Work Text:
Ghost blinked awake slowly, head fuzzy as he was jostled around in someone’s arms. His vision blurred as he was set on something soft and enveloped in familiar warmth. A soft voice with a Scottish hilt spoke to him, but he couldn’t quite make out the words. He felt like someone had pumped his veins full of lead, limbs heavy as they sat on the plush surface beneath him. A small groan escaped from him as the source of the voice turned him on his side. A feather-light kiss was pressed to his bare- Where the fuck was his mask? He whined and jerked his head back and the voice started talking again. His palm was lifted and something was dropped into his hand. Those same hands were in his hair, running their fingers through the blonde locks as he felt a tug at his consciousness. Something was dragging him deeper into the haze of whatever state he was in now, and even in all his attempts to fight it off, it managed to win. The last thing he heard before closing his eyes was a voice calling his name. Then everything went dark.
Soap sat silently at Ghost’s bedside in the safehouse, eyes glued to the unconscious form beside him. His radio crackled to life and Price’s steady voice came through.
“Soap, how copy?”
“Aye sir, both alive.”
“Elaborate please.”
“Ghost was drugged, sir. I have no idea with what, or with how much, but he’s fucked out. Bad . I had to carry him a mile to the safe house.”
“Ok, ok, back up. Explain how this happened?” Concern tainted Price’s voice.
“We were infiltrating the base and everything went well, but we were separated and the enemy took him. They injected him with something right as I got in there.” He heard Price suck in a breath.
“Fuck, ok. Is he at least semiconscious?”
“No, he just went back under. I tried to keep him awake, but he didn’t even respond to my touch.”
“Alright. Keep an eye on him at all times until we get medical out there, ok? Check his pulse every few minutes. If they overdosed him, he could die.”
“Yes sir.” Soap nodded. His fingers moved to rest on Ghost’s pulse, sighing in relief as he felt the slow but steady pumping of blood under his fingertips.
“Alright son, I’ll tell them to hurry.” The radio clicked off. Soap sighed weakly, cradling Ghost’s face in his hand.
“Oh, Simon,” Soap whispered, sliding next to him in bed. He pulled Ghost into his lap, hands tracing each scar on his arm. “It’s gonna be ok.” The words were spoken mostly to himself. He continued to check Ghost’s pulse frequently in the 25 or so minutes it took for the medevac to get there. He jumped in surprise when Price and a medic burst into the room and instinctively shielded Ghost’s face from view.
“Christ almighty.” Price exhaled as Soap pulled Ghost’s mask on. “He injured in any other way?” Soap shook his head.
“Get him up, we’ll have to run tests back on base.” The medic ordered, shifting on her feet. “Has he displayed any other symptoms besides the obvious?”
“No, he was unresponsive when he was semi-awake. There’s bruising around the spot they got him.” Soap scooped Ghost up into his arms, making sure his hold on the man was stable. His head lulled onto Soap’s shoulder, the hard part of his mask connecting with the front of Soap’s kit. Soap held him tighter and followed the crew to the helo.
Ghost had been whisked away nearly as soon as their feet were on the ground. He’d gone in for blood tests and observation. Soap had fought tooth and nail to be where he was right now, sitting next to Ghost’s bed as he slept. They’d cleared him as soon as they determined he wasn’t at risk of dying in his sedated state, and Soap had carried him back to his room while they waited for the blood tests to come back. He carefully pulled off Ghost’s mask and kissed his cheek, before plopping down at his desk.
Ghost groaned as he stirred, eyes adjusting to the light of the lamp as he blinked awake. Soap was very suddenly standing next to him with a hand on his cheek.
“Johnny?” he slurred. “The fuck ‘s goin’ on?”
“Yer back on base, in my room. Ye were drugged, so ye probably feel weird.”
“Wha?” He sat up slowly, eyes drifting to the window, where he could see the moon peeking out from behind the clouds. He swore it had been mid-morning when he’d last looked outside. Soap slid behind him and brought his limp body into his lap.
“We executed the mission, but ye got caught and they sedated ye before I could stop ‘em. Ye’ve been out about 10 hours, baby.” Ghost blinked in disbelief. “About half the time they had ye in medical with an IV. They’re doing blood tests to make sure yer alright.” Ghost sighed, whimpering when Soap accidentally put pressure on the injection site. “They were none too kind about that. It’ll be bruised for a bit.”
“Fuckin’ assholes.” Ghost grumbled, sinking into Soap’s touch. “Feel like I got hit by a car.” He laid his head in the crook of Soap’s neck as the man reached over to the bedside table.
“Drink.” A water bottle was handed to him. “It’ll flush out the drugs faster, and ye won’t feel so much like death.” he unscrewed the cap with shaky hands and chugged half the bottle in one go. “Easy, easy.” He murmured, dragging his hands up and down Ghost’s back. Ghost groaned and dropped his head onto Soap’s shoulder.
“Fuck.” He murmured.
“Sweet lad. Ye’ll feel better soon.” Soap cooed, kissing up and down Ghost’s neck. “Just tell me what I can do.”
“Jus’ need you to hold me.” Soap smiled, clutching Ghost closer to him. “I feel like I got hit over the head with a ten-ton rock.”
“I know, I know. I’m so sorry I didn’t get there faster.” Ghost shook his head.
“Not your fault.” He whispered, blinking away tears. Soap shook his head as he cradled Ghost’s head to his chest.
“I could’ve gotten there. I could’ve prevented this.”
“Johnny. Stop. You’re acting like I got shot. I just got drugged, it’s ok.”
“ Just drugged? Jesus, Simon. I almost lost ye. ” Soap cried, grabbing Ghost’s face in his hands. “If I had been even a bit later, they would’ve taken ye.” Ghost felt Soap press a thumb to his quivering lip. “We’re so lucky it was just a sedative, not poison or something.” Soap’s other hand moved to rub circles on the bruised spot on his arm. “I’m so glad yer ok.” Ghost nodded.
“I feel awful, Johnny.” He whimpered.
“I know, baby, I know.” Soap cooed, handing the water bottle back to him. “The docs said ye should feel better by tomorrow.” He handed the empty bottle back to Soap and let the man guide him back onto the mattress.
“Lay with me?” Soap crawled into bed next to him, hands hovering above him.
“Big spoon or little spoon?” Ghost wordlessly pressed his back to Soap’s chest and Soap brought an arm around his torso. “There’s my sweet lad.” His lips brushed against the side of Ghost’s neck, kissing a scar on his shoulder. “Sleep.”
“Love you.” Ghost mumbled, letting his eyes slip shut. He heard Soap murmur a soft “I love you too.” before he drifted off into sleep.