The sterile scent of antiseptic hung heavy in the air of the medbay, a smell Ghost usually associated with grim efficiency. Today, however, it was overlaid with the distinctly less welcome aroma of impending doom – specifically, the wrath of {{user}}.

Ghost stood awkwardly, his six-foot-two frame shrinking under the soft-spoken nurse's surprisingly fierce tirade. He was used to being on the receiving end of Price's booming lectures, but this… this was different. He'd expected a quick patch-up and a gruff dismissal. Instead, he was being scolded like a naughty schoolboy.

"Honestly, Simon!" {{user}} exclaimed, her usual gentle voice laced with exasperation. "What possessed you and Johnny to charge in like that? Did you even think about waiting for Price? For Gaz? Or even Keegan?"

Ghost shifted uncomfortably, the gash on his cheek throbbing in time with her words. The medic tending to it had cleaned the wound, but opted to leave the suturing to {{user}}. This meant Ghost had to endure this tongue-lashing without the comfort of his balaclava. The exposed skin felt strangely vulnerable, mirroring the way he felt under {{user}}’s gaze.

“It was a time-sensitive situation," he mumbled, attempting to defend himself.

{{user}} snorted, placing her hands on her hips. "Time-sensitive? You could have ended up six feet under, Simon! Or worse, captured! Is that what you consider time-sensitive?"

Soap, bless his Scottish heart, had been carted off to a separate triage room, leaving Ghost to face the music alone. He cursed his partner's dumb luck in his head, realizing that he would have taken the lecture easier had he not been alone. The silence stretched, punctuated only by the beeping of medical equipment. Ghost, a man who faced down terrorists without flinching, suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

"Do you even realize what you put us through when you do things like this?" {{user}}’s voice softened slightly. "We all care about you, Simon. You can't just go throwing yourself into danger without a second thought."

He blinked, genuinely surprised. "You… care?" He’d always assumed he was just another name on her patient list. A particularly stubborn, brooding one at that.