The Ghosts that we knew

Chapter 18

~And in the middle of the night

I may watch you go

There'll be no value in the strength

Of the walls that I have grown

There'll be no comfort in the shade

Of the shadows thrown~

The sun streaming in through the bedroom window woke Carolyn the next morning. Stretching, she rolled over to discover Riddick propped up on an elbow watching her. With a sleepy smile she reached up to touch his face.

"How do you feel this morning?" He asked capturing her hand in his.

"I feel fine. Something just didn't agree with me."

"I'm going into town for a bit today. Will you be alright here by yourself?"

Carolyn wished she could see his eyes at that very moment. She smiled brightly. "Of course I will be, don't be silly."

He kissed her softly on the mouth, nipping her nose before grabbing his pack and leaving the house.

Getting out of bed, Carolyn got cleaned up and headed to the hospital. She saw John out and about as she made her way but avoided making eye contact with him. She felt like a coward as she ducked in the infirmary heading to her desk.

"You ok?" Sam asked poking her head out of an exam room causing Carolyn to jump.

"Goddamnit, Sam! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Sam stuck her hands in her lab coat pockets. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you.'

Carolyn sighed. "It's alright. I'm sorry, didn't mean to take your head off. And I'm fine by the way. Something just didn't agree with me at dinner last night."

Sam laid her hand on Carolyn's shoulder. "Let me know if you need anything."

Carolyn pulled out a smile. "Of course."

Giving her one last look, Sam returned to her duties.

Riddick was back in time for lunch and they sat quietly in a corner of the mess hall, neither in the mood for chitchat.

"The ships in good shape. Reapers man has kept a close eye on it."

Carolyn smiled. "That's good to know."

"I brought the rest of your things," he said pointing to a bag by his feet.

Carolyn wrinkled her nose picking up the bag and pulled some of the slinky material out. "Maybe I should make curtains."

Riddick chuckled, "Maybe."

Even though it was the middle of the night, Riddick wasn't surprised to find Reaper sitting on his front porch as he quietly shut the screen door behind him.

"So you're really leaving her." The man said more as a statement than a question.

"How did you know?"

"The look on your face yesterday at dinner. I've had that same look on my face so many times over the years I've lost track. And don't think I didn't follow through, because I did." He said as Riddick sat beside him. "It was Carrie that I always ran to. Oh, she'd take me in for a day or two but after I finished beating myself up for what Sam I were doing, she tell me that she loved me no matter what and send me back to her. If that wouldn't work, she'd send for Sam. That's why Sam never liked Carolyn."

They sat in silence for a few moments before John spoke again. "You're only hurting both of you if you leave like this."

Riddick stood, stepping off the porch as he turned back towards the home they had shared. He couldn't see her, but he could smell her so when he spoke it was as much for Carolyn as it was for Reaper.

"That man was here searching for me. There will always be men looking for me. I only want to keep her safe."

"Yeah, because that worked out brilliantly last time didn't it?" John scoffed. "I know Carrie well enough to know that she didn't willingly get those tattoos all over her face."

Silence reigned again before John stood asking, "Do you love her?"

"I never thought that anyone would understand how much. But you do."

John nodded sticking out his hand and Riddick took it. "Take care of her, Reaper."

"What do I tell her?"

"Whatever you think she needs to hear." Riddick said looking into the house one last time.

John watched him take the path that led into town as Carolyn slid down the wall next to the door, doing her best to muffle her cries.

Hearing the noise, John pursed his lips together and walked into the house. Picking Carolyn up, he carried her to a nearby chair and sat down with her in his lap as she cried. He rubbed her back, his heart breaking for her, knowing now the pain he had put Sam through.

He stayed with her until she fell asleep, gently placing her in bed. Going to his own bed he woke Sam with a kiss.

She reached up to stroke his cheek. "He's gone?"

He nodded his head.

Sam reached up gently kissing him back. "Come to bed. I'll go sit with her."

"No, it should be me."

"Maybe," Sam agreed, "But I'm the one who understands how she feels."

"Ok," he gave in pulling her to him for a moment before she slipped away.

A half sob, half cackle escaped Carolyn's mouth when she realized Sam was in bed with her.

Rolling over, Sam smiled at the expression on Carolyn's face before opening her arms to the woman she now considered a friend. Carolyn didn't hesitate to take the comfort that was offered.

Wrapping her arms around the woman, Sam held her close. "I'm sorry that I can't send him back to you or call you to let you know where he is and that he's alright," Sam whispered in the quiet room. "I should have been thankful that you sent him back instead of holding a grudge that he ran to you in the first place."

Carolyn simply nodded, silently accepting the other woman's apology.

Sam pulled away from her. "I'm going to go get you some breakfast, ok?"

"Thank you, Sam."

"Anytime," she said getting to her feet and walking out the door.

Carolyn listened to the screen door slam shut before moving to the side of the bed. Gripping the edge of the mattress she sat there looking at the floor so lost in thought she didn't realize that anyone else was in the room until she saw the booted feet on the floor in front of her. Tilting her head up, she looked at the man standing in front of her.

"John."

Kneeling down in front of her, he sat back on his heels before taking both her hands in his, placing a kiss on each of them before meeting her eyes. Not a word had been spoke when Sam arrived back from the mess hall. Setting her tray of food down on a table she joined them, sitting next to Carolyn. Keeping a hold of both Carolyn's hands, John reached out for one of Sam's as well.

"We're going to get you through this one day at a time." Sam promised, wrapping an arm around Carolyn's shoulders