Visiting Sam

Posted on Mon Sep 29th, 2025 @ 6:31pm by Commander Samantha Howard & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant Commander Callie Raven-Grayson

1,338 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Wild Wild West
Location: Sickbay, Sam’s office
Timeline: Backpost

With Sam on light duties Callie had headed down to Sickbay with Jon, as they entered she motioned for them to stop for a moment. “Okay, I’m going to head to Sam’s office, you might want to wait here for a minute until I’ve spoken to her.”

"Oh I absolutely agree! I don't want to do anything to upset Sam especially here in Sickbay with so many people around." Jon answered. "I'll go and find a chair and wait for you to come back and give me an update." Jon answered, trying to hide his nervousness.

Callie nodded offering a smile. “It’ll be fine, try not to worry.” She headed over to Sam’s office hoping she wouldn’t mind being dropped in on.

“Knock, knock” Callie smiled as she gazed around the doorway. “I hope I’m not intruding?”

Sam looked up from there ports she was writing and smiled as Callie stopped in her doorway. "No, not intruding at all. Want a coffee? I could use some company, crew evaluations are brutal"

Walking in Callie took a seat. “I have something of an ulterior motive for being here.” She paused. “Jon would like to see you, but he’s worried that he’ll cause you more trauma, and is afraid you won’t want to see him.”

As Callie went to talk to Sam, Jon found a seat out of way but still able to see Sam's office. He hoped Sam was agreeable to seeing him but he understood if she wasn't. She had undergone a terrible ordeal by his mirror.

Sam froze. She had avoided Jon easily, sequestering herself in sickbay since she had returned after her assault. Could she face him again? Deep own she knew it wasn't the same man who had nearly killed her, but on the surface they were identical.

"I...ah...I don't know" she admitted, her adrenaline and heart rate spiking dangerously high "i..i don't know" she backed up until her heels hit the wall behind her.

Jon continued to sit. He looked at his shoes, the walls, the ceiling, his fingernails as he waited on word from Callie as to whether Sam would see him or not. Time crawled with infinite slowness.

"Callie i can't....he'll hurt me again" Sam shook, knowing full well she had to face her fear.

Jon sat and waited. it seemed Callie had been gone forever but was in reality only a few minutes that she had gone to speak to Sam.

“It’s okay Sam, Jon isn’t here to hurt you.” Callie offered some reassurance from where she sat not wanting to make Sam feel cornered. “The other Jon he hurt me too, but he’s gone. Can I ask Jon in? He’s afraid you won’t ever trust him again.”

Sam stood frozen, an almost panicked expression on her voice. Remembering her sessions with Callie previously she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the floor beneath her feet and the clothes against her skin. After a few moments she nodded.

“It’ll be okay I promise, I’ll be right here” Callie tapped her comm badge. “Jon, you can come in. Just be aware Sam is…very unsure.”

Callie's voice came through his combadge and heard Callie asking him to come and then that Sam was very unsure. "Um Sure Callie. I'll stand in the doorway, I don't want to upset Sam anymore than she is."

Sam remained in the corner of her office, clearly battling her inner demons as Jon appeared, not saying or doing anything, just being there. Nobody moved for a few moments, Sam focusing on her breathing to calm her frantically mind.

"Im sorry, I can't control it" she apologised finally, unable to meet his eyes.

Jon stood in the doorway, silent his eyes on Sam. He was devastated seeing her like this, scared, nervous, unsure a far cry from the composed, confident, friendly professional she normally was. He wanted to go to her give her a hug, tell her everything was gong to be alright but he knew that would only make things worse for her.

It took all of her power not to flee, run to close her eyes and run as fast as she could away from this space. Deep down she knew that would be avoiding the discomfort required for her own healing. She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out as slowly as she could. After what seemed like an age she opened her eyes seeing Jon still standing there. Patient, calm, and anything but the demon she had faced before.

“It’s okay Sam, take your time” Callie offered feeling Sam’s fear. “Anytime you want us to go just say so okay?”

Jon gave Sam a soft, hopeful smile but made no move toward her. He could only imagine how difficult this was for his friend and he wasn't going to do anything to make it harder.

"I need to do this, but its so hard" Sam whispered, forcing herself to look up again. She took a step forward, then another, forcing her frozen body into notion to heal her mind. Nothing like a little exposure therapy to deal with deep seated neurosis. She kept taking steps until she was a metre away from Jon, still shaking like a leaf but now in close proximity to him.

Jon stood still, he didn't move. He kept his arms at his sides. He wasn't going to do anything that might spook Sam or send her over the edge He might spook Sam or send her over the edge. He just watched her. After several seconds he spoke softly. "It is going to be okay Sam, I’m here to help you."

Callie moved to stand beside Jon, giving Sam some reassurance as she approached. “You’re doing great Sam.”

Sam flinched at Jon's words but held her ground, trying to resist the urge to flee again. "I can do this" she whispered as she stood to him, forcing the breath out of her body to release her jangled nervous system.

Callie nodded to Jon, motioning him just a little closer but still leaving Sam room to manoeuvre if she wanted out. “I know this is hard, just a little longer and we’ll leave you in peace.”

Jon did as Callie motioned and took a half a step closer to Sam but still kept his arms at his sides as to not scare Sam anymore than she was.

Sam jaed her eyes shut and froze, trying to ground herself in the close proximity. It was hard, super hard to resist the need to flee. Yet she held her ground, eye's opening and locking on to Callie. They maintained eye contact, and Sam began to calm a little.

“That’s it” Callie nodded and held her hand out to Jon knowing that seeing the love between herself and Jon would show Sam that this was the real Jon.

Jon took Callie's hand and his fingers intertwined with hers and he gave it a gentle squeeze. He turned his head back to Sam to see her reaction.

There was the slightest release of tension, that somewhere deep in her brain this show of affection challenged the notion that Jon was evil and would continue to torture her. She wriggled her fingers and toes, releasing the frozen energy inside. "I think Im ok"

Jon was silent. He continued to look at and watch Sam though it looked like a small smile of relief? gratitude? appeared briefly on his face.

"Thank you Jon, for being patient" Sam said simply, taking a few steps back until she felt thebspace between them was comfortable again.

"Thank you for seeing me Sam. I know this was hard for you." Jon replied softly, his eyes on hers.

They would continue her exposure therapy until her panic attacks and adverse reactions had subsided and she was cleared for duty.

 

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