Four days and eight hours. That's how long it had been. Four fucking days and they still had you. Four fucking days too long was all Ghost could think. It just kept repeating in his head over and over and he couldn't get it out. If he slept he was quickly awoken by nightmares about you. What they did to you. That you could be dead. They had to push back the mission due to changes in their security. Ghost nearly lost it at Laswell's order to hold back.
Ghost was quickly coming to the realization about how much you meant to him. It frightened him to his core. He had never been so fond of or so scared of losing someone. Had he ever truly loved someone? Could he love someone? Could he even say the words? These thought also plagued his mind these past days but right now those thought were put aside as the team rode in on their designated trucks. Over those four days Ghost had learned the plan that was finalized by Laswell and Price. He knew his part. And he made a promise to himself to get you out of these no matter what. He didn't give a fuck about what happens to Graves. Yes he hoped he had the chance to kill him but that didn't matter for this mission. You were all that mattered to him.
Ghost and Soap would be a team to find you while Rodalfo and Price would be another team to find Alejandro. If one group found the other then it was to be notified immediately.
Soap looks over to Ghost seeing the bloodlust in his eyes. He knew his friend had been struggling the most out of the group. Soap knew Ghost had feelings for you, even if he never verbally admitted it. He had been working with Ghost for some time and had never seen him like this. Soap would do everything in his power to get you out as well. He saw you as a sister and worried about you day and night just as Ghost did. He had just expressed it differently.
"5 minutes out!" Says the driver.
"You ready Ghost?" Says Soap looking at his fellow soldier
Ghost grabs his weapon and readies it in place, "you know I am Johnny. Let's get (Y/N) out of here."
Soap nodded in reply as the vehicles stopped. Price and Rodalfo filed out of the other.
"They will be likely in the basement. It's where the rooms are most secure. Start there and work your way up" informed Rodalfo.
He knew the base well and had given them a detailed layout when going over the plans for this mission he was a key factor and rescuing you and Ghost had memorized every detail on the map Rodalfo had given.
The two teams split immediately, one going to the left and one going to the right. They could cover more ground this way. The mission was to be as stealthy as possible to not make the base on high alert but kill quietly if necessary.
Ghost stepped in front of Soap and took out his knife. He took out the two guards with ease at the back book slicing both in the throat before any noice was made.
"Good job LT" says Soap.
Ghost only nodded, grabbing his rifle and holding it into position while opening the door. Soap went in first taking out two more guard standing near the stair case. Ghost look out a third as he rounded the corner.
"Already 5 guards. Good sign she's this way" says Soap.
Ghost only nodded and continued his way down the stairs to the basement. The air seemed stale, a chill was down here that was never in the hot Mexican air. It made Ghost's stomach drop. The hallway reeked of death. It only made Ghost move faster.
Ghost scans the area before letting Soap continue into the hallway, "Clear"
No door appears in this hallway only another staircase. They both descend down without question.
Soap made a halt motion with his arm as he slowly round the corner.
He looks back at Ghost, "three men posted out side the second door on the left. Could be her"
Ghost nods checking his ammo.
Soap rounded the corner once more opening fire on the men standing guard. Ghost joined in as they slowly walk forward toward the door.
One fell to the floor instantly as the other two start to fire back. A few bullets whirl past Soap and Ghost's head and within a few more shots the men were down and no longer breathing.
Ghost sprints for the metal door kicking the rusty hinge that kept it shut. The metal door swings open to reveal two more guard inside huddled toward a corner. Ghost grabbed the closer one and slit his throat with a single swift motion. The second turned around stunned and back away a few steps only for him to catch a glimpse of a person in the corner.
Even in the dim light he knew the color of that hair. The color of your hair. He would never forget the shade even when matted or filthy from missions. He knew the color of your hair like the back of his own hand.
"GET THE FUCK OFF HER!" He yells as he yanks the man from his back and throws him to the ground. He punches the man in the face before he takes his pistol and swiftly shoots him in the gut then the head.
He turns back to the corner where the man originally was.
"Bloody hell" says Soap from behind his shoulder as they finally see that it is indeed you.
You faintly hear Soap in the back ground, "Chaser found. Chaser found alive"
Something inside Ghost's chest cracks, threatening to break as he takes in the scene before him. You're balled up in the corner, dried blood and bruises littering your body. Cuts as large as his arm drawn all over you. Somewhere already infected while others needed attention immediately. You're trembling furiously. Worst of all He sees that your chest and legs are bare only a single pair of underwear, now ripped in many places, clings to your body. Your skin is a sickly color in the harsh light and your muscle is already starting to leave your body. Your eyes are sealed shut, your wrist still bound together by ropes. He steps closer to you.
"Please no. No more please. No. No" you whimper as he gently takes a step closer to you.
"(Y/N) it's okay. It's me. It's Ghost. I'm not going to hurt you. It's me Simon". Ghost just stared at your face and the horrible state you you were in. His voice broke at the last few words.
You slowly start to open your tear filled eyes to reveal a bloodied ghost mask that is all to familiar. You start to cry harder.
