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“Ghost” Alejandro looked at the worried operator. “He’s alive.. last I saw him Johnny was alive.” And he’s going to get the sergeant back no matter what it takes. This happened on his fucking watch and it falls to Alejandro. To fix it then kick himself to hell and back later. All in due time but first things first Johnny.. and where to even start looking for him.
He went into his office and promptly screamed keeping his anger controlled. Just enough to not destroy anything. He bumped knuckles against the wall and almost started swinging until he couldn’t stop.
But he didn’t… he slid down back against the wall. The op had gone south.. once it became blatantly obvious that they’d been compromised. Each of them picked a direction and ran when Alejandro ducked behind a tree.
He got jumpscared by the mohawked sergeant though that didn’t last when he saw the wound. Fuck.. a fever had already started to set in.
He quickly reached into his pack for a seret “it’s ok Soap.. it’ll be ok here let me have a look.” Alejandro inspected the wound.. thank god it didn’t hit an artery. Even through the pain Soap still tried to joke around. “Figures the one damn place that’s not armored. And the guy manages to American sniper a direct hit.” Alejandro didn’t like the finality that this felt like but it didn’t look fatal.
So long as they could get him to hospital fast enough which didn’t look like an option. Once he tried comms and all that came back was static… who the hell uses a jammer nowadays anyway.
“¿Puedes caminar, valiente hijo de puta?” Soap tried to stand up and put weight on it with Alejandro’s shoulder for stability. He wobbled then Alejandro made the executive decision. Putting his arm around his shoulder other hand on his side.
They got a half mile before ducking into a structure. “Mate.. you need to go I’ll be ok.. but us doing that will just slow ya down.” Alejandro growled “no not without you Johnny.. we either move together. Or stay here together and wait for help.” Soap.. damn bastard had heard it before he did.
Then with no warning shoved Alejandro out of the door and locked it. That’s when he heard the shooting start then an explosion as the front of the building caved in. “JOHNNY” it wasn’t enough to bring down the whole thing but the door is effectively fucking sealed.
He looked for other ways in and finding none “fuck” he yelled as he found one of their jeeps and hot wired it. He heard that Scottish accent of Soap’s even after the explosion so there was comfort there.
If only a crumb of it but hope and comfort nonetheless.
Once calm enough he stepped back into the hallway. Price the old man giving him a sympathetic look “when you’re ready mate.. let’s find Soap.” He went up to the op table
“not gonna lie.. it’s not good. He had a bullet in his leg pushed me out the door when he heard enemy forces approaching. Then the fucking door caved in when an explosive went off close to it.” He didn’t even look at Ghost “but swear to god he was alive after that I tried to find a way in but couldn’t.” He pulled up his gps data.
Soap looked at her as she personally cleaned his wound after getting the bullet out. “What’re you doing” she gave him that irritatingly smug look. “Ok.. let me rephrase.. I know what you’re doing. What I don’t know is fucking why.” Hissing as she purposely splashed hydrogen peroxide into the wound. “Diablos se parece” Soap honestly wanted to kick her but refrained.
“Alejandro is strangely fond of you gringo why is that?” Soap shrugged as best he could with his hands secured to the gurney.
“Oh no seas modesto ahora tipo duro. Tell me honestly.. Johnny.. what is it about you that has them. Falling all over themselves especially that big boy with the máscara de calavera.”
Despite only getting a crash course in Spanish and learning on the fly.
Soap could piece together what she was saying when she mashed the two languages together. He tested the restraints when she used that nickname.. only a few people can use that name.
She smiled “Golpeé un nervio, ¿no? don’t be so sensitive sergeant I was only asking.” Well.. least they know who fucking ambushed them. She must’ve gotten a hold of their intel somehow.
She pressed a cold damp rag against his forehead “I’m going to give you meds to fight the fever. And something in case there’s an infection.” She’s being very fucking kind to him and Soap would be lying if he said he wasn’t unnerved. “You’ll be back to chasing your tail pequeño luppy gruñón in no time. It didn’t damage a lot of muscle lucky for you my boys shoot well.”
Alejandro was slowly losing it and all he could think of was ‘we’d been compromised.’ Someone knew their fucking route and the obvious logic is.. someone in their ranks is a fucking traitor.
“The only ones that I’m sure aren’t turned are you, Ghost, Gaz and Price. But Rudy I’m telling you… they knew. Tendrán mucha suerte si no les cometo unos cuantos crímenes de guerra.” Rudy sighed “well find him.. if Sin Nombre did take him.. we’ll roll her up.. again. And if she’s hurt him.. I’ll look the other way ¿trato?” They shook hands on it “trato.”
