Undisputed
- Love wasn't easy. Hell when was anything easy. But being in love with your subordinate? That's on a whole other level with its own shit storm to tackle. Sequel to 'Frayed Edges'.
*Disclaimer* I don't own the Modern Warfare series or the characters. No copyright infringement intended.
The original version of this story can be found on my other account 'Bleach Fox' here is the link:
s/8558441/1/Undisputed
Chapter 1:
"Delta we are at the extraction point, please respond." A voice crackled over my comm set, barely heard over the yelling and gun fire surrounding me. I sighed in relief, turning my mic on. Finally the extraction team had arrived.
"Affirmative Thunder 2-1. We are on the way."
"Rodger that, 5 minutes 'till dust off."
I turned my mic off again, dodging a spray of bullets before sprinting to the other side of the house. "Roach let's go!" I yelled, skidding to a halt next to him and he jumped up, flashing me a grin.
"About time!"
I snorted and jerked my head at the forest. "All clear?"
He shrugged and peered out with the stolen sniper he had found downstairs. "Can't see nobody, I've been sniping off anyone coming close so they're staying away."
"Good job, come on then, time to go." I led the way carefully from the house through the trees, luckily most of the tango's busy thinking we were still in the house. We were almost there and I could see the heli' landing when it happened, Roach, who was now in front of me, got caught in the blast radius of a mortar.
I froze, stumbling to a halt as his body was thrown to the ground. No, no Roach couldn't die. Not here and not now, I wouldn't let him. Running over to him, I dropped down next to him and almost laughed in relief when his eyes flickered open to look at me.
"I've got you Roach, hang on!" Handing him my ACR I pulled him upright and threw a smoke at the tree long before switching my mic back on. "Thunder 2-1, I've popped red smoke in the tree line! Standby to engage in my mark!"
"Rodger that Delta. We have eyes on the smoke. Waiting on your mark."
Securing Roach in my arms, he groaned before nodding, firing at the trees and even managed to hit a couple of the bastards. Dragging him away from the blast zone I made sure we were out of range, Roach wouldn't survive another it, bug or no bug. "Thunder 2-1, cleared hot!"
"Rodger that. Cleared to fire on all targets."
They rained down shots at my target, the bullets firing at us ceasing quickly. I sighed in relief and glanced down at Roach, my throat constricting when I saw he was struggling to keep his eyes open, he wasn't going to stay conscious much longer.
"Come on, get up!" I yelled at him and he jerked, eyes snapping open to look at me in confusion before he nodded and got to his feet, leaning on me heavily. "Get up! Get up! We're almost there!" I half carried, half dragged him towards the landing evac choppers. If Roach died, it would be my fault for not protecting him, my fault for volunteering him for this mission.
As they landed the cockpit opened to the closest one and Shepherd walked out to greet us. "Do you have the DSM?" He shouted over the whiting of the blades of several choppers as they landed. Now I think back to it I realise there were too many for a simple evac, but at the time I was more focused on getting Roach to safety and some medical care.
"We got it, Sir!"
"Good... That's one less loose end."
Before I could even blink he pulled his gun out and shot Roach in the chest, the force of the impact knocking him from my arms. Everything slowed down in that moment as his body hit the floor and this time, he didn't move to get up. "No!" I screamed, reaching for my own gun to kill the bastard for daring to hurt Gary but I was too slow and the next thing I knew two bullets had ripped through my chest and I fell down next to him.
The pain from the wounds was nothing compared to when I looked at Gary. His eyes were open but they were blank, no recognition, nothing, he was gone. I tried to get up, if I could just reach my gun, I'd make him pay. Shepherd kicked me in the chest and I fell back and I watched as he crouched down next to Gary's lifeless body and pulled the DSM from his pocket.
"Why?" I managed to whisper and Shepherd paused, turning to look at me.
"You would never understand. Riley, your fragile mind could never comprehend the bigger picture. All you see is kill or be killed and even then, you don't win. You couldn't even protect your worthless Sergeant." With a cruel smile he grasped Gary's chin and turned his head. "Such a shame, he was a good soldier."
"Don't touch him you bastard!" I yelled, managing to sit up. "I'll kill you-"
Shepherd kicked me down again, his foot pushing against my chest and I couldn't breathe. He lifted his foot and I gasped, almost choking and he chuckled. "My my, how the mighty fall." He murmured before walking away, I saw him wave at someone out of my line of vision and Gary was picked up by two soldiers.
They threw him in a small trench and when I was lifted I knew I would get the same treatment. I was thrown in next to him, close enough to Gary's body that my hand landed on his stomach and I felt a flare of hope, he was still breathing! That flame soon vanished as Shepherd returned and we were doused in gasoline as he watched, twirling a cigar in his hands idly.
When they we done he lit it's, taking a draught before flicking the lit flame onto Roach and his body was engulfed in flames. And with that, he stopped breathing.
"Gary!" I yelled the name and sat bolt upright in bed, looking around wildly.
"Simon?" He mumbled in reply, fumbling around for a moment before he turned the light on and I flinched at the sudden brightness. Once my eyes had adjusted I saw he was sat up looking at me worried, completely well and now unharmed. "What is it?" He asked softly, brushing my forehead and I realised I was covered in sweat, still shaking slightly. "Still dreaming about it?"
I nodded and he sighed, scooting closer to nuzzle into my side and I slowly wrapped my arms around him. "I almost lost you."
He sat up again and cupped my face. "But you didn't, we escaped. Toad and Archer rescued us don't forget. We made it out, we're still here." He ran a hand through my hair soothingly and kissed my forehead. "I'm never leaving you Simon."
I tightened my grip on his waist and nodded, exhaling shakily. "I know." Gary just nodded and fell silent, allowing me to calm down and after a few minutes I kissed his head. "I'm ok now, thank you."
He looked up and smiled, leaning forward to kiss me quickly. "Good, can you sleep?"
"Yeah, as long as you're here I'm fine."
His expression softened and he reached over to turn the light off again before settling in my arms. "I love you Simon." He muttered sleepily before sighing and falling silent.
I gripped him tightly and stared off into the darkness as the last of my nightmare ebbed away. "I love you too Gary." I murmured, allowing a small smile to graze my lips before closing my eyes too.