Rescue Me
Roger was walking home from the bar after work and heard a noise in the alley next to the loft. It sounded like a girl whimpering. He ran down the alley to see if he could help.
"Is anyone here?" he said looking around, lighting his zippo lighter.
"I'm here. Don't leave. Someone help me. Please." the voice said weak and crying.
"Oh God. Let me go to the pay phone to call for help." he said finding her behind some garbage pails laying on the ground with her clothes torn, bloodied.
"No. Please don't… don't leave. Someone hurt me." she said crying more hysterically as Roger put his hand on her back.
"It'll be OK, but I should call the police and an ambulance. You look like you took a really bad beating and you should get checked out." Roger said as she crawled closer to the comforting man with the kind voice.
"I... I was raped. This guy came up behind me and I... I gave him my pocket book, but he… he wouldn't stop. He didn't have to do this to me." she told him crying some more.
"I'm really sorry someone did this to you. I'm Roger. Roger Davis. I live right here. Would you mind if I took you inside. I need to call an ambulance for you though and you need to report the rape. The cops might be able to catch the guy who did this to you." Roger told her leaning in closer to see her face to assess her injuries.
"I'm Marty. I... I really appreciate you helping me. I don't know how long I was in that alley." she told him burying her bloodied face into his shoulder still crying.
"It's OK Marty, I got you. No one is gonna hurt you now. I won't let them. I'll take care of you." he carried her into the building thinking of Mimi. He couldn't save her. When Maureen and Joanne found her 16 months ago she was close to death. They brought her to the hospital shortly after Mark's film ended when the ambulance came. She got better and 2 weeks later when she was released she went home with Roger and Mark. The next morning she was gone again. She left a note saying that her life was with heroin and although she loved Roger, she needed the heroin more. They looked for her like before and Mark found her in the park again a month later. This time it was too late. She died of a drug overdose. When he got upstairs, he opened the door carefully before entering the loft. "Mark, clear off the couch." Roger called out carrying Marty in his arms.
"What's goin on?" Mark asked as he took the film that was laying all over the couch off so Roger could set Marty down.
"She was in the alley next to the building. We have to call the cops and an ambulance." he said setting her down gently and going into the kitchen to get some wet towels for her face. "Someone raped her." he whispered, putting the water on.
"I'll call. Is she OK?" Mark asked looking over at her.
"Does she look like she's OK, Mark?" she snapped back looking back at her.
"Roger, what's going on?" she cried as she tried to look around for him but only seeing blurred images moving around the apartment.
"Nothing Marty, I'm coming." he said bringing the towels over to her to help clean her face. "This is my roommate Mark. He just called the police and the ambulance for you. They should be here soon." he continued whispering to her comfortingly.
"Thank you, Mark. I appreciate all of your help." she said looking up trying to see him.
"It's nice to meet you Marty. I just wish it was under different circumstances. Um... can... can I get you something? A glass of water or maybe some tea?" Mark asked not knowing what to do.
"A glass of water would be nice. Thank you." she replied as Roger gently wiped her face with the wet towel as she winced.
"I'm sorry, Marty. I'm trying not to hurt you." he said wincing with her trying to be more gentle.
"It's OK, Roger. It's... it's not your fault." she told him finally getting a clear look at him. " Wow. You are really good looking. Your eyes are as kind as you are." she told him beginning to smile.
"There it is. I was wondering what your smile would look like. I like it better than you crying." he told her smiling back as he caressed her face, careful not to hurt her.
"Rog, the cops are here." Mark said standing by the window.
"Can you let them up please? I don't want to leave her." Roger asked as Mark nodded and went downstairs.
"Thank you for staying with me. I really appreciate it." Marty told him trying to sit up on the couch.
"I'm not leaving you yet. I'm going to the hospital with you. You shouldn't have to go through this alone." he said caressing her face.
"She's right in here." Mark said opening the loft door wider. Two police detectives followed him along with the emergency medical technicians.
"Can you tell us what happened?" the female detective asked looking down at Marty.
"I found her in the side alley. She was raped and beat up pretty badly." Roger told them as he moved to the side of the couch so the cops could talk to her.
"I'm Detective Elliot Stabler and this is my partner Detective Olivia Benson. We're from Manhattan Special Victims Unit. What's your name, miss?" the handsome detective asked as he sit on the coffee table.
"I'm Marty O'Brien. Um… Margaret actually." she answered holding the wet towel Roger had brought for her to her lip which was still bleeding.