They made it to the building and all Alejandro was hoping for. Is that they didn’t find Soap’s body that would send him right over the fucking edge. Thelma and Louise style thankfully of the dead bodies none were him but they did find Soap’s favorite gun.
The other cars are gone likely headed to an outpost no body but blood. And his vest was found on the way over three miles back. Alejandro surveyed the room and noted the wrappers. “equipo medico” Rodolfo nodded then he switched to English. “Medical equipment.. Valeria was trying to keep him alive.” Alejandro wasn’t sure if that was worse than him thinking she wanted him dead.
She was either going to pump him for information or ransom him. Soap knew how these situations played out and knew it well. It’s just a matter of how long he’ll be useful for before she decides to put two in him.
One does not simply nurse him so they can pull a down and dirty catch and release. Is she going to try and recruit him? Like they do to literally everyone else that they come across?
All he knows is he’s going stir crazy waiting for the narco queen to do whatever she’s planning on doing. Had he been there a day? A week? Soap honestly couldn’t remember thanks to the fever that’d only recently broke.
She called from the doorway a mock pout on her face “oh don’t worry puppy dog.. I don’t plan on hurting you. You see… I’ve got a problem and as much as it burns me to say it. I can’t handle it alone, Dado que tus amigos nunca me ayudarían voluntariamente, eres una ventaja... su precioso Johnny.”
She ran her hand along the side of his face “with their precious puppy dog here.. they’ll hopefully see reason.” Soap’s glare stayed laser focused what he wouldn’t give to try and warn them. “What happens if they don’t see reason?” She chucked “you’re a funny one cabrón they’ll come for you and when they do…”
Valeria let it trail off and Soap would’ve given anything to warn them that it’s a trap. “I don’t even have to send an envoy.. all I have to do is sit here and wait.” He flinched despite himself when she touched his arm. She gave him a look and sighed “I’m checking your IV pendejo calm down.”
“How do I know this isn’t just in my head and my body isn’t strung out somewhere?” She smiled and leaned in.
“Soapy boy.. let me be very fucking clear. If I wanted to pump your ass full of drugs. And leave you high as kite for your team to find I would’ve done it by now. You’d be so strung out all you’d be able to think about was your next fucking fix. Not dreaming up fantasies in your head.”
Alejandro breached the door and immediately the first thing he saw was Soap. Thank god he’s alive cuffed to a gurney and Valeria had her hands up calmly. “It’s an IV drip” she indicated the hanging bag “he had an absent seizure right before the fever finally broke.” Alejandro went over to Soap as she gave them a fucking breakdown of his recent medical history.
“Just like you los vaqueros thinking the worst of me when I’m simply a business woman.” She pouted “there wasn’t any damage from the seizure I had my personal doctor check. Now.. lets talk business Ghost Team.” Alejandro titled his head to the side “the fuck do you think I’ll do for you perra traidora?”
She shrugged “I’ve got a problem.. that requires… extra muscle. AQ has been up my ass since you pendejos offed Hassan. A common enemy and.. nothing illegal.” He checked Soap over and for once the bitch was true to her word.
“Why should los vaqueros help you.. wouldn’t it be good business as you say to let you two fight it out then take out the winner?” He noted her nodding “ah so you’re learning.. very good but even so. I’m not asking this time I’m telling you. And to sweeten the pot.. I’ll tell you who the traitor is. Half the town is decimated as is your HQ your authority is ruined in the eyes of the people. Tell me honestly what do you have to lose?”
She sat down “at the end of the day what does the self righteous Alejandro Vargas really have left. Think about it cabeza culo you let our people burn so Graves could enact his little purge.” He really fucking wanted to pull the trigger but that would be letting her win.
“Your precious puppy dog here impressed me back at the villa. Grandes bolas hechas de puto acero. I like that so I figured.. but my men got too trigger happy and a bullet hit him.” Alejandro scoffed “you’re telling me there’s insubordination in your ranks? And you really fucking expect me to believe that?”
She shrugged “I didn’t say you had to believe me estúpido. Why would I have wasted the fucking bullet if I was just going to dig it back out of him? Use your fucking head or did the black hair dye finally seep into your fucking brain.”
Alejandro felt Soap grab his hand.. which is the only reason he stayed it. “perra condescendiente so what are the details.. paint me a big clear picture.”
As it turns out the big clear picture is AQ is out for revenge and they see Valeria as a loose end. Hassan was captured on her watch and summarily executed on her intel no less.
Her guys that made it out of dodge are few and her military guys executed in the streets like rats. Apparently they’re little more than a skeleton crew while she recruits. Every now and again without making it obvious Alejandro stole glances at Soap.
Valeria did good work nursing him.. much as he hates to admit it. John is alive and kicking albeit he was mostly cuffed to a gurney. He plucked the keys from her “I will fact check and get back to you. Oh and if you ever put a bullet in the sergeant again I’ll put two halfway down your fucking throat.”
