"John, this is the fifth team we've sent out and we haven't heard anything about Ghost or Roach."
"I know Marcus. But we still have four more teams ready to go. We can't give up yet, Mexico is huge and the drug cartels are massive. They could be anywhere."
"Exactly my point. They could be in Argentina, Brazil, anywhere at this point. Why do you think they would stay in Mexico anyway?"
MacTavish and Archer were walking through the camp, speaking in hushed tones as they held a pile of paperwork between them. Despite the pleasant weather and cool breeze blowing lightly, the base was near silent, even absent of the usual yelling during training. Most men were in the mess hall, some in their bunks. But the overall mood of the area screamed sullen and downtrodden.
"You don't know much about Ghost's past, but I do. There was a reason I tried to keep him off this mission despite Shepherd's insistence." MacTavish muttered, shifting the papers in his arms.
"Is part of his past that he used to be a secretary and that's why you bum off all your paperwork to him? Christ John I haven't seen this much paperwork pile up in ages." Archer grumbled angrily as he tried to readjust his grip. His pile was a misaligned mess of...well it wasn't pretty. Odd sized files and papers didn't help his balance.
"I do not bum off all my paperwork. He volunteered." snapped MacTavish, bumping his arm into Archer in the small hope that he would drop his pile. Unfortunately for him, Archer kept his balance and managed to counter with a kick to the back of his knee, tripping him and having papers fly into the air. "Oi, you absolute ass."
"Oh don't you start." Archer grinned cheekily, earning a tsk as his captain gathered his dropped pile. "Is what Ghost went through that badly? I remember a time where Meat and Worm tried to what they called prank Ghost by locking him in a supply closet."
"Flashback."
"Flashback? That intense? John he wouldn't leave his bunk for two weeks." Archer's expression fell for a moment. That 'harmless' prank ended up with Ghost the most quiet Archer had ever seen him, which was saying something for the usually stoic man.
"Before Ghost joined the 141, he was part of the SAS. Some stuff happened right before he joined us, and it wasn't stuff he didn't want out in the open." MacTavish paused for a moment. "What area of England were you from?" Archer frowned.
"Coventry. What does that have anything to do with Ghost?" MacTavish sighed, standing up before briskly walking towards his office.
"Not out here, my office." Archer followed silently, watching MacTavish's back stiffen and shoulders tense. They reached his office, keys jingling before slipping into the lock. The door swung open and MacTavish went in silently, dropping the pile onto the desk. Archer followed, kicking the door behind him before dropping his own pile. MacTavish locked the door, sighing as he paced in front of his desk.
"John, you don't have to tell me anything." Archer raised an eyebrow as he watched his captain, leaning against the desk. MacTavish paused for a brief moment before shaking his head.
"No, at least one of you need to know and I trust you not to slip anything out."
"Sounds like a helluva secret." MacTavish nodded before sliding into his chair, sighing once again before crossing his arms.
"Could say that. Do you remember about four years ago, there was a man who was wanted for murder in Manchester?" Archer frowned, slowly sinking into the chair nearest him. His expression fell into confusion.
"I mean, there have been a lot of people wanted for murder, any specifics you can tell me? A hint, maybe?"
"High profile, it was all over the nation. Guy went skyrocket, killed his family and some head doc." MacTavish didn't meet Archer's puzzled look, staring into the distance.
"I...I think so? What's that got to do with Gh-...you're takin' the piss right?" MacTavish didn't answer. The silence seemed to settle as Archer thought in silence. "Bloke's name was Simon Riley wasn't it? You saying that was Ghost? We let a nutter into the 141?" MacTavish's gaze sharpened quickly.
"He isn't a nutter Marcus, you've known him long enough to know that."
"Dunno John, that bloke was crazy to off his family."
