Being in the special forces means specialised training sessions. Being in the team made up of the best special forces members from around the world means putting one's balls through the meat grinder almost everyday. As he nods off to slumber after an exhausting trip up and down a hill, Roach remembers the first time he went out on a date with the task force.

"Captain, we have Virgo secured. ETA to RV site, 5 mikes, over," Ghost spoke into his radio.

"Copy. We've set up a perimeter at the RV site, over," MacTavish replied. Ghost tapped Roach on the shoulder, and the team made their way down the wooded slope of the hill. Roach struggled with the handling of 'Virgo', their mission objective. He wished the captain had chosen something smaller for a package, instead of a big ass boombox.

As they cleared the woods, Ghost spoke into his radio once more. "Watch your fire, friendlies coming out of the trees at your one o'clock."

Ghost led Roach, Royce and Rook to the beach where MacTavish and his team kept watch over horizon for hostiles. The two teams wasted no time in prepping up their Zodiac boats. They revved the engines and were soon on their way back to base. But the weather was unkind, and the wind whipped the waves and stirred the sea. The two Zodiacs cleared their first giant wave. Roach could feel his heart fly out of his chest as they hit the water again. There were more waves to overcome, and night was creeping in.

An hour later, MacTavish received an update from Ghost. "Sir, hypothermia's gotten Roach."

"Have your team keep him close to share body heat."

"Already on it, sir."

Ghost carefully shifted his weight around the Zodiac, eventually managing to hug Roach. Even with Rook on the steering and Royce holding on to Roach, Ghost could see the FNG's lips turn pale and blue, and that he had stopped shivering. Ghost planted his face against Roach's neck. He shuddered at how icy Roach's skin was. The Lieutenant hoped the winds would calm down. It never happened, but he was relieved all the same to spot the outline of a shore and blinking lights in the distance.

Roach made his way back to his room after three days spent at the hospital near the base. Technically, he shared it with Royce, but it was still his room. It didn't take long for dear friends of the task force to find him in the corridors and tease him about the hypothermia incident.

Ghost patted him on the back. "You almost died. I think I deserve a kind word for the trouble I faced taking care of you."

Sergeant Gary Sanderson was flushed and flustered being at the centre of their attention. He tried to look away.

"Oh – I think he's giving you the cold shoulder, LT!" Royce piped in.

Rook joins in the conversation. "Oh snap, you're gonna need some ice for that burn!"

"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm always chill," Ghost responds. As soon as the words tumbled out of his mouth, their captain called out to them from the bend in the corridor.

"Don't think you're cool just yet. Hurry up, we have a mission briefing in ten minutes," MacTavish said.

Roach laughed heartily. "Icy what you did there, sir."

Military acronyms used;

ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival

RV: Rendezvous

Mikes: Minutes