Chapter 10: Time Heals?

A/N: There will be rape mentioned.

Christmas came and went, Ruby's mobility and her surgical wounds were healing very nicely. Jim would check her wounds every day, redress them, and generally let her do what she wanted. He was around every day for a week, then would go to the office every few days, then he resumed his regular hours of nine to four.

Ruby became possessed of the Christmas spirit, taking out all the décor and putting it up, setting up the Christmas tree and buying presents. Every day Christmas week Jim would come home smelling many tantalizing scents in the air. Several wrapped presents stacked up under the tree started to accumulate.

On Christmas day, Ruby pulled out a special package that had been delivered the day before. Surprised, she sat down on the couch next to Jim, pulled off the packing tape and string, opening up the box.

Jim's face held a smirk as if he knew exactly what it was but Ruby didn't pay any attention to him. Inside the box was several pictures of babies, all with big smiles on their faces. With it was a card that had several signatures.

"Through your child these babies can live," she read aloud. "Michael got new lungs, Kara got new kidneys, Sammy got a new liver, and Clara got a new bladder. A premature baby named Angel got the heart. We can't thank you enough and we present you with this gift to remember your baby by."

Ruby pulled out a locket necklace made out of pewter that had a heart shaped pendant with a little footprint in it. Jim put it on her, fastening the clasp down securely.

"You don't have any idea what I'm on about," she turned to Jim sheepishly.

"Yes I do," he admitted, putting his coffee mug on the coffee table. "just before I had to leave I saw you once in the house, your hand on your pelvis. What could any man think that means? Especially since we'd married about a month ago at that point? I knew I had shot a kid into you."

Ruby remained expressionless as Cassidy jumped into her lap. "Do you know what happened after that?"

"The day I got home this cat here led me right to your diary," he scratched the feline's ears. "I got the feeling she wanted me to know something."

"She's not the only one," Ruby chuckled as the purring started. "so I take it you know all then?"

"I do. I have to say that it felt like I was right there with you as you wrote it all out. I only wanted to be there with you."

"Oh, Jim. Nobody could have predicted what was going to happen," Ruby shrugged it off. "I don't blame anyone. Things happen."

"There's only one question I have to ask you."

"Shoot."

"Was it a boy or girl?"

Ruby frowned, trying to remember if they'd told her or not. She didn't even want to know when she was getting her prenatal exam. "They never said."

"Even right after they pulled it out of you?"

"I'd been sedated, Jim! I can't remember anything."

"Right." Jim controlled himself. "I was thinking about children earlier."

"When you had your hand on my scar?"

"Yes. I don't think that it's a good idea, me being a wanted criminal."

"True enough. I was thinking I'm not cut out to be a mom."

"Don't sell yourself short. Kids are little monsters anyway and I don't want any."

Ruby didn't know how to take that remark. She'd be a great mom but all kids were little demon spawn? Deciding to let that one go, she cleared off the gift wrap debris and went to tidy up.

In the bathroom, she was brushing her teeth when a mental image flashed into her mind, making her pause.

Two men were in her cell, one was straddling her and the other was telling him that the boss had said be brutal to her. One guy held down her arms and wrists as the other unzipped his pants and pulled her jeans down. Ruby gaped with horror as the guy played with her chest, getting him hard, then he played with her clitoris. Despite herself, she was enjoying the stimulating as she soon grew slick which was undoubtedly what her tormentors wanted. She was called a good little bitch, then the guy straightened up, slamming his penis inside her, making her yelp in pain.

Dropping her toothbrush in the sink, Ruby gaped in horror at her own reflection for a full minute. She hurriedly spat, rinsed her brush, then put it away. Shaking like a leaf, Ruby sat down on the floor near her bed, letting the image replay in her mind.

"Ruby?" Jim came trampling upstairs with the cat at his heels. "What is it?"

"Jim.." she raised up a teary face to him. "I...I was.."

"What is it, honey?" he sat down beside her. Ruby bit her lip and turned her green eyes towards Jim. He was startled to see they were haunted and strained looking.

"At the warehouse… those men… oh god, they.." she was nearing hysteria, concerning Jim greatly. "they raped me, Jim."

"What?!" he demanded, his voice like a thunderclap. Cassidy the cat jumped and ran away. "They sexually assaulted you?!"

"Don't make me say it again." Jim wordlessly opened up his arms with Ruby diving into them. She sniffled and cried, clutching at her husband like he was her lifeline. Jim clutched at her back, wanting to end her pain or at least console her.

Several minutes later Ruby pulled away from him, looking worse for wear but she had her composure back. "All right you, we have some time before lunch, so I want you to take a nap."

"What?"

"You're in shock, girl. You're shaking."

"I am? A nap sounds good before I faint from shock." Jim put her onto the bed, got her a few painkillers for the headache he knew she had. Ruby wiped her face with a damp washcloth and laid back on the bed.

"I'll get you up in time for lunch. Remember, Seb and his girlfriend are coming."

"All right, Jim."

"Rest well now." he kissed her and she returned it.

"I will, hot stuff."

Towards the end of the day, Jim and Ruby were cleaning up the kitchen, putting the pots and pans away when Ruby tentatively asked if he was mad at her.

"For what you've been through? Despite the fact that none of this is your fault?" he leaned against the island countertop as she shut the dishwasher and set it to work. "Is this what you think of me?"

"No, but I'm so mad at myself," she admitted. "I-"

"You shouldn't be," Jim took her around the waist, pressing her to him. "these were circumstances beyond your control, set in motion by a guy who had a grudge."

Ruby put her hands on his shoulders. "I know that in my rational side, Jim. Emotions tend to overshadow rationality."

"You've been kidnapped since when? Last week of November?"

"Yeah."

"How many times did they rape you?"

She sighed heavily. "They took turns, Jim. Like I was some public rabbit hole and they rarely went more than a day without getting their sexual fix from me."

"Sick fucks."

"Really."

"I was thinking how about we get Dr. Blair over here tomorrow to make sure you don't have any diseases? Let's be safe."

"OK."

"In the meantime, I would consummate Christmas with some spirited sex from you but I don't think that's wise." he rubbed her sides which made her feel a bit aroused. Ruby grinned.

"I could do with some foreplay. My boobs need attention."

"Something wrong with them?" Jim glanced at them.