*a.n.-chromosome 24 or C-24 is from Doom. The long and short of it, is that it turns good people into super humans and bad people into monsters. *

The ghosts that we knew

Chapter 19

~But I still believe through these cracks you'll see,

When I'm on my knees I'll still believe,

And when I've hit the ground, neither lost nor found,

If you believe in me I'll still believe~

~A few months later~

"Hey," John said sliding his arm around Sam's waist where she stood bent over scratching notes on a chart.

"Hey yourself," she said placing a kiss on his cheek. "What brings you here this time of day?"

"I was going to head into town to pick up a few supplies. Thought I would see if you needed anything, and I thought Carrie might want to tag along."

Sam moved out of his arms picking a piece of paper further down on the counter. "Here's my list." She smiled handing it to him, "As for Carrie you'll have to find her first. She hasn't checked in yet this morning."

John looked at his watch with a frown. "Is that normal?'

"She's seemed pretty preoccupied lately."

John rolled his eyes.

"No, it's more that," she said defending her comment. "There's something else going on, but she's not talking to me."

John sighed looking out the window. "Alright, I'll go see if she's still home."

Sam leaned back against the counter watching him leave.

John stood on her porch knocking to no avail. Looking around the outside of the house and not seeing anything he went ahead and let himself in. They respected everyone's privacy here and just walking into someone's home was a huge no-no, but he had a feeling something wasn't right.

Un-snapping his holster, he stepped cautiously into the house. Not seeing anything out-of-order, he made his way to the bedroom. The bed had been slept in but Carolyn wasn't in it. He was just about to leave when he heard a noise coming from the bathroom. Turning the handle on the closed-door, he swung it open.

Carolyn lay curled up on the bathroom floor and had evidently been here for a while. "Jesus, Carolyn!" he hissed picking her up, carrying her to the bed. Returning to the bathroom he turned on the tap letting the water run and flushed the toilet where she had been sick. Wetting a cloth he wrung it out and went back to the bedroom sitting on the side of the bed as he wiped her face. The only response he got was a moan as she clutched at her stomach rolling up into a ball.

"Shit!"

He picked her up, making his way to the hospital.

"Sam!" he shouted as he plowed through the doors carrying a now writhing Carolyn.

"My God! What happened?" She asked leading him to a bed.

"I don't know. I found her like this on the bathroom floor. She'd been vomiting."

"Hold her still," Sam instructed as she prepared a cocktail of drugs, injecting it into her arm.

"Help me get her changed out of these clothes," Sam requested as she went into the next room for some clean ones.

"Uh, Sam. We've got a problem here." She heard John call out from the next room.

Returning to where he was at, she stopped in her tracks. Her mouth falling open, she met John's eyes.

"Did you know about this?" he asked hoarsely.

Sam eyed a very pregnant Carolyn where she lay unconscious. "No, I had no idea, John."

She heard him cursing under his breath.

"Here. Help me get her dressed and an IV hooked up. She's probably dehydrated if she was sick all night."

"The drugs?" he asked.

"I didn't give her enough to hurt the baby, just enough to take the edge off until we figure out what's wrong."

"Well, I'd say that was pretty evident."

"Maybe, but I'll still take a blood sample and run a few tests. Looks like I'm going to need to add to the shopping list," she said her eyes flicking up to meet his.

He nodded stiffly pulling the list out of his pocket handing it back to her, never taking his eyes from Carolyn.

Taking it, Sam moved into the other room to give him a minute of privacy with his former lover, adding the additional things that she would need to the list.

When she returned, he bent over placing a kiss on Carolyn's forehead. Kissing Sam's cheek he took the list and left not saying a word.

Sam tucked her hands in her lab coat pockets and sighed.

When Carolyn woke it was dark outside and there was a single light pointed on the book John was reading in the chair next to her bed.

"I forgot how much you enjoy reading." She said, her voice sounding rough to her ears.

Closing the book and setting it on her nightstand, John moved his chair closer to her bed. Reaching out, he smoothed the hair away from her face.

"It always helped calm my nerves when I would see you reading before a mission."

John picked up one of her hands. "Why do you think I did it?" he said with a grin, causing Carolyn to smile.

"Guess you found out my little secret, huh?"

He nodded his head, "Not so little anymore," he said turning serious. "How do you feel?"

"A little nauseous, a little tired."

"Sam said to tell you that was normal and that the baby is out of danger."

Carolyn closed her eyes. "Thank you."

John laid his hand upon her stomach, not really looking at her, just lost in thought.

"Why didn't you?"

His eyes met hers.

"It's been years since Olduvai, more than enough time for you and Sam to start a family. I know how much you love kids."

John snorted. "Do you remember who you're talking to? Can you imagine the kind of genetics nightmare that would be? The C-24 was enough of a threat without adding in the rest. No, I made my peace with that a long time ago. As long as I have Sam it's enough."

Carolyn just smiled as he continued to rub her belly.

"Did he know?" he asked finally breaking the silence.

"He knew. That's why he was so determined to leave."

"Asshole," John muttered darkly.

"Riddick made his decision, John. He knew what the stakes were."

"He's still an asshole."

"Do you hear me disagreeing?" she asked with a raised eyebrow causing him to smirk at her.

"I went into town today. Got you something."

"I realize we both have blonde hair but don't you think you should be buying Sam things?"

"Maybe, but I saw this and thought of you," he said picking a cloth bag up off the floor and laying it next to her.

Picking up the bag, Carolyn opened it pulling out the item inside, coming face to face with a brown stuffed dog. Carolyn laughed. "Where did you find this?"

John shrugged, leaning his arms on the bed next to her. "Caught my eye in one of the shop windows and thought he needed a new home."

Carolyn reached out to cup his cheek. "Thank you."

"Just returning the favor," he told her as he stood to leave. "Get some rest. I'll be by in the morning to take you home."

"Ok," Carolyn whispered watching him go.

Crawling into bed, John wrapped his arms around Sam nuzzling her neck.

She turned, slipping her arms around him. "Did you tell her?"

"No."

"John."

"Does it really matter in the long run?" he whispered into her neck.