Braxton.54: Thank you for the review, I'm glad you already love this story.

FrankElza: Thank you for the review and for looking the chapter over. Glad you thought it was a good re- write, I'm also glad you thought it had much better scenes set.


Frozen By Fear.

Chapter 2.

"The police are here" Kyle said as he noticed the car pull up and Sergent Emerson and Senior Chapman step out. Kat was the first to spot Kyle.

"Kyle, what happened?" She asked, walking over.

Kyle felt bile raise in his throat as he looked at Ricky, still shaking in Bianca's arms. "She's been raped,"

Kat nodded, before crouching down in front of Ricky. "Ricky, I need you to come with me"

Ricky's eyes went wide before she stammered "No"

"Ricky, if you go with them, they might have a chance of catching who did this," Said Bianca, recalling her own experience.

Ricky nodded and stood up with Bianca's help, as Sergent Emerson blocked the area off with blue and white tape with the word "Police" on it.

Kat held the door open and Ricky sat in the back, while Kyle drove her car back to the Bay.

The journey between the two women was taken in silence until they reached the station. Kat opened the door and both women got out of the car. Bianca took Ricky's hand.

"I'll be there, we'll do this together, ok" smiled Bianca as they walked up the steps. Kat grabbed a notepad and a pen, before beckoning to Ricky to follow her. Ricky did so and soon found herself outside a door which Kat opened.

Ricky walked in after her and Kat sat down, switching the machine next to her on.

"Interview started at-" Kat looked at her watch. "1am"

Kat opened her notepad.

"For the benefit of the tape can you tell me your name and address?" she asked.

Ricky stared down at her hands, she was drained.

"Erica Sharpe." She eventually answered. "31 Saxton Avenue"

Kat tapped her pen. "In your own words, can you tell me what happened?"

Ricky took a deep breath. "Denny and Phoebe asked me to go out. I didn't know whether to, but Kyle persuaded me. I got ready and left the house, telling Kyle to call me if he needed me. I meet Phoebe and Denny in a bar and a few hours later, I headed home, some guys started to crowd me, one put a hand on my shoulder, it scared me, then he slipped the straps of my dress down."

"Did you get a look at them?" Kat asked.

Ricky shook her head. "I didn't"

Kat switched off the recorder and looked at her watch. "Interview ended at 1:35"

After being interviewed, Kat drove Ricky to the hospital where she'd be examined.

Ricky was led through to a small room where there were two women. A bed stood in the cornor of the room. She was given a gown to change in to, while a woman held up a screen to protect her and her dress was bagged in to a paper bag marked "Evidence"

"Erica, I know this examination might feel uncomfortable, but it has to be done" The women told her.

Ricky nodded. "OK"

The insides of her wrists and thighs were photographed, her cheeks and mouth were swabbed, a lock of hair was cut.

Bianca was sat on the chairs, trying not to remember the time when she was here. To try to distract herself, she looked through one of the magazines. She read through it until she saw Ricky.

"Can we just go?" Ricky asked, desperate to get out of the hospital.

Bianca nodded and stood up, calling a taxi, waiting for it to arrive.

"Heath?" Bianca asked, opening the door.

Heath looked up from feeding Casey his bottle. "Yeah, Bee?"

"Can I have a hug?" She asked.

Heath put Casey on the couch and the now empty bottle on the side table and took his wife in to his arms. "Hey, Bee, it's ok,"

"It's just," She sniffed. "Seeing Ricky brought back memories,"

Heath stroked her hair. "It's alright. You got through it and we'll help Ricky through it," He said, feeling Bianca nod in to his chest. He released the hug after a few minutes and made them both a coffee, before Heath checked on Casey. Kyle headed across the corridor and knocked on the door.

"Rick, it's me" Kyle said, knocking quitely so not to disturb her, on the door.

Ricky unlocked the door and let out a sob.

Kyle wrapped her in his arms. "Shh"

"If I hadn't gone out, it wouldn't have happened" Ricky whispered.

"You can't think like that, Ricky " Kyle says.

"Kyle, I don't know what to think" Ricky continued to whisper, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"It'll take time, something like this doesn't disappear." Kyle told her.

Kyle looked at his watch. "You should get some rest."

Ricky nodded and walked slowly towards her bed, it felt big and empty without Brax. She pulled back the covers and got in.

"Do you need anything?" Kyle asked.

"A glass of water," She whispered.

Kyle noded, picked up a glass and filled it.

"Here we go," Said Kyle, putting it down. But as he did, he noticed an exhausted Ricky was already asleep. Kyle pressed a kiss to her forehead before heading to sit in the armchair in case she needed him.


Thanks for reading.

Next chapter: Kat and Sergeant Emerson launch an appeal to try to find Ricky's attackers.