Hostage situations were never Ghost's strong point.

This is why he questioned Shepherd's logic in sending him out. MacTavish, or maybe even the FNG Roach would do better. But he got picked special when he answered the phone when no one was in the communications room with him.

Of course, these thoughts really didn't matter now, seeing as how his hands were plasticuffed behind his back and an AK-47 was placed firmly on the back of his head. The OpFor had managed to take a school hostage, in the middle of a school day, and rather than send out the local Rangers situated out on base a few miles away, Shepherd decided to use the One-Four-One, with Ghost being the negotiator. Again, Ghost questioned the general's logic. A grown, well built man with a skull mask and red sunglasses hiding his face, not to mention the ACR (even if it was empty, he kept it for a false sense of security; the OpFor didn't know that) slung across his back that was approaching your building? Of course you would jump him as soon as his step foot into the doors.

Ghost listened lazily as the apparent leader stared to make demands in front of the school, where Shepherd had apparently set up the Rangers, whom Ghost thought wouldn't "be needed" in this mission by Shepherd's words, sat behind armored vehicles and planning. Ghost continuously rolled his eyes at every demand they made, his sunglasses hiding the gesture. A little girl sat next to him, crying softly. Ghost tried to give her a comforting smile, forgetting his balaclava had a demented picture of a grinning skull as the pattern. The girl cried harder, and Ghost gave up, sighing as he turned away.

Someone pulled Ghost up quickly, turning back into the building and tugging him along. The little girl was hoisted onto someone's shoulder, and they proceeded down some hallways where little children's art decorated the wall. Ghost almost scoffed at the irony. They enter a classroom, where five men sat inside with guns. At least twenty other students were inside, and they were all huddled fearfully along the back wall.

"On your knees!" the OpFor that had pulled Ghost yelled, jabbing his gun into a still healing wound Ghost had on his side from a mission earlier in the week. Pain flared through his body as he kneeled slowly, watching the other OpFor with sharp eyes.

"Surrender your gear!" he yelled again. The plasticuffs were removed, and Ghost removed the Kevlar vest, ACR, and headset radio down neatly.

"The mask stays on." he said sternly. The OpFor exchanged looks before nodding in agreement. The one apparently in charge of his pushed him and Ghost stood up. The OpFor motioned to go deeper into the room, and Ghost complied, taking one of the small seats in the corner and watching with weary eyes as the children squeezed together in the corner farthest from both Ghost and the OpFor.

Again, Ghost questioned Shepherd's logic.

If my balaclava was meant to scare people, which it did with at least everyone on base and Shepherd himself on a few occasions, then why send me into a school filled with children? It's a completely idiotic and it's a stupid move on Sh-

Loud static erupted in Ghost's ears, prompting him to jump and stop his mini-rant. He'd forgotten he had hidden a throat mic and speaker under his balaclava, and luckily nobody noticed his sudden jump (the OpFor had gotten into a heated debate while Ghost spaced, and he hadn't noticed them). Morse code sounded through, the taps being translated into letters and words in Ghost's head quickly.

"Sniper team in position."

"Support team ready."

"XO give orders."

Ghost leaned forward, a small smirk hidden on his face and he moved his finger over the mic.

"Ghost here. Missio-"

"You! Come!" the OpFor (Ghost had nicknamed him Nutter for entertainment's sake a while ago) yelled. Ghost was forced to stop mid-word, hearing a few whispers in his speaker of uncertainty. As he stood, Ghost was recuffed and led back to the front of the school where he was almost ten minutes ago.

"Give us our demands or he is the first to die!" The leader (Ghost called him Lima, again for entertainment) yelled. Nutter placed an AK-47 against his head. Now Ghost was getting nervous. He was probably going to get sh-

Ghost's vision caught a glare off in the distance on a high roof with a shadowed figure next to it. Toad. Maybe this could be turned for the better.

"You bunch of nancies! Go ahead and shoot!" Ghost heard the telltale accent of his captain yell out. From where, he didn't have the slightest idea. He just hoped they had an idea that didn't involve planning for his funeral.

"I knew you didn't have it in you!" MacTavish yelled. Ghost started to chuckle lightly. Just like the captain.

"Quiet!" Nutter yelled, remembering the sore spot on Ghost's side and delivering a swift, hard kick to said spot. Ghost's vision went white with pain as he almost yelled out. Instead it came out as a very audible groan as he fell forward, lying in pain. His radio buzzed to life instantly. Right, it was still on...

"Ghost! Are you alright!" MacTavish yelled.

"Sir! Permission to fire?"

"GO Toad!"

