-Ghost's POV-

It had been a month and they hadn't spotted Makarov once. Ghost was angry. Makarov should be dead by now. He could be back with [your name] instead of in these damn mountains chasing shadows.

The other men could tell he was getting frustrated. "Simon, you're going to have to calm down. I don't want you doing anything stupid," Soap says.

"Whoever gave you this intel is stupid!" Ghost says angrily. "I thought this was going to be quick!" He wants to shout even louder, but he doesn't want to risk giving away their position.

They had been walking for what felt like forever. When Soap told them to stop, Ghost was relieved. "There's a house up ahead. It's known to be a place that Makarov frequents," Soap says quietly.

Ghost must have been busy daydreaming because soon someone was nudging him. "Ghost? You alright man?" Roach asks.

"Yeah, I'm just a little tired is all." Roach nods and walks away, but Soap is giving him a funny look. Oh man..here we go.

Soap walks to where he's standing. "You're not just tired are you?"

Ghost sighs, really not wanting to talk about this right now. "You already know the answer to that."

"Look, I'm sorry this isn't going the way you planned, but you need to suck it up and stay frosty," Soap says.

Ghost stared at Soap. He never spoke to him that way. He must be feeling frustrated too. "If you keep spacing out and getting angry you're gonna get yourself killed," Soap says.

"I just...I'm sorry. I'm fucking up," Ghost says. Suddenly he was angry at [your name].

Why did he have to fall in love with her? Why did he have to make love to her? It's not all her fault. It takes two to tango.

A man like him wasn't supposed to fall in love and be happy. This was his life. Hunting down the bad guys, protecting the good people. Protecting her. You made her a promise. He felt as though his whole life revolved around her now. Was he supposed to he feel that way? Is that what love was? How was he supposed to know...

Soap taps him on the shoulder, "We're going to head towards that house now. He has to be there. This is the last lead we have," Soap sighs. Ghost nods at him, "We'll get him."

A few men walk around to the back of the house. Ghost starts to walk off but Soap grabs his arm. "Don't get yourself killed. I know you told her you would kill him but it's not worth your life. I think you coming back alive is more important to her than killing Makarov."

Ghost smiles under his balaclava, "I have you watching my back, I'll be fine. Besides if I do die you're the one that will have to break the news to her. I wouldn't want to do that," he laughs lightly and Soap claps him on the shoulder. "Let's go."

He had made a joke out of it, but in reality he didn't want to die. The thought of [you] being sad all over again made him sad. Live for her. Remember what Soap said: your life is more important.

It's getting dark so the night is on their side. Soap speaks to him over his headset, "When we get in there, weapons free. Everyone in there is considered hostile."

"Yes, sir," Ghost replies.

He hears a crashing sound and then gunfire. The other men must have breached the back of the house. He and Soap run up to the door and kick it in. He is suddenly ambushed by men coming down the stairs. Ghost fires on the ones that he can, but his weapon is knocked from his hands.

"Fuck!" he shouts as he throws punches. He is able to grab his sidearm and shoot the man that attacked him. "Soap, you alright?!" he yells.

"Yeah I'm good!"

If Makarov was here he definitely heard all the commotion. He's probably on the run now!

Eventually, they all clear out the lower level of the house and Ghost goes upstairs to check the other rooms. "Clear!" he shouts down to the other men, "He's not here." Ghost looks around one more time and notices an open window at the end of the hall.

He walks to the window, pistol drawn, and looks out. He's certain he sees someone running across the backyard and jumping over the fence. "Someone's getting away!" he says as he runs down the stairs.

"It's him! It's Makarov!" Ghost says.

He really wasn't sure. It was dark, it could have been anyone.

Soap said just as much out loud, "You can't be 100 percent sure about that, Ghost. I'm not letting my men run blindly into the dark after some John Doe."

"Just me then," Ghost says.

"No!"

"Don't we have night vision goggles or something?" he asks.

"It doesn't matter if we do because you're not going," Soap says through his teeth.

