Ghost woke with a start as the remnants of his nightmare faded from his memory, eyes stinging with the leftover salt from tears shed the night before. He couldn't feel his arms, and when he looked up they had taken on a slight purple tint. He tried to move a finger, but the pins and needles he felt made him wince, and he gave up. If he ever got to lower his arms again it wasn't going to be a fun experience. With a blink, the realization that today was the supposed day of his death crashed over him, and that the chance getting out of this position before the final moment was pretty much slim to none. The how he was supposed to die was still a mystery, Roach's involvement was a given, but knowing Gonzalo he knew it wasn't going to be easy.

"You are awake. Good afternoon, Simon." Gonzalo opened the door, a wide smile on his face as he preceded Roach, who was being frog-marched by Jorge. Roach looked white as a sheet, well, wherever that wasn't covered in dark bruises or cuts, one eye swollen shut. He was avoiding looking towards Ghost as he was led into the chair Gonzalo had been sitting in to watch Ghost the day before. "Today is a great day. For me. Which is to say, not a great day for you."

"If you talking me to death is how it's gonna go I'd rather off myself." Ghost said hoarsely. He could feel the anticipation in the room rise, Roach staring pointedly at the ground.

"No, do not worry. That will not be how you will go. Gary will be assisting." Gonzalo motioned to Roach, who spoke up with a sharp and high pitched "Excuse me?!" Ghost raised an eyebrow, deep in thought before nodding slowly, some clues clicking into place.

"I see. That's why you made it so he would be aware of everything."

"Indeed."

"You think it'll make it worse for me?"

"For him. Today is your final day. I have another month planned for testing for Gary." Gonzalo motioned for Jorge to fasten the restraints on Roach. When he finished, Gonzalo gave a short order before Jorge left the room, the door slamming shut behind him. He walked towards Ghost, reaching out to brush a hand on Ghost's cheek, who instead recoiled before contact could be made. Gonzalo tsked before stepping back. "I am saddened that our time will be cut short five days, but I cannot take the risk of rescue, slim as it may be." Ghost saw Roach flinch, knowing why he did so. Roach actually cracking under torture to Gonzalo and spilling the beans on Meat and Toad's recon was upsetting, but Ghost couldn't blame him.

"Any insight to your plans other than having Roach off me?" Ghost asked, watching Roach flinch again.

"Why tell you, when that would ruin the surprise?" Gonzalo answered with his own question. Ghost raised an eyebrow.

"Why not just do the honours yourself and earn the satisfaction that way?" Gonzalo leaned against the back of the chair Roach was in, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I did consider the idea, and the idea for it was not concrete until after releasing you from the box. It would bring me immense satisfaction to end your life myself, but I feel the cycle of revenge would continue far past what it needs. Having Gary do it does not alleviate that particular problem, but it does give me useful data." Roach gave a distressed noise. "Do not worry, Gary. When Jorge arrives we will begin."

"I'd like it if we didn't." Roach spoke up. Ghost could hear how upset Roach was, and it made the background guilt he had been feeling the past week surge forward. "I mean, killing Ghost isn't gonna bring back your dad, and hell is the revenge even worth it?"

"It is." Was the simple answer he got back. Ghost could see the way Roach was shaking, eye wide with panic and hands clenching the arms of the chair tightly. He could hear the quick breathing, a few valiant efforts of trying to slow his breathing almost useless.

"Bug, you'll be f-" Ghost cut himself off. The 'fine' almost came out, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. He gave a small sigh, closing his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them again, he saw Roach finally looking up at him, eye filled with guilt and sorrow.

"Ghost I-" Roach stopped with a squeak as the door swung open behind him, Ghost watching Jorge bring in a cart with a few syringes and three different knives carefully laid on it.

"Thank you, Jorge. Administer the dosage to Gary for me, I have to have a discussion with Simon." Roach tried to twist away, Ghost unable to see more as Gonzalo stepped in front of him. He could, however, hear Roach's gasps and small pleas. "Are you prepared for death, 'Mr. Death'? I must confess that I am very eager to begin. The data I receive when Gary is under the influence is beneficial for my research, and shall surely fetch me a hefty sum." Gonzalo motioned behind Ghost. "I will admit to… missing you. You were a great specimen and helped progress much of my research. As well as the times we shared together. I think about it often."

