Ghosts of the Past (A Call Of Duty: Ghosts Fanfiction)

Chapter Forty Six

"It's no use," Merrick's voice was a crack as he fought against Logan's attempts to stop the blood. "Give it up."

    "Like hell I will!" Logan snarled at the weak man and continued to patch at his wound. "Hold still!"

    I continued to hold pressure, feeling our ride bounce as Keegan dropped us in elevation. He was heading for the nearest friendly place he knew of. It was a rush against time, and blood, to save Merrick. There was barely enough time to head back to the States from Rorke's base.

    "Just a couple of minutes," Hesh reported as he stepped out of the cockpit. 

    His green gaze watched the blood underneath Merrick and shifted to where I sat with bloody hands and arms. Logan was diligently working at patching up the wound the best he could. 

    "Fuck," Hesh gasped out, leaning against the entry. 

    "Just a little longer, sir," I told Merrick and he weakly lifted his head to throw a gaze of strength my way. "Hold on, please..."

    I felt his gloved hand travel up to grasp at my forearm as he lowered back down, panting. My lower lip sucked into my mouth as I bit back tears; I had to stay strong...he would live. We would reach help within minutes and all would be all right.

    The place Keegan was landing at overlooked a part of the ocean. I didn't fully pay attention to where we were, but I had to guess finally back in the States and possibly on the Gulf side. Keegan likely knew of a hospital or base or something to save Merrick.

    The ground was solid as we landed and Keegan quickly slammed off the helicopter. He thudded out from the cockpit, examining the scene like Hesh had. I watched his blue eyes, the shape of his face, fall grave despite being hidden underneath his mask. 

    Hesh charged to the exit, sliding open the door as friendly soldiers rushed to our aid. They were exchanging hurried words as Logan and I moved to shift a barely-conscious Merrick. Keegan followed behind all of us. 

    Merrick was placed on a gurney carefully. I refused to remove my hands from his chest as we prepared him to wheel inside. 

    "Stop, dammit!" Merrick shouted in a feeble voice. His outburst worked, though, and even the strangers paused to stare at him in confusion. "Take me over...over there."

    I followed his pointing gloved finger to the edge of a cliff that turned grassy and sat higher than the roaring ocean just off the base's landing strip. Keegan was the first to shove through all the helping hands and take control of the gurney. 

    "You heard the man," Keegan bit out, his voice shaky, and started to wheel Merrick off in the direction he requested.

    I looked at the brothers nearby and then jogged after Keegan. 

    There was an overwhelming, aching feeling of dread latching on in my stomach. I pushed through, bloodied and filthy, to the edge of the vastly open aircraft pad. Keegan carefully navigated off the edge of the pad, ignoring the warning signs of dangerous terrain. 

    "Help me off this thing," Merrick spoke tiredly as I neared. 

    I moved to help Keegan take him off the support, balancing Merrick between us. We moved slowly over to a set of saltwater-clad trees against the cliff. They didn't provide shade, but they did give a beautiful spot to watch the sunrise in the east.

    "Thank you," Merrick coughed, blood appearing on his lower lip, as we all three settled. 

    Keegan and I both moved our eyes to each other, a watery set of green meeting raw blue. Neither one of us released the soldier between us, not even as Logan and Hesh reached us. They slowly joined us in the outlook.