Safer With A Ghost - Part Two | Simon "Ghost" Riley

Chapter Four

Ghost's POV

Filing through paperwork, Ghost felt incredibly annoyed Price, Soap and Gaz left early. Such a waste of time... A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and work. "Yeah?" He said loudly with a sharp tone. The door opened with Kate Laswell walking in. "Ghost, did you finish training the recruits?" she asked with her eyes darting from the wall to his desk, trying to avoid eye contact with him. "Sort of, I let Hutch take over since we leave tomorrow. Just finishing some paperwork before then." He sighed as he lifted the papers and tossed them back down. Kate nodded, "Good, I'm thinking we can leave first thing in the morning." Ghost nodded, "Anything else?" Kate shook her head, "No, that was all." Ghost tilted his head, unconvinced. "What's on your mind?" Kate shook her head, "Nothing." Kate stood there with a look on her face that told Ghost she was definitely lying. "Kate." Ghost's tone was demanding, "Spill it." Kate sighed, and looked at the floor, "My wife is leaving tomorrow, I'm sure you don't want to be here. I talked to Alejandro and Rudy, they're ready to go." She shrugged her shoulders. Ghost smirked under his mask, "You're suggesting we leave early?" "I'd like to spend time with my wife before she's gone, and the sooner you three are gone, I can." "Get the chopper ready, Kate. I'll meet them there in ten." Kate smiled and nodded before leaving, closing the door behind her.

Ghost gathered the nuance paperwork and tossed it into a messy pile as he finished his whiskey. Pulling his phone out, he pressed the power button on the side to light up his screen. A small smile appeared on his face as he looked at the goofy picture on his background: Ivy sporting a laughing smile as she held an unamused Toast in her arms. Pressure in his chest began to spread; the emotions he was able to push aside all day had finally come out just as they did every night after a few drinks. Though he hid his desperation to see Ivy through the day fairly well, when he was alone it consumed him. Missing Ivy felt about the same as missing his family: complete misery. It had been too long since he saw her smile in person, sending his heart into a sputtering mess. He couldn't remember the last time her solace laugh eased the darkest parts of him. His fingertips nearly ached for her soft skin. There were nights he would wake up from a dream of her and swore he could smell her perfume in his room, making most nights unbearable.

Ghost put his phone back in his pocket as he took a deep breath, pushing the emotions away once again. Shutting his computer off, he pushed his chair clumsily under his desk and walked out of his office and towards his room. Once to his room, Ghost quickly gathered his things, throwing them messily into his backpack, and left to meet the team by the helicopter. With his backpack over one shoulder and hands in his pockets, he made his way to the team, fighting back emotions the whole way. He looked at the ground as he walked, until getting closer and looked up to see the team waiting near the departure area. Once Ghost was close enough, Kate signaled to the driver of the helicopter to start it. Now in front of the team, Ghost tried to talk loud enough for them to hear. "Alejandro, Rudy, you guys ready?" Alejandro and Rudy smiled and nodded. "You'll arrive pretty late, but I already informed Price of your early arrival." Kate shouted. "He's alright with us leaving early, yeah?" Ghost asked loudly. Kate shrugged, "He didn't sound happy about it, but he didn't say no. Besides, he's not my boss. My wife is."

2 Hours Earlier

Price's POV

After running around with Soap, Gaz and Ivy playing a 2-v-2 soccer game, Price heard his phone ringing from the sidelines. "Time out!" Price shouted as he jogged to answer the call. Looking at the screen, Kate's name appeared across the top. "Kate, what's up?" He answered. "Hey John, Ghost, Alejandro and Rudy are going to come tonight, we're all done here." Price's face dropped as he looked over at Ivy. "Kate, that's not- uh. Alright then. I sent Ghost the coordinates already, get them from him." Price's mind raced as he hung up quickly, panic racing through his chest. "Soap!" He shouted, as he motioned Soap over to him. Jogging towards Price, Soap noticed the look on Price's face, "What's wrong, sir?" "Ghost, Alejandro and Rudy are coming tonight." He said through his teeth as he pointed to the ground. "Fuck..." Soap sighed, "She's barely remembered us, if she sees them, she'll become overwhelmed." Price nods, "Yeah more than likely, I'll go talk to Keegan."