"Twisted git." Ghost frowned. He heard Roach gasp one more time as Gonzalo stepped towards the cart. They made eye contact, Roach's expression twisted into the same guilt Ghost felt.

"I am so sorry Ghost." Roach spoke one more time before his only open eye glazed over and his head hung. Ghost flinched as Jorge smirked, holding an empty syringe in his hand and waving it in a mocking manner. Gonzalo picked up one of the shorter knives, stepping back in front of Ghost.

"Although Roach would be doing the majority of this, I still need some personal satisfaction in this." And with a smirk, plunged the knife into Ghost's right shoulder. Ghost couldn't hold back the scream of pain at how sudden it was, hands curling into fists in a futile attempt to distract from the pain. Gonzalo removed his hand, keeping the knife there. He grabbed another knife, walking around Ghost. He could feel the tip of the blade touch his left shoulder blade, slowly adding pressure until it broke through skin. In a quick motion, the knife traveled down diagonally, ending in the middle of the scar where the hook had been. Ghost bit the inside of his cheek to keep from screaming again, a loud hiss of air escaping instead. "Do not hold back, Simon. I wish to hear you cry out in pain." Another line parallel to the first slash had Ghost arching his back, his body trying to escape from the pain on instinct. His arms felt as if they were on fire, muscles clenching and moving in ways they hadn't the past two days. "Simon, indulge me." Ghost couldn't help it when the knife went perpendicular this time, his voice cracking. He could hear Gonzalo laughing behind him, the knife finding new targets on the backs of his thighs. Each slash brought fresh waves of pain, and each wave of pain had Ghost crying out, eyes screwed tightly shut. Rivulets of blood trickled down his legs and back. When he thought it was over, Gonzalo had transitioned to in front of him, adding slash marks to the front of his thighs, a few times slashing his sides and even twisting the knife in his shoulder before yanking it out.

Eventually, Gonzalo relented, Ghost unable to scream after a particular cut on his side had his voice break. The only sound that escaped was sharp intakes of air. As Gonzalo took a step back, Ghost let his head hang, slightly grateful his hair had grown to the point that it could hide his expression. His body went limp, hanging by the handcuffs biting into his wrists.

"I apologize, I did get carried away." Gonzalo said airy and with no actual remorse, the cart rattling as he set his knife down. "How do you feel, Simon?" He tutted after a moment had passed. "I know you could handle more." Ghost managed to lift his head slightly, opening one eye to stare Gonzalo down, one hand giving him the middle finger. "I see you still have some fight in you. I anticipated as much." With a gleeful laugh, he turned to Roach, who had been silently watching with a blank expression. "Grab the middle blade, Gary. Time to end this." Roach stood up almost robotically, hand looking like it hesitated for a brief second before grabbing the same knife Gonzalo had been using. Ghost opened both eyes, looking Roach over for any sign of hesitation. He saw none, but knew Roach was fully aware of what was going on. He wanted to give him some form of comfort, but before he could speak up Gonzalo had placed a hand on one of his sides, pressing down. Ghost tried to arch away, a sharp gasp of pain the only sound he could make.

"W-wanker!" Ghost tried to speak up, but his voice was so hoarse even he couldn't tell what he was saying.

"I do not want to hear you speak if you cannot scream." Gonzalo spoke harshly, pressing down again. Ghost shut his eyes, trying to ignore the pressure. "Gary, place the tip of the knife above his right hip, do not break skin until I tell you to." Ghost cracked open one eye to see the knife placed steadily where Roach was told, the tip cold. "Simon, are you ready?" Ghost looked up again with one eye open, hoping he was giving him a glare. He wasn't too sure, feeling slightly dizzy and tired.

"Fuck...you…" Ghost managed out. Gonzalo gave him a smile.

