THE FIRE WITHIN
Chapter Sixteen

After she was done cooking, she went back to bed. By then, Amsterdam was gone. She closed her eyes and went back to sleep. It was then that someone put their hand on her mouth. She opened her eyes, and it was William.

She looked into his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Sorry. You looked so pretty lying there. You reminded me of my girl," William confessed.

"Thank you." She was honored.

"You’re welcome. I just wanted to tell you we’re docking now, so you can go get your son back." He got off his knees and stood up.

"Thanks, William." She got up and kissed his cheek.

Christa went up on deck. She smelled the air. Kerry was the only home she had ever known. It was a place like no other. She was glad to finally be home.

Amsterdam came up behind her. "Glad to be home?"

"Of course. I can't wait to see Michael." She missed her son so much.

"Neither can I." Amsterdam smiled and took her hand as they got off the ship and started to walk into Kerry.

"So, how far do we need to go?" Amsterdam asked.

"Not far. We can walk." She would walk forever if she had to, just to see her baby again.

"All right, because I am in need of a bath." Amsterdam walked slowly. His leg hurt.

Meanwhile, at the Ryan Residence

Tommy and Marie had gotten much closer. There were times when he would think about Christa, here and there, but he knew she was okay, because she was a survivor. As for Amsterdam…well…everything would be answered when they came for their child.

"Marie, is breakfast ready? I need to get to work," Tommy said as he put on his jacket.

"Yeah, it's done, Tommy." Marie had just finished cooking the bacon.

Tommy sat down at the table as Marie brought him his food. He looked at the paper and read as she served him.

When the plate was put on the table, he put down his paper and began to eat. He loved Marie's cooking.

He looked up at her and wondered if he should proceed with the next step in their relationship. He hadn't slept with anyone since he had slept with Christa. He loved her wild ways, but he knew he would never have her again. At least, not anymore.

"Marie, do you have any plans today?" Tommy looked up at her.

"Nope. Not today, Tommy. Why?" Marie sat down at the table.

"‘Cause I am gonna take you out tonight," Tommy said.

"Really? What about Michael?" Marie wondered what he was planning.

"I will ask my mother to take care of him." Tommy wanted to be alone with her tonight.

Marie smiled. She hadn't had a break since they had gotten there, and that had been almost a month ago. She was glad they were going to be alone. She had never really had a steady gentleman caller. She had always worked since her parents had died in a tragic fire. Since working with the family in New York, she had never had any relationship at all.

On the Road

"I thought you said we were not that far from the house," Amsterdam complained.

"We're not. See the house over there?" She pointed to the house. Christa was walking fast, anxious to get home.

"Yeah." Amsterdam saw it, and winced every time his left leg moved.

"That's it." Christa smiled back at him.

"Great. I am so glad. My feet hurt." He didn't want to tell her about his leg.

"Have you never really walked this far? I used to walk it all the time, to school and to work." Christa had never had any problem walking this far.

"Yeah, I have walked, but my leg still hurts, you know," Amsterdam said out of anger.

"I'm sorry. I'll slow down." She began to think about Jenny for some reason right then. "Do you miss Jenny?" Christa looked over at him.

"A little. Before I met you, she always tried to act like she didn't like me," Amsterdam said, catching up to Christa.

"Did you two ever sleep together? I mean, before I arrived?" She had always wanted to know the answer to that question.

"Nope. Not ever." He shook his head.

"I wonder what happened. I mean, did she ever make it to San Francisco?" Christa asked out loud.

"I don't know. I just hope she is okay." Even though he wasn't with her, he still worried about her.

"Look. We’re almost there. Would it be okay if I ran?" Christa asked him.

"Knock yourself out. I will be there soon." Amsterdam let her go.

Christa ran fast. She was happy. She wanted to see Michael badly. She knocked on the door when she got to the porch.

Tommy heard. He was almost ready for work, so he answered the door. The door swung open and his eyes lit up. "Christa!"

"Tommy!" She hugged him.

"I am so glad you’re back." He held her close.

"Oh, me, too." Christa pulled away.

"Where’s Amsterdam?" Tommy asked her.

"He's coming. He wounded his leg and…well…he's walking slow," Christa told him.

