"Can't help you if you don't talk to me, Johnny." He glances up, finding the Scotsman's eyes.

The younger man crosses his arms, feet shoulder width apart. Always a bit too proud to say everything he's thinking outright. Or maybe just holding out to torture Price a bit longer. Probably the latter.

"At least sit down. All you ever do nowadays is stand there." Price gestures defeatedly to the chair across his desk.

Soap does not sit.

Instead he tilts his head, seemingly listening for something. Then closes his eyes. Price sighs and leans back, closing his eyes too. It's this dance they've done—been doing—whenever Ghost is out on a mission. Specifically missions that Price isn't particularly inclined to send Ghost on.

Price waits, then there he is, Soap right in his ear. "You shouldn'ave waited."

Price sighs. "I know."

"Should 'ave let me kill him—"

"—when we had the chance. I know."

Soap is silent for a moment. Then he places an icy palm on Price's shoulder, running it up and down. Then up to his cheek. Price opens his eyes. Soap's face takes up most of his vision now, forehead pressed to forehead.

His legs straddle Price's. As close as he can be. Just fatigues and a t-shirt, already untucked. His eyes are closed, mouth just slightly ajar. Like he's waiting for Price to make a move.

"He'll be back. Like always." Soap finally says, voice low, almost sarcastic.

"I know."

"Like a loyal mutt. We're ye mad when he started comin' to my call?"

Price lets out a little huff. "He's yours, Johnny. I know that."

Soap hums with delight. "But it's yoo he'll die for. Then what? Kyle would happily—"

"No." Price growls.

"—roll over if you ask. Why not now? Save us all the bother."

"Get out, Sergeant."

Soap is quiet for a moment. Cold palm still against Price's cheek. He frowns, considering this. Eyes still closed. Then he pats Price's cheek.

"I'll be around, Sir."

Price grits his teeth and exhales, squinting his eyes closed once more. He rubs his face with both hands until the burn dissolves.

When he opens them again, Soap is gone.

Price glances up at the clock on his wall. 0300. Ghost won't report for another three hours. He should sleep.

With a groan he stands, not bothering to turn off the desk lamp. Kicks off his boots. And finds his way to the sofa across the room.

He lay there for a while in the quiet dark. Waiting for sleep to take him. When he closes his eyes it's Soap's eyes he sees, angry. Always so angry. Piercing and inescapable. Waiting for Price. Always waiting on Price.

Nik and Graves just not knowing where Price is, not knowing what the hell he's doing and what's going through his head. It fucking hurts, not being able to see that this was coming, not until Price is already gone and out of reach. How are they supposed to come out on the other side of this okay? How is that even possible?

And the pain of Laswell having her friend, fuck, her best friend, do this. He's gone, she hasn't heard a word from him. Maybe only getting some cryptic messages from him before he killed Shepherd. She knew he was struggling after Soap, feeling guilty, but she didn't see this coming. And she hates that she didn't, that she didn't know. That he didn't trust her, didn't confide in her. Just, what the fuck?

And Gaz and Ghost? They're going through it. Soap is dead. He's gone and there's no getting him back. Price just turned against everything, flipping the table and now they feel lost. He was their captain. Someone they trusted, they put their lives in his hands. And he left, ran, did some fucked up shit that he can't take back. They want to hate him, but they also want it all to be something they can brush under the rug and forget. It's hard to shake feelings like trust, friendship, maybe love. It's hard to push that away when they had years of Price having their backs.

You can tell Roach is Soap's favourite. Soap doesn't show that level of affection or friendliness towards other TF141 members. Roach's significance to Soap becomes clear just by listening to the comms and chatter in Act 1 of MW2, plus reading the entries in Soap's journal where he mentions being impressed with Roach. Also, it's really interesting that Soap pays close enough attention to notice that Roach has a field journal, too. I wonder whether Roach keeping a journal was just a coincidence, or if he was looking up to Soap, like Soap looked up to Price.

Damn. Every road leads back to Price, huh? Price's impact was so profound and transformative that Soap essentially sought out a high-achieving sergeant that reminded him of himself and recreated the exact dynamic he and Price used to have. Honestly, considering Soap's covert issues with perfectionism and confidence, Roach is way for Soap to project on him & appreciate himself through Roach. Taking Roach under his wing, seeing him improve, Soap proves to himself he is indeed a competent officer and worthy of filling Price's boots. I mean, Roach being a skilled operator reflects well on Soap (and definitely strokes his ego...)

Soap: I’m going to the bathroom.

Price: …okay?

Price just randomly getting 'updates' from the boys about shit he had no interest in. Ghost told him he leveled up in a mobile game? Why? Soap just stopped by his office literally just to tell him he charged his phone before leaving. Gaz? Gaz is particularly bad at this, in some areas Price would even say he's worse than the other two. Price got a phone call in the middle of the fucking night while he was on leave. And for what? For Gaz to tell him he sneezed.