Rio was swelteringly hot as Ghost sat in a car with Meat and Royce, watching the moving dot tracking Soap, Roach and Merlin move through the city. They were trying to track down a man called Alejandro Rojas, an ammunition maker currently in Makarov's employment. If they could take him out it would hinder the Russian greatly.

He tugged on the edge of his balaclava and sighed, activating his earpiece. "Talk to me Soap, what's happening?"

"Tailing a white van, the plates are a match."

"Copy. Any sign of Rojas' right-hand man?"

"Negative. They stopped twice already, no sign of him." The dot stopped. "Wait, they've stopped again. Standby." A few seconds later, "Got a positive ID! Whoever these guys are, they are not happy to see him-"

The sound of gunshots ripped through the air. Ghost slammed the laptop shut and kicked open the door. "Let's go!"

"We have a situation here! Get down! Get down!" Soap's voice was replaced by gunshots, echoing down the street a second later. "Ghost we're on foot! Meet us at the Hotel Rio and cut him off if you can!"

"We're on our way!" By the time they reached the hotel, he saw Rojas' assistant slip down an alley halfway down the street. Soap and Roach were at the other end, Merlin bringing up the rear. "He went into the alley!"

"Non-lethal takedowns only, we need him alive!"

The assistant was already at the end of the alley. Ghost had dropped to one knee but didn't have a clear shot.

"Roach take the shot, go for his leg!"

The bullet whizzed by Ghost and struck home, the man falling with a pained yell. He looked back to see Roach down on one knee too, face half-hidden behind his scope. When he pulled back he grinned at Ghost and a jolt went through his stomach. He came back to his senses when Soap pulled him up by his shoulder.

"Let's go."

Ten minutes later they had the man tied up securely and Ghost looked around the workshop. "I can work with this."

"Alright, this is going to take some time. Check the favela for any signs of Rojas. That's where this guy was headed." Soap instructed the other men then pulled the garage door down. "Alright Ghost, let's get started."

They'd barely begun when the gunfire started up again. Soap got back on the line. "Royce, give me a sitrep."

"Lots of militia but no sign of Rojas over here!"

"Copy that, keep searching. Let me know if you see him."

It didn't take long for Rojas' assistant to start talking. Ghost had barely touched him when he started to talk. They left him tied to the chair and circled to the other side of the favela.

"We got Rojas' location. He's headed west along the upper levels of the favela. We'll keep him from doubling back on our side. Keep going and cut him off up top! Good luck, out." Soap jumped up onto a low rooftop, pulling Ghost up behind him. "We gotta move fast to cut him off."

"Right behind you."

The favela was full of civilians yelling and militia shooting. A couple of times they were almost taken out by RPGs or machines gun positioned up high but just managed to get into cover. Ghost had to dive into one building to avoid another barrage of bullets when he spotted Rojas.

"There! He's climbing onto a roof carrying a black duffel bag!"

"Keep going! Roach, he's heading towards your side of the militia!"

"We're on it!" Roach's voice burst through his earpiece and it surprisingly refocused Ghost.

"Roach, don't let the militia pin you down, use your flag bangs on them."

"Roger that Ghost!" He could almost see the Sergeant's smile. "We'll see you on the other side."

"I've lost sight of him, talk to me Ghost."

He paused then crouched down low to avoid another spray of bullets and scanned the rooftops. "He's trying to double back through the alleys below!"

"Stay on him!"

The two split up as they jumped back into the winding alleys. The civilians had evacuated the area now leaving behind only militia in their hundreds. Where they had all come from was anyone's guess but Ghost pushed through, working around the favela until he spotted Rojas again.

"I've got a visual on Rojas, he's cutting through the market!"

"I'll head back to the rooftops and try to cut him off from the right. He's going to have no choice but to head west."

Right into the other three. Ghost ducked as another RPG went by, exploding behind him. "I'm taking a lot of fire from the militia, I don't think I can track him through the market. I'm going to have to find another way around." He climbed onto the rooftops again and headed for the other end of the market. "I'm about half a click east of the market. Rojas is running across the rooftops on my right."