"Do it, Gary." The knife went in slowly, Ghost grunting and biting his cheek again, tasting iron as he broke through skin. He watched as Roach took it out, blood seeping out of the wound now. He was trying to breathe deeply, to keep a steady rhythm. He didn't notice the command Gonzalo had given next, the knife plunging into the left side of his chest. The pain was immediate, blossoming across the entire left side of his torso, his breathing getting difficult. Ghost tried to take a deeper breath, but his chest gave a sharp twang of pain and he started to cough, watching morbidly as some blood landed on Roach's arm and chest. "With a punctured lung, you have at most ten minutes left. Gary, leave that knife there and take this one." Gonzalo was holding up the old knife he had brought out weeks ago, still stained with their old blood. The lightheaded, dizzy feeling got worse, Ghost's vision wavering slightly as he tried to look up. He made unnerving eye contact with Roach, looking away to glare at Gonzalo.

"I...hate...you…" Ghost was trying to speak, trying to focus enough to make sure none of the vitriol he had was directed at Roach.

"I know, and believe me the feeling is mutual." Gonzalo had a crazed look on his face as he spoke, eyes wide and grin twisted. "Gary, position the knife below the sternum, angle up."

Ghost could feel the knife rest, his heart beating in his ears. He closed his eyes, trying to take a deep breath in and out and only succeeding in bringing up sharp pangs of pain. Ghost looked up one more time, looking up to Roach and offering up a small smile, feeling blood trickle out past his lips. As Roach watched him, expression blank and unchanging, Ghost mouthed out "I'm sorry." He thought he saw something flicker in Roach's eyes, but he knew it was only a trick of the light. A myriad of thoughts and emotions swelled up as he closed his eyes, trying to calm his racing heart.

This wasn't supposed to happen like this.

He gets to see his mum soon, hopefully.

Roach shouldn't be the one to do this.

He always thought he would have died in battle saving John's sorry arse.

Roach doesn't deserve this.

He wasn't afraid, he was ready-

Boom

No one was ready for when the wall behind Gonzalo exploded in, debris showering the three of them. A few larger chunks flew through the air,one hitting Roach squarely in the temple and sending him crumpling on the floor, another chunk defying odds and hitting the knife sticking out of Ghost's chest and sending it flying, Ghost crying out hoarsely as it scraped bone on it's way out. Gonzalo had lifted his gun and fired one bullet, striking the ceiling as someone tackled him to the ground. Ghost's ears rang, vision swimming and unfocused as he tried to focus on breathing through the pain. He shut his eyes, trying to listen through the high pitched whine in his hearing and Gonzalo's furious yelling that ended abruptly. He felt someone pat his face, flinching away as they put two fingers over the pulse point on his neck, coughing blood as he inhaled some dust. The hand disappeared from his neck, Ghost going limp as he fought off exhaustion. Who-

"Roach! Roach! Sparrow, you got that smelling salt?"

"Yeah, we need to get him stable first, let the captain know we found Roach!"

"Right! Let's get him to sit in the chair."

Some shuffling sounds before something started to rustle in a bag, a click of a radio going off.

"Captain, we found Roach. No sign of Ghost yet. We do have a civilian in bad shape and the head honcho himself though." A pause. "Roger." Another pause. "Captain is on his way, said to help the civvie." Ghost, through the haze slowly settling in his mind, tried to think about who they would consider a civvie here-

"Hey, dude. My name's Taco, I'm gonna getcha down from here." Ghost felt someone tap his face, and the realization hit him. Oh. He tried to speak up and open his eyes, instead fighting off the pain as the hook lowered him until his knees were bent, Taco's noise of disgust at no doubt the color of his hands being held up for so long. Taco lifted the cuffs up off the hook, slowly and with as much care as possible lowering Ghost's arms down. Ghost couldn't help the strangled cry of pain as the blood flow to his arms returned, Taco pausing momentarily. "Sparrow, I need your help, I can't maneuver him down. He's got injuries on his back but I don't have a choice with his arms how they are." A second set of hands grabbed Ghost under his arms, slowly helping him lay down. The second set of hands went to the cuffs, rustling before they were released. "Oh, shit, that's not good. Sparrow, left chest."

"Yeah, I see it. Fuck, hey dude? Can you look at me a sec?" Ghost opened his eyes blearily, seeing Taco and Sparrow hovering over him, Sparrow taking his gloves off and reaching for his field kit. "Hey, good, good. You got a lung injury, hard to breathe right? We're gonna take you to a hospital, I don't have the kit necessary for an injury like yours, okay?" Ghost tried to speak up, instead coughing and feeling blood spill down from the corner of his mouth. He was so tired suddenly, eyes slowly closing. Heavy footsteps shook the floor, preceding two people as they entered the hole in the wall.

