Author's Note: If you have any writing tips, please feel free to comment.

Again, I gratefully accept constructive criticism as a means to help me develop my skills as a writer.

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Chapter 18

Back in the office/room, Malloy was organizing her paperwork about the missions and Intel concerning Makarov. She will then give it to Captain MacTavish as the 141 will have the objective to eliminate the Russian terrorist. Her team will take care of the Spaniard, Espinosa. Even though she was born in Madrid, she actually lived in Milan, Italy most of her life. That was one of the reasons Malloy was picked for the job, because of her knowledge in the Italian language even though Espinosa did speak English.

Malloy grabbed a bundle of files and reports and walked towards MacTavish's office. She knocked and there was no reply so she opened the door and decided to leave them on his desk. The desk was really organized and neat.

'I must take a leaf out of his book,' thought Malloy impressed.

She rested the files on the surface and noticed a small black leather book under some papers. Malloy hesitated; she shouldn't invade his privacy but her fingers were itching to see what it contained. She opened the small book and flipped through its pages. It was the Captain's journal. It contained topographical maps, planning of missions from when he was serving with the SAS and as Field Commander of the 141 and drawings.

'Damn, he is one excellent artist!' she thought amazed.

She continued to flip through the journal when something caught her eye. There were drawings of Red's and Williams' faces labeled 'Red' and 'Fox' and there was 'Fire!' written near Red's hair and 'Medic' near Williams.

'It must have been the first day we met when we went to help them in London.'

She turned the page and saw a portrait of herself leaving her gaping at the detail of the drawing. Near the sketch, there was written 'Shadow – Captain of the E.T.F.' On the other page was a paragraph describing the mission.

The mission turned sour the instant we stepped our feet out of the building. Hostiles ambushed us instantly. Worst part? Roach was injured in the leg as we ran for cover. Did the best we could to patch him up. Still angry I couldn't protect him from being wounded in the first place. The enemy was closing in on us and that's when I realized we needed reinforcement. Bloody base told us they couldn't find anyone. We were running low on ammo and getting desperate. That's when I heard her; a woman's voice through my earpiece. I wasn't the only one disappointed when we saw only three soldiers descending from the helo. Meat couldn't believe it either. First thoughts? Only three soldiers and... women. They were women. But my opinion soon changed when the Captain took control. Fox was amazing in healing Roach and Red started popping hostiles instantly. Shadow and Fox kept everything under control even though Red was injured. We arrived at the LZ for exfil in no time.

Malloy smiled at what she just read and continued flipping through the pages.

Gone. They were gone in the middle of the night. Just like that. I had no idea where they came from or who they were as they had no badges on their uniform. Royce was right; they may be some kind of Special Forces. And we weren't even sure about that either...

After six months, I see her sitting relaxed in our briefing room as nothing had happened. I am going, to tell the truth, I was happy to see her again. Those green eyes smiling at me as I sat in front of her. I was excited about learning that I was going on a mission with her. I wanted to learn more and see what she was made of. I will find out soon enough...

She turned the page and her mouth opened at the sketch she was looking at. The drawing consisted of her wearing only a bra with a surprised face. Much like the one she was doing right now. 'Bloody hell!' was written next to it.

The mission went smooth. The woman knows how to handle things. I held her when she was overthrown by the strong winds; didn't want her to get hurt. Didn't have to worry about her a lot though; she snapped the soldier's neck like a bloody cracker. I wouldn't want to be on her bad side. Worst part? Nearly killed me while throwing things at me because I saw her without a shirt. Best part? I saw her without a shirt... I feel a pervert for writing it this way but that body was glorious and those scars she had made her more perfect I don't know why... It's been too bloody long since I've been out with a woman...

Malloy kept looking at the page her mouth gaping feeling her face getting hot.

'So that's what he thought...'

Two words when describing the E.T.F. = crazy bunch. Malloy was right. They're hyper, friendly, and very sociable. They don't hold back on the drinks either. Red was going heavy on the vodka. She reminds me of Nikolai; drinking vodka like it's water. I don't know how the hell the Russians manage it. Allen; a woman Ranger. She must be pretty good to be part of a branch composed of mainly men. You can't be fooled by Daniels' innocent blue eyes. Blondes deceive you...I bet she's one hell of a marine just like Williams. Collins' the innocent one; US Army like Malloy. She's the youngest and most vibrant. She reminds me of Roach. On the other hand, the Lieutenant's hard as a rock but Ghost managed to handle her apparently. That second Malloy rested her head on my shoulder when we were outside, I froze. The lack of women this job brings... you have no idea. Put my arm around her and she didn't object. Score! Shite, I'm writing like I'm a bloody teenager...

Malloy giggled. He is so strange.

