MacTavish took a seat next to Roach on a fallen tree and lit a cigar. The only good part of missions in Russia, the captain figured, was the beautiful, snow filled wilderness. Even though it was cold. He turned to Roach and found that the young sergeant had tucked his legs up to his chest and was shivering wildly.

" You alright, mate?"

Roach turned to his captain and nodded.

" Yes sir."

MacTavish winced at the sound of the 21 year olds voice, it was scratchy and hoarse.

" Cold?"

Roach instantly shook his head. He was, but had to much pride to admit it.

" No sir."

MacTavish rolled his eyes. He knew damn well Roach would rather freeze to death than admit he's cold. Without another word the older man and rapped one massive arm around Roach's thin shoulders.

" Thanks captain." The young soldier sighed. " But, you don't have to-"

His sentence was cut off by a serious of hacking chokes and coughs that shook his whole body.

" Do that." Roach finished, wheezing. MacTavish pulled him closer in response.

" Pick up will be here soon. Try not to lose a lung."

Roach smiled and leaned against him weakly.

The next night….

Ghost took a sip of tea and turned to the next page of his book.

" Ghost?"

The Englishman jumped, almost spilling tea all over his bed sheets. He turned to MacTavish, who had entered their shared tent, un-noticed.

" Aye sir?"

" Can you check on Roach?"

Ghost raised an eyebrow.

" What's the little bugger done this time?"

MacTavish shook his head.

" He wasn't at dinner. I would check myself but I have a meeting with Price."

Without waiting for Ghost response the captain exited the tent.

" They don't pay me enough for this." The lieutenant mumbled as he reached for his mask and sun glasses.

Two minutes later….

Ghost entered Roach's tent and expected to see sleeping soldiers, but was mistaken. Meat and Worn were brawling on the floor, screaming profanities as they went. Royce, on the other hand, was sitting on his bunk, blasting rock and roll music from his ear buds and banging two pencils on the frame of the bed as if it were a drum set. Ghost approached Roach's bed carefully, barley dodging Meat And Worm as he went. The younger man was curled up in a ball under the covers, wheezing and coughing.

" Roach?' Ghost asked, placing a hand on what he guessed was the sergeants shoulder.

" No Meat, I wont pull your finger, fuck off." He groaned in response. What the bloody hell do they do in here?

" Its Ghost, MacTavish wanted me to check on you." The lieutenant tried again as he peeled back the blanket, exposing Roach's head. He didn't look well. The 21 year olds face had gone completely pale, his thick black hair plastered to his face by sweat.

" Your burning up." Ghost observed with concern as he felt his friends forehead. Roach barley heard him over his roommates screaming on the other side of the room.

" Im fine Ghost, really." He managed with a weak smile.

" Yeah, and really Australian." Ghost answered sarcastically. He knew Roach would refuse to go to the medical tent, so he just skipped that option. Then, the older man remembered their tent had a spare bunk.

" Get up, your coming with me."

Roach raised an eyebrow.

" What?"

" Just come on, you cant sleep in here. Its quieter in our tent. "

Later that night…..

MacTavish entered the tent and immediately noticed the small bump in the middle of his bed. He already knew who it was.

" There appears to be a roach in my bed." He observed sarcastically, turning to Ghost, who had returned to reading on his own top bunk bed. Ghost looked up and smiled.

" I was afraid if I put him on the spare top bunk he would fall off, and putting him in Prices bed wouldn't have ended well."

MacTavish raised an eyebrow.

" And you say a baby him." He mumbled playfully.

Ghost stuck out his tongue in response.