I do not own nor profit from Star Trek or Gene Roddenberrys works.
A/N: I appreciate your R/R, as a reminder, this story has been written mind-to-site with very little editing. I am working on that however, delaying putting out new chapters until I can read them a few times. Well, thank you for following, I appreciate your support. :)
John and Safiya both acted as though their tender moment never occurred. It was easier to work with one another this way. However, understand, neither of them had regret for the moment, but they would not reveal that to the other. They had been working on the weapons system, underwriting in safeguards, as the rain poured outside. The smell of rain and decaying leaves filled the room as she tapped furiously on the keys. John listened to her keystrokes, knowing she had found a groove in which she refused to leave, as she often did. Her bangs swayed in the gentle wind that came through the window.
"You know, Admiral Marcus is expecting you to show for the winter formal." He spoke suddenly. She just gave an 'ah' of understanding, as her keystrokes slowed down.
"I imagine you are going, yes?" He looked over his monitor. "Your doxy friend had mentioned it to me." He smirked. He wasn't particularly fond of Janet, finding her to be easy, and fake.
"I suppose, I am, yes." She sighed, sitting back in her chair, tapping the keys slowly, before giving two exaggerated punches, no doubt saving her work. "Janet and I got dresses, but, I am still on the fence. Who knows, I can always use my dress for a symphony. I've been wanting to see one for a while." She smiled softly, returning her gaze to her screen. "Are you going, John?" She asked.
"I am expected to be in attendance, yes." He spoke, seeming to not really want to have to be there. His communicator began going off. She couldn't hear the conversation, but saw his face. "I must take my leave. I'll be back tomorrow, however, if you would like."
"That's alright, I'll just go to the gym, then grab something to eat. I've finished with the targeting system, so I will probably write in some safeguards to the firing software, I don't know." She rubbed her face, as she slipped on some shoes, and grabbed a jacket. "But you can come back any time you need or want, John. My door is always open for you. You know how to get in." She smiled, as they both left together, going different ways once outside.
She jogged for an hour, her body gleaming in sweat, as she processed her thoughts. She pushed herself harder and farther, the need to run. But inside, it was the need to run away. Run away from something that she simply could not. Slowing to a walk, she heard her stomach rumble, and departed to appease the growing pains.
In the dining facility, she sat in the corner looking out over the city, as she ate her lunch. The sound of a chair sliding across the linoleum broke her concentration as she saw Addams taking a seat across from her.
"Hey there gorgeous." He smirked at her, as he tucked a napkin into his lap.
"Hello, how are you?" She spoke softly, returning her gaze to the window as she sipped her tea.
He smiled, arranging his tray. "I'd be lovely, but it would seem you haven't heeded my warnings at all." He didn't even look up at her, sprinkling pepper on his chicken.
"I was unaware I was being watched." Safiya spoke stiffly, still not looking back to him.
"Safiya, John is dangerous. I don't know why you won't see that." He shook his head. "I just fear for your safety. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you." He finished.
"John has been nothing but kind to me, Addams. I know you think you are trying to help me, but, I know what I am doing. I'm an adult, and I can take care of myself." She sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"I'll be watching you Kesi. I won't see him take you, hurt you." He hissed, grabbing her hand.
She snatched it back in shock and stood, gathering her coat. "How dare you Addams. If I choose to spend my time with John, then there is NOTHING you can do about it. Just leave me alone from now on, Addams. This is MY assignment, now let me handle it." She growled at him, before storming off. Addams ran his fingers through his golden waves, and sighed. He was not about to be ignored so easily.
She walked through the park between the dining hall and her home venting, accepting the rain upon her cheeks. She knew what John was capable of, being an Augment anyways. She knew what things they Augments had done, and knew if she didn't tread proper, then he could easily destroy her, and she would have no protection.
She probably would have punched Addams in the nose right then and there. He angered her, but she knew where his feelings were coming from. Through Janet, she learned that he liked her. When she found out, she would watch his movements, watch his eyes, and found truth in her statement. His pupils would dilate upon looking at her, and his body language would change. It was flattering, really, but, she just didn't have an interest in Addams. She sighed, frustrated, as she made her way back to her home.
The door slid open, and she stepped inside, removing her long jacket. It resembled Johns jacket, the one he had placed over her in September. She hung it up, wringing her hair, and making to the bathroom for a shower, finally able to clean herself from her workout. She was drenched, her hair cascaded down her back as she scrubbed away the grime, the warm water glistened down her smooth body.
Strong arms wrapped around her, wrapping her in the shower curtain. She screamed, scared, shocked.
