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It starts out with Soap, Gaz had seen him moping around the base for a while now, and couldn't figure out what was going on with the Scotsman. Everytime he asked, it was always "'am fine, Gaz" or "It's nothing." So Gaz, being the best bud to the Scotsman, decided to do one thing he swore he'd never do - text the man's mum and ask. He had gotten her number when he went with Soap during their last leave almost three months ago.
Soap had thrown a fit about it because "It's weird for my best mate to have my mum's number." to which his mum slapped the back of his head and chewed him out about not contacting her more so he came up with her own solution, but Gaz had promised not to text her unless it was an absolute emergency and vise versa.
' Hey, Mrs. MacTavish, I was just wondering if you knew what was up with John? He's been down recently and won't tell me why..'. There simple and to the point, Gaz always hated long conversations to begin with, but he needed to know how to cheer his friend up. Thankfully the woman didn't leave him hanging for too long.
'oh hello, dear! Yes unfortunately I do know what's going on with my boy. He's feeling homesick and asked me to send him some of my brownies, unfortunately I'm going on a trip and don't have time to make them and send them his way!' Ah. Well at least he had an answer, and he possibly had a solution to it.
'Would you mind sending me your recipe? I'm a pretty good baker and I can make some for John.' Gaz bit his lip as he hit send. He didn't want to overstep, but Soap's mood was bringing the mood down at the base.
'Oh my dear, of course let me get the recipe page and I'll send a picture!' Shortly after that message was sent his phone pinged again with an image of a yellowed and withered page with neat cursive flowing throughout it. A recipe for chocolate chip brownies.
' Thank you, Mrs. MacTavish!' Finally he can bring Soap's mood up. Making his way to the private kitchen that came with being in the task force he rummaged through the shelves to see what he needed to get from the market.
~
The brownies came out decently, Gaz may have overestimated his ability to make them, but it was worth a shot in his opinion. Pulling the tray out of the oven and checking that it was cooked all the way through, he set them on a cooling rack.
As he set out to clean up his mess, he didn't notice the man coming down the hall as if summoned by the smell of baked goods.
"Gaz?" Soap questioned as he stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, "what are ye' doin'?" Gaz turned to him with a grin.
"I made brownies! Do you want one?" Gaz asked, cutting a piece off and setting it on a plate, "Careful though, they just came out!" Soap eyed him suspiciously before biting a small piece off of the corner. As he chewed the burst of flavor and a small bit of chocolate hit his tongue.
"Are these my mums?" He asked as he went to inhale the rest of the brownie. Gaz laughed lightly and set the brownie filled cooling rack in front of the Scotsman.
"Yes, I noticed your mood was down lately and I asked your mom about it. She said you were homesick and that she couldn't send you a care package. I asked her to send me the recipe." He explained and showed the picture of the recipe to Soap. "I'm sorry if they aren't the best, the picture is slightly hard to read because it's so old."
Soap in response shoved another square of brownie into his mouth, and moved around the counter engulfing Gaz into a hug which he returned enthusiastically.
"Thanks mate." Soap mumbled happily, squeezing Gaz tightly.
"Anytime!" Gaz wheezed.
~
Ghost was in a bad mood. Not only had the mission gone wrong, but his mask had also been a casualty of it. For the third time this trip he had to shift the neck scarf Gaz had given him in lieu of his mask up onto his nose. He was grateful for it, don't get him wrong, but he felt naked without his skull balaclava.
After another thirty or so minutes the helicopter finally touched down on the base, and Ghost b-lined for his room for a replacement balaclava. A quick search of the room Ghost had come up short with another mask.
Ghost sat heavily on the edge of his bed. He didn't have a spare mask. He racked his brain trying to figure out where all his extras had gone then he remembered. Las Almas - Ghost Team. He'd forgotten that he gave his team and the Mexican Special Forces his spare masks, and he never made the effort to get them back.
