She drummed her fingers against her leg as she tapped her foot, her impatience showed clearly. The desert sand was surprisingly bumpy as she would occasionally bounce. Alex had received a phone call from a long time friend, she would even consider him a fatherly figure. What Alex hadn't been expecting was a visit from a General, stating that she would be relocated to Task Force 141 as 2nd Lieutenant. And of course Alex was honored deeply, but she was extremely hesitant to take this offer. She had a daughter to think about and it took a great deal of careful persuasion with the Commander to allow her to stay on base. Letting her concern be known, General Shepherd assured her that he made an arrangement for her daughter to be took care of. John didn't call until a few hours after General Shepherd spoke to her, Alex appreciated the gesture seeing as he meant well but he was indeed very late on giving her a heads up. The car stopping jolted her from her thoughts as they arrived on base. Opening the door she stepped out. As yes the hot, humid heat was the best thing to be greeted with on such a fine day as this.
The door swung open behind her as a little girl bounced out, "Momma!" An excited high pitched voice exclaimed as Alex felt a tugging on her hand, turning around she gave her daughter a quizzical look and a raised eyebrow she asked, "What Bella?" Bella was practically bopping up and down in excitement, "Come on Momma! I wanna see Grandpapa!"
A low chuckle was heard, "Well don't worry kid Grandpapa's right here," Alex huffed as she turned to Price putting a hand on her hip, "Good thing too, I'm pretty sure I was about to be dragged everywhere to find you," Alex broke into a smile, "It's good too see you again old man," Bella had immediately ran up to him, Price picked her up as so she could properly hug him, "C'mon, Soap will be glad to see you again," Alex chuckled as they both began walking in base, "Well, I'd hope so it's been about ten years since I've seen him in person. So what's the lowdown on the whole Second Lieutenant situation, and why me," Alex questioned, her voiced laced with somewhat mild confusion. Price answered with a sigh, "There isn't a complete dire situation that we need one. But with me and Soap busy that leaves our 1st Lieutenant to deal with all of the boys. Who are a bit..." Price huffed, "Wild. If it were up to me I'd string everyone of them up by their ass's," That definitely sounded like him, "The idea of a 2nd Lieutenant to help keep them under control was our first idea. I figured you'd be up to the task, I thought, 'What better way to discipline them then have a mother do it' besides we could always use another helping hand for Ops,"
Alex snorted as she raised an eyebrow unimpressed, "So...what you're trying to tell me is that," Alex stopped for a moment with a sigh as she shook her head in disdain, "You need me to mother grown men so they behave properly?" Alex's face twisted into that of a mildly stoic one, it sounded to Alex like they needed to go back to basic training or maybe back to their mother's. Price gives her his famous 'Really' expression as he huffed, "That's not what I said," Alex snickered as she noted her surroundings, the hallway was long and pristine, people busily rushed by as their pace quickened slightly, "It must be bad if you've recruited me. Didn't think I'd see you again in another five years to be honest," Alex commented, looking ahead with a calm expression as she continued, "But I'm sure I can handle it. Being a mother has prepared me for just about anything, even if that means scolding a bunch of men in their mid thirties. What about the Lieutenant?"
Price arched and eyebrow, "What about him?" Alex groaned slightly as she crossed her arms pressing her tongue against her cheek, "Is he that inefficient that you had to call me to help?" A small smile played on Price's lips as he chuckled, "Far from it. He does his job more then well but you know how it goes. When the cats away mice will play. It's not that they're terrible when he's around. As a matter of fact their on best behavior. But when superiors aren't around, they begin to slack and fool around and things don't get done properly or efficiently. You're mainly here because Shepherd wants you here, don't mistake this side task as all you're doing. Shepherd took notice in your profile after your stunt in Bolivia with the villager's. You just so happen to be a mother and a well disciplined person that we could use to help keep an eye of the team,"
That being said they had arrived at what Alex only assumed was the rec room, Bella had made herself comfortable in Price's grasp and the poor thing looked as though she was about too fall asleep, "So what's this whole arrangement with Bella. The General didn't quite clarify where she'll be staying,"
"There's a nurse here who live's on base that's agreed to let Bella stay with her while your running Ops. Don't you have a little faith in us?" Price asked, a certain touch of teasing in his tone if you listened closely, Alex hummed a response as she chuckled, "Not since that time you told me too stop being childish and playing pranks, and the same day you put cling wrap on all of the toilets,"
Walking into the fairly decent sized rec room, too the left it had a couch and two large chairs on either side of it and a TV in front, to the right there was a round table with a six chairs, and behind the table was counter that lead into what Alex assumed was a makeshift kitchen. The entire room was filled with men, who seemed caught off guard by the new voice. Whispered could be heard and few stared.
