Author's Note: This story deals with the aftermath of rape and while Samantha chooses not to report it, the medical followup and the psychological repercussions are very realistic. As always reviews are appreciated.

Ravishment of the Rose

Chapter 1

One cool fall evening in Georgia, fall leaves rustled and the sensual scent of their decay perfumed the air. Clouds swirled about the full moon and obscured the stars as they whispered soft threats of rain. All in all it was a beautiful night as Jack drove towards Atlanta. The trial of Donald Lucas was a few weeks away and he wanted to return to his Atlanta lair. While it had been amusing watching the VCTF flounder in Otis, it was good to be returning so he would be closer to his Samantha. Jack sang along softly with the CD player in his car. Earlier that day he'd flown to Ohio and picked up the black sedan he was driving from his lair near Cincinnati.

Pausing at an intersection near Lafayette, Jack lit a fresh cigarette and tore open a bag of cheetos for dinner. He should probably take a detour to Savannah and visit his mother, but he wanted to put that off for a little longer. Atlanta was where Samantha was and that was where Jack wanted to be. On the passenger side seat, he had a huge bouquet of roses from a small garden he kept in Ohio to feel closer to his Samantha on the long drive. At least he didn't have to wear Ed Boast's uniform yet, he reflected in satisfaction. His hands were encased in black leather gloves, he wore a long black trenchcoat over a black cashmere sweater and pants. Rain began to drizzle as he drove. The closer Jack got to Atlanta, the harder the rain came.

"And the heavens open up," Jack said and wondered if he would have to pull over until the rain let up.

A strange feeling suddenly seized Jack and he nearly lost control of his vehicle. It was as if someone had walked on his grave. He had another hour or so before he got to Atlanta and he began to drive faster as an inexplicable feeling of desperation seized him. Jack ignored the rain and pressed on faster and faster as a feeling of doom began to fill him. Nausea began to rise within him and Jack started trembling, but he continued driving.

"Am I losing my mind?" he asked aloud as a truck honked loudly at Jack as he passed.

Jack didn't know what was wrong, but it felt like the fabric of the universe itself was being shredded. In his mind he heard a woman screaming. No, not a woman. Samantha! In his mind Samantha was screaming. Jack continued to dart in and out of traffic, driving faster and faster. Law be damned! Either he was on the brink of insanity or his Samantha needed him and either way he had to get to Atlanta and fast. As he drew closer to Atlanta, the screams died down to sobs and his feeling of foreboding rose to a frenzy. In contrast with the driver's rising anguish, the rain began to lighten to a drizzle.

Driving as if the hounds of hell were on his heels, Jack sped through the night, not slowing down until he just outside the city limits. As if a unseen force was guiding him, Jack took a turn and went down a winding country road on the outskirts of the city. In the darkness, he could have easily missed the huddled white ball. Jack thought of ignoring it and driving onwards, he knew it was a body, God knew he'd placed enough of them and it wouldn't do for the VCTF to find out Ed had come to town early or for Ed to discover a corpse. But the feelings that had seized him earlier were too strong to ignore, so he stopped his car about 15 yards from the body.

As he approached the hunched over figure, the first thing that he realized was naked figure definitely a woman. Then he heard a pathetic cry and saw her shuddering. Her head was bent over and all he could see were her white shoulders. The head lifted slightly and Jack saw she had long blonde hair. His heart constricted with fear and it took every drop of discipline Jack had to continue.

"Miss?" he asked hesitantly when he was closer still.

Jack's heart froze and shattered when the woman turned. Holding her arms around herself, naked and sobbing was a bloodied and battered Samantha. He wanted to pick her up and hold her, he wanted to scream to the heavens, and he wanted to destroy whomever had hurt his beloved. Instead he removed his coat and cautiously draped it around her. For several moments she stared blankly at him.

"Samantha?" he gently prompted. Jack wanted to get her in where it was warm and get her proper medical attention.

She remained silent and unmoving for several moments before speaking. "Ed?"

"That's right Samantha. Let's get you into my car where it's warm. Ok?"

