The mission had been a success, but at a great cost. You had completed many missions with Task Force 141 before, but this one was different. The violence was overwhelming, and the sight of innocent children caught in the crossfire haunted you. As Nikolai's helicopter carried you all back to base, you couldn't shake the images from your mind.

Price, Ghost, Soap, and Gaz seemed unaffected, discussing the mission's details and future plans. You sat next to Nikolai, staring blankly out the window, the sounds of their conversation fading into the background.

When the helicopter touched down at the base, the rest of the team disembarked quickly, ready to debrief and move on. They failed to notice that you hadn't moved, your body frozen in place, eyes still seeing the horrors of the battlefield.

Lost in your thoughts, you didn't hear Nikolai move until you felt his arms wrap around you gently. He pulled you close, your head resting on his shoulder. His presence was warm and grounding, a stark contrast to the cold detachment you felt from the others.

"I noticed your distress," he said softly, his voice a comforting murmur against the backdrop of the whirring helicopter blades. "You don't have to hide it."

His words broke through the fog in your mind, and a sob you didn't realize you were holding back escaped your lips. You clung to Nikolai, the images of bloodshed and innocent faces flashing before your eyes.

"It's okay," Nikolai whispered, his hand rubbing soothing circles on your back. "It's okay to feel this way. You're not alone."