Safer With A Ghost - Part Two | Simon "Ghost" Riley

Chapter Six

"THAT'S WHAT GHOST LOOKS LIKE?!" Alejandro whispered. "Shut the fu-" Soap sighed annoyed, "Yes! Now be quiet." He demanded. "Hm. Not bad." Rudy whispered as he gave approving nod. "We're gonna get caught." Gaz said as they all laid hiding under a bush, spying on Ivy and Ghost from nearby. "No we're not, unless Alejandro and Rudy want to continue to lust over our Sergent." Soap said as he smirked. Alejandro turned to Soap quickly, "Fuck you, cabron." Rudy spoke after, "Yeah fuck you." Soap rolled his eyes as he focused back on Ivy and Ghost. He looked confused as he noticed they were no longer there. "Where'd they go?" He whispered. The three other men looked around but saw nothing. "What the hell are you all doing?" Ghost's voice made all four men twitch with fear and quickly get to their feet. All turned to see Ghost and Ivy standing there. "Uh, it was Gaz's idea!" Soap shouted as he pointed to Gaz. "Fuckin' liar! It was your idea!" Ghost lifted his hand, "Shut up, I don't care just don't fucking do it anymore." The four men stood there staring at Ghost, who was still bare faced. "What?" He looked confused. Soap pointed to his face, "Uh Lt. you're not wearing your-" "Oh shit." Ghost said quickly as he pulled the bacalava back on and placed the motif over it. "I'll see you later, Simon. I'm gonna go read." Ivy laughed as she walked away. "Bye boys." She said over her shoulder. "Bye Ivy." They all said in unison as they watched her walk away before turning back to Ghost. "Fuckin' idiots..." Ghost said as he rolled his eyes and walked away in the opposite direction that Ivy went.

That Night

Ivy was walking with Konig, on their way to the river. "How are you feeling about today, Ivy? With Ghost, I mean." Konig asked as they walked. Ivy shrugged, "I feel okay. Seeing the mask still brings back memories. But he seemed harmless." Konig scoffed playfully, "He's not harmless, Ivy. He's quite the dangerous soldier, I hear." They approached the river and Ivy sat on a fallen tree. "I still can't remember anything of him. Why?" She looked up at Konig with pleading eyes. "I'm not sure, there may be an answer to that, but we may never figure it out, unfortunately." Ivy nodded and looked at the ground. "Maybe there's a reason I don't remember him." Ivy said quietly. "What do you mean?" Ivy shook her head, "I don't know. I've spent all day looking at him, but nothing comes up like it has with the others. Maybe we had a fallout or something." Konig was quiet for a moment before he sat next to Ivy. "Only thing you can do is keep trying or start new with him." Ivy nodded, "Yeah, I guess so." Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of someone approaching them. When they turned, they say Ghost standing there with his arms crossed, "Sorry to intrude." he said softly. "No need to apologize, Ghost. I'll let you two alone." Konig said graciously as he stood up and walked away. "Hi, Simon." Ivy said as she smiled gently. "Hi Ivory." Ghost said as he walked to stand in front of her. There was a quiet moment as Ivy stared at the night sky. "So you've spent all day looking at me, have you?" he asked smugly as he put his hands in his pockets. Ivy smiled and rolled her eyes, "Didn't you tell the boys not to spy, and now you're doing it?" She said as she tilted her head. "I didn't mean to overhear your conversation, it's different." Ivy nodded sarcastically, "Whatever you need to tell yourself." "Can I sit with you?" Ghost asked gently. "Sure." Before sitting down, Ghost pulled off the motif and bacalava. As he sat down, he looked at her hands and took what she was holding. "What's this?" "It's called The Dark Tower. First book of the series. It's by-" "Stephen King." Ghost interrupted, "He's one of your favorite authors." He said with a smile. "You asked to read Under the Dome to me, but we never got the chance to." Ivy nodded. "I wish I could remember." She said with discontent in her voice. "That's alright, love." Ghost said reassuringly as he set the book on his lap. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I don't expect you to remember everything. I'm just hoping you remember something." He paused as her grabbed her hand gently, "But if you don't, I hope I can make you feel the way you did before you lost your memory." Ivy smiled as tears began to build in her eyes. "I hope so too. My mind doesn't remember you, but my body feels so drawn to you." Ghost smirked and lifted an eyebrow, "Does it?" Ivy nodded slowly. "Good." He lifted her hand and gently kissed the top of her hand softly. Ivy's breath hitched as she watched Ghost continue to kiss her hand, turning it over to kiss her wrist and make his way up her arm, kissing her forearms, her upper arm, and her shoulder. "Simon..." Ivy breathed out heavily, "Ivory." Chills covered Ivy's skin as he placed more gentle kisses on her shoulder, slowly making his way to her neck. Placing a hand on the other side of her neck, his soft kisses turned fiery, his soft breath grazing against her skin, and bit her neck tenderly. "Simon." Ivy pulled away hesitantly and looked into Ghost's eyes. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." Ghost said embarrassed as he stood up. "No it's okay." Ivy sighed, "I just- I just need more time. I'm sorry." Ivy shook her head in frustration. Ghost kneeled before her and took both her hands in his. "Don't apologize, love. It's alright." He said gently.