This was normal to Alex, but she wasn't sure if it was because of her or because of Price holding Bella, maybe both. Alex paid no attention to that as her attention was turned too a new voice that chuckled, "You have to admit that was a funny day," Alex turned to see Soap, she tried to hold a grim expression but failed, her lips curled into a bright smile, "Well it was for you because you didn't use the bathroom. I'd hug you but sense we're on base and ranking's and-" Alex was cut off by being pulled into a hug, "Rude," Soap chuckled as he let her go with a pat on the back, "Good to see you're doing well lass. How's small fry holding up?" Soap peered over at a very tired Bella, she seemed to perk up at seeing him, "Uncle John!" Price handed her over to Soap as he took hold of her, "You've grown sense I last saw you!" Alex snickered as she looked at him with raised eyebrows, "The only time you've seen her is through video chat,"
Soap ignored her as he continued talking to Bella, "Still as adorable as a button," Bella instantly shot into her new speech about how she was six years old and she was not little nor adorable anymore and should be treated her age, this only made the three of them laugh, "I don't wanna be adorable! I wanna be scary like how Momma is when she fights!" As Bella stated this she gave a small tiny, and frankly adorable sneeze. "I wanna be strong like Momma too! I can sit on her while she does push ups!" Bella yawns before continuing, "But Momma's mainly scary when she fights,"
Alex couldn't help but smile fondly as she answered, "Yes well that's how Momma is suppose to look in order to keep those boys under control," A man had come up behind Soap with a mildly confused and cautious expression, "Erm, Sir may I ask who is this?" Soap smirked as he answered, "This is Bella, my niece," Soap then jerked his head towards Alex, "And that is you're new 2nd Lieutenant," The man seemed to instantly squirm upon meeting Alex's gaze, Soap chuckled, obviously amused at the sight before him, "Don't worry Roach, Alex doesn't bite...Too hard, she is a mother after all,"
"Well don't make them scared of me, I'm just here to do my job," A relaxed smile was on Alex's face but the challenging look in her eye suggested otherwise, taking a step forward as she took note of the mans nervous disposition, his shaggy blond bangs swept above his blue eyes as he seemed to constantly look around. Alex loosened her smile a little, "My name is Alexandria Price, but on base Ma'am will do just fine. What do they call you here?"
He cleared his throat a little before answering, "My names Gary Sanderson, but they call me Roach here ma'am," Before Alex could even open her mouth a shriek came from Bella, "Why would they call you that! Bugs are gross and hard to kill!" Soap chuckled as he let a very horrified Bella down. She looked up with a questioning look on her face. "Well that's why we call him Roach, cause he's hard to kill," The smell of smoke met Alex's nose as she turned to greet the new voice, Alex was met with a tall man, a skull pattern balaclava half way rolled up his chiseled jawline, a cigarette hung from his lips and a cup of coffee in hand and was wearing a pair of what looked to be red painted sunglasses. Alex was took aback by his mildly intimating appearance, but not before she snorted a small laugh, 'Who wears sunglasses inside?' Bella however was not amused by his appearance in fact, she was down right terrified, eyes wide in fear as she scurried behind Alex with a yelp.