"But he didn't." MacTavish gave another sigh, louder and longer than the previous few. "Started about a year prior to that, really…" Archer listened in rapt silence as MacTavish spoke, frown slowly growing and eyebrows furrowed as the captain spoke for what felt like several hours. Relaying a story that was filled with too much and not enough detail. By the end of it, Archer sported a slightly horrified look. MacTavish kept his face neutral, arms crossed as he leaned back into his chair.
"...I...have no words. How has he not gone mental already?" Archer ran a hand through his hair, puffing out a breath. "That...that is a lot to take in John, I can't imagine actually going through it."
'Ya think it's bad to hear, much less go through it once. I know he has to be going through it again." MacTavish tilted back until he was looking up at the ceiling, reaching for a cigarette. He lit it and stared at the end before taking a slow drag. "Think I'm a shite captain for leaving them behind?"
"Dunno about that, but ya gotta think it's a slight good thing they've got each other. Ghost to help Roach keep his shit together. Roach to...well...I mean we know Roach practically idolizes Ghost. Best we can hope for is for the two of them to kip up together and keep each other strong." Archer stood up as he heard a knock on the door, MacTavish making no motion to answer it. "We'll find 'em Tavish, even if we gotta send the whole team to find them." He opened the door and moved aside to let in Meat and Toad, perplexed looks on their faces.
"I thought Shepherd told you that you couldn't smoke in here anymore." Toad patted Archer's shoulder as the door closed behind them. Archer let out a chuckle as MacTavish peered at him lazily, cigarette hanging loosely from his fingers.
"Ya think I care? Bloke went off with his Rangers on a shite mission he won't be here for a while." MacTavish pitched back forward in his chair, elbows resting on the desk as his gaze wandered to the calendar. "I understand the two of ya still got holiday time to spend."
"I mean, yeah, my sister's wedding is coming up and I was going to use that time. Why? Does it have to do with whatever bullcrap has you sending people off two at a time?" Meat crossed his arms.
"Very astute Meat. I have a mission for you. Off books. Whatever I tell you does not leave this room." MacTavish's gaze hardened as he looked the two men in the eyes. "I need to send you two gentlemen to somewhere in Central America. I promised two men that I wouldn't leave them behind. I intend to send you two to scout out their location and report back to me." Toad whistled lowly.
"Cap, you know that's a tall order. Don't think it'll be super easy to find them." Toad paused, jumping at the stony look MacTavish sent his way. "I mean, I'll totally do it, no doubt, sir. I feel like it was partially my fault things went south like this." Meat's face seemed to fall.
"...how soon are you sending us out?" he asked, his gaze shifting to the calendar. "I mean, I'll go too, but my sister's wedding…"
"I plan on sending you as soon as possible. I have travel arrangements made for the two of you to hit the drop point and return within two to three weeks. I'm sorry Meat, I'll make it up to you, but we need to get them back." MacTavish seemed to deflate a bit. "This isn't something simple I have been asking the troops. I just have a lot more knowledge of what's bound to happen to the two of them and we cannot afford to not find them."
"Doesn't feel the same without them around anyway, sir. I'm ready to go when needed." Toad gave a sloppy salute, elbowing Meat in the ribs. "You hold this over their heads, Roach will finally pay you back that twenty dollars he still owes you." Meat smirked, sighing as nodded his head.
"Yeah yeah. I'm ready to head out."
"Good. I'll let my friend know." MacTavish waved them off. "Thank you." Toad and Meat nodded once before walking out. Archer stood a minute longer, watching MacTavish pull out another cigarette and lighting it. "Yes, Archer?"
"You think we'll find them soon?"
"I certainly hope so."
...yeah it's been a long time, hasn't it? Dunno if anybody will still read this or not, or maybe it'll draw in new readers? I have had...a hell of a year+, thought any issues I had before were resolved. Instead...well...it was...rough. Anyway, let me know if the quality of the story has been slacking, but good to see those that used to read this a lot, and hi new readers if I've interested you with this upload from a game thats...jesus fuck almost 10 years old