Millie was standing guard over the private room her superior had been transferred to. She was trying to resist the overwhelming urge to collapse onto the floor and cry herself to sleep. She only resisted because she wanted to see this through, she wanted to make sure Rachel was ok.
She had been watching them work on her for the last two and a half hours, injecting things into her, wrapping her in bandages, and carrying portable X-rays into the room. She had been allowed in twice when Rachel had awoken and held her hand while they sorted the cuts on her stomach and again when they had sedated her, she was struggling so much that they had to, Millie did her best to calm her beforehand but to no avail.
She was watching them so intently that she didn't notice Jo come up behind her. She gently placed a hand on her shoulder, making her jump.
"Oh sorry!"
"Its fine..." murmured Millie.
"How is she?" Jo asked, joining her at the window.
"A couple of broken ribs, broken wrist and about six deep cuts on her stomach made by a knife." Replied Millie tonelessly, not bothering to mention the bruises and small cuts that covered her.
"Has she been unconscious since they bought her in?" asked Jo, staring at the bags under eyes.
"No. Once they checked her head for any damage they sedated her. They couldn't treat her because she kept leashing out." Millie croaked.
"Have they said when she'll wake up?" quizzed Jo.
"I don't know. Why don't you ask them instead of me?" snapped Millie.
"Ok, I think you need to sit down." Said Jo, ignoring her protests and frogmarching her to a chair.
"I'm sorry…" Muttered Millie, head in her hands.
"Its fine you're stressed, I understand." Replied Jo, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Millie nodded, rubbing her forehead.
"Have you got any idea about what happened to her?" Jo asked as she rubbed her back.
"All I can guess is that she was beaten while some of the relief were in the pub last night... but that's all I know." Replied Millie.
They sat there in silence for a moment contemplating the fact that while most of the relief were in the pub enjoying beers one of their own was outside in the cold, getting beaten senseless.
Jo shuddered. She was used to dealing with assault victims, but not ones she knew.
They sat there in silence for several minutes, contemplating the day's events, Millie occasionally sniffing. After a while a nurse walked over to them.
"She's awake and had been asking for you, PC Brown." She said sharply at Millie, who looked up instantly.
"Millie, can you take her statement and give it to me?" asked Jo as she stood up.
"Why don't you come-"
"No. I think it would be best if someone she knows better done it, she may be more talkative."
"Ok." Said Millie, flashing her a look of concern as she left.
