Chapter 16

Nicolette smiled when she saw the building come into view. She reached through the back window and tapped Ghost on the shoulder. She waited until he stopped before she hopped out of the truck bed. She walked like there was nothing to fear while Ghost and Soap got out much more cautious.

"Where are we?"

"Alejandro's safehouse," Ghost replied to Soap. "Gave me the location just in case."

"Not just any safehouse," Nicolette added. She turned to look at the pair of them. At the look on their faces, she explained, "Operation Contingency." She gave a smirk turned and walked towards the door.

"Why didn't he tell me?"

"It was need to know."

"Plus, he counted on the fact that I would end up with one of you two assholes or both," Nicolette said before stopping. She kneeled and gently brushed the dust. "Bien," she said with a grin. She looked at them. "Pressure plate. Can't be too careful even if not everyone knows about this place." She looked and pointed at the window. "There."

Soap stopped her since he had a gun. He jumped in to take a look around. Nicolette followed with Ghost even rolling her eyes slightly. She spotted the laser sight and stopped while Ghost threw one of his knives. When Rodolfo asked who it was in Spanish, she stepped forward and said, "Baja la puta pistola." She had her hands on her hips, looking up at him.

"Angelita?" Rodolfo looked and saw the others, "Soap. Ghost. You're alive."

"Affirmative."

Rodolfo pulled out Ghost's knife and jumped down. "Good to see you, amigos, hermanita."

"Igualmente," Soap replied.

Rodolfo held out Ghost's knife to the man, "Nice throw." He looked at Soap and Nicolette. "Where were you guys?"

"On the run," Ghost replied.

"I was on the run," Soap corrected, "Ghost waited for me. Nico… doing what she does best, overwatch command."

"Of course, no?"

Soap knew Ghost's thoughts having heard them trying to get out. He knew Nicolette's thoughts and she would never leave one of them behind. That was the difference between her and Ghost. He replied, "No."

"Yes," Ghost corrected. He had some time to think about things. He knew what he said to Soap, and he was well aware of the words he had said to Nicolette. While he worked alone, he knew that what he had with Soap and Nicolette, while strange, worked for them. He trusted her to have his back. She trusted them both… "We're a team. Us three, the Musketeers. All of us… a team. This happened on my watch, and I'll need help to fix it." He looked at Soap mostly, but caught Nicolette's eye, "No one fights alone."

Soap looked at Ghost. He understood how much of a revelation that was for the man. He gave a nod of understanding.

"Why did Graves turn?" Rodolfo asked.

Soap stated they didn't know, but Nicolette said, "I found something on the data I recovered from the missile from Al Mazrah. I didn't have a chance to look at it before Shadow Company stormed the CRC. So, I sent it to the one person I know would get it to the right person. I bet the reason why was on there. It has nothing to do with the narcos." She looked at the ground and sighed.

Ghost looked at her, "And you trust this person?"

"With my life." She gave Ghost a firm look. She glanced at the others, "However, until proven otherwise, we should consider anyone outside this room, except the Vaqueros and Alejandro, as hostiles." She looked at Rodolfo, "We'll need to get him back."

Rodolfo nodded, "Come." He showed them a map of the area and pointed it out. "Graves is holding him here."

"The old federale prison," Nicolette nodded. "Makes sense. They would have the Vaqueros there too." She studied the map. "We can break in."

"Great minds, Ryan," Ghost said, his gruff voice sounding proud, "But it's gonna take a lot more than this."

Nicolette gave a grin and looked at Rodolfo. "Rudy?"

Rodolfo nodded and walked over to what looked like the entrance to a stable. He pushed open the wooden door. "It's well stocked. Even has your specialty, Angelita. Alejandro made sure of that."

"Bien, hermano," Nicolette nodded in approval. She gave a nod and Rodolfo tossed the keys to an armored vehicle before turning on the lights. "We know how to stock a pantry," she said with a grin.

Ghost looked back at her. He gave her an approving nod. "Seems you did teach Alejandro a few things."

"More like the other way around," she countered. She shrugged her shoulders. "We helped each other with a few things."

"Then let's get him."

"First things first."

Ghost and Soap stopped when they heard Nicolette say that and turned. They saw that she had gone to a wooden cupboard and opened it to pull out a fully stocked med kit. They looked at Rodolfo who merely raised his hands in surrender and said, "You're on your own amigos." He walked away to emphasize the point.

"Soap don't think I didn't notice your arm," Nicolette said as she pulled out what she would need to stitch up his arm. She didn't even look at Ghost when she said, "And I know you're hiding that gash on your forearm, you asshole. Remember, this is your fault."