She smiled “violent.. I like it keep sweet talking me vaqueros.” He uncuffed Soap and helped him to his feet. Before she pointed to wheelchair “his muscles are atrophied best to wheel him out.” He almost didn’t say thanks but his sense of honor won out.
Once out and in the car he hugged the man tightly “don’t you ever do something so fucking reckless again Johnny. Fuck I was so scared I’d lost you… is this how Ghost feels all the time?” Soap nodded apologetically “pretty much.. he said it’s like trying to keep a cracked out and self sacrificing squirrel alive.” Alejandro hit the steering wheel then for good measure just to be sure he’s really there. Hugged Soap again after calming down and starting to drive.
“So she held up her word and didn’t hurt you” Johnny looked as bewildered as he felt by it. “I guess she figured in order to get what she wanted I was worth more healthy than half dead.” Alejandro sighed “I think she doesn’t wanna admit it but she cares. She went out of her way to make sure she crossed her T’s and dotted her I’s. That’s personal she doesn’t attend to just anyone like that.”
Much as it absolutely ground his gears he’s also glad that Soap’s innate ability. To get people to like him without even trying was in full effect. He’s going to fucking owe her though which is when Soap helpfully started. “So you’re really going to work with Sin Nombre?”
Vargas sighed looking over to see him. “Things change Johnny and I owe her for taking such good care of you. Vaqueros are men of their word.. and I told her if what she provided is viable that I would.”
Soap sat back “that’s what I missed about you Alejandro.. you’ve got a strong sense of honor.” They sat in silence as the man processed it every now and again looming over at him. Meanwhile Johnny mostly stuck to looking outside.
They were almost to the base when he chimed up again “how is everyone.” Alejandro sighed “I couldn’t look Ghost in the eyes to save my life. You were taken and injured on my watch. Even though he didn’t say anything to me.. I still felt like shit.”
When Soap looked confused for a minute Alejandro did a double take. Then it clicked for him.. “you don’t know the golden rule Johnny.. do you?” When Soap shook his head Alejandro smiled. “Let me introduce to you.. the golden rule also known as how to stay on the Ghost’s good side.” He looked over at Soap who’s waiting for him to explain.
Meanwhile the man’s mood has just improved in leaps and bounds given his amused expression. “That you understand.. reconocer y aceptar to the fact that YOU Johnny. In fact are Simon’s boy.. and if you are hurt, left behind, or given a rough time. That they’ll have to go through a very angry big boy in a skull mask who believes in the selective application of the Geneva Convention.”
Soap leaned back “fuck me.. well.. that explains a lot actually.” Alejandro chuckled some “he was in a posición de francotirador.. a sniper position ready to take her head off. If I couldn’t seal a deal or if you were in bad shape.” Soap sighed “that tracks..”
They pulled into the parking lot as Alejandro unloaded the wheelchair. Ghost was waiting for them and got down to a knee to hug him tightly. “Fucking hell Johnny you scared the hell out of us. What is with you and using fate like a fucking jump rope.” Soap shrugged but he did feel bad and it showed in the slump of his shoulders.
“I guess I thought I could hold out until Alejandro found me. But if I’d been the one to escape..” he let it trail off and Ghost sighed. “You know what? Doesn’t matter Johnny.. I’m just glad you’re safe.” Alejandro wheeled him inside with some pt he’ll be good as new thank god. It could’ve and fucking should’ve been so much worse.
“Until you get your strength back Johnny I’m relegating you to the chair.” Alejandro mentioned and even though technically. Soap doesn’t take orders from him he gave a small ‘roge’ as acknowledgement. “Thanks for coming back for me by the way.. even if it meant making deals with the devil.”
Alejandro squeezed his shoulder lightly “always…. you’re not expendable hermano without you..there is no ghost team.” He made it his personal mission to take care of Soap. To anticipate his needs and to administer the meds.
Ghost took PT and bodyguard detail while Price ran the intel through Laswell. He could tell Soap wasn’t used to being pampered no soldier is. They make for the worst damn patients but he’s trying.
He looks up at Alejandro with those big blue eyes and anything he wants is his. Take out? The latest alien film? Or even just smacking Alejandro around in Street Fighter. It’s not just Street Fighter either he wipes the floor with him in any game they play.
Eventually it got to where he could push himself in the wheelchair. Then Laswell got back to them “you stay right here Johnny where it’s safe. We’ll handle this.”
He hit him with the big blue eyes stare and Alejandro sighed. “We almost lost you once hermano not taking any fucking chances this time. I’ll be dead before I let those fuckers put hands on you again.” Soap kissed him on the cheek and he smiled “I’ll take that as good luck Johnny.”