Unconditionally (Spartacus FANFIC -- Gannicus/Caesar/OC)

Chapter IX

When we all returned home Dominus allowed me to leave to go see Gannicus and Oenomaus was told that Melitta was waiting for him in his cell. I walked across the grounds towards Gannicus' cell to see that the door was open and I could see that he was pacing back and forth in the cell occasionally shouting or punching the wall in anger.

"Gannicus?" I questioned from the doorway as he came towards me with speed before dropping to his knees and held me in my place holding on tightly to my robe. "I have done a terrible thing." He told me as I felt a knot tie in my throat.

"I cannot speak of what I have done, it would bring me to ruin for having hurt you so."

I placed my hands on his head gently playing with his hair, "We but do what we must for this house, and for our lives. I wish that you would just tell me but if you cannot... than I suppose such things will not be uttered." I told him.

"I love you, Jana... please never forget... I did only as I was commanded."

I could feel my heart crumbling in my chest, what went on in this house while we were away, what had they made him do? Was Naevia safe... was Melitta safe? Questions I would have to ask Melitta or Naevia about the next time I was to see them. I looked down to him and could see the man was in a broken state. "Come to bed, let me hold you... we need not talk about what happened. Just be with me." I told him as he stood up.

"What did I ever do for the gods to give me such a woman?" He asked.

"I gave you me, not the Gods...come... let us sleep. I can only imagine what the state of the Villa is like and what is to come in the morning." I told him as I walked him towards the bed holding him in my arms as his head was on my chest.

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When I awoke the next morning Gannicus was still asleep on my chest, I slowly moved out from under him and moved to leave his cell. Bumping into Oenomaus on the way to the gates, he gave me a look of concern something awful happened last night while we were all aways why was no one talking about it.

Once upstairs I noticed all the slaves were still busily cleaning up the traces of last night which caused me to look around in shock. "Tell me you did not know of this." I hear Titus ask me from his office doorway.

"I did not, I only wished to see the water. However choice seems as if it would have been one most wise. Titus what happened?" I asked him as I quickly made my way towards him as he walked back into his office.

"A son and his...ill bred wife sought to maneuver with men high above their station, the result is slaves used for base purpose, gladiators used for unmentionable things, and a Roman woman dead in my house." I swallowed hard.

"I do not know what to say, I am sorry. I should have spoke against the trip to Neapolis." I told him.

"Even had you known of such things, you would have done but what commanded of you. This is no fault of yours but is a show of what is to come once I exit this world for the next. A mockery of the profession. Go attend my sons wife, he and I need to speak." He told me as I nodded before leaving.

I saw Melitta rushing towards the room that Gaia once slept in as I followed them standing next to Naevia with no sight to Diona anywhere still. Melitta and Domina were talking to I nudged Naevia. "What happened last night, Gannicus was not himself when I had gone to see him."

Naevia paused for a moment before leaning towards me; "I will tell you when we are alone. Such things should be spoken of once Domina and Melitta are far from earshot." She whispered softly as I nodded.

That only made me think what it was that had happened, what had upset Gannicus so horrible was worse than I had first assumed it was. The man had wounds on his chest and he was almost a complete shell of the man I had left in Capua before leaving for Neapolis.