#codmw soap

“Are you alright to drive like this?” Ghost asks Soap. “I’m fine. Just a little tired. She’s the one not alright,” Soap says, pointing to Jamie in the backseat. “Fair point, but I can drive if you need a nap.” Jamie sits in the backseat, half asleep. “I hate when she ignores being sick. She said nothing when we were preparing for the mission.” They discuss their two-day journey returning to the base. They had planned on switching who’s driving halfway through, but now think they should stop somewhere overnight.

Soap has been driving for ten hours. He and Ghost decide it is time to stop for the night. Ghost writes a list of things they’ll need to get. “I know we’re returning to base,” Ghost states, “but I want a thermometer to check her temperature now.” “Good idea. We also should get medicine and cough drops.” They also talk about dinner plans. Ghost and Soap realize Jamie may not be feeling well enough for a dinner outing. They know that takeout might be the plan, but Ghost and Soap agree that a full meal is better than fruit and nuts.

In the next town, Soap finds a store. Ghost goes to get the items. Soap looks in the backseat. Jamie is still asleep. Whether she nodded off early on remains uncertain. Soap, however, worries Jamie might have slept for most of the ten-hour drive. He exits the vehicle, proceeds to its opposite side, and opens the rear door. Soap worries about how warm Jamie feels. He understands that Jamie’s decision to push through her illness on a demanding mission probably made her feel worse. He worries Jamie had a low-grade fever that has worsened. He closes the door, gets back in the driver’s seat, and texts Price about the situation. Soap knows Price wouldn’t be pleased hearing Jamie ignored being sick and went on the mission. “What’s wrong?” Ghost asks as he gets in the car. “She feels warm.” “We’re going to the hotel first. We’ll figure out dinner after we figure out how sick she is.” Fifteen minutes later, Ghost and Soap enter a hotel room. Ghost lays Jamie on the bed. Ghost is gentle as he wakes Jamie up. Once Jamie is awake, Ghost takes her temperature. “You know she’s unwell when she’s not arguing with you about being fine,” Soap comments. The thermometer beeps. The two are concerned about Jamie’s 101° fever. They were right about Jamie having a cold. “It’s four-thirty,” Soap says. “Give her medicine now.” Ghost nods. He gets the medicine and a cup of water. Jamie takes the medicine without arguing. She lies on the bed. Ghost and Soap look for restaurants to get dinner.

The two wait an hour to see how Jamie is feeling. Ghost and Soap decide to get takeout. Soap calls in the order. Jamie is feeling a little better, but is also still tired. Ghost and Soap want to scold her for going on the mission sick, but they know Price will scold her when the three return to base.

After eating dinner, Jamie is back to sleep. Ghost lies on the bed beside Jamie, while Soap lies on the other bed. The two relax and watch TV for a while before exhaustion sets in. Both go to sleep, agreeing to be up early.

The sun shining through the window wakes the two men. They agree to wake Jamie, ensure she eats, and give her more medicine. They knew Jamie would not like being woken up. She feels too unwell to argue. Ghost and Soap knew Jamie wouldn’t have an appetite, but they get her to eat a little. After breakfast, Ghost gives Jamie medicine, and the three head out. Ghost drives the rest of the way back to the base. The two men knew Jamie would fall asleep soon after hitting the road. “Figured,” Soap comments. “She’ll need the rest. Price is furious.” “He might wait until she’s feeling better.”

After another long four-hour drive, the car pulls into the garage of the Task Force 1412 base. Ghost informed Price when they were ten minutes out, but he didn’t think Price would be waiting for them in the garage. Price descends the stairs, pissed. He opens the back door and sees Jamie asleep. “She fell asleep the second the car started moving and hasn’t woken up since,” Ghost explains. “Stupid woman,” Price mutters as he picks up Jamie. Ghost and Price watch Price go up the stairs into the base. They grab the bags and gear from the car and follow Price.

