TW: sexual assault, violent death
Chapter 19: Company of thieves
"Don't help them, Colonel. That's an order!" Emerson shouted. As the Luxian Alliance officer fired, she watched the surprise and pain paint itself on Colonel Emerson's face, she hiccupped. Shocked. Paul looked at her, seemed to beg for her help and then collapsed. Sam felt her breath catch in her throat as Anateo came up to her and brushed against her. She had known from the first minutes that this man was a predator. The way he looked at her, the way he devoured her with his eyes. She knew that unlike Emerson, her death would not be quick, nor would it be by bullet. She could see it in his eyes as he approached her.
"I believe that now makes you the ranking officer on this ship, Colonel Carter. I suggest you get to work. Unless there's something else you'd rather do."
(...)
She worked slowly, her mind struggling to stay focused as Lieutenant Emerson's body cooled only a few feet away from her. Anateo couldn't take her eyes off of her, an unhealthy desire in her eyes. She worked slowly, trying to find a way to free the crew and regain control of the Odyssey, a powerful headache paralyzing her thoughts. She wiped away the perspiration that beaded on her forehead and her clumsy fingers dropped the tool she was using on the floor.
"You're dragging this out...Sam." She hated hearing him say her first name. She felt like he was smearing it. That he was stealing something, a right that belonged only to those closest to him. He was taking a perverse pleasure in it, creating a false intimacy between them. He had moved quickly to crouch beside her and hand her the tool she had dropped. He stretched out his hand and wanted to replace a lock behind her ear. The military woman disengaged herself with a shake of her head, preventing the unwanted contact. "Taratata." He lectured her, blocking her chin in the palm of his hand. He squeezed, preventing her from pulling away. "But where are your manners, Sam?" He squeezed her so hard that her jaw snapped, making her teeth clatter. She bit her tongue. That's when he forced his way to her lips. She struggled, but he crushed it of all his weight against the partition of the vessel, she tried to bite him, but he opened her mouth of force, pressing on the articulation of her jaw. She was powerless, completely blocked. He licked the wound on his tongue, tasting the flavor of the blood right in the wound. Then as abruptly as he had acted, he released her. She spat in his face. He laughed, "Delightfully fierce... Oh yes, I have a feeling we'll get along just fine Sam."
(...)
"Colonel, what happened? You've been gone for hours...Where's Colonel Emerson?" She shook her head negatively, tears streaming down her cheeks. Emerson was dead. His body lay on the floor of her ship. "Colonel, are you all right?"
She tried to hold back her tears, but could not. She felt his hands on her skin, his tongue against hers, his erection against her belly. She tried to hold on to the ring that hung on her plates, but she didn't... she couldn't. She felt dirty. Her stomach heaved and she vomited.
"Doctor, come quickly!" Alarmed Major Marks, catching her as she wavered.
"No... I... I'm fine, let go of me Major." She tried to command him, but he wouldn't listen. So she pushed him away. She pulled away from his arms, not being able to stand the touch of another man after what she had been through on the bridge.
(...)
"I've always felt civilization can be judged by two things-its food, and its women. I'd say yours is only half-way there." He handed her the package of cake so she could help herself; she ignored him. He had given her four hours to rest before he had her brought back to the Gateway. He wasn't alone with her, which should have reassured her. Nevertheless, she was determined to make sure the crew could escape. That was the plan she had devised with Marks in the cargo bay. "Hmm? I don't blame you." The libidinous expression on his face disgusted her. He had searched her thoroughly when she returned, to make sure she hadn't managed to steal a weapon. "But you have to keep up your strength. You have a whole ship to fix."
"You know, that could take the rest of my life." She provoked him. She had decided to bury everything she had experienced under his care in a corner of her mind. Mobilizing all her concentration to escape from his surveillance. She would think about what had happened later.
"Whether that is long, or painfully short, is up to you." She looked up at him, it was written all over her face. He wished it was long and painful.
(...)
He knew. He stepped forward, gun pointed at her, turned on the radio to threaten Daniel and Vala. She knew it could end like this. Yet she didn't close her eyes or flinch. She wouldn't give him the pleasure.
"Doctor Jackson, Vala? Just wanted to let you know that your duplicity has already forfeited Colonel Carter's life. Unless you surrender immediately, the rest of the crew is next." Anateo menaced, pointing the gun at her face.
"No one else is going to fix this ship." She didn't take her eyes off him. At no time did she stare at the weapon. She looked him in the eye. Challenging him. She wanted him to know that despite what he had put her through. Emerson's execution, the sexual assault, she would not flinch. She was Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter of the United States Air Force, she would survive.
