I am back with another chapter that I hope you all enjoy.
I want to just take a moment to truly thank all of you for reading my work but an even larger debt of gratitude is owed to those of you who also took the time to leave me a review. I really can not say thank you enough for each of them, I take them all on board and love knowing what you are thinking and feeling and so on and so forth.
I think that is enough of me so I'll see you on the other side!
Chapter 4
"Keeping A Promise"
As Alex's heels click against the changing hospital flooring now she is being led into the treatment area, the smell of disinfectant and that distinctive hospital scent both fill Alex's lungs. They burn at the woman's nostrils slightly as they bring the reality of this situation crashing home for the tall and slim attorney now venturing out of her comfort zone.
"Savannah is still in the clothes she was brought in wearing but we need to collect them for evidence. Do you think you'll be able to convince her to wear a gown? It will make seeing to her injuries a lot easier also." The doctor questions as they walk into the treatment room where, almost hidden in the corner Savannah was laying.
At first the doctor's words sound like muffled horns inside the attorney's mind but slowly Alex comes back to earth and just gives a confident nod. Her blonde locks bounce off of her shoulders as her pace towards Savannah's hospital bed picks up, now the young brunette is in sight.
Savannah was in the last bed, her long, brown locks contrasting against the white pillows of the bed and giving her location away. She was surrounded by nurses but even by how she was lying Alex could tell the little girl was tensed and on edge.
Alex slows her approach as her crystal blue eyes take a full scan of the scene in front of her. A large hospital bed was barely occupied by a far too small body of an almost teenager. If her feet met three quarters way down the bed then it was a miracle, she was tiny, almost hidden by the bed itself. Dried blood and dirt were now patterned across the crisp white sheets where Savannah was still in her clothing from the house. Dark, long locks of brown hair were fanned out underneath the young girl's head as she lays slightly propped up by pillows.
'I truly don't know if my heart can handle finding out just what this poor girl has been through in her life. I know I should be used to facing such cruelty and unimaginable evil but for some reason this is quickly becoming too much for me.' Alex mentally worries about her inability to shut herself off from everything being thrown at her when it comes to this eleven year old but right now she had no choice, she had to cope for Savannah's sake.
"Savannah, I have someone who I think you want to see. You remember Alex don't you?" Doctor Jennings lightly presses, Savannah's gaze was lost in the distance until the word 'Alex' is spoken.
Turning her head ever so slightly, her cheek melting into the pillow, Savannah sees the tall, strong blonde from earlier and her lips begin to twitch up at the corners. Almost a smile, almost. The poor girl was exhausted, beyond exhausted at this point but her fighting spirit was somehow keeping her going.
'At least this time she isn't being tied up like a slab of meat. Those eyes still look so terrified though and I can't blame her.' Alex mentally surmises before taking a breath and kicking herself into gear.
"Hey Savannah, it's so good to see you." The long time prosecutor speaks softly as she reaches the side of the bed and places both her bag and coat to the floor. It was a eerie contrast to their first meeting hours before but thankfully this time the setting was, at least slightly better.
Blue eyes remain locked in a gaze with dark brown ones though and Savannah's tiny hand, which was bandaged heavily around the wrist and pierced with an IV twitches up onto the side rail. Taking this as a sign, the nervous ADA reaches out and delicately wraps her warm hand over the small counterpart of the child.
"You… didn't leave." Savannah whispers her reply, eyes now brimming with unshed tears and a weight seemingly lifting from her young shoulders. The fact she had spoken clearly taking the fellow medical staff off guard, maybe Alex was going to be of some help after all.
Alex feels a strong sting crash into her eyes at the eleven year olds words and it takes all the strength the attorney has to keep herself from blubbering. Nodding her head in agreement, the blonde slowly bends down so she is more at Savannah's level.
"I made a promise didn't I?" Alex explains softly as her thumb begins to instinctively run back and forth across Savannah's thumb bone, being careful of her wound and IV of course.
The brunette child just slowly shrugs her shoulders, her head nodding but the ADA could tell Savannah wasn't exactly convinced by that reasoning. Promises probably meant next to nothing in Savannah's life and if they meant anything it was likely unspeakable things.
'Reassure her Alex, she needs reassurance.' Alex's inner voice barks orders as for once the tall blonde shuts off her inner lawyer and attempts to tap into another side of herself.
