universaltranslator | phone post

[Uhura had stayed at the hospital all night, waiting to see the young woman she found. The doctor had almost told her to go home, but after one look at her shaking hands, had a nurse get her a blanket and a coffee instead.

Her training should have prepared her for this. Her training should have prepared her for this. She is a Starfleet officer who has seen combat action. She's seen mangled bodies bodies before.

But tonight she'd discovered there's a world of difference between someone injured by an exploding panel and someone beaten and left for dead on a city street. She hadn't been prepared for that.

It's a relief when she's finally told she can see the woman, and Uhura peeks around the doorframe, almost shyly.]

Hi there.

[Charlie watches the woman carefully, not recognizing her straight off. When it does register that she knows the woman, she almost smiles but holds it back. She's not in the mood to actually show too much emotion and will blame being tired and sore if anyone asks.

When she speaks, her voice is strained. Scratchy. Sounds unused or overused, just bad in general.]

You're Pavel's friend. From the bar.

[It's only when Charlie speaks that Uhura manages to dig up the drunken memory.]

Yeah, I am. Nyota.

[She comes in and takes a seat.]

Charlie, right?

Mmhmm. That's me.

[She was finalizing wedding plans that day.]

Thank you for getting me here, Nyota.

Of course.

[She inches closer, and reaches out for Charlie's hand.]

Do you remember what happened?

[Charlie doesn't really react much to the contact. Doesn't hold Nyota's hand in return. Her own hand is just there. She sighs, nose wrinkling and brow furrowing in frustration before nodding.]

Yeah. I pissed someone off. They're...unhealthily obsessed with a friend of mine. My friend is genuinely afraid of this thing named Karl. He doesn't like that I'm between him and my friend so he attacked me while I was on my way home from...

[Oh. Shit. She has to say it.]

...home from my honeymoon. I couldn't fight back. Not my way. He's invulnerable to what I can do and he's too fast for anything else.

[Uhura feels almost nauseous with revulsion.]

Has she contacted the police?

I don't think the police will be able to do much. He doesn't have any sort of grasp with reality. [But then Charlie shrugs a bit.] I will try suggesting it when I get home.

[Except. Oh. Right.] This is going to sound stupid but the doctors suggested I get in contact with people and let them know where I am. I don't want to just yet. Merlin left. He went home and I don't think I can handle telling anyone yet.

[Uhura frowns. She understands, but at the same time...]

Charlie, you've just been assaulted. Don't you think your friends should know?

I know, Nyota. They should know. But then I would have to tell them it happened while I was on my way home from my honeymoon and then I would have to tell people Merlin left. People would ask where he was and I would have to explain and I can't handle that right now. !I>[Charlie's voice is far from steady. It shakes and hitched s and breaks and as hard as she fights it, tears well up in her eyes and roll down her cheeks. Everything hurts and sympathy from her friends and family would make it worse.]

I can tell them for you.

Oh. [A pause.] It needs to come from me, probably. I'm just not...ready for how people will react.

[Uhura doesn't agree, but she doesn't know Charlie well enough to argue.]

If you're sure.

phone post

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