Groaning, Ghost made to get up and bite the bullet on going maskless when a knock at his door drew him out of his musing. Silently he made his way over to the door and opened - revealing Gaz.
"Hey Lt," The man smiled up at him with his hands behind his back, "Um, I know you lost your balaclava, and I was waiting for your birthday to give this to you, but you seem to be lost without it, so.." Gaz produced a small cardboard box from behind him and held it out.
Ghost stared at the box a moment before taking it gingerly. Lifting the lid of the box he stared down at the contents.
A knit balaclava with a skull inlaid with the thread - not painted like normal, and upon closer inspection hidden within the mask was a pair of gloves that matched the mask. Ghost picked them out of the box, and Gaz reached for it - taking the box so Ghost was free to put the balaclava on.
Slotting the mask over his head, Ghost noted how soft the mask was, it was a little warmer than he'd have liked, but it was definitely breathable. As the fabric settled around his face Ghost released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and the tension left his shoulders.
"It fits okay?" Gaz asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. Ghost had forgotten that he was here with how silent he was. "I had to guess your size, and it took me a while to get the skull pattern to work, but I hope it works until you get a new one." Gaz explained quickly.
"It's great Gaz, thank you." Ghost responded, his eyes crinkled in a sort of smile.
"Of course, Lt!"
~
The cap's birthday was coming up, and Gaz had asked for the day off to get something set up for the captain. Walking down the sidewalk he passed shop after shop going to one in particular. A small green faced shop on the corner of the street called "Buddies Cigars". The captain had taken him to it on one of their off days to buy another carton, and while the captain walked around looking at boxes of cigars he always got the cheapest option. Gaz had seen him pick up a carton and pause a moment before looking at the price of it and setting it back down.
Gaz had noted the name 'My Father's' and it was expensive sitting at two hundred pounds for a box of ten cigars, but for the man who deserved something nice every once in a while it was worth it.
"Is that everything for you, lad?" The man behind the counter asked, breaking Gaz out of his musing.
"Um, do you have any cigar cutters?" Gaz asked after a moment. The man behind the counter smiled and produced three cigar cutters for Gaz to choose from. A plain silver, plain gold and the one that caught his eye was a wooden one with a silver inner core. Gaz had chosen the wooden one just to be different.
"Alright Son, that will be two hundred and seventy-five pounds, cash or card?" Gaz smiled and handed him his debit card.
~
After the quick trip to town Gaz had enlisted Soaps' help to set up the living room for the captain's party. Shortly after, Gaz had texted Ghost saying that they were set up for him to bring Price.
A few moments later Price had arrived and the party started. It was a small affair with just the four of them, but it was nice. Finally the time came for gifts and Gaz had let Soap and Ghost go first.
Ghost had gotten him another boonie hat and a "best dad ever" card as a joke, and Soap got him a new lighter. Finally it was Gaz' turn. Stepping up to the table Gaz set the wrapped carton and cigar cutter in front of his Captain. Price smiled at him and reached for the smaller of the two gifts, and gently ripped the package open.
"A new cigar cutter?" Price questioned as he examined the gift, "I've never had a wooden one before, thanks Gaz." the captain smiled up at him and moved to open the next gift. As he ripped it open he froze. The golden letters of "My Father's" sat boldly on top of the carton lid.
"I saw you look at these when we went to the shop, and I saw that you put it back because of the price. I went back there today and bought them for you because you deserve something nice and to treat yourself every once in a while, sir." Gaz explained with a smile. Price chuckled and removed one of the cigars from the carton and lit it up.
"Well," Price exhaled, the smoke from the cigar wafting over the table lightly, "thanks for giving this old man a great birthday, and for fueling my smoking." The captain jokes.
"Anytime sir!" His boys chorus back, and Gaz smiles to himself satisfied that his Captain enjoyed his gifts - even though he knows Price will be hell-bent on paying him back somehow.