Wait For Me: Carter

Chapter 5

Peter held Carla tighter than he ever had before. He ran his fingers delicately through the soft locks of her hair, before allowing his hand to rest on the back of her head.

"I didn't think I was ever going to see you again..." She whispered, her breath tickling the skin on his neck.

"I know, baby. I know..." He replied, holding her tightly to him. Her arms wrapped around his waist, body pressed into him, made breathing difficult. He didn't care.

As they pulled away from each other, Peter took Carla's face in his hands. He gazed longingly at her: green eyes gleaming with unshed tears, sunken and darkened from countless sleepless nights.

"You came to get me..." She whispered, her lips curling up ever so slightly at the corners. Peter's head inclined as he caressed her cheek gently with his thumb.

"Of course I did." He said, softly. "I couldn't bear to be without you..."

He watched as Carla's face changed: relief washed away by sudden horror.

"You haven't... You didn't-" Her breath caught in her throat.

"Baby, no." He sighed, embracing her once again. She placed her hands against his chest, allowing her head to rest against him. "Do you think I'd have to sneak in through cracks in the wall if I were dead?" He chuckled.

"I suppose not..."

"I'm going to get you home, Carla. I promise." He whispered into her hair, before placing a delicate kiss on the top of her head.

"How?" She asked, meekly. Peter sighed. He hadn't thought that far ahead.

"I suppose we'll just have to go back the way I came..." He said. He took Carla's hand, gently leading her back towards the wall.

He stopped, a look of puzzlement etched across his face. It was here that he had come in, he was sure of it. And yet, all that stood in front of him now was the intricate brickwork of the stone wall. Not so much as a crack in sight, let alone a gaping hole big enough for a man to walk through.

"But..." Peter trailed off, dumbfounded.

Having discarded his guitar on the other side of the wall in his rush to hold Carla once again, he had no means by which to tempt it back open.

They were trapped.

"Peter..." Carla whispered, realisation setting in. He draped an arm over her shoulders and pulled her into his side.

"We're not going to give up that easily." He stated firmly. Now that he was here, with his lover by his side, he was even more determined than ever to get her home.

The pair were disturbed by the sound of someone clearing their throat a few feet away. Peter felt Carla stiffen under his arm, and subconsciously held her tighter to him. They turned and spotted Liam: hands in his pockets, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other. Peter felt Carla relax slightly.

"You're really here then..." Liam stated, staring at Peter in disbelief.

"Looks like it." Peter shrugged. He felt strangely unaffected by the fact that the man he was speaking to had been dead for years. What bothered him more was the fact he had once been in love with Carla, and likewise the other way round.

"Well, I hope it was worth it." Liam stated, bluntly.

"What the hell does that mean?" Peter questioned, raising an eyebrow. Liam shrugged.

"You've put the whole of the Underworld in danger. God knows what's going to happen to Chelle and Carla now. And I'd place a hefty bet on the fact that you'll never leave here again. But, like I said: I hope it was worth it."