Did I actually kiss her? Did I kiss a colleague? Am I bloody crazy? Her skin, her smell... Her lips were so soft. I couldn't think at all, I don't know what happened. She managed to suck all rational and logical thoughts out of my brain. Best part? It was perfect. Worst part?

We were interrupted by. bloody. Price...

Even worse than that? He threatened me if I ever hurt her... The old man is protective of her that's for sure. I hope she forgives me for what I am about to tell her...

'Price...' she thought. 'That explains a lot. If only I had known sooner...'

The door opened and MacTavish walked in on Malloy reading his journal. He froze instantly and she hurriedly closed the journal putting it back in its place, her eyes wide looking back at him.

"What the hell are you doin'?" he asked curiously.

"I am so sorry!" she said panicking walking around the desk stumbling in her feet. "I didn't mean to... it was there and... I just..."

She was scared at MacTavish's expression. He was red in the face and furious, his nostrils were flaring.

"That's my personal journal! You had no right to read it!"

"I know! I'm sorry..." she said her face showing regret of what she had done.

MacTavish sighed and his face softened. He couldn't be angry with her even if he tried. The pain which showed in her eyes was unbearable.

"Why are you here?" he asked with a half-smile.

Malloy kept staring at him. "I... you're not going to kill me are you?" she asked cautiously.

He started laughing. "Kill you? Why would I do that?"

"Oh," she replied and smiled slightly.

"I came to give you all the files regarding Makarov, sir."

"Did you just call me sir?" he asked smirking. "You know we're the same rank, right Captain?"

Malloy blushed at that slip. "I'm sorry I don't know what I'm saying."

"You're so sweet," he said smiling at her.

She blushed even more at what he had just told her. "I should go..."

"Did you enjoy reading my journal?" he asked her, amused.

She turned around with her eyebrow raised. "You're an outstanding artist MacTavish. I liked the drawing of me in my bra. Oh! Also loved to read what you thought about me when you saw me like that as well." She smirked and left the office with a stunned MacTavish staring at the door.

'Bollocks... I forgot I had that in there,' he thought. His face was so red he could be seen from the other side of the base.

--- --- --- --- ---

"What are you doing?" asked Williams confused.

Ghost had dragged her to his room and locked the door behind him.

"If you have to leave tomorrow, I'd like to give you a small treat so that you will remember me," he said with a smirk on his face.

"I won't forget you, Simon," she smiled at him as he grabbed her by her waist.

"Maybe you'll decide to run off with a Yank," he said nibbling on her ear.

"That Yank won't have your bloody awesome accent," she giggled as she imitated him and put her hands on his back dragging him closer to her.

Ghost smirked as he kissed her ear lobe and down her neck. Williams turned her head to give him more area letting him lick her neck. As he bit her, Williams gasped slightly with surprise making him grin even more. Ghost reached her collarbone and continued downwards tugging slightly at her shirt but Williams stopped him.

"What if MacTavish comes into the room?" she asked.

"He won't, don't worry," he replied kissing the corners of her mouth.

"But he'll need to sleep-" she started but Ghost interrupted her by kissing her firmly on the lips and she melted right away.

The kiss started getting more passionate; their tongues fighting furiously with each other. Both of them holding onto each other like it was the end of the world. Ghost grabbed the elastic band that was holding her hair and pulled it. Her hair flowed freely and he ran his fingers through it feeling its silky softness. Williams ran her hands under his t-shirt feeling his muscles and scars which made her head spin.

Ghost lost all reason as the flow of blood drained from his brain feeling her hands grabbing onto his chest. He was entranced and couldn't think anymore. This was their last night together; he won't see this beautiful woman again. He wanted to know more about her. Ghost started tugging at her t-shirt still kissing each other furiously pausing only to remove the shirt from her body and throwing it away. He took a second to see her dark blue bra against her dark skin. The sweet smell of flowers emitted from her body and he immediately sunk his head in her neck biting and kissing it. He was getting drunk off her scent and the touch of her as his hands caressed her body.

Williams was breathless as Ghost attacked her neck and chest both sliding down on the floor with Ghost on top of her. She pulled him away, stood up slightly so that she could remove his t-shirt and grinned as she admired that chiseled body while resting on her elbows.

"You like what you see love?" he smirked panting, sitting on top of her as he slowly ran his fingers down her shoulders, sliding down her bra straps. His hands slid to her back and removed the clasps of her bra and removed it leaving her chest bare. Ghost stared at her mesmerized and lost as the blood flow moved downwards even more. Williams raised her eyebrows and he shrugged innocently.

"Come here Brit," she whispered as she put her hand behind his neck dragging him onto her. They started kissing each other slowly, with Williams biting on his lips teasingly which turned him on even more. She lied down back on the floor, their bare chests pressing hard against each other. She dug her nails in his back and slid them into the back of his trousers making him gasp slightly. She felt his rough hand caressing her chest and then moved across her abdomen and further down sliding it into her pants. Williams grabbed his hair and moaned as he touched her just right. Ghost noticed this and he continued making her moan even more.

