They were back a day earlier than the rest of the team so the base was quiet when they finally landed. It had been a long flight and Simon was very happy to get back to solid ground. Gary disembarked behind him, looking almost strange in his uniform again. Simon had gotten used to the torn and dirty clothes.

It didn't take long to fall back into old patterns though. As soon as he shaved and put on his mask, it was like greeting an old friend. Ghost might still be a part of him but he was more willing to accept Simon now. Maybe he could find a balance in time, the way the rest of the men did.

Gary - or Roach now they were back at base - was making it easier though. It was a rare night that wasn't spent together.

Ghost found he slept better, amongst other things with Roach present. Because now they had finally had sex, he discovered for the first time in his life that he wanted more. It made it difficult to concentrate on working when his mind kept wandering back to Roach's mouth, or his legs, or his ass...

Well, all of him really.

Soap and Price cut him some slack, even if the teasing got worse. Ghost found he could live with it though because now he actually had Roach.

Price tossed a folder on Ghost's desk one morning, waking him up more effectively than the coffee he'd been nursing. "We got the go-ahead. The fortress in Prague is to be destroyed, too big of a target for the higher-ups to resist."

"Thank god," Soap groaned, grabbing the folder before Ghost could open it. "I'm tired of staring at the blueprints."

"How's the planning going?"

"Mostly done. We should be good to go in a couple of days," Ghost responded, snatching the folder away to read. "Get the men prepared. It's a big job and we gotta split up around the city."

"I can already guess who you want to share with."

Ghost ignored him, flipping the page and addressing Price. "Burning it to the ground?"

"Exactly."

They ended up back in the same safe house as before.

It wasn't intentional, Ghost would swear to it.

There was a marked difference though, Soap had accompanied them. Roach gave him a wry smile when they arrived, eyes lingering on their captain's back as he gave a regretful sigh. "Shame."

"Keep that thought." Ghost replied quietly.

"Yeah?" Roach's eyes narrowed mischievously and it made Ghost's stomach clench at the sudden surge of arousal. "Hope you've got a plan, Lieutenant because you're not touching me whilst Soap is in this building."

"Noted." Ghost sighed regretfully.

His chance came sooner than he'd expected though. With surveillance set up around the fortress, Roach had opted to stay behind and keep an eye on things whilst they went out for the night. There was a local bar that some of the soldiers were known to frequent.

Ghost found them a table in the corner of the room as Soap ordered some drinks. He returned with two beers and smiled at Ghost's disapproving frown. "Don't worry, it's shandy."

"Drinking on the job."

"Gotta look the part." Soap took a sip and immediately pulled a face. "That's gross. Only the English know how to do this properly."

"A Scotsman complimenting the English? Never thought I'd see the day."

"It's one of the few things you lads get right." Soap winked at him over the glass as he took another sip. "Besides, Price would kill me if I insulted his homeland too much."

"You say that as if we're not a monarchy."

"No one else I'd rather share a queen with."

Ghost rolled his eyes, focusing back on their surroundings as a couple of men walked in. They were dressed in civilian clothing but it looked like one of them may be concealing a gun. "We might have something here."

Soap activated his earpiece. "Price, you listening?"

"Always."

"We got two men, possible mercenaries."

"Keep an eye on them, see if you can learn anything useful."

"On it." Luck was on their side because the two men chose a nearby table and it was easy to overhear them. "Definitely Russian. Something about a shipment?"

"Yeah, recent shipment." Ghost held up a finger so Soap would let him listen. "Uh... explosives I think. Shit, do you think Makarov's targeting something in Prague?"

"Like what? Price, are there any targets in Prague at the minute?"

"Hold on."

Whilst they were waiting, the two men finished their drinks and got up to leave. "If Price doesn't hurry up we'll have to go after them." Ghost was halfway out of his seat when the Captain sounded in his earpiece again.

"We've got something. There's a meeting to be held at the Hotel Lustig in a week. A lot of important people will be there, including the Russian President, Boris Vorshevsky. He's responsible for Makarov being removed from the inner circle. It's a safe bet that he wants him dead."

"Somebody should warn the poor sod that Makarov wants his head." Soap finished his drink and sighed. "We still going ahead with the plan?"

"Yes but before destroying the place I need you to find any information you can about Makarov's plans for Vorshevsky. Without proof, we can't warn him."

"Understood, we'll get it done." Soap glanced at Ghost with a grimace. "Suppose we better stay and see if any more mercenaries come in. Could learn something useful."

Two hours passed without incident. Soap had taken to his favourite pastime, annoying Ghost.

"I just want to apologise in advance."

"For what?"

"Cock blocking you."

Ghost groaned. "Shut up, Soap."