"You won't burn me again you little bitch! Can you take care of yourself NOW?!" She heard a rough voice growl. She was dragged out of the bathroom and thrown down onto her bed. His angry voice was familiar. A heavy weight settling on her. She cried as her knees were forced apart, a hand reaching to her apex, rubbing her.
"You are going to accept me, Safiya." He growled, rubbing her sensitive bud roughly. She felt revolting, as she cried, struggling against the bonds of the curtain.
"Get off, please." She choked out. Not wanting this to be the way she remembered her first time, feeling nauseous at this barrage. She cried out as his lips came down, biting her neck, her shoulder and down to her collarbone. He licked along the trail he had bitten into her skin, blood being drawn on her collar. Her legs flailed wildly, her foot knocking over her bedside table, that which held her sand.
Her eyes finally cleared enough to make out Addams. His shirt off, his pants unbuttoned, but not unzipped, as he began thrusting his hips into hers, not yet pervading her, but allowing her to feel how hard he was, and how ready he was to take her.
"John, please, help me." She whispered, squeezing her eyes shut, angering her assailant. He grabbed her by the hair, throwing her across the room. Caught up in the curtain still, she slammed heavily into the desk, papers flying. Before she could find her balance, he was atop her again, squeezing her wrists forcefully, all air sucked out of her lungs
"You think your precious John would even care about what happens to you? He cares for nothing but himself! I care for you Safiya, I've ALWAYS cared for you, and here, you call for him." He spat in her face, angrily. He pulled her to her feet roughly, and was holding her roughly against his body, but sent her reeling with a backhanded slap across her cheek. She tasted her blood from her split lip.
She tried holding on to her chair as he tried to drag her back to the room by her ankles, toppling it over in the process. The weight of the chair hitting the coffee table knocked the vase over breaking it, spilling the purple lotus flowers and water. "Get IN here you bitch!" He snarled, as he grabbed for her hair again. He dragged her back to the bedroom floor and sat back down on her chest, licking his lips, holding her wrists above her head, slapping her again with his free hand. "I'm going easy this time. Next time, I might not be so nice."
He stood her up once more, and with everything he had, drew his fist back, and brought it across her jaw. She fell, unable to remember anything else. Addams dropped her lazily in her bathtub, not really caring if she hurt herself now or not. She didn't seem to care if she got hurt anyways, hanging around John Harrison, so why should he care anymore? He smirked, smelling her apex on his fingers still. He turned on the water watching the blood drip from her cut legs. With no compunction he corrected his clothing and left, hoping this would be a lesson to her.
She woke up, her back sore from being dumped in the tub. Her face was sore, and the realization of what took place hit her. Tears sprang from her eyes, feelings of shame and worthlessness washing over her. She rested her head against her loofa, sobbing, in too much pain to get up, and no desire to leave the cleansing feel of the shower, though the water was losing its heat.
John was leaving 31 for the night. It was already 9:30, but perhaps Safiya would be interested in ice cream or some other dessert? He wanted to tell her about the goings on that he had been called for mostly. That they were going to start the building in a secret facility behind Jupiter. The building dock had just been finished. He hadn't heard so much as a word from her since they parted ways earlier, just before noon. He thought he caught her figure walking near the park around 2:00, at least it looked like her long jacket waving freely as she walked, her hands stuffed deep in her pockets. John sighed, as he walked down her block.
He looked up to her balcony, and saw the light on in her living room. She would still be up then, and he seized the opportunity. He knocked on her door, waiting. He knocked again, sure that she was there. She never left lights on so bright when she was gone. "Kesi?" He knocked harder. He must have stood there for 5 minutes, waiting for her, before he gave up. Perhaps she was just sleeping too deeply to be bothered now. He made his way to the elevator, but something caught his ear. It sounded like a whimper. 'No, I need to see her.' He thought to himself.
He punched in the override code to her door lock nervously. The door slid open to the living room. Her coat hung up, still damp, the lotus' she had gotten from their trip to the local market were spilled across the coffee table, the intricate vase broken. Her mothers vase. His heart was pounding in his chest as his eyes came across the shower curtain crumpled on the floor, some spattered blood on the carpet. He took in the destruction, and moved to her room. His heart sank as the covers had been messed up, her jar of homeland sand broken in two on the floor. The carpet was wet as he walked through to the bathroom where the sobs were coming from.
He slowly opened the door, afraid of what he would see. She sat there, curled up in the tub, the shower raining over her. Her shoulders shuddered as sobs racked her body. "Safiya." He whispered, pained.
"John." She cried, rolling over, covering her body as best she could. Something about his presence made her cry harder, perhaps knowing that he was there now, or perhaps how naked she felt now that he could see her at her rawest form.
John could see the bruises on her wrists the cuts on her legs, the bruise on her lower back, and the swelling and bruising on her face. He took in the bite marks and blood on her neck shoulder and collarbone. Anger ran through his body. He turned off the water, his hands shaking.
