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

Chapter Eleven

His voice was raspy and low as he shifted in his bed. A low groan escaped his throat, "Ivory..." he said once more. HIs tone was bordering begging as he reached out for her. She opened the door quickly, "He's awake!" she shouted. Ivy turned back and rushed to his bedside and took his hand. Tears soaked her face as she looked into his tired, dark eyes. "Simon..." Ivy whispered through her trembling lips, relief flooding her chest as she let go of all the emotions she felt. "H-Hi sweetheart," he said quietly. He groaned once more as he tried to sit up, "Don't move." Ivy gently demanded. She held his hand to her face; it was warm, giving Ivy the comfort she longed for since he left for the mission that nearly took his life. The doctor and a few nurses rushed in, panic and relief mixing on their faces. "Lieutenant," the doctor said as he was slipping on gloves, "Glad to see you're awake." The nurses rushed to check him over. One nurse gently placed her hands on Ivy's shoulders, "Ma'am we need to check him over. I can take you back to the-" Ivy interrupted, "No," she moved away, "I don't want to leave him again, please?" she asked softly, tears filling her eyes as she looked at the nurse. The nurse smiled, "Alright," the nurse calmed her, "You can stay but we need to be able to move freely, yeah?" she said assuringly. Ivy nodded as she stepped away, keeping her eyes on Ghost. He looked at her just as intently with the same look he always held for her.

After checking Ghost over, the doctor explained Ghost's injuries to him with Ivy standing next to his bed, holding his hand. With each moment that passed, Ghost squeezed her hand as if he were seeking comfort. Ivy gently gripped his hand in return each time "You're still in rough shape, but you're on the right track. You have to stay a bit longer, then once you're fully healed, you'll have to get some physical therapy to regain full mobility of your leg." Ghost nodded absentmindedly, not really listening to the doctor, only focusing on the small hand in his. After concluding Ghost's injuries and their plans for him, the doctor and nurses left the room. Ivy turned to Ghost and smiled at him, tears still soaking her face. Moments of disbelief had taken over sporadically, unable to really believe Ghost was still here, now talking and moving around. The look in his eyes was something she realized she had missed terribly. It wasn't something Ivy thought she'd ever get to see again. Ghost grinned weakly, his eyes fluttered as he moved to sit up. "Simon, don't-" Ivy tried, but Ghost forced himself up to the edge of the bed. He grabbed her waist and pulled her in forcefully, holding back a groan as her body hit one of his injuries. He ignored the pain, only paying attention to Ivy against him. He squeezed her tightly as she wrapped her arms around his torso. The room was silent, except for the beeping of machines, Ghost taking in the scent of her. Ivy laid her head on his chest, listening to the heartbeat in his chest. She smiled gently at the sound. He pulled away and kissed her gently. The moment felt blissful despite the pain that radiated through his body.

"I'm going to get Soap and Gaz." Ivy said as she pulled away. "Alright," he responded as he laid back down. Ivy quickly left and came back, Soap and Gaz following closely. "Lt.!" Soap said loudly, "I see you're still breathin' ya stubborn bastard." he said with a wide smile. "Can't get rid of me that easily, Johnny." Ghost responded as Soap reached for his hand to shake. "Hair's looking long, sir." Gaz said with a teasing smile. Ghost carefully ran a hand through the longer locks, already growing annoyed by the length. "Better hair than you at least." Ghost joked as he shook Gaz's hand. "How's Price and Konig?" Ghost asked. "All good, Konig has a broken leg, Price was just bruised to fuckin' hell." Soap responded. "Old man is indestructible." Ghost said playfully. " He's out with Laswell, they've tracked down Graves with a new team." Gaz responded. Soap nodded, "Yeah, the team they've got is close to finding him." Soap said with a huffed laugh.

After a while, Ghost grew exhausted. "We'll let you get some rest, Lt." Soap said as he tilted his head. "Yeah, you need it. You look fuckin' ghastly." Gaz joked. Ghost laughed quietly. "Thanks, Gaz." The boys left after giving Ghost one last hand shake, leaving Ghost and Ivy alone. "I should go, too." she said regrettably. "Don't," Ghost said quickly as he grabbed her hand. "You need rest, Simon." she said with a gentle smile. "I want you to stay." he said sternly as he pulled her closer, putting a hand on her side. Ivy looked at him, moving his hair from his face. "Still so demanding. Alright, let me make sure it's alright." she said gently.