Judging by the returned tension in Roach's eye this must of been the Lieutenant, and she could instantly see what Price had meant when he said the lieutenant could do his job efficiently, just from his tall, broad shouldered and straight posture stance told her so. Unlike her frighten daughter Alex took a step forward with a hand held out, "You must be the Lieutenant. Alexandria Price," With cigarette still in mouth he shook her hand, it was firm and quite cold, as he broke the handshake he took the cigarette, letting the smoke roll off his lips as he replied, "Simon Riley. But Ghost 'ill do," Alex could also tell that he was definitely from Manchester from how thick his accent was. "Momma!" Bella let out a hush cry as she began tugging on Alex's hand nervously, not wanting her mother so close to such a scary person.
Alex looked at her timid daughter then back to Ghost with a rather embarrassed smile, "I apologize, she's easily frightened," That being said she took a step back so Bella would calm down, out of all the people Bella had to be afraid of, of course it had to be the lieutenant, who she would not only be working with closely but also rooming with. Ghost let out a sigh as he leaned over the couch, putting his cigarette out in an ash tray as well as set his mug down the coffee table that sat in front of the tv. Alex was slightly baffled when he crouched down eye level with Bella as he took off his sunglasses, revealing soft dusty grey eyes. Pulling the rest of his mask off to show a rather tired face, he had a strong nose and his eyes had dark circles underneath them showing his lack of sleep as well as short well kept dark brown hair, "My name might be Ghost but I can assure you I'm not an actual one," Bella hesitated for a second, before reluctantly leaving the safety of her mother's side,
"What's your name?" He asked softly as she slowly approached him, cautiously watching for any sudden movement. Once Bella seemed to deem him safe she gave him a bright closed eyed grin, "Rosabella Jane Price!" Alex grinned shaking her head, her smile softens as she meets the lieutenants gaze before looking towards Price and Soap. Her smile slowly formed into a smirk, "Well Bella, technically this man is indeed my superior. And it wasn't very polite of you to run away from him," Bella's eyes widened as she began repeatedly apologizing to Ghost, "I-I didn't mean too be mean! I'm sorry Simon did I hurt you?" Her eyes almost looked as though they were close to watering, a hint of a smile played on Ghost's lips as he stood up, patting her head, "No hard feelings mate. You did the right thing, not all people are friendly,"
There seemed to be a new found light in Bella's eyes as she watched in awe as the very tall man put his mask and sunglasses back on, "Momma! Where's my coloring book at?" She seemed mildly distressed as she asked this. Alex cocked her head to the side perplexed by her daughters state seeing as Bella never seemed to be so enthusiastic to color, "Her stuff arrived yesterday, should be at housing with Sam," Price chimed in. "Aye, I'll take you both there," Soap concluded. Bella bopped up and down eagerly, "Please! Please! Please uncle John! I need my coloring book!"
Soap chuckled as he ruffled her hair, "Alright c'mon lass," Alex gave a breathy laugh before give a small smile towards Ghost and Roach before following suit.
"So who is this nurse again?" Alex questioned as she hurried to get by Soap's side, "Her name's Samira Folt, 28 years old. A pretty sweet girl so far that I know of, she's been here for about five years so far. Bella will only be staying with her when you're on missions. Otherwise she'll be sleeping in the room across from your's and Ghost's it's empty so you won't have to worry about any strange roommates," Alex hummed in approval as she once in awhile looked back to make sure Bella was following, "Sam should still be working in the Infirmary, figured you'd want to meet her first, then we'll head to housing and get Bella's coloring book,"
Alex gave a small smile with a nod, "Sounds like a plan,"
Hey guys! So I'm extremely excited to present to you the new rewrite of Ghost In The Night! And basically, everything is different? Like I didn't mean for it to happen but it did lol! Either way I'm really pleased with the outcome and I hope you guys are too, I'll be working on chapter 2 asap! I can't give an exact date as to when it will be up but I'll try to have it up soon! Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed reading as much as I did writing!
Cheers!
Sincerely, Red Dawn Shadow.