"I can't leave him…"

Day: 231, 5:06 p.m.

Gary "Roach" Sanderson

Task Force 141

Unknown

The room began to spin the moment my eyes opened. The lights were far too bright, and the pillow I laid on was stiff, and felt as if it had been untouched by a head in far too long. I felt weighed down, and everything was heavy. My left hand felt sweaty, and when I glanced down I saw that it was occupied by another hand.

I traced that hand back to Ghost, who rested quietly next to me. He had somehow managed to fall asleep in one of the stiff recliners placed in the infirmary. His head rested against the back of it, and I watched as he snored ever so slightly. His mask, and sunglasses laid next to one another on the side table. I quickly noticed the book that rested next to them, and I felt my chest tighten.

"East of Eden." Said a strong Irish accent from the door, and when I flipped around I noticed MacTavish leaning against the door frame of my room.

I blinked at him, squinting my eyes. "Captain..?" I asked trying to make out something other than a blur.

MacTavish chuckled softly, and flipped the light switch off. He stepped into the room, and took notice of the scene that laid out before him. He smiled sadly before looking back up at me. "He's read it too you the whole time you've been out." He said softly as if afraid to wake the sleeping man.

I looked over at Ghost, who twitched his nose slightly before falling still again. "He read to me…?" I asked and MacTavish nodded once again the movement looking sad.

"Yeah. Insisted he read it too you. Said you couldn't read it without him." He said as he waved a hand in the air, a smile across his face. "Something about a short attention span."

I felt my face heat up a little, and I quickly averted my eyes from him. "He read to me…" I whispered softly, and let the words sink in. "How long have I been out?"

MacTavish paused for a short moment to look at his watch to check the date. "About four days. Ghost has practically moved into this room huh?" He said with a sad chuckle before gesturing to the bags, and a laptop that sat over on the little table.

I stared at the bags for a long moment, and then I turned my gaze to MacTavish really slowly. His eyes didn't seem angry, and they weren't filled with pity. He just stood there with a smile in his eyes.

He pressed his lips together as if trying to stop from smiling. "I thought I'd come by and see how you are. The nurse said you'd wake up sometime today. I figured Ghost would be up for it."

My gaze fell to Ghost, and I felt something inside of me lift for a moment. "I have a feeling he needs to sleep. Ghost has always been one to try and pull all-nighters." I squeezed his hand in mine, and MacTavish smiled at me.

"That he does." He agreed and then the smile fell from his eyes. "I hate to do this to you lad, but I need to talk with you about something."

I swallowed hard, and nodded my head for him to continue.

"It's been decided that you need to have a psych evaluation. After the pool incident there has been some question on whether or not you should be taken off active duty." He said everything slowly, and I felt my free hand curl into a fist. "I tried to tell them you were fine, but Superman has a hard time keeping his mouth shut. Ghost wanted to be the one to tell you, but I figured I'd let you be mad at me." He smiled, and I gapped at him.

"I couldn't possibly be mad with you!" I said my eyes widening, and I felt the tension leave my body. "You've done nothing, but look out for me. You even tried to get me out of my evaluation…" I said averting my eyes to look at my hand. I felt hot all of the sudden.

MacTavish chuckled again, but this time it felt real. "It wasn't me lad. Ghost asked me to."

I looked over at Ghost startled. The man was still asleep, but I felt my face turn a tomato red. "He… He asked you to..?"

MacTavish smiled at me, and I gave him a quick glance before looking back over at Ghost. "Yeah. I think you and him should have a long conversation Roach. Maybe he can shine some light on a few things yeah?" MacTavish smiled before glancing down at his watch. "Well I've got to get going. I've got training in a few. Get to feeling better, yeah?"

I nodded, and rested my head against my pillow as MacTavish walked away only to pause in the door way. He turned back for a moment before saying. "And Roach? It's okay to cry."

I rested my eyes on Ghost as MacTavish left, and I watched the man sleep rather soundly for a long moment before closing my eyes to follow his lead. I didn't take my hand from his. It was really comforting to be honest.