"No, no, I think we should clear the air. I know I'm intruding on your alone time with Roach. I can wear earplugs if you want, as long as you're quiet." He cracked up laughing when Ghost flipped him off and finished his second drink. "Tell you what, why don't you go on ahead of me? I'll stay a bit longer but it doesn't look like much is happening."

"I can't leave you to do surveillance on your own. What if something happens?"

"I'm going to remind you as your Captain that I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself." Soap winked. "Go enjoy some time with Roach. I won't be long behind you."

"You know, even if you're a pain in my ass, I still appreciate you."

"Damn, that was almost a love confession coming from you." Soap shook his head in disbelief as Ghost stood up. "What had Roach done to you?"

"I'm not telling. I'll see you back at the safe house."

Soap toasted his empty glass as Ghost turned to leave. "Have fun, mate."

"Oh, I intend to." Soap's laughter followed him from the bar.

Roach was still watching the surveillance when Ghost walked in. He glanced over as the door opened and smiled, taking off the headphones. "Had enough?"

"Sitting in a bar with Soap and not being able to drink is a special kind of nightmare." Ghost sighed and shrugged off his jacket then rubbed his face. "He's staying a bit longer but I've had enough. Anything on surveillance?"

"Not a thing." Roach got up and offered him the chair so Ghost had a turn looking through the cameras.

Just as he'd said, all was quiet. He sighed, mind wandering back to the last time he'd sat there as it had been ever since they'd stepped foot in this place.

"Hey, earth to Ghost?"

He snapped back to attention and looked over at Roach to find him watching him curiously. "Do you think we would've done it had Soap not interrupted? Because if you had said anything other than 'it wasn't personal,' I wouldn't have just sat here. If you have any indication you wanted me I wouldn't have been able to control myself."

Roach smiled and moved a little closer, leaning against the desk opposite him as he had done the last time. "I was just too embarrassed to admit I was attracted to you."

"I've thought about that night so much. Imagine how different things would be if we had done it." Ghost said wistfully. "Not that I mind how things have turned out but... It could've happened sooner."

"Maybe you should've admitted how you felt."

He found himself smiling as he leaned back in the chair. Maybe they were both stubborn idiots for not realising sooner or doing something about it. In hindsight, he felt like an idiot but it was too late to change that now. Although...

"Let's play a game, love. Do you remember the conversation we had after Soap's call ended?"

"Yes."

"Don't be embarrassed this time." Ghost remembered that night in almost perfect detail so it was easy for him to recount it as he shut the laptop and looked up at Roach questioningly. "It's a good thing Soap interrupted us, you know."

He momentarily looked surprised then understanding dawned on his face and he smiled. "I know."

"You were hard."

Roach blushed, shifting slightly as he replied, "so were you."

"True. How long has it been for you?"

"You know how long, what about you?"

"About forty-eight hours."

"It was definitely personal." Ghost was out of his seat in an instant and Roach met him halfway, yanking him down into a fierce kiss. Roach hit the desk hard but didn't complain as he boosted himself up and scattered objects everywhere. "Take your shirt off," he ordered breathlessly and Ghost was quick to oblige.

Roach's warm hands trailed down his chest and his eyes flickered up to hold his when they reached his trousers. Making quick work of the button and zipper, he pushed a hand into his boxers to start stroking his cock. "Shit, Gary," he groaned, pushing forward into his touch.

They both jumped and moved apart as the front door opened, Roach going for his pistol whilst Ghost kind of froze, not used to being caught in such a vulnerable position.

Thankfully it was Soap who had his head down, reading some notes. "We need to go through this before tomorrow if we want to-" He looked up and paused, a smirk spreading across his face. "Oh, did I interrupt something?"

"Fuck Soap! Do you have a radar for when I'm hard?" Ghost asked irritably, redoing his trousers. "Your timing is as impeccable as ever."

"Maybe it's not me, maybe you're just always horny." Soap threw the papers onto the non-occupied desk and winked at Roach Before gasping. "Oh shit, I left something at the bar. I'll be back in half an hour."

"Make it an hour," Roach advised as Soap left. As soon as the door shut their eyes locked and he smiled. "Shall we go into the bedroom, that looks uncomfortable."

"Yes." Scooping Roach into his arms and making him laugh, Ghost kissed him gently as he made his way into the bedroom. Once he was safely on the bed, Ghost broke free and instructed, "clothes off, Sergeant."

"Yes, sir." Roach did so quickly and Ghost paused, taking a moment to look him over.

He couldn't help touching, pressing a thumb against his lips and smiling when Roach kissed him. Tracing down his sides to stop at his thighs, Ghost pushed them apart and leaned in. "As always, you're beautiful."