Ghost made a face, "Bloody fucking hell." He stomped off to sit on a hay bale, knowing that things wouldn't get moving until she said they were fit. For good measure he crossed his arms over his chest, looking very much like a petulant child.

Soap tried not to chuckle but couldn't help but smile. He moved towards her and set his gun on the table. He looked at her as she had cleaned her hands with a good bottle of whiskey and put on a pair of gloves. "Are you really going to do this, love?" His tone held a hint of a whine in it. Not very manly, but he really didn't want to be subject to it.

"You wanna be able to shoot and do the other shit we need to do to get the Vaqueros and Alejandro out?" She rolled up his sleeve and peered at the dried blood near the wound that was obviously from an assault rifle. She took the rubbing alcohol and poured some on a gauze pad and poured some on the wound. "Don't be such a baby," she gently scolded him while making a face at him.

Soap held still as she cleaned the wound and examined it. He breathed a sigh of relief when she said it was a through and through. He was able to move it so no severe damage. "Doesn't feel bad." He gave her a slight grin, "I mean, I was able to shoot and improvise."

"You got lucky. I'm not a doctor, but what I'll do should hold until a proper doc can make sure," she replied as she prepared to pack his arm to pad it. She was focused on the job but managed to whisper, "I was worried about you both."

"Same here. I didn't want to think Graves had you captured. I… figured you'd be able to get yourself out," Soap said in a whisper. He wanted to kiss her to make it better, but it wasn't the time or place, and he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.

"You have too much faith in me," she whispered. "I'm only human." She dabbed the wound with gauze and rubbing alcohol.

"And I know you would fight. It's why I love you," he risked with a whisper. He knew he caught her off guard when she looked at him with that wide eyed expression. He confirmed it, "It's true, love."

Nicolette didn't know what to say to that. She was well aware of her feelings for Soap, but the fact that he said anything about his for her here and now… She chewed her lip, not sure of what to say about that. She didn't want to say the wrong thing and hurt him. That was the last thing she wanted.

Soap knew he put her in a rough spot. She had no idea the images that ran through his head when Graves said the things he did. What it made him feel if he were to lose her. He wasn't going to force her to say anything back. He was well aware of her issues with emotional intimacy, and she was trying. He decided to save her and added softly, "Those are my feelings, love. Just keep that in mind. That I would fight for you."

Nicolette heard what he said as she padded his injury and wrapped it. She gave a slight nod. "I hear you," she whispered. "Thank you." Louder she said, "That'll hold for now. Test it."

Soap stepped back and rotated his arm to her satisfaction. He complimented on it, "Not bad, Nico." He gave her a reassuring smile.

Nicolette gave a smile back. She only hoped he wouldn't think less of her when he learned about what she did to get free. Ghost would understand most assuredly, but that didn't make her feel better about the whole situation. Hell, she felt like she was faking it when she talked playfully on the comms to get them out of the city. She was faking it. She shooed Soap away to go load up and turned to Ghost, gesturing to him, "Come here, asshole."

Ghost had been waiting and grumbled as he got to his feet and walked up to her. "You really need to find a better name."

"I will when it stops being true," she replied looking up at him. The man towered over her, but she wasn't intimidated by it. When she first met him, she sensed something that she could relate to. Of course, it was like pulling teeth when they started working together. They were in a better position now, and she could talk to him about some things that she was reluctant to mention to Price. She gestured at his left, "Roll up that sleeve."

Ghost rolled his eyes and complied. There was a sizeable hole in his sleeve, and it revealed a nasty gash. Naturally, he didn't feel it and if he did, he pushed through it. He flinched slightly when she gently cradled the limb. He would have been brash, but he noticed her expression as she began cleaning the wound. He asked, "Are you injured?"

"Maybe a few bumps and bruises," Nicolette said as she wiped the dirt and grime off. "That's physical. Mentally… maybe."

"Did Graves do anything to you?"

Nicolette heard the tone of anger in Ghost's growl and looked at him. It surprised her that he was allowing himself to show that much. She would show mercy and not call him out on it. She replied, "It wasn't the Shadows… it was what I did."

"I expect you to fight and kill to get free. I put you through the training."

Nicolette made a slight sound as she finished cleaning the gash. It was a clean cut and not deep. The liquid sealant would do. She reached for it. "You didn't teach me to go beyond that."

"What do you mean?"

Nicolette sighed as she thought about how to say it. She chewed her lip and then said, "I didn't just kill the two Shadows that caught me." She took a breath and continued, "Understand, that yes, they tried to get very handsy with me. As a result, I snapped. I kicked their ass and tortured them for it before killing them."

