Ghost occupied himself by keeping to the promise he made for Rora Wells.

One day after killing Hassan Zyani and stopping a missile, he contacted Laswell, requesting another mission, preferably something that had any relation to their previous one. Laswell asked for a few days to collect intel, trying her best to do it as soon as possible, knowing how hard it was for him to stay put.

In those few days, he felt like it took years. The squad, especially Soap tried to keep an eye on him discreetly, but they only managed to piss him off more. He hated seeing the sorry looks and solemn expressions like he was some teenage boy burying his childhood pet.

But the hole that Rora left inside his chest was nothing he could compare the feeling to. His mind wandered towards her the more free time he had, and until Laswell's order, he had nothing else but time. Their temporary base in Chicago was cold and unfamiliar, filled with soldiers who acted like they knew what he was going through. But the only thing they saw was the cold exterior of Ghost, going about his day like nothing happened.

Meanwhile, deep inside of him, Simon missed the woman's smirk and glint of her eyes.

For four days, Rora Wells' condition was critical. The doctors tried their best to keep her alive, dealing with a heavy concussion, a punctured lung, and a shattered collarbone caused by the bullet Ghost killed Hassan with. In the first two days, doctors told Price to not get his hopes up, because she had slim chances of making it through the night. But the fighter she was, she pulled through, gradually increasing her chances of survival.

Price visited her whenever he could, bringing in things the boys had sent. A little dog plushie from Gaz, some flowers from Soap, and a card all of them signed excluding Ghost, wishing her the best and a fast recovery. Even Alejandro and his Vaqueros sent a card with some flowers. The boys ignored the chances of her never waking up. The doctors have said that talking to her may fasten her process of waking up from the coma, so Price bought her favorite book, Romeo and Juliet, and read it out loud to her. He never read it and didn't fancy reading in general, but he would read an entire library's worth of books for her.

In the very early hours of her fifth day in the hospital, Price did the same ritual he had for five days now. He went to grab a cup of coffee from the vending machine, waved hello to the blond lady at the reception desk, and made his way to room 313 where Rora rested. He took his hat off with a heavy sigh, running his hand through his short hair. Seeing her body so broken, so lifeless was taking a toll on him, and he understood why the others couldn't come by more often.

It broke Soap the most. He blamed himself for most things. The guilt of not being able to hold his promise of keeping her safe slowed his own recovery down, sending him in temporary depression. But it was Simon who caused him the most distress besides Rora.

He knew Simon for long years now, and he knew his coping mechanisms by now. It wasn't that rare to lose some teammates, they had dangerous missions. It was usually he who collected the dog tags of the fallen soldiers, treating them with respect, but not sparing them another glance. He treated death causally, seemingly not really affected by the things he saw. But Price watched what seemed to be Rora's final moments in the arms of Simon, and what he saw broke his heart.

Simon treated her case colder than ever. He detached completely, not willing to visit her once. Price reckoned it was because of the guilt of shooting her, adding to the list of her injuries. And Ghost never missed. It was just poor luck, but he blamed himself. So casually, Ghost went headfirst into another mission.

„Just visit her before you go," Price pleaded, standing at the door of Simon's temporary room. He was in the middle of packing his stuff for a mission Laswell found him, located in London. They didn't tell him specifics. „Only for 5 minutes."

„Won't change anything," Simon gruffed out, already making up his mind. His flight will leave in 23 hours. And Price didn't nag him about it anymore.

Gripping the small book tighter in his hand, he pushed the door open with the other one, stepping inside her room. He almost dropped the book when his eyes met with a familiar pale blue one.

„Flower!" Price almost yelled in surprise, a smile appearing on his face. It was the first one in five days. „I'll be damned for missing your awakening!"

Rora still lacked the energy to talk, only being awake for an hour. The doctors have already checked up on her, making sure that she was truly good enough to be awake, telling her to talk less and not move until it's necessary. But she wanted nothing more than jump in the arms of Price, tears already spilling from her eyes, under her oxygen mask.