)-(

Eve came to visit about four days later, and I assumed Ghost had something to do with it. She came in wearing a pretty white dress, and her black hair was tied behind her in a loose ponytail that her bangs escaped form. She came in flushed with a smile on her face as if she'd been chased into the room

Behind her came the culprit with his brown hair, and his bright green eyes that reminded me of the grass back home. He wore a black t-shirt, and a pair of cargo pants with boots on. He had a tattoo on his arm that revealed that he'd done service preciously in some form. His grin was crazy as Eve rushed over to Simon, interrupting him as he reading.

"Come back here Evie-boo! I didn't know you were ticklish!" The brunette said with a grin the size of Texas on his face.

"David. I mean it stop! It isn't funny!" She said, but the grin revealed the lie before it even left her lips.

I looked at the two before turning my eyes on Ghost who did the same before sharing a look with me. "Um… Hi." I said softly and Eve blinked as if she noticed where she was at.

"Hi!" She chirped at me, and rushed over to me giving me a big hug. "Oh Gary! I was so worried. Simon called and told me everything, and the moment I heard I started packing."

I glanced at the green eyed man in the room and cleared my throat nervously before turning back to her. "Oh. I figured as much."

Eve smiled and plopped down on Ghost's lap, ignoring the protest she received from the man. She held her hand out as if finally acknowledging the unknown man in the room. "Gary, Simon this is David Walker. He's a friend who helps me run the inn."

I ran my eyes over the man rather quickly before I recalled our conversation. I gasped in realization. "You mean the brother of that guy you like so much!"

Ghost perked up at that, and readjusted himself to look at Eve. She blushed looking down at her lap, and David began to laugh heavily. "What guy?" Ghost said his voice sounded rather over protective before he looked at David. "What guy? What brother? I'm gone for two years and already you found some guy?"

Eve sighed and stood up rather flushed. "I'm not talking about it here."

David stopped laughing only to toss an arm over her shoulder. "I totally called it. Don't you remember? The bonfire!"

Ghost glared at Eve, who kept looking at the ground her face only deepening in color. "Eve Renee Riley, what guy?"

I stared at everyone rather shocked at everything that was taking place. Eve didn't tell Ghost something? That was unheard of seeing as the two were completely inseparable. She had told me before she told Ghost, and all at once I felt laughter burst from my mouth.

It was wild and uncontrolled. I probably sounded crazy, but I couldn't help laugh at it. I felt something in my chest sort of release itself, and all at once tears began to spill over my face. I didn't fell perfect, but I felt okay.

The Riley siblings looked at me rather worriedly, and I heard Eve say softly. "I think we broke Gary."

I wiped a tear from my face, but more followed suit. I felt happiness, and then I was sad. As if everything came rushing back to me, but the smile stayed glued on my face. I was fearful because I didn't want anyone to leave, but I hated them all for staying. I felt tears roll down my face as I broke down crying and laughing.

Eve acted first as she rushed over to hug me. I accepted the hug, and cried on her shoulder. "I can't do it… I can't do it… He's gone, a-and I'm here. H-he's gone, E-eve." I cried, and I wasn't even sure if any of it was legible, but she nodded her head anyway.

"It's okay Gary. It's okay." She said softly, and I couldn't even feel embarrassed for crying in front of a stranger.

I just felt hopeless, but with each tear drop I felt a little better. MacTavish's words ran through my head. "And Roach? It's okay to cry." It was okay, and so I did.

Ghost coughed rather nervously, and Eve waved a hand at him as if giving him permission to leave. Ghost and offered to show David around in exchange for information on his sisters new boyfriend, which David happily agreed too. The two wondered out of the room, and I clinched Eve's dress in my hands as I hugged her back.

"Oh Gary…" She said softly letting a soft smile come across her face. "It's okay to cry." She said holding me tighter, and for the first time in a long time, I felt okay.

)-(

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