Sorry it has been so long! I've been working six day weeks!

Chapter Twelve

"You're in for something special tonight, Vulcan." Wilson chuckled. "Play nice."

Salen swallowed hard with fear as Wilson thew him in a room that held only a bed with white sheets. He jolted as Wilson slammed the door shut behind him. Clean from a recent bath and wearing new clothes Salen stood motionless in the room and waited for his fate. A few minutes later a large muscular man came into the room with a strange smile on his face. Salen automatically backed away from him as he stepped closer. Backing into the corner Salen weld his eyes shut and cowered from the large human.

"Are you afraid?" He chuckled.

"Yes, Sir." Salen said quietly.

"You should be."

Salen cried out as the man grabbed the front of his shirt and easily tore it open. He tried to scramble away but he was jerked back by his long hair. Laughing the man brought out a small knife and slashed a burning cut into the back of Salen's shoulder. The man bit down on the new cut and sucked at Salen's green blood.

Tears streaked Salen's face as the powerful human continued to drink from him. He never understood why his blood was so sought after. He had heard Wilson once say something about it being an aphrodisiac, but he didn't know what that meant. When the human came up for air he made a deep growl of satisfaction.

"Lay down on your back on the bed, Vulcan."

"What?"

"Now!"

"Please just let me go..."

The human shoved Salen forward hard enough to send him to the floor. He reached down and grabbed Salen by the throat and lifted him up. Salen kicked and tried to scream as his air was cut off. The man threw him onto the bed and quickly jumped up and straddled him.

"Get off me! Wilson, help!"

"Why would he help you? I paid handsomely for an hour."

Salen was completely confused, he couldn't imagine what the man would want with him for that long. The man grabbed both of Salen's wrists and pinned them above his head. Weakened by captivity and starvation Salen couldn't free himself even when the man used his free hand to cut more marks into his flesh. Normally Wilson only cut him three or four times in one session, before too long this man had sliced him in more than a dozen places.

"Please stop!" Salen wailed as the white sheet under him became stained green.

"This is the easy part, Vulcan, enjoy this while you can."

Salen threw his head back and screamed at the top of his lung in hopes that Wilson would come save his prized pet from this man. However no help arrived. The man cut one last deep gash into Salen's chest before tossing the knife away. The large diagonal cut would become one of Salen's most distinguishable scars. Right now however Salen doubted he would live long enough to form another scar.

The man crushed his full weight down his victim and started concentrating on sucking on the blood that gushed from Salen's cut skin. The stinging cuts weren't as bad as the horror and panic of being pinned down by the large man. The man suddenly stopped drinking the blood, which now covered them both, and put his hands on the waist band of Salen's pants.

"What are you doing?"

"So you really are a virgin...fun."

"Wha..."

Salen gasped and tried to grab his pants as the man tore them away from him. The thin material ripped easily and Salen was left with just a handful of cloth in his hands. Naked and frightened he fought to free himself. The strong man easily kept him pinned by just pressing one hand against Salen's wounded chest.

"Let me go!" Salen screamed. "Stop, please, stop, let me go, please!"

The man got off Salen to take his own pants off. Not interested in sticking around for show and tell Salen bolted for the door. When he got there he found that it was locked from the outside. He pounded on the wooden door, but it was clear that no one could hear him, at least no one who cared. The human came up from behind and pinned him to the door. His naked flesh pressed against Salen and new panic rose to his throat.

"Please, sto..."

Joanna woke with a violent gasp. Her heart was pounding in her chest and cold sweat drenched her skin. Too terrified by the nightmare to even move she began crying. She felt flesh under her and instinctively knew it was Salen. She had one hand on his shoulder and gripped him tightly as she became lost to an uncontrollable bitter weeping. Salen woke and instantly wrapped his arms around her in a comforting embrace.

"Hush," Salen whispered "it is okay. I have you, you are safe."

"I...I knew you'd find me."

Joanna managed to calm herself as Salen nuzzled the top of her head affectionately. She was still shaking from a combination of the nightmare and the cold sweat mixed with dried blood that was clinging to her skin. Salen rubbed her lower back and took a deep breath. Joanna managed to smile as his actions lifted her up on her perch on his warm chest.

"Salen..." Joanna said softly "I had another one of your nightmares, just like the last time we were together."

"I am so sorry."

"Why is that happening?"

"I still do not know." Salen sighed. "Are you okay?"

"I am fine, thanks to you."

Joanna wiggled up so that she kiss the underside of Salen's jaw. It hadn't come as a surprise to her to wake up naked with an equally naked husband, she didn't know how she knew, but she knew everything that had happened since Salen found her on the broken Intrepid. Salen held her tighter and reached up to run his hand through her hair. She hated to admit it but for a moment his touch brought back memories of Malic's brutality.