"You found Roach?" Archer. Ghost's mind supplied. "How is he?"

"Looks stable, I was going to give him smelling salts in a sec." Sparrow had grabbed something smooth and flat and was pressing it on his chest, applying pressure. Ghost could feel sharp pain as he drew each breath, his whole chest extremely sore.

"Where's the civvie? Oh fu-"

"Christ! Ghost!" If Ghost could, he would have waved a hand as he felt all eyes land on him.

"He's Ghost?!" Taco and Sparrow spoke at once. Ghost tried to open his eyes, instead coughing harder. Fuck, that hurt.

"Ghost, wake up." Ghost opened his eyes again to see MacTavish leaning over him, Sparrow leaning back to give him room. The slightly frightened and panicked look Sparrow had didn't give him an indication if it was to the multiple injuries he had or if it was from the first time he saw his face.

"Oh, hey, John…" He was surprised he had any kind of voice, hoarse as it was. "You're...here...told him...you would…"

"Don't talk so much, you got a hole in your chest." MacTavish frowned, worry plain as day on his face.

"Oh…? Didn't...know that...twat…" Ghost gave a small giggle, wincing at the pain. He was so dizzy, the room starting to sway under him.

"Not funny, Ghost." MacTavish looked up, spotting Roach. "Wake him up, keep his view of Ghost blocked. Archer, radio Toad and Meat, tell 'em to bring the stretchers off Nikolai's plane. And a pair of cuffs." As Taco moved, Archer kneeled next to Sparrow, eyes scanning over his chest.

"This is a bad one, John." Ghost tried to look, but MacTavish pushed his head back down. "We can keep applying pressure but I don't know how long he's bled." MacTavish gave off a grimace before looking down at Ghost.

"Sorry, mate, this is gonna hurt."

"It...already hurts…" Ghost gasped out, before looking over to Archer. "Hey, surprise. My..name's...Simon Riley...ha ha. Shocker...ain't it? You know...who I am!" Ghost laughed before it turned into a harsh cough, his torso lighting up in pain. He saw Archer looking uncomfortable before he turned to speak into the radio. "Crazed..bloke...that killed...his whole family! Made...the news!" He was cut off with a strangled cry as MacTavish took over for Sparrow, putting harsher pressure on his chest, the wounds on his back pressing harder into the ground.

"Roach! Take it easy!"

"T-Taco! Oh...fuck!" They could hear Roach vomit, coughing for a minute. "How-you guys you came and he was right-" Roach cut himself with a sharp gasp. "Ghost! Where is he-"

"Hey, hey calm down." As Sparrow moved to keep Roach occupied and speaking in a lower tone of voice, Ghost looked up to MacTavish, gritting his teeth.

"You know...it's not...good…" MacTavish shook his head, looking up as he heard more people running towards them. "Get...Roach out…" Ghost turned to see Toad and Meat run in, two stretchers between them. Meat looked toward a corner of the room blocked from Ghost's view by MacTavish, a glare directed to presumably an unconscious Gonzalo.

"C'mon Roach, need you on a stretcher, we're gonna get you outta here first." Taco spoke up slightly, Archer moving until Ghost couldn't see in their direction.

"N-No! Wait, what about Ghost! Is he okay?!" Roach panicked.

"Captain and Archer have him, he'll be okay. We need to worry about you too, c'mon." Ghost could hear shuffling before Sparrow, Taco, and Meat left the room with Roach.

"Wow, you look like shit." Toad frowned as he entered Ghost's field of view.

"Didn't dress...my best...sorry..." Ghost frowned back, struggling to talk.

"Nah, you're good. At least try to stay alive until we get to a hospital."

"Which means we have to get moving. Nikolai should be ready to go by now." MacTavish motioned for the other stretcher Toad had. Toad helped MacTavish and Archer get Ghost on. Ghost hissed out in pain, his vision darkening for a brief moment.

"Too...late...for a...hospital…" Ghost grunted out. He was so tired. A hand pressed harder onto his chest again, another cry of pain that shook some of the exhaustion off.

