In the hospital, Bill is anxiously waiting in the hallway for the doctor. He paced back and forth with his arms on his waist. Wes came with a small cup of espresso for him.
"Thanks", he said and then took the cup and finished it within seconds.
The rest of the crew arrived to support Shelli and Bill. None of them spoke to each other while waiting for someone to give them any information about Shelli's condition.
Few moments later, the nurse came out of the emergency room. Bill got up right away.
"Hi, how is she?" Bill asked.
"Are you her husband?" the nurse asked him back.
"I'm her partner", Bill snapped.
It silenced everyone knowing what he actually meant by that. He is definitely not her husband but he's been there for her every single day. The silence broke when the doctor came out of the room and went to them.
"I'll take it from here", the doctor said to the nurse and he left right away. "Hey there Bill, mind telling me what the hell happened to Shelli?" she asked.
"I don't know Caroline. Donna and Wes walked into the bus and found her there. How is she doing?" Bill answered then asked.
"Not good, to be honest. She got a deep laceration on her left arm and concussion due to hard impact on her head. She also got three cracked ribs", Caroline answered.
Bill took a deep sigh and put his palm on his forehead. Caroline looked at each one of them like she's searching for something or someone.
"He's not here in case you're wondering. He's with her earlier but I don't know where he is now", Bill said to put her mind at ease.
"Well, I need to tell him something really important so I need to get a hold of him now", Caroline answered.
"Tell me. I tried calling him myself and he's not answering. Whatever it is I will tell him", Bill said.
"Bill, I can't. You are not Shelli's husband", she declined which frustrates Bill.
"I know that!" he yelled then composed himself. "I'm sorry. I know that, Caroline, but you know me and you know Shelli. Just tell me if it is so urgent, please", Bill pleaded.
Caroline looked at him carefully and then took a deep breath. She then looked at the rest of the crew waiting for her to speak. "Come and walk with me", she said to Bill.
The two took a few steps away from everyone so they can talk in private.
"Bill, there's no better way to put this but when we were running tests on Shelli, we found some bruises on her thighs and legs. The nurse informed me that she was brought here without any under garment so I did a rape test just to check if my suspicion was right", Caroline said.
"And?" Bill asked with anticipation. He doesn't like waiting much.
"It was positive", Caroline answered.
Her words rang inside Bill's head over and over like song running on a loop and it won't stop. He stares at the empty space unable to hear the rest of the world. It's one thing that someone hurt the woman he loves but for that someone assaulted her that way? It sets his temper through the roof.
"Bill?" Caroline called snapping him out of his dark thoughts.
"Sorry…what are you saying?" Bill asked her.
"I'm saying that I need to speak to Sean because I can't keep this secret. I am obliged to report this to the police. Do you understand me? Whoever did this to Shelli is out there and we can't take any chances. So, tell me how to get hold of him", Caroline answered.
Bill thinks for a moment still digesting everything Caroline told him. It's not an easy pill to swallow, especially for Bill Hanson. "I'll try my best to contact him", he said to her.
Meanwhile, the crew is watching the both of them talk to each other wondering what is going on.
"What do you think they're talking about? Shelli is not going to die, right?" Donna asked.
"She's not going to die. Shelli is a fighter", Wes answered.
"How did Bill know that doctor?" Kelly Ann asked.
"Caroline…she used to be a crew member for rock bands too but never did a tour as long as the ones we're doing because she's sending herself at med school. She used to be a rigger too for Staton House back in the day. That's how she knew Bill and Shelli", Puna answered.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Milo asked as he continues to watch them.
"Something good, I hope. I really hope so", Kelly Ann whispered.