Hey guys, sorry I haven't got round to thanking people for the chapter 3 review yet, I'll get right on it. Thanks especially to xHanaMitchx and Minxheart who have left lovely reviews for all 3 chapters :) So on with chapter 4...


8.31am

The results of Sam's head CT and x rays were back before Fletch got back with Sam. Luckily there was no evidence of serious head trauma and the only break she had was 2 fractured ribs.

"It's good news," Zoe said as Fletch wheeled Sam back into resus. "Your head CT and spinal x ray was clear so this collar can come off," she informed Sam as Fletch locked the bed into place and hung the IV bag back up.

"Thanks Fletch," Zoe said, and Fletch took this cue to busy himself with tidying some of the equipment they had used earlier.

Zoe removed the collar from around Sam's neck and raised the bed slowly so she was in a sitting position. Sam winced as the bed was raised but Zoe could see on her face that she was not in as much pain as earlier.

"You've got two broken ribs on your left side but apart from that it's mainly severe bruising," Zoe explained, holding up the x rays for Sam to look at but the blonde wasn't taking much notice.

"Lucky me," Sam said quietly but the remark didn't go unnoticed by Zoe.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Zoe asked tentatively, apprehensive of Sam's reaction.

Sam visibly baulked at the question. She was doing her best to keep the recent events out of her mind and Zoe's question hadn't helped at all.

"Some kid in a hoody beat me up for my iPod," Sam lied, even though she knew in her heart that it was futile.

Zoe didn't let on that she knew Sam's iPod was in fact still in the pocket of her ripped leggings, "Are you sure you're not hurt anywhere else?" Zoe pressed, hoping that Sam would open up to her. She couldn't examine her without her consent and it looked like Sam was going to keep up the façade.

"Yes," was Sam's one syllable answer, "Can I go home?" she asked, wanting nothing more than to get out of the ED, have a shower and scrub away the feeling of him from her body. With every minute that passed she felt more and more disgusting which was hitching her anxiety levels higher and higher.

"Sorry not yet," Zoe replied, wary of the panic that was beginning to show on Sam's face, "You have a head injury and that cut on your head needs suturing," she reasoned with the panicked woman.

"Listen, you're safe here" Zoe said, reaching for Sam's hand before second guessing herself. Sam was incredibly jumpy and she didn't want to agitate her any further. "If you change your mind or you want to talk about anything I'm here okay?"

Sam didn't respond instead she turned her head away from Zoe and focused on the steady bleeping of the heart monitor. She couldn't talk to Zoe, she couldn't talk to anyone. It was too hard.

"I'll send Fletch in to see to that cut," Zoe told Sam before she left room, disappointed with herself that she was getting nowhere with Sam.


Sam sat silently as Fletch closed the cut on the side of her head. She had so much morphine coursing through her system that she didn't even feel the sting of the lidocaine as he had injected it around the wound. She was faintly aware of Fletch telling her that the scar would be so close to her hairline it would be barely visible when it was healed. She was keeping her eyes averted because the one time she had made eye contact with him he'd had pity written all over his face. She had seen it in his eyes and sensed it in the way he had been so gentle, warning her before he did every little thing. He knew, just like Zoe and Dixie did. But somewhere in the back of her brain a voice was telling her that if she didn't say it out loud it hadn't happened. And if it hadn't happened then she wasn't a victim.

Sam Nicholls wasn't used to feeling weak and defenceless. She had faced roadside bombs and machine gun fire in a war zone, she'd treated patients in conditions so hellish you wouldn't believe. But here she was, broken by one person. By one man who had inflicted more damage than any bullets ever could.

"Sam," Fletch said gently, placing his hand carefully on Sam's shoulder, "Sam,"

"Hmm," she responded turning her head but still not meeting his eyes.

"All done," he smiled, indicating at Sam's head. "Now Zoe wants to keep you in for observation, but would you rather be moved to cubicles or stay in here? We're not very busy at the moment so resus is free if you want some privacy to talk to the police,"

Sam felt the bile rise up in her throat as Fletch mentioned the police. In all the confusion and chaos she had forgotten that it was protocol for them to be called.

