Chapter 12: Tired Soldier

Ghost POV

We arrive to John's apartment, I put the car in park, I step out walking around to Johns door. "Where's Gaz? He was supposed to get my drink" Soap says, stumbling out of the car, "He went home, speaking of home, we're at yours right now" I say. John immediately clings onto my arm, trying to regain his balance, we start towards his apartment.

Down the hall, it's quiet, being that it's almost two in the morning, I would assume the public is asleep. Unfortunately, John is struggling to keep quiet, each time I shush him, he does it back as if we're playing a game. We get to his door, I feel the doorknob, Locked, "Johnny where are your keys?" I ask. He smiles at me, leaning back on the wall next to his door, keeping quiet, "Johnny, keys" I say putting out my hand for them.

I let out a sigh, I unzip the jacket I lent him, "It's colddd" John complains. I start to feel the outside of his pants pockets, "I understand that and as soon as we get inside, you can warm up" I say. He puts his hands on my upper arms, starting to squeeze them. I put my hand on his waist, lifting his lower half off the wall, John moves his hands up, putting them around my neck.

He pulls me in, digging his face in between my shoulder and neck. I feel vibrations as he hums into my skin, Jesus Johnny... I dig behind him into his back pockets. I feel John's hand slowly move up my neck, as his fingers comb through my hair. I start to feel deep in his pocket, I grab his keys.

I pull it out, putting it into the door, "Time to go inside" I say, I lift him off the wall, moving him into his apartment. I close the door behind me, "Si..mon.." John says into my skin, the vibrations of his voice sends a shiver down my spine. "Yes Johnny?" I ask, waddling over to his bedroom.

I open the door, just as quickly, John grabs my arms, throwing me on my back his bed. Strong drunk, noted, I try to sit up, but he pushes me back down, climbing on top of me. Starting to slowly slide his hands up into my shirt, I grab his wrist. "No, don't do that" I say, I pull him off of me, putting him on his back, pinning him on the bed.

Soap POV

I look up to Simon, or what I think is Simon, everything is still kind of blurry, and it's a bit dark. I relax a bit, breathing heavily, "Are you gonna calm down?" Simon asks. I silently nod, "Say it" he orders, "I.. I'm calm" I say. He lets go of my wrist, he sits on the side of the bed, letting out a sigh.  I roll over on my stomach, I let out a low grumble, "Stay here, I'm getting you some water" Simon says. He leaves the room, I roll on my side, feeling the leather of the jacket. It smells like him..

Ringgg - Ringgg - Ringg

I jolt up my head, my phone? I dig into Simon's jacket pockets, a knife, pen, and a folded note. I open it, drawing of a bar of soap and a skull, looks like I could have drawn it, but along with the blurriness, it easily couldn't. The ringing stopped, I put the items back into the jackets pockets. I lay back down, the room is starting to spin a bit, I close my eyes, Maybe everything won't be as blurry if I rest my eyes.

Ringgg - Ringgg - Ringg

I quickly sit up, I look off the side of my bed, my phone is sitting on the floor. I reach down grabbing it, Lydia? I answer the phone "Huh?" I mumble. "John? I called you, why didn't you answer?" Lydia says, already sounding irritated. "I.. Uh-" I struggle to say, "Doesn't matter, Maddison woke up 5 minutes ago, screaming and crying about a bad dream she had, and she wants you" Lydia says.

I sit up, wiping my face, "Ok.. Ok, put her on" I say, the phone fumbles a bit. I hear small sniffles, Maddison, "Maddie?" I say, "D-daddy.. I-I'm scared" Maddison says. "What's scaring my girl?" I say, trying to seem somewhat sober, "There was monster, and and it was chasing me, and and I'm scared" Maddison says, starting to cry. I chuckle, resting my head down, "It's ok Maddie, daddy's here, don't cry" I say, trying to calm her down.

Her crying slows, "Daddy, do you hate mommy?" Maddison asks, Fuck, "No, not at all, me and mommy are friends, why do you think that?" I ask. Maddison fumbles the phone a bit, "I.. W-when mommy and daddy yelled, I didn't see you for a while" Maddison says. "That's true.. But I'm still here, and I'm not planning on going anywhere, ok?" I say.

