Bittersweet | Simon Riley

SIXTEEN

There truck ride to the site was quiet, the thrum of the engine the only sound except for the chatter coming through the main radio. Most soldiers in the truck were busy looking outside or checking their gear. They had all been informed that this was just a building check and there may be hostages, which was why Belle had been dragged along. And apparently Ghost.

Ghost's eyes didn't leave Belle even as they sat in the truck, their bodies close to each other in the tight space. Her gaze didn't meet his as she looked out the window, seeing the rain pour down. It was a decent ride, showing off some of the landscape and allowing the group of soldiers to get a feel of the land. It was muddy but the further they drive the more the rain thinned out and eventually the truck was coming to a stop outside a building surrounded by men and women in matching uniforms and gear.

Belle practically climbed over Ghost's lap, her eyes locked on the building of interest. He let out a little grunt as her hand landed clumsily on his knee, but she didn't spare him a look as she got out. Ghost rolled his eyes, moving to follow her. His eyes watched as her boots left imprints in the mud, her boot prints so much smaller than the other trained soldiers. Ghost spotted Soap across the crowd, who tilted his head in confusion, well aware of the fact that Ghost had been assigned another section with a different team.

"Where are you going?" Ghost asked, his hand shooting out to stop Belle from running off. He could see the way that her eyes flickered between him and the building, her mind spinning behind those soft eyes. He could practically feel the excitement radiating off of her as she got the chance to do what she did best, but he wanted her to be careful.

"To do my job." Belle responded with ease, her eyes going to a man who was waving her over. He was clearly in charge of this section and Ghost followed her gaze to the man who looked about equal in his rank, possibly higher but not by much. Belle shifted her weight to keep herself from sinking in the mud as other soldiers moved to do their duties.

"I'm coming." Ghost told her as she gave her arm a little tug, starting to make her way towards the tent where operations were being formally set up. And where she would get all of the information which had been held from her up until this point.

"No." Belle said, not even bothering to look at him. But she could practically feel the way that he glowered at her answer, not a fan of being told no by all means. She sighed, turning to face him once again. "You can't." She explained, for once having a real reason to tell him no rather then just because she wanted to. "Price and the other brass don't want anyone extra on site. Just in case." Belle shrugged a little as she gave him the dumbed down explanation of what had been explained to her earlier in the day by Captain Price.

Ghost's frown only grew a little more as he glanced between the small brunette in front of him then the stone building that he didn't trust. It just gave off sketchy vibes and his gut was telling him something was going to go wrong. "I don't like this." He said to her, his voice low and eyes pouring into her soul.

"You'll survive." Belle said, trying to brush him off as she looked back at the tent where people were waiting on her to show up before they could officially breach the building. Then she looked back at Ghost, his shoulders tense and body language telling her more then he'd ever admit. "I'll be ok. There's a team moving with me. I won't be alone, even for a second." She explained to him, her voice dropping to a much softer tone then before. Ghost's jaw tensed, his mind still spinning over the possibilities and his body telling him that nothing good would happen if he let her out of his sight. But he gave in.

"Don't be a hero, Belle." Ghost whispered his eyes locked with hers. Belle gave him a little nod and Ghost forced himself to take a step back, watching as she glanced at him for another second. Then she was heading towards the tent, instantly disappearing from his view, leaving him standing there and his body screaming to follow her. He was about to take a step when Soap approached him, a cheeky smile on his face.

"She'll be fine, LT." Soap said with a grin as he came to stand next to Ghost, the two looking up at the stone building again. Soap had been briefed on the building, from what he had heard it wasn't a real danger and this shouldn't be anything more then a quick in and out run. He didn't even think that Belle was really needed but it had been decided she'd tag along just in case.

"Johnny." Ghost greeted his teammate and friend, his tone also a warning. He didn't like talking about whatever relationship him and Belle had with his friends. Even if they knew about almost everything else in his life, he wasn't willing to admit out loud anything about her. But his best friends were smarter than he often gave them credit for.

"You know you don't need to follow her around, yeah?" Soap asked with a little grin, his eyes going to Ghost who had returned his gaze to the tent where Belle was being debriefed. Ghost shifted a step back, just barely able to see her through the flap of the tent. His eyes lingered on her a moment longer before he gave Soap a tense shrug.

"She's not meant for this." Ghost said as if it was common knowledge. Soap rolled his eyes, knowing full well how pissed Ghost had been when Price had said she was coming on the mission. But Soap, unlike Ghost, was aware that Belle had at least some knowledge on how to protect and defend herself. He doubted she'd ever really get hurt on something as simple as a building check with no confirmed hostages. Soap grinned as he looked at Ghost, knowing there was more there then just concern for her ability on the field. "Don't give me that look." Ghost grumbled, not turning his head to even see the way that Soap was looking at him.

"You care about her." Soap said after a moment of silence between the two, his voice almost teasing, and Ghost took another step back, now unable to see Belle. He grunted a little, noting how she must be getting ready to head into the building with whatever team had been assembled. Ghost gave Soap a deadpan look.

"I do not." Ghost grunted out, his eyes scanning over the building again. His eyes lingered on the windows, some cracked or stained from years of being unwashed. There were very few windows which were clear or were close enough to the ground to see through.

"You do." Soap said with a little chuckle, the smile unfading from his face.

"I do," Ghost went to argue with his friend but was cut off by the sound of an explosion. Soldiers around them were quick to duck or find some way to avoid being hit by any possible shrapnel. Soap forced Ghost down into the mud with him when Ghost didn't automatically move. The sound of the explosion left his ears ringing, his eyes locked on the building which now had smoke pouring from it and was starting to crumble. A million colorful words raced through his mind, as he stared at the building which he'd been told was safe, the building which was now going up in flames from the inside.

"Holy shit." Soap shouted to Ghost, his eyes wide and locked on the way that everyone was standing in shock at how fast things had escalated. Ghost's ears were ringing, he could hear his own pulse in his ears. And without thinking he pushed himself up from the ground and was immediately moving towards the burning building. "Wait, wait," Soap tried to stop him, and Ghost turned to face him.

"Johnny let go." Ghost demanded and Soap took a physical step back, his arm still hooked around Ghost's. Soap had known Ghost for a long time and for the first time he was seeing something in his eyes, something more dangerous than he'd ever seen on the field when they were running through missions. It was new for Ghost and genuinely put Soap in a slight shock for a second.

"You don't know if there is," Soap tried to reason with Ghost, but Ghost wasn't hearing any of it.

"I don't care." Ghost said, his voice cold and sharp as he shoved Soap away. Immediately he was racing towards the building, not even sending a glance back. Soap watched with his jaw tensed as the normally stoic and collect Lieutenant forced his way through the other soldiers who were heading towards the building, moving faster then he would for any other type of situation.