Jamie continues to struggle with nightmares and being afraid to sleep. Alejandro, Alex, Farah, Gaz, Ghost, Layla, Nikolai, Price, Rodolfo, and Soap worry about this serious setback. Soap has been the one struggling to get Jamie to sleep. The Scotsman remains resolute in his desire to be the one to get Jamie to sleep. Believing that alternating who puts Jamie to bed every night doesn’t help Jamie is a point no one disputes. Everyone takes this as Soap’s way to say he wants to care for Jamie rather than Nikolai, since the Russian has been the one who stayed in Jamie’s room overnight for a week.

Soap can feel watching Jamie be terrified to sleep, and wake up after a few hours, terrified from a nightmare is taking a toll on him. He prefers to keep it from the others. Not because of shame about his plan not working. He still believes he’s right and doesn’t want Jamie to deal with someone new caring for her every night, even if it’s her friends.How come trauma recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all process? Soap sighs. I know Layla’s recovery wasn’t easy, and she’s still dealing with issues, but her nightmares didn’t result in fear of sleeping.He glances at Jamie, asleep for now. Soap knows he should tell the others, but he doesn’t want to add to their concerns. If Jamie doesn’t appear tired, he can keep this from the others. Soap’s mind drifts back to the fear that Jamie can’t recover from her trauma, he feels anxious. He leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

Soap sits on the floor, back against the wall. His mind plays scenarios. All are different versions of Jamie’s time in Task Force 141 ending because of her trauma. Soap finds it hard to accept that Price would never end the current agreement. Soap’s anxiety turns into panic. “Johnny!” Soap doesn’t hear Ghost’s voice. Nor does he notice Ghost kneeling in front of him with hands on his shoulders. The man knows Soap is having a panic attack. Ghost suspects he knows the cause. He knows he needs to calm Soap before he can figure out if he’s right. “Johnny, you’re ok. Follow my breathing." Ghost inhales through his nose, holds for five seconds, and exhales through his mouth. Soap struggles to follow Ghost at first, but soon his breathing matches Ghost’s. Ghost sighs, relieved once Soap is calm and willing to tell him what caused the panic attack. His relief fades as Soap tells him the cause.

“Seriously?” Ghost asks. “Yeah, it’s something to cheer her up,” Soap says. “You know how much she hates being sick. Plus, since she can’t ignore being sick.” “Fine, I’ll help.” Ghost walks toward the mess hall while Soap heads for the garage.

Soap is back an hour later. Ghost can’t believe what the Scotsman bought. “What are you planning?” “To set up a nice, tranquil space.” In the kitchen, Soap picks up the soup and head to Jamie’s room, with Ghost following him. 

The two enter the room, seeing Jamie asleep. Ghost puts the bowl of soup on the desk. He observes Soap setting a candle upon the nightstand, igniting it, then positioning a sunflower-filled vase on the other end of the nightstand. “Her favorite candle scent and flowers.” “I don’t think that’s going to keep her from complaining.” Soap shakes Jamie’s shoulder. “Come on, wake up.” “No, sleep,” Jamie whines without opening her eyes. “Come on, you haven’t eaten in some time.” Ghost sits at the desk, watching Soap’s attempt to wake Jamie.

It takes a few minutes to wake Jamie. Soap sits her up and props the pillows to support her. “Finally,” Soap smiles. He gets the bowl of soup from the desk. “You need to eat. I’ll feed you if I have to.” Soap picks up the spoon and begins feeding Jamie. He forgets Ghost is sitting at the desk, who takes some pictures. After taking a few pictures, he grabs the medicine from Jamie’s bathroom.

Having completed their tasks and training for the day, some Task Force 141 members find relaxation within the common room. Entering the room, Layla spots the empty space by Soap. She smiles at him, shifts into dog form, and lies beside him with her head on his lap. Soap smiles at his fluffy companion, but like the others, he wonders what is going through Layla’s mind. They worry she thinks she’s their pet. Soap continues to pat Layla’s head, while worried that this is her mindset.

The meeting turns into a video call with William Lennox and Optimus Prime. Hoping the two can help the members of Task Force 141. The two worry as they hear how badly Jamie is struggling. “It’s difficult to give suggestions,” Optimus explains. “We have learned that one method won’t work every time.” By the end of the video call, everyone is anxious. What if they can’t help Jamie and will have to end the agreement?

