The ghosts that we knew
Chapter 20
~Because I know that time has numbered my days
And my ears hear the call of my unborn sons~
John didn't bother to tell her that when he was taking her home, he meant his home.
"Nope." Carolyn said the minute her feet hit the porch, heading down the steps to go to her own home.
"Stop!" John bellowed.
Carolyn slowly turned around with an arched eyebrow, placing her hand on her hip. "Excuse me?"
"Carrie, please, you heard what Sam told you. Both you and the baby are going to need constant monitoring for the next few days. It'll be much easier on Sam to have you here at the house with us."
"Riddick would kick your ass for yelling at me," Carolyn said with a glare before stomping into the house and marching straight to the spare room, slamming the door behind her.
John bit his lip as he approached the closed-door. "Just for the record," he said loud enough for her to hear, "we both know he be buying me a drink instead of kicking my ass."
He chuckled quietly to himself as he heard something hit the back of the door.
When Sam arrived home, John was cooking while Carolyn sat at the table chopping vegetables. Setting her things down by the door, Sam slide in behind John at the stove wrapping her arms around him, her chin resting on his shoulder. He turned his head placing a kiss on her nose. "Love you," he whispered.
"Love you, more." Sam replied causing Carolyn to roll her eyes. "How was our patient today?" She asked him as he offered her a taste.
"Moody, bitchy, a complete pleasure to be around."
"Sitting, right here," Carolyn snapped.
"Ahh, I see. I've heard those pregnancy hormones could do that."
Carolyn turned in her chair, "Again, right here, in the room."
Sam couldn't help but laugh at the look on Carolyn's face as she sat down next to her at the table.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling fine and I want to go home," she pouted going back to the task in front of her.
"I know you do, Carrie, but it's just for a few days. You almost lost the baby and I know you don't want anything to happen, right?"
Carolyn sighed. "No, of course not."
Sam smiled up John. "I'm going to go clean up. Dinner smells great."
"Tomorrow, Carolyn. You can go home tomorrow."
Carolyn beamed brightly settling back against the couch as Sam packed up her medical equipment.
John sat on the other couch muttering, "Never wanted to leave my house before.." until standing, Sam smacked him up side the head.
"Ouch! Sorry."
Carolyn didn't say a word, just smirked as she watched the exchange. She had been conned into staying for more than a week, but she was determined to go back home. She loved John and she and Sam had become very close, and she was happy that they were happy, but it still hurt to watch, knowing that she was never enough.
Her mood turning morose, she excused herself wishing them a goodnight.
"What happened?" Sam asked with a confused look upon her face.
"Nothing." John answered squeezing her shoulder as he stared at the closed bedroom door.
Later that night he held Sam just a little tighter as he heard Carolyn quietly leaving the house.
Three months later ~
Riddick had doubled back across two solar systems, three times already. The little bastard was good. Too good.
Setting up shop in a local dive on a shit hole planet, he waited.
The man walked in, his eyes settling on Riddick before bellying up to the end of the bar, ordering a drink.
Riddick sat at his table eyeing the man behind his goggles. Other than being stuck on his tail since leaving Carolyn, he didn't recall ever seeing the man before. He wondered what his game was. If he were a Merc he should have attempted to grab him already, but hadn't. He just followed and watched. Annoyed at first, Riddick was now simply amused. It had become a game after the first two stops. Where could he go and could the nameless man keep up with him.
Throwing some money down on the table, Riddick stood and slowly made his way outside the bar. He walked until he found a deserted alleyway, ducking in and disappearing.
It wasn't long before his shadow appeared looking hesitantly down the darkened alley before stepping in.
Riddick grabbed the man from behind holding a knife to his throat. "And so we meet," he growled as the man struggled slightly before feeling the bite of the knife on his neck.
"Who sent you?" Riddick asked pushing the blade harder against his throat when he didn't want to speak.
"Bounty hunter named Marlin."
Riddick tilted his head for a moment. The name didn't ring a bell.
"And what's so important that Marlin couldn't be here himself? Why'd he send his lap dog to follow me?"
"I was to give you a message in three days time."
"Well, why don't we pretend it's been three days and you give it to me now?"
Riddick felt the mans adam apple bobbing against his knife.
"I was to tell you that Marlin has your woman."
"My woman?" Riddick growled not liking where this conversation was going, "And just who does your boss think my woman is?"
"Blond. Living at the ex-commando camp. Picture in my front pocket." The man wheezed as Riddick's grip tightened.
Reaching into his pocket, Riddick pulled out photo of a heavily pregnant Carolyn walking beside Echo through the camp.
"Why three days?"
"He's storming the camp in two. Plans on taking her then."
Riddick slit the man's throat with little more than a blink of his eye, letting the body fall to the ground at his feet. Wiping his knife off he strolled out of the alley, the picture of Carolyn still grasped in his hand.