A loud bang sounded, and Ghost's vision cleared enough to see the same man that had kicked him lying in a pool of blood next to him, his eyes blank. Another bang sounded and the leader fell, a knife falling next to Ghost. He took it and started to cut at his bonds carefully, so as not to cut his own wrists and risk bleeding to death. Another bang sounded out, and he could hear the bullet hit the concrete wall behind him. Someone yelling a warning ran inside as another bang sounded out. Ghost got up slowly as MacTavish climbed the stairs to the school.

"You alright mate?" he asked. Ghost nodded slowly, grabbing the AK-47 that previously was held by his captor and checked the ammo.

"I told Shepherd sending me in was a bad idea."

"Too late to do anything about it now. Where are the kids?"

"Classroom down the hall. There should be six to nine men left in there." Ghost replied, turning on his mic. "Thanks for the save Toad."

"No problem Ghost." Toad replied, his voice scratchy through the mic. MacTavish nodded, pulling out his M1911 and checking the ammo.

"Alright, let's get a move on then." The captain said, leading the way inside. They turned a corner, and bullets started to pepper the air MacTavish had occupied seconds before Ghost pulled him back.

"Bollocks…why do they want a school to begin with?" Ghost yelled out, throwing a flash bang around the corner. MacTavish turned around the corner and fired quickly, a few outcries and grunts sounding. The captain took a new spot behind the other wall.

"Doesn't matter! Go around and tried to clear the hostage room!" he yelled. Ghost nodded, sprinting away as he yelled "Got it!"

A few classrooms were connected together before opening into the hall the OpFor were hiding in. Ghost snuck through quietly, careful not to trip over the many scattered chairs and not to make too much noise. The last room before the room where he and the children were held had his Kevlar vest, ACR and ammo. He slung the ACR over his shoulder after he pulled on the vest. As Ghost crept towards the door, he spotted a lone guard outside the door holding the children as some men yelled inside. He took a silencer out of his pocket and fitted it onto the AK, and fired a short burst. The bullets tore through the man's chest and one hit his neck, making him silent as he fell.

A girl screaming made Ghost run to the door, putting an ear against it to listen. He didn't hear anything, and that made him worry. With a deep breath he brought up the AK 47 and aimed it into the door and kicked it down, wood splinters flying through the air. Four men were inside, three turning to aim their guns at him and the last ready to shoot at a girl. Ghost aimed swiftly to the last man, saving the girl before switching his aim and shooting three consecutive bursts and the remaining men who fell, lifeless to the floor. Ghost took a deep breath, closing his eyes as a hand fell on his shoulder.

"Clear." He announced. MacTavish walked past him, holstering his M1911.

"Great job Ghost. Now let's get these kids outta here." MacTavish said, pulling out his radio.

"I'll leave you to it then." Ghost turned on his heels and tried to leave quickly before MacTavish pulled him back again.

"C'mon mate, I'm going to need help." MacTavish's hand clenched on Ghost's shoulder before dragging the reluctant lieutenant after him. All of the children immediately backed up into the corner as soon as Ghost entered.

"This is why I didn't want to come in here." Ghost muttered.

"It's alright, we're here to help you." MacTavish smiled as he approached. As he knelt down, he spoke briskly. "Ghost, take off that damned mask." Ghost raised a hidden eyebrow.

"Is that a threat?"

"No, an order. You can put it back on when the kids are out." MacTavish replied.

"If I don't?" Ghost scoffed. MacTavish didn't answer, speaking to the children in their native tongue.

"'Tavish?" The captain turned, a suspicious gleam in his eyes.

"…'Tavish…?" Ghost backed up slowly, bumping against the wall.

"Go!" the captain yelled.

'I hate you John.'

Ghost found himself pinned down by thirty giggling kids, MacTavish smiling down at him.

"JOHN I AM GOING TO BLOODY KILL YOU!" Ghost yelled. MacTavish only smiled wider, reaching down and taking Ghost's sunglasses off. "Get these kids offa me John!"

"See, he isn't that scary." MacTavish laughed. Then he dared to do what no one had done before.

Unmask him.

Here, Ghost managed to keep the mask tightly on his head as it should be. How, he had no clue, especially with John AND the other children attempting to do so. Finally he managed to get himself out of the dog pile, a few boys still trying to pin him down.

"Bollocks 'Tavish. Next time I won't be there when you're pinned down by five guys trying to shoot you.

"Unless you want to get a court martial." Ghost scoffed, snatching his glasses back and placing them back on neatly. The boys gave up, but they stood around the two men, giggling and talking with each other.

"Let's get these kids outta here." MacTavish smiled, looking out the door as a few Rangers came down the hall way. Ghost sighed heavily, a crease mark forming on his mask and his hidden eyes lighting up a bit.

"Yeah, let's get the tikes out of here."