Ghost is extremely frustrated now. "For the love of god, John! We can't keep letting that fucker get away! He's hurting people, he's killing people! Innocent people. Now, either you give me the goggles or I'll just go out there blindly. Either way, I'm going," he finishes.

Soap looks at him exasperated and hands him the night vision goggles from his belt. "Be careful," he says.

"I will." Ghost walks to the back door. Before he steps out he hears Soap say, "Wait." He turns and watches as Soap borrows goggles from someone and walks towards him. "I can't let you do this alone, Simon. I made someone a promise."

Ghost nods and puts on his goggles as Soap does the same.

As they walk Soap says, "You're crazy for doing this, but I understand."

"I knew you would."

They hop the same fence Ghost saw the mystery man hop. They whisper when they talk now. "I don't think he would have grabbed night vision goggles being in a rush and all, so we have an advantage. Chances her he's armed though," Ghost says.

"He couldn't have gotten far," Soap whispers.

They stop where they are, looking around. A twig snaps and they both look in the direction of the sound. Using his hands, Ghost tells Soap that he'll go one way and Soap should go another. Soap nods and walks slowly in the opposite direction.

He hears another sound and turns, but its too late. Someone punches him in the stomach. Whoever it is, is trying to wrestle his pistol away from him. Ghost is able to focus long enough to see that it was him. It's Makarov!

Makarov is able to get the gun away from him and has it aimed at his face. He lowers it and shoots Ghost in the thigh. He shouts in pain as he falls to his knees. "You won't get away with this."

"Oh, I know your friend is here too. He probably ran into a few of my men. They should keep him occupied," Makarov says smugly.

"You can kill me, but just know that you'll die too," Ghost says starting to feel lightheaded. Makarov fires the gun again, this time hitting Ghost on the left side of his chest.

He falls to the ground and hears someone shout his name. He looks up and sees Soap. "Watch out," he tries to yell, but he's too weak.

Ghost hears the familiar sound of a gun being fired and something hitting the ground. "Soap," he says weakly.

His eyes start to close and suddenly he is being turned over onto his back. Soap...he's alive!

"Ghost can you hear me! I'm going to get you out of here, okay?! Stay with me!"

As his world fades to black, he sees her face.

I'm coming back for you. I promise.

-Your POV-

You wake with a start, your heart beating quickly. You must have dozed off. Something's wrong.

You place your hand over your heart trying to calm yourself.

A month and a few days with no word from Ghost or anyone else on the mission. Sleep no longer came easily the way it did when he was around. You weren't having nightmares, but you worried about him.

Something wasn't right though, you felt even worse than you usually did.

It was night in Russia, that much you knew, but you needed to know more than that.

Why was it taking so long? Was Soap's information wrong? Did they get ambushed? Were they all...?

No. Stop thinking like that. They both made promises. They had to come back.

What if they don't? Stop! Enough!

You were crying now. You cried just about every day since he was gone. The man that had 'cured' you was gone and you weren't sure if you'd ever see him course you will. Simon was tough and stubborn, he'd be back.

He was also stubborn enough to get himself killed though and that scared the hell out of you. Every time you tried to think positive there was a negative response.

You would feel better if you were there with him at least then you would know something. You tried not to worry, you really did, but deep down...something was wrong. Was it possible to find out something? They had to have some kind of contact with the base even all the way in Russia.

Are you sure you want to know anything?

If something had happened Soap would attempt to let you know, wouldn't he? You couldn't shake this feeling.

Suddenly, the phone in your room rings and you jump. Please...

You walk to the phone slowly and pick it up.

"[your name], can you hear me?!" It's Soap.

"Y-yes. Soap. Is everything okay?"

Soap is quiet for awhile, too long for you. "Soap, what is it?"

You feel your chest tightening already. "It's Simon," he says, emotion filling his voice.

"God dammit, Soap! Tell me!"

"He's been shot. Makarov shot him...twice. I got him. I killed Makarov, but he got Simon before I could stop him. He lost a lot of blood. I don't know if...if..."

That's the last thing you hear before dropping the phone and falling to your knees. You fall over and hug your knees to your body and cry, cry harder than you ever have.

Don't die, please don't die...