A Quiet Evening

Posted on Tue Jun 15th, 2021 @ 8:50am by Samantha Prescott [ADMIN NPC] & Captain Garrett Lovejoy [ Taylor]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: Garrett and Samantha's quarters,
Timeline: MD4- 20h00
2681 words - 5.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Garrett had gotten off duty and returned to the quarters he shared with Sam and Gavin. Only Gavin wasn't home, he was out with Raye and some of her friends. Leaving Samantha and Garrett alone for a evening together.

"Sam?" He called out as he entered, not wishing to startle her or have her accuse him of trying to scare her. "Sam?" He called out again as he moved deeper into the cabin. "Now, where can she be?" He muttered to himself.

Samantha was in the bathroom, in the shower, music was on low and she was enjoying the peace and quiet as she washed her hair.

Garrett was in the kitchen when he heard the water running. "In the shower." He said to himself and made his way to the bathroom. He heard music on and knew Sam was enjoying herself and he would never deny her that, not after what she had endured. He had thought about surprising her but then thought better of it. He didn't want Sam to experience any flashbacks from her time in hell.

"Sam?" He said softly standing on the other side of the door.

She heard him as she pulled her head from under the water. "Its open!" She called out. ''

He opened the bathroom door and stood in the entrance. He could see Sam's shapely figure through the translucent glass. Every since Sam's return from the MU, she had been distant with her affections. Oh, he knew she loved him it wasn't that. It was she wasn't as expressive has she had been before her disappearance. Not that he blamed her. He had read the reports. read what she had been through. How she suffered physically and mentally. So he didn't push her. He was patient. They shared the same bed but Sam was rigid, tense when they laid down. He didn't know how to help her other than to be patient and he would be for as long as it took.

"Hi gorgeous." He said honestly as he grabbed the towel off the ring ready to hand it to her. "What's up?"

"Hmm nothing much. Just thought I would take a shower" She turned off the taps and opened the stall door, steam escaped from it. Sam held out a hand to take the towel.

" A shower is a good way to relax both physically and mentally." Garrett replied still holding the towel.

She raised an eyebrow. "May I have the towel?" she asked

"Oh!" Garrett blushed, "Sorry Sam. here you go." He said as he handed the towel over to her. "What are your plans for this evening?"

"You are blushing?" Samantha asked as she stepped out and wrapped the towel around her body. "And as for this evening, I have no plans."

"Yes. I didn't want to startle you Sam." He said honestly. "Good on having no plans. I have plans for us."

"You do?" Sam pulled her hair towel from the rack and wrapped her hair in it. "Go on."

"I will cook tonight's meal along with the drinks. You sit and relax. Afterwards we can talk or I can read to you like we use to do."

"Could.. we go for a walk?" She asked as she shifted to dry off.

"Absolutely!" Garrett said with a smile. "Would you like to see the arboretum?"

"Sure. Be nice to see it. I hear its lovely."

"It is and I can't wait to show it to you Sam." Garrett replied with a smile.

"I'll get dressed then." Sam smiled and headed for their bedroom.

Garrett watched Sam head off into their bedroom. He hoped this worked in getting Sam to relax.

Samantha stood and studied the array of clothes in her side of their wardrobe. She had been given a list of styles when she had returned and none seemed to fit. So she now pulled out an asymmetrical skirt in dark green and a white Pleasant blouse. She hunted and dug out a pair of sandals and smiled. More her now-a-days. Getting dressed, she found herself humming.

Garrett heard Sam humming as he sat on the couch and smiled to himself. Maybe just maybe Sam was turning the corner in her struggle to adjust to be back home. He desperately hoped so, for Sam's sake. He loved Sam, that would never change but he missed the spontaneous Sam, the giggling, fun Sam. The vivacious, sexy Sam. But he remained patient and hopeful that she would return.

Sam exited the bedroom and saw him and walked over. "Hey"

He turned at the sound of her voice, a smile on his face. "Hey yourself. You look beautiful. Ready for our walk?"

"Sure, sandals ok?" Sam asked as she stepped to his side.

"Sandals are perfectly fine Sam." Garrett replied as Sam came to his side.

Nodding she slid her arm through his. "Lead on."

"It will be my pleasure." Garrett replied, patting Sam's arm as they exited their quarters and headed for the aboretum.

