I know this chapter is a little late, but I had finals today, yesterday, and the end of last week so I spent my time studying my ass off. But I took my last final today and my last day of school is on Friday so guess who will have all the time in the world to write after that? Me! So more frequent updates starting soon! I officially survived my first year of high school and I am so happy for summer. Anyway on with the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Call of Duty franchise. My OCs and original plot ideas are all that belong to me.
OOOOO
December 20th 2017
After a long day of training in the pits, Soap entered his and Aaron's room smelling of dirt and sweat. Nothing sounded better than a hot shower and crawling under the sheets with Aaron. The second he walked in, he saw her bags off to the side. If it was a normal leave she only had one bag, but now she had all of her things packed. This would be her last night at the base. In the last two months she taught Kevin the ropes of how to run operations for the Task Force and it finally hit Soap that she was leaving. He would walk into her office and see her showing Kevin how to do something and it hit a nerve in him. She really was leaving. And she was leaving a day before everyone else to answer some security questions for DETO she had to be there for in person. Soap wouldn't even be able to see her off at the airport. It had really started to hit him in the past week or so, but now reality was setting in. This would be the last night he'd get to fall asleep with her next to him and tomorrow would be the last time he'd wake up with her for a few months.
Not wanting to dwell on it, Soap just jumped in the shower like he planned and got ready for bed. Aaron wasn't back yet which was expected since she was cleaning out her office and doing the paperwork with Price. Right now she was signing the papers that would put her back in the S.A.S as an inactive soldier working for DETO. Soap knew this was good for her and it was a step back in a good way, but it was going to take a while to get used to her not being around. They had lunch together everyday along with Price and a few other soldiers and Soap stopped by almost once a day to see what she was working on. Most of the time he had no idea what she was talking about since she was speaking technical, but he listened as best as he could.
When Soap laid down in bed the sheets were cool and the mattress was soft, making his exhaustion really hit him full force. He got comfortable and rolled onto his side, pulling the sheets over him and pressing his face into the pillow. Normally he couldn't fall asleep without Aaron in bed since he was so used to her there with him, but the day really tired him out and had been craving sleep since lunch time. Plus he would have to get used to sleeping alone again anyway. He wanted to stay up and wait for her since it was there last night together, but he was exhausted and couldn't help but close his eyes.
By nine thirty Soap was almost asleep when the door creaked open. He knew it was Aaron, but remained still all the less. It was late, he was tired, and he knew she'd be joining him in sleep soon. He heard her walk quietly across the room in the dark so she didn't wake him and heard her change into clothes to sleep in. He heard her walk over to the bed and gently pull back the covers to slip into bed. She moved closer to Soap and slipped and arm around his bare torso. His skin was warm under her hand she rested her forehead on his upped back. Soap could feel her bare legs against his and wanted nothing more than to turn over and kiss her, but then she let out a breath and tightened her arm that was around him. "I love you…" she whispered before letting go of him and rolling over onto her side.
OOOOO
December 21st 2017
The next morning Aaron woke up before the alarm clock went off and just stared at the wall. She felt Soap's arm lazily wrapped around her waist and she didn't want to move. If she didn't move maybe time would stop altogether and she wouldn't have to get on a plane in a few hours that would take her to London and away from Soap and the Task Force.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
Fuck.
Aaron heard Soap groan and tighten his hold on her as he pressed his face into the pillow. Aaron reached over and hit the button to stop the beeping, but didn't make any moves to get up. Soap rolled onto his back and rubbed the sleep from his eyes before standing up. Aaron let out a sigh and stood up.
"What time do you have to leave?" Soap asked as he stretched out his arms.
"Nine." Aaron answered as she walked past him to go into to the bathroom.
This was how it has been the past month. Soap has been a lot more quiet and distant around Aaron. She knew he wasn't angry at her, just upset. If the situation was reversed she'd feel the same way, but the last thing she wanted was to leave on tense terms with him. She watched as he pulled his clothes out and set them on the chair next to the bed. Letting out a breath, she set down her hair brush and walked back out to the bedroom. "Can you stop for a minute?" she asked as she opened one of the dresser drawers. Soap looked at her. Before he could ask why, she pulled out something out of the drawer. It was square and a little big, but not huge and wrapped in brown paper. She carried it over to Soap and held it out to him. "Open it." she told him.
"What is it?"
"Your Christmas present."
"You didn't have to-"
"Just shut up and open it."
Soap knew Aaron was half teasing and the other half she was serious. He looked at the object in his hands and tore the paper away. What he found stunned him. He looked up at Aaron who had a small smile on her face. He peeled the rest of the paper away and stared at the object which was a picture frame, but inside of it was a hand drawn drawing of the photo that was taken of Soap, Price, Ghost, and Sandman on the day Operation Kingfish took place. Soap was on the far left with Price next to him and then Sandman and Ghost. The detail was absolutely amazing on it. Aaron drew the guns they were holding in the photo, paid special attention to the facial details, and drew everything that was shown in the picture down to the cigar Price was holding at the time and the car that was behind them. It looked as realistic as if the picture was just blown up on canvas or paper. "Aaron this is…" he couldn't find words to describe this. It was absolutely amazing.
"I saw the photo is Price's office. He told me what it was and I thought why not?" she told him.
Soap looked at her and instantly walked over to hug her, the picture still in his hand. He wrapped his arms around her tight and heard her let out a relieved breath. "Thank you." He said as he pulled away to look at the photo. "I had no idea you were this good at art, Aaron."
"I was going to make you wait to open it until Christmas, but I just…I thought…"
Soap looked at Aaron as she struggled to find the words and noticed tears forming in her warm, brown eyes that were beginning to run down her cheeks. "Hey…" he said softly as he set the frame down to take her face in her hands. "What' wrong?" Aaron put her hands on top of his and looked at him. "I don't want you to be upset with me…" she told him. "Because I'm leaving."
