Finally, after another six months, they had Makarov cornered. It was almost over.

One last mission. One more night and they'd be done. All they had to do was take over and capture Makarov in his last stand.

Ghost wasn't happy about the plan. Not only was he in charge of clearing the perimeter but Roach was going into the thick of it with the Soap. He hated being separated and was already feeling anxious before they'd even set down outside the hotel.

Roach gave his hand a tight squeeze just before they were due to go inside. "Hey, I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Stay safe."

"I always do."

"Roach, let's go!" Soap called and he turned to nod at their captain.

"I love you," he told Ghost firmly before letting go and walking away.

"I love you too," Ghost murmured, sighing as they disappeared inside the building. Price came up beside him and cleared his throat, bringing him back to the present. He had a job to do. Roach could take care of himself. "Come on, we need to secure the area."

It did not go to plan.

It was far too quiet around the building as the task force fanned out to secure the area. "Price, you seeing anything?"

"Negative," he responded over the comms. "You'd think there would be some form of resistance. This doesn't feel right."

"Seconded. We'll meet you round the far side of the building to discuss our next move."

"Copy."

No sooner had the line gone dead than all hell broke loose. Their small unit was almost completely surrounded by the sudden appearance of mercenaries.

Ghost managed to duck behind a tree before the shooting started, cursing when Ozone went down next to him, his hand pressed to his shoulder where he'd been shot. Dragging him behind cover, Ghost got a gauze pad over it. "Hold on to that, keep pressure on it."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be okay."

"Royce! Get him back to cover!" Ghost ducked as another spray of bullets followed the sergeant diving across to them. "I'll cover you, get back to the entrance."

"Ghost there's too many-"

"That's an order!" Royce hesitated but nodded and helped Ozone to his feet. Keeping them covered as best he could, the three beat a retreat back the way they came. As soon as the other two were safely ahead, Ghost stayed back to make sure no one followed. "Price, we were ambushed. Ozone's injured and Royce is taking him back. There's too many to count but I'll hold them back as long as I can."

He ejected the empty magazine, slapping a new one into his gun, returning fire and taking out one of the mercenaries.

"Ghost, get the hell out of there!"

"Negative. If they catch up then we're all dead. Get back to the hotel and prepare for a fight."

There was a pause and then Price said, "don't get yourself killed. I don't want to explain that to Roach."

"You know me Price, I always find a way. See you soon."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he heard a twig snap behind him. He spun around, catching the mercenary's arm as they brought the gun down towards his head. He yanked his knife free, driving it into the man's chest and pivoted, shooting a second man who had stepped into the open. But the two were instantly replaced and within seconds, Ghost was surrounded.

He held up his hands, wondering if they would just shoot him dead but a second later he received a painful blow to the back of the head and everything faded.

Ghost woke to the sound of someone calling his name. It sounded like Roach, which was comforting. Less so, however, when he opened his eyes and flinched at the brightness of the white room. H's eyes found Roach, sitting across from him and bound to a chair. He instinctively tried to move, only to find he was restrained too. "Roach, what-"

The singular door swung open and they both looked over as a man strode in. Without a word he walked over to Roach, pulling a gun from his holster. If he wasn't tied down, Ghost would've killed him when he jammed a rag into Roach's mouth. "Tell me the access codes to your servers."

Ghost glanced at Roach whose eyes had gone wide, imploring with him. He knew what he was trying to say - don't say a word. But he almost broke when the man pressed the muzzle of the gun to Roach's knee.

"Five seconds."

He said nothing. When the gun went off Ghost flinched, closing his eyes as Roach yelled unintelligibly behind the rag. It didn't hide the pained sounds though.

"Fucking bastard!" Ghost found himself yelling. "I'll kill you for that! Touch him again and I promise you'll regret it!"

The man only grinned sadistically, pressing the gun to Roach's other knee. "We'll move to his fingers next."

They had the only thing in the world that could make Ghost break. He couldn't watch Gary get hurt like this. Damn the consequences. "Alright! I'll give you the codes just stop!"

Roach looked up, pupils blown wide with the pain and tears stained his face but he shook his head fiercely. The man fisted his hair and yanked his head up, forcing more tears from his eyes. Ghost was going to kill him, slowly.