"Meat, Royce, we're still corralling him closer to your side of the hill. Keep an eye open for Rojas. He was making his way across the rooftops."

"Roger."

"We're on it!"

"Roach, keep moving uphill and cut him off. He's got nowhere to go but west over the rooftops towards you. He knows the area well but we could trap him."

"Yeah!"

They were reaching the summit of the hill now, the five of them surrounding Rojas as they moved upwards. Ghost saw the man heading for a motorcycle and took it out and he continued to flee uphill. At the top Rojas crashed into a building and Soap ran in behind him. Ghost waited outside, watching for the two to reappear.

"Soap, what's happening?"

He turned at the sound of footsteps only for Roach to come sprinting up the stairs behind him and then double over to catch his breath. Meat and Royce appeared moments later from his left and right. Ghost turned back to the building in time to see Rojas running across the balcony and making a break for the rooftop.

"Soap he's going to get away!"

"No, he's not." Soap broke through the window and tackled Rojas over the edge and they crashed onto a car.

Ghost immediately held his gun barrel against the man's head.

"Frontrunner this is Bravo Six, we've got the package. I repeat we've got the package."

"Command, ready for dust-off. Send the helicopter. Coordinates to follow-"

"Negative Bravo Six, we've detected several anti-aircraft nests in the area. It's too hot to land."

"Bollocks, the skies are clear! Send the chopper now!"

"That's a negative Lieutenant, make your way to the secondary extraction point."

Ghost cut the link with a frustrated hiss. "Command's got their head up their ass. We're on our own."

"Let's get Nikolai." Soap secured Rojas and stood up. "Whilst we wait we can have a little chat with our friend here. Let's secure the perimeter, we won't have long."

The only thing they could get out of the man was that Makarov was working with the Cartel in Mexico. It wasn't much, especially without a name but it was something to start on. With Rojas tied up and of no more use, they turned their attention to the next problem, escaping the favela.

"The militia's closing in, almost two hundred of them. They're surrounding us, it's going to be a hell of a fight to get out of here."

Soap nodded and called everyone in. "We're going to have to fight our way down to the market. Nikolai is waiting for us there. Is everyone ready to go?"

"What about Rojas?"

"The streets'll take care of him. We can't afford to be tied down."

Ghost glanced at the bound man and shrugged. It wasn't their problem anymore. Besides, the world would be a better place without him. He checked over his ammo, making sure his mag was full before getting up. "All good."

"Got any spare ammo?" Roach asked and he patted an empty pocket. "There was a lot of militia down there, I'm dry."

Ghost nodded and handed over a couple of magazines, making a point to slide them into his pocket. Roach's eyes widened slightly but his smile didn't waver. Ghost wasn't sure if he hated or liked the way this man didn't back down from him. It made a change for sure.

"Hit your shots."

"Will do." Roach patted his pocket and jogged over to join Merlin at the gate.

He stared after the Sergeant for a few more seconds before shaking himself and joining them.

Two hundred must have been a low estimate. It felt like thousands of the militia were pouring in from everywhere as they fought their way through the market. Even with six of them it hardly felt like they were making a dent in their numbers. They finally reached the market to find it overrun and Nikolai's helicopter landing on the far side of the grassy embankment.

"There's Nikolai's Pave Low, let's go! Nikolai, get ready for immediate dust off!"

"That may not be fast enough, I see more militia closing in on the market!" The pave low swerved as a couple of RPGs went by. "It's too hot, we won't survive this landing!"

"Nikolai wave off! We'll meet you at the secondary LZ instead!" Soap ducked down and reloaded quickly, throwing another mag to Royce. "We have to get to the rooftops, this way!"

Ghost shot one man dead as he took aim at Merlin and followed after their Captain. Nikolai was waiting at the other end of the rooftops. As they approached, Ghost became aware of a large gap between them and the pave low. "We're running out of rooftop!"

"We can make it, go, go!"

He just had time to secure his gun before making the jump, skidding and sending several tiles flying. He was the first on the pave low and helped Royce, Meat and Merlin up. Moments later Soap was there but no Roach.

