Chapter Text
KIA that is what they were told. Their brother, their son, their John KIA. No body, no ashes, not even his tag. They were left to mourn with nothing more than a call to inform them of the fate of one John MacTavish. The family was distrate the youngest of them dead with nothing to show for it. What were they to do? To think?
Weeks went by though it felt more like years. How DARE the world keep spinning when its son was dead, the light gone snuffed without thought, without care. But time kept ticking as it always would and what else could they do but go along with it? There was no plot in the cemetery on behalf of John's wish, but without ashes, they couldn't scatter them into the highlands as he asked. They could do nothing at all.
Time kept ticking
Aileen, Sorcha, Neilina, and Ewan the four remaining MacTavishs of direct relation are left broken and alone no matter how many others come to comfort them. How could they fix or make this better? All they want is their John back!
One day an undetermined amount of time later there is a knock on the door. Aileen and Sorcha almost yell at whoever it is to go away; they don't want to talk to anyone none of them do. Their parents raised them better however and they got up and went to the door.
Time kept ticking
Opening the door the sisters froze. There were four men, furthest back was a man in casual clothes with a black beanie and mutton chops. Next a tall man in all black with a skull print balaclava and mismatched blue and brown eyes.
The third was a dark man with shining brown eyes and a baseball cap that had a Union Jack on it. Finally, in the middle of them all stood John, their John. Tears sprang to their eyes blurring their vision.
“John.” Sorcha breathed almost a whisper afraid acknowledging the ghost would cause him to fade. John raised his arms to his sides as if showing off that he was in fact alive. John smiled, eyes scrunching and it was a real smile, a genuine one. One they hadn't seen in years. Sorcha and Aileen launched themselves at the ghost. Sorcha wrapped her arms around him while Aileen clung like a koala.
Sorcha wailed, “We thought you were GONE !”
Time kept ticking.
They did not go through him, rather he wrapped his arms around them and squeezed hard. John began to cry as well, for the first time in years he cried. “I'm here.” He breathed into the air like he too was afraid it wasn't real. Tears flowed down his smiling face and he was beautiful, he was breathing, and he was here. “What is-” Their mother Neilina cut herself off at the sight in front of her. Her children, her babies.
They were all here, all alive, how she didn't know and didn't care. All that matters is she got her son back. John looked up with tear-flooded eyes still that same shade of dazzling blue and smiled. “Hay Ma.”
Ewan stepped up behind her a moment before she too joined her children in piling onto the youngest. Ewan was barely a step behind his wife wrapping all his children into his arms crying just as they all were.
Time kept ticking.
They all cried for the loss and revival of the young John now miraculously brought back from the dead. Still whole, still here. Neilina pulled herself back just a little to look into her youngest's eyes.
“How?” She breathed eyes frantically working over him, memorizing him In case she would lose him once again.
“CIA bullshit.” Was his simple answer, his eyes so full of warmth and love.
She felt like she could breathe again.
Time kept ticking
“DINNA YE DARE DO THIS AGAIN!” Sorcha screeched, hitting his chest with her balled fist. Rage was clear in her eyes.
John just kept smiling, “Dinna ye worry I'm done we all are. All retiring and starting fresh.” He looked back this time to the other men. The others also had tears in their eyes, some hiding it better than others.
John looked back to his family wrapped around him, “The only reason I'm er is because of those three.” Aileen looked to the other men, tears still running down her face, and smiled, “You dinna kin how thankful we are.”
Time kept ticking
The one in the balaclava shifted before speaking, “I think we do.” His voice was deep and Mancunian but warm all the same. “That we do Simon, he's our family too.” The one in the beanie gruffed trying (and failing) to wipe tears from his eyes.
John chuckled, “Let's get the introduction done ey?” John gestured to each man as he spoke.
“Kyle Garick or Gaz, he's my best mate and brother as well as my fellow sergeant.” Gaz nodded with a smile, eyes shining with tears.
“Price my other father and captain.” Price smiled, eyes scrunching.
“Then Simon or Ghost my lieutenant…...my everything.” Simon shifted nervously ducking his head in embarrassment.
Ewan looked at each man in turn before beaming at them, “Thank you.” It was only a few words but the severity of them spoke more than anything else ever could.
Time kept ticking
Eventually, John managed to corral everyone inside (not without effort mind you). John had sat on the floor so everyone could still wrap around him. He seemed so happy and perhaps it was that his military family and blood family were all in one place together.
No one cared however and John had waved his team to sit. The only sound that could be heard was crying and breathless reassurances. It was probably an hour of questions and answers (most of which involved “That's classified.”)
It took time but Gaz excused himself and made dinner for them all. None of them having eaten in hours.
It was apparent John couldn't really answer any of their questions and the ones he did answer sounded rehearsed. In the end, it didn't matter to any of them all that mattered was that they had their John back.
Time kept ticking
He had a new scar on his left temple and a hole out of the same ear. An obvious bullet wound.
All John could say about what had happened was, “We were removing an issue and were ambushed, I was shot in the shoulder and hit the ground. I saw Price about to get shot. I stabbed the aggressor,(No ma I canna give ye a name stop asking.) They shot at me and grazed my temple. Before they could kill me, Ghost killed them.”
Ghost was quickly overwhelmed with thanks and before he could be tackled John stepped in front of him. “I dinna kin if he's comfortable with hugs he's not a touchy lad,” John explained quickly looking between Simon and his family.
Simon shyly shook his head no, John smiled softly before looking back to the others. “Maybe later, yeah?” The others nodded their understanding. Gaz finished cooking and together they all ate. They went over fun and happy memories not wishing to remember the sorrow of the past weeks.
The table was full of laughs and smiles, something greatly lacking as of recently. Eventually, everyone finished eating and cleaning up (Price insisted he did it). They talked for hours and hours all smiles and laughs but with the occasional tear and sob. They had lost their John after all no matter if he was here now or not.
Time kept ticking
Everyone had grown tired and Price and Gaz took the guest room, and Ghost had followed John into his room.
Much later Aileen had awoken in a panic. Nightmares of John's death tormented her, she ran out of her room to John's needing to confirm he was OK. Opening the door she took in the sight. John was there thank God and Simon too, they were wrapped tightly around each other.
It was impossible to see where one began and the other ended. Simon was without a mask but his face was buried in John's neck.
Time kept ticking
John and Simon had startled awake but John had held a hand onto Simon's head keeping him in place. “Aileen ye OK las?” Tears still in her eyes she shook her head no. John hummed sympathetically, “Come er sis.” Aileen did without question.
“Is it OK if she sleeps here?” John had asked the man still intertwined with him. “Affirm.” Was the rough gravely response mumbled into John's neck.
John smiled sweetly at the man even though Simon couldn't see him. Untangling himself slightly, putting his back to Simon's chest, he beckons her closer. Aileen crawls onto the bed wrapping herself around her brother while trying not to touch Simon. Eventually, she managed it and John ran his fingers through her hair. She was quickly lulled back to sleep by John's voice and beating heart that her head was laid over.
Time kept ticking
The next morning the other MacTavish and 141 opened the door to the sight of the three curled on the bed.
What a sight it was.
oO0Oo
Years later the family gathered to welcome a new member of the MacTavish clan, John was getting married to the love of his life, his everything.
Gathered were the 141 members Laswell, Alex, Farah, Nickolai, Alejandro, and Rodolfo. The majority however were the MacTavish’s from distant and direct relatives. Alive and thriving stood John Riley MacTavish with Simon Riley MacTavish.
A happy ending for a dead man if you were to ask anyone there.
Time kept ticking