"Simon is it really you?" You weep as you touch both your hands to his face. Now something deeply shatters in Ghost's chest. He takes a good look at your beautiful face. A busted lip, and swollen eye and jaw. Dried blood crusted your cheeks where cuts had been drawn. He wanted to murder who ever had done this to you.
"The one and only darling. Now let's get you out of here. Let me pick you up?"
Soap is already coming up behind him with a small thin blanket to cover up what dignity you have left. He wraps it gently around you. You nod your head to Ghost. God you were so happy to see him alive. His arms looked so large compared to your now malnourished legs. You hated how weak you felt, but you was ecstatic to see your team again. You were being freed. You had made it.
Ghost puts his arms under your knees and lifts you up bridal style in his arms.
"I won't let them ever touch you again." He says as you lay your head against his broad chest.
Ghost walks swiftly out the door with you in his arms as Soap follows close behind still scanning the area.
They make their way down the stairs once more. The building must have been alerted somehow. More men where on guard then before.
"Shit" yelled Soap as he stepped in front of Ghost and shot his rifle taking out a line of guards. They all fell to the ground now forming a large pool of blood. They stepped around the corner hiding behind another wall before continuing down the other staircase. Soap still took in-front taking out soldier after soldier.
5 men stood behind the door of the last room. They were blocking the exit. Ghost crouched to the ground holding you close while releasing his pistol from his leg and shooting a man to his left and a man to his right. Two down.
You continued to stay awake fighting to not pass out. You needed to stay awake. You needed to see your self make it out. You wanted to talk to Ghost. To say you're sorry. To say you might actually love him.
Ghost shot a man to his right then left, still couched in his corner with Soap until it was clear. He looks back to his right talking to Soap.
You look to his left. Then you saw it. The guard Ghost had shot was not entirely dead. He still moved and you could see him raise his pistol from his waist as he laid in his own blood. He pointed the pistol at Ghost's head.
No. no no no no You thought. You couldn't see Ghost get wounded, you couldn't see him die. Not when he was just trying to save your sorry ass. Ghost was your savior so you had to protect him. You could hear the gun being cocked and your voice didn't seem to be loud enough as you say
"Ghost!"
You did what you could only think. You move from Ghost's arm to a position to hug him covering as much of his body as you could with yours.
You felt the bullet enter your upper back before you heard the gunshot.
You scream in pain.
Ghost whirls his head to you. Not registering what just happened. As reaction Soap shot four bullets at the man who wounded you. The guard was now very dead.
Ghost looks at your paling face as the blanket that was wrapped around you slowly got more red. You saw Ghost's wide eyes as you released the embrace you had around his neck and fell back onto his couched legs.
You slowly feel your consciousness fade. Your eyelids feel like one hundred pound weights. Your vision starts to form black dots around the edges. You are now fully aware of just how tired you really are. You are so exhausted. You can feel every cut and bruise that lines your body You feel safe wrapped tightly in large tattooed arms, your mind feels numb. You want to sleep.
"NO! (Y/N)! NO! Stay with me stay with me!" He shouted as your eyes rolled into the back of your head.
"Fuck Soap we need to move now!! She's critical!"
Soap nodded taking the lead. They shot guard after guard. Ghost and him moved swiftly.
"I need Birds inbound immediately. We need medical! Chaser is critical! Chaser is critical" shouted Ghost through the comms.
Laswell responded, "Birds inbound t minus 3 minutes. Get to the pick up point."
Ghost held you even closer. He tried to apply as much pressure to your wound as he made his way out the exit doors and slipped though the gate. Soap let shots ring covering Ghost's back. Bullets wizzed by their heads. They needed to get you out.
The men fucking ran for it. They sprinted to the pick up point seeing, Rodalfo, Price and a walking Alejandro. The men turned every few times to shoot back at the coming enemy soldiers.
The helicopters were in the distance as they flew low to the ground.
As the two teams joined as one the other team finally got a good look at you.
"My god. Mija" Said Alejandro his eyes filled with worry. He didn't look great himself. Blood covered him but he was still able to walk and running with a large limp. It was good to see he had survived. The team realized that you had gotten the worst of it. Much much worse. But you were intel, that was to be done in your line of work.
The men all gathered into the helicopter as it launched skyward away from the now enemy base.
"I need medical!!!!" Shouted Ghost as he gently laid you on the floor of the helicopter.
A man came up from the cockpit and immediately started to get to work on the wound on your back. Blood had now fully covered the thin blanket that covered you. Your skin was a deathly pale color.
Ghost slowly backed away just staring as the medic worked. For the first time in a long time Ghost was in shock. He couldn't believe he let you get more hurt. He couldn't believe he was so fucking stupid and didn't look to see if the man was down. He didn't fucking understand why you would put your self in harms way. Especially for HIM of all people. You had already been through hell in back for 4 days straight. He should have been the one to take that fucking bullet.
Soap came over to him, "it's my fault too. She's gonna be okay. She out now"
Breathing heavily Ghost only responded, "I hope so Johnny."