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He doesn’t remember.
Of course he doesn’t remember, who is Ghost kidding?
A part of Ghost is glad that Roach doesn’t remember. When they get out of here- leave the military for good, now that 141 had served it’s purpose, Ghost was going to spend the rest of his days somewhere on a farm in the bush, with Roach.
Ghost wonders, does Roach even remember his homeland? Does Roach remember the kangaroos he’d so fondly talk about? The childhood Ghost wished he’d had?
Perhaps he doesn’t. Roach hasn’t said a proper word since the betrayal.
Propped up in his bed, Roach hums a broken tune. It’s when a hoarse, but still soft, voice breaks through that Ghost looks up.
“…broken paws-” he starts, “The Dingo has broken paws, he hobbles somewhere in the bush. Broken paws, the Dingo has broken paws…”
Broken paws? Dingoes?
Maybe his memory was finally coming back to him.
Ghost hopes so.
“-hobbles somewhere in the bush. He cries to the moon, though nobody can help him now. Broken paws lives by the billabong, under the shade of the squiggly gum…”
It’s barely a mumble, but Ghost can hear it. Roach’s weak singing.
It’s the first time Roach has said coherent words in a while.
“Broken paws.” Ghost murmurs, “Dingo has broken paws… hobbles somewhere in the bush.”
“Cries to the moon. Nobody can help him now. By the billabong…”
Roach’s voice is getting weaker and weaker.
Oh. Oh.
Ghost understands what’s happening now.
He wishes he didn’t.
Roach is singing a lullaby.
<< “You know, before people die, sometimes they sing their favourite song.” Soap had told him, casually in the middle of Ghost’s dinner. >>
“Roach-“ Ghost starts.
Roach doesn’t look up, just continues softly singing his song. The words are all messy and broken, like Roach’s brain slowing down.
“Broken paws-….”
“Roach.”
Calm, half-lidded eyes meet Ghost’s own watery ones.
Roach smiles.
“..’e’ll go live on a farm when I’m be’er.” He slurs, “I’ll show you the- the Kan’aroos.”
Ghost nods.
“Yeah. Yeah, we will. You’ll finally be home again.”
Roach gives a lopsided grin.
“We’ll be home.” He says, “Yo- you’ll live with me too?”
Ghost nods, and grips Roach’s shaking hands between his own.
They’re so cold.
“Of course, bug. I promised, didn’t I?”
Roach leans into Ghost, an embrace Ghost craved ever so badly, but only from Roach.
“When I wake up, we’ll leave here, yeah?”
Ghost nods slowly.
He can feel the prick of tears in his eyes.
“Yes, love. We’ll leave here, out of this miserable, cold weather.”
“Back to the sun.” Roach murmurs.
“Back to the sun.” Ghost agrees.
Roach sighs, Ghost knows how he longs to see the red dirt, to feel the sun on his skin again.
It’s been so long since they’ve been home.
And yet, Ghost knows neither of them are ever going home.
Because Roach is Ghost’s home.
With a final soft, sigh, Gary glances up at Simon and smiles.
“Goodnight, Simon.”
“Goodnight bug, I’ll see you when the sun rises.”
Simon knows the sun won’t rise ever again.