First off, let me just say: THANK YOU SO MUCH! The reviews were amazing and helpful. I'm so happy you guys love this story so far (even if it's only one chapter in). I really hope to keep your attention for the next chapters. This one is just an after math, so I hope you can enjoy this chapter even if it's just a somewhat "filler" chapter.

The replies to the reviews are after the story!

MESSAGE:I realized that before I typed up the first chapter that I am neither a doctor, nor a decent pretend one when I put my mind to it. So the symptoms that Roach will have are NOT A REAL DESEASE! It's just something I made up and I hope you will be fine with that.

Please enjoy and read well.

Darkness.

It was pitch-black and the air was full. The thickness that hung around his lungs was dense. The oxygen seemed as if it was thick with water, like he was deep in an ocean trench, trying to get a gaze at the twilight zone. And yet there he was, breathing in thick heaps of water, surrounded by darkness. Then as he turned in circles, like a dog would chasing his tail, trying to find any glimpse of light, a faint beep tapped against his eardrum.

Beep…

Beep, beep…

He stuck his finger into his right ear and scratched. Then waited, and waited. He turned. There it was the beeping sound. But it was coming from all around, and with each sound, he got more and more confused. Suddenly the sound seemed like it was coming from him – or was it near him? He covered his ears with his hands, hoping that the sound would stop. It was beginning to irritate him. The noise disappeared. Then his chest gave a light pound, like a base drum keeping the rhythm that had just been presented.

And he blinked.

The light was bright. Not a blinding light, though. More of a soft yellow light, instead of the bright white light he hoped he wouldn't see. His hands balled into fists and the sheets, which crumpled into his palms, were soft and slightly comforting. He breathed in as his eyes slowly adjusted to the lighting of the room.

He pulled his neck to the side, the muscles on his right side felt slightly taut. Laying the side of his face on the soft pillow supported his sore neck. There it was the source of the beeping sound: a heart beating monitor. Looking back at the ceiling, he puffed out a lung full of air. Good, he wasn't going crazy.

"So you're finally awake," a voice reached his ear. Moving his eyes, Roach gazed upon his captain. "Thought you would've been out lounger," MacTavish continued. "You gave Meat and Ghost one hell of a scare. And I'm not going to begin to describe how depressed Archer is about this." Roach blinked. Was he supposed to reply? "You know, mate…I haven't seen Archer that upset about someone in a while." Apparently not, Roach raised an eyebrow. Before continuing, MacTavish leaned forward in his chair and placed his elbow on his knee and looked at Roach with a tiered gaze. "He said something about, 'I was supposed to get him back safe and sound,' and 'I should of made sure he was with Ghost and Meat before packing up.'"

Roach swallowed and scratched the side of his face as he slowly sat up, "Uh…"

"Ya don't have to apologize, Roach."

"…Yes sir."

"But of course," MacTavish leaned back in his chair, the front legs lifting off the ground as he placed his hands behind his head. "Ghost and the others are right outside that door, waitin' to hear what happened."

This time, as MacTavish let the others into the room, Roach drifted his hand to his neck. His sight becoming slightly glazed over as he was pushed into thought. Did they check him over? They had to, it was procedure, plus he was stripped down to his old T-Shirt and boxers. Had they not noticed the piercing mark? By now there should be a bruise, right? From the way the man had attacked him and forced the needle into his neck, there should be a mark, bruise or something like that…possibly? Or had he just dreamed it? No, no, no. Of course not, but. If he had then what put him in here?

"So, tell us what happened, bug." Ghost's voice brought him back quickly.

"Uh…" Crap, what was he going to say? What the hell was he going to say? "I think I was dehydrated…?" His voice lifted slightly at the end of his sentence, making it sound as if he was clueless. Which he was.