"Such a pretty face. We should let his thoughts run red across the walls. What do you think?" The man purred the words against Roach's cheek, pressing the gun under his chin. "But I'm willing to let him live as long as you cooperate."

"I'll give you anything. Don't hurt him."

"Access codes." Ghost recited the numbers, relieved when the man let go of Roach who let out another muffled yell, shaking his head. As soon as he'd finished copying down the codes, he yanked Roach's head back up again. "He's keeping you alive pretty boy. If I were you, I'd be quiet."

"You can't access the servers without being on-site," Ghost told him. "That will only get you into my profile. You need a direct link to get inside."

"I hope for your friend's sake that isn't true."

He left and as soon as the door shut, Ghost redirected his attention to Roach, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Gary. I can't lose you. Even if it means giving up everything else." he yelled in frustration, powerless to do anything but kick his chair back a couple of inches. "I'm going to get you out of here, I promise. You are not going to die."

Roach nodded, eyes closing as he took deep, calming breaths which helped mask the sound of his blood dripping to the floor. If they didn't do something soon, he'd bleed to death. Ghost managed to kick his chair back a little more as Roach spat out his makeshift gag.

"Can you break free?" He asked in a tremulous voice that pulled at Ghost's heart.

Ghost shook his head. "Pointless. They know what they're doing. We have bigger problems though. As soon as they read my profile they'll see I'm married and it links to your profile."

"Fuck!"

Fuck indeed. Roach's life was over the moment they realised who he was to Ghost. If they didn't already.

"Once they're logged in, it'll send out a location to Soap so he can find us. We just need to hold out until he gets here." Ghost jerked his chair backwards again, towards the wall. It was made of a patchwork of stones and concrete and some of them looked loose. "When he comes back, keep quiet. Let him focus on me alright?"

"You expect me to just sit here and watch him beat the shit out of you?!" Roach's face drained of all cool out when he moved and Ghost was worried for a second he would pass out but then he got out through gritted teeth, "I can take it!"

Always the strong one, even now.

"Shut up, Gary! He'd destroyed one of your kneecaps already so don't give him an excuse to shoot the other!" Ghost snapped back as he hit the wall. "If the world has to burn to keep you alive then so be it! Damn it all to hell but I am not losing you!"

He couldn't. The thought of living in a world where Gary was gone was intolerable. Maybe it was selfless or maybe it was selfish but Ghost would sacrifice anything and everything to keep Gary alive.

Roach stared at him in surprise, eyes still slightly hazy from the pain. It was possible he didn't understand a word Ghost was saying if the pain was intense enough. But then he laughed, the sweet sound echoing in the stark room and Ghost sighed, relaxing slightly.

It was short-lived when the door banged open a few moments later and the man reappeared, dragging Roach's head back up and pressing a blade against his neck this time. "The codes, give them to me."

"I already have. I told you it wouldn't work." Ghost spat back as he kept his eyes on Roach, the blade cutting a thin line of red into his neck as he swallowed.

"Maybe we can't access your servers, but we did learn a lot about you, Lieutenant Riley. Including the name of your husband, Sergeant Sanderson here." Roach flinched, the cut opening further and blood trailed down his neck. "And here Makarov thought you needed to be exceptionally skilled to join your task force."

He forced Roach's mouth open with a smirk and he was lucky Ghost was still tied down. As soon as he got loose, the fucker was dead.

"I think I need a taste for myself to see how good he really is."

Roach spat a mouthful of blood in his face, earning himself a blow across the face.

"Hey, asshole! Touch him again and I'll make sure you regret every decision you ever made! Don't fucking touch him!" Ghost yelled as the man grabbed the back of Roach's chair - ignoring his spitting insults - and began dragging him from the room.

Roach's head snapped up and he locked eyes with Ghost, eyes wide with panic. All he could do was try and communicate it would be okay, he would get him out. Before the door shut, Roach managed a small smile showing he understood.

Now alone, Ghost tried his best to keep calm and ran his hands along the wall, searching for anything that could help. He needed to get free and after Roach as soon as possible before any more harm could happen. Who knew how long it would take Soap to organise a rescue? Roach could be dead by then.

A stone flaked off the wall, cutting into Ghost's palm but all he cared about was that it was sharp and began cutting through his bindings.

