Author's Note: Thank you for your comments, I appreciate your support! :D

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 27

C-130 rolling down the strip
Elite Task Force on a one-way trip
Stand up, hook up, shuffle through the door
Jump right out and count to four
Mission undetermined, destination unknown

We don't even know if we're ever coming home

And if I die in a combat zone

Box me up and ship me home
Pin my medals upon my chest
Tell my mama I've done my best

For duty, honor, country I'd give my life

  --- --- --- --- ---

Fox stood there staring at the soldier having a victorious smirk in his face.

This is how she is going to die.

A bullet went through the enemy's forehead and sides. Still shocked, Williams looked to the left and saw MacTavish and Ghost pointing their weapons at the soldier who is now sprawled across the floor. She couldn't help but express a sigh of relief; maybe this wasn't the end just yet. Together with the rest of the 141, they cleared the area and walked over to the ETF.

"You found us," said Collins.

"Of course we did," said Price. "How long did you think you were going to keep it from us lass?"

Ozone scanned the team and noticed that Malloy is missing.

"Hey, where's Shadow?"

"After Espinosa," said Red.

"We have to go and help her," ordered MacTavish.

"She's in that yellow apartment," said Williams.

"Ozone, Roach, and Worm, secure the area!" ordered Price. "If you see movement, inform us immediately.

"Yes, sir."

"Roger."

"Aaarrgghh stronza!" yelped Espinosa in pain as she clutched her wounded leg.

She used the wall as support and steadied herself as she looked at Malloy.

"You cheated."

"You really thought I was going to play clean with you Teresa?" asked Malloy huffing.

"Good point," she smirked getting a gun out from behind her back and pointed it at Malloy.

"Two of us can play at that game tesoro."

Malloy put up her hands thinking of her next move. Actually, she didn't have any; she was doomed.

'You have got to be kidding me,' she thought fuming.

Her Beretta was lying a few feet away from her. However, a slight movement from her side means that Espinosa will pull the trigger. She needs to distract her.

"How the hell did a woman as highly as capable as you pair up with someone?" asked Malloy trying to buy herself some time. "I always thought you were the working alone type."

"I still am," replied Espinosa. "I needed to expand and Makarov was the perfect candidate; a close friend of Zakhaev and with both of us having a common objective."

"Yeah? What's that?"

Malloy continued to stall her as she moved slowly to her left towards her gun. Finally, her foot bumped into the gun. She swooped down and grabbed it swiftly. She shot Espinosa's arm, dropping the gun on the floor.

"Maledetta!" snarled Espinosa, clutching her arm to prevent more blood from pouring out.

"This is the end of the line," said Malloy maliciously pointing her gun towards Espinosa. "You die now, you bitch! DIE!"

Malloy pulled the trigger multiple times not giving Espinosa any time to react. The terrorist's body was forced backward with the force of each bullet piercing through her body until Malloy could see her no more as she plummeted down the side of the building.

The Captain went near the edge and looked down and saw Espinosa's broken body with the knife still stuck in her leg and her body full of bullet holes. What Malloy did not expect to see was her team and the 141 staring at the body and then up at her.

"I told Fox that Ghost was going to suspect something," said Malloy to herself.

"I think she's dead," said Collins sarcastically as she observed Espinosa's body.

"You think?" replied Worm stunned.

"Fox, I'll be down in three... actually, make it five," said Malloy in her earpiece, "I'm feeling particularly lazy today."

Williams smirked.

"Roger that."

After walking out of the building, Malloy lit a cigarette and walked over to the others. She approached the body and removed her knife from the leg. She then wiped the blood on the body's clothes and sheathed it back into her boot.

"Nikolai, we're coming to the exfil point," said Price pressing his earpiece. "ETA 15 minutes."

"What are we going to do with the body?" asked Ghost.

"We'll bring it back with us," replied MacTavish, "as proof."

"Wait," said Allen. "No telling us off or something?"

