Bobby glanced at the clock absently, not really caring what it said but looking because he was stuck and he hoped it might provide the miracle he needed to get his client acquitted. Instead of the answer from above Bobby was hoping for though, the clock simply informed him that it was 8:47. He could hear Lindsay outside working on a drug case. He knew she hated them but she had been the only one free to take this case. Bobby shook his head, both in frustration at his case and in admiration for Lindsay, doing her best with a case she found despicable. Bobby bent back over his deposition. He didn't pay any attention to the office door opening and closing.
Lindsay was in the library pouring over a book when she felt goose bumps rise on her arms. Without turning around she knew who had entered the office. She flinched a little when a pair of arms slipped around her waist, briefly brushing against a bruise on her stomach.
"Hey baby," the cool voice offered no comfort or sign of caring. "Aren't you ready to go home yet?"
Lindsay shook her head. She wanted to stay in the office for as long as possible, even though the case was a simple one and she didn't need to work as hard as she was. "I'll be a few hours."
"I don't see why you work so fucking hard to free the scum of the Earth."
Lindsay sighed and repeated what Bobby had told her every day for the past year. "I defend the guilty to save the innocent, Chris. And if the police would stop searching illegally and forcing confessions then there would be no need for defense lawyers."
She knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as it was out of her mouth. She found herself spun around as Chris gripped her arms tightly and his eyes, so hard, so cold, bore into hers. "You better watch what you say, Lindsay. I think these people are starting to rub off on you. Is that it? Bobby getting close to you?"
"You know that's not true, Chris," Lindsay hated the plea in her voice. "I believe in what I do. It's important."
"Really? So fucking important that you spend all day and half the damn night here fighting to save rapists and murderers? Or is it more important to spend time alone with your boss? I know you Lindsay, you're trying to sleep your way to the top, aren't you?" Chris shook her once, hard.
"There's nothing between Bobby and I, Chris. We're friends and associates. That's all." There were tears pooling in Lindsay's eyes, she couldn't help them and she hated them.
"Liar." A viscous slap crossed her cheek, leaving behind a nasty red mark that Lindsay knew would become a bruise that she's have to hide, like the others, and causing her to bite her lip, tasting blood in her mouth. "I've seen you look at him. All the time you're spending here late at night, you think I don't know what you're doing, whore? Where is he? Did you hide him when I came in?"
"Bobby's not here," Lindsay whimpered, knowing that if Chris found out she was lying it would be worse but praying he didn't realize the truth.
"You're damn lucky for that. I guess I'll just have to remind you who you belong to."
With that, Chris backhanded her, then threw her down. She fell into a bookshelf, sending it crashing over and causing the books to rain down on her head. As she fell her ankle twisted under her and she let out a pained cry. She felt a foot connect with her thigh and a spiteful voice taunt, "You won't be spending any more late nights in this office or you'll pay."
Lindsay whimpered, then curled into herself as much as was comfortable when she heard the door to Bobby's office slam open.
"What the hell happened?" Bobby asked storming into the main office and seeing Lindsay crumpled on the floor with Chris standing over her. He looked from one to the other and took a menacing step toward Kelton. "Get out of this office and stay out."
"She tripped," Chris protested. Furious, Bobby leapt forward and grabbed Chris by the shirt, slamming him against the wall.
"Stay out of my office and stay away from her."
"Stay out of this," Chris tried to shrug Bobby off but was unsuccessful. "What happens between a couple is between them and none of your damn business."
"When it involves Lindsay, it is my business." Bobby slammed him against the wall again, then dragged him across the room and opened the door with his free hand. "If you ever come anywhere near her again, you'll regret it." With that, Bobby threw Chris out the door and slammed it, locking it behind him. Bobby stared out the door for a moment, making sure that Kelton left. A muffled sob from the library had him hurrying back to Lindsay
Bobby squatted down and paused, unsure of what do to. Lindsay's hands covered her face, muffling the occasional sobs which she emitted. Bobby reached out, but when his hands touched hers, Lindsay shrank back against the fallen shelf.
