Home to our joys, home to our sorrows 7
Disclaimer: the plot is mine, nothing else except for a few made up people.
Author's note: Dure to a recent review I have been informed that my story is hard to follow and messed up a bit. Since I like the concept I will continue it nonetheless. However, first of all I wish to apologize for spelling errors as my computer doesn't have spell check. I do have the Io down as a station and not a ship but I didn't know it was on a moon of Jupiter. And with Brumby it appears that was confusing. I was trying to set up that Brumby is manipulative and even if John knew that, it was unoffical protocol in Earthforce to believe the senior officer's word. As for why Susan didn't report him read on to find out...
John woke early the next morning. It was just before dawn. It had been so long since he had seen the sun come up over the horizen. Quickly he dressed in jeans and a tee shirt. The sky was clear, promising a beautiful sunrise. He wanted Susan to see it as well. He debated waking her for a moment, then decided that she could nap later if need be and knocked on her door.
The door was unlocked and he entered just as she began to wake. She was worried at first, but John smiled reassuringly at her. "Hey, "
" Hi." said Susan still drowsily," What's up?"
" Oh nothing just a beautiful morning." said John in an annoyingly cheerful voice.
Susan scowled at him," it's not even sunrise." she pointed out, preparing to turn over and go back to sleep.
" Exactly, come on," he said taking her hand pulling her out of bed, pulling out some loose legged jeans and a teeshirt for her," meet you downstairs in five." going out the door.
When Susan came down dressed, John had fresh coffee already made and handed her a cup. " We still have about 20 minutes til sunrise. I want to show you my favorite place out here. It's about a half mile away. There is the best view of the sun rising from there." It was a few minutes from 5.
Within five minutes they were out the door. The air was fresh and cool; the wind blew gentily. John watched Susan carefully, pleased to discover she was enjoying it.He showed her the horses, and she wanted to ride. John knew she couldn't do that yet and vaguely stepsided the issue. He lead her through the fields and woods to a hill facing the east. They climbed to the top. They were silent as the sky filled with color and then slowly faded to the white light of morning.
Susan finally addressed him," What are they going to do to Brumby?"
" After he recovers, he will be brought to court marshall and after which it will be decided if he will be given brig time."
It was silent again. " Why are we here?" she asked figuring while she was getting answers she might as well ask all the questions.
" It is quiet here. You can rest here. Recover, talk. You know you can talk to me." he said looking her in the eye for an answer.
She nodded " I know." John remained silent, allowing her to gather her thoughts and speak in her own time.
" Brumby... what do you know about what he used to do?"
" Only what you told me, he attempted to rape you."
" He not only attempted, he succeeded." she spat out , then looked as if she had regreted speaking.
John turned towards her completely now, " What?"
She sighed, was silent a moment, then continued. " It happened after I was in a fury accident. There had been raiders and I lead the wing out. We were gone the eight hours it took to arrive at the scene, fight and escort the ship back. I had broken my arm and it was in a cast. My leg had to be stitched up and a few of by ribs were bruised. The doctor wanted me to stay over night as I was the worst of the injuries. I refused. I returned to my quarters. My roommate was on vacation. I was alone. We had some of the crew from the Montana on board, including Brumby's friends. I walked in. It was dark. I called for lights. They didn't turn on. Brumby grabbed me, tried to force me down. I fought him. His friends appeared out of nowhere. There were four of them including Brumby. I fought them as I could, but there were so many, and my arm and leg and midsection hurt, refusing to cooperate. Still it was 15 minutes before I could fight no more. I fell. They hauled me up, carried me to my bedroom. His friends held me down, as he raped me, for two hours straight, I fought so hard, but I couldn't stop him.
Afterward he just left. I just lay there. The next morning I cleaned up and went on shift as usual. I looked a mess but everyone accounted it to the accident. I couldn't face it. My body had betrayed me. I couldn't report it. I was too ashamed. I never told anyone, not even Marcus. It was difficult for me to tell you that he even attempted, but after my baby it doesn't seem so bad, it was so much easier than this hollowness in my heart. "
John looked at her, marveling her strenght and burning hatred for Brumby, for himself for not knowing, for not stopping it. For going along with Brumby.
She looked down at the ground, as if to ashamed to look him in the eye," I am sorry I lied to you." she said quietly.
He lifted her chin up, looking her in the eye. " Susan." It was all he could say, his eyes felt wet, and looking up he saw Susan's were too. He wrapped his arms around her. They remained that way for a long time. When they came apart, she tried to drop her gaze but John refused to allow it. " You did nothing wrong, you are the victim, it is not your fault, you have no reason to be ashamed. You are a strong woman, a strong person, you can make it." She thought over this a moment before weakly smiling and John took her hand, " You'll make it," he repeated," and Brumby is going to pay."