Here we go with chapter 2. Also I do try to make this is real as possible. Keep in mind that the mission in this chapter is STEALTH, meaning that they try to be quiet and won't be jumping from roof top to roof top with a hoard of tango after them at the beginning of the chapter.

Rico POV

Rico sighed after his last failed attempt at beating his record time on the obstacle course. Sitting heavily in the desert sand he wiped off the dust on his knees, grimacing when the sand stuck to his sweaty palms.

"Rico!" Head snapping around Rico quickly stood up sharply as Ghost walked up to him.

"Yes sir?"

"It's been discussed and you'll be joining Soap, Roach, and I on a mission tonight. Roach needs some practice being Squad leader so you'll be with him."

Rico blinked for a moment. They wanted him to be on their mission? Not sure what to think of the information he just blinked at Ghost for a moment.

"There a problem?"

Rico shook his head rapidly. "No sir. No problem at all. I'm just surprised at the opportunity sir."

Rico couldn't help but hear the slightly smile in the Lieutenants voice, "I'm sure you'll do just fine Rico." With a friendly pat on the shoulder Ghost walked away, a satisfied yet mischievous smirk underneath his mask.

Roach POV

"Ghost I really do think you should stop playing match maker."

"Aw, now where's the fun in that?"

Roach slung his silenced ACR over his shoulder before looking over at Ghost.

"I mean it man. What makes you think he's even gay? For all we know the kid could have a girlfriend at home."

Ghost shrugged, "Who knows. Maybe he's bi?"

Roach punched Ghost in the shoulder slightly harder than normal before capturing him in a headlock.

Ghost huffed as he felt his face turn red, panting he forced out, "Roach, is this really necessary?"

"Promise me no funny business on the mission?"

"Oh come on…"

Roach jerked his arms, causing Ghost to grunt.

"Ok I promise. Now let go mate."

With a satisfied nod Roach let him go, only to still as Rico entered the armory. Ghost and Roach both watched from the side of the room as Rico walked up to the armor. "You got an ACR, silenced, with a holographic?" This to Roach's dismay, seemed really funny to Ghost. Between snorts Ghost couldn't help but whisper to Roach, "Shit man he's just like you. He even gets the same attachments." Sighing Gary pushed Ghost out of the armory towards the stealth aircraft that would take them to their destination.

Rico POV

Sitting in the aircraft crammed between Roach and Ghost, Rico couldn't help the blush that spread across his cheeks when he noticed how tightly his leg was pressed against the others. To hide his discomfort he readjusted the night vision goggles attached to his helmet. When the red light came on all the men stood up to check each other's parachutes. "Ok, Roach and Rico first, Ghost and I will fallow." With a nod of understanding the hatch to the back opened up. Taking a deep breath and adjusting his ACR on his shoulder, Rico walked out onto the edge, a deep calm coming over him. He loved this. When the green light flashed on he looked over at Roach, who nodded, and then he was flying.

Roach POV

Roach grunted as he landed in the desert sand. As he took off his parachute his head turned when he heard a light thump off to his right. Lowering his night vision goggles he caught eye contact with Rico who gave him a thumbs up. Off to his left he watched Soap and Ghost land. Meeting together Soap laid out a map for everyone to look at.

"Ok, we already covered this at base, but let's go over the basics. There's a building here on the outskirts on the west side of town here, two stories. In the basement is the control room. Ghost will download what our intel says to be blueprints for a possible rocket launch coming up Russia. Meanwhile, Roach and Rico, you'll be headed towards the center of the town here. Small building, one level, brick building there should be an office at the end of the main hallway on the first floor. You need to find a file on a person that goes by the name of Ryan Smith. We'll need to be back at the rendezvous point here just north of the town where a helicopter will pick us up in 2 hours. Ok let's go."

With a hand signal to Rico, Roach headed off to the eastern side of the town. Roach swore silently under his breath when they encountered a chain link fence surrounding the town. Lucky for him he had given his cutters to Ghost a few days ago.

"Well this wasn't on the map." He said angrily under his breath. Feeling a tap on his shoulder he looked behind to see that Rico had tapped his shoulder with a small pair of bolt cutters. Raising an eyebrow Roach grabbed the bolt cutters, cutting a large enough gap for them to get through in just a few minutes. Handing back the cutters Roach patted Rico on the shoulder before heading through hugging the back alleys as he fallowed a mental map of the town. After 50 minutes of maneuvering throughout the town they finally stopped in a dark alley. Across from them stood the brick building, standing very obvious compared to the other plain sandy brown buildings surrounding it. The moon cast a large glare against the dirt road that separated them, adding an uneasy feel to the mission. Roach glanced over at Rico before sighing. To get to the building they would have to make a run for it across the road. Looking back at Rico he couldn't help but worry. His first stealth mission in charge and he was responsible for the kid. The look in the kid's eyes were encouraging though. Rico knew what they were going to do, and with that knowledge he gave a grin and nod to Roach before hefting his weapon into a more comfortable position. Roach held up his 3 fingers.