"Nikolai, we got them. Set course for the nearest hospital." MacTavish spoke urgently. A set of doors flew open, greeting them with a night sky obstructed with the haze of a few fires. He could hear a small plane nearby, the engines whining to life. Ghost felt himself slip a little, his grip on keeping awake slowly becoming a losing battle. It hurt to breathe, it hurt to move, everything was pain. He must have blacked out for a moment, because he didn't remember getting into the plane, instead being aware of MacTavish and Archer managing to get his stretcher secured to the chairs lining one side, Roach sitting opposite him. Ghost looked around to see Toad and Meat sitting with an unconscious Gonzalo between the two of them, Sparrow and Taco attending to Roach. When the doors shut and they took off, Roach surged forward until he was next to Ghost, tears streaming down his face.

"Fuck, Ghost I am so sorry I couldn't stop-" Ghost managed to raise an arm, gripping one of Roach's wildly waving hands.

"Not...your fault."

"Archer, help Nikolai navigate please." MacTavish spoke softly. Archer gave a nod, pausing to grab an emergency blanket and throwing it over Ghost as much as he could before moving to the cockpit. MacTavish frowned as he moved his hand to put better pressure, Ghost coughing and tightening his grip on Roach. "How you doing, bug?"

"I'm fine, but Ghost-"

"Will be fine." MacTavish said sternly. Ghost looked up at him, eyes blinking slowly. It took a few seconds of fighting through some fog did he realise how bad he was.

"Actually…" Ghost coughed. "Not...sure...about that…"

"Status."

"Hurts...breathe...heavy blood...loss…" Ghost tried to list off, his eyelids feeling heavy. He was so tired.

"Hang on Ghost, less than five minutes to medic." Archer called back.

"He does not have five minutes." Gonzalo's voice drifted from the back. Roach and MacTavish snapped their heads to his direction, Ghost pointedly ignoring him in favor of trying to let out a slow breath and closing his eyes.

"I don't wanna hear it from you." MacTavish spoke sharply. "Toad, shut him up."

"Ghost?" Roach asked softly. He fought to open his eyes again, vision darkening around the edges. It was getting harder to breathe. And why was it so cold?

"Hey, keep your eyes open, soldier." MacTavish turned to Ghost quickly, pressing down a bit harder.

"Sorry...just...so tired…" He reached a hand up to the one MacTavish had been pressing down with, feeling it slick with blood. "Hah...honestly had...the thought… I'd be saving...your arse instead…" It was so hard to breathe.

"Well you missed me almost getting shot a few days ago so I would like you to be my point man next time instead of Taco." MacTavish said grimly, a sound of protest heard behind him.

"Yeah…'m tired…" Ghost closed his eyes, starting to shiver. MacTavish pressed down sharply, Ghost giving a ragged gasp that started another coughing fit.

"No sleeping lieutenant. Keep those eyes open. Sparrow, grab that med kit hopefully Nikolai's got it stocked up." Ghost wasn't sure if there was panic in MacTavish's voice, everything sounding muffled. His body felt so heavy, his breathing getting more shallow, he was so tired. He opened his eyes slowly, fighting to stay awake.

"Jus'...tired…" He mumbled out, eyes slipping close again. For a brief moment, everything had stopped, a smack to the face bringing everything back into hazy focus.

"Ghost I swear I'll kick your arse to next year if you pass out on me again." Was that John? He was so tired, so cold, so heavy. "Ghost!" There was something he needed to tell them, what was it? "Ghost, you bloody git open your eyes and keep talking." He tried, he was trying so hard. Was someone crying? He couldn't breathe.

"This is my fault I did this to him but I couldn't help it I tried to stop fuck Ghost-" He didn't know who that was right? No, Roach, that was Roach talking. He sounded so far away, so sad. What was that thumping sound, it was so loud but so slow.

With one last burst of clarity Ghost managed to tighten his grips on Roach and MacTavish's hands, opening his eyes to look at them. He opened his mouth to speak, coughing up blood. He tried again, to be cut off instead by MacTavish.

"Don't you fuckin' dare-"

"I'm sorry, it's my fault-"

"Sparrow where's that kit he's crashing-"

He couldn't help it, vision tunneling and breathing erratic. With a last exhale, Ghost felt himself slip under.

Sorry.

Ah...yeh...

...yeah...review?