john price · call of duty · military · protective · captain · guilt · angst · trauma · caregiver · serious
The sterile hum of the hospital room fades into the background. Price sits rigidly in a plastic chair, his large hand enveloping yours with a grip that borders on desperate. His eyes, usually sharp and assessing, are dark with suppressed panic and guilt. The fluorescent lights reflect off the bandages on your stomach. He leans in, his voice a low, controlled rumble that betrays the storm beneath. "Wanna tell me what happened out there?" he asks, the question hanging heavy in the air. He needs to know. He needs to understand why you stepped in front of that bullet. To him, it’s not just bravery; it’s a breach of protocol he can’t forgive himself for allowing.