Author's note- So while working on Learning to Dance in the Rain, this idea came to me. Thank you so much to everyone who has already reviewed. Two quick warnings- there is mention of non-consensual sexual assault, and also, I am not familiar with police procedures regarding this, so if there are any mistakes, I apologize. Please review and thank you again to everyone who is following this story.

Distorted voices began to reach Will's eyes, and he gently tried to look around and see where he was. He could feel himself moving, but he was laying down on a bed. What was going on? A light shined in his eyes, and he squinted away from the pain. He tried to move his arms, but they felt like lead. What was going on?

Suddenly, the memories of what had happened earlier came crashing down on him. Hands grabbing at him from all directions, holding him down, pulling at his clothes, laughing, hitting him as he tried to fight, and then the pain. The pain had shot through him as they violated him over and over, and when they were finally finished was when he found the chance to run. Had they followed him and found him again?

"No", he moaned out. He wasn't going to let them take another chance at him. He would rather die.

He began to struggle and try to move out of the bed, fighting the hands holding him down. It wasn't until a familiar voice and face moved into his line of vision that he stopped.

"Will, its Aunt Kayla, hunny. You are in the hospital now."

Aunt Kayla? Hospital? He realized that someone must have found him. He remembered running and collapsing in the park. It had gotten dark, and he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. But he knew he still couldn't be here. He couldn't let them know what happened to him.

He tried to sit up again, and Kayla pushed him back. "Will, you need to lie back and let us examine you."

"I'm fine." He continued to struggle against the nurses.

Kayla sighed and gently pushed Will's shoulders back. "Will, you were attacked tonight. We need to examine you and treat your injuries."

Will began to panic. Why couldn't they understand he just needed to get out of here and go back to his apartment? "Aunt Kayla, please, just let me go. I'm fine."

Kayla studied her nephew and saw something disturbing. There was a sense of panic in his eyes, a need to get away from something or someone. Something she sadly knew about herself. She immediately told the nurses and staff in the room to leave, and waited until they were alone. Will's breathing was erratic, and he was seconds away from trying to bolt from the room. She knew she needed to calm him down.

"Will. It's okay, you are safe now."

Will studied her warily. He didn't want to talk to her, have her figure out what happened. He just wanted to get away from here. He needed to burn his clothes and stand in the hot shower for an hour.

Kayla reached out to touch Will again, and he flinched and pulled away. He curled his legs close to his body and pulled at his clothes to cover any exposed skin.

"It's okay, Will. It's just me." Kayla tried to soothe him. It was obvious that something horrible had happened. "Can you tell me what happened? Who did this?"

Will's hand shook as he continued to sit in a curled up position. "I don't know."

"Did you see their face?"

Will nodded.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

Again Will clamed up. He didn't want to admit what had happened. How he had gone out for a drink at the Spot, needing to get away from everyone he knew. He knew he was depressed, and nothing made him feel better, so he just wanted to forget. But it didn't help. After an hour, he started to walk home, and realized quickly he was being followed. He tried to get away, but was hit on the head and he collapsed. The three men took their turns beating and raping him. It felt like hours until they were finally finished. He had stayed crumpled to the ground in the alley he was in, but eventually found the strength to get up and run. All he could think about was that he deserved this and no one could know.

"Nothing happened."

Kayla looked at Will in shock. "Will, it's okay. You can tell me. I'm here to help you."

"I don't need help. I'm fine."

He tried to stand up, but became really dizzy because of his head wound. Kayla caught him and gently pushed him back on the bed.

"Will, I need you to trust me. I can see you have been hurt. Please, let me examine you and treat your wounds."

Will's energy began to fade, and he didn't want to fight anymore. He nodded, but then begged Kayla. "Please, don't tell anyone. Please."

Kayla asked Will what he meant, but as she began to examine him, she soon realized what he wasn't saying. He didn't want anyone to know he had been raped. Her heart broke further for her young nephew as he lay crying on the bed. She tried to give him some form of comfort, but knew from experience that comfort was not something that would be found easily for victims like her and Will.

As carefully as she could, she performed her examination and collected any evidence from Will's body that she could get. Even if Will refused to report it to the police now, the evidence might be needed later. Will was quiet throughout the whole exam, wincing every once in awhile, and Kayla felt so horrible for putting him through this. However, it was important for Will to do this.

When Kayla finished, she gave Will some scrubs to put on and gathered his old clothes together. Will quietly thanked her and went behind the curtain to get dressed. His knee was twisted, so he carefully avoided putting too much weight on it, and it was hard to lift his arms due to his bruised ribs. When he finished, he carefully moved back to sit on the bed in the exam room.

Kayla looked over at Will as he sat on the bed. "I believe your knee is only twisted, but I can give you a brace to help for the next couple of days. I would like you to stay here tonight for observation. Your ribs are only bruised, I believe, and you don't appear to have a concussion, but I would like to keep you just to be on the safe side."

Will only shrugged at that. Numbness had begun to seep in, and he no longer had any fight left in him.

Kayla sighed. "Marlena and John are here. They are the ones that found you. Would you like me to bring them in?"

This time, Will shook his head. He didn't want to see anyone. He didn't deserve to see anyone. He didn't want to see any more pity or concern in their eyes. He slowly turned on his side and pulled the blanket up to his shoulder, effectively blocking out Kayla, who easily recognized the dismissal.

Before she left, she quietly said to Will, "I'm so sorry this happened, Will. I will check on you later. A nurse will be in to give you some pain medicine to help you sleep."

Will didn't say anything and she left the room. As she entered the waiting room, Marlena and John immediately jumped up.

"Is he okay?"

"He is just resting right now. His knee is twisted and he has a nasty bump on his head, along with some bruised ribs, but I believe those will all heal. We are keeping him overnight just for observation."

Marlena nodded and John then asked, "Did he say what happened?"

Kayla sighed and hesitated. She knew that Will had asked her not to say anything, but he needed people to be there for him. "No, he didn't."

Marlena and John could sense her hesitation. "What is it?"

Kayla sighed and pulled them aside to a private corner. "During the exam, I found evidence of a sexual nature."

Marlena and John both looked confused for a moment, and then shocked. "Are you saying…?"

Kayla just nodded. "Will didn't say anything, but from his demeanor and the evidence I found, I believe he was sexually assaulted."

Marlena gasped and covered her mouth, while John took a deep breath to calm himself. They were both devastated to hear that Will had been attacked, and how badly. "Can we see him?"

Kayla shook her head. "He doesn't want to see anyone right now. I had a nurse go in and give him some medicine to help him sleep, so you guys can come back in the morning when he is discharged."

John got into police mode. "Did you collect any evidence?"

Kayla nodded. "Will relented and allowed me to do a rape kit, but he refused to give any statement. I'm sorry."

They thanked Kayla and watched as she walked away. Marlena turned to John.

"Oh god, John. What are we going to do?"

John sighed. "What we always do. We are going to be there for Will and support him."

Marlena tearfully nodded and John pulled her into his arms. They both stood there for a while, hoping that Will would be able to pull through this.