And here is chapter 9! Every time I start a new chapter it's like trying to finish the last stretch of a mile. You're excited for the ending, but damn it's hard…

ALSO! Please try to be understanding in knowing that as of tomorrow I will be leaving for a 9 day boot camp, from there I get about 1 week before I go to a 2 week training, both of which are far out of state. This means that I probably won't be able to get much of anything up. I feel really guilty about this, but to be honest guys, there's more to life for me than sitting at a computer all day. Besides, I have motivation problems.

And with that negative note, let's continue with the story…

John MacTavish sighed as he walked out to the front gate to check the supply truck that was rolling in. Normally Ghost would be doing this, but he still had to find a replacement and that was turning out to be harder than expected. Apparently to Shepard there wasn't anybody worthy enough. Overall the General was still fuming over the fact that Ghost had to go on leave. He rubbed his temple as the driver got out of the semi and walked around back to open it up. He shook his head impatiently as the man fumbled with the lock.

"Ghost, I will never forgive you for sentencing me to this and all the extra paper work." He thought jokingly, though the grin that formed on his face immediately disappeared when after opening the back, the truck driver scrambled back with an exclamation, turned around, and vomited all over the ground. MacTavish hastily ran to the back of the truck to see what had startled the man, only to freeze in place. A body, or more exact, a skeleton. The man was hog tied on his side surrounded by cardboard boxes. A dark shadow had begun to form on his jaw, his face past recognition from all the scarring. His arm jutted out at an awkward angle, obviously broken, there were old bullet wounds all over his body, and the man's forearms were covered in 3rd degree burns. The entire truck smelt of stale urine. What scared him the most though was the obvious patch that had miraculously stayed intact on the now ragged jacket that hung on the man's frame, and upon closer inspection MacTavish's eyes widened in horror. His throat seized up and he opened his mouth to yell only nothing came out. Swallowing hard he took a few steps back. He looked around frantically before yelling out the first thing that came to mind.

"Medic!"

1 ½ hours Later

By now the entire Task Force was sitting in the medical bay. MacTavish stood pacing in-front of the door while the rest of the men were scattered about; some sitting in the chairs while the rest sat leaning against the wall. Meat was in the worst shape, tears streaming down his face from the stress and mumbling under his breath. "He'll be ok. He's just fine. He's alive. He'll be ok…"

Next to Meat Chemo sat pressed up against him comfortingly. The only one that seemed composed was Archer, whose face was covered by a hard mask. When the medical door opened nearly everyone perked up. The doctor looked seriously at them.

"He's asleep for now, but I don't want anyone in there. We've got an evac on the way to a more suitable hospital in the states. He'll need months of healing for the burns, and as for his mental state… I don't have any idea…"

MacTavish nodded, his face sullen, "You heard the doc boys. Let's go." MacTavish looked sadly at Meat, grasped his shoulder comfortingly, before walking back to his office to report to Shepard and do more paperwork.

Ghost POV

Sitting at the bar, Ghost felt absolutely miserable, the noise, all the people, the flashing lights, all overwhelmed his senses. The only familiar thing was the rum that was grasped in his hands. When he took another sip of the drink he felt a small hand grace his shoulder. Startled Ghost turned his head to see a young blonde smiling at him, watching as her face slowly turned to horror at the site of his face which was covered with old scars from being tortured.

"Oh my God. Are you ok?"

"Ok look. If you want to get laid I'm not the guy. If you do I'd recommend that man over there. He's been eyeing woman for almost an hour now." Ghost pointed to a man of about 30, decent looking, with short brown hair who was at the moment obviously staring at a women's ass who was dancing near him. The woman nodded nervously before awkwardly walking away. Ghost sighed before drinking the rest of him rum and waving the bartender over for another. At this point the bartender knew exactly what he wanted, the fact that Ghost had been a frequent visitor now for nearly a month. The bartender named Tony leaned down across the bar, elbows on the polished wood, chin on fist.

"So. Today any better?"

Ghost looked into the green eyes rimmed with dark eyeliner and grinned weakly. In all honesty he reminded him of Gary, they both even seemed to be the same age.

"Not quite."

The man nodded but stayed where he was. "So you gonna tell me what's going through your head yet or what?"

Ghost eyed the man for a moment. "You really want to know what's going through my head?"

Tony nodded, his eyes never leaving Ghost's face. Of all the people, he was the one person who hadn't shied away from Ghost's scarred face.

Ghost settled into the soft thrum of his drunken mind before speaking.

"Look Tony. You're a nice guy and all, but I really can't tell you anything. All I can say is that I'm in the military, with more blood on my hands than I'd care for, and more friends dead than I thought possible." With that Ghost shrugged before swirling his drink.

Tony stared at him for a moment, his eyes blinked slowly. "Shit man. There's not much I can say to that. What I can say though is that drinking yourself unconscious probably isn't really helping you out that much."

Ghost snorted, "God, you even sound like him."

"Huh?"

"Just an old friend."

"Oh."

Ghost looked down with surprise as his cell phone rang. "Now who the hell would be calling me."

"Hello?"

"Ghost, it's Soap."

Ghost looked startled up at Tony before putting his money down on the counter and walking out of the bar, his mind clearing from the drunken haze earlier.

"Hey, what's going on?"

"We got Roach."

Ghost felt his heart skip a beat, his mood brightening immediately. "What? Where is he?"

"I don't know, Shepard won't tell me where they moved him to. All I can say is that they've moved him to a hospital in the states. I just felt like you should know."

At this Ghost visibly deflated, "Well, when did you find him?"

"Last week, but that's the thing Ghost. We didn't find him on a rescue mission, far from it actually. They brought him to us. Somehow they got into our supply system and got him into the base."

"But why would they give him back to you like that?"

"That's the thing. I've got no bloody idea."

Ghost was silent for a moment, troubled. "I don't like it. You need to figure out where Roach is now. Did Shepard say why he won't tell you where Roach is?"

"Same old thing, confidential, for the safety of the security, you know."

A feeling of dread enveloped Ghost. "So we have no idea about what's going on with Roach."

"No."

"Soap, you have to let me come back."

"No Ghost. I need you to stay out there. If you come back here you're farther back into Shepard's rein. I need you to stay out there and search for him on your own while I stay here and keep up with all of Shepard's meetings and such. If you get anything contact me, got it?"

"Soap, I…"

"Got it?"

"Yeah."

"Good." And with that Ghost's cell went quiet. Ghost slowly slid his cell into his pocket and shook his head.

"What the hell is going on…"

I can honestly say I'm disappointed in myself and this chapter. It's more or less just to get me back into the good stuff, but to end off on this and knowing I'm not going to be able to update forever really is a bummer. Once more I'm sorry about, but for all of you guys that have stuck with this story this far I sincerely thank you.