Ghost stood up, with her book in hand and holding the other out to help her up. Ivy smiled and grabbed his hand and Ghost pulled her to her feet carefully. "Take all the time you need, Ivy. I'll always wait for you." Ghost smiled before pulling the coverings over his face once more. "Thank you, Simon." They began walking back to Ivy's room, with Ivy's hand in Ghost's. As they walked, they were quiet, Ivy looked up at the stars every now and again, and Ghost watched her when she wasn't looking. "There's so many stars out here." Ivy said somewhat to herself. Ghost looked up, "Yeah, one of my favorite things about being in the middle of nowhere. Well, probably the only thing." Ivy laughed quietly.

Once they made it near the food hall, Ghost stopped and looked down at her, "Have you eaten?" Ivy nodded. Ghost raised a brow, "Are you lying to me?" Ghost asked as he tilted his head forward. Ivy shook her head, but then nodded ashamed. "No, I haven't, alright?" Ivy said as she crossed her arms. Ghost sighed, "Ivory, please go eat." "Fine." Ivy laughed and walked away. Ghost watched her as she walked to the food hall. "Happy to see her, Lt.?" Ghost turned to see Soap walking up behind him. "I am." Ghost said as Soap stood next to him. "Poor thing's been through hell." Soap said quietly. Ghost only nodded in response. "Price and Konig are going back to Laswell with a few of Konig's men, they're going after Graves." Ghost turned to Soap, "What? When?" he asked quickly. "They're heading out tomorrow night." "Why aren't we going?" His tone was slightly angry. Soap shrugged his shoulders, "Not sure, he wants us here to watch over the compound and Ivy." Ghost sighed, "I guess that makes sense. Still, I'd like to kill Graves myself." Soap laughed, "Trust me, Lt., we all would."

Ivy made her way into the food hall, seeing Konig sitting by himself. After grabbing a tray of food, she walked over to him and sat down. "Hey, Konig." Konig nodded. "Hi, Ivy. How did it go with Ghost?" He asked smoothly. "It went good, still don't-" "Ivy, please. Give. Yourself. Time. You deserve patience from yourself." Konig interrupted, his tone sounded sincere. "I have bad news and good news." "Tell me the good news first." Ivy said as she sighed. "We're going after Graves." Ivy's expression turned surprised, "We?" Konig nodded, "Yeah, Price and I have gathered a few men to go after him. That's the bad news, we leave tomorrow." "What?!" Ivy's voice echoed off the walls. "Ivy, it's alright. Ghost will be here, and-" Ivy shouted once more, "I don't want Ghost here; I want you here!" Ivy looked behind Konig, seeing Ghost standing at the door with Soap. Though he was a good distance from her, Ivy could see the hurt in Ghost's eyes. "Simon, wait-" Ghost walked out of the food hall before she could say anything. Ivy sighed and stood up to go after him. Once outside she looked around for him and spotted him. Running after him, she called his name. Ghost looked behind him as he walked, "Ivory, please don't." "Simon, stop. Please, that's not what I meant." "What else could you have meant?" "Simon please stop and talk to me!" Ghost stopped and turned to look at her, "What?" He said coldly. "I'm sorry, Simon. That's not what I meant." Ivy sighed, "It's just that Konig has been by my side for a while and-" "And I wasn't, I get that." Ghost said sharply and turned to walk away again. "Simon-" "No, Ivory." Ghost spat as he turned back towards her, "Don't." Ghost paused as he took a deep breath and shook his head, "Forget it. I'll go with Price, and Konig can stay here. I'd rather kill Graves myself anyways." Ghost said coldly as he walked away once more, this time Ivy didn't follow.

"Ms. Ivy?" Ivy spun around, seeing Soap. "Why does everyone appear out of nowhere here?!" Ivy shouted frustratedly. Soap smiled, "Sorry." Soap sighed, "Can we talk?" Ivy sighed, "Please, Soap. I need to know something, anything..." Soap tilted his head for her to follow him. The two walked to the open field where the soldiers would play soccer and kickball. Sitting on the ground across from Ivy, Soap spoke. "There's some things you need to remember about Lt., lass. He's been through a lot. He's lost all the family he's ever known, countless men and women he trained, and he's been betrayed more than I could count. But when he loves, he does it in a dumbass way. He's scared of getting hurt but doesn't want to hurt you in the process. When we were at the safehouse, on the first night I was patrolling the house. I saw you and Ghost standing outside after you brought him some water. You have no idea how much that small gesture meant to him. He told me about it later that night when you went to bed." Soap smiled, "He was wrapped around your little finger instantly. Me and Alejandro talked to him another night about the night he saved you." Ivy nodded and smiled, "Alejandro told me." Soap laughed lightly, "He told us that the look in your eyes when you looked at him lit something inside him that he hadn't felt in a very long time. He said he'd do anything to prevent you from looking that way again. He's slipped up, sure." Soap laughed, "But he made it his life purpose to make sure you always smiled and were safe. You mean the world to him Ivy, even more so, I'm sure. He loves you very much." Ivy nodded as a tear fell from her eye. "I can feel he does, Soap," she nodded her head, "I really can. I don't want to hurt him. I want so badly to remember him."