Chapter Text
Sammy sat alone in the cabin, double checking inventory counts and crew reports. The words ever so slightly swimming. It was going on 48 hours with no rest in sight for him. Not when Harriet had disappeared again.
She will be back, she always is. Her bloodshot blown out eyes, ever so slightly slurred words, and bruises marking her skin will always confirm to him where she was. As if Diego disappearing at the same time hadn’t already. He always followed her after all.
Until then he’ll pick up the slack. He always did. One day she’ll pay him back.
The door creaked open.
There she is. She looks like a wreck, hair mussed up, stains against her shirt, bruises scattered around her neck. She looked exactly as he thought she would.
“What the fuck are you doing, Sammy? Get away from my desk.” She sneered, stumbling towards him.
“I’m doing your job. Like I’m supposed to do. A first mate is supposed to step up when the captain can’t. That’s why you made me your first mate. Or are you too drunk and high to remember that?”
“Fuck You.” She spat, not having a good rebuttal for his accurate accusations.
He simply stared at her, unamused, before standing up. He is nothing compared to her, five foot three and wiry to her 5 '11 and pure muscle, yet he was just as much of a force of nature as she was. Turning, Sammy forced her into the chair, giving her a pointed glare before grabbing a waterskin.
“Drink. Lord knows you need it.”
“Oh please. There’s no god here that cares.”
All he did was look at her before forcing the waterskin into her hand and up to her mouth, wrestling her until he could tilt her head back and pinch her nose shut, forcing her to drink. When he was satisfied that she had drunk enough he relented, taking a step back to avoid the spitting and the swings coming for his face. She glared at him with all her might.
“Why you little-”
“Careful Harriet, you’re beginning to sound like your father.”
She stopped. Chest heaving. She froze, reevaluating her life. That was her worst fear and he knew it. Which is why she decided to hit back just as hard.
If he was gonna play dirty why couldn’t she?
“Like you’re much better. You’re in here, cleaning up my mess. Making everything to MY preference. When was the last time you did anything that wasn’t for me, huh Sammy? How’s Marya? Or your precious little brothers? How can you protect anyone if you are always here? Catering to. My. Every, Need.”
“That’s it. It’s time for bed Harriet.”
He grabbed her, his grip bruising on her arm, dragging her to her bedroom. Slamming the door open, not caring how loud he was. It’s not like anyone heard, and if they did they know better than to question the noises coming from Harriet’s quarters. He shoved her towards the bed, taking her sword off her in the same motion. It was easy considering just how much practice he’s had doing so.
She started stalking towards him before tripping on a loose board. Taking his chance, Sammy strong armed her into bed.
“Now sleep. I don’t want to have to break out the restraints again. I’m sure you wouldn’t like that either.”
Harriet gave one last glare before turning and curling into herself. She knew that he would, Sammy always stuck to his threats. Besides, she was feeling tired. She was doing this on her accord you see. Saammy could never force her to do anything she didn’t want to do, she lied to herself.
Sammy, seeing that she was going to listen for once, returned to the office. The reports are even messier than they were earlier. His work now was going to take even longer. It was going to be another all-nighter getting all of these finished. Pushing Harriet’s words out of his head, he returned to writing.
There was no room for emotion or doubt when he needed to create some form of stability for the crew.
He had work to do.