Price sent out some messages, updating the others on her state, his hands shaking ever so slightly from happiness.

„I can't fucking believe it," Price muttered, shaking his head as he put the phone away, his eyes scanning her face. He looked like he wanted to punch something. „I really missed it."

Rora rolled her eyes, grabbing his hand and squeezing it. It was the most she could do. Then she noticed the book laying on the edge of her bed, reading the title. She sent a questioning look to her captain.

„You mentioned you liked it, so I read it to you," he shrugged his shoulders like it was not a big deal. And in honesty, Rora didn't really like Romeo and Juliet, since it reminded her of her failing love with Everett a little too much. But in no world, she would tell that to Price. She let him have this one.

So while they waited for the others to turn up, Price told her about what happened in the few days she was out of it, not really missing much. So he started telling stories of his previous missions, Rora trying her best to keep her attention on him, and not wander to one person in particular.

Price even showed some photos of the squad. It was not hard to recognize them, Soap rocking a similar mohawk in them, too. Gaz was much younger in the pictures, almost boyish. There were some other soldiers she didn't recognize, but she could find Simon in no time. He had a different mask back then, even a different pair of sunglasses shielding his eyes. In one picture, he posed with a German Shepperd on his shoulders, his tattoos being the only dead giveaway it was really him.

Upon seeing it, that was the first time a smile appeared on her face.

„Where's he?" she forced her first words out, her mouth feeling dry as ever. It felt like she hasn't spoken in years.

Price's previous light smile disappeared, the shine in his eyes turning to a sad one. If it wasn't for the fact that he was the last thing she saw, she would think he got seriously hurt by the look on his face.

But she didn't get an answer, as the door opened and a more than happy Soap fell through it, Gaz following behind with an apologetic smile on his face.

„Let's fuckin' go, Wellsy!" Soap punched in the air, his excitement and energy filling her up in an instant. Her smile widened as she urged them to sit beside her bed.

„Tone it down, you'll get us thrown out!" Price scolded him, but a small smile played on his lips, too. All of them were too happy to see her awake to really care about that.

„I'll throw them out if they try," Soap sent him a glare, taking the seat on her right, his eyes lingering on the oxygen mask. The playful glint in his eyes dimmed as his cheerful mood vanished. „I'm so sorry, Wellsy. I –"

She held up her hand, shutting him up. She didn't wake up for some depressed drama. She soothingly petted his hand, knowing damn well that he couldn't have avoided any of this. It was not his fault. She could only blame herself for taunting that bastard and being the careless bitch she usually was. Just like she always was. But the only difference was that now, there were people who genuienly cared about her and she couldn't afford getting into trouble like this ever again. She hated the pained look on their face so much.

They got the serious feelings out of the way fairly fast, the three of them joking around and making her feel a little less empty as she sat there, the painkillers dulling her brain. She only missed one person from her side, but by the look Price gave her, she doubted he will ever turn up.

It was dark out when everybody left. Soap and Gaz had to go back to the base and Price left to grab his first meal of the day. She was glad she got a few hours of silence for herself, a lot of things overwhelming her. She knew she was so close to dying, and the saddest part of it was she didn't even mind it that much.

Rora tried to remind herself that there were people who truly cared about her. Only that one person didn't that her heart choose.

Mindlessly watching some cartoon on the TV, she tried to rest. The privilege of having the whole room for herself was starting to turn into a disadvantage since she had nobody to keep her mind off of things. She missed Soap's rambling and Gaz's banter with Price.

Contemplating contacting Price to ask when he will come back, the door creaked open, catching her attention. Her left hand dropped her phone on her stomach out of surprise, her eyes widening at the sight.

There he stood in all his glory, the cold light from behind him giving his frame an ominous look, but she couldn't find anything scary about him. Not when his eyes softened so much at the sight of her.