"I made you a promise to be here and I am. I know sometimes people break promises they make, a lot of people do actually but I'm not one of them. I'm here, right here with you, just like I said." Alex assures, hoping her words would somehow bring comfort to this poor child.
Savannah clearly contemplates the words of the counsellor in her head, weighing up if they made sense. Alex had been honest about most people breaking their promises and normally that would be disheartening for a child but not for Savannah. No, instead the small eleven year old takes this as a sign Alex was being truthful with her and so slowly nods her head in understanding and Alex returns it with a gentle squeeze of the girl's hand.
"Doctor Jennings told me you are being incredibly brave, I told her you were back at the house too." Alex praises sincerely as the eleven year old in the hospital bed, looks deeply into the woman's crystal blue orbs.
For a second there is a slight blush that rushes against Savannah's tanned cheeks but quickly disappears when the young brunette senses she is being buttered up for something. Tensing up the eleven year old narrows her eyes with suspicion and begins to look around her bed for where the next attack would be coming from.
'Oh she is hyper-vigilant to say the least. Poor thing has probably had to be.' Alex mentally comments on the child's actions before sucking in a breath and hopefully the courage she knows she'll need to get through this.
"Savannah, look at me okay sweetheart. I'm right here and do you remember how back at the house I told you I wouldn't let anyone hurt you?" The model like blonde asks knowingly, her voice calming as she moves to place Savannah's hand between the both of hers, as they rest on the bed rail.
Savannah's attention is taken by the attorney's words and although running on fumes and fear, the eleven year old faintly nods her head to say she did remember.
"That goes for here too. I am going to be right here, holding your hand the entire time the doctors check you over. If they do anything that hurts you, all you have to do is squeeze my hand, as hard as you want and I swear, I will make them stop." Alex reveals, her words spoken confidently and her grip over Savannah's hand protective.
Searching the sea of blue inside the ADA's eyes, almost certain she will find a sign of this being a lie or trick, Savannah's lower lip beings to tremble. The poor brunette had been through so much, her emotions were everywhere and knowing what to have the strength to fight and the bravery to allow to happen was next to impossible.
"I'm an ADA, which means I am a lawyer who works with the police like your daddy and when I'm in the courtroom people have to listen to me. They have to do what I say or otherwise they go to jail. So, if you squeeze my hand because you're in pain or just finding it too upsetting, I will tell the doctor or nurse to stop. I'm an ADA, so therefore they will-" Alex attempts to explain this in a way that would give the eleven year old some confidence that she wasn't about to be thrown to the wolves.
To everyone's surprise however, Savannah interrupts the blue eyed blonde and manages to whisper out, with her head slightly bowed from fear.
"-have to do it." Savannah finishes Alex's sentence and in returns earns a bright grin from the lawyer who nods in agreement and bends a little lower in order to look into this beautiful chocolate brown orbs once more.
'How Olivia does this for a living is beyond me. I feel as though I'm walking on the shattered pieces of Savannah's heart here.' The inner voice of the ADA comments, relief somewhat filling her lungs knowing she at least has somewhat gained Savannah's trust.
"Exactly. They have to do it and they will do it." Alex adds with a slight wink which for a brief moment ignites a spark behind otherwise drained brown eyes. There was an everyday eleven year old girl lost somewhere in Savannah but she was fighting to be free, just like Savannah had when she shouted for her rescuer.
Alex smiles and feels Savannah's small hand delicately intertwine their fingers before letting out a shaky breath and faintly nodding her head. It was a silent gesture that although terrified she was willing to allow the doctor's to finally examine her properly and help her but also it was a plea for the beautiful, blue eyed woman to keep her promise and stick with her throughout it.
Once again taken back by this child's strength, Alex delicately squeezes the much smaller hand now gripping onto hers and nods confidently in agreement to the young brunette's plea. Gently and carefully raising Savannah's hand from the bed rail, the long time prosecutor brings it to her lips and places a delicate kiss to the small patch of skin not bandaged in some way.
"I'm not going anywhere and the second you squeeze is the second they stop. Just remember that and focus on me and this will all be done before you know it." Alex soothes, her eyes for a moment glancing towards Doctor Jennings who was beyond thankful for the help the ADA had provided so far
Savannah shuffles closer to the side rail of the bed, her eyes watching as the beautiful woman who came from the night to save her places a kiss on the back of her hand. The eleven year old feels a frown form for a second but dismisses it once Alex assures her that all it was going to take to stop any pain was a squeeze of her hand.
