Go
#FanFic #Ficlet #AWayOut #Unpublished
“Vincent, we need to get the hell out! The cops are here.” The call of the criminal, her husband had been obsessed with for the past six months, carried over to her hospital room.
Their baby started to fuzz in Vincent's arms at the sudden, nervous energy that the words brought with them.
When Carol lifted her head to look at her husband, his eyes were darting between his daughter and the door. Again, she was losing a battle she'd never wanted to fight. The need to follow the cry of that stranger was stronger than the pull of his own family.
Disappointment and anger strangled her throat at the realization.
There had been a small, selfish hope blooming up in her when he had turned up at her bedside, despite the danger it was putting his mission in. Maybe now that it was real — that the family they both had wanted so much was finally complete — he would listen.
She had clung to that hope when she'd placed their daughter in his arms.
And now, all she could do was stare at him in silent disbelief as he handed her back into her arms.
Her eyes dropped down on the beautiful, little human, of whom she had always though that she would make their life together complete. But now, Carol wasn't so sure anymore. Not because of the baby — she was perfect in every way — but because of Vincent. He was leaving her — leaving them — to follow his quest of revenge.
Noticing that Vincent was still wavering, Carol looked up into his face again. His soft brown eyes were searching for permission to go in hers, and for a split-second she wanted to reach out and hold his hand.
Keep him from going.
Beg him to stay.
But a paralyzing fear held her back.
Fear, that the last touch she would remember from him was his hand pulling away. Fear, that he would finally listen, but resent her over it forever.
“Carol?” Vincent lifted his hand and the sound of her name on his lips wasn't asking, 'Are you ok with this?', but instead it was saying, 'Please don't put up an argument.'
“Just go.” She turned away, not wanting to argue anymore. She had made her case several times over the past months, and it hadn't swayed him away from his decision. What good would it do now?
“Go.”
From the corner of her eyes, she could see Vincent turning towards the window. He looked over his shoulder one last time before he pushed it open and vanished into the night.
Carol's eyes were burning.
Their baby was wailing in her arms as the first police officers stormed into her room. Ignoring them, she started to hum a melody to distract herself from crying instead.
She didn't want to answer any questions right now. She wanted back to the day nine months ago when she'd come back from the doctor's appointment with the news that Vincent and her had already given up hope on hearing.
Gently taking her daughter's little fist between her thumb and index finger, Carol brushed along the soft skin with soothing circles.
“Don't worry, honey. He's going to be fine.”