Ivy walked out of Ghost's room, breathing in heavily, realizing how at ease she now felt that Ghost was awake. Ivy saw the doctor standing at the desk, talking to a nurse. She approached slowly with a timid smile. "Mrs. Riley," he said as he looked up, "How's our Lieutenant doing?" he asked with a genuine smile. He was younger, surprising Ivy as the only doctors she knew were old men, and stood a bit shorter than Ghost with black hair that barely touched his forehead. "He's good, gonna get some rest now. I was wondering if it was alright that I stay here with him?" she asked hesitantly. "That should be fine. We'll have a fold out brought in." he nodded as he walked away, Ivy thanking him before walking away herself. Ivy walked back into the room, smiling at Ghost as she shut the door behind her. "He said it's fine." "Good," Ghost said as he sighed, "I'm exhausted." he groaned as he adjusted. Ivy stepped towards him, "Careful," Ivy said as she moved his IV out of the way, careful not to tug at it or the other many lines he was hooked up to. Once he was settled, Ivy set the lines down. "Where have you been sleeping?" he asked curiously. "Uh," she cleared her throat, "In your room." Ghost lifted a brow, "Really?" he asked. Ivy nodded, "Yeah, it's the only place that brought me any type of peace. It smells like you." she exhaled a small laugh. Ghost's face dropped, "Can't imagine it's been easy for you." he said above a whisper. "It hasn't," she paused, "Especially since I got my memory back." she said cautiously. "You did?" Ghost asked surprised, feeling relieved yet anguished. "Yeah, after you came back from the mission. They came all at once, making everything 1,000 times harder." Ivy tried to play off her pain but Ghost could see it in her eyes. Ghost looked at her with sorrowed eyes. "I'm so sorry, Ivory. Maybe I shouldn't have gone-" he said regrettably. Ivy shook her head, "It's your job..." she said with a low tone. "Besides, you're stubborn. If I tied you down, you would've found a way to go." she laughed. "That's probably right." he said with a grin.

There was a quiet knock at the door as the doctor poked his head in. "Mrs. Riley, we have your bed here. We're going to get vitals while we're here as well." he smiled as he walked in with a nurse behind him, rolling in the extra bed. Ghost looked at Ivy with curious eyes and a smirk. The nurses checked his vitals as Ivy stood in the corner, cheeks burning as her skin reddened. Ghost kept his eyes on Ivy as they worked on him. "Your blood pressure is a bit high but that's expected," the doctor said as he turned to Ivy, "Especially with you by his side." he finished. "Watch it, doc." Ghost said somewhat playfully. "No worries, Lieutenant, your friend Soap is more my type." the doctor said with a smile. Ivy's eyes widened as she looked at Ghost, containing a shriek of realization and excitement. Ghost knew what was on Ivy's mind, trying to play matchmaker, and shook his head. She shrugged her shoulders, still holding back her bliss.

As the doctors and nurses finished, they adjusted his pain medicine, making Ghost feel somewhat better. As they left, Ivy walked out with the doctor, despite a warning look from Ghost. "So you like Soap, huh doc?" she asked playfully. The doctor laughed, his tanned skin turning somewhat flushed, "I'll neither confirm nor deny that." he joked. "I'll put in a good word." Ivy winked as she stopped walking. "Have a good night, Mrs. Riley." he said with a smile as he disappeared around the corner. Ivy walked back to Ghost's room. When she walked in, Ghost was smiling a devious grin. "So, Mrs. Riley, eh?" he asked with an eyebrow raised. Ivy laughed quietly, "I didn't tell him to call me that." she said as she shook her head. "And you didn't correct him?" he said with a playful tone. Ivy shook her head. "I'll tell him when he comes back later." she responded with a somewhat somber tone. Ghost thought to himself for a moment as he looked at Ivy. "It suits you." he smiled. "Does it?" she asked shyly as she turned crimson. "Ivory Riley." he said with a smile.