A/N: So, I'm behind on Army Wives and seem to be stuck on the early seasons. I did watch 'Fatal Reaction' and I'm just gonna say it: What the hell? Why does Lifetime keep doing that? They place their characters in these situations only to just NOT talk about it. I mean, shit. The episode after 'Fatal Reaction' did Denise and Claudia Joy even talk except that one moment with the Kelli Williams character? They were in that situation together and NOTHING.
Okay. Rant over.
Anyway, these will be missing scenes from Season Two's "Payback." They did the same thing. Showed sexual violence but then rushed through the healing process. I'm sure Claudia Joy felt better after Paulo's visa was promised to be revoked, but still.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Claudia Joy didn't plan on telling anyone, honestly. She'd called the MP's on pure instinct, the remnants of a belief in justice still lingering in her bones from Law School. Justice, she'd been told, always prevailed; she was blind and courageous and fought for those in need.
Claudia Joy didn't believe in Justice anymore though.
Not when she realized Paulo's diplomatic immunity would promise him freedom and a great punch line for when he returned home. He claimed Maria would do worse, but Claudia Joy doubted she'd ever find out. Paulo was connected and nothing would happen.
And that was Justice.
But after the MP's took her statement, after they left her house and after she cleaned up the entire mess—Claudia Joy vowed to keep this incident a secret. Michael wanted to tell Emmalin, but Claudia Joy was able to convince him otherwise. "She's had enough this year, there's no need to tell her about this."
"Claudia Joy…"
Michael's tone was strong and Claudia Joy barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Michael, it's over. Stop bringing it up, stop talking about it and just let it be."
"I can't, Claudia Joy."
"If I can, you can."
And that was it. The two went to bed, but neither could sleep. Claudia Joy's stomach was in knots, scenarios of what could have been kept playing in her head and the places his hands had been were aflame on her skin. Her throat, had he strangled her? No. She'd remember that more clearly, surely.
Or would she?
God. The entire thing was a blur. A mess of limbs and glass and his breath—hot and scorching with liquor.
"Claudia Joy?" Michael whispered in the night, his voice bringing Claudia Joy back to reality. She couldn't respond though. Her throat was tight and she knew her voice would crack if she even attempted to speak. Michael didn't take her silence. He couldn't. His own heart was breaking far too much for him tolerate his wife's quiet whimpers as she attempted to breath softly. "Claudia Joy, just talk to me," Michael tried again, reaching a hand over to touch her shoulder.
The touch wasn't expected and Claudia Joy was out of the bed and on her feet before she realized it. "I'm just going to take a shower."
"Claudia Joy," Michael called out after her, his eyes shining, "wait."
"Just go to bed, Michael."
Claudia Joy had spent awhile in the shower. She'd examined herself first, amazed that what he'd done didn't leave a single mark. "I'm not hurt," she'd told Michael—and her body proved it. And if her body didn't have a single bruise, then it was true. Right?
When she began crying she did her best to cover her mouth, to muffle the sound, and it must have worked. She didn't hear anything echo in the bathroom, nor did Michael come in there. Claudia Joy was either quiet enough or took long enough in the shower because by the time she finally reentered her bedroom, skin red from the water and steam rolling from the door, Michael was asleep.
And that's exactly what Claudia Joy wanted. She didn't want to talk to him about this again, she didn't want to talk to anyone about this again.
Which is why she nearly closed the door on Denise when she came over the next day.
A/N: Thoughts?