"You promise?" Savannah questions tentatively, her voice only audible to herself and Alex who was now huddled as close as she could get to the young girl without climbing into the bed with her.
Alex finds a smile cross her lips at the question and although in part it rips at her heart, it also warms it at the same time. Nodding in agreement the model worthy blonde locks her eyes with Savannah's once more and uses her body to block out the view of anyone else for the eleven year old.
"I promise." Alex assures as Savannah's chocolate brown orbs stare deep into the crystal blue counterparts belonging to the lawyer and seemingly accept the woman's promise to be true.
Hospitals were the definition of hell for Casey, she did everything humanly possible to avoid them at all costs. Half of the reason she had recently decided to kick in the cigarette habit she'd picked up during a stressful case a year back, was for the fear of ending up in a hospital.
Hazel eyes take notice of everything around the ADA as the police presence slowly starts to dwindle back down. It was known Savannah wasn't in critical condition and with Victor still missing, it was believed their time was better spent doing their respective jobs. For the most part it was only a few of the higher ups still lingering, they were hovering and Casey could tell piecing together some kind of statement to release to the swarming press just outside the doors.
'Finding a way to spin this is going to be fun.' Casey mentally comments to herself as she continues to watch people far above her pay grade scrambling around to get something together.
Pulling her long, strawberry blonde locks back over her head, the confident attorney decides to make her move. Casey's heels click against the floor of the hospital as she makes her way across to one of the less frustrated looking police superiors.
"ADA Novak, aren't you a sight for sore eyes during such times?" The older man comments, his hand reaching for Casey's with his dark eyes being anything but subtle at what was peeking his interest.
Used to this kind of behaviour, her entire career, the tall prosecutor forces a nod and has to bite her tongue to stop from giving a sarcastic response. As tempting as it was, it wasn't worth her job and so far he'd hardly perpetrated a hanging offence.
"Captain Delany, nice to see you too sir." Casey replies in her best 'playing nice' voice as she shakes the older man's hand before nodding towards the thick folder the Captain had been studying.
After everything Doctor Jennings had revealed, the prosecutor in Casey was chomping at the bit for more information. It was obvious Captain Bruno was anything but the hard working, commendable and treasured police officer he betrayed to the world but Casey still needed evidence and the best place to start was digging into his background as much as possible.
"Have you known Captain Bruno for long or overly well? This is so tragic and so far there hasn't been that much anyone has known about him." Casey tests the waters carefully, the Captain's eyes still finding it hard work to actually look above her collar bones but the strawberry blonde would use it to her advantage.
'Uh, I can smell the whiskey on his breath. This is not going to be fun.' Casey's inner voice comments as her body does everything not to show any recognition of the officer's liquid breakfast.
Finally able to meet Casey's hazel eyes, the much older Captain nods his head and leans his forearm over the nurse's station he was stood beside. The job had taken its toll over the years and the bags under Captain Delany's eyes could smuggle in contraband. He was a grizzled veteran of the NYPD but had found himself stagnant when it came to progressing any further up the career ladder. By the smell being breathed on her, the young ADA was starting to see why.
"I've known Victor since he was in his blue's pounding the streets. Good kid, straight laced, went by the book you know? Always kept to himself but I think his wife walking out on him and leaving him with a five year old just pushed him even more inward." Captain Delany reveals with that rough voice which spoke of years of alcohol abuse and most likely heavy smoking.
'Liv did say she heard something about a wife. I wonder if she left because of abuse? But then why leave her baby girl behind to suffer the brunt?' Casey's prosecutor mind ponders the possibilities all while nodding and smiling towards the grey haired Captain in front of her.
"Has anyone been able to get in contact with her? I mean, she left but Savannah is her child and right now the only parent the poor girl has." Casey questions, her genuine concern for the girl evident in her voice as well as the widening of her hazel eyes.
The captain instantly scoffs at the young strawberry blonde's suggestion, his hand resting over his chest with a hearty laugh escaping his abused lungs.
"Regina? I highly doubt she has interest in the child's well fare, let alone Victor's. She was a lot younger you see, quite the stunning piece and wild. Victor tamed her, married her and thought, foolishly that being a mother would keep her grounded. I'm surprised she lasted the five years she did before doing her disappearing act. No, if you ask me that poor girl is better off with no one then whatever hooker mess her mother must be by now." The captain states confidently, his disdain for Savannah's mother anything but subtle but it was helping put some pieces together if nothing else.