When a different guard returned, he only had a moment of surprise to see the chair empty before Ghost rammed the stone into his neck, covering his mouth so he made no noise. Thankfully the guard had been armed and after donning the outer uniform, Ghost felt confident enough that he could blend in.

Slipping out of the cell, he locked the door and started down the corridor. He followed the trail of smeared blood deeper into the compound. Nobody paid him any attention thankfully. In fact, most of the soldiers were hurrying in the opposite direction towards what Ghost assumed was the entrance as an explosion sounded in the distance. If it was the task force they would be a welcome distraction.

The trail led to another cell and when he pushed open the door and saw a blood-stained body on the floor, Ghost feared the worst.

"Gary…" He breathed, dropping to his knees next to the body and closer now, he was relieved to see it was the man who had interrogated them.

So Roach was alive and on the move. He couldn't have gone far with his leg though. Ghost locked the cell door behind him as he set off in search of an infirmary, the last thing they needed was the alarm being raised.

It didn't take long to find his next clue. A dazed-looking man in a white lab coat was wandering about in the next corridor and he quailed as Ghost grabbed him by the lapels. There was blood staining the stark white material. "Have you seen a British soldier? Blonde, green eyes, about this tall? He was injured too, bullet to the leg and needed medical attention." When the man only stared, Ghost shook him. "Answer me!"

"Yes, yes!" He babbled, sighing in relief when Ghost let him go. "I did my best but he will not last long. The injury was severe."

"Where is he?"

"He wanted to know where to find Makarov."

"And?"

"The inner circle." The man pointed towards a door which seemed to lead to a staircase. "The soldiers are being moved to the front, an attack. This deep inside, he might stand a chance but not for long."

Ghost yanked off the keycard dangling from his chest and moved to the door and pushed through it without a backwards glance. The man was right about one thing, Roach was in serious danger and if he kept pushing himself... he might die. Spurred on by the thought, Ghost didn't bother concealing his whereabouts as he climbed the staircase.

The door at the top was locked by some sort of keycard system. Thankfully, the doctors worked and it clicked open. Cautiously, he pushed it wide and checked the next corridor. It seemed clear.

At the far door, he found three dead soldiers in a control room. One screen showed a set of double doors and two more soldiers lay prone in front of it. A smear of blood on the map located the spot and Ghost traced the path. It had to be Roach. Who else would be pushing this far into the compound, let alone be skilled enough?

Continuing on, Ghost found himself outside again in a courtyard. Again it was quiet, no soldiers or otherwise on the catwalk above. He crossed slowly, freezing when a speaker crackled to life and Makarov's voice echoed in the empty space.

"Spoken like a true soldier. How long do you think you can keep going in your current state? You already look on the verge of passing out."

"As long as I need to." Ghost almost dropped his gun at the sound of Roach's voice and surged forwards, kicking the next set of doors open as the conversation continued.

"How do you plan on getting out? If you're not careful, your Lieutenant won't be leaving with you."

"Touch him and you're dead. I know I'm not leaving so don't make empty threats."

"The truth it is then... All warfare is based on deception. For years the West, you, have made the world a battlefield. The corrupt talk whilst we spill our blood. But deceit cuts both ways. The bigger the lie, the more likely people will believe it, and when a nation cried for vengeance, the lie spreads like wildfire. The fire builds, devouring everything in its path. Our enemies believe that they alone can change the course of history, but all it takes is the will of a single man."

Roach laughed but Ghost could hear the pain in the sound, the ragged way he inhaled at the end. "That's a nice speech, does that work? Sounds like a lot of bullshit to me. All it takes is the will of a single man? Do you want to know my will? Taking you down and guess what, everybody here now knows you're full of shit. Now they all know you're a liar. Do you think they'll still follow you? I think you're all out of allies."

The sounds of a struggle filled Ghost's ears as he spotted the two fallen guards and the comm system cut out. Fearing the worst, he tried to open the doors but discovered they had been locked. After several kicks, one swung in and without thought, he shot Makarov. He dropped the gun he'd been pointing at the prone figure below him and slumped to the side.

Ghost ran over, ignoring the body in favour of Roach. He was in bad shape, another bullet wound in his stomach that Ghost quickly padded out and secured. The bandages around his leg were stained red and his skin had turned pale. Ghost checked his pulse, relieved to find his ears still beating.