"We need to get you help." He whispered. "Who did this to you?"
"A-Addams." She spoke shakily, her sobs calming now that he held her. She felt his heat rise. He gingerly lifted her from the tub, carrying her as one would their bride, and set her on her bed. He helped her dress in loose clothes, trying to be as decent as possible. Of course he took in her body, and of course it stirred in him, but under these circumstances, he was disgusted, and unable to enjoy seeing her.
"Did he... Enter you?" John finally asked, slightly ashamed to ask, but needing to know. She just broke down again.
"I-I don't know." She sank her head in her hands. "He hit me, and I blacked out, I don't know what happened after that." He felt terrible for asking. He carried her to the nearest hospital. John stayed with her, holding her hand when they did the rape kit, making sure she felt as comfortable as possible, though he knew little comfort would come to her that night. The kit found nothing that would help.
"The good news, is your hymen is still intact. There is no evidence that he entered your vagina with his penis. The kit didn't pick up any foreign fluids, and no visible trauma to the vagina or cervix. X-rays show a hairline fracture to your mandible, but that should heal itself within a few weeks. The rest of the damage, I'm afraid, is going to be psychological." The doctor said with understanding in her voice. "Do you have somewhere you can stay tonight where you feel safe?" She asked. Safiya just looked down, still shaking, but said nothing.
"She will be staying with me, until she is comfortable enough to return to her home." John spoke, catching Safiya off guard. He didn't give her a second glance, instead speaking with the doctor about her follow up care. The doctor dispensed 3 weeks worth of pain medications, and allowed her to go home with John.
"Do you need anything from your home?" He asked her gently. She just shook her head, and held his arm. He carried her meds in the other hand, allowing her his free one. He knew she didn't want to return to her home, damaged by the violation that had taken place there, but she only had the clothes that she wore on her back, and would be in need of her workstation, and more clothes.
They entered his home, and he sat her down in bed. It was a large bed, big enough for 4 people easily, though it was just himself. He turned on the TV for her to watch a movie, or listen to music, something to calm her mind. They sat there, sitting up in bed, sipping tea. His attempts to feed her soup failed, as she still felt nauseous.
"Here, if you would like, I have some clothes you can sleep in." He handed her a large shirt, one that was even large on him, and a pair of boxers. He left for her to change, and returned when she opened the door.
She never imagined his home would have such a modern look as she looked around the apartment for him. He was in the kitchen scooping vanilla ice cream into a bowl.
"John, I, thank you. Thank you for this." She whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. He reached out, wiping it away tenderly with his thumb.
"Here, take your medication." He handed her a pill and ice cream so she could sleep without too much pain to her jaw overnight, the ice cream to help her not have a stomach ache from the pill. She took it, finished her treat, and washed her dish. John escorted her back to the room, and tucked her in. He got up to leave, allowing her the bed, he would sleep comfortably on the couch. She reached out, already feeling sleepy.
"John, please, don't leave. I would feel better if you stayed." She moaned softly, feeling more secure with him around. She was on the brink of sleep, the medication kicking in and her own exhaustion hitting her.
"I won't leave you if that is what you wish." He whispered, kissing her hand, and laid back down with her until he heard her deep rhythmic breathing, and gentle snores.
It was 1 am, when he rolled out of bed and headed to her home. He did his best to clean everything up as it had been, though he couldn't save the vase, and he couldn't scrub away the memories. By 2, he was finished, leaving with a bag full of clothes, and her work. His next stop was to pay a visit to a very special person.
"Police are not sure what caused the attack that hospitalized this man, and Star Fleet is not releasing any names at this time, but they are searching for a suspect. Doctors say that the victim will live, but do not expect him to regain cognitive or motor skills." The woman on the TV news spoke. Safiya stretched out, feeling a powerful arm around her waist, holding her closely. She was tucked close into Johns body, his breath on her neck telling her he was still asleep. The sky was already getting lighter as it got later in the morning.
"We are doing everything we can, but his prognosis for recovery at this time is not well. The best our neurosurgeons can hope for, is a vegetative state." The doctor on TV spoke in a conference. She gasped, but the pain in her jaw hit her again, as she closed her mouth suddenly, holding it. "Again, there are no leads at this time as to this attack, but police are still looking for a suspect." She sighed, not knowing how to feel, but she chose to feel nothing for him, and snuggled deeper into Johns chest, he returned her movement, by pulling her hips in closer.
As details emerged more throughout the day about the attack, they learned the mans skull had been partially crushed. It wasn't quick either, as he appeared to have endured other wounds before the head trauma. Safiya shook her head, and in her heart, she knew exactly what had happened.