She let's out a small hum of agreeance, "Ok Maddie, it's really late, and you have school tomorrow, how about you rest up and next time I see you we're gonna have a lot of fun together, ok?" I say. "Ok.." she responds, "Daddy loves you Maddie" I say, "I love you too" Maddison says. the phone fumbles for a second, "Thanks, John" Lydia says.

Ghost POV

I stand outside of John's room, listening to his conversation, I walk in, sitting next to him on the bed. "That's my job" John says. He gags a bit, I quickly gets off the bed, putting the water down. I grab the trashcan handing it to him, he drops the phone on the floor, throwing up into the trashcan. I rub his back, "Yeah, no more drinking with Gaz" I say, John nods, being unable to respond to me.

I reach over picking up his phone from the floor, I notice the call is still ongoing, "I'm.. Gonna get you a towel" I say. I walk out of the room, closing the door behind me, there's indistinct yelling coming from the phone. I put it on my ear, "John? Answer the phone, NOW!" Lydia yells, her words crackle a bit, "Hello?" I say into the phone.

"Who is this?" Lydia asks, "John's.. Friend, Simon" I say, I hear a scoff. "Ahh, Simon.. The one he always hangs around, no?" Lydia asks, "That I know of" I respond coldly. "You're at John's house, on his phone, at three in the morning, why?" Lydia asks, her voice sounds annoyed. I walk over to the kitchen, grabbing a towel, running water over it "John isn't feeling well" I respond.

"Hm.. Well while I have you, sorry for your first impression of me, I've been thinking and it wasn't very.. Appropriate of me" Lydia says. Counting the fact that you had a whisper yelling match with Johnny, on a few occasions, I would have to agree, "Ok" I say. She stays quiet, as if she's waiting for me to continue a thought, "O-k, well I also understand John's has also been bringing you around my daughter" Lydia says. I turn off the water, What is she getting at here?

"Mhm" I sound, "Well a phone apology doesn't settle well with me, so how about this, say.. Tomorrow night, well later tonight I should say. How about you and John make your way over, I'll make dinner, John gets to see Maddison, and I'll give you a proper apology. We'll make a thing out of it, how does that sound?" Lydia asks.

I pause, Proper apology? "I'll think on it" I say, I walk away from the sink "OH, and.. uhm, is John.. Seeing anyone?" Lydia asks. I stop, furrowing my brow, The fuck, "Mm, I'll run the dinner thing by him" I hang up the phone. I walk back into John's bedroom, he's lying down, snuggled up to one of his pillows.

I walk over, "John?" I say, he snores quietly, Out cold. I put his cover over him, exiting his room, I walk over to the couch sitting down. I cross my arms, looking around the room, Tv, couch, table, chairs, dinner... Dinner. I lay my head back, stressed, Why would she even care if John's seeing anyone? They're divorced, so it wouldn't even make sense for her to care.

I close my eyes, trying to subside my anger, I guess after being together for four years, you wouldn't  just want to let that go. I let out annoyed groan, She beat him and cheated on him, after everything she put him through, she doesn't deserve to even be around him.

I take a deep breath, Calm down...

BAM POW TIME SKIP WHAPOW!!

I wake up, I'm laying on the couch, the seats hard on my back, I rub my eyes, the sun peeks through the blinds, warm on my skin. I look around, Tv, couch, table, chairs... I squint my eyes, looking closer. Tv, couch, table, chairs... This is not my house. I sit up from my laying position, in my lap John is sleeping peacefully, with his arms wrapped around me.

I put my hand on his cheek, softly caressing my thumb across it, he flinches a bit. I quickly remove my hand, he's scoot's up, snuggling into me. He looks so peaceful, sleeping, not having to worry about what's going around in the world around you. Just being able to lay still, without worrying where everyone is or where you need to be.

How could you be so... Vulnerable around me? I place my hand back on his head, combing my fingers through his mohawk. I'd be lying if I said you didn't smell like three types of alcohol, but this drunk confidence you have.. It's.. Something else. Do you trust me, John? I start to smile softly.

The first time I'm actually able to smile without feeling worried or regretful, You hear that John? You made me smile... "You make me smile.." I whisper to myself, I look up, I'm shocked by my thoughts.

Shit.

{WOOOOOOOOOOOO, YEAH BABY, MY SADNESS ISN'T STOPPING ME FROM GETTING THESE CHAPTERS OUT. My emotions might be down, but my word count is UP. YEE HAW MOTHER FUCKERS. And uh, hope you enjoyed!}