"Fuck..." she murmured as she arched her back.

"Is everything alright?" he asked teasing her.

"You jerk..." she smirked making him grin even more.

Williams reached for his trousers unbuttoning and unzipping him and slid her hand down. A soft moan escaped his mouth as her hand was rubbing against him.

"Blimey, marine," he whispered in her ear grinning.

"Well... I don't want you to forget me either," she winked at him.

Ghost started getting up but their dog tags were entangled with each other. They both started laughing as Williams tried to figure out how to untangle them. When they were free, Ghost stood up and carried her to his bunk. He got on top of her and started undressing the remaining clothes on her slowly and threw them on the floor. She sat up and did the same for him. They were both lying naked, their bodies both glistening with sweat under the sheets his hazel eyes gazing deep down into her dark brown eyes.

"Is everything ok?" he asked her. He didn't want to hurt her and definitely not force her even though they have arrived this far.

"Yes," she replied smiling while stroking his hair.

Williams hugged him tightly to her as he slowly went inside her making her whimper softly. They kissed each other softly as their lips hurt and were engorged as they were a bit rough before, but that didn't stop them. Ghost started picking up the pace, both breathing heavily. Williams starting sucking on his neck, muffling her moans and wrapping her legs around him as he grabbed a fistful of her hair. A doze of both pain and pleasure made the perfect concoction for that moment. Both of them red and flushing, breathless, dizzy, sweating, Williams forcing Ghost to turn under her so that she could take over. Her hips moving against his, her moaning in his ear, her hands grabbing his hair, the sound of her dog tags with her every movement... he couldn't take it anymore. He arrived at the peak of bliss and total ecstasy. He crushed her against his body as he groaned and twitched and finally his body relaxed.

"Bloody hell..." he murmured breathlessly.

"You nearly killed me," laughed Williams huffing as she slid next to him and pulled the sheets up to her neck.

"Sorry about that," he winked, "but you make me go nuts. You're too stunning."

"And you're too charming," she replied beaming. "You know how to drive a woman crazy."

"I can say the same about you, love," he smiled teasingly at her.

She rested her head on his chest and sighed trying to enjoy her last few hours with him until she leaves in the morning.

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It was cold and dark outside but MacTavish didn't care as he lied on the ground. Stargazing kept him calm during his worst moments; when he lost Meat and Royce when it didn't work out with Malloy because Price nearly beat the shite out of him when he was not going to see the women again... He just keeps adding to the list. The heavens were always a mystery to him and they always manage to soothe him whether he's near the Bering Strait or Rio de Janeiro, it didn't matter. Roach was right when he said that the ETF was the best thing that ever happened to them. The bug may be a bit naive but he knows what he's saying. Collins may have affected his judgment though. Both of them young and innocent; Collins just nineteen years old and only a Private making Roach feel responsible as a Sergeant to protect her. The bug follows her like a bloody puppy. MacTavish chuckled.

"What are you laughing at son?"

MacTavish sat up and crossed his legs seeing Price staring at him concerned.

"Nothing, old man," he smiled in reply.

"Have you finally lost your marbles?" asked Price joining him on the ground.

"Probably," replied MacTavish as he took a cigar which Price was offering him. "Couldn't sleep?"

Price shook his head. "I rarely sleep these days, Soap. What about you?"

"Couldn't sleep either. Too much going on in my head," he replied lighting his cigar. "Even though I did want to sleep, I couldn't go back to my room."

"Let me guess; Ghost is saying goodbye to Fox?" asked Price chuckling and MacTavish nodded laughing.

They stood there gazing up at the sky for some time until MacTavish decided to break the silence.

"Remember when we were back in my office and gave me a knuckle sandwich in the abdomen?"

"Sorry about that mate," laughed Price. "Yeah, I remember. Why?"

"You told me that 'having a woman in your life who loves you for who you are, is the best darn thing a man can have.' Did you have that kind of woman in your life Price?"

The old man sighed as he smoked. Looking back in his past, he didn't have any social life; heck, he didn't even have any family.

"The only family I had was the military. I didn't have time for friends outside of work. SAS was and still is my life," he said gravely. "The first feeling I got of a family was when I met Charles Malloy and his wife Margaret. His daughter Louise was three years old when I met her. The moment the little lass hugged me, I felt joyfulness rush through my body. When Lisa was born and I held her tiny body in my arms, tears sprung into my eyes. Those moments made me realize how broken I was." Price turned to MacTavish looking at him. "And now I realize what a shmuck I have been towards you mate. I should have let you go out with Lisa. I really hope you don't turn out to be an old geezer just like me."