Ghost stared at her. He didn't know what to say about that. He heard that she could play with her targets and make them think she was going to extremes. He heard about what she did to the Butcher when she first met Price, but that sounded tame. Finally, he asked, "What did you do?" He didn't mean for it to sound accusatory, but he didn't have any other question and he sensed there was a reason she came to him with this.

Nicolette had finished cleaning the wound and wrapping it up. She put away everything before reaching into the pocket of her hoodie. She pulled out what looked like a wadded bandana and held it out for his to look. She moved the edges so he could see what it was that she held in her hand.

Ghost noticed the blood first as it coated her once clean fingers. He focused on what she was doing until it revealed very bloody organs that he was certain he knew. He asked, "Are those…?"

"Two sets of Shadow balls," she said crudely. "And that was after I gave a few cuts to tendons." She looked at him as she wrapped them up. She held them in her hand. "Thought I'd give 'em back to Graves, in person."

Ghost realized why she came to him with this. "It's nothing I wouldn't have done if we were there. Johnny would have done the same."

Nicolette gave a wry chuckle, "Trying to make me feel better?" She sighed and explained, "I know I've been glib about the oligarchs, but there were things I did to a few and… what I did here in Las Almas… It's why Alejandro wanted me to leave."

"Because of something like this?"

"Because it pissed off the cartel. They were hunting for the ones responsible. We made serious dents into their operations." She shook her head, "I pressed Alejandro to do more. Maybe I shouldn't have." She shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I should've quit while I was ahead, huh?" She was referring to her stepping away from the 141.

Heart to hearts was not Ghost's forte. Yet here he was stuck in one and he was at a bit of a loss. It did snap him out of it when she mentioned about how she should have stayed away. He groused, "Stop talking shite, Ryan. You belong."

"You say that, but what does that really mean? I heard what you told Soap about betrayal and knowing you, you'd have left him behind." Nicolette looked at the man. "I knew that you would have said anything to get me to come back and it sounded like that just now." She put her hands on her hips and looked up at him, "Did you really mean that we are a team?"

Ghost took in the tiny woman that was looking at him as if he had done something wrong and was waiting for him to fess up. She was also considerate of his feelings up to a point. It seemed that this was it. Studying her, he replied, "I meant it. And I was trying anything to get you back, but the truth was… I missed you. I hated the fact that I saw myself in you, but a better version and I took it out on you. You are better than me. You are detached, but you also connect. I… gave up on that. Until you almost died on me."

Nicolette blinked and frowned at that. "You only did the decent thing…"

"No. I wasn't going to leave you behind when I saw you fall. I guess I realized… I needed a friend. One that understood."

It took a lot for the man to admit that. Nicolette could see that and reached out and patted his hand like he just did a good job. "Then you were telling the truth."

"I only told Johnny that out of habit and I wanted him to survive."

"Motivation. Nice." Nicolette put the slight hint of sarcasm in her answer. She gave a slight smile to show that she was teasing. "And is it out of habit to be angry with me all the time?"

"It is when I think you are being reckless," Ghost replied. He had rolled down his sleeve after getting patched up. "And… because you do what I would have done and somethings I should have given you time for." He shuffled on his feet and looked down at her. "I know you are bothered by what you did, but you did what you had to do. That is important. You are not the type to let someone take advantage of you."

Nicolette looked up at him and made a slight face and nodded in agreement. "So, I'm not heading down that way?"

"Day you do… I'll shoot you myself," Ghost replied. He didn't like that option, but he understood what it meant. He then added, "If I can't pull you out."

Nicolette stared at him and held out her hand. She waited until he took it and gave it a shake, "I will hold you to that, and I will do the same for you."

"Aye."

Nicolette allowed herself to breath and she smiled, "Then I guess we better get ready. I love a good jailbreak." She gave Ghost a pat, "Go on, unless you need Mummy to pack your guns?" She grinned to show that she was teasing.

"Fuck off," Ghost replied. He shared a look before going to arm up.

Nicolette sighed in relief as she watched Soap and Ghost geared up. She felt better about the whole thing, but she also knew that she had to do a few things if they were going to get out of this mess. She was relieved that they would pull her out if she started to flounder and if too far gone… While it sounded morbid, it was reassuring.

"I'm guessing that you are thinking about five years ago, hermanita?"

Nicolette turned and gave a wry smile at Rodolfo where he had sidled up next to her. She complimented, "You're getting better, Rudy. Almost like me."

"No one is like you, mamita," Rodolfo replied with a slight chuckle. He sobered and studied her for a few moments before asking, "Are you thinking about that?"

