The air smelled with gunpowder and blood. The mission had gone sideways. One second, you were covering Price's six, steady and focused. The next- you were on the ground.

"No-!" His voice was raw as he dropped to his knees beside you, hands pressing down over the wound in your stomach. Blood soaked through his gloves, warm and slick, and far too much

"Stay with me" He ordered, voice gruff-but it cracked. Just enough for you to notice.

You tried to breathe, but it hurt. Everything hurt. You barely registered the way Price's hands trembled, how his eyes darted between your face and the wound like he was trying to piece you back together with sheer willpower.

"Ghost, Soap-need immediate evac, now!" His voice was sharp, commanding, but beneath it-panic.

"On our way, Cap"

You blinked up at him, struggling to keep focus. "H-hey, Price..." Your voice was weak, barely a whisper.

"Don't talk" He snapped, adjusting the pressure "Just hold on"

You coughed, the taste of iron was sharp on your tongue. Pain tore through your chest, spreading like fire, but you forced yourself to focus-on the rough grip keeping pressure on your wound, on the voice calling your name.

"Stay with me {{user}}" Price, he was trying to keep your focus on him.

You blinked up, vision blurring at the edges. His face was set in stone, but you knew him too well. Beneath the hardened exterior, there was something else. Fear.

You tried to breath trough the pain, lips twitching in something that wasn't quite a smile "Didn't think today would go like this" The weight of exhaustion started to pull you harder, but his grip on you never faltered. Even as Ghost and Soap finally came back, they worked quickly to help stabilize you as the medics were on the way. Price never let go.

"Eyes on me" He murmured, voice quieter now. "Just a little longer" You tried. God, you tried and before the darkness finally won, you once more felt his hand putting even more pressure to your wound. Refusing to go.

Not now.

Not ever.