Soap looked at Aaron with hurt eyes. "Aaron…" he said softly as he wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I'm not upset with you, but I am upset that you're leaving. I am happy for you, but I am just going to miss you so much." Aaron smiled and slipped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. Soap hugged her tight and hid his face in the crook of her neck. He breathed in her distinct scent that was flowery from her body wash and conditioner and held her tighter.
She pulled away enough to kiss him hard. Soap returned the kiss and ran her fingers through her long hair that was now a blonde color from the Afghanistan sun. Any tension that was between them before melted away as they stood their kissing one another. "Do you think Price will care if we are a little late this morning?" Aaron whispered against his lips as she played with the hem of his shirt. He smiled and lifted her up in his arms. "I don't think he'll mind." He told her as he kissed her again and walked towards the bed.
OOOOO
About forty-five minutes later, Aaron and Soap walked into the technical building with Soap carrying one of Aaron's bags as she carried her backpack and laptop case. Price and Kevin were in the technical building along with Jamie and Nikolai who returned from Africa a couple of weeks ago. "Hi everyone." Aaron said with a smile. She immediately noticed that she was the only person in the room dressed in civilian clothes since she was leaving soon for the airport. It was cold and foggy in London since it was December so she was wearing jeans and a long sleeved shirt which was killing her from the heat, but she didn't feel like changing on the plane in the tiny bathroom. Price greeted her with a smile and stood up straight. "We thought you deserved a proper goodbye." He told her. Aaron smiled. "It's going to be rough without you here Aaron."
"I still can't believe my best friend is leaving me." Jamie chimed in with a smile. Aaron chuckled. "But there is some comfort in knowing you'll do better in London."
"I don't know what to say…" Aaron told them. "To all of you. You've all done so much for me…"
"And you've done just as much for us." Soap reminded her. Aaron turned her head to look at him. He wore a sad smile on his face and it broke her heart a little. "I don' t think we would have been able to do all we've done without you."
"Had you not saved me from Russia I wouldn't be here." Aaron pointed out
"You saved me first."
Everyone in the room, including Kevin smiled. "I promise I will keep things here in order." He told her. Aaron looked at him. "Thank you so much again, Kevin. For doing this."
"I'm happy to Aaron."
Jamie walked over and hugged Aaron. Aaron hugged her back welcomingly making everyone in the room smile. "Alright I have patients to attend to." Jamie said as she struggled to hold back her tears. Her best friend was leaving and even though they made plans to write and talk on video chat as often as possible, it wouldn't ever be the same. Jamie let go of Aaron and after looking at one another for a moment, Jamie left. Truthfully, she didn't want to watch her best friend leave because it already hurt knowing she wouldn't be walking around the base anymore paying her visits at the health center.
"Well ladette, your car is here." Price told her as he looked at the time.
"Ah wait!" Nikolai said as he walked over and hugged her. "Good luck to you my lady." Aaron laughed and hugged him back. When he pulled back, Nikolai placed a kiss on her cheek. "Wait Price." Soap said. "Aaron is officially no longer under our command or a member of Task Force 141." Price shook his head. "As of last night no…we are no longer her superiors." Price answered. "Good to know." Soap said as he put Aaron's bag down, grabbed her face, and pulled it to his. He crushed their lips together and Aaron widened her eyes in surprise before she realized what he was doing. They no longer had a reason to hide their relationship since she wasn't under their command. Once she realized this, she kissed him back and smiled at the gesture. After a few moments, Soap released Aaron's face and rested his forehead against hers. Aaron met his eyes and laughed before looking at the others. Price looked proud, Nikolai looked happy, and Kevin looked downright shocked.
"Over eight months." Was all Aaron said to Kevin as Soap slipped an arm around her and pulled her into his side. Being able to show everyone that Aaron was his made Soap happier than anything.
After hugging Price and Kevin goodbye, Soap walked Aaron out to the car. He had one of her bags in one hand and his other arm wrapped around her. The walk was quiet and when Soap saw the car that was taking her to the airport waiting for her he tightened his grip on her. Aaron noticed this and rested her head on his shoulder. This was finally happening…she was leaving.
When they got to the car, Soap put Aaron's bags in the trunk for her and then closed it. Aaron was looking at him and had tears in her eyes. Soap pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to her forehead. "It's only a few months." He told her. "And I promise we will make this work."
"I know we will." Aaron said as she pulled back to look at him. "Let's just take it day by day."
Soap smiled and pushed her hair behind her ears before kissing her deeply. Aaron clutched his shirt in her hands and kissed him back desperately as he held her as tight as he could. "I love you…" Soap whispered as they pulled back for air.
"I love you, too." Aaron replied. "I'll call you when I land."
"My next leave, wanna come with me to Glasgow?"
"To meet your family?"
"If you want… I mean it's been eight months and my brother and dad really want to meet you."
Aaron smiled and nodded. "I'd love to." Soap kissed her again and again. He didn't want to let her go. "Promise me something." Aaron said. "Promise me you will stay alive."
"I'm not going anywhere until you come back to me."
Aaron let the tears roll down her cheeks as she kissed him again. "I have to go." She said sadly. Soap hesitantly let go of her. "I'll see you in a few months." He told her as he opened the car door for her. Aaron kissed him once more before sliding into the car. Soap closed the door and then stepped back. The driver got the car running and Aaron rolled down the window. "See you soon." She said. Soap nodded. "Be back before you know it." The driver then pulled away and began driving down the dirt road out of the base towards the airport taking Aaron away from Soap. He stood there and watched as the car got farther and farther away and Aaron watched in the rearview mirror as Soap got smaller and smaller until she couldn't see him anymore.
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