"And what's your name, sir?" Det Benson asked looking over at Roger.
"Roger Davis. I... I was coming home from work and I found her. I was gonna call you guys from down there, but she didn't want me to leave her. So I brought her up here so she could be more comfortable." he answered rubbing his hand up and down her arm.
"And you are...?" the male detective asked looking over at Mark.
"Mark Cohen. I'm Roger's roommate. I was up here editing some film I took today and I can't hear anything over the projector. The first I heard anything happened down in the alley was when Roger came in with Marty in his arms." Mark answered standing on the other side of the room.
"We're gonna have to take you to the hospital for a rape exam, Marty. I'll be with you the whole time." Detective Benson said looking over at her.
"Can... can Roger come with me? I don't have anybody and I don't want to be alone." Marty asked beginning to cry again.
"Of course Marty. Can you tell us what happened?" Det. Benson asked sympathetically.
"I had just left the store across the street and as I crossed over this guy jumped me from behind and told me if I made a sound it would be my last and he started slapping me and punching me and he knocked me to the ground and then he tore my clothes and got on top of me and he… he raped me." she told them starting to cry again.
"Shhh it's OK, Marty. It's over now. No one is gonna hurt you now." Roger told her as he reached over the arm of the couch to comfort her.
"We're gonna take you to the hospital and do some tests to see if the guy left any DNA and we'll set you up with a sketch artist down at the precinct to see if we could ID the guy so we could arrest him." Det. Benson told her reaching over to touch her leg as the paramedics came in with a gurney.
"Are you gonna do an HIV test on her?" Roger asked standing up as the paramedics set her on the gurney.
"Of course, Mr. Davis. It's standard procedure." Det. Stabler told him standing up as well.
"Good. Because she is at risk now, right?" Roger asked concerned.
"Let's just see if we could find some DNA and then we'll take it from there." Det. Benson said before walking over to Det. Stabler.
"OK. Thank you." Roger said never leaving Marty's side.
"Roger." Marty cried out as she reached out his hand.
"Yeah Marty, I'm right here. I'm not goin anywhere." Roger said taking her hand as the paramedics brought her down the stairs and loaded her into the ambulance.
Roger and Detective Benson rode with Marty in the ambulance as the detective continued to ask her questions. Roger sat helplessly, holding her hand as she answered the questions as calmly as possible. He could see the tears rolling down the side of her eyes and into her hair, that was bloodied and matted to her head. When they got to the hospital, the EMT's wheeled Marty into the emergency room. Roger and Detective Benson followed closely behind. Detective Benson spoke to the nurses as if she knew exactly what she was doing. Roger just kept his eyes on Marty, who looked terrified. He caressed her hand with his thumb one last time before one of the nurses stopped him at the door to the exam room.
"Sir, I'm sorry you're gonna need to wait out here while we examine her. We'll call you when she's done." the nurse told him as he stood in the hallway with her blood on his shirt and jacket.
"Marty, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." he yelled into the room as they closed the door on him. He paced around. How could a guy just jump a defenseless woman and do that to her? He couldn't imagine what she was going through. Scared and alone. He had just met her, but he couldn't leave her alone to deal with everything that was happening to her. She was going through so much and it was just beginning. She had to ID the guy and then go to court and testify against him. She was going to need someone to help her through that. If she had anyone in her life now who would do that, she would have asked for them by now. He paced around the hall outside the room where they brought her for what seemed like forever. Finally Mark came rushing through the doors.
"Roger. How is she? Is she OK?" he asked running down the hall to his friend.
"I don't know. They haven't been out to tell me anything since they brought her in. They wouldn't let me in to be with her." he told him running his fingers through his hair still pacing.
"I can't imaging what she must be going through in there. Scared and alone." Mark told him standing outside the doors.
"I know. You should have seen her. She was so terrified when they brought her in there. They won't let me in to be with her." Roger told him shoving his hands violently into his pockets.
"They'll let you in soon. Rog, can I ask you something?" Mark said turning to Roger.
"I know what you're gonna say, Mark. Save it, OK? No one should have to go through what she just went through alone. She needs someone to help her and right now, it's me. I was meant to find her. I was meant to help her through this." Roger told him before turning to the doors wanting to burst in to be there for Marty.
"You couldn't save her, Roger. You were at work. You didn't know." Mark told him putting his hand on his friends shoulder.
"I know I couldn't save her, but I'm here now. If I hadn't found her, who knows how long she would have been there? Who knows how long she was there to begin with? Someone could have found her and victimized her again. I found her and she needs me." Roger turned to him and explained intensely.
