Love Struck

Chapter 167 – Speech Practice

Shadow's POV

Ghost and I both left Dove and Frost knowing they were going to be buried the right way. He wanted me to say something at the funeral but I don't know. We'll see when that time comes and according to what we agreed to that time will be next week. At the least Ghost can be able to say goodbye and get things ready he has to do with Midnight. All I can do is watch...again.

Today was going to be easy now. All I have left to do is speak with the troops then Carver and Dom. I got the punishment ready for them. It's good that they think their off the hook. Wait till I see them.

As Ghost helped me to the mess hall where the base was at eating for lunch Raptor and Alicia came walking up to us with Marx.

We stopped as Raptor went silent.

"Hi Raptor." Said Ghost in an awkward way.

Raptor nodded and replied.

"Hey."

"How's your memory going?" Asked Ghost as Marx replied.

"It will take time."

Ghost nodded as Raptor held Alicia's hand.

I felt sad for him. A feeling I haven't felt since...never mind. It's just upsetting to see him like this. But I guess Marx and Alicia can pull something together. Raptor's tough. He was leader of Pakistan's rebellion and now he's special forces leader. I think he'll get through this.

"Are you ready Shadow?" Asked Marx as I nodded.

"Yeah...let's get this done with so I can deal with other things." I replied as two soldiers took me away from Ghost.

Gently they opened the door and the second I limped in soldiers went completely silent. All their eyes rested on me as I took a look around. They all looked worried and scared. I need to change that fast.

"Thank you." I said to the soldiers as they got me in front of the main table.

Before they could leave I grabbed one by the shoulder and dragged him back to me.

"Go get Carver and Dom. Bring them to my office and make sure they don't move a muscle till I'm there. Disarm and guard. That's an order, got it?" I asked as they both nodded in approval to head for the exit.

As soon as they were gone and the doors shut quiet, I looked at Ghost and nudged him to step forward.

As he stopped next to my side I looked back at the men and women and began.

"I take it everyone here has heard rumors and may have seen things a bit out of the ordinary around here lately. I'm I mistaken?" I asked as they replied with multiple ways. Most said yes and others just nodded and slowly I nodded back and continued.

"I'm not going to lie. We are having trouble and mostly it is because of me."

The second I said that Ghost interrupted.

"Don't listen to the Commander. None of this is his fault." He stated as I looked at him.

"Ghost?" I said as he stepped forth.

"Things have happened in the past week and so forth that have caused us major problems. Most of which may not concern many of you but the things that do we wish to talk about here today." He stated as he looked back at me.

I nodded and allowed him to continue.

"As you can tell the Commander is hurt. He was assaulted and almost killed by a large group of men that many of you remember from earlier in the season. The gang was led by a man called Dreil. Do any of you remember?" He asked as a soldier raised his hand.

"He's that guy who tried to blow up the warehouse depot right?"

I nodded and took off where Ghost stopped.

"He's dead don't worry. A women many of you know who is Ghost's girlfriend and mother to his daughter Midnight killed him."

"Dove?" Questioned one soldier.

I nodded as Ghost took over again.

"She saved my life but in the process lost hers." He stated as everyone went silent.

Ghost tried to fight the pain as I rubbed his shoulder for comfort.

"Unfortunately she was not the only one to lose their life in the past week. Sargent Frost was killed in action as well." I stated as everyone who was in special forces shouted.

"WHO!? HOW!? FROST IS DEAD!? WHO FUCKING KILLED HIM!?" Many more questions charged me as I raised my hand for them to calm down.

They went still as I answered them all.

"Frost was sent with a man named Carter who knew Raptor, to intercept a G.U.N convey. They stopped the men from reaching the base here and Carter who wasn't in need for his help shot him in the back on their way back home. Frost died slowly to say the worst but I can tell you that Raptor dealt with Carter and he no longer is alive to hurt anyone else again."

The special forces tact was up as some soldiers asked.