"Linds," Bobby made sure to keep his anger at Kelton out of his voice as he tried to comfort his friend. "It's okay Lindsay, it's just me. You're safe now."
Lindsay tentatively lowered her hands and for the first time that day, Bobby got a good look at her face. Her lip was newly split and blood trickled down her chin. He could see that her right eye was swollen and there was a small cut on her left cheek. Her ankle was twisted at an unusual angle beneath her. Bobby reached out again, slowly this time, and took Lindsay's hands in his own.
"I'm taking you to the hospital."
Lindsay shook her head. "I'm okay."
"You're bleeding," Bobby protested. At Lindsay's confused look, Bobby took his handkerchief and gently wiped at the blood trickling from her lip. Lindsay gasped in pain and Bobby was immediately contrite. "Oh honey, I'm sorry. Here." He handed the handkerchief over and Lindsay gingerly held it to her lip.
Lindsay looked up at Bobby, scared. "It's not his fault, Bobby. I made him angry. Chris doesn't like me working late. He's just jealous because he loves me so much."
Bobby had to fight to keep his jaw from dropping. He couldn't believe what she was saying. But his first priority was to get Lindsay to a hospital.
"Put your arms around my neck." When Lindsay obeyed, Bobby carefully stood, pulling her up with him. Lindsay tried to stand, but nearly went down again as pain shot through her ankle. She couldn't stop the sobbing gasp of pain or the tears that rolled down her cheeks without her permission. Bobby caught her and lifted her again into his arms, carrying her into his office. He settled her on the couch and grabbed his suit coat and keys from his desk.
"I don't want to go to the hospital Bobby. I don't need it."
"You need to get that ankle looked at. And you might need stitches for your lip."
"My lip doesn't need stitches," Lindsay argued.
"We'll let the doctor decide that." Bobby picked her up and carried her to his car. During the ride to St. Anne's, neither of them spoke. Bobby was furious. He'd worked so hard to boost Lindsay's self esteem up, now her boyfriend, someone who should have been trying to make her feel better, was hurting her. But most of all, Bobby was furious at himself for not noticing that Lindsay was being hurt.
Lindsay stared out the window, hoping that somehow Bobby would realize that she didn't want to go to the hospital, that he'd turn the car around and take her back to the office. If they went to the hospital, there would be a report and Chris would be mad. She'd rather wrap her ankle and tend to her other cuts and bruises herself. It would be better, she knew it. But she wasn't that lucky. Bobby pulled into the parking lot and parked the car. He looked over at Lindsay and gently rested a hand over hers.
"You're going to be okay, Linds."
Lindsay gave him a doubtful look, not believing him. Bobby picked her up from the seat and carried her into the hospital. A doctor and nurse took her into an exam room and kept Bobby outside asking him questions and making him fill out paperwork.
Lindsay sat on the gurney where Bobby had set her and looked at the nurse who was attending to her. Lindsay knew the nurse thought that Bobby had hurt her, it was obvious by the questions she asked over and over. Lindsay told her the same thing every time, that she'd had an accident.
"Your boyfriend is the one who brought you in," the nurse asked, even though she was sure she knew the answer already.
"No, Bobby's a friend. We work together."
"Lindsay, I'm going to bring a social worker down to talk to you, okay?"
Lindsay shook her head as tears of frustration filled her eyes. "No! I don't need to see a social worker. I fell down, that's all. I just want to go home."
The nurse sighed and checked the box that Lindsay refused to talk to the social worker. She wrapped Lindsay's ankle in a bandage and gave her instructions on what to do.
When the doctor finally came out of the room half an hour after going in, Bobby was beyond worried. He rushed up to the doctor and spoke quickly. "How is Lindsay? Is she okay?"
"Her lip didn't need stitches but her ankle is sprained very badly. She needs to stay off of it for the next three days. The other bruises should heal in a few days. And the baby is fine."