"Where-"

"Get us in the air Nikolai and circle around!" Soap grabbed hold of the netting and leaned over as the helicopter turned. "Roach fell, we need to spot him."

"Shit." Ghost leaned out too and scanned the floor. It was swarming with militia but after several seconds he spotted Roach in an empty alleyway. "There! It looks like he's down. Get us closer and I'll go get him."

"Negative, he'll have to get to us. If we land we're all dead."

"He's unconscious!"

"He's getting up." Ghost looked down again and yes, Roach was upright and stumbling about. "Roach! Roach! Wake up!"

"Roach! We can see them from the chopper! They're coming for you, dozens of them!" Ghost's panic rose in his voice as he saw the man bend over again. "Roach?!"

"I'm here." Came his mumbled reply, he sounded confused which wasn't a good sign. Had he hit his head? "I don't… what happened?"

"You need to move!"

"There's too many of them, get the hell out of there!" Soap ordered and he yanked Ghost back as another RPG went by. "I'll guide him, get the meds ready."

Ghost turned and began looking through the equipment. He managed to put enough meds together for whatever had happened to Roach. Now all he could do was wait for the Sergeant to reach them.

"Roach I see you! Jump down to the rooftops and meet us south of your position, go!"

He glanced over again and saw Roach slip and almost fall again on the rooftops. "Roach, you've got to move faster!"

"We're running on fumes here! You've got thirty seconds!"

He wasn't going to make it. Ghost could already see that. "Nikolai, lower the chopper!"

Soap grabbed him as he swung over the edge. "Ghost, don't be stupid!"

"We're not leaving him behind!" He looked down and saw Roach had fallen. They were close enough that he could see blood underneath him. "He'll die!"

"You'll die too!"

Ghost swung an arm back, his elbow connecting with Soap's face and his grip loosened enough that he was able to drop. He landed hard but ignored the pain and ran over to Roach.

"Go." Roach's voice came over the comms in a weak rasp. "I can't-" Ghost seized him and turned him over. Roach looked at him in confusion, recognition flaring a moment later. "You came back?"

"We'll talk later. Can you stand?" Bullets flew by and he shoved the injured man down, turning to fire a few shots back at the first militia to reach the rooftops. "Roach we need to go!" Pulling him to his feet he hand to support him back to the jump. "We'll jump down and find somewhere safer."

When he took Roach's weight again they slammed into the wall. He was heavier than he looked. "Sorry. I can't think straight."

Ghost touched his head, seeing blood. Roach groaned and swatted at his hand. "Shit, you're bleeding. Come on, the favela ends this way. Once we're out we'll have an easier time hiding."

He was pretty much carrying Roach after a while. It was easier when they got away from the favela and when he felt confident they weren't being followed, kicked down the door to an empty house. Roach slumped to the floor and stretched out with a pained groan. Ghost glanced back after shutting the curtains to see his leg stained with blood.

"I've got supplies, hold on a sec." His hands were shaking slightly but Roach was too dazed to notice. Ghost kept quiet, not wanting his voice to betray his relief that he was still alive. For now at least. With a head wound, shot in the leg and injuries to his chest it was still rough. "You've really done a number on yourself."

"Yeah I noticed, it hurts like a bitch."

"I've got something for that too." The morphine kicked in quickly and Roach relaxed. "We've got to wait a couple of hours for Nikolai to come back but I think we're safe here. Try and get some rest and I'll keep watch."

Roach jerked upright and smiled sleepily. "Thank you for coming back. I'd be dead if it wasn't for you."

"Don't go wasting your life then. When we get back to base I'm going to train you until you could win gold in long jumps."

"No more training." He groaned and Ghost chuckled. "You're such a hard ass."

"I know. Now rest up." Ghost finished the bandages and sat down. He was close to Roach, the warmth of his leg pressing against him comforting somehow. He held his gun ready just in case the militia could find them. Roach relaxed and glancing down he saw the man was asleep. Ghost sighed and looked at the door again.

Once he was sure Roach was out for the count he activated his earpiece again. "Soap, do you read me?"

It was a few minutes before he got a response. "Yeah, I'm here. Give me a sitrep."