"Yeah," agreed Daniels puzzled.

Price turned around and looked at them with a dead serious look on his face.

"There is no need for me to be angry with you," he said calmly and then faced Malloy. "Guess who arrived this afternoon wanting to surprise his daughter and instead his daughter surprised him? That's right, General Malloy is back from Afghanistan and he was pretty pissed off when General Shepherd informed him about the situation."

They all started walking towards the exfil point rather quietly. They were supposed to be celebrating in getting rid of a dangerous terrorist but their minds wandered off thinking on what will happen once they arrive at the base.

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

Nikolai landed his Pave Low in the hangars at Fort West and there were soldiers waiting for them.

"Captain Malloy," said one of the soldiers, "General Malloy would like to see you and the rest in the briefing room."

Malloy was perplexed how the soldier addressed her. It felt strange to be called Captain after all those months not being on duty. The ETF was covered in blood and dirt and did not have time or place for a quick wash.

With their heads hanging, they proceeded to the briefing room were Generals Shepherd and Malloy were standing stiffly, waiting for them. The 141 decided to go directly for debriefing to know what their next steps will be.

The room was barely lit surrounded by monitors showing maps and identities on HVIs. The briefing room was connected to the comms room by a glass door but separated by thick, clear glass. An oval, grey table lied in the middle of the room surrounded by chairs. The soldiers stood in attention by the chairs with Price opting to lean against the wall at the back of the room. Looking closely, General Shepherd had the usual monotonous expression on his face; on the other hand, General Malloy's eyes were fired up with fury.

"Sir, the umm...," started Malloy but stopped. She realized that they weren't an official task force anymore and did not know how to address the situation.

"Just sit down," said General Malloy in forced calmness.

They all sat down and waited for hell to unleash upon them.

"Can you tell me what the hell you were thinking?!"

There was a brief pause before Malloy decided to reply.

"General, we acted as private military soldiers and not affiliated in any way with the US Army."

"You are still enlisted as part of the US military Malloy until the Board finalizes and makes their decision official," said Shepherd.

"Damn," she thought.

"Sergeant Daniels, you had Intel regarding Teresa Espinosa, is that correct?" asked General Malloy.

"Yes, sir."

"You are aware that you are obliged to show any Intel to your superior and have no right to hide that kind of valuable information?"

"I am aware."

"Yet, you took the information to people who are not working full-time due to events which prevent them to fulfill their duties," said the General shuffling through some papers and then looked at his daughter.

"Why do I have the feeling that this was all your idea?"

"Yes sir, you are right," said Malloy without hesitation. "I was driven by revenge and forced my team to-"

"Lisa enough," interrupted Williams.

All eyes in the room fell on Williams and Malloy glared at her. Ghost looked like he was holding his breath under the mask, probably hoping that his girlfriend wouldn't say something to condemn her team.

"Sir, it was my idea," she continued. "I told Daniels to be our eyes and ears in the base."

"The rest of us agreed in helping Lieutenant Williams," said Collins.

"We actually forced Captain Malloy to join us," continued Red.

General Malloy had a baffled expression on his face.

"You planned this well," he said. "What did the Captain suggest then?"

"She advised that we should tell everything we know to General Shepherd so that Task Force 141 can handle it," said Allen.

"However, we were afraid that the task would be given to Captain Kowalski," said Daniels.

"Seeing that she doesn't have a lot of experience..." said Malloy her voice trailing off.

"Ok I get it," said General Malloy raising his hand to stop them. "For once you weren't the one who got your team into trouble. Even though I don't know why I am not surprised that the Elite Task Force managed to find themselves in a mess. It's always the same people.

"Nevertheless, I have to consider the facts that you were not fully able to carry out the mission and yet you were determined to bring this dangerous terrorist down in which you have accomplished. You are in line for a dishonorable discharge for not following the rules but after this little stunt you pulled, we may find a small hole in the army to fit you back in."