"That, because of what I did to escape," Nicolette looked at Rodolfo. She put her hand in her hoodie pocket. "I think I'm going to have to bring her back, hermano. If we are going to truly fix this."

Rodolfo knew what she meant and had seen her put her hand in her pocket. He pursed his lips before saying, "You know Alejandro wouldn't want that. Not after what happened."

"And it is on me that the heat was put on you. I pushed you to push back and hard," Nicolette pointed out. "And because of that, there are others in the other states that are protesting corruption. That is on me. The choices they make…"

"No, it isn't," Rodolfo countered. He had gripped her forearm to reassure her. "You made a point. Alejandro saw it. We all did. We decided to do what we did. We asked you to help because you know what you know. Some of it scary as hell." He shrugged his shoulders at that. "The point, hermanita, we accepted it as they did. You gave us the motivation to keep fighting."

"You give me far too much credit, hermano."

"Es verdad," Rodolfo replied. He smiled at her before sighing, "I know Ghost will have a plan, but we need the one who is like a devil to pull this off." He grinned, "I know Diaz' men didn't forget that, and I heard that the Shadows had some fun in the city."

Nicolette chuckled, "I had to give Ghost and Soap a chance. I figured they would have little to no firepower so… even the odds." She glanced at Rodolfo, "I remembered a few key places. Caused some trouble in the plaza."

"And it bloody worked," Soap said. He walked up and held out a sniper rifle. "Figured this would work better for ya."

Nicolette chuckled in her throat, "Most girls would expect flowers, not a rifle." She checked it and aimed down the sight. When she lowered it. "Looks good. Know my style."

"Don't let 'em pick your secondary, Ryan. We need ya to move," Ghost groused.

"I can carry you in full tactical armor in a fireman's carry. Does Verdansk ring a bell?" Nicolette gestured at her head as if to mock the man.

"Bloody fucking hell."

Nicolette laughed at Ghost's reaction before thanking Soap for the rifle. It was a polite way of letting her know that she needed to do her part and gear up. Soap nodded and went back to finish gearing up. She looked at Rodolfo who was looking at her like she had done something funny. She raised her brow at him and asked, "So you think I'm crazy now?"

"You always were a bit loco," Rodolfo replied. In truth, seeing how she interacted with Soap and Ghost, he was reminded a lot of how they used to be. It was different though. Time did change things and he could see that she had specific relationships with the two men that seemed to ground her in a way that was different from them. He was happy with that, and he knew Alejandro was. "But I am assuming that is how you always are with them?"

"To the point where most think we are insane," Nicolette admitted. She shrugged, "You know I've never really adhered to the whole army thing." She gave a playful punch to his shoulder. She sobered as she looked at the pair and then back at Rodolfo, "And to the point where somethings mean more than others."

Rodolfo nodded and then said in a low voice, "Soap is a good man, hermanita."

Nicolette gave a sharp look at Rodolfo. She blinked at him and stared. "I have no idea what you mean," she said. It sounded fake coming out of her mouth, but very telling.

Rodolfo chuckled, "Relax, hermanita. It wasn't hard to see, but you're both good." He watched her relax a little under his gaze. "No one will tell. You know how it is here. You don't embarrass until the padre makes the announcement."

"And that will probably be never," Nicolette said.

"Maybe," Rodolfo acknowledged. He patted her shoulder, "Though maybe, we should focus on getting Alejandro out. Then maybe you can talk. He would want to hear from you before…" He gave a slight shrug of his shoulders.

"You're right," Nicolette agreed. "First get el jefe and the Vaqueros out."

Rodolfo nodded and watched as she went to join her companions. He took a breath of relief as went to help with the planning on the prison assault. There would be time later to worry about other things. He gathered them around the table and showed them the map, "The old prison is in a remote area outside Las Almas. It was maximum security until the narcos took over, and it was permanently closed. There is no airstrip but expect helos for security and resupply."

Ghost studied the map and glanced at Nicolette. When she nodded, he knew she was thinking the same thing. He said, "We'll drive to an offset and ruck up to our infil… here." He pointed on the map.

"The security towers will more likely be manned," Nicolette added, "So we'll need to take them out first and rope up the wall for entry."

"Cameras?" Soap glanced at Nicolette and Rodolfo for intel.

Rodolfo answered, "There's CCTV's in the security room."

Ghost nodded, "We'll use them to locate Alejandro and the rest of your men."

Soap thought that was good, but he had an idea, "Let's divide and conquer. While Rudy finds Al, I'll use the cams to help Ghost plant charges in key areas."

"Diversions and sabotage. Nice Johnny," Ghost complimented.

"We carry extra guns and ammo to arm the men and fight our way out, the way we came in," Nicolette nodded in agreement.