The corridors were empty as they walked, most of the crew either on duty, or in their cabins for the evening.

They walked slowly, Garrett was in no rush and he wanted Samantha to enjoy herself, to relax, really relax and know her long nightmare was finally over.

Samantha leaned into his side taking comfort in his presence

Garrett was happy in fact he was downright ecstatic. This was so much like what they use to do. Take quiet walks just enjoying each other's company.

They reached the lift and Sam hit the call button in silence.

"Sam?" Garrett questioned. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. I went and spoke with a counselor as you suggested." She said as she stood beside him.

"That's wonderful. It is isn't? What did she or he have to say?" Garrett was keenly interested in Sam's meeting and of course how she felt about it.

"I saw Counselor Savar... after I had a complete melt down." She admitted.

Garett didn't say word. Words were so inadequate right now. So he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. Just holding her close, letting her know she wasn't alone in this battle. One hand rubbing her back softly in small circular motions.

"The Counselor's Mirror.... he... trained slaves" she whispered. "His voice... Well I know the difference between them." The lift arrived. "Shall we?"

"Sam... please don't shut me out. I'm here to listen, or just sit in silence with you." Garrett pleaded with her.

"I know but not in a hallway Garrett." She said softly.

He nodded. "Fine."

Entering the lift she waited for him to order it to the requist deck. "When we reach the arboretum.. I will tell you."

"Arboretum." He announced before turning back to Sam. "Very well Samantha."

"Better in private." She shrugged.

"Of course Sam."

When the lift arrived at deck 3, Samantha walked beside Garrett into the Arboretum. Looking around she smiled. "It is beautiful."

"Yes it is. Let's find a quiet out of the way place where we can sit and admire the beauty around us."

Samantha nodded and soon they found a small grove near a stream and they settled onto the grass.

Garrett sat next to Sam but he didn't press her. He wanted Sam to talk to confide in him but when she felt ready.

"When the battle happened the Captain ordered all civilians to the escape pods. Lambs to the slaughter really. They tractored the pods into the Shuttlebay of their ship, it was not the ISS Elysium, but a smaller vessel. They stunned us. When we woke we were in a large area, holding cell I guess, officers were there from the ship as well. One by one we were dragged out to be 'assessed' for purchase." she paused and watched a leaf float by. "women were stripped of their clothes and we were placed in another room once naked. A group of us."

Garrett listened in silence as Samantha began telling him of her time in the mirror universe.

"Again they went through us, this time, they did more then scan us. One of them took us to a platform where we were restrained and every inch of our bodies was measured, by hand. Even the depth of our personal spaces. They checked teeth, hair length and then they collared us and chained us to a wall. Then after a while, buys came through. Buys who were officers of the Empire. I was purchased in a group of 35 women and 55 men for the ISS Elysium. They took us there and Savar was introduced as our... trainer." She shivered. "His voice can be hypnotic. It was meant to be. Everything he said, was delivered in such a 'reasonable' tone that eventually you could not see what was wrong with what he said. But if you failed... well agony booths were his favorite. I lost count at how many times I was in one. Then he would bring in officers from over the ship to rape the females and males if they were that way inclined. Taylor... his Mirror... he liked it when you fought back. And there was S'hib... no one wanted to be sent to him. I never got sent to S'hib. But Taylor, yes, his mirror raped me. I became the ship's slave. He gave me to the AI, ALICE. She had me raped daily at first. After 12 months, she changed it. I was sent back to Savar for more training."

Garrett was still quiet only now he was trembling innrage and sorrow at what Sam had been through. The sheer horror of it was unbelievable. How could men act like this? Like animals? Who saw women as nothing more than objects. It was disgusting. His hand meant to hers and wrapped around it.

"ALICE Sold me to different members of the crew, rented me out. I... got pregnant, three times. They killed the babies." Her voice was steady. "I was always watched. Not allowed to cry. Once ALICE caught me crying, I missed you and Gavin, and she sent me to Fernando and the Agony booth for 5 hours. When I was not being used as a sex toy, by ALICE or by anyone she chose, I was working in the Arena they had. Find people in the arena, lead them to safety and then leave them on their own. Then return to my bed. A closet with blankets, little more than rags. I had to sleep naked but for my collar."