"Even if it did work out, we would still be saying goodbye tomorrow old man," said MacTavish smoking his cigar. "Who's the lady Price? How did you two meet?"

Price chuckled. "Well, it all started about ten years ago. I was a Leftenant in the SAS and Gaz was Staff Sergeant back then and we were on a mission in Kiev, Ukraine to secure a package containing a nuclear bomb. Intel noticed that a woman was going in and out of the facility quite often with no one attacking her. We thought that we could interrogate her and use her to our advantage. Gaz knew Ukrainian so it wouldn't have been a problem. We thought that being a woman would break much easier than a man. Boy, were we wrong," smiled Price.

"Did you capture her?"

"Oh yes... we did."

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10 years ago

Somewhere in the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine

Leftenant John Price

2100 hours

"She won't stop kicking!" said Price breathless as he was carrying a woman by her arms.

"This will calm her down," said Gaz injecting a syringe into her neck and the woman tried to kick but started stopping as the energy was draining from her body and closed her eyes. Price and Gaz carried her to the safehouse and tied her to the chair. After fifteen minutes, the woman's eyes started opening up and looked around her, disorientated. She had noticed that her wrists were tied and tried to get out but stopped after realizing that it was hopeless.

"Jak tebe zvaty?!" shouted Gaz.

(What's your name?!)

The woman did not reply, her light blue eyes continued to stare at them. She smirked and spat on Gaz and he backslapped her, her short black hair flipping with her head.

"Vy ne khochete, shchob ya zol! Khto vy?!"

(You don't want me angry! Who are you?!)

After about 30 minutes of Gaz interrogating her, the woman did not budge and was not intimidated by Gaz slapping or hurting her at all.

"This is getting us nowhere," said Price and grabbed his M1911 and pointed it at her head. "If you don't speak, I will not hesitate to shoot."

The woman looked at him for a few seconds and finally spoke.

"You can kill me, I won't talk," she said.

Price lowered his arm immediately both he and Gaz looked confused.

"Your accent, it's American," said Gaz surprised.

"Who are you working for?" asked Price.

"None of your damn business," she replied coldly.

Price grabbed her from her throat slightly suffocating her and her eyes opened wide staring at him.

"I'm an impatient man, lady! Talk!" he roared in her face and she nodded and let her go.

"I just provide food for the men inside," she said coughing.

"That's bollocks!" said Gaz.

The door swung open and a man entered into the room panicked. He was short, stout, had white hair and brown eyes and wearing a black suit.

"Stop! Don't hurt her!" he shouted and ran towards them to release her.

"What's going on?" asked Price puzzled.

"She's a CIA agent," said the man cutting her ropes and then looked at the woman. "They're SAS."

"You're fucking kiddin' me!" she said angrily rubbing her wrists.

"CIA?!" exclaimed Gaz and Price together.

"She's our Intel inside the building," said the man wiping his sweaty forehead.

"Nobody informed us that the CIA was on this case too," said Gaz slightly angry.

"Yeah well it's supposed to be classified," he replied.

"Bloody classified..." said Price under his breath. "We've got to secure a package within a building. Your agent may help us."

"I'm not helping you," sneered the woman.

"We're on the same bloody team," replied Gaz firmly.

"First things first. I'm Price and this is Gaz; what's your name?"

"You can call me Tiger," replied the woman while checking her Glock which Price took from her before.

"Very well, Tiger. Is there a nuclear bomb in that safe house?" asked Price.

Tiger looked at her handler and he nodded.

"The bomb is going to arrive tomorrow at 0800 hours. It will then be transported to Sumy and over the Russian border," she replied.

"Well, let's prepare ourselves for tomorrow then," smiled Price and the woman rolled her eyes.

"Let's do this," said Gaz.

--- --- --- --- ---

"Interesting way to meet someone," MacTavish chuckled.

"Yeah; the mission was accomplished and we secured the bomb. She was one hell of an agent; snapped the guard's neck like it was a bloody cracker," he chuckled.

MacTavish's eyes opened wide at his last sentence. "Malloy did the same in the op at Ferelli's lodge."

"CIA procedure. She hated me at first and I didn't blame her, but we grew fond of each other. Our dates were missions and joint ops with the CIA," said Price gazing at the sky. "Then one day, we fell in love."

"It was serious then!"

Price nodded and looked down sadly. "Then I lost contact with her. I don't know what happened. She went underground and we never saw each other again. When I learned that Lisa was CIA, I was more afraid, for both of you Soap. I didn't want you to go through the same things I went through."

"I'm sorry Price," said MacTavish sadly. "Why don't you ask Malloy about her? She may know her."

"It's been years Soap," Price sighed. "She would have forgotten about me; if she is still alive that is."

"You may never know old man," said MacTavish lying back down on the ground.

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