"She's lucky you found her." Mark told him understanding how Roger feels. Suddenly the door opened.
"Roger?" the detective asked opening the door.
"Yes." Roger answered approaching the door.
"She's asking for you." she told him opening the door wider.
"Is she OK?" he asked concerned.
"She's had better days, but physically she'll recover. Emotionally, it's gonna be a long road. I'll be right back." she answered leaving the room followed by nurses and doctors.
"Marty. Are you OK?" he asked sitting in the chair next to her bed.
"They found fluids. He... he didn't use a condom. I could be HIV positive. They're doing a test but it'll take a week for the results and even if that one is negative I need to be tested a months later. They're giving me medicine in case I am positive." she cried turning her head away from Roger as he held her hand.
"It's OK, Marty. I'm… I'm HIV positive. It's not that bad. I am so sorry this happened to you. I wish I left work earlier. I could have..." Roger started but was silenced by Marty's hand on his lips.
"Roger, it's OK. I guess things do happen for a reason. Had this horrible thing not happened to me, you never would have come into my life. There's a bright side to everything, huh?" she told him smiling and crying at the same time.
"Oh Marty, everything is gonna be OK. I promise. Is there anyone you need me to call? A boyfriend or any family?" he asked caressing her hand.
"My roommate kicked me out because she thought I was sleeping with her boyfriend, I don't have a boyfriend and I don't want my family to know. So I guess I have nobody." she told him caressing his face with the back of her hand.
"I wouldn't say you have nobody. I'm here and Mark is right outside." Roger told her smiling at her.
"Why is Mark here?" she asked as Roger wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.
"Because he wanted to check on you. He was worried about you." he told her.
"I'm so lucky you found me and not someone else." she told him looking at him through swollen eyes.
"Don't think about that now." he told her turning back hearing the door open. It was Detective Benson followed by her partner. "The detectives are here to ask you more questions. Are you up for that?" Roger asked holding her hand tighter.
"Yeah. Hi Detective. Benson, Detective Stabler." she said looking up at them.
"Marty, are you ready to answer more questions?" Detective Stabler asked quietly.
"Yeah, I think so." she answered sitting herself up with Roger's help.
"Do you remember what he looked like?" Detective Benson asked sitting at the edge of her bed.
"He had dirty black or dark brown hair, stubble on his face, he was I think Spanish or Puerto Rican and he smelled like burned Styrofoam." she explained as Detective Benson wrote down her description.
"How about what he was wearing? Do you remember anything? A logo or a picture or anything?" Detective Stabler asked standing over Roger's shoulder.
"Black tank top and black jeans. He had on timberland boots on and a Red Sox baseball cap on. Oh and he had a couple of tattoos." she remembered as Detective Benson sat up further.
"Do you remember what they were or where they were on him?" she asked gently.
"He had a black tiger on the inside of his right arm. A colorful dragon on his left bicep, mostly turquoise I think and a cross on his right bicep and it had a heart in it and it said something in Spanish. I don't remember what though." she answered looking at Roger who was looking at her supportively.
"You did really good Marty. You remembered a lot. Thank you. This is really gonna help. Can you come down to the station house to look at some mug shots?" Detective Stabler asked walking to the foot of the bed.
"Can it wait until tomorrow? She really should get some rest." Roger asked quietly still holding Marty's hand.
"Sure Mr. Davis. Just bring her in as early as possible. We want to catch this guy." Detective Stabler answered looking down at Roger.
"I understand. I will. Thank you um... for everything." Roger told him standing up to shake the detectives hands before they left. "So, how are you doing? Are you up for some company?" Roger asked taking her hand again standing beside her bed.
"Mark?" she asked wiping her eyes.
"Yeah, he's probably worried sick out there." Roger told her as she nodded. "I'll be right back." he told her stepping from behind the curtain to open the door to wave Mark in.
"Hey Marty. How are you doing?" he asked quietly as he approached the bed.
"I'm OK. I'll be better in time. You have some roommate here. He has a big heart." she said looking over to him as he sat in the chair beside the bed holding her hand again.
"I know. You are one lucky girl. Now that you have Roger Davis on your side you can't lose." Mark told him standing at the bottom of the bed as Roger looked at her smiling.
"I see that. I don't know what I would have done had you not found me." she said turning towards Roger with tears streaming down her face.
"Don't think about that. I did find you and you're gonna be fine. Just get better." he told her squeezing her hand.
