Ghost's many healing wounds were throbbing by the time they reached the small helicopter that was hidden under bushes and debris a few miles from the town. There had been no detection of anyone following the Task Force members which for once was a lucky break. Soap helped Nikolai pull the brush off the rotors as Ghost crouched beside Archer, his eyes darting around the darkness in search of movement. Archer however, was too distracted by Ghost's bloodstained jacket.

"What happened?" He whispered.

Ghost glanced at his friend but remained silent. He didn't know what to say and he couldn't bring himself to lie. The last thing he wanted was for Archer to fear him because he couldn't control his temper. Ghost was saved from the awkward decision from Soap calling out from behind them.

"Ghost, Archer, load up, let's go."

Ghost jumped up at the command, and climbed into the chopper behind his Captain as the rotor blades starting spinning. Archer and Price followed close behind. Ghost seated himself across from Soap, next to the opening in the chopper so he could gaze out at the night sky. Archer and Price sat on the opposite side, Archer next to Ghost and Price joining his ex subordinate. Ghost took deep breaths as the throbbing pains in his body began to ease. He was grateful for the silence inside the chopper, the only noise coming from the rotor blades as the bird lifted into the air.

"Where are we heading?" Nikolai asked over the mic, shattering the silence.

Price glanced toward Soap.

"The UK might be our best bet. Archer and Ghost are still young, I'm sure they have friends and family there that might be able to give us a place to stay til we get our strength back."

"I have an Uncle in Manchester that I'm sure would help," Archer piped up, "He has a guest house we could use."

Ghost swallowed hard at the idea. The idea of returning home haunted his very soul more than Roba ever could.

"It's worth a shot. We have nowhere else to go." Price said.

After a moment, Soap nodded in agreement.

"Manchester, Nikolai. Can we make that?"

"Da my friend. I will need to stop to refuel a few times but we can do that."

"How far is it?" Archer asked.

"From here? A little over 1300 miles." Soap replied as he leaned back to get comfortable.

"Presuming we aren't shot out of the sky first." Price teased.

Ever fiber in Ghost's body screamed to him to not return home. He knew nothing good could come of it but he remained silent. Price was right. They didn't have a choice and he knew that if he didn't take it easy for a few days his wounds would never heal. The burns on his forearm still stung beneath the bandages when he moved and the blast he took to the shoulder still throbbed with every step. The cuts stab wounds he had from his torture in the safehouse were healing nicely as long as he didn't reopen them. Ghost gazed outside, watching the lights from the town grow into a small speck in the surrounding darkness. He breathed in some of the sharp cold air that flowed into the chopper and tried to erase the anxiety that fluttered in his chest.

"So what happened." Soap said. It was more of an order than a question but he said it in such a soft tone that it got Ghost's attention in just the right way.

"I…." Ghost hesitated and sighed, trying to think of the right way to say it "I spotted some men coming up the ladder at the hotel. They were headed for the room and I had to stop them."

"You killed them?" Price asked.

Ghost had been hoping the old Captain wouldn't get involved in this. Not only did the Lieutenant not trust Price but he also wasn't the easiest person to talk to either.

"I had to."

"No you didn't. Why didn't you keep one for questioning?" Price asked angrily, "We could have found out who the hell these people are and how they keep tracking us. This is the second time you've slaughtered our only chance at information, and right now we need as much as we can get!"

Anger flared in Ghost's chest and he shot the Captain a glare.

"Don't you think I know that? Things just got out of control."

"That's been happening a lot with you lately." Price replied.

Ghost's anger quickly turned to fury and his grip tightened on the pistol he was holding.

Kill him, kill him.

Ghost shut his eyes in an effort to ignore the chanting voice. He didn't realize that he had raised the weapon a few inches until he felt the vice like grip of Soap's hand on his wrist. Ghost's eyes snapped open.

"Give it to me." Soap ordered, his eyes hard and his voice like steel.

All the anger drained out of Ghost's body at once as he slowly loosened his grip on the pistol and let it drop into Soap's waiting hand. The captain released his wrist and sat back, placing the weapon in his lap as he did. Ghost wanted to apologize, just so Soap would stop looking at him like a potential enemy, but he remained silent and gazed back outside. Maybe it was a good thing the others were wary of him. He didn't even trust himself anymore.

He didn't know how long he had been staring outside, but when Ghost looked back inside the chopper everyone was asleep, except for Soap who was gazing out at the moon that shone just above them, illuminating the inside of the bird with its pale light. Ghost glanced over at his Captain who was easily seen in the moonlight flooding around them. His face was blank, as if in deep thought. He must have felt Ghost watching him because he slowly turned his head and returned his second in command's gaze. Ghost had never found it so hard to look Soap in the eyes before and he found himself looking down at the floor of the chopper.

"I'm sorry." He said softly, the guilt eating him, "for everything."

Soap didn't reply. But when Ghost looked up at him he could see the Captain's eyes had softened.

"It's not your fault." He said in an equally soft voice.

Ghost wanted to believe him, but he just couldn't. He couldn't believe it when he knew that if it wasn't for him, his family would still be alive. Their death was because he survived, and he felt that if he had just turned himself in instead of joining the Task Force things may have been different for the force as well.

"I should have left when I had the chance." He said, "You, Price, and Archer would be better off without me. I'll split off when we hit Manchester." Or before he added to himself.

"Stop bloody talking like that." Soap said angrily, "We need you Ghost."

"I'm causing more harm than good." Ghost argued, "It'll be best for everyone if I'm gone."

"Best for everyone? Ghost, I wouldn't even be alive if it wasn't for you. Have you forgotten when you were nearly blown to pieces by an RPG to save me?"

Ghost looked away.

"I sure as hell haven't forgotten," Soap continued, "you've saved my life more times than I can count and I'm not going to just abandon you somewhere. We need to stick together if we are going to get through this."

"I'm a danger to us Tavish, I know that and so do you."

"You're not going anywhere Ghost. I'd rather die than not have you here."

Ghost was stunned into silence. He'd never felt so needed before and it lit a spark of happiness in his battered heart. Soap was still watching him, his eyes defiant as if he was determined to win this argument no matter what. But Ghost was done, he had heard what he needed to and his decision was made. He would stay with his team and gladly give his life for them if it meant he could somehow keep them safe. The desire for revenge was still tugging at him but he pushed it away for now. His first priority was to protect his friends and that meant he had to learn to control himself.

Your mine English…

"No…" Ghost whispered. "I'm not."