Casey feels part of her heart drop inside her chest, as if Savannah's life hadn't already been tragic now it was coming out she had an absentee mother, who seemingly just abandoned her and left her to fend for herself.
"You don't think Regina could have had anything to do with what happened last night do you? Some kind of revenge or attempt to regain custody of her daughter?" Casey asks, deep down already knowing the answer but having to ask all the same.
Shaking his head furiously in disagreement, Captain Delany's jowls flop from side to side before he takes hold of the stunning ADA's hand and tugs her in closer.
"Not a chance. No, this seems targeted and personal but far too…. Organised to be Regina. Between you and me, she was a working girl who found her golden goose, milked it dry and ran for the hills. That woman hasn't looked back and never will. This is probably all to do with one of Victor's cases, someone he pissed off by putting away and they're out for blood." The captain surmises with a strong air of confidence in regard to this having nothing to do with Victor's ex wife Regina.
It's then that one of the other high up's beckons Delany over and causes the half cut Captain to grumble under his breath before saying a quick goodbye to Casey and heading to where he was needed. Due to the man's intoxication levels and his eyes spending more time in her cleavage than anything else, the attorney is able to get her hands on the folder that Captain Delany had previously been studying.
As an ADA and the one who was going to be assigned to this case when the time came, Casey would soon have her hands on all the folders, files and information regarding to Captain Bruno she could ever want. However something about this one seemed off, not so much official as something thrown together and quickly passed between the NYPD high ups.
With a glance inside the manila folder, Casey's hazel eye quickly realise this folder filled with surveillance photos and detailed reports on the Captain's movements dating back at least a year. In all of them though, there was not one sign of Savannah even existing let alone appearing in a photo or even in a comment.
'What in the hell is going on?' Casey mentally questions before using her phone, as discreetly as she can to take photos of everything this folder contained. A gut instinct was screaming at the strawberry blonde that this information would not be included when she eventually got all of Captain Bruno's paperwork and files. Just what kind of a mess was poor Savannah trapped in the middle of here?
Once Doctor Jennings is ready to proceed she nods towards a nervous Alex to indicate this examination was about to begin. With a sudden lump now lodged in her throat, the tall blonde just smiles down at Savannah, who was still gripping her hand and strokes some hair tenderly from her young face.
The movement causes the tanned child to freeze completely but as Alex's hand just moves the few stray hairs a relieved sigh escapes Savannah's lungs and her breathing starts up once more. Savannah's understandable reaction pierces Alex's heart like a shard of glass and causes the blonde to want to kick herself in the face for being so insensitive but that could happen later, right now she had to focus on the little brunette.
"You ready Savannah? Doctor Jennings is going to help you get into a hospital gown now and then make sure you don't have any more cuts or anything that need attention. Now don't worry because I am here, right here and I won't be going anywhere." Alex assures with a steady voice although inwardly she felt about ready to shatter.
'No adult let alone child should have to go through this. How have I worked for so long surrounded by this and yet it's only now I am facing the cold, harsh reality?' Alex's inner voice comments in the back of her mind as the young brunette in the hospital bed, hesitantly nods and sits herself up in the bed with a struggle.
The pain was etched on her face but not a single grimace or hiss escapes her lungs though. Savannah was trembling from head to toe but her small hand was securely locked onto Alex's without any sign of lessening. The young girl's eyes avert completely from the dark haired doctor but with a strong intake of breath, Savannah does allow the tatters of her clothes to be removed, her head bowed down looking at the floor.
Alex's usually model like stance was now hunched over as she stands beside the hospital bed, connected by a strong grip with this traumatised eleven year old. The long time prosecutor's blue eyes watch over Savannah as if she was a china doll about to break.
The clothes were dirty and clearly painted with different stages of dried blood and only god knows what else. Once in the evidence bags, it is obvious just how tiny this supposed eleven year old girl truly was. Her frame was almost painful to see, bones protruding through naturally olive skin which was littered with a collage of scars, burns, bruises and swelling.
Alex feels her glasses begin to react to the brimming tears now swimming in her eyes and quickly uses her free hand to wipe under each eye. Her breath was stolen and all the blonde could do was lean a little closer to Savannah in order to whisper into her ear.
