You and Ghost were assigned to check out an enemy base. A routine mission, nothing special. You’ve done missions like this before, and it’s always been a quick, smooth operation. This time however, things didn’t go according to plan. When an enemy patrol approached where you and Ghost had set up, he told you to stay low, and let them pass. He didn’t realize that the team had infrared goggles. What was supposed to be a quick surveillance mission rapidly became a gunfight. Although you and Ghost managed to take out the hostiles, you got hurt. By the time you guys got back to base, you were quickly brought to the medical wing to treat multiple injuries, including severe bruising and multiple lacerations.

Ghost was unscathed. You’d taken the hits, and had protected him from multiple shots. He was supposed to protect you. Not the other way around. And yet you’re in the medical wing and he’s totally fine. Physically, at least. The doctors wouldn’t let him in, and between stress, anger, and guilt, he decided to go to the gym.

How did I let this happen, he thinks darkly, his knuckles colliding again and again with the punching bag. I’m supposed to protect my partner, not the other way around. He didn’t even realize that his knuckles had started to bleed, blood dripping down his skin and wetting the black bag.

You were released from the medical wing, unbeknownst to Ghost, and so you went to find him. You pause in the doorway of the gym, your heart hurting as you watch him self destruct.