Her heart started beating faster as he closed the door behind him, the machine monitoring her functions beeping more rapidly. The fucking machines were snitching on her. She wanted to beat the shit out of them.

„Sorry I missed your awakening," Ghost grumbled as his eyes wandered to the TV on the wall. It was hard to look into her eyes.

Price told her that he haven't been here once. She didn't hold a grudge for that, it was probably triggering to see someone bleed out in your arms. She didn't even get to say she wasn't that mad at him and leaving him to believe that she truly despised him at the moment of her last breath was devastating.

Rora reached up and pulled her oxygen mask off, then reached for the cup of water on the nightstand. Ghost stepped closer and handed it to her, her cold and dry hands brushing against his warm ones. She wondered where his gloves went. Then she remembered how he so desperately tried to stop her from bleeding out. His gloves were probably ruined by her blood.

As she sipped on her water, he took the seat on her right, holding onto the cup of coffee he just bought. Her eyes traveled down his form, noting that he was in gear. Dark blue jeans she has seen before with a black shirt over it, and a different mask than his usual one. He usually wore this before a flight, only missing his weapons.

She caught him glance at the thick dressing over her shoulder and chest, his gaze hardening, turning cold. She wanted to rip his mask off.

„You can leave Ghost out there," she pointed towards the door. „I want to talk to Simon."

He hesitated for a few seconds, before he glanced behind his shoulder, making sure the blinds were down, closing out the somewhat busy hallway, before he pulled his mask off.

It was a devastating sight, really. He was just as handsome as she remembered, but the dark circles under his eyes were permanent. His eyes were vacant of any emotion as he looked at her, her heart missing a beat. He looked like a ghost himself. And it broke her heart.

„I told you I wouldn't leave you," she let a smile tug at the edge of her lips, the need to lighten the mood almost ripping her apart. Or maybe that feeling was only her multiple stitching tensing. „But where were you?"

„Wanted to get some proper tea, but they only had this cheap coffee from a vending machine," Simon held up the paper cup in his hand, her smile widening. Of course, he would dodge her question like that. „So I got you this."

She accepted the cup with a smile, it warming her cold hands in an instant. Pushing herself up a little more, so she was almost in a sitting position, Rora timidly took a sip from the coffee, her nose scrunching up in disgust.

But, of course, her reaction didn't go by him, a questioning look taking over his features. She recognized the little head tilt he did, and even the ungodly bitterness of the shitty coffee wasn't strong enough to dim her happiness. Finally, she could see how his brows furrowed in confusion, the corner of his eyes narrowing as he observed her.

„Thank you, Simon, I hate it," she said with a smile, deciding to not torture her insides more. She just held onto the cup to warm her hands up.

„Is the taste really as bad as the smell?" he asked, his dark eyes sizing the cup up like it just threatened her.

„I don't know," Rora shrugged her good shoulder, looking down at the coffee. It really didn't smell nice. „I hate coffee in general. But I'll still drink it because you got it for me."

„Unless you want to die on that bed, I wouldn't recommend it," he leaned back in his seat, stretching out his legs. This little motion almost caused her to miss the ever-so-slight glint in his eyes, the only giveaway that he wasn't completely dead inside.

And that's when Rora decided she would do anything in the world to see that shine again.

They embraced the comfortable silence that fell between them, Rora risking taking another sip from the ungodly coffee, flinching at the taste, Simon watching her from the corner of his eye, amusement taking some weight off his chest. He expected their first meeting to be awkward, maybe her screaming his head off for having the audacity to greet her with only a shitty coffee. But she was just Rora. The same girl who just seeked chaos but the goodness of her heart always managed to make everybody feel better about themselves. She really was the only person who can just go into a room and have all attention on her with her strong aura and witty comments.

But as his eyes glanced down to his watch, the heavy feeling returned from before, pressing down on his shoulders.

