UGH! Trying to figure out how to upload chapters onto ff is a mission and a half!

Ok I'm trying to keep some realism in here. So I looked at the cut scene in Loose Ends again and again and thought that the black out at the end is different from when Roach was losing consciousness which means he is still conscious when Shepherd walks away. So I thought, what would be a good way to stop the fire? Its petrol fueled so Roach only has seconds to react and Shepherd would have noticed if he had pulled himself out in such a short space of time. AND I realized, with some horror, that I spelt Shepherds name wrong throughout the entire last chapter! *cringe*

ANYWAY! Next chapter is up! Hope you guys like it! Rate and Review PLEASE!

Chapter 2: Claustrophobic

I watched Shepherd walk away slowly, signaling the chopper for a pick up. I continued to stare. I wanted to scare him if he saw me. I wanted him to see the glowing determination and hatred what now shone in my eyes. The fire had only just begun. Com'on Shepherd turn round. Turn around you gutless bastard!

Suddenly he stopped, pausing momentarily, fingers digging in the pockets of his vest. He pulled out a green ball and yanked something out of it. It was a grenade. He wanted to make sure we were completely dead. No more loose ends. He threw the grenade over his shoulder in my direction without casting a backwards glance. The dull thud vibrated through the ground as the grenade landed. I shut my eyes against the building heat from the flames, accepting my fate. Not long now. Not long now...

BOOM!

The explosion was to my left. A flash from the explosion pierced my eyelids. Before anything registered in my mind, I felt the pit collapse as it flooded with dirt and leaf debris. The fire was immediately extinguished. The crushing dry soil from above pushed on my chest, squeezing the air out of my lungs and pushing on my face. Helicopter blades ripped through the sky above, muted slightly by the soil that was now surrounding me. Surely Shepherd must have seen what has happened. He will come back to finish the job. I lay there waiting for the tell tale sound of approaching footsteps that would call out my death.

Nothing

All I heard was the dimming roar of the coppers as they left. Hang on... they're... leaving..?

Confusion swept through me. Why were they leaving? They should be coming back. No more loose ends… right?

Immediately an overwhelming fear grasped me, crushing my thoughts, making my head spin when I realized what had happened. I was buried under soil. UNDERGROUND! I had always been extremely claustrophobic! I felt my heart thud erratically against my ribs, as I ripped my hands through the soil desperately. My breathing became shallow and panicked. Put me against an entire base of enemies and I kept my cool. I could think, move and kill with complete clarity and precision. Put me in a closet or underground however...

I dug and dug, pushing through. My head span. Get out. Get out!

My hand broke the surface of the earth. I pushed against the soil again. Almost there! When my head emerged, the bright sun high above blinded me. I pulled the rest of my body out of the soil until finally my boots came free. I coughed as I tried to get rid of any dirt that had invaded my lungs. Pain shot up from my mid section and coursed through my entire body like poison. My vision went white for a few seconds and I swear I saw stars. Panic still made my head spin and made logical thought impossible. I stared at the sky trying to gather my thoughts while my breathing slowed. I felt something tug of the edges of my conscious. Why did I feel like I had forgotten something? An assortment of images flickered before my eyes. Shepherd with a smoking gun, the fire, the mortar explosion, Ghost falling to the grou- GHOST!

I ripped my head round towards where he should have been lying. He was buried under the soil just like I was. I dug frantically in the area where he should be. My hands scooped around the soil, moving it aside and away from my friend. Each time pain rumbled gently through my body until finally my hands rubbed against fabric and Velcro. I grappled at the object and pulled. I clenched my teeth and shut my eyes against the agony springing from my belly. I had to get him out. There was no excuse.

As it had turned out, I had grabbed his Kevlar vest. I yanked firmly against the course blue material, freeing his upper body from the ground. Beneath his skewed orange sunglasses, his eyes were shut. I let go of his clothing and allowed myself to rest for a moment. I doubled over as I realized how much I hurt from the fire and from the gunshot. Red shiny burns crawled up my arms, neck and face. Blood flowed slowly from my just below my rib cage, soaking my clothes in the red liquid making me cold. I gasped in shock as I touched the area lightly, sending a wave of pain through me again. Ignore it for now I told myself firmly.

I crawled my way around to the back of Ghost's head and grabbed a handful of his grey clothing. I mentally fought with myself as I pulled on his jacket, fighting the desire to let him for the sake of my injuries. He was free of the soil in seconds, lying in the warmth of the setting sun. I panted as I held myself awkwardly in an attempt to reduce the agony now clawing its way up my chest.

Ghost was covered in dry dirt and dead leaves. His clothes and balaclava were still smoldering gently from the fire. He looked almost peaceful, behind his orange sunglasses, like he was deep in slumber. I began to panic as I stared at his unmoving form. What if he's dead?

I gently placed my shaking hands to his neck to feel for any sign of a heartbeat. My breath caught. Nothing.

Warm salty tears began to roll down my cheeks leaving crusty trails behind them. I shook violently as sobs wormed their way up my throat causing me to gasp. I had to stay calm. If there was anything around or anyone left I had to have my wits about me. I took several deep breaths to calm myself, filling my lungs with cold air. Ghost had died in an attempt to protect me. If I had just been able to stand, if I had dodged that mortar then he might still be alive. The final moments of his life flashed before my eyes. I heard him scream "NO!" just before Shepherd shot him. My entire team was dead. Archer, Ozone, Scarecrow, Toad… Their faces swam before my tear-soaked eyes as a dull ringing filled my ears. It had all been for nothing. Ghost and the team had all died in a vain. I choked on another sob as I remembered Captain Price's dire warning over the radio.

"Do not trust Shepherd. I say again, do not trust Shepherd. SOAP GET DOWN!"

I threw my head back and searched the sky desperately. What if the other team had been eliminated? Captain MacTavish and Captain Price. Were they alive? What if… what if I was the only surviving member of the 141 left?

Grief and a fresh wave of panic broke through my calming breathing pattern and another sob escaped my throat.

"Oh god" I whispered, crying gently as I rocked back and forth, ignoring the throbbing pain in my gut. I didn't care if I died now. I don't care. I don't care. I don-

An electric shock buzzed through me, causing my heat to stutter. My fingers were still on Ghost's neck, forgotten during my moment of grief. Did I just feel…. a pulse?

Well this is my terrible idea of a cliff hanger. Is Ghost alive or dead? OHHH! The suspense! Please rate and review! Let me know how well (or terrible) I've done. I'm planning to develop characters soon so please bear with me. Thanks for reading!