Strength Together

Chapter 8

TW: Violence, language, death
WC: 1.5k

Thundering punches rang out in the training room of the base as Ghost landed swing after swing into the poor punching bag that was hanging on for dear life. This was his third punching bag since they came back from the last mission 24 hours ago.

"Simon." Price announced as he entered the training room. Ghost gave him no response as he continued to rain down punches.

"Simon, stop." Price put his hand against the punching bag, stopping the bag from swinging. Ghost stood up straight, annoyance written all over his eyes.

"We found her." Price informed Ghost as soon as he stopped punching.

"Alive?" Ghost asked, no emotion showing in his eyes.

"We think so. We hacked into their coms from the handheld they left behind. Last we heard she was alive and they don't have intentions of killing her."

"Where?"

"200 clicks east."

"I need stealth gear. All of it. I need a map of her location. Send me in Price." Ghost demanded.

Price cocked an eyebrow at Ghost, "Is this Simon or Ghost talking?"

"Doesn't matter." Ghost said matter-of-factly.

"It does. Because if I send Ghost in, you might be too irrational."

"You know I can handle this. Either way."

Price sighed, knowing his Lieutenant was correct. He never did like sending the rage fueled Ghost into missions like this. He knew that Ghost often saw red in situations like this one. But he also knew that Ghost would get the job done, even if that meant he took more lives than probably necessary. "Fine. But Gaz is going with you and you're taking a team."

"Negative. I'm doing this alone. Have a back up team if you need but I'm going solo. I let her get taken, Price. This is on me. If she dies, it's. On. Me." Ghost said sternly as he jabbed his own thumb into his chest to better drive his point.

Price let out another sigh, "fine. But if things go south, you are calling for backup. That's an order."

Ghost nodded. He knew Price was right, he knew he was making these decisions with sound mind and as much as Ghost wanted to deny it, he knew he wasn't in his right mind about this whole situation.

"I'll get you a backup squad now and brief Gaz. I'll have you out in an hour tops, okay?" Price asked as he clasped a hand on Ghost's shoulder. Ghost nodded before turning to the showers without another word.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Gaz sat next to Ghost on the heli, asking more questions than Ghost cared for after Price convinced Ghost to take Gaz with him. "What's the plan LT? Go in, guns ablaze? Or stealth?"

"Did Price not brief you? Stealth. And you're staying behind me. A good distance too." Ghost spoke into his headphones mic.

"Cap said to stick with yo-"

"Don't care."

"Ghost, you know what happens when you disobey his orders, last time he didn't let you go on three missions." Gaz said as he held up three gloves fingers a little too close to Ghost's face.

Ghost swatted his fingers away, a scuff leaving him. "I don't care, Kyle. We're getting Ophelia back and I know the best way to do it. Follow my lead or I'll zip tie you to the heli."