He offered his hand to help her up and cautiously she took it. As she stood up, the full impact of her injuries and what had happened dawned on Jack. Before she got the coat on and wrapped tightly around her, he saw the bruises from hands on her breasts and blood shined on her inner thighs. Someone had violated his Samantha he concluded with bitter fury. She winced from pain and wordlessly, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to his car. After opening the door, he tossed the roses in the back seat and guided her in. He got into the driver's side and shut the music off. His facial muscles were twitching reflexively as he smelled another man on his Samantha.

After a brief hesitation, Jack found his voice. "Samantha, I- we can call your friends when we get to the hospital."

There was no response and Jack slowly pulled back onto the road. Never in his entire existence had he felt so helpless. Beside him was the woman he lived for and would willingly die for, she was hurting and he could do virtually nothing about it. Unthinkingly, he grabbed a cigarette and lit it to steady his nerves. As he focused on the road, Jack was unaware of the sharp look that crossed Samantha's face and the darting glances she made around the car. Looking in the back she saw the very familiar roses and looked back at Ed. Pointedly she began to stare at his sleek abdomen.

Aware of her eyes on him, he assumed it was because she was distraught. Uncertain what to do, Jack tried to give her a look of understanding. "Don't worry Dr. Waters, Sheriff Boast will get you to the hospital in a jiffy," he drawled in his 'Ed' voice.

"No!" she declared emphatically. Despite her trauma, Sam added the elements up and realized who was really in the car with her.

"Dr. Waters, I understand this is a delicate situation and I'm certain Agent Malone can-"

"Drop the act," Sam interrupted. "Just stop it Jack."

Seeing she was entirely serious and further pretense was futile, he responded, "Samantha, I realize I'm the last person you want to deal with right now. But the fact remains you need to go to the hospital for a rape kit and proper follow-up treatment."

"Stop the car," she demanded. After the car stopped, she opened her door and threw up on the side of the road. Jack watched her intently from the car, but made no move towards her. For several minutes Sam stared into the night and thought. Then she got back in and said quietly, "No hospital."

Jack sat and didn't pull the car back onto the road as he tried to convince her that he was right. "Samantha- Sam. I'll phone one of your friends when we get there. I won't try to force my company on you if that's what you're worried about. You need a doctor to look at you."

"Jack, do you know what actually happens when a woman reports a rape? I'll tell you, after the examination, she gets to stand filthy and miserable as a detective photographs the injuries. Then if by some chance her case ever is solved and it's a damn slim chance, the lawyers rape her all over again in court!" Sam informed him, her voice become gradually more hysterical.

"I realize it's unfair, but your friends-"

"Oh yes, I tell them and have months of pitying stares and offers to 'talk' about it. Victims are given little dignity and if you're a female in law enforcement, even less so. Things leak out, in the various departments and then to the press. Can you imagine the field day they would have. I can see the fucking headlines now, 'Profiler Defiled.' No Jack! I won't go to the hospital and I'm not reporting this!" Sam screeched shrilly.

"Samantha, I-" Jack sat utterly helpless and unable to speak.

A tear coursed Sam's face and then another until she was sobbing, blindly she grabbed his sweater at the chest, balling the fabric in her hands and pleaded, "Please Jack! Please! Please! I can't do it! I can't! Please! Please! Help me Jack!"

"Ssshh," he soothed gently. "No one is going to force you to do anything. Just tell me what you want and I will do it. All I am and all I have is at your disposal."

"You called yourself, Dr. Trades, once. Are you really a doctor?"

"Quit before my residency was up," Jack answered.

"Can you deal with my- with my injuries?" Sam stuttered in embarrassment.

Jack hesitated before responding, "Yes, but you do realize I would have to examine you in a rather intimate manner. I could drive you to another city-"

"No!" she exclaimed harshly. Releasing her hold on his sweater, Sam settled in her seat and stared out the passenger window and pressed her face against the glass. After several silent minutes she said, "Take me home with you Jack."

Wordlessly, he started the car and pulled back onto the road. Jack wished he could make it all go away, but it was impossible. Anger coursed through his body as he thought of what his Samantha had endured. Tonight all he could do is tend her physical injuries and offer whatever meager comfort she would accept. Tomorrow, Jack would begin hunting for his prey and see to it that every injury inflicted on his Samantha was repaid by a thousand fold. Pushing away thoughts of vengeance, he ran through a mental inventory of his medical supplies and considered where to acquire further items he would need. Neither Jack or Samantha spoke for the rest of the trip...