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

Chapter Fourteen

Ivy glanced back at Graves once more before turning to walk away. "Ivy, are you alright?" Konig asked with worry in his tone. "I'm fine," she exhaled a sharp breath, "Just need to get out of here." she finished as her eyes began to burn and chest tightened. Konig followed slowly, his crutches still difficult to maneuver. "Wait," Konig said. Ivy turned to see Konig struggling to keep up and slowed her pace. Once he was next to her, she walked with him, keeping his pace. "How's the leg?" Ivy asked as she tried to ignore her body going into a panic. "Fine, still a little pain but nothing severe." his tone was light. "How's Ghost?" he asked. "A pain in the ass. Now that Graves is here, he wants to kill him but he's still healing." Ivy said with slight aggravation in her tone. Konig exhaled a small laugh, "He's hard headed I hear." Ivy nodded, "He is for sure." There was a quiet moment before Konig spoke again. "How are you doing?" he asked carefully. Ivy stopped and looked at him, "I'm-" she lifted her shoulders slightly, "Miserable. Scared. Glad you three are alive but mentally, I feel fucked." she said honestly. Konig nodded slowly, "I'm sorry, mein schatz." he said softly. Ivy shook her head, "I feel fine one minute, but the next, it feels like a fist has my chest in a tight hold and I can't catch my breath." Ivy said with tears building in her eyes. "Have you talked to anyone about this?" he asked as he struggled to stand still. Ivy exhaled a breath, "Come sit," she motioned to the picnic table near by. 

Ivy sat opposite of Konig after helping him sit. "No I haven't, I don't want to talk about any of it. I just want to move on." she crossed her arms to try to ground herself and steady her breathing. "Ivy, you can't move on unless you talk about it." Konig said with remorse in his tone. "I've always done it this way," Ivy said stubbornly. Konig laughed through his nose, "And look where that's got you." he joked. Ivy tilted her head at him offended. "You've been through a lot, more than one person should. Than anyone should. But keeping it tucked away will only tighten the grip on you more." Ivy nodded as he continued, "You've lost a dear friend is a violent way, you've been kidnapped multiple times, you've lost your memory, the things Graves has done to you," he held a hand out on the table for Ivy and she hesitantly took it, "You need to talk to someone." Ivy stared at her hand in Konig's, avoiding his eyes contact, sure she would break if she looked at him. "I got my memory back." she said with a hitched tone. "You did? Ivy, that's even more of a reason to seek help. Remembering the things you already had to live through will eat away at your mind." he said with a somewhat stern tone. Ivy sat for a moment, keeping her eyes away from Konig's. "I don't want to relive it all again." she finally said as a tear fell from her eye. "Can't I just talk to you about it?" she laughed through her tears. Konig laughed and shook his head, "I"m not qualified to give you the help you need, and don't have a padded room for you," he joked again, "but I can be here for you through it. Along with the rest of your friends." he said such comfort in his tone. 

After finally agreeing to talk to someone, Konig and Ivy walked through the compound to get clothes for herself. "Where are you staying?" Ivy asked. "A room in the same building as Soap. He watches over me. I was considered the enemy at one point." he laughed. Ivy nodded as she hugged her chest. "I'm sorry I haven't visited," Ivy said as she looked at the ground. "Don't apologize, I know you've been occupied with Ghost." he assured. Stopped outside the building Konig was staying, Ivy hugged him carefully, "I'm glad you're okay, Konig." she said softly. "I'll see you later. If you want someone to come with you to talk to someone, let me know." he said as they pulled away from each other. "I will, thank you." Ivy said as Konig's eyes squinted, smiling under his sniper hood. 

After getting a few pairs of clothes, Ivy rushed back to Ghost's room. Once arriving, she ran into the doctor outside his room. "Dr. Hales," she greeted with a smile. "Mrs. Riley," he smiled back, "How are you doing?" he asked. "I've had better days." Dr. Hales laughed, "I can imagine." Ivy's chest felt tight again, "Can I ask you something?" Ivy said as she fussed with her fingers. Dr. Hales nodded and waited. "Do you know where I can find a- uh, therapist? Or is it a Psychologist? I'm not exactly sure what I need." Ivy laughed nervously. Dr. Hales smiled softly, "I can ask my friend, Dr. June. I see her when I need to." Ivy smiled and nodded, "Please?" Dr. Hales pulled a notepad from his pocket, "Jot your number down and I'll have her call you." Ivy wrote her number and handed it back to him. "Thank you." Ivy smiled and sighed with relief. "No problem, I owe you one for introducing me to Johnny." He winked and walked away. Ivy quietly walked into Ghost's room, seeing him sitting up in bed. He looked up when Ivy knocked lightly, "Hey you." he said with a smile. "Hi," Ivy smiled back, "Sorry I took so long, I ran into Konig and, uh, I saw Graves." Ghost sat up straighter, "What? Ivy, that's not-" Ivy held her hand up to cut him off, "I didn't talk to him. I just saw him from across the compound." she assured though it gave Ghost no comfort. "Still, you shouldn't have to see him." Ghost said with a tinge of annoyance in his voice. "I'm fine, Konig talked me into seeing someone about everything." she said as she sat on the bed next to him. "He did?" Ghost asked. Ivy nodded, "Yes, Dr. Hales has a friend he's gonna have call me." Ghost nodded, "Good, I'm glad you decided to talk to someone." Ghost gently grabbed her hand as Ivy smiled. "Me too," Ivy smiled, still feeling somewhat unsure, "I don't want to talk about any of it, but apparently it'll help." Ivy sighed as she finished. Ghost nodded, "It will," he gave her a small smile. "I don't want to remember the bad things, just the happy stuff." Ivy said as she looked away from Ghost. He noticed the sorrowful expression on her face. "Like that time you, Valeria, and Soap played that VR game after you guys got bored of the pool table." Ghost said trying to cheer her up. Ivy laughed as she remembered. "Valeria was so mad we kept picking Alejandro by Lady Gaga on Beat Saber." Ivy shook her head. "De acuerdo, lo entiendo, perdedoras." Ghost said with a mocking tone, pulling a louder laugh from Ivy. "She was only mad because she sucked at it." Ivy said with tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Ghost exhaled a laugh as he grabbed Ivy's hand. "It's so hard without her," Ivy said as he lip trembled. Ghost nodded gently, "I know, sweetheart," he said softly." Ivy shook her head, "When does it get easier?" Ivy asked as the tears finally broke free. Ghost placed a hand on her face, whipping the tears away, "It doesn't, unfortunately. But you learn to live with it."