„Am I holding you back?" Rora joked, pulling her blanket up to her chin, trying to cozy up on the hospital bed. She caught him off-guard, and by the way her eyes glistened and the corner of her mouth turned upwards, he forgot his words. She wiggled her eyebrows at him, teasing him more. „Maybe a date, Lt.?"

On the outside, she was calm and collected like ever, but the idea of him going on a date with another woman was pissing her off. In fact, it made her so mad she felt like she could run a marathon despite her injuries.

Simon rolled his eyes at her, earning a chuckle from her. His mask concealed his annoyance so well, it was a whole other experience to see it clearly. Rora thought that she could never get tired of seeing his face. He was like a very expensive and excluzive painting that usually just got shoved away into a collector's hidden collection, but when he showed himself it was the most beautiful thing she have ever seen.

„Have a flight in two hours."

His words were almost as bad as her assumption.

„Another mission already?" her voice lost its previous lightness, her eyes darkening. He only nodded his head. „When will I see you again?"

Simon stared at a crack in the blue tiles under his boots before he dared to meet her eyes. He didn't answer her question, not wanting to lie to her. And by the solemn look on her face, he knew she understood his silence. He didn't want to visit her till anybody still breathed who had business with this. He made a promise, and he would only break it when the last breath leaves his lungs. Until then, he somehow had to cope with all the damage he done.

He got up from his seat, already reaching for his mask.

„Wait!" Rora called, stopping him in mid-air.

Twisting in her seat, she leaned to the side, careful not to spill her precious coffee. A pained groan escaped her chapped lips as she felt the wound on her shoulder tense, but ignoring the pain, she made a final stretch, finally grabbing what she wanted.

She placed the cup on the nightstand, reaching her hand out for him. Not really following, Simon stared at her opened palm.

„Give me your hand, dumbass," Rora huffed out, her shifting mood getting the best of her. To her surprise, he reluctantly gave his hand to her, not even yelling at her for calling her lieutenant a dumbass. The only person who could insult him however they wanted and still live was Rora Wells.

Her right hand placed her dog tags in the palm of his hand, and her other hand curled his fingers around it. The muscled on his arms flexed at her touch, the cold metal against his hand being a sharp contrast against her slightly warmer hands.

„Rora-"

„Just keep it," Rora cut him off with a wave of her hand, her right hand still holding onto his. Her thumb grazed over the light bruises on his knuckles absentmindedly, his eyes unable to leave her hands against his. „So you won't forget about your favorite sergeant."

His gaze fluttered to her eyes, letting himself get lost in them for the last time. His hand held onto her dog tags tighter.

„I could never forget you."

Rora felt tears sting behind her eyes, his words settling inside her heart and setting it on fire after years of blizzards. She pulled her hand away because if she would hold him any longer, she would never let him out of this room.

„Go, now. You'll miss your flight," she urged him, forcing a smile on her face. „Just, don't be dumb."

It felt too grim to say Please don't die.

„Could say the same," Simon retorted, a light chuckle escaping her. She just felt like crying even more.

„Bye, Simon."

„Goodbye, Rora."

And with that, he stepped out of the room, not noticing as a tear ran along her cheek, watching as he closed the door behind himself. Looking down at his hand, his eyes lingered on the dog tag of Aurora Wells, the very first person who managed to give a piece of his soul back. What a shame it was that he had to leave the broken pieces of their heart on the floor, her silent sobs and salty tears watering those very pieces.

Because on that night, Rora learned that the leaving of a loved one hurt just as bad as planning their funeral.

__________________________

hey guys!

i'm just popping up in here to tell you guys my update schedule will be a different from now on. School is beating my ass like there's no tomorrow, my depression is coming back and i have barely any time to sleep inbetween two existential crisis. but hey, at least here's a new chapter for my favorites!

so at least in the next two weeks things will be a little difficult and maybe we'll go back to only 1 chapter per week

also, we're really in the finish line now! There's only a few chapters left and maybe after i finish the book i'll post some more light-hearted, fun bonus chapters if you guys would like