The ETF couldn't help but cheer. The 141 seemed happy about this turn out of events but did not show it much.

"Before I dismiss you, I have other news" he continued.

His voice changed; it became heavy and solemn. General Malloy looked old and tired and he ran his fingers through his light brown and gray hair.

"As you all know, Major Stevens was deployed in Afghanistan in charge of platoons to protect the locals from insurgents. This afternoon, while investigating near Kandahar, Major Stevens and his team hit an IED..."

The soldiers' eyes widened in shock; not wanting to hear what General Malloy had to say about their Commanding Officer.

"... unfortunately, they did not survive the impact. The Army of the United States suffered a terrible loss of a great man and leader. He will never be forgotten and neither will be the soldiers who were with him."

Tears were streaming down Collins' and Allen's face. Malloy and Williams buried their faces in their hands while Daniels and Red simply looked down depressed.

"Rest assured that his sacrifice will not be in vain," said Shepherd determined. "He sent valuable intel regarding Makarov and with the info provided from you during your capture, we have two possible locations where Makarov can be situated. However, this is not yet confirmed; 141 you're on standby until further notice."

"Yes sir," replied MacTavish.

"I suggest you go and rest," said General Malloy. "You can go back to your old rooms. Dismissed."

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

Hot water was running down Williams' face and body as she relaxed her mind and tried to absorb what happened in the last twelve hours. She had faced death multiple times and the most terrifying was when she was tortured. The fear that eats your brain of not living to see another day terrorizes you in a way which is indescribable and wouldn't want to wish that kind of experience to anyone. Having a weapon in your face isn't a pretty thing either. She never experienced close quarter battle that close.

Being part of the Female Engagement Team in the past and a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, gave her the know-how on leading a team and training recruits. Still, the objective when being part of the FET would have been, to integrate with the locals and gather intel from them and not participate in battles. Everything changed when that Bill, which permitted women to fight on the front lines, passed. She never imagined that her best friend would contact her to be second in command of a spec ops team. Also, she would never have pictured meeting a Special Forces soldier and becoming his girlfriend. Ghost... Williams smiles every time she thinks of him. A strange name to accompany an even stranger personality, but she likes him the way he is.

"Sorry to interrupt love."

"What the...?!" she exclaimed, nearly slipping in the shower.

Ghost was standing behind her, grinning and observing the Lieutenant.

"You creep..." she whispered as she closed the tap. "Permission to get dressed?"

"You know the answer to that," he winked.

She rolled her eyes and tried to rinse any excess water from her hair.

"You could have knocked."

"Couldn't wait to see you," he said handing her a towel. "I should shout at you right now. How's your leg?"

"I'm feeling better. Still limping but it doesn't hurt as much as before."

Williams got dressed while Ghost waited for her sitting on her bed.

"It was really all your idea?"

"I knew Malloy would have given up after we fought," she said, sitting near him, "so I took the matter into my own hands. Not proud of risking my friends' lives but this is what we do."

"You were supposed to be resting at home," he scowled.

"You are not supposed to be putting a tracker in your girlfriend's cell phone either," she replied, glaring at him.

"I apologize for invading your privacy but if I wouldn't have done it, I would be talking to your body lying in a coffin!"

"Fine, you're right."

She was not in the mood to argue after everything that happened,

"Thinking about Major Stevens?" he asked softly, wrapping his arm around her.

"Yes... I am so worried about my sister. She is still there and I haven't heard from her in a long time."

"I am sure that she's fine."

"I never imagined Major Stevens, such a strong man, would ever..."

"I know what you mean love," he said, trying to soothe her pain. "What we can do now is make sure that his sacrifice would not have been for nothing."

Ghost embraced Williams with all his might and she couldn't have felt safer. He lost all his family, he was determined in protecting her in any way possible.

"Thank you, Simon."

"I am always here for you Charlene. Whenever you need me, I will always be by your side."