"I don't want to talk to the police," Sam said defiantly, breathing as deeply as she could with her damaged ribs, trying to ward off the nausea rolling in her stomach. She saw the look on Fletch's face and she knew he was going to attempt to change her mind. "I mean it," she added, "I just want to go home."

Before Fletch had a chance to respond, Sam went deathly pale and as she covered her mouth her realised she was going to vomit. Luckily he was able to get a basin for her quickly enough that she didn't throw up all over her self. Fletch held the basin and rubbed Sam's back gently until she was done.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Fletch asked kindly, handing Sam a tissue to wipe her mouth.

She shook her head defiantly, "I already told Zoe, I got beaten up for my iPod,"

Fletch sighed and Sam could tell he didn't believe her. If she had been treating herself at this moment in time she wouldn't even believe her. "Those bruises on your wrists," Fletch started, "they're not typical mugging injuries. You know that," he said softly.

Sam tried her hardest to shut out what Fletch was saying to her. She closed her eyes and shook her head as he gently held her arms. It didn't matter that he was being careful it just reminded her of how the man's hands had tightened around her wrists as he dragged her into the woods. A couple of silent tears slipped out from beneath her closed eyes.

"Leave it Fletch, please," she begged quietly, her voice uneven.

"You're safe here Sam, no one's going to hurt you," Fletch soothed as he realised that Sam was getting more panicked. He didn't want her to have a full blown panic attack.

"I WISH PEOPLE WOULD STOP SAYING THAT!" Sam shouted, pulling her arms away from Fletch. He recoiled quickly, shocked at the sudden outburst from the shaking woman in front of him.

"Go away," Sam said, turning away from him, despite the fresh pain it brought her to do so.

Fletch made his way to the door, knowing that he had pushed Sam too far. He made up his mind to go and talk to Zoe, to see if she would be any better. After all, Sam would probably feel more comfortable with a woman looking after her. Fletch had done his best but there was no more he could do at this point. It broke his heart to see one of his best friends struggling so much and not be able to do anything about it.


8.56am

After speaking with Fletch Zoe managed to persuade the police officers that Sam was too ill to talk at the current time. It certainly wouldn't help matters if Sam saw them hanging around when she obviously wasn't ready to talk. She made her way back to resus and saw that Sam was facing away from the door, pretending to be asleep but Zoe could tell from the way she tensed up when she walked closer that Sam was faking.

"Sam," she said softly, even though she knew that Sam knew she was there already, "I need to take some more bloods,"

"What for?" Sam replied, not bothering to move and face Zoe.

Zoe paused for a minute, cautious of how things were going to play out, "It's for an STD screen," she explained, and she waited with baited breath for Sam's reaction.

"Don't be so stupid, what would I need that for?" Sam asked angrily, still keeping her face hidden for fear it would betray how strongly she was speaking.

Zoe walked around to the opposite side of the bed to try and make eye contact with Sam, and to reason with her, "Come on Sam,"

"You're being ridiculous," Sam retorted, pushing herself up in the bed, but she was unable to keep the panic from showing in her voice, there was a burning lump in her throat as she struggled to stop herself from crying.

"Listen to me," Zoe said firmly, "it's your right if you don't want to go to the police, and it's your right if you don't want to tell me what really happened but Sam, think about the long term effects of this. This could potentially affect your career. I know that it's hard but you at least need to let me do these tests and give you emergency contraception. At least,"

Sam looked into Zoe's eyes and she knew that her friend was right, still it didn't stop the whole thing from being overwhelming. All of the fear and the emotions of the past few hours finally caught up with Sam and she dropped her head to her hands as a choked sob escaped her mouth.

"Oh god," she cried, tears streaming down her face, "he raped me Zoe," Sam finally admitted.


Thank you so much for reading. I'd love to hear your comments :) xx