Even more so when his cheeks flushed and he smiled. "Yet that never gets old."

Ghost was making good on his promise to always tell Roach that. It was true so he didn't mind saying it.

Grabbing the lube, he moved quickly to prep Roach. After a few minutes, Roach's head hit the pillow with a groan and he reached down to grab Ghost's wrist, stopping him. "That's enough. Fuck me already."

"So demanding."

"Simon," He hissed adorably, eyes narrowing. "If you're not in me in the next ten seconds we're not having sex at all."

"Is that a challenge?" Ghost pressed him down on the bed, kissing him hotly. "I love it when you get all angry like this." Whatever Roach was going to say cut off into a moan as Ghost pushed inside him. God he loved being inside Roach. "Tell me again."

"H-harder."

"Gary-" He purred, hips snapping forward and drawing another beautiful noise out of his sergeant. "You feel so good."

Roach dragged him down into another kiss, fingers weaving tightly into his hair and tugging. Ghost groaned, fucking into him hard and Roach responded beautifully, back arching up and a soft whine falling from his lips. Ghost slipped a hand between them to stroke his cock, making him shudder.

"Can't get enough of you, Gary."

"Take me then," he replied breathlessly and Ghost paused, looking at him curiously. Roach's eyes fluttered open and he smiled, dimple flashing. "Take all of me."

"Fucking hell." Roach laughed and Ghost retaliated by biting at his neck, making more hickeys. "I think I will."

He pushed Roach down as their lips reconnected, making him gasp, "More."

"More."

Roach came first a few minutes later, body tightening so perfectly it tipped Ghost over the edge too, hips stuttering against his ass. Roach exhaled slowly, carding his hands through Ghost's hair as he hummed, "we need to shower."

"Not yet, let me enjoy you a little longer." Ghost lifted himself off Roach and smiled down at him. "Let me stay in you a little longer." Because honestly, it was his favourite place to be.

"Well, when you put it like that..." Roach hugged him tightly. "I do like having you inside me."

"God I love you so much."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Good thing I love you too."

Ghost smiled and kissed him gently. "Soap will be back soon."

"I know. We need to at least look presentable." Roach pressed kisses along his collarbone, fingers tracing his spine. "As much as I'd love to stay here with you all night, we're supposed to be working."

"Five more minutes, love."

Roach eventually pushed him away with a laugh. "Seriously, time to get up." Ghost groaned as Roach got up, checking him out appreciatively. Roach noticed and scoffed. "Stop staring."

"Not a chance."

"You're shameless." He winked in the shower doorway before disappearing.

Ghost got up after a minute and changed back into his clothes before going to check the surveillance. Nothing interesting had happened in their absence. He was mostly back to himself when Soap walked in, only smiling a little too wide because Soap raised an eyebrow at him.

"Christ, if that's all it takes to make you happy I would've found Roach years ago."

"He was twenty-two. Any younger and I would've been court-martialled."

"I could still make that happen." Soap joined him, taking over the laptop to bring up the plans of the fortress. "Let's get these entry points finalised."

Ghost got up and leaned over the desk as Soap began explaining the new intel he'd learned and how there was another entry point they could use quietly. He glanced up when Roach joined them, face still flushed from his shower and smiled before returning his attention to the screen. They'd had their fun and now it was time to concentrate.

Soap glanced up as Roach came to stand next to Ghost, fingers skimming across his bicep. "Roach, we're just finalising the entry points. We're going in here, our closest team will be about fifty meters to the north. Stealth is key, no alarms, please. We need to get to the command centre as fast as possible before they realise we're there and wipe the data. Ghost, I trust you can get it done?"

"Of course, I'll get into their system no problem."

"Good, Roach and I will cover your back. The rest of the team are to secure the area and make sure nothing gets in or out." Soap stood and sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Should get some sleep lads, tomorrow's gonna be a big day. And Ghost, get a shower."

"Will do." Roach immediately took the vacated seat and studied the plans. Ghost leaned over him to point out the new entry point and he chuckled. "You know, Soap wasn't kidding. You smell like sex."

"Do I?"

"Don't look so smug."

Ghost caught Roach's chin, tilting his head up to kiss him again. "Wait for me before going to bed." And he let go, walking to the bathroom to go shower.

Roach called after him, "will do!"

When Ghost joined him in the bedroom he seemed half asleep, humming as he got in the bed behind him. Ghost kissed the back of his neck and whispered, "tired?"

"Yeah. Worn me out, Lieutenant."

"Sleep then. We've got a long day tomorrow. Need you at your best."

"Always am." Roach kissed his palm and then held his hand tight against his chest. "Love you."

"Love you too."