He kissed her forehead softly and beamed at her.

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

MacTavish knocked on Malloy's door but there was no answer. A hundred thoughts passed through his mind thinking why she's not replying. Maybe she doesn't want to talk to him because of what he said to her a few months back or because he didn't talk to her at all; maybe she fainted in the room and needs help. He opened the door swiftly, panicking, looking for a body lying on the floor...

... or maybe she was just sleeping.

'I'm becoming too paranoid,' he thought, shaking his head.

Malloy was lying in bed, her light brown hair covering half of her face. MacTavish sat near her and nudged her softly. The Captain continued sleeping peacefully and did not even notice the nudge. MacTavish rubbed her arm and this time her eyes started to open slowly and her eyebrows rose with surprise when she saw him there.

"John..." she croaked.

"Hey love," he said tenderly. "I wanted to talk to you before we are called in for a mission."

Malloy sat up, rubbed her eyes and removed her hair from her face.

"I had in mind to come and talk to you but I lied down on the bed and slept without realizing it," she said.

"How are you feeling?" asked MacTavish.

"My arm is killing me, my head is throbbing, I'm hungry," she complained, "and Major Stevens is dead. How do you think I am feeling?"

"I am so sorry," he whispered.

"We'll be fine," she said, yawning. "The sad thing is that we are getting used to these type of news."

Malloy rested her head on MacTavish's shoulder and he rested his hand on her thigh.

"I thought you didn't want to talk to me."

"Nah, I was missing that sexy Scottish accent," she said, wrapping her arms around him.

MacTavish chuckled and looked in her light green eyes. Her touch made him feel warm in his stomach and his head swim.

"I can't believe I'm dating a soldier who eliminated a notorious terrorist," he smirked.

"Well, you eliminated Imran Zakhaev," she winked. "I would be dead if it weren't for you and your team. Espinosa's goons would have been all over me."

"If it wasn't for Johnson and Castillo, we all would have been dead," said MacTavish.

"Wait... what?"

"A Black Hawk kept a whole army of mercs back. They stayed there to make sure that you wouldn't have needed any support or transportation back to the base. They're facing charges for deceiving the Air Force."

"Damn it..." she sighed. "I ordered them to go back."

"Don't worry about it. Price and I are helping them, lass."

"Thank you, sweetheart," she said and embraced him.

"I missed you so much," he whispered in her ear.

"John, I need to tell you something," she said, blushing. She faced him and took his hand in hers.

"What is it?"

"I love-"

They were interrupted by a knock and the door opening.

"Sir, sorry to interrupt but Shepherd's got something for us," said Ozone. "He is waiting for us in the briefing room."

"I'm coming."

The door closed and Malloy buried her face in her hands. She was burning up with embarrassment.

"I have to go, Lisa," he said, standing up. "One last thing..."

He leaned in on her, looked her in the eyes and stroked her cheek.

"I love you too."

He brushed his lips against hers and left. Malloy felt warmth engulfing her body and a tingling sensation she couldn't explain. He had just left and she was already missing him. She's hoping that the mission will be over soon so she could stay in his arms and hear his heartbeat.

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

"Mum, I'm fine, do not worry!"

Collins was on her mobile talking to her hysterical mother. She went mad after hearing what they had done.

"It's our job-"

"Your job is resting young lady! Not going out shooting people!"

The corporal sighed and rubbed her head. She nearly dropped her mobile when realizing that Roach was peeking through the door. She was alone in the room as Allen decided to go for a small walk with Ramirez. She motioned Roach to come in and to wait a second.

"I've got to go; I have important business to attend to."

"Is the sweet Sergeant there? Thank goodness for him, he is such a sweetheart."

"Love you, mum!"

She hurriedly hung up and blushed furiously. Roach looked at her with a puzzled expression in which Collins smiled back hoping that he did not overhear what her mum just said.

"May I help you, Roach?"