I think it's pretty clear that you've just been stalling and that you're not really going to fix it for me anyway. I'm just going to have to figure it out for myself."
"Good enough." She exhaled loudly and let herself sink back into the onboard console chair.
COLORADO SPRINGS - HOME OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL SAMANTHA CARTER
She was curled up under the shower in her room. Sitting on the floor, she let the water run over her reddened skin from long minutes of scrubbing. Dr. Laam had been very gentle in her medical examination, isolating Samantha in a room and taking pictures of her injuries for the record. The bruises that covered her chest, jaw and arms showed Anateo's brutal assault on her. Dr. Laam had taken blood and saliva samples for testing. The doctor had been very delicate, asking her questions with professionalism, Sam had related the facts with coldness. Dr. Laam suggested that she see Dr. Mackenzie to deal with the trauma of the sexual assault she had suffered and the brutal execution of Colonel Emerson in front of her. The soldier rebelled, claiming that she had not been raped, only brutalized.
"Colonel Carter," Dr. Laam replied softly, "sexual assault does not necessarily mean rape. What this man did to you, the bruising and non-consensual contact... You were sexually assaulted. You may choose to deal with what happened on your own, or you may need professional help. It's your choice; everyone deals with trauma in their own way. Know, however, that you can change your mind at any time."
As soon as she could, she had left the infirmary, packed her things in her quarters, refused Daniel and Cameron's offers to take her home, arguing that she just needed some time alone. She had sped back to her home, perched on her motorcycle. She was just waiting to get home to get rid of any trace of Anateo on her body. She had already taken a shower at the base, after Dr. Laam had taken pictures of her body, but she still felt dirty. She didn't get out of the shower until an hour later, wrapped in a thick towel, shivering. She opened the bathroom door and almost grabbed her gun from the dresser in her room when she saw a figure sitting on the bed.
"Try not to get me down my dear."
"Jack." She sighed and let herself lean against the wall, the sound of his voice warming her battered body.
"I arrived on the first plane. I wanted to give you some time to..." He pointed to the shower behind her with a wave of his hand. She wondered how long it had been since he had arrived and listened to the running water of the shower, alone in the dark. He stood up, slowly approaching her.
"Jack..." She sighed. "That wasn't necessary. You have obligations and I'm going to ..."
"Samantha." Gently, he stroked her cheek so she looked up at him, her eyes darkened as he noted the bruises on her forehead, her jaw, the cut on her lip, the bruises on her neck and arms. "Oh Sam." He sighed as he gently kissed her sore jaw.
"I'm fine..." Answered she by looking at him in the eyes. He plunged his chocolate gaze into hers and tenderly brushed his fingers across her throat, making her shiver.
"Of course you're okay." He sighed. Then, with his slightly calloused fingers, he caressed every bruise, every contusion, erasing the imprint of Anateo which she had not been able to get rid of in spite of this long shower. He replaced each of the brutal touchings which she had undergone by a reverent caress. He replaced the rage by the love. He gently lifted her in his arms as her legs began to wobble and she sighed with pleasure. He had lit a fire inside her, an inferno. It burned away every memory of what had happened aboard the Odyssey, leaving no trace of the terror that had consumed her as Anateo held her at his mercy, cornered.
"Jack, make love to me." She whispered as he laid her down on the bed. She tied her legs around his waist, making him rock on her. As he leaned over her, untying the towel that still covered her, she felt no fear, only desire and love. He had taken the first plane because he knew what it felt like to be captured and held captive at the mercy of his kidnapper. He had experienced this when Ba'al had taken him prisoner. Of course, there had been no sexual abuse, but he knew what it felt like to be held against a wall, unable to move, to suffer. So he erased from his body all traces of the one who had dared to desecrate her body and soul. In his arms, she forgot. She became herself again.
(...)
She was snuggled in his arms. Night had fallen on Colorado Springs. They'd left the lights off though, neither of them able to find sleep. Jack's fingers gently roamed her back, she had taken her quarters against his chest, her head nestled against his shoulder.
"You were in full regalia when you arrived." She remarked suddenly.
"I accompanied Hank for the notification to Emerson's companion." He informed her gently. "He was very stoic. He's a military man too, a Marine." She raised her head to place a kiss on his jaw. He stroked the back of her neck. "I know you know this Samantha but... if you feel the need to talk about what happened, I..."
"I know Jack." She kissed him tenderly.
"Okay." He continued his gentle caresses. "Next time I run into Vala, I'm buying her lunch at the Mess." He sighed to lighten the mood. She laughed softly.
"Dibs."
