WARINING: This chapter is Rated M for strong language, violent content and attempted rape.

The gathering had ended up late. By 2 a.m. Sarah was exhausted, and felt that if she wanted to get to work on time, she needed to leave and rest. Though she had little to drink, she and everyone else knew very well the risks of driving under the influence and saw the consequences of it almost every day at the hospital, so she asked April if she could drive her home.

Once they both arrived at her apartment, Sarah, knowing that April lived almost half an hour from her place, insisted that April stayed and rest as well, to which she agreed. They had both started to get closer with time, and now seemed to be good friends.

The next morning Sarah was pleasantly woken by the smell of fresh orange juice and pancakes. She groggily got up from her bed, put on her glasses and made her way to the small kitchen like a zombie. April was awake and ready for the day, happily humming to a Taylor Swift song. She was wearing her running outfit and shoes, and had her hair swept in a ponytail, making Sarah wonder exactly how and at what time she had left for a morning run. As soon as April placed a piece of bacon on one of her frying pans, Sarah scrunched up her nose and backed a step.

-Remind me again why you don't like bacon? Honestly girl, you are seriously missing out. - said April smiling once she had spotted her out of the corner of her eye.

-I've told you… it's like a string of grease. And besides, you end up smelling like it all day long. - She replied as she made her way opening windows.

April shrugged her shoulders. –Your loss.-

April put the food in a small tray and made her way to the sofa, followed by the med student. –By the way… Care to share what exactly happened last night, moon eyes? - She asked as she sat down.

Sarah froze –What do you mean?-

-Girl, come on. - She replied rolling her eyes. –I could see the sparkles exuded between you and Dr. Rhodes in the air. - She said with her mouth half full, waving her fingers like she was spreading pixie dust.

Sarah ran her hands though her hair and rested her face on her palms. She had absolutely no idea what was going on, but she knew what April was taking about.

-I seriously don't know what's going on. I just kind of… liked him ever since I met him. But I don't know him, April. I barely know why he's here with us at the hospital. How can I like someone I barely know?-

-Well, how can you not? He's kind and honest, an excellent doctor… and hot.-

Sarah scoffed and playfully smacked April on the arm, who yelped a little and almost spilled her juice on the carpet.

-But seriously though, he's a nice guy. You may not know him that well, but that's how relationships are built. Getting to know the other person and having experiences with them, good and bad.-

Sarah kept looking at the floor, pondering on what the nurse had just said.

-Look, I know that when Joey left you, you got hurt… but it's been months since that. - She said sympathetically, taking the girl's hand in hers. – Not everyone is going to act the way he did, and it's okay to open up to someone else. You just have to give yourself and that other person that chance.-

Sarah looked up from their hands, scrunching her face. –Since when did you become so sentimental?-

April scoffed. –I'm a nurse. We need to be very sentimental sometimes. You should try it sometime. It lifts up your spirit, - she said jokingly.

Sarah rolled her eyes, but smiled in appreciation. April winked at her and they both continued to enjoy their breakfast.

Once they arrived at the hospital, each woman got to their main area and got to work. Because she was still a med student, Sarah had to spend several hours in the E.R. tending to incoming patients, and helping with physiotherapy. This day was no different than any other.

Sarah got to the E.R. and occupied herself with the new patients. She spotted Dr. Manning who waved at her while she was passing by. It was weird, but she somehow felt that she was beginning to feel included among her peer doctors. She obviously had a lot to learn still, but it was nice that things were starting to change. She shuddered involuntarily as she recalled the first week she began to work at the hospital and how alone and out of place she had felt. That is, until he arrived and started to change everything and everyone.

-That doctor sure is sexy, huh?-

Sarah blinked when she heard what the man had said. She had been attending him for fifteen minutes now, and could certainly recognize he was under some sort of substance. His look was foul and he reeked of sweat and something that Sarah couldn't identify. His bloodshot red eyes looked aggressively at her, as if he demanded a response. He then looked back again towards Natalie and eyed her up like if she was a piece of meat.

-Is she single?-

Sarah cringed internally.

-She's married, - she lied. –As a matter of fact, she had three children and another on the way. - She added, hoping that maybe that would take the man's mind out of the gutter.

-Huh. I guess that don't matter. Bitch with a face like that… nobody would care. - He slurred.

Sarah was slightly taken aback by the insult, but kept quiet and kept checking his blood pressure.

-So how many of you bitches work here?-

Sarah bit the inside of her cheek. –I'd prefer if you watch your language Mr…- but she was interrupted by his laugh.

–And why would I do that? You put yourselves in that position. A woman should stay home and tend to her husband. She only needs to wash dishes and please whenever she is needed.-

-Well, if we stayed at home, no one would be taking care of you right now. - Sarah couldn't help but spit back. Her tone was angry, and she knew that it had shown, and the man had noticed it too.

-Men can do it. You know, real doctors. In fact, I want a real doctor to attend me, not a lazy-ass nurse.-

-I'm not a nurse.-

-No, you're a skinny bitch. Now go get me a doctor.-

Sarah clenched her jaw. –Sir, there are no other doctors available. If you would just let me…-

-I said, get me a doctor. - He said beginning to stand up.

-Sir, stay down. - She warned, scared, and stepping back.

-Are you fucking telling me what to do? No stupid woman orders me around! - He looked at her, but his eyes were so glossy Sarah wasn't sure he could actually see. She saw him pick up a scalpel and point it at her, like if she were a threat to him. At this point, the nurses and patients all watching the scene quickly started moving and calling security.