"3…2…1…" and with that Roach launched himself, leaning forward for momentum as he held his weapon tight against his body to reduce noise. Slamming his back against the brick wall of the building Roach waited until he felt the pat on his shoulder signaling that Rico was ready to go. For a tense moment Roach waited to see if anyone had noticed them before moving to the back door. He glanced down at the double doors handles for a fleeting moment, long enough to see that it was locked together with a chain. One look at Rico said it all as he was handed the bolt cutters once more. As Rico caught the loose chain to set it silently on the ground Roach brought his weapon and aimed down the sights as he slowly opened the door with Rico stacked up behind him. When it appeared nobody was in the building Roach slowly stalked to the closed door to what was supposed to be the office. Stacking up on the outside of the door Roach grabbed the door before throwing open.

Click

Roach stilled for a moment as his mind instantly processed the noise. Quickly looking behind him he looked at Rico who's eyes went wide. Without thinking Roach through himself at Rico.

Rico POV

Rico fell to the ground with a heavy thud, his head banging against the stone floor causing him to see black spots. He felt the body above him jerk for a moment before he heard Roach groan in his ear. Gently so as not to injure him further Rico slid out from beneath the larger man. Feeling something wet on his face he reached up to see that it was blood.

"Oh shit… Roach… Roach?" he looked at the man who was trying to stand back up only to fall back on his stomach fallowed by a very colorful list of profanities. Noticing the blood seeping out of his back and one side of his face Rico swore. "Fuck man stop moving!" Not exactly sure whether it was wise to say that to one of his superiors but not caring for a moment Rico pulled off Roach's vest before helping him into a sitting position and hastily wrapping his torso and head as gunshots were heard. "Oh shit we need the file. Stay right there." Running into the office he opened up the filing cabinet and sorted through all the files, all the while talking to himself.

"Ryan Smith, Ryan Smith, Ryan Smith… where the fuck… ok here we go." Shoving the file into his cargo pocket he came back to Roach who was nodding his head against the wall he was leaning against. Running up to him he took the headset Roach was wearing and put it on hastily before not so easily lifting Roach into a firemans carry. Rico ran out the back door and sprinted across the main road, hearing the sound of bullets hitting dirt at his feet. Finding his bearing he got into the alleys before he panted into the mike, his back straining from the weight of Roach who was nodding off from blood loss.

"Bravo to Alpha do you copy?"

Rico waited a moment before a reply was heard, the already familiar Scottish accent filling his ears.

"Alpha copy. What the hell is going on down there?"

"Get a medevac. IED on the door. Roach in critical condition. Have the objective. Not far from rendezvous, about 1 minute. Gonna be a lot of heavy fire."

"Rodger."

Rico sucked in a heavy breath as he finished, hefting Roach and shaking his head as a steady stream of blood was now running down his face and into his eyes. Rico looked over his shoulder to see Roach was nearly out cold.

"Roach you fucker, you better not die on me! I swear to God I did not carry your heavy ass up this hill for nothing!" Rico smiled when Roach weakly put his hand in front of Rico's face and gave him the middle finger. When Rico heard the familiar sound of a helicopter above him he couldn't help but smile, only to swear as his leg nearly gave out from a bullet grazing his thigh. When the helicopter was hovering just in front of him he not so gracefully shoved Roach onto the deck of the aircraft. Reaching his hands in he nearly fell out of the helicopter as it took off from exhaustion, only to feel a pair of hands grab his vest, heaving him inside. His heart pounded in his chest as he lay on the floor, his lungs burning. As he sat up he cringed as his back set off a staccato of cracks, nearly getting stuck in the sitting position if Soap hadn't thumped him heavily on the shoulder.

"Good job mate. You got the file?"

Rico nodded before reaching into his pocket and wincing. The file was in the same spot where he had gotten grazed. Pulling out the crumpled file he couldn't help but notice the blood that covered its entirety. Soap glanced at him, "That your blood mate?"

Rico shrugged, "It's not that bad, and anyway, the docs busy with Roach." Rico glanced over at Roach who was glaring up at Ghost as the doc tended to his wounds. The doc had given him a shot of adrenalin and he had been lightly bickering with Ghost ever since.

"Well make sure to get it cleaned up when you can, and good job dragging Roach out of there. He isn't the lightest of guys."

"Hey! I aint no heavy ass either!"

Soap raised an eyebrow as Rico smiled sheepishly. Ghost laughed, "Damn mate, I like this kid." Ghost patted Rico heavily on his shoulder, causing him to sway. "Welcome to the Task Force Rico."

Ok I hate writing action scenes, but I think I did O.K. Tell me what you think, don't be hiding in the shadows. You review, I get motivated, I get motivated, I get ideas, I get ideas, I update.