"Oh, okay. I will go outside and see if he needs help," Tommy said as he went outside.

"Where's Michael?" she asked Tommy before he went outside.

"In your old bedroom with Marie." He pointed.

"Great." She climbed the stairs and found Marie carrying Michael.

She stood there and watched her with Michael. He was so big now. She heard him cooing and cried. "Michael?"

"Christa, you’re back. I’m so glad to see you." Marie saw her. She looked different somehow.

"Not to be rude, but may I hold my son?" Christa asked.

"Absolutely. Here you go." Marie handed over the baby.

Christa squeezed him gently and cried. "I've missed you so much."

"How was the fight in New York?" Marie asked her.

"Horrific. Everyone died. Everyone we knew is gone. Amsterdam killed my uncle, and we traveled here by working on a ship," Christa explained.

"Oh, my God!" Marie gasped.

"Yeah. I am glad you two were here." Christa was thankful to Marie for taking care of her son.

"Is Amsterdam okay?" Marie asked.

"He's cut up, but he's fine," Christa said, feeling guilty about leaving him alone outside.

"Oh, then I should go to him. I was a nurse-in-training in New York," Marie told her.

"I will go with you." Christa carried the baby downstairs. Amsterdam was sitting in the kitchen.

"Amsterdam, Marie is gonna check you. She was a nurse," Christa told him.

"Great." He got up, limping.

"Come with me to the bedroom and we’ll see what needs patching." Marie took his arm, putting it over her shoulders.

Amsterdam got up and walked with her up the stairs. She asked him to strip down so she could see the scars.

He undressed and lay down on the bed. His scars were okay, but the leg was a little bloody and scabby. She went to get some whiskey to clean up the wound. When she applied it to his leg, he screamed.

Christa heard it from downstairs. She climbed the stairs fast and opened the door.

"Amsterdam, are you all right?" Christa asked, concerned.

"Never better." He lay there in the nude. Christa gave the baby to Marie and looked at his leg. It was bad.

"He's not gonna lose it, is he?" she asked Marie.

"No, but there is something I need to do, and I need your permission to go ahead," Marie explained.

"Which is?" Christa looked at her.

"Call a doctor, because he is bad." Marie knew it was for his own good.

"Okay. You go with Tommy and get one. I don't want my husband to lose his leg." Christa was worried.

"Okay." She went for the doctor, while Christa stayed with Amsterdam.

"How come you didn't tell me you were this bad?" Christa punched him in the arm.

"I didn't want you to worry about me. Bad enough you were upset because of Michael," Amsterdam told her.

"Amsterdam, I love you. Next time, tell me." She needed him. She didn't want to lose him.

"I know you do. I love you, too. That's why I didn't burden you," he said, just laying there.

"You were never a burden. Neither was our son." She kissed his cheek.

The door opened and the doctor came in. "So, who's the patient?"

"It's my husband, doctor," Christa told him.

"Christa Connor. So glad to see you back." The doctor smiled at her.

"Thanks. Can you tell me if he is gonna be all right?" Christa waited to see if he was going to be all right.

"Looks bad. Would you mind leaving us alone?" the doctor asked.

"Okay. If he needs anything, let me know." Christa would do anything for him.

"Will do." He nodded, and she went out the door.

The doctor examined Amsterdam’s leg. It seemed all right, just a little infected. He gave him some medicine for the pain. Amsterdam took it and fell right asleep.

Christa was worried as she walked around in circles with Michael. Tommy had gone to work already, and Marie was knitting a sweater for Michael.

When the doctor came out, Christa looked at him. "Is he all right?"

"He's fine. A little infected, but nothing serious to worry about. I gave him some morphine for the pain, so he should be just fine," the doctor explained.

Christa walked the doctor out, then went upstairs to see Amsterdam. He was laying there, asleep. She put Michael in his cradle and checked that he wasn't wet before she lay down by Amsterdam's side. She knew he was still naked under the covers, so she touched his arm. There were so many scars. She knew there was a story behind each one. Amsterdam hid many secrets. She knew because she still didn't know him that well. Maybe now she would be able to get to know him better. She closed her eyes and began to yawn. That was the last thing she did before going to sleep.

Chapter Seventeen
Stories