Chapter by me, ecto1B.

Oh, I just quickly wanted to make sure everyone knew that this story in now way is affiliated with my story "The Ghost That Haunted Me." Just lettin' you all know :]

Disclaimer: We don't own MW2. Arhani 'Hanny' Daforcena owns Ryuka, and I own Mckinley

Read and review! xD

Pvt. Mckinley 'Queen' Front

Task Force 141

Encounter Base – Location Classified

A few days later, Mckinley had completely recovered from the events that had transpired earlier that week, and she was feeling much better than she had before. It had all come down to a incredibly positive ending, and she was satisfied with how everything had turned out. Without Ghost, Ryuka, and a handful of the 141 soldiers to keep her company, however, (as they were off in Kyoto for a while, like MacTavish had said) Mckinley found refuge with her fellow FNGs. They'd forgiven her for her outlandish behavior and pretended like it had never even happened. Mckinley was glad they were so accommodating to the situation; she hadn't meant to yell at them, she'd just been stuck underneath a mountain of stress involving her decision. And now that she'd asked MacTavish to end her specialist training—even though it had seemed much harsher than it really was—Mckinley was back to her regular training to become a simple member of the Task Force.

It all started, really, one day as she and a few FNGs were playing a quick game of basketball before dinnertime. Today, Toad was looking after them, and in this case, it automatically made him the referee for the game. He watched from the sidelines, calling out foul shots and things, a smile wide on his lips for the entirety of the game.

Mckinley, who was only playing for fun, could not shoot a basketball to save her life. Honestly, she didn't care. Basketball had never been her favorite sport, but it was still as entertaining as ever. She preferred watching the guys duke it out on the court—while she stood safely on the sidelines. Occasionally she'd try and sneak off the court to join Toad in his refereeing, but Whitaker continued to catch her and pass her the ball.

"C'mon, Mickey! Shoot the ball!"

After a while of playing, the boys finally realized how terrible of a shot she was. It became more obvious when one of her misfires soared over the backboard and to the end of the opposite court. She apologized for her utter incapability, and even retrieved the ball for them, but they persisted to tease her about the shot.

"What were you aiming for, huh? The fricken' moon?"

"It was like you were throwin' a baseball!"

"Y'know, the ball ain't a hot potato. You didn't have to get rid of it so fast…"

Unlike before, Mckinley found their remarks hilarious. Especially since none of them involved Ghost and her having some sort of fling by the lake. She laughed along with them, playfully punching shoulders and swiping the ball away from unsuspecting players whenever she could.

Everyone was too busy with the game to notice five figures making their way across the base towards the court. It was Toad who finally pointed them out, disrupting the game briefly as everyone glanced to see who was approaching.

"Can we join the game?" It was Meat who spoke, jogging onto the court and holding out his hands for the ball. Ozone, Archer, Boxer, and Ghost—the other members of the now-arriving group of soldiers—joined Toad and Mckinley on the sidelines to watch the game.

"You guys just get back from Kyoto? How was it?" Toad asked. He didn't notice that Mckinley was doing her best to focus her attention onto the game and not onto Ghost, who casually went to stand next to her. Mckinley knew that Ryuka had obviously told him about how she'd acted after the mission, and she didn't want to discuss any of it.

"Yeah, it was good," Ozone answered for the group. "Reddie will be coming back earlier than she said she would, though. Probably tomorrow or the day after."

Archer turned his head towards Mckinley. "Hey, Queen?"

She let her eyes only momentarily look in his direction before returning her gaze to the basketball court. "Yeah?"

"I heard a rumor from 'Tavish that you almost left us… on purpose." Many eyes snapped to gape at the only woman standing among them. "What's the deal on that?"

Clearing her throat, Mckinley finally faced them. She was through trying to hide the truth from these men. They were just too nice, and the basketball game was starting to bore her. "Yeah, 'Tavish was right, I almost left. I wanted to go back to the Rangers and never have to deal with another mission like what I experienced as long as I lived." Ghost's face changed behind his balaclava; A few crease marks appeared. "I was scared, and I thought that was my only solution. But they cleared everything up for me, and 'Tavish said I could remain here in the Task Force, but not be a Black Ops specialist. I mean—" Mckinley tapped her fingertips against the skin on her lower neck, "—I dunno about you guys, but some of that crap seriously had me scared shitless. I couldn't stand it!" She shrugged and smiled. "But now you're all stuck with me, and there's nothing you can do about it."

From on the court, Meat laughed. "Oh great, guys, she's getting cocky! You better watch out!" He dribbled the basketball up to the net and dunked it in, then grabbed it again and tossed it to Mckinley. "Hang on a second, Queenie. You have to earn your way into the team by making a perfect shot, first."

Mckinley, giggling, jabbed at him with her thumb and met the gaze of Whitaker. "Hey, Malcolm, you didn't tell him about how much I suck at basketball?"

"Queen?"

Mckinley spun around to see Ghost standing behind her, only this time, his tinted sunglasses were missing from his face. Now, scanning across her fervently was a pair of wide azure-colored eyes.

"Um… yeah, hey, Ghost. What's up?" Stunned by the newly awakened appearance of Ghost's rather dazzling eyes, she tucked a lone twirl of crimson red hair behind her ear and looked up at him. Another spur of a blush swarmed into her cheeks as she did so, which confused her.

Why the hell do I keep blushing around this dude? I mean, seriously. I don't 'like' him like that. Don't people blush around people they have crushes on or something?

A heavy sigh escaped from behind the mouth of the skull on his mask. "Look… Queen… I… I never meant for 'ya to get so frightened on that mission with Reddie…" He seemed to be struggling to find the right words to say. "I only suggested the idea hopin' you'd—well, not like it, exactly… but more respect the job and find that it suited you. I didn't mean for it to make you sick over and want to leave. And I—"

"Ghost, it's all right," she said kindly, cutting him off before he could fit in another method of apology. "It's not even your fault. You shouldn't be apologizing at all. It's over. I'm not hurt, Reddie's not hurt, no one's dying or anything, and nothing is your fault. It's not something you should be getting worked up over." She smirked. "Like I said back on the basketball court, you guys are stuck with me. What happened on that mission is done." She paused to add emphasis. "I'm over it."

"Are you sure—"

"I'm sure, Ghost." Giggling, Mckinley nudged him on the shoulder with her fist. "Now let me go to bed, sir, if you would. I'm dead tired from getting my ass beat in basketball." She glanced over her shoulder at the row of tents. Her cot was almost calling out to her through the darkness, demanding her company.

Ghost's responding chuckle still carried traces of hesitancy, but he took a step in the direction of his own tent, which wasn't far from hers. "Well… as long as you think you'll be okay… g'night, then."

"G'night, Ghost."

Just as she was shoving the tent flaps aside, Ghost's voice rang out again.

"Queen!"

"What?" she asked in a sarcastically annoyed whisper. If he was about to apologize one more time…

His head was poking through his own tent entrance, and his eyes seemed to be laughing.

"I forgot to say somethin'. Welcome to the one-four-one."