The Beginning of the Beginning

Yes, ladies and gentlemen it is time in all stories...

THE FLASHBACK

Ohio September 2007

SaraLee Danes was getting ready, ready for all girls special time. Her engagement party, her fiancé was returning home from his first tour of Iraq and the whole town was a buzz with excitement. Theodore Hampton, Marine Master Sergeant was her first real love and if SaraLee had anything to do with it her last.

The party was scheduled a the day after he arrived, she wanted to spend time with him before the whole town jumped on him. SaraLee had gone to pick him up in her parents Mercedes and arrived there so nervous she thought she would throw up. As the other wives, girlfriends, and family members gathered to greet their loved ones SaraLee thought back to how this had all began.

May 2001 Belton Ohio Prom

SaraLee was invited to prom by the hottest guy in school Bill Wilmax. She couldn't believe her luck that the high school jock had invited her to the prom, what she have been thinking was why he invited her. It was somewhat like a scene out Carrie, expect no pigs blood in this one. It had been a joke, Bill had no intention of even dancing SaraLee much less acknowledging her as his date. This though she could have lived through after some tears but what happened after SaraLee ran out of the dancehall and through the park would forever change her life. She ran not seeing the man in the shadows finishing using the park floor as his own toilet. SaraLee eventually ran out of breath due to the running and her own sobs and tears. The man in the shadow now had plenty of time to catch up with her.

Twelve hours later SaraLee was found face down, her dress ripped, bloodied. The first responder was a Marine who was home on leave named Theodore Hampton and he had made a promise to always protect her from that day forward.

The days following SaraLee's attack she had no idea that such a pledge had been made to her, all she saw was darkness. The shame, the guilt, the anger even was too much for her at times. Bill Wilmax even made the mistake of coming by to see her in the hospital, even despite his nasty lies and tricks he had never intended for this to be the outcome of her evening.

September 2007 Ohio

Theodore and SaraLee had made it to their bed and breakfast as covertly as possible. They enjoyed an evening in each others arms and made life long promises to each other not knowing it would all be broken so easily.

August 2251 Pike and Danes quarters.

SaraLee sipped on her hot chocolate, deep in thought, she hadn't thought about Teddy the whole four months since she woke up. She held a picture of her and Theodore's engagement picture, surprisingly it had lasted the 250 years in the chamber. She had wanted to spend the rest of her life with Theodore, but it was not met to be, two weeks after the engagement party he received a call to go back to Iraq. Then only two months after he had gone back she received a visit from an armed forces chaplain, Theodore Hampton died, he gave his life to his country.

Slowly in the last month SaraLee was waking up. She didn't feel as hazing as she had once had four months ago, she started to formulate a plan in her head. What would become of her? Admiral Barnett wouldn't tolerate her lack of cooperation forever and she still had no intention of learning engineering but she knew she had to do something. SaraLee got up to take a walk to Captain Pike's office, hopefully she could find her way.

A lot of things had been awakening in SaraLee, like her heart. Despite the fact that she saw Christopher Pike as a mentor or even a slight father figure, it had been changing in her. She didn't know where this would take her or even he saw her as more than a surrogate daughter, time would tell.

Meanwhile StarFleet Academy Cafeteria

Uhara was indulging in one of her guilty pleasures, reading about other people's love lives. It was a book called Love and War Throughout the Ages Vol.2, she had loved the first one so much she went on to the next one. The next chapter was on the American Iraq War that last ed over 10 years. The first story had made her a tear appear on face, the second was what caught her eye, the story of Theodore Hampton and SaraLee Danes, could it be the same one that was found in the chamber? The more Uhara read on, she was convinced it was the same person. It made Uhara have a new respect for the woman, how much she gone through, just to it all taken away from her not once but twice. She walked back to her dorm with an idea, an idea she hoped would help SaraLee put her life here in perspective.

Captain Pike's Office

Two women stood at his office door, Cadet Uhara and SaraLee Danes. They both needed to really to talk to him, it was important.

"Cadet Uhara, SaraLee, what brings you here?" Pike inquired grinning ear to ear.

"Um I wanted to ask you about public relations." SaraLee bobbed her head at him and eyed Uhara suspiciously.

"Um it can wait." Uhara offered as she turned to leave.

"Wait, SaraLee shouldn't take long." Pike stopped the Cadet from leaving.

"Well, I am terrible in science and I can't even play most sports. I um was wondering if there were other things, that were non-contact at the academy." SaraLee gulped as she finally had to admit it out loud that Admiral Barnett had a point.

Captain Pike couldn't help but smile and almost couldn't contain his smile. "Their some specialties at the academy that are more of a diplomatic nature. There is actually a conference next weekend in D.C. where a lot of our ambassadors will be attending. It might help you get acquainted with the politics now."

Uhara was started grinning, "That's great, can I go?"

SaraLee looked at her oddly wondering where all of this sudden friendliness had come from.

"Um sure. Is that okay Christopher?"

"I don't see why not, Uhara can help you navigate the crowd."

Christopher? Uhara thought, she would have to let McCoy know of this development.

I am making this chapter shorter. Next one will a lot longer. Thanks for all the reviews. I was going down one path with this story now I am taking another route, I am still aiming for the same outcome though.

I know some of you are wondering if SaraLee's love interest will be Pike or McCoy? Well, I am not exactly sure yet either so I am planting seeds for both.