Roach mentally slapped himself. Why did he say that? He should tell them about that man and that needle. But then again, Meat was here and Meat was one of those teammates that wouldn't let this topic go unnoticed by the whole Task Force. Roach could hear the bickering now, why he froze at the sight of a needle. Why he let someone force a needle into his neck. Why he…why – why did he let those events unfold? And more importantly, why the fuck did he freeze? He's never done that before. So why did he do it on this mission, and in front of an enemy none the less.

"Scans did say he was dehydrated," MacTavish said glancing into Ghost's eyes.

"Roach do you even know what happened," Meat questioned Roach as he leaned forward into the bug's space.

"I can't really remember," Roach replied sheepishly.

"Well when you remember, tell us," MacTavish said as he headed for the door. "I'm going to get breakfast. Meat, Ghost, you want to get some too?" Meat nodded silently as Ghost just shook his head back and forth once before MacTavish and Meat were gone from the room.

Roach looked up at Ghost, who had kept his gaze at the soldier. "What the hell happened?" He demanded harshly.

Roach winced slightly and fumbled with his thumbs, "I don't remember." A lie, of course, but why wasn't he mentioning anything. The only other person in the room with him was Ghost, so why was the thought running away.

"I know your lying, Gary." Ghost growled, low – deep – threatening.

Roach shivered, "I'm not," he replied lowering his head.

"Bull-fucking-shit," Ghost crossed his arms, "I know your lying, bug, and when I find out the truth, there will be hell to pay." But before Roach could reply, Ghost walked out of the room with a slam of the door to notify his anger.

He slowly realized the gradually rising pain in his neck, but that was overlapped from the strain of thought that began to plague his mind. It was quiet as Roach sat in the infirmary alone. His palms covered his eyes as he leaned forward, "What the hell am I doing?"

Ghost stopped breathing. Roach was crumpled on the dusty ground, his form looking like an old tattered rag doll.

"Roach!" Ghost screamed, his arms dropping the assault riffle as he ran towards the fallen soldier. As Ghost reached the side of his friend, he gently turned Roach on his back and slapped the side of his face. "Oi, bug. Oi. Oi, wake up. Damn it, Roach! I said, wake up."

"Is he alright?" Meat whispered, coming up behind lieutenant.

"We need to get him to the chopper," Ghost growled, his eyes running to the side of Roach's neck and then suddenly put Roach on his back. "Let's go, hurry. I don't like this." He didn't like it at all. Nothing felt right. Not right one bit.

Oh how right he was.

Chapter 2 is finished and here are my replies from all 13 reviews! Also thanks for those who've favorite and followed this story! Thank you so much guys, you really are amazing :) I hope to get just as much or (if I'm lucky) get even more for this chapter!

VioletIsabelleLovett: Chilling! Your so kind :D I was aiming for that! I'm so glad! Thank you! So much! I really hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Migisi: It is different! I'm so glad you like it! But don't worry, the action won't die down, this is just the beginning.

Guest: Thank you :D I hope you enjoy this chapter also.

Reg: Hehe, thanks. I hope you like this story! And yes, needles do give me the creeps. :)

NoNeedToAsk: That is some dream…Man oh man worse experience so far with pain in my life. But as long as your hand is ok and it's not really burnt then we are all set! And your English was fine :)

Lisbet Adair: Thanks for the info, and I have taken that into consideration. I will see what I can do about changing the first chapter, but not change too much of it. I should just tweak a few things here and there. But thanks for the review, it was helpful.

Dunedain789: BEST REVIEW! EVAAAAAAAR! You made me laugh, and I LOVE those reviews! I hope you enjoyed this chapter :)

DustMan: Haha, thanks :) I'm glad you like it and hopefully this story will live up to that word tenfold!

Guest: I'm putting their review into consideration to change a few things in the first chapter, and thanks so much, I hope I can keep your attention throughout this story.

momo7902: Well I'm glad I'm not dead ^_^ I hope you enjoyed this chapter and next one should be a really interesting one.

Laurho: Thanks so much for the review! And here's an update! They should be out every Saturday morning, if life doesn't get in the way. Also, needles do suck, I don't enjoy them either. Thanks again! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :D

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