"We killed G.U.N troops!? Doesn't that mean were at war now!?"

"No. G.U.N doesn't know about this. We are keeping it to ourselves so a war doesn't start. We have to many problems at the moment to fight them. In I'd say about a month we will figure out what to do." I replied as they lowered their heads.

"The funeral for both Dove and Frost will be in about a week. I hope everyone will come to show respects." I added as Ghost said.

"Since Raptor's boys are in such a hype mood, we should probably tell you Raptor was injured and his memory is not there due to it."

Immediately Raptor's squad stepped up to approach us.

"Frost is dead and that we will fight for, but who hurt our leader?!" Asked one of them as Ghost stood his ground.

Quickly I took over and stepped in.

"Relax! Raptor is fine he just needs help recovering from memory loss and I need you guys to help him with that! Just hang out with him and help him remember some things!" I shouted as the men lowered their postures.

"He will be back soon to himself according to Marx! If you want to know how it happened then you should look to our enemy!" I stated as they looked at me in confusion.

The soldiers knew who I was referring too but I can't say this to the whole base, it's confidential.

Quickly I took the soldiers and said.

"John has the debrief for all of you. Just be ready for when I need you boys."

The soldiers nodded slowly as I backed them off.

"Many of my men have been injured and we need time to get everyone up to speed! Especially you new guys and girls!" I shouted as everyone looked back at me.

"If your new here then listen up!" I ordered as everyone got to me again.

"We need to get you all ready in time for the fighting so I will be having your training increased! The drill instructors will be picking up pace and I want everyone in it to win it! Or just go home now and never comeback! Do you all understand!?" I asked as they replied.

"Sir yes, sir!"

Smiling a little I nodded and looked back at Ghost.

"Anything else?" I asked as he shook his head.

"No, thank you all for listening. Raptor's guys with follow us." He ordered as he helped me out the door with Raptor's squad behind me.

We took them outside and down the hall a little before we stopped to proceed.

"Do you all trust me?" I asked as they replied.

"Yes sir."

I nodded and replied.

"Good cause please trust me when I say this." I begged as they listened.

"Raptor was sent out to return the Commander of G.U.N's daughter last night."

Instantly their eyes widened.

"Dom and Carver; I don't know if you remember him but ether way, they went behind my back and captured her along with their friends who belong to a gang here in Pakistan. General Hannon found this out and had them detained late last night. Raptor went to the base as far as we know and was assaulted by Reacher and his soldiers. Raptor was then dumped out of one of their Humvees and we found him bleeding out with his legs cut open and his tongue cut off inside his mouth. He nearly died, but we got him stable. As I said before though his memory is gone and he needs help. Just I want you boys to go spend time with him and help him back up to his feet. Can you do that?" I asked as one of them replied.

"Of course sir, but if he was so abused and beaten how was he able to survive?"

I nodded at the question and replied.

"It doesn't really matter but it was the reason his memory is gone. Marx said it is temporary but any help he can get from you guys will increase the time it will take. Just please do anything for him you can."

The men nodded and waited as Ghost asked.

"What are we doing with Carver and Dom?"

I lowered my head and replied.

"I have something for them don't worry."

Everyone nodded and I once again ordered.

"Please go help Raptor guys. He should be with Marx and Alicia somewhere in the research wing. I got to go deal with the two morons."

Raptor's men nodded and quickly left to go see what they could do to aid in his recovery.

"Come on Ghost." I urged as he helped me to my office which I haven't seen in a few days.

In time we got there to see one of my men waiting outside.

I stopped in front of him to ask.

"How are they?"

Slowly he lowered his gun and replied.

"They seem to think everything is ok. I don't think they heard about Raptor yet."

I nodded and quickly he opened the door.

Immediately the two morons looked back to see me there with Ghost and I first rested them on the hedgehog named Carver. Ghost's old partner. I don't remember his face, but I knew his voice when he asked.

"What's going on Shadow!?"

