War is like a game of chess.

Everyone works together to protect one common goal, while trying to capture the opponent's. You can't leave your king open, or the game is over. You lose. There is no compromise.

And soldiers are the pawns.

We go forward, knowing we may never come back, to protect what we're fighting for. But there's always sacrifice; someone has to go so another move can be made.

You can't win the game without losing some of your own.

These thoughts ran through Roach's head as he watched Meat fall to the dirty, littered ground of Rio de Janeiro's favelas. Everything moved in slow motion; Meat's cry for help; his body hitting the ground with a loud thump; the satisfaction on the militant's face as he reloaded. Roach emptied three bullets into the man's body before he could fire again.

And then everything registered with two beats of his pounding heart.

Meat was gone.

His best friend, his brother-in-arms, his confidant… gone.

Roach felt a tear stroll down his cheek, clearing a path on his dirt-covered face for more tears to follow. His surroundings didn't matter anymore. Nothing mattered anymore. He was so stricken down with grief, he was tempted to just throw himself in front of the line of fire.

But Roach's fury kept him alive.

Meat would not die for nothing. Roach killed six militants with one magazine, then sprinted to Meat' body and pulled off one of his tags. He thought for a moment, and decided he didn't want to leave Meat's body to rot on the ground.

He carried the corpse to a field just outside the favela, sprinkled with thirsty flowers reaching toward the summer sun. As he laid down the body, Roach removed the cross necklace from around his own neck and placed it around Meat's. As he struggled to remember the Lord's Prayer, Roach hoped Meat was a religious man, because he no doubt deserved Heaven after the Hell they'd been living in.

Two weeks after Meat's death, Roach sat in MacTavish's office. The air-conditioned room was a relief compared to the scorching desert outside. The sergeant soaked in the cool air as much as he could, because he had no idea how long he would be there for.

MacTavish walked into the room and closed the door behind him. He set down a bottle of water in front of Roach, who opened it and drained half of it quickly.

"So," MacTavish began. "How have you been, Roach?"

Roach set down the bottle of water on the desk with a loud thump. "Cut the formalities, captain. We both know what this is about."

MacTavish sighed. "Roach, I know what's it's like to lose someone so close to you, believe me. But you have to learn to move past it-"

"Are my training scores dropping?"

"What? No, but-"

"Do you think I can't watch the other guy's backs in the field?"

"No, Roach, but-"

"Then I really don't see what the issue is."

"The issue is that you're not yourself, Roach!" MacTavish stood up. "You passed your psych exam, and your training scores are still excellent, but you aren't the same person you used to be.

And that… well, it worries me." The horizontal lines on his forehead gave Roach the proof.

"With all due respect, sir, you shouldn't concern yourself with my personality. You've got other things to worry about."

"Yes, but when your personality threatens the mission, then it is my job to worry!" MacTavish walked towards the wall opposite Roach so he couldn't see his face. He muttered the next sentence. "I'm taking you off of active duty for the time being."

"But I passed my psych exam!"

MacTavish turned around, impatience clear in his face. "By some miracle, I know! But I don't think you're fit for duty, and frankly, I don't know if you will be ever again unless you work this out! I'm ordering you to therapy until the counselor and I agree you're ready to come back."

"Sir-"

"That's enough, Roach. You're dismissed."

Roach stood up and stormed to the door. Without looking back, he exited the office and leaned against the doorframe.

His best friend… gone.

A/N: So after writing a humorous one-shot, I thought I would try the opposite end of the spectrum and attempt a multi-chapter, more serious fic. I hope you enjoy!