“This time?” the Provost asked.
Kristen could almost feel the beast just below the surface as she continued to grip Brodie’s arm. Graves apparently noticed it too, because he kept his hands firmly on their captain.
“Lieutenant Commander Fitzgerald tried to rape me eighteen months ago when he was my Officer-in-Charge.”
The Provost rocked back on his heels. For a junior officer to accuse a senior officer was a serious matter. But the Navy was working hard to clean up a tarnished legacy when women were not always treated properly. Any such allegation was no longer quietly swept under the rug, and if she persisted with her charges, there would be a full investigation. “Are there any witnesses to this, Lieutenant?”
Kristen knew without any witnesses there was no chance of Fitzgerald being convicted of anything. “Not eighteen months ago,” she admitted. “We were in his car and alone.” She then added, “But there were others.” Kristen explained how there had been other women in the unit, and she believed she wasn’t the only one accosted by Fitzgerald.
“Would you mind coming down to PMO and filling out a report, Lieutenant,” the commander asked.
Kristen glanced at Brodie who responded with a slight nod, “Whatever you want to do, Lieutenant.”
“Absolutely,” Graves agreed earnestly. “Whatever you need, Kristen.”
Kristen welcomed the support of her two senior officers. It was a far cry from what she’d become accustomed to elsewhere. “Thank you, gentlemen.” They were simple words but were said with heartfelt sincerity.
The three of them went with the Provost Marshall to his office in the same building with the base police. Brodie and Graves stayed with her as she filled out the first report about what happened that evening. Then another, reporting what had occurred eighteen months earlier in Corpus Christi. It soon became clear there would be no charges against Brodie, and Kristen breathed a sigh of relief, having feared they might lock him up. The Provost Marshall explained an investigation would be started in Corpus, and she’d eventually have to testify against Fitzgerald, which she was more than willing to do.
“But I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Lieutenant,” the Provost informed her as he walked with the three of them out to a MP van waiting to take them back to the Seawolf.
“Why’s that?” Brodie asked.
“I’ve seen pieces of shit like him before,” the Provost explained as he opened the sliding door for Kristen and Graves to get in. “They look tough on the outside, but they’re just bullies. Once we set them down and make them stare at twenty to thirty years in Leavenworth, they usually piss themselves and beg for a plea deal.” He then shook Brodie’s hand, “Just do me a favor next time.”
“What’s that?”
“Try not to leave so many scars on the bastard’s face, would you?”
The van returned them to the Seawolf where they were met by a rather startled pair of sailors on watch. After all, it wasn’t every day the captain of the boat returned after a night of brawling. The three of them came on board and said goodnight. Kristen returned to her cabin and Brodie, after Graves put his foot down, went to sickbay to have a sleepy Doc Reed check the gash on his temple and redress the bandage on his left hand.
“Damn, Sean,” she heard Graves utter as she walked forward toward her cabin, her heels in hand, “for a moment there, I thought you were going to kill the son of a bitch.”
She heard Brodie’s reply as he disappeared down a ladder well, “For a moment there, I was.”
Kristen grabbed a change of clothing and went down for a shower. She showered quickly, not wanting to get distracted from getting in and out before he returned by thinking too much about everything that had happened during the evening. But it was impossible to block out the images of Brodie flinging Fitzgerald off her. His eyes, showing the full fury he was capable of, had been both terrifying to behold as well as — she admitted with some embarrassment to herself — exciting at the same time.
Plus there had been the lengthy conversation with Patricia. It had helped Kristen make sense of exactly what she was feeling. Unfortunately, Patricia’s advice had not solved her problems; it had only made her recognize how impossible the situation was. If she wanted to be around him, even with the limited contact they were currently having, she had to stay on the boat. But Kristen could not stay on the boat and let her feelings for him show. If Brodie, or anyone else, were to learn how she felt, then she’d be unable to function on board. The already awkward relationship between them would grow intolerable.
No, her secret would have to stay locked deep within. Kristen knew it would be hard, perhaps even painful. But any pain was more desirable than being apart from him. She shut off the water, realizing she’d overstayed her usual hasty shower routine. Kristen toweled off quickly and dressed rapidly, leaving her wet hair loose about her shoulders. She wiped everything down hurriedly, hoping to be gone before he returned from sickbay. But then she heard the hatch leading to the passageway open followed by voices.
Shit!
She wasn’t quite ready to see him again. But she couldn’t simply hide in the small bathroom and hope he didn’t notice. She paused for a few more seconds, hearing the XO and Brodie’s muffled voices. Kristen gathered her toiletries, clothing, and towels. Then, summoning up her courage and planning to slip out of the cabin without a word, she opened the door and stepped out.
His back was to her, providing her some comfort except for the fact he was stripped to the waist, his ripped shirt tossed into a trash bin, and his suspender straps hanging loosely about his waist. He was facing the XO who was seated in a chair.
“Good morning, Lieutenant,” Graves said pleasantly. “I hope you’re feeling better.”
“Much better, thank you, sir,” Kristen replied as she took the two steps necessary to reach the door leading into the passageway and be gone before the captain spoke to her.
But she didn’t make it as he turned slightly, his tattooed arm facing her as he looked at her. “Are you sure, Lieutenant?” he asked, concern evident in his voice. “Doc Reed is up and in his office…”
Kristen nodded, giving her best “I’m okay” smile. “No really, sir. I just want to hit the rack,” she explained as she jerked her thumb over her shoulder but stared at the ripped knuckles on his hands. A knock on the door behind her interrupted any more conversation.
“Come in, Spike,” Brodie said showing either omniscience or the ability to see through doors. The hatch opened and COB, a look of anger on his face, came in.
“What the fuck did you…” COB caught himself as he saw Kristen standing before him, her back against the bathroom door. The anger vanished instantly from his face as he paused, concern on his face as he looked her over. “Are you all right, Miss?” he asked. “That bastard didn’t hurt you, did he?”
Kristen shook her head, wishing she could simply slip by and return to her cabin. “I’m fine, thank you, COB.”
“We’ve all heard,” he told her with fatherly affection as he continued to study her with concern, his eyes flashing briefly with anger when he saw the dried blood on her lip and red welt on her cheek. “If there is anything…”
“Right now I just want to get some sleep,” she told him. “But thank you again.” Kristen slipped past him and he gave her a reassuring gentle pat on the shoulder as she passed by.
“Sleep well, Miss,” COB said to her as she stepped away and then turned angrily toward Brodie. “I sure as hell hope you killed the cocksucker!”