Salen suddenly arched his back and cried out in pain. Joanna had to hold on tight just to keep from being thrown off. Salen tore his hand away from where he'd been stroking her face. He weld his eyes shut and panted for breath as he forced himself to settle. Joanna reached out to touch his face but he turned away.

"Salen?"

"I just saw what happened to you...with Malic."

"Salen, you're not supposed to be mind melding anymore."

"I do not mean to."

"Just like sharing your dreams."

Salen nodded sadly. Tired and still chilled Joanna laid her head down on Salen's chest once more and just listened to him breath. She was worried about his growing lost of control, however right now she was just pleased to be with him once more. Salen kissed the top of her head and nuzzled her once more.

"I love you." Salen purred. "I wish I could have killed Malic myself, Michaels..."

"He saved me."

"I know. I will make sure that he gets full post humous honors. My real question is why did Malic kill Bryce? That does not make any sense, they were both invaders on the Intrepid."

"I don't know, it all happened so fast."

"It does not matter, all I care about is that you are safe."

"I'm still cold."

"Would a hot shower help?"

"That depends..." Joanna smiled "will you be there?"

"I could use a shower."

Joanna went to sit up and cringed in pain. Salen sat up and cradled Joanna in his arms. She looked down at her leg and noticed the bone stimulator brace that was working hard to fix her shattered bones. She could walk with the brace on, but Salen didn't give her the chance. He lifted her up and carried her over to the shower.

Joanna reached out and pressed the contact that turned on the hot water. Salen stepped under the streaming water and let it run over their skin. Joanna moaned in pleasure as the hot water washed away the blood and sweat that was caked to her skin. Salen sat down on the shower floor and brought a soapy washcloth with him. Joanna let him scrub her skin before taking it away and using it on him. Salen peacefully allowed her to rub him down with the soapy cloth. She leaned in and gave him a kiss.

"Getting clean and dirty at the same time, I like it." Joanna chuckled.

"I do not understand. The soap only gets you clean, not dirty."

"I have missed you."

Salen and Joanna stayed in the warm water for a few more minutes before Salen carried her back over to the biobed. He went over to a closet and pulled out two pairs of black pants and two black shirts. Handing Joanna a set of the clothing he got dressed himself. Joanna struggled to get the pants on over her brace, but with Salen's help she managed. Sitting on the biobed Joanna reached out and pulled Salen into a warm embrace. Despite being in her arms he seemed so distant.

"Are you okay, Salen?"

"I thought I had lost you."

"I would never let that happen!" Razor's voice boomed as he came into sick bay.

"Razor." Joanna greeted warmly.

"Joanna," Razor stepped up and gave her a shallow bow "lovely as always."

"You're such a charmer, Razor." Joanna shook her head.

"It's just wonderful to have Salen's better half on board."

"I hope my husband hasn't been causing too much trouble."

"He's nothing but."

"I am standing right here, and I have my hearing aids on."

Joanna and Razor chuckled, but Salen just raised an eyebrow at the pair. Joanna suddenly found herself under Razor's intense gaze. She shifted her weight uncomfortably, he'd never looked at her this way before. It was a look she'd expect from a lover, not a friend. After her recent encounter the intimate stare was making her nervous. Razor suddenly took a step back and shook his head.

"Damn it, Salen!" Razor barked.

"What?"

"I'm falling in love with your wife."

Salen drew Joanna closer and glared at Razor. Razor put his hands up in surrender.

"Don't look at me like that, Salen." Razor said. "You're the one not keeping your emotions to yourself."

"Right." Salen relaxed. "I am sorry."

"Salen?" Joanna asked concerned. "What's going on?"

"Nothing."

There was an uncomfortable silence that was interrupted by the intercom.

"Razor?" Toby asked through the intercom.

"What did you find, Toby?"

"The big guy was definitely killed by a Starfleet issue phaser, the other guy however was killed by a different kind of weapon."

"Malic killed Bryce." Salen said simply.

"How do you know their names?"

"Joanna told me. Malic was going to rape her, Bryce tried to stop him and Malic killed him."

"That doesn't make any sense." Razor said. "They turned on each other? Why?"

"That I do not know."

"Toby, anything else?"

"The smaller guy, this Bryce, has a tattoo. That's about all."

"A tattoo? Let's see it."

"It's already in the computer system."

Razor went over to the computer and brought up the image that Toby had taken. Salen stepped up and looked as well. It was the same tattoo that the hostages had all shared. Razor reached up and scratched the back of his head with a confused look.

"They're connected." Razor growled.

"But how?"

"That's the million dollar question."