"Shut up!" I ordered as he went silent with Dom who fell back in his seat as my soldiers forced them back down.

Gently I sat down behind my desk and nodded for Ghost to get next to Carver.

He did and waited as Dom asked.

"What's going on!?"

With a smile I replied.

"You two are getting some discipline after what you caused."

"Wait I thought we did the right thing!?" Shouted Carver as Ghost looked down at him.

"We got you Reacher's USB!" He added as I raised my hand.

"You disobeyed direct fucking orders! I don't fucking care if you got me something big out of it, I just want to make my point clear when it comes to getting it! And disobeying my orders is the worst thing you could do!" I shouted as Dom said.

"So were getting punished for getting all of G.U.N's plans for you!?"

I nodded and chuckled as they stared at me.

"It's funny right!?" I asked as they stayed quiet.

"You would think I would let it go because of that and I would have only done something mild for disobeying, but seeing as you got Raptor nearly killed last night I'm not going to!" I shouted at them as they both looked at each other in confusion.

"What happened to Raptor!?" Asked Dom as I nodded for Ghost.

"He was attacked returning the daughter and was killed. His legs had been cut open and his arm broken along with ribs and his tongue had been cut clean out of his mouth."

Both Dom and Carver looked back at me in fear as I added.

"He's ok now that I gave him one of the shots you had Marx give you behind my back Dom!"

Dom looked around as I continued.

"The shot saved his life, but at the cost of him forgetting everything! Raptor is barely there and he almost killed Ghost and Archer last night when he broke out thinking we were some group of crazy people! Alicia made sure he got back on track but he still needs help and now his boys are down there aiding in that cause! But you two nearly got him killed and that I won't let go unanswered! Do both of you understand!?" I asked as they slowly nodded.

"Good, so!?" I shouted as they both looked at me.

"Since I can't kill you I guess I can come close enough to the point where you feel half of Raptor's pain! So I think a good enough punishment will be...in short! Beatings!" I shouted as they widened their eyes.

"I'll let Raptor's boys handle you Dom, while Carver here will get his from Ghost!" I stated as Both Ghost and Carver looked at me in shock.

"What!?" Asked Carver as Ghost looked down at him.

"Ghost will be the one to hurt you I said!" I replied as Ghost said.

"I don't think this is necessary Shadow!"

With a smile I replied.

"Then how would you want them to be disciplined!?"

Ghost shook his head and replied.

"I don't know but I can't do that to Carver!"

"Why not?! I thought you said he hated you when you last spook! Don't you want payback!?" I asked as Carver stared at him in fear.

Ghost didn't know how to respond as I offered.

"I could just let demote and have them fall out for at least until Raptor is back to himself!?"

Ghost looked at Carver and Dom and it was clear they both wanted that rather then the first plan.

"Is that what we should do Ghost!?" I asked as he looked back at me.

Slowly nodding his head I replied.

"Fine but note this you two! When Raptor is able to think for himself again I will let him have final call for your punishment! Until then hand over your ranks and weapons and go to your barracks! I don't want you fighting or even trying to leave! As far as I'm concerned this is probation! And since you two will be so bored I will assign you a group of cadets to train for the time we're recovering from all this shit! Now leave my sight and get ready to train your men starting tomorrow! GO!"

Both Dom and Carver nodded slowly I handed me their weapons and ranks. As soon as they were done my men took them away leaving me with Ghost.

"What the hell was that!?" He asked as I looked at him.

"I want to prove a point!" I replied as he shouted.

"By having me beat my old partner to death!?"

"You said he hurt you before so I was offering you a chance for redemption! Sorry I was trying to help!" I stated as he replied.

"He left because he thought I was going to get him killed! Nothing more!"

"So I was a little over the edge with assumptions my fucking bad!" I shouted as he went for the door.

"Fuck you."

"Fuck you!" I shouted back as he opened it.

"Who are you?"

"SLAM!"

Next chapter in a bit so look out for it as I get it done.