Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They belong to Lifetime Television

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story takes place the day after Lu was brutally raped by Dr. Rand Kilner in the episode "Rape Kit" at the end of season two. In the episode "Trauma" we saw 1 week later how the rape had affected Lu. But what happened the next day? How did Dr. Jackson handle the news of this tragedy? How did he treat Lu? What were Lu's thoughts as she struggled to erase the pain? How did she keep her secret from her young son? What were the thoughts of her friends as they tried to help her? Hopefully this story will answer these questions, although it is just my thoughts on what could have happened.

CHAPTER 1: THE MORNING AFTER

Dr. Luisa Delgado took a deep breath, then walked into the Rittenhouse Women's Health Center. Glancing around at the full waiting area, she wanted to turn around and run. But no, she couldn't. They were her patients. They depended on her. And no matter what, she couldn't let them down.

"Now what in the world are you doing here, Lu?" The sudden voice made her jump.

"Uh...my patients I need..."

"You shouldn't be here, Lu." Lana Hawkins said. "Not after what happened last..."

"Please, Lana. I don't want to talk about it." Lu replied quietly.

"But Lu..." Lana started, but her friend interrupted.

"I'll be in my office, Lana." Before Lana could say anything more, Lu turned and hurried down the hall towards her office. Lana stared after her, shaking her head.

"I can't believe she's here." Lana said out loud.

"Can't believe who's here, Lana?" Lana turned to see Dr. Dana Stowe approaching.

"Lu."

"What? Lu's here?" Lana nodded.

"Yeah. Dr. Stowe, I don't think she should be here."

"No, Lana. She shouldn't. I'll go talk to her." Dana walked down the hall towards her partner's office, then paused before knocking on the door.

Dana knocked on the door, then waited for an answer. When she received none, she opened the door. "Lu?" Again, she received no answer. Dana pushed open the door further and stepped inside.

She found her partner sitting on the couch, knees pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped around them. She seemed to be staring off into the distance.

"Hey Lu." Lu slowly looked up, suddenly realizing that she wasn't alone in the room.

"Oh. Dana. What are you doing here?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing. Lu, you shouldn't be here today. You should take today off."

"I can't, Dana. My patients...they expect me to be here." Lu answered.

"But Lu, after what happened last night...just 12 hours ago. You need to take some personal time." Dana argued.

"Don't tell me what I need to do, Dana." Lu said, her tone angry. "What I need to do is get started with the day. Now if you'll excuse me, I have patients. And I'm sure that you do too." Without another word, Lu stormed out of her office, leaving a speechless Dana staring after her.