As Ellie's eyes fluttered open the six people all lent forward causing panic to flutter in Ellie's chest until she recognised the faces. Josie, Hannah, Shoo, Sadie, Ann Marie and thankfully. Gil. She swallowed thickly and tried to sit up, Hannah immediately got up to help her noticing the sharp wince which Ellie let go as a sharp pain hit her chest.
"Careful Ells." She whispered gently helping her to sit up.
"Why does it hurt so much?" She asked quietly her voice hoarse. Her skin was pale and she closed her eyes for a moment as she remembered what had happened to her. "How bad is it?" They people looked around guiltily until Ann Marie sighed and rolled her eyes.
"You have a fractured nose, a broken rib and some nasty bruising." She said earning a glare from Sadie and so she then added. "You'll be fine though." Ellie scoffed and Ann Marie's features softened guiltily.
"How are you feeling?" Gil asked and Ellie smiled sadly as she looked to him.
"In all truth I've been better." She joked coughing slightly. Gil smirked bringing her a glass of water and a straw. With him helping her Ellie drank sighing with relief as it soothed her dry throat.
"Ells?" Shoo said worriedly from the side and Ellie turned fondly to look to the two younger girls who looked visibly fearful and concerned. She nodded motioning for them to talk as Gil moved her back to sit comfortably. "Hans, we em, she told us you were, well you know..." She said gesturing downwards causing Ellie to blush lightly as she bit her lip. "We wanted to make sure you knew you could talk to us if em, if you want to." She said awkwardly and Ellie smiled tears pricking her eyes.
"Thank you Shoo, I'm fine but I'll remember that alright?" She said in an effort to put the girl's minds at rest. Josie let herself sigh with relief before standing and walking to hug Ellie carefully.
"Me, Shoo and Ann Marie have to get back to Hope Springs now but we'll come back tomorrow alright?" Ellie nodded at her words and the others waved goodbye before leaving. She smiled nervously jumping slightly when Gil took her hand. Both Sadie and Hannah pretended not to notice.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there Ells." He said quietly. She closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head.
"It wasn't your fault Gil, do not blame yourself." She said quietly her eyes still shut. Gil swallowed thickly.
"But Ellie if I hadn't left, or if I had turned around when you called then you wouldn't have been..." His voice trailed away anxiously and Ellie sighed shakily.
"Raped Gil, alright I was raped. Not saying the word isn't going to mean it didn't happen." She said opening her eyes. Gil smiled sadly as Sadie and Hannah watched them.
"My dear I know you might not want to answer this but em, did you see who it was?" Sadie asked gently and it was clear that that was the question on all of their minds. Despite herself a small blush crept up onto Ellie's cheeks and she shook her head. She couldn't tell them it was Roy, he was still out there. He might hurt her again or worse, them. She could hear Gil sigh slightly.
"Was his face covered or did you just not recognise him Ells, it'd be better if you tell us. That way Gil can find him you understand." Hannah said taking her other hand with a reassuring smile. Ellie smirked sadly.
"His face was covered, he knew my name. My real name. Ellie Lagden." She swallowed thickly resisting the urge to say I'm sorry. "But I didn't see his face nor recognise his voice."
"We'll find him Ells, I've got my best men on the job alright, I promise." Gil said and she managed a small smile and nodded.
"Thank you." She said her voice just above a whisper as she struggled to swallow past the lump in her throat.
A few weeks later with the help of the girls and Gil Ellie was well enough to return to the B&B, Ann Marie was kind enough to let her keep her job but also stay off for as long as she needed. Ellie wasn't too happy about being treated like a china doll all the time however and merely a week after that she was back to waitressing despite Hannah's worries. She was the closest to Ellie compared to the other people and she could see the change in the usually happy and cheeky woman. Although the changes were small they were still there. The way her eyes would dart towards the door whenever someone entered or the small jump that she did when the phone rang. Ellie was strong however and Hannah knew that she was unlikely to ask for help.