"When they release you, do you have anywhere to go?" Mark asked looking down at her.
"No, I got into a fight with my roommate and she kicked me out. I was gonna go to some flea bag motel until I figured something out." she told him wiping her eyes.
"You're staying with us at the loft. At least until you heal and get back on your feet again." Roger told her looking at Mark.
"I... I couldn't impose any more than I already have. Really, I'll be fine." she told him looking over at Roger.
"I'm not gonna take no for an answer. You're gonna need someone to help you through this." Roger told her stubbornly.
"You're not gonna win Marty, so I'd give up if I were you. When Roger makes up his mind he is impossible to reason with. Did they mention when you're getting out of here?" Mark asked smiling at Roger.
"Yeah, they said since I didn't lose consciousness I can go home tonight." she said still looking at Roger.
"Do you need something to change into? I brought a pair of sweats and a sweater. The... the pants are mine since Roger's are gonna be too big on you. I thought since your clothes were ripped, you would need something to wear home." Mark said taking the clothes out of his camera bag.
"Mark, that was really thoughtful of you. Thank you so much for doing this." she said smiling up at him as Roger did the same.
"Yeah, thanks Mark. We'll wait outside for you." Roger said standing up, giving her hand one last squeeze before leaving the room. "Mark that was really great of you. I didn't think of that." Roger said as he shut the door to her hospital room.
"Well, I knew she was coming home with us." Mark said giving Roger a playful nudge in the side with his elbow.
"I could let her go to some seedy motel alone after what she's been through." Roger told him defensively.
"I didn't mean it like that. I think it's great how you want to take care of her, but you just met her and after what she's been through… it's not gonna be easy for her. Are you sure you're gonna be able to handle that?" Mark asked as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
"I can't abandon her. She needs someone to help her through this. No one deserves to have that happen to them and she needs someone to take care of her." Roger told him quietly pointing to the door.
"You're right, Roger. But she's gonna have nightmares and she's gonna be very scared for a long time. Are you prepared to sit up with her and ease her fears?" Mark asked him gently.
"I'm gonna try my best, Mark. All I know is that I met her after, the worst thing that could happen to a woman, had just happened to her and I feel like I need to help her. There's no one else. No one should have to be alone through this." Roger told him looking at the door. Mark could see his reflection in the door. He looked so determined to be there for Marty. Mark knew what he was thinking about. He was thinking about his inability to save Mimi, so he was transferring it to Marty. But she really did need him. But it scared Mark how attached Roger was getting to her. The worst thing that could happen to Roger is to meet someone else with HIV and it was a good possibility that Marty had contracted it through the rape.
"I know." he said putting his hand on his friends shoulder.
"Roger, I'm ready to go." Marty said slowly opening the door and walking cautiously.
"I got you." he said sweeping his arm around her waist to help her walk.
"I'll catch a cab." Mark said leaving the two of them in the hospital hallway.
"Is there anything you need to do before we leave?" he asked her helping her walk down the hall.
"No, they said I was good to go whenever I was ready. And then those cops came in. I'm fine Roger." she said as she smiled at the concern he had for her. She hadn't felt that in a while. She was just sorry they had to meet under these circumstances. He was such a nice guy. Nicer than any of the other guys she'd met since moving to Manhattan after graduating college. How is it they hadn't met before? She lived in Alphabet City for 5 years and he didn't look familiar. He must be new there or something. But then again she didn't leave her apartment much. Unless it was to work at the coffee place. "Oh shit." she said as Roger stopped dead in his tracks looking down at her.
"What's the matter?" he asked concerned.
"My job. I have to call them in the morning and tell them I can't come in for a couple of days at least. I can't go in looking like this." she said holding on to Roger.
"It's OK. They'll understand. Don't forget that Detectives Stabler and Benson need you to go down there in the morning to look through mug books." Roger reminded her as he opened the door where Mark stood next to a cab with the back door open.
"Right." she said as he helped her into the car. The whole ride home no one spoke a word. Roger sat on one side of Marty with his arm around her shoulders while she laid her head in his chest. Mark sat on the other alternating between looking out the window and looking over at Roger and Marty. He couldn't help but see what was happening. Roger was developing feelings for her. He wanted to say something to Roger about it, but how? He knew how defensive Roger could get when it came to women and didn't think it was a good idea to get in a fight with Marty around. She had been through enough. She really did need Roger, but Mark felt Roger was taking things really fast where his feelings for her were concerned. He knew how Roger could be.