"You're doing great Savannah, so good. You okay so far? Remember, you just have to squeeze my hand." Alex coos out with real effort not to let her threatening tears make any kind of appearance in her voice.
The small brunette now sat with her legs hanging off the side of the bed just faintly nods. Right now, the warmth of the kind prosecutor's hand was all that was anchoring her and as long as she focused on that she was okay.
Doctor Jennings outwardly doesn't react, a trick years of being in her profession had taught her but it wasn't easy. Giving Savannah a kind smile the raven haired woman scans the eleven year olds body for any injuries that needed her attention immediately.
There were the restraint marks across her chest, upper abdomen, hips, upper thighs and knees that all needed to be cleaned and dressed but as far as the experienced doctor could tell no stitches would be required. The marks were deep and had bleed for sometime before naturally attempting to heal, it likely was the reason for the dried blood found on Savannah's clothing and the blood that was reported to be on her mattress. Going from the even more evident previous scars, this happened a lot and for long periods each time. Although not life threatening wounds, over time they would be extremely painful and run a high risk of infection.
Savannah's skin was understandably irritated, red raw around where the ropes had been sliced into her skin like cheese wire. There were scars likely caused by different degrees and kinds of burns which littered Savannah's young body as well, not a numerous as the bruises or cuts but still numerous and of different stages of healing. Then there were the bruises and swelling dotted across the child's body, from the neck down it was almost like looking at some kind of horror Dalmatian. The multi coloured bruises all varying in size and time since forming were almost too many to count. Some were black, some purple, some yellow, some green and some red and more swollen. The only thing they had in common was they littered this poor girl's body with barely a patch of skin un affected by what looked like systematic and frequent beatings.
Doctor Jennings raises her gaze across the bed and for a brief moment locks eyes with Alex. The taller of the two women was subtly shaking her head in disbelief of what she was witnessing first hand. Suddenly all of those parents who were unwilling made a lot more sense to the long time prosecutor than they ever had before.
"Savannah, would it be okay if nurse Rogers here takes some pictures of your injuries?" The raven haired doctor asks as tentatively as she possibly can but even so her words still cause Savannah's breathing to become strained.
Alex can feel the reaction as it runs through Savannah's entire being, her body only the start. Nodding her head as an encouragement more to herself than the terrified child, the tall blonde leans a little closer once more.
"It's okay Savannah, I'm still here and I will be right here while the nurse does it. It's so the police can know what has happened to you without having to put you through this again." Alex attempts to explain just why this little brunette was going to be photographed like a sick and twisted college project.
The feeling of utter helplessness which erupts inside the long time ADA is physically painful. The lawyer side of Alex's mind was trying to argue that this was procedure and necessary. Unfortunately that was indeed true but it didn't stop the newly discovered side of the blonde's mind from screaming for this all to just stop.
'She is eleven years old, eleven. She can barely keep herself sitting and now her young body is going to be looked over, examined, poked and prodded like some medical school specimen. The worst part is I know it has to happen, I don't want it to but it has to.' Alex's debating inner voice rants silently as Savannah sinks a little further into a hunched over position.
The smaller hand still intertwined at the fingers with Alex's was unmoving, it has yet to squeeze so all the apprehensive councillor could do was take it as permission this was all still okay and to carry on.
Lifting her gaze back to the awaiting one of the doctor, Alex reluctantly just gives a small shrug of her shoulders and nod of her head. As deeply as the ADA's heart was aching this was actually for Savannah's benefit and Alex was in no position to cause it to stop.
"Okay Savannah, don't worry we will take this very slowly and like Alex said if you want us to stop just squeeze her hand." The doctor announces as Savannah twitches with every word spoken but seems to still resist from actually giving that squeeze to end this all. Her bravery clearly having not been exaggerated by the woman who found her at all.
Alex feels the tightness in her chest increase tenfold as the nurse takes the camera out ready to begin. Closing her eyes briefly just to collect herself the tall prosecutor reminds herself that this is about Savannah and getting her through this, nothing else.
"You are doing so well sweetheart and hey, I'm still here okay? I'm right here with you and I'm not going anywhere." Alex repeats her words from earlier like a mantra, hoping desperately that maybe just possibly the fact she was there was doing some good.
Back out in the waiting area Casey was currently looking over the photos she had taