Warning: This chapter contains explicit material that may not be suitable for people under the age of 13. This is because this chapter involves instances of adult situations, that some readers may not like. If you do not like violence, or other instances of material like it, please do not read. Anyone else, enjoy and please, RR.
Sincerely, bondfan
"We won't tell her you told us, Frank" Mwu reassured him, laying a hand on his back.
Frank sighed. "Alright, then." Frank Barkhesh began a story that he hoped he would never have to tell again. One that had left him and his sister scarred for life, both physically and emotionally. He, and the others, would never be the same again.
I grew up in a coal mining town in the Virginia countryside. Nothing was really attractive or flashy about it. The people worked hard and earned whatever they could to sustain a living. The rule in that town was simple: if you didn't have excellent grades in school, or other skills, you worked in the mine. That's where four past generations of my family ended up, two of my relatives even died in that mine.
I was born in that small town. My dad worked in the mine from sunup to sundown, six days a week, and worked a second job at a local lumber yard at night. While we hardly ever saw him around, when he did spend time with us, he was a good dad. Taught us all kinds of stuff, listened to us, payed attention to what we needed. Whenever he could find the time he always took me and Murrue to the only playground in town, if we could even call it that, because their was only one slide and one swing. Murrue and I would push each other on that swing for hours at a time. We really didn't have any other close friends when we were little, so we just stuck by one another. My dad always told me that in some instances, I'd have to look after Murrue and take care of her, and I took that to heart. I was only a kid, but he had the absolute amount of trust in me, and never let me doubt myself. As far as I'm concerned, though I never saw him much, he was the best father I could have ever had.
Which was fortunate for me and my sister, because our mother...well..let's just say, she really didn't take to us the same way. From what I got out of my dad, he met my mom at a dance at the local high school their senior year. They'd gotten together and spent a few months, maybe even a year together. Then my mom got pregnant with me a year after they met. My dad told me my mom was mad as hell, and she always said that this was all his fault. Her parents blamed him too. But because of me, my grandparents had my mom and dad get married. That was about three months before I was born. I was born on May 17, C.E. 42. Though my mom was smiling when she held me hours after I was born, she apparently was still angry that I even existed, and still blamed my dad for what had happened between them.
Three years later Murrue was born, on October 12, C.E. 45. I figured that she was actually brought into this world during some instant of their loving each other. But if that ever existed, I sure didn't see it. My mom never had the career she originally wanted, never even got a job after we came along. She stayed at home with us while my dad worked. She never really payed any attention to either of us. Didn't seem to care what we did or anything else for that matter. She maintained our house pretty well, but that was all she really seemed to care about. The only times she would pay any attention to us was when we did something she didn't like us doing. Then, she went crazy. Believe it or not, I think she still saw us as what my dad had gone and done to her, and what might have been. She still had a lot of anger built inside her, I guessed, and she took it out on us. Every time I screwed up, made a mistake, or just plain did something wrong in her mind, she'd hit me. Hard.
The same for Murrue. My mom ended up breaking my shoulder when I didn't get a good grade on a school test, which was usual because I wasn't very good at it. Murrue had bruises on her skin almost every day. When one would heal up and disappear, my mother would create another one to take its place. Worst part of it was, whenever she'd beat us, she made the other one watch. You can't possibly imagine what I felt when I saw my little sister get beaten by my mother, who was supposed to love and cherish us, and I couldn't do a thing about it.
Even though I was still too young to help her, Murrue looked to me for protection from our mother. Because my dad worked almost all day and night, he had no clue whatsoever what my mother was doing to us. She'd just make up some flimsy excuse that we fell or walked into something for whatever injuries we would get from her. For some reason, my dad believed her. I guess it was because the two of us were too scared to squeal on her in fear that something even worse would happen to either of us.
As I got older, the beatings continued. Since we weren't kids anymore, and our bodies became better in tuned with defending ourselves, my mom got even worse. I almost died once when she smashed a rolling pin on my head, and knocked me out, all because I'd crashed and wrecked the brand new bicycle her parents had given me for my birthday. I think she would have let me die...if Murrue hadn't called 911 and the emergency crews gotten their quick enough that is. My mother told them that I'd slipped on something and cracked my head against the counter-top, and Murrue had to support the testimony because my mother would go after her next if she didn't. I ended up in the hospital for four weeks, with a major concussion. My dad was by my bedside every instant that I was in there, waiting for me to wake up. He never left my side, the doctors told me when I woke up, finally. I ended up having to take medication for another six months after that, to make the pain in my head stop. I've still got that bump on my head today, and every time I lay down in bed, I think I can feel it lingering there.
When I came home and saw Murrue for the first time since that day, she jumped up into my arms like she hadn't seen me in twenty years. Then I noticed the bruises on her face. I asked her"What happened? What did mom do to you while I was gone"
"She beat me again" she answered. "She hit me dad's lantern and cut my face. It burned me. It hurt so badly...oh, Frank" She threw herself into me and cried up against my shoulder. I'd never heard her sob so loudly in the nine years I'd known her. It was then that my whole attitude towards my mother changed. I realized that I couldn't just stand around while she went and beat the crap out of us every time we did something that didn't fit with her brain's, if you could call it that, idea of a good household. I'd have to stand up for myself and Murrue.
Just then, my mother noticed I was back and stalked up towards us. She yanked Murrue from my arms and screamed at her"I thought I told you to sweep the deck! It looks like a dog went and crapped on it" She went and slapped Murrue across the face. You could hear that shot from miles around. I heard my sister cry, and saw tears coming down her bruised face. At that moment, I finally took my stand against my mother's aggression against us.
I ran up and grabbed hold of my mother's arm, and twisted it like I'd seen the bullies on the school-yard do it. She yelped in pain, or surprise, whatever it was, and jerked back. I pulled Murrue away from her and put my body in front of hers to protect her. My mother shouted"You brat! How dare you do that to me! Do you want to end up in the hospital again, or"
"Shut up" I whispered.
What did you say?" my mother hissed.
"I said, shut up, mom" I repeated, louder this time. "I'm not gonna let you hit Murrue again. You can take your bitterness and anger out on me, but don't you ever lay a hand on my sister again"
I think my mother was so shocked, that it took the words right out of her mouth. For a few weeks, I thought I had gotten through to her. She didn't beat us, our wounds and scars healed. We were actually able to walk through the house without a fear of her coming after us. Talk about a change of lifestyle. It didn't last.
About a month after I'd told her off, I came home from school, bruised and bloodied. Some wise guy had pushed a girl I kind of liked and I had gone after him. Ended up busting the kid's nose with my fist, and ended up with a sprained wrist myself. I'd gotten suspended from school and they threatened to expell me if I didn't shape up. I really didn't care what they thought anyway. I was tired of school at that point and wanted to quit right then and there.
My dad wasn't home, he'd been at work at the coal mine's all day. When I walked in the door, my mother was waiting. Seems the school had called her about the fight and told her the entire story. She was angry, and she said"What were you thinking"
"I don't really appreciate it when a tough guy shoves a girl" I responded. "Kind of like you, you know."
Now, I was thirteen at that time. I'd entered middle school, and was accustomed to talking back to people I didn't really like. I'd never done that to my mother though, and I'd live to regret it. My mom charged up to me and grabbed me by the shirt collar and yelled"You little bastard! How dare you talk to me like that! If it wasn't for you and your stupid sister, I'd be out of this town and out on my own! But you cost me that" She threw me down on the floor and ripped the back of my shirt off in the process. The next thing I saw was her standing over me with an old extension cord in her hand. "YOU COST ME EVERYTHING"
She whipped the extension cord down on me, the end of it striking me in the middle of the back. I never screamed so hard in my life. That thing cut open a hole in my back the size of a golfball, and blood seeped out of it like a raging river. My mother had absolutely lost it. She hit me twice more in the back, each time the end of the cord penetrated and cut me deeply. Each time she repeated her phrase, at the top of her lungs. I began thinking that she would actually kill me this time. That she had completely lost control of herself and would end up killing me. One strike to the head with that thing and I'd be gone. Out of her life forever.
As she brought the extension cord up again, I could see the fire burning in her wicked eyes. She was going to kill me. Then...I felt something press against my back. It wasn't hard like the extension cord. Instead, it was soft and warm. There were two of them. Then I heard a voice. "Stop it! Don't hurt him anymore! Please! He's hurt enough! Please, stop it" It was Murrue. She was shielding me with her own body. She had put herself in harm's way to protect me. I would've yelled at her to get away and run and find dad, but I couldn't talk...the pain was so bad that it was completely blacking out my other senses. I'd lost a lot of blood, and my back was spasming constantly. I could barely see Murrue's face as she knelt beside me, holding me to her. Understand. Murrue was only ten, and she's standing up to our mother who would've loved to kill either one of us and just leave this town. It wasn't usually a fight that she could win.
My mother shouted"Get away from him you brat! You want to end up like him too"
"Stop it" Murrue screamed again. "Please, don't kill him"
My mother didn't listen she grabbed Murrue and slammed the back of her hand across her face, knocking her to the floor. I saw her fall...heard her cry out...saw the tears come falling next to her limp body...sob...I couldn't take it anymore. We were both going to die, I knew it.
Then I heard another sound. The front door opened slowly. My mom raised her hand and was ready to strike me again, when a sharp sound errupted from behind me. It scared the crap out of my mom and I saw her jump. Smoke billowed from a hole in the floor that had appeared out of nowhere. I managed to turn my head just enough to make out a figure standing in the doorway. It was my father. His mighty form and strong hands standing out in the light of the early afternoon. An object was cluthced in his right hand, smoke puring from the front portion of it. The Watlher P99 pistol. That was the first time I'd ever seen him use it on a real person. His face was both shocked and angered at the same time. My mother was shocked beyond belief. The next thing I knew, my father had hoisted me and Murrue into the truck he'd driven home from work and was speeding as quickly as he could to the hospital in the next town over.
Along the road, I could hear my dad grumbling to himself. Cursing his idiocy for not realizing what his wife had been doing this whole time to the kids he loved to much. We finally reached the hospital, and were rushed into the emergency room. Murrue woke up later that night, so my father told me. I had fallen unconscious in the front seat of his truck on the way to the hospital. I'd lost almost a quart of blood from the deep wounds my mother had given me that day. I finally awoke two days later. I had been put through surgery in an attempt to fix my injured back, but the doctors said that I would have a nasty scar on my back for the rest of my life, until it healed. It's still there to this day. A constant reminder of my childhood.
I later learned that the same night my father had brought us to the emergency room, he'd telephoned his lawyer and filed an official divorce claim against my mother. My father was determined to protect us from the madwoman he used to call his wife. He was going for full custody of the two of us, despite the fact that he had no real place to stay now that he had left his house, and we were living with our grandparents in another town. However, my mother was determined to fight for custody of us as well. She wanted to blame everythign on my father, and finally get him out of her life once and for all. She wanted the whole world to see that it was his fault all this had happened in her life.
The first day in court, things went horribly for my father and our case. My grandparents had hired the best lawyer in the state to act on behalf of my mother. He was good alright. Since this was a custody case, the judge would decide the final outcome. There was no jury. My mother testified that the injuries I'd received that night were from the fight I'd been in that afternoon. Since I was under oath, I had to clarify that I'd been in a fight beforehand. While my father's lawyer insisted that the injuries I'd received couldn't have come from an ordinary school fight, the judge was undismayed.
My mother then brought up a point that my father wouldn't take care of us in any close way to the way she could. Her family was wealthy and had plenty of resources to satisfy our needs. My father was an only child, and his parents were gone. He worked two jobs, so he wouldn't be able to take care of us in the times when he wasn't working. The lawyer also argued that my father had an alcohol problem and that it was his fault that we'd been injured so many times. To tell you the truth, my dad did drink on occassions, but not as much as my mother claimed.
Despite the testimony of myself, Murrue, and my father, the judge ruled in favor of our mother and she was awarded full custody of us both. However, the judge made a surprise ruling on my behalf that surprised us all. Since I was thirteen years old, she considered me an adult, and allowed me to make the decision as to which parent I would go with. Murrue was only ten, so she had no choice in the matter. Because I knew what my mother would do to her, I was determined to stay with my sister, no matter what the hell my mother did to me. But Murrue was the one who told me that I should go with my father, and just get out while I still could. I persistantly told her that I'd be there to protect her and that I wouldn't leave her...she didn't stand a chance against my mother alone...
It was then that Murrue jabbed me in the back with her fist, in exactly the same spot where my scar was. The pain was incredible, and I almost fell over. "I don't want to see you go through that again, Frank..." Murrue said, kneeling down beside me. With tears in her eyes, she added"You go live with dad...it's better that one of us gets out, than neither of us...at least this way...one of us will have a happy life..."
I cried my eyes out. Minutes later, the custody officers came to take Murrue to my mother. Before we left each other's arms, I whispered"I'll come back for you sis...I promise...I won't leave you, I'll come back for you someday...I won't forget...I promise..." The officer pulled us apart and took Murrue away. I stood there...watched her disappear around the corner of the hallway...sob...I knew I'd never see her again...sob
sob...sorry...something in my eye...Alright where was I? After the court case, my dad and I moved out of town and out of the state. He'd secured a job at a new steel plant in southern Pennsylvania, and we moved there in C.E. 55. Compared to my old town, this was paradise. Small white houses dotted every street, trees were abundant and playgrounds were everywhere. People were friendly. They said hello, and patted each other on the back whenever something didn't go right. Though I admired these people for trying to accept us for who we were, I didn't get too close to them. It brought back too many bad memories. Every once in a while, whenever I'd fall asleep at night, I could hear my sister scream. I saw her getting beaten by my mother. I'd wake up in the middle of the night, sweat pouring down my face, my body trembling. I went through therapy at the local high school where I was enrolled, and eventually learned to block out those dreams and thoughts.
For the next years, things got better. I managed to make my way through school and graduated. My dad was determined to make something out of me, and not have me end up in the steel plant like he did. He'd been saving up extra money since I was born to send me somewhere where I could flourish into something good. He didn't know where to send me, until he met one of my teachers at a school luncheon. I'd taken aviation and flight training courses at the school, and my teacher said I had the best potential he'd ever seen in a kid my age. My father was flattered, and later that night, he met another man. He met John. He was passing through Pennsylvania looking for new recruits for Sheldon, and he'd heard about an aspiring young student at the school. That was me. He and my father talked for endless hours, and though we didn't have enough money to enroll me, John managed to secure a scholarship to pay for my entry.
So, in C.E. 61, I moved to California. To the academy. That's where I met you and Hugh, Mwu. Even though I was a good distance from any of my family, I'd always have thoughts of what was happening to my sister back in Virginia. She'd write to me occassionally, once every couple of months. I knew she had written them, because I knew her handwriting and her smell. If something had happened to her, I'd know about it in her letters. From what she told me, things were going alright. My mother had remarried, and I had a step-dad now. That shocked me altogether, because I had no idea why anyone in hell would want to marry my mother. I wanted to go back and visit her, but I could never find the time because of my busy academy schedule.
I didn't tell anyone at the academy about my family except John. He was the only one that knew, and he had promised my father that he wouldn't say a word to anyone about our personal lives, unless we had said it first. That's why I didn't tell you I had a sister, Mwu.
My dad would come by the academy every once in a while, when I was there. He'd come on long weekends and just take me around to different places. My dad and I became really close on those trips. He taught me how to shoot properly on one of those trips. He let me use the Walther he'd fired at my mother on empty cans along a wooden fence. He also told me that I was to never fire it at a human being like he had done, only in the most extreme of circumstances. Though I sucked at first, by my twenty-first birthday, I could hit every one without even trying. On that day, when I tried to give it back to my dad, he shook his head. "You've earned it son. It's better off in your hands now. Happy Birthday."
When we got back to the academy, he dropped another bombshell. "Since you have a long weekend, I've made arrangements for us to go back to Virginia and see your sister, Murrue." I was walking on cloud nine after that statement. I couldn't wait to see her again. Tell her all my stories. Not the ones about how the three of us, me, Mwu, and Hugh, shoved M80's into the gun launchers on some of the planes of course, that would make me look stupid. She'd sent me pictures of herself through the years, to show me if she had changed or not. To me, she was still the same girl she was when we'd last left each other's embrace eight years previous. I was looking forward to this all the way on the plane ride home.
We arrived in my hometown on May 18, C.E. 63. It was raining that day. It fell in sheets upon the houses in the town. It hadn't changed much, the smell of coal dust from the mine still in the air. I drove the car as we sped through the streets and toward my old house. As we got closer, the rain picked up. Lightning flashed in the distance. The thunder crashed. If there was a worse omen for what was to come, I didn't see it coming.
I parked the car on the curb in front of the house. It was still the same, the front porch light still burning dimly in the evening skies. I had to pull my overcoat up to my chin in order to block out the fierce winds that had come about. My father managed to say"When we get inside, try not to say anything to your mother! I'll deal with her"
"O.K" I returned. I knocked on the door as loud as I could, but no one answered. I tried again. Still no answer. My father came up beside me and turned the doorknob. It was open. That was strange. The door opened with its usual creaking sound, and we stepped inside. The hallways were still the same color and the lights were in the same place, casting their dim glow across the already darkened hallway. "Murrue" I called. There was no answer. I kept calling her name as I hung my coat up on the rack by the front door. My dad had gone deeper into the house to look for any sign of someone home. He too was calling my sister's name. I stood in the front room for the longest time. My eyes would slowly maneuver across the room from one wall to the next. Nothing was making a sound. This is bad, I thought to myself.
"Aaagh" The scream made me jump...my eyes darted from one direction to the next, trying to find it's location. "Aaaaghhh" It came again, louder this time. I knew who it was...Murrue...and she was in trouble.
My dad had heard the sound as well...he was on the staircase and went running up it...he ran faster than I'd ever seen him go...I tried to keep up with him...but he was too fast...
I'd isolated the screams location. An upstairs bedroom...Murrue's bedroom. Before I could stop my dad...he'd flung the door open...I was a hallway's length behind him...so I got a perfect view...sob...when...the shots rang out...
My dad fell backwards...sob...shot in the chest...blood poured out from his wounds..."DAD"...I shouted. I ran up towards the open door...my dad had fallen into the doorway...so when I...reached him...I...sob...I...sob...saw...what...was happening...just before...I had to...sob...duck behind the door...to avoid being shot...myself...
My...step-dad...sob...had shot...my father...to keep him from...seeing what...was...happening. Because...because...sob...he...he...he was...sob...sob...sob...he was...he was raping my sister! SOB SOB SOB She was...on the floor...sob...screaming...crying...sob...and...and...my...mother...was...standing there...sob...watching...sob...smiling...
I don't...really...remember...what happened next...except...for my...motions. I...removed, the Walther...from my jacket's pocket. Leaned into the doorway, just enough so I could see my step-dad, and my sister. I saw her face. It was terrified. Bruises and burns streaked across it. I...must...have...let my...emotions get the best of me. What I remember next is...pointing the Walther...centering the aim...cocking it...my step-dad...turned towards the doorway...and I pulled the trigger. I saw him collapse, a giant hole in his head where the bullet had struck home. To tell you the truth...I'd never felt better in my life.
I finally, moved into the doorway...and saw my mother move towards Murrue, who was lying on the floor...seemingly out of it...her eyes were open, but she wasn't moving. My mother grabbed my step-dad's limp body, and threw it off of her. I heard her shout"YOU BASTARD" She tried to hit Murrue, but then she noticed I was pointing the gun at her. For minutes, we stared each other down...neither of us moving...like arch-enemies in a last-man showdown from the old west.
I can remember saying"Let her go mom" quietly, but forcefully. She didn't move. I shouted it again, louder this time. Once again, she didn't move. My heart was thumping in my chest...sweat poured down my head...my hand trembled. Then my mother smirked..."You don't have the guts" she mocked...I didn't respond. She shouted and raised her hand to strike Murrue, but I was quicker...I shot her in the chest...I knew I'd killed her when I fired it.
My mother fell...dead on impact. I slowly lowered the Walther to my side. I'd killed my mother and my step-dad...in a span of five minutes. Before I could do anything else, I heard my dad groan. I turned, and saw him attempt to move, blood seeping out of his wounds. I ran to him...took his head in my lap...and held him, telling him to stay awake. He asked...what happened to my mother...
"I shot her..." I responded. My dad smiled.
Then...I heard movement. From beside me, Murrue stirred...she rolled onto her side...her face was bruised and burned...her eyes bloodshot from crying. Her autumn colored hair was a mess...her tattered clothes hanging to her body. She saw me and my dad...she knew he was hurt. As quickly as she could...she crawled over my step-dad's dead body...and made her way...to where we were..."Daddy..." she managed to whisper.
My dad slowly turned his head, blood trickling from his mouth and nose, and saw his daughter...for the first time...in eight years. "Murrue..." he said, barely able to find his voice. Murrue slowly nodded. "Murrue..." my dad repeated. I knew he was dying...his breath was coming in shallow heaves...his chest was barely even rising. Murrue knew this too...for tears continued to flow down her face. Weakly...my dad reached his hand up...and stroked my sister's cheek. "Oh...Murrue...you're so beautiful..." he said. "...My...princess...my beautiful princess..." His eyes managed to somehow look at us both. "You...are...together again. My work...is...done..." His hand fell from Murrue's face, his breathing stopped. My father was dead.
Murrue held his hand as it fell, crying her eyes out, for whatever it was worth. I held my father's limp body...trying to tell myself...that it wasn't true...he couldn't be gone. But finally...I...let him go. I came to my sister...and held her to me. She clung tightly to me...crying into my shoulder. I took my jacket off...draped it across her shoulders...so she wouldn't be cold. I managed...to take her out of the house...and get her into the car. I took her to the hospital...where I'd spent countless hours because of my mother's abuse. Murrue and I cried many nights together there after that.
Finally...I had to go back to California. I told my grandparents...what had happened. They didn't want to believe it...until they saw Murrue in the hospital. My grandmother hugged me for dear life...telling me how sorry she was. I couldn't really blame her...anybody would've done the same...if they'd learned what their grandchildren had been put through.
Before I left...Murrue...and I...buried my father. We were the only two present...when he was laid to rest.
As I walked towards the plane back to California...I hugged my sister. As we stood there...she whispered..."Thank you..."
"For what..." I answered weakly.
"You kept your promise..." she said. "You came back...and you didn't forget...I love you Frank..."
"I love you too Murrue" I said. I boarded the plane and went back to California. When I got back, I told John what had happened. He promised to cover the entire thing up. He put me through therapy with the best psychiatrist the area had to offer. I eventually was able to virtually erase all memories of that night, May 18, C.E. 63. I stayed at Sheldon for my last year...and entered the military a year later. It was then that I learned that Murrue had entered another academy on the east coast. She graduated three years after I did, and entered the military in C.E. 69. We managed to stay in touch...despite the fact that we were so far apart. The memories we shared...from our fearsome childhood...always were on our minds...no matter where we went. We didn't dare mention it to one another...or anyone else for that matter. It was something we just wanted to forget...but unfortunately...as you can now see...those things...can never...be forgotten...
Frank sighed as his story came to a close. Painful as they were, it somehow felt good to get it off of his chest. His head was focused on the bar counter in front of him. His eyes were dim. When he finally glanced in another direction, the first person he saw was Mwu. His right hand was covering his eyes, his mouth was pressed tightly closed. He didn't say anything. "What's the matter, Mwu" Frank asked quietly.
"I'm sorry..." Mwu whispered. "I'm sorry I made you tell that Frank..." He removed his hand from his face and Frank could see the trails of tears down his cheeks. "I should've never asked you to recall that..."
"It's alright, buddy" Frank answered. "I feel better anyway. Just hope Murrue's doing alright though."
"I'll go check on her, and see you back here tomorrow morning then, O.K." Mwu asked. "Lieutenant. Good night." With that, Mwu quickly made his exodus from the bar.
Frank downed the rest of his beer and set it on the counter with a clang. He licked his lips to savor the rest of the liquid, but it was then that he realized that there was still someone else in the bar besides him. He looked to his left to cast his glance on Natarle. She was still sitting on the bar stool, her head down, eyes opened slightly. Her arms were folded on the counter and she held her mineral water in her right hand. Frank moved towards her and waved his hand in front of her face to try and get her attention. "Huh" she said, snapping out of it. When she realized who it was, she relaxed.
"What's the matter" Frank asked. Then he sighed. "Don't blame yourself. It doesn't make a difference now anyway."
"Thank you" Natarle answered, getting up. "Thanks for the drink Commander." She started walking out of the bar and into one of the corridors.
Frank followed after her and managed to catch up to her. "Something else is wrong. What's wrong Lieutenant"
"I feel bad about it" Natarle said, not even bothering to look at the person beside her. "I...I was critical of the way the Captain was running the ship...I said she was soft...I should have known about something like this...that's why she's not as tough on everyone as one would like her to be."
"She's afraid she'll end up like her mother" Frank agreed. "Don't worry, you didn't know."
"I should apologize to her sometime. She's been as good a friend to me as anyone I've ever met. And yet I've turned a cold shoulder to everything she's said." They reached a point in the corridor where another one came across it. Natarle stopped and said"I'm not going to report the assault in my report, just to let you know Commander. After what just happened, I can understand why you did it. Probably was my fault it happened anyway, because I let those two idiots open their mouths..."
Her shoulders slumped and she shivered. Frank moved up behind her and laid a soft hand on her shoulder. "It's O.K. Natarle" he reassured her. "Don't worry, it wasn't your fault. My sister and I will be O.K."
She turned her head ever so slightly and saw his hand on her shoulder. "You know that's sexual harassment. Right, Commander"
"Huh? Oh...yeah...sorry 'bout that" he stuttered, removing his hand. "Guess I got carried away."
"Yeah, I kinda sensed that" Natarle answered. She turned to the older man and said"If you get the chance, later on, tell the Captain that I'll try to be more cooperative with her on the bridge from now on, O.K."
"Sure, but it probably would be better if you went and told her yourself" Frank admitted. "But I'll go and do it anyway."
"Thanks, I'm not really too good at those sort of things" she said. She turned her head and added"Happens to be one of my weaknesses."
"We've all got that problem, Lieutenant. Just something we gotta get used to." Frank glanced at his watch, which was pretty much useless in space because there were no time zones, and said"About time I got started on my shift."
"Yeah, I've got to get going as well" Natarle said. "Once again, thank you for the drink Commander."