She stepped back, her hands raised in warning and few tears rolling freely, but her stern expression didn't change. If she showed fear, there was no telling what this man could do. She had to keep her stance.–Sir, you are not okay. Please stay back and...-

Sarah felt it more than saw it. A quick and brusque slash in the air. Only it wasn't in the air. The slash had gotten her arm. Blood started pouring quickly and in large amounts from her sliced up skin, and the impact had pushed her to her knees. The sting got worse by the second, and Sarah couldn't help but react to it.

Once she looked down, she felt a violent kick to her ribs. She felt her head bounce on the floor and something inside her crack, and immediately gasped for air. She hadn't been this scared in her entire life. Fear prevented her from seeing straight. She felt the man's hand on her head, pushing her down, and the other groping her though her white coat, and fear crept and set on her stomach. She knew what was going on and tried to crawl away from him, but she couldn't move. The oxygen in her lungs started to decrease, making it almost impossible to concentrate on anything else. Why didn't anyone help her?

She then heard an angry yell from another man's voice and blurrily saw how the man was tackled to the ground by Dr. Halstead. She turned lightly and saw Will beating him senseless, only to be stopped by the authorities. Sarah felt herself be turned on her back, so that she was facing upwards. The pain was unbearable.

-Reese, what happened? What hurts?-

She could barely distinguish Dr. Rhodes's anxious voice and silhouette and tried to respond, but couldn't. She felt hands again on her, trying to unbutton her white coat and moving across her torso and she flinched away from them.

-Sarah, I'm not going to hurt you. It's okay, sweetheart. – He soothed. He slightly pushed her blouse up, revealing the damage.

-I need a stretcher and the O.R. ready right now!-

Sarah could only make out a few of the scenes of what happened next. She heard Dr. Rhodes anxiously talking to other doctors, and felt herself be moved to a stretcher and was forced to wear an oxygen mask. She then felt a sting on her other arm, which she knew it was from a syringe. She tried to keep herself awake, but kept hearing that everything was going to be okay. Then everything went black.

She woke up feeling completely disoriented. The bright light of the room made her want to shield her eyes with her arm, but she couldn't move it. She blinked twice and looked down at her body. She had her arm and torso tightly bandaged. She wasn't wearing her clothes, but a light blue patient gown. She was hooked on an IV.

She took in her surroundings: She was in the hospital. Her hospital. She even recognized the room.

She felt herself jump when Doctor Choi came into the room. He must not have expected to see her up, because he stiffened at the sight of her. After a few seconds he relaxed his posture, and walked towards her with a brief smile.

-How are you feeling Reese?-

She didn't answer. Images of what had happened started flooding her, and she instantly decided that she didn't want him to see her like this. She knew that she had messed up again, and right now couldn't deal with his reprimands.

-I'm sorry. - She finally said, turning away from him.

Doctor Choi didn't move. He felt guilty that she felt the need to apologize to him. –Sarah, what happened was not your fault. You are not to blame or be accused of anything. That man, - at the mention of him, Sarah cringed and a shiver ran back her spine. –was not well. He was on drugs, and now has been taken into custody. It could've have happened to anyone.-

Sarah processed what he said, but didn't feel comfortable talking about this to him. She wanted to see him. She wanted Connor here.

-Can you please page Dr. Rhodes? I want to ask him about my injuries.-

Ethan felt a little disappointed, but nodded his head. –He's not at the hospital right now, but I'll page Dr. Manning.-

Sarah frowned lightly but agreed to what he had said. He smiled again and left the room, leaving her alone for a while. She tried raising her arm, but the pain felt unbearable. She didn't want to be here. She couldn't. She had things to do.

-You're awake.-

Natalie's voice made her turn to the entrance of the room. She looked tired and… very pregnant. Sarah sighed at the sight of her. She hadn't been out for a long time then.

-How long was I out?-

-Four days.-

Sarah closed her eyes hard.

-You had a punctured lung, Sarah. Three broken ribs, a laceration and a concussion. He has been charged on attempted murder… and sexual assault.-

She felt a tear roll from the corner of her eye. How could she be so stupid?

-I don't know what you must be feeling right now. - Said Natalie approaching her carefully. - But I know you. And I know that you tend to be very hard on yourself. You probably think that what happened is your fault, and I'm here to tell you it's not. That asshole could've reacted that way with any of us. - She gulped. –I know you stood up for me, and…-

-Don't feel responsible. - Sarah warned. She didn't want anyone else to perish because of what had happened.

-I don't. - She responded quietly. She spotted the chair next to the bed and carefully sat on it. –There are people in this world who are just bad. He was on drugs, Sarah. You could have been talking about the weather and he would have still reacted the way he did. He would have still tried to…- The words weren't said, but Sarah understood. She understood that he would have tried to rape her.

Sarah sighed, but nodded. The last thing she needed to do was play the victim. She needed to be strong for everyone else. But the tears kept falling from her face. She couldn't stop them.

Natalie sighed. –Dr. Charles, Will and I agree that you should talk to a psychologist...but I figured it would be best if you talked to Connor first.-

Sarah frowned –Why would you say that?-

-He spent every night on this chair. He was forced to leave so that he could get some sleep, but he barely left you side.-

What did you think?

*I do not take rape, rape attempts, rape culture and violence to women lightly. This is something that should never be encouraged and must definitely end. Please be mature and respectful in your comments.*