage situation." Price explained without looking back at Ghost, not wanting to hear whatever argument Ghost was about to make. He was more focused on going over the last few details of the mission which were newly updated and were continuing to be updated in real time. Something Ghost should've been focused on instead of arguing with him about whether she was needed.

"That's what we've got snipers for." Ghost argued because his idea of dealing with hostages was taking out the bad guys. He didn't understand why it would be even close to a good idea as to bringing her in just so she could talk to terrorist. They had worked without her before and had done just fine.

"She's coming." Price said, finalizing his decision on the matter. Ghost stared angrily at Price, not liking this at all, but Price kept his eyes off of his Lieutenant. He stood there for a good thirty second, the war room still filled with the sound of other soldiers talking and interacting. Ghost knew that once Price had made up his mind on this decision there was practically nothing that Ghost could say or do in order to change it. But hell, he was going to try.

"She's going to get someone killed Captain." Ghost said through gritted teeth, his jaw tense as he looked at Price and waited for him to respond. But it was clear as day that Price wasn't going to listen for any second to what Ghost had to say when it came to Isabelle. Ghost glanced away angrily, unsure what to say to try and change his mind. "Or herself." He said with a frustrated noise leaving his lips, not liking the idea of her being killed in the field. Price finally turned to face Ghost, looking unimpressed by Ghost's arguments.

"She knows how to shoot." Captain Price tells him with raised eyebrows, not wanting to hear any more on this topic. But he was fully aware that Ghost wasn't one to just drop it. Price crossed his arms and waited for whatever rebuke Ghost was going to try and make.

"Yeah," Ghost grumbled angrily under his breath, already sensing the fact that Price wasn't going to listen to anything he had to say. Ghost turned away and started to leave the room, nothing but frustration radiating off of his form as he walked. "Sure, she does." He huffed, not at all trusting her shooting skills anymore then he would trust a civilian with a loaded gun.

Gaz turned his head away from the map to the door as Ghost slammed the door shut after him, watching as Ghost angrily stormed down the hall. There was a shared silence amongst the room as the soldiers went through the paperwork and files. Gaz cleared his throat a little, glancing to Captain Price who gave him a glance, telling him to say whatever was on his mind.

"They hate each other." Gaz says quietly, having known all about the arguments and fights that happened between the Lieutenant and therapist who'd been assigned to the task force. Price gave a little breath out; his eyes having returned to the map in front of him now that Ghost had left the room.

"No, they don't." Captain Price said, moving his attention to a file which had been placed in front of him with crucial mission intel. Price was fully aware of what he was doing, of how Belle could help on the mission, in more then one way. And he was fully aware of how Ghost would act with Belle on the mission. "Not really." Price said with a little nod, glancing back to the door as if to make sure that Ghost had left and wasn't lingering around.

"What do you mean, Captain?" Gaz asked after a moment, not quite sure as to what Price was getting at. Price tilted his head, shuffling the papers in front of him and reading through them as he tried to think of a proper response. Price had seen Ghost and Belle, seen the effect that they had on each other even if it wasn't extremely noticeable to a blind eye.

"They're both stubborn and it's complicated." Price finally said as he gathered his thoughts about the two, knowing that they were a unique duo. They challenged each other in ways which others wouldn't. Ghost was used to having the upper hand, used to being in control and having others listening to what his orders were without questioning. And Belle was used to people trying to open up, trying to create that connection between them and being able to talk about hard topics. And their worlds collided when they were faced with each other.

"I mean, have you seen them argue?" Soap asked, joining the conversation with a chuckle. It was no secret that the two didn't see eye to eye and there had been plenty of arguments to show that.

"I've heard them argue," Roach said with a little chuckle, leaning across the table to steal the images which Soap had been reviewing. Soap made a grab to try and keep the images for himself, but Roach managed to get them to his side of the table, winning the little battle. Gaz rolled his eyes and moved another file in front of Soap in an attempt to keep them all somewhat productive despite the conversation which they were having.

"I've heard them argue," Soap said with a small chuckle, opening the other file which Gaz had given to him. His eyes scanned over the words that had been written out before glancing to Roach then to Gaz who was still standing by the map. "At midnight in the hall outside all of our quarters." He chuckled a little which made the others chuckle, all having overheard the hushed angry argument which had happened between the two only nights before. Gaz rolled his eyes.

"Who goes to bed at midnight?" Roach asked, clearly trying to start an argument with Soap who was sitting across from him. Soap gave him a little scowl and tossed a crumbled sticky note at Roach's head. Price gave a little amused scoff, turning his attention back to the map in front of him instead of whatever banter was going on between his soldiers, knowing that the next mission was either going to go amazingly or become a dumpster fire.