"Call me Frank...if you want to of course. I mean...when we're off duty...we are...technically friends aren't we..." he scratched his head when those words came out.
Natarle had a puzzled expression on her face as well, but said"Alright. I'll let you call me by my name too. But only if we're off duty and there's no one else around. Got it"
"Yes, ma'am" Frank answered.
Natarle saluted, but instead of returning it, Frank held his hand out towards her. "Friends" he said.
She slowly moved her hand into his own, and managed a slight smile. "Friends."
Frank returned the smile and released her hand. He spun on his heal and floated down the corridor, leaving her in his wake. She watched him go. He's a strange one... she thought. One minute, he's a military man with nothing but business at hand on his mind, and the next, he's a happy-go-lucky son of a gun. Never met many like him. When he was out of sight, she turned and headed down the corridor towards the bridge. It was then that she discovered that there was a weight in her hand, the one the Commander had shook a minute earlier. She opened her palm, and was shocked by what she saw. It was a cross. Not much bigger than her finger nail. It was coated with silver and sparkled in the lighting above her. On each one of the ends, rested a jewel, each one a different color and type. A topaz on the top, an emerald on the right. Amethyst on the left, and diamond on the bottom. Each color reflected a different color of light, turning the skin that they reflected onto the same color. The cross was attached to a beaded chain which completed a necklace. It was beautiful. Natarle turned her head quickly behind her, but there was no one there. Did he give this to me? she wondered. She focused her glance on the silver cross again, staring at it for the longest time. Slowly, her palm closed on the cross and the jewels encompassed in it, squeezing it softly with her hand. She felt herself smile a little, as she brought the object into her uniform jacket's pocket. She deposited it, and headed back towards the bridge, her mind and body feeling refreshed and somewhat happy.
Meanwhile, Mwu was in a different part of the ship, wobbling from one corridor to the next, trying to set his mind straight. Damn it, he thought. I should've known. Then they wouldn't have had to go through it again. I'm such an idiot! He was also suffering from a lack of sleep that had been derived from him by his duties, both in the hangars, and on the bridge. Accidently, he smashed his face into a wall and mashed his nose. Crying out quickly and quietly, he rubbed his nose and found that it didn't hurt. In his daze, he'd wandered into the corridor that contained his quarters, and those of the other officers on board the Archangel. Suddenly, he felt as if he had been awake for days. He started towards his corridor, but stopped when he heard a sound.
It came from the room he was standing in front of now. It belonged to Murrue, her personal quarters. Leaning closer to the door, trying not to make any noise whatsoever, he pressed his ear to the door and listened. He heard crying. Sobs and small cries coming from inside. He knew it was Murrue based on her voice. And based on what Frank had just told him, he knew what she was crying about. He was about to open the door when he remember the promise he'd made to Frank before he told the story. "We won't tell her you told us, Frank." He pulled his hand back from the door. He nodded and began heading away from the door, but then her heard her crying again. He stopped, and sighed. I'm technically her boyfriend now. I'm supposed to be there for her. He moved back towards the door and held his hand up to knock. He hesitated for a moment, and then knocked twice, softly. No one else in the corridor could have heard it.
There was no response at first, but then came"Who is it" muffled between sobs.
"It's me" Mwu said quietly.
"What do you want" she said.
"C-can I come in..." He waited for her response, but the door opened without him even touching it. He leaned into the doorway and looked around. The room was dark, no lights were on. The small desk was empty and everything was silent. As he moved inside and closed the door behind him, he saw her. She was lying on the bed, her knees pulled close to her. Her face was lying sideways on the pillow, a mess of hair and tears. Her uniform jacket was hung up on the coat rack, and her shoes lay beside the bed. Mwu slowly made his way towards her.
"Well...what do you want" Murrue said.
Mwu sat down gingerly on the bed and didn't speak for a few moments. She didn't make a sound. Mwu could see the tears in her eyes though. He knew she was going through hell again, that night when she'd been raped. "Frank...told me. He...told me...what happened...to you..." Murrue's eyes snapped open, and she sat up slightly, staring at him with a feared look in her eyes. Mwu noticed her stare, and felt even worse. "What happened...when you were kids..."
"He told you" Murrue shouted, scaring Mwu a little. She got to her knees and grabbed the collar of Mwu's shirt, bringing him to within inches of her face, which was shaking visibly. "He told you! He promised he wouldn't"
Mwu's mouth went aghast. Murrue had never been this upset in the months he'd known her. He couldn't blame her however. She released him violently and collapsed back onto the bed, crying into her pillow loudly. Mwu heard her sob. Gently, he laid a hand on the small of her back. "Just...to let you know...Frank...wasn't happy about it either...he...beat the crap out of the guy who got you upset..."