Tears streamed down Garrett's face like twin rivers as Sam continued with her horror story. It was so utterly horrifying, so twisted and depraved even the AI was as bad as it's programmers if not worse. This beautiful, strong, intelligent woman treated worse than you would treat an animal. He was amazed by her quiet strength and his admiration and grew even more. His grip on her hand tightened as if he could somehow siphon of her pain and erase the pain both physical mental she had suffered.

"Fernando was depraved. I am glad one of his slaves killed him. S'Hib Deserved death, but he got away I believe. And the AI was just as depraved. Taylor, well he died as he deserved. ALICE's IDEA of reward? Drug me so I was so horney I would sleep with anyone she put in front of me. One day she recorded me in the holodeck, being gang raped by Klingons and Targs."

Garrett shook with rage. Now finally he spoke. "I'm glad their dead for if they weren't I'd kill each and every one of them." He said in a glacial tone. Now he understood Sam's tenseness when in bed with him. It made perfect sense. "Those bastards." He got out through tightly clenched teeth.

"I was so out of my mind on drugs, I begged for it. Inside i was screaming. When the USS Elysium crew rescued me, the Doctors spent hours with me, fixing broken bones that needed resetting, and other things, whip marks and cuts. Thankfully there was no drugs in my system, but still..."

Garrett looked at her through teary eyes. Finally he reached a hand out and turned Sam's face to him. Then he leaned forward and gently kissed her. "I love you Samantha Prescott. I think you are the most courageous and strongest woman I know. Thank you for telling me."

Her own eyes were shimmering with unshed tears as she kissed him back. "You needed to know." She said softly. "I will never tell Gavin, but you needed to know."

Garrett wiped his face, though his were still teary. "Thank you Samantha, I thank you for telling me and trusting me to keep your secret. Gavin will never know."

She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. She thought of the siblings he could have had and shoved the thought away. "I know its been a while since i got back and I have not made things easy on you Garr."

"Do you hear me complaining Sam? You are my world. You put up with me, listen to me, tell me when I'm wrong. I was lost without you Sam. I wasn't a very nice person."

"I know" She whispered softly. "I heard" she raised laughing eyes to his. "But that is changing right?"

"Oh, I sure you heard. Got a double earful no doubt ." He found himself smiling, Sam could do that to him. "Yes, it's changing. May take time to convince this crew but I am changing."

"Good. It will do Gavin some good as well." She said softly.

"You think so Sam? I think you being back in his life, will do him a world of good." Garrett replied then added "I haven't heard Garr in ages."

"Having us together will help him." she smiled. "I have thought of you as Garr for years, I could not tell them your name you know."

He smiled and kissed her cheek. "I know Sam, know." He said softly.

Samantha shifted so she sat between his legs her back against his chest. "I am slowly getting better with this." she said honestly.

Garrett rubbed her back, starting at her shoulders and then moving slowly down her back, making small circular rubs as he went and then came back. He kissed the back of her neck softly. "Good Sam, it will take time but we have all the time in the world and the most important thing is that you are getting better."

"I... had hopped before all this happened to..." She shrugged. "Well well past that now."

"No Sam, don't keep anything in. Get it out into the light of day. Keeping it in will just eat you up. Now what were you going to say?"

"I was going to talk to you about expanding our family." she admitted.

"And why can't we expand our family Sam? We can adopt a child or children." Garrett offered. You are a wonderful mother to Gavin and would be to any child or children."

"Hey, I am only 38" she laughed. "I could have more children, I believe."

"I realize that Sam." Garrett replied softly, "It was only a suggestion. I didn't know how you would feel about having a child the other way."

She shrugged. "I am not sure either" she was honest. "I do not know if will ever be comfortable with Sex again."

"Which I completely understand Sam." Garrett answered as he continued to rub her back. "It's why I suggested adoption."

She nodded and landed back against him. "We will think on it."

Garrett leaned forward and kissed her neck. "Absolutely we will."

Sam fell silent as they sat there looking out the stream. "This is nice" she said softly.

"Yes, it is Sam. Just relax and enjoy the quiet and beauty." Garrett replied with equal softness.

"The ISS's area like this? Its an Mini Arena."

"Sssh Sam. Your not there anymore." Garrett whispered.

"I know. I hope they just closed the rift."

"You and me both Sam."

TBC