Jamie is asleep when Ghost and Price walk into her room. “She looks exhausted,” Ghost whispers. Price nods. Concern grips the captain regarding Jamie’s current troubles. “This could be stress causing her anxiety to become a problem,” Price suspects. “She’s not one to tell us what’s going on in her mind. The problem is, if it’s shit going on in her dimension, even if it’s more shit with her family.” “Being in a different dimension doesn’t help either.” “I think we’d still have difficulty helping her, but you’re right.” The two leave the room.

During a mission in the cold, a couple of soldiers thought it would be funny to shove Jamie into the icy river. Failing to realize the danger of the current and the weight of Jamie's gear. The prank turned into a rescue mission and a change of plans. Now, the team has to worry about getting Jamie warmed up. Price scolds the two soldiers who pushed Jamie into the water while the others work to warm Jamie. They worry that Jamie isn't considering using her firebending to warm herself. "You're not looking too hot," Soap worries. "Anyone got a thermometer in their medkit?!" "I do," Farah says. She gets it from her medkit and puts the device over Jamie's forehead. "This isn't good. She's hypothermic, 85°." The others worry. Jamie's return to base is necessary; however, immediate warming takes precedence. By now, Jamie is struggling to stay awake. Everyone gets the blanket they had in their bags to wrap Jamie in. Price works quickly to get a fire going. Jamie's return to base is urgent, yet he prioritizes warning her. He hopes they won't be staying in one spot for long. Meanwhile, the two soldiers who pushed Jamie into the water sit and watch, worried. They're already in trouble for the prank, but know it'll be more serious if Jamie dies.

Ten minutes pass, and Jamie warms up. The team wants to get her warm enough to know she'll remain warm during the journey to exfil. Farah informs the team that Jamie's temperature has reached 90°, predicting a slight increase or plateau. Everyone packs their things, and Ghost picks Jamie up. Jamie feels tired, but Ghost knows she still can't sleep. "You can sleep when we get back, and I'll get you into some nice, warm pajamas."

A few hours pass, and Jamie is in the medbay receiving warm IV fluids and in warm pajamas, as Ghost said. Ghost still holds Jamie and keeps her wrapped in a couple of blankets as he lies on the bed. Jamie is staying in the medbay overnight. "Now you can sleep," Ghost says. Jamie leans on Ghost and falls asleep.

Not everyone knows how strong Jamie is. Jamie has more than once shown the rookies they were mistaken. Today is another one of those days. “Really?” The rookie complains. “How’s she even a soldier? She’s tiny!” “And you’re judging someone by size,” Price argues. Sparring with Jamie annoys the rookie. What no one realized was that he planned on fighting dirty. The others watch the sparring match and soon realize what the rookie is doing as he pins Jamie down in an unacceptable move. Ghost and Soap fight the rookie to get off Jamie. “Weakling,” the rookie says, and kicks Jamie one last time before Ghost and Soap force him away from Jamie. While Price has a rookie to discipline, he’s worried about Jamie. He and Gaz approach Jamie, both seeing that she has a bad, bloody nose and a black eye. “Don’t move,” Price instructs. Farah has gone to find a medic; meanwhile, Nikolai and Alex help Ghost and Soap secure the rookie. All four men want to fight him. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Soap yells. “I’ll deal with him once I know Jamie will be ok,” Price tells the men. Jamie wants to get up and resume fighting the rookie, but she feels pain all over her body. Gaz still puts a hand on Jamie’s shoulder to keep her from getting up. He lifts her shirt, seeing large black and blue bruises on her abdomen. Gaz worries about the possibility of the bruising being a sign of internal bleeding. Before Gaz could act, Farah arrived accompanied by two medical personnel and a stretcher. After a quick assessment, the medics put Jamie on the stretcher and departed. Price tells Gaz to stay with Jamie while he deals with the rookie.

Soap and Layla walks along a plowed path in the woods. While it’s freezing cold, the two wanted to see the snow covered tress. Soap glances over at Layla, who’s wearing a hoodie and shivering. “I told you to wear something warm!” Soap scolds. “You know it’s freezing outside.” “I’ll be fine,” Layla smiles. Soap smiles watching her shift into her German Shephard form. “I should scold you because you can’t always resort to your dog form, but you’re too cute.” They proceed along the route toward the river.