"So what" he heard her say. "It doesn't make a difference. He promised me he wouldn't tell anyone what happened to us. He promised me..." The rest of her sentence was drowned out in sobs.
Mwu shut his eyes and sighed. "Look. Murrue...I'm sorry. I didn't know. I was the one who made Frank tell...if you're going to get mad at anyone...get mad at me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry about all that happened."
She didn't respond. Mwu was about to take his leave, when she said his name. He turned and saw her face looking at him again, the orbs of her eyes larger than he'd ever seen them. "What...did Frank tell you..."
Mwu said"He told me about your mother. What she did to you. How your dad was the only one that loved you. About his scar on his back, and how you saved him."
"I saved him" she said. "He said that"
Mwu turned back to face her and said"Yes. He did. He said that you were the reason he wasn't dead already." He sat back down on the edge of the bed. "He also said that he was upset beyond belief when you were separated from him. You were the only reason that he went back to your hometown. To see you." Murrue had sat up again and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "He told me what happened between you and your step-dad. What...he...did to you. How he shot your mother and him both." Mwu looked at the woman who was sitting next to him and said. "I'm sorry. It may not be the best apology that you'll get...but...from my vantage point, I'm sorry. Your mother was bitch. A cruel woman who didn't even deserve to have kids. You didn't deserve her for a mother. You deserved so much better. You're too kind to have a mother like that. You're too good a human being. So, I'm sorry...for what happened to you...and what I've done to you...that may have upset you. I'm sorry."
Murrue's eyes were still dripping tears as she stared at him. Her lips were trembling. Suddenly, she threw herself at Mwu and hugged him fiercely. "Mwu" she shouted, holding onto him for dear life. Mwu was so shocked that he didn't even know what to do. Finally, he wrapped his right arm around her and held her head with his left. "It's O.K. It's O.K." he soothed her.
"She was horrible Mwu..." Murrue cried into his shoulder. "She was horrible..." They stayed like that for minutes, holding onto each other, savoring each other's presence.
"At least you had one good parent." Mwu was shocked when those words left his mouth. Murrue was too, for she moved her head off of his shoulder and looked at him with a shocked expression on her face. Mwu continued, though he really didn't want to. "You...at least...had your father who liked you. Me. Neither of my parents cared for me. I just got stuck with my nanny when I was little."
"What do you mean" Murrue asked.
"My parents were...rich. My dad was a big businessman who was gone all the time. Even when he was home, he didn't pay attention to me. My mom was too concerned with the popular trends of the time to even care about caring for me." Mwu sighed. "They didn't even know I existed. That's at least what I thought."
"Oh, you poor thing..." Murrue said quietly, laying a hand on his shoulder.
"They didn't deserve to be parents. I don't even think my dad considered me his son. They died in a house fire when I was little, so they never even got the chance, even if they'd wanted to, which I doubt they did." Mwu looked at the beautiful woman who was still clinging to him. He looked into her brown eyes, which in turn looked deeply into his blue ones. "What I'm trying to say is...you're not the only one who's had horrible parents. All of us, even people on this ship, we've all had problems with our parents. Some more severe than others, but still, they were problems." He brushed a lock of autumn colored hair behind her ear and stroked her cheek. "Murrue Ramius. You're not alone. You have us. The people on board this ship. Your friends. Your brother. Me. We'll be there for you. No matter what. None of us will let anything like that happen to you again. Never again." He brought her face to his and kissed her softly, warmly. He heard her moan quietly in his mouth as their lips pressed against one another. He released her and said"Do you trust me" She nodded slowly, her mouth wide in awe. "Good. I'll see you later, then." He rose to leave, but was restrained by her grasp.
"No, Mwu" Murrue said, louder than she meant to. He looked down at her confused. She brought him back down towards her and said"Don't go. Stay here, with me. Please..."
"Why" he asked.
"I just don't want to be alone." She moved in and kissed him. "Besides. You said you'd protect me." Mwu felt a smile come across his face.
"How can I refuse an offer from such a pretty lady" he said, taking her into his arms again. They laid down on the bed and held each other in their arms, not even bothering to say a word. Before he knew it, Murrue was sound asleep in his arms, breathing normally, snuggled up against his chest. She looked so much like an angel that he didn't even bother trying to wake her. Her lips were curved into a smile, which caused him to smile as well. Soon, he was asleep too.