"Just came to check if Corporal Collins is ok before I head out to the briefing."

"I'm well Serg', I'll be better. It's just..."

"What is it?" he asked, moving closer.

"I'm feeling angry all the time. I'm hearing voices in my head and having nightmares every night. I barely get any sleep and well, we need to talk."

"If you want to talk about the nightmares and the voices, I'm here for you Lainey. However, I am no psychiatrist. Actually, I bloody suck at these things," he chuckled nervously, "But I will try my best.

"Talk about us Roach," she said sounding concerned.

"Oh, that..." he said, scratching his head.

He felt his heartbeat quickening and his face getting hot when he started to remember what idiotic move he had done long ago. Now that Collins is getting better, she could tackle the situation.

"Listen, you were right," he started. "I acted immaturely. I didn't think it through, I was only thinking about myself."

"Yet, you stayed near me through my most difficult times and for that I thank you."

Collins wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly. Roach was astonished by this action but did not complain at all. He held her by her tiny waist and could feel her breath upon his neck and her heart beat against his chest. What would he give to stay in this position forever...

They parted a bit but Collins was determined to not let go. She kissed him softly on the neck, cheek, and moving to the corner of his lips. She paused to mock him, and with a smirk on her face, she leaned in and kissed him on his lips.

The kiss was getting more intense but something evil reminded Roach that he was supposed to be at a briefing and General Shepherd was probably going to kill him if he is not there on time.

"I got to go," he said in a forced manner.

"The briefing; I forgot, sorry," she blushed.

"After the mission, you and I, toffees and wine. That rhymes," he said looking up, thoughtful.

"You're going to be late! Go!" she giggled, pushing him away.

"Later," he said and kissed her on the cheek before darting towards the door.

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

In the briefing room, the 141 were sitting around the table with General Shepherd facing them and the monitors all showing different positions captured by the satellite. The door opened and Roach entered. He apologized and quickly sat near Ghost.

"It's been tough, gentlemen. We've lost more than we ever dreamed," he said, pacing around. "Major Stevens was a terrible loss, but we will recover. At least his death was compensated by the neutralization of Teresa Espinosa. The Elite Task Force has done its part, now it's time to do ours."

"I've got a blank check. And we're gonna use every cent of it killing Makarov. Despite what the world may say, we are not savages, we don't kill civilians. We use precision. There's an evil man hiding in these shadows and we're gonna bring him into the light. Once his face is revealed, we will write history, gentlemen."

MacTavish ran his hand over his stubble, concentrating on the images that appeared on the screens. One showed the Georgian-Russian Border near the Caucasus Mountains where it is suspected that Makarov's Safehouse is located there. The other satellite image was showing a US vehicle disposable yard also known as the 'boneyard' in Afghanistan where there is a suspected Makarov arms deal. Price voiced his doubt on how will they carry out the mission.

"Sounds like we gotta be in two places at once," said Price.

"Impossible?" asked Shepherd.

"Not for the 141," said Price determined.

"Fifty-fifty chance to take out Makarov, eh?" asked Ghost in approval. "Captain Price, request permission to take the safehouse with Roach."

"Granted," replied Price. "Soap and I will take the boneyard in Afghanistan."

"Very well," said Shepherd. "We will cut off all avenues of escape. This ends now."

"Strange," said Price under his breath. "I thought we already ended this war."

"Let's move out mates and get this over with," said MacTavish, standing up.

"Let's do this!" said Ghost.

--- --- --- --- --- 

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y
Victory, victory that's my battle cry
S-O-L-D-I-E-R
Soldier, soldiers that's who we are
C-O-U-N-T-R-Y
For duty, honor, country I'd give my life

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Quick Author's Note: I hope you liked the marching cadences I added, I thought that they would make the chapter more effective. 

I'm sure you can imagine what mission I'll be writing about in the next chapter. I'll try to not take too long to upload. 

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