"Roach is alive, banged up but breathing. We're taking shelter in a house just outside the favela. I don't think they know we're here. It's been quiet the last half hour or so."

"Alright, we're ready to come get you but we're using a car, less loud. We've got an approximation in your location, just mark the door and we'll find you."

"Roger, ETA?"

"Two hours. Try not to die." The line went dead and Ghost smiled ruefully. Soap was pissed off and he had a suspicion he was the reason. He glanced at Roach who was still sleeping. No matter how annoyed Soap was, it had been worth it to keep this man alive.

After nearly two hours had passed he got up to mark the door. As he stood, Roach woke with a start. "What?"

"Shh, it's ok. I need to put a mark on the door for Soap." He noticed Roach was shivering when he returned and grabbed a blanket. "You're banged up pretty good huh?"

"Good thing I've got you to take care of me." Ghost stiffened as Roach's head came to rest on his shoulder. After a few minutes, he relaxed again. "Why did you come back?"

He thought back to that moment, seeing Roach fall on the rooftops and realising he wouldn't make it. What if he hadn't gone back? Well, that was easy, Roach would be dead. Ghost's hands flexed around his rifle at the thought. "It was either that or watch you die. I couldn't do that."

"I didn't realise you cared so much."

Did he care? Clearly, he did. The real question was how much did he care? Roach couldn't know this so he forced a fake casualness into his voice. "I've put a lot of effort into your training. It would be a waste if you went and got killed now." Roach snorted his disbelief and Ghost smiled. "Or maybe I can't stand the thought of watching you die. Either way, I'm here with you."

Roach's breath was warm against his neck, each one making his hair stand on end as he fought the urge to get up and move away. Intimacy was never his forte and having Roach this close should make him feel uncomfortable but it didn't. He liked it. It was infinitely worse. Ghost had been trying so hard to ignore these feelings and thoughts since he'd met Roach but when it came down to it he was willing to risk it all to keep the other man alive.

Nobody should have that kind of power over him.

Roach shifted closer, his nose brushing against the exposed skin of Ghost's neck just under his balaclava and his body tensed, trying and failing to stave off a shiver.

It wasn't fair.

Ghost had never asked for this, at least not out loud. He had never been able to fully squash that voice in his head asking for more but this, this was not what he meant. Roach was his Sergeant, albeit an attractive, endearing man but his Sergeant all the same. There were rules for a reason and he couldn't entertain these feelings. He wasn't worth it.

Roach exhaled softly, a soft noise of discomfort escaping him and Ghost's heart ached at the sound.

Sighing softly, he carefully readjusted the bandage around Roach's chest. The small frown on his face smoothed out and he relaxed again into Ghost's side. He's not worth it. Over and over Ghost tried to tell himself this but no matter how many times he tried, Roach kept slipping through his defences. He looked down at Roach again, eyes travelling to his slightly parted lips. Ghost wondered what it would feel like to-

Someone knocked on the door, abruptly ending his thoughts and jerking Roach awake. Ghost handed him a pistol and got up to answer. "Ghost, Roach?" He let out a sigh of relief and opened the door wider for Soap to enter. He looked down at Roach and grimaced. "Not looking too hot lad."

"I could say the same about you." Ghost had to hold back a laugh since he was the reason Soap had two black eyes. "What happened?"

Soap glared at Ghost. "I somehow got in the way of Ghost's elbow. He was pretty insistent about coming back to help you. It doesn't matter, you're alive is what counts. Now let's get you somewhere safe… and clean."

They hauled Roach to his feet and helped him into the car. His shirt was little more than a rag at this point so Ghost cut it away before setting him down in the seat. Roach hardly seemed to notice, only showing some sign of recognition when they were on the carrier and Ghost sat down next to him again.

"Can you talk with me, it'll help distract from the pain."

Ghost hesitated. "I'm not good at small talk."

"Ask me anything. This is your one and only chance to get to know the real Gary Sanderson." His smile was open and warm, instantly breaking through Ghost's defences.

"I have access to your file y'know."

"That's kinda creepy though. Besides my file won't tell you what my favourite colour is." He leaned back and winced, making Ghost prop a bag behind him gently for support. "It's red by the way."