"Okay, Gary, let's get you out of here."

It wasn't easy. Ghost managed to get Roach in his arms and got to his feet. Several men skidded into the room as he turned and as he was about to drop Roach in favour of his gun, he recognised Soap at their head. "Soap!"

He took one look at Roach and nodded with a grim smile. "We've secured the compound. Get him to the carrier, Archer's waiting. We'll take care of Makarov."

Ghost didn't need telling twice, following Scarecrow back through the labyrinth of corridors to their rescue. Archer ran over as soon as they left the building, checking Roach over before they had even reached the carrier. As Ghost set him down, he stepped back to give Archer room to work.

"What happened?"

"Took a bullet to the knee and one to the stomach too I think."

Archer nodded absently, cutting away the makeshift bandages and snatching up fresh ones and compression pads. "Looks like he might've been strangled too, his throat's pretty bruised." He paused, turning Roach's head ever so slightly and then began feeling the back of his skull. "Head injury?"

"Not that I know of."

"Grab the neck brace. There's blood in his ear."

Ghost couldn't speak as he handed it over. Roach's face was so pale his skin was turning translucent. They didn't have long left. "Can you-"

He was forced backwards as the rest of the task force climbed on board. Soap grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the cockpit. "Let's go, Nikolai!" He forced Ghost to sit and pulled out a basic first aid kit. "Tell me what happened."

Ghost explained as best he could, holding still for Soap to patch up his head. The wound he'd received back at the hotel had reopened and would probably need stitches. It could wait though. Roach was more important as Archer worked away at him.

"Makarov's dead. Your work I presume?" Soap smiled when Ghost shrugged. "Either way, our part is done. Someone else can deal with the cleanup, not that there's much left of his forces. I think what we found there was the last of-"

"Simon!"

Ghost was out of his seat in an instant, ignoring Soap's protests and the sting of his temporary stitches ripping. He fell to his knees next to a struggling Roach, grabbing his hand tightly. "I'm here, Gary." He instantly relaxed, eyes going wide when he saw the cut and Ghost rushed to reassure him. "It's just a scratch don't worry about it. Focus on yourself, deep breaths nice and easy now."

As he followed the instructions, Ghost nodded to Archer and he continued working.

"That's it, Gary. You're going to be alright. We're going back to base and Doc'll fix you up, good as new." Ghost forced his voice to remain calm and steady. He had to keep Roach relaxed. "We're going to go home and work on the farm, grow old together, remember? You're not going to die, that's an order."

Incredibly, Roach smiled, his dimple just visible through the blood. "Never."

"Good, now try to rest. We've still got a ways to go."

Roach nodded, eyes already closing and the grip on Ghost's hand relaxed as he mumbled, "I promise not to widow you."

"You better not," Ghost replied softly but it fell on deaf ears, Roach was gone again. Clearing his throat, Ghost said, "talk to me, Archer. How's he looking?"

"Uh," Archer started guiltily and immediately jumped into action again after being caught listening. "He's lost a lot of blood and the head injury is definitely something to look at once we're back. Best I can do is stabilise him and keep his head as still as possible. We'll know more after some scans."

"Alright. Get him stable." Ghost forced himself to let go and return to Soap who began patching him up again. "I know you'll want to debrief when we land but I need to go with Roach."

"I know. I'll talk to Price and we can postpone it until Roach is stable in the infirmary."

"Thank you." Ghost glanced over at Roach again as Archer worked quickly on his stomach. "He's taken a lot of hits this time..."

"And he's pulled through every single time," Soap said firmly, squeezing his shoulder. "Don't give up on him."

"Never."

As soon as they touched down at the base, Roach was taken off the carrier and to the infirmary. Ghost got held up by Price and by the time he got inside, Roach was already in surgery.

Pacing back and forth out in the corridor, it was hours until the doors opened and Doc allowed him inside. "He's stable for now but he lost a lot of blood. His head is a cause for concern though. We should have the results tomorrow."

"How bad do you think it is?"

Doc hesitated before responding slowly, "there's no way to tell. I won't speculate either, no point. We'll know tomorrow."

Ghost nodded and sank into the chair beside Roach. It was almost a ritual between them now. Ghost hoped this would be the final time he sat there waiting for Roach to wake up.