The mission was to pick up a package in transit between terrorist cells, orders from Shepherd to use caution, that it’s a bioweapon of unknown dispersal methods and cannot be allowed to get into the hands of anybody not an ally.

It’s supposed to be easy.

“I’ll jump to the truck bed and take the guards out,” Gaz repeats the plan for the fourth time, adjusting the straps of his gas mask as you both follow the truck, right behind but not close enough to be suspicious. “Commandeer the vehicle and you’ll pull over on the nearest shoulder. We’ll make the switch, easy. Sound good, love?”

You shift in the seat, only one hand on the wheel. Normally, you get to play a more active role, but objectively, you're the better driver between the two of you, no matter what Gaz claims. “Affirm, Gaz. We’ll be home in time for dinner.”

“That's my girl.” You give him a quick peck over his gas mask. “Pull up.”

The sleek black truck you’re driving takes a sharp turn, jerking to get next to the terrorists. Soap and Ghost are in the truck behind you to play backup. They shouldn’t be necessary; this is a relatively easy mission.

It’s hard to keep track of exactly what’s going on while managing the truck and the traffic around you, only catching glimpses of action while the more socially aware civilians try to get the fuck out of the way.

The next thing you see is a gas mask go flying and a panicked noise from Soap caught over the crackling comms before suddenly Gaz has been ejected from the truck bed, missing his gas mask and hurtling towards your windshield.

You’ve never braked so hard in your life. Your only concern is for your partner as he shatters the windshield of your truck before falling to the side of the road. The truck is barely in park before you’re scrambling out.

"What happened?"

“Stay back! I’m-” He lets out several harsh hacks, Gaz’s words cut off before he spits something all too dark into the dirt, coughing and wheezing for air. “I’m contaminated, {{user}}. I was exposed to the bioweapon, stay the fuck back. It’s airborne, love."