"Mines green." He answered without thought. God he hoped Roach didn't make the connection. To keep him distracted he reached out and traced the infinity symbol on his wrist. "Got a girl back home with a matching one?" If Roach was straight he could move on already.

"No, I'm gay. That probably is in my file." So much for small miracles. "Does it bother you?"

"Not even a little bit. So, a lucky guy then?" Come on, let me down already Roach.

"Nope, my sister. We got them on my eighteenth birthday. It's a reminder that no matter how far apart we are, we're always connected. I miss her a lot." His voice quietened, an ache apparent. "She was always there for me growing up."

"I know the feeling. I miss my brother too." More than he could ever express in words. So he'd gotten a tattoo instead. He pulled up his sleeve to show Roach, the word Tommy etched into his skin, with wings on either side. "It's the only one I have."

"I'm sorry." Roach's hand covered the tattoo and squeezed. The rush of warmth from the contact immediately made Ghost feel better. It had been the first time he'd spoken about Tommy in over a year and with Roach's comfort, the pain was manageable. "I really am."

"So what about this one?" Ghost redirected the conversation so he didn't have to think about it, touching the white rabbit in the crook of Roach's elbow.

He laughed. "During basic training, the Sergeant in charge brought in this cute white rabbit and asked us to kill it. None of us could though, it was too adorable. We even named it Bubbles. He stuck around for the rest of our training, I think someone took him home in the end."

"So why the tattoo?"

"Just a reminder that I'm still human. We do a lot of bad shit, don't we? Sometimes it's hard to remember I'm not a monster. This helps." Roach whispered the last part and now Ghost was the one gripping his arm and trying to provide comfort.

"You're not a monster, Roach. You're a good man. Trust me, I know the difference." Roach smiled back, looking happier. Ghost moved on to his next tattoo, the winged daggers of the SAS on his shoulder. "42nd Regiment? I was in the 11th. I used to be one of their best."

"Funny, nobody ever mentioned Ghost."

"How about Lieutenant Riley?" Ghost stiffened as he realised what he'd said. Jesus, why did Roach have to be so easy to talk to? "Stop staring at me like that. I know I've never mentioned it before."

"So what's your first name?"

"Classified."

Roach rolled his eyes. "Right."

"What does the number represent?" On his other forearm, there was a string of numbers. "It looks like a service number."

"It is, my grandfathers. He's the reason I joined. He died just before I graduated."

"I'm sure he would've been proud. Look at where you are now."

"What, banged up on a carrier?" They both laughed. "Thanks."

"And this?" Ghost traced the decorative pattern that spread up to his shoulder. "What special meaning could this one have?"

"I thought it looked cool."

Ghost smiled absentmindedly and continued tracing the pattern. Roach shivered after a moment so he paused. "Cold?"

"It's not like there's a heater on this thing. Where's my shirt?"

"It's more of a bloody rag now." Ghost shrugged off his jacket and carefully helped Roach into it, zipping it up to his chin. "Better?"

"Yes, thanks."

They looked up as Soap sat down. "How're you holding up?"

"Painful, but alive." Roach pulled the collar closer around his neck and sighed. "How much longer?"

"Half an hour. Try to get some rest." Roach nodded and closed his eyes. His breathing evened out almost instantly and his head fell against Ghost's shoulder again. Soap turned and winked at Ghost. "Always the gentlemen, eh?"

"Shut up. What was I supposed to do, let him freeze?"

"Aye, I'm sure that's the reason." He stood with a groan and nodded at Roach. "Bet you think he looks cute in your jacket though."

"Piss off!" Once they were alone again, Ghost sighed and gently brushed Roach's hair away from his face. It seemed he was being too obvious in his interest in the Sergeant. Hopefully, Soap was the only one to pick up on it. "You sleeping?" He asked quietly and Roach nodded. "Good. I'll wake you when we're back."

Ghost soon found himself falling asleep too and gently rested his head on top of Roach's, careful of the head wound. He smelled like sweat and dirt but it didn't quite mask the scent of the shampoo provided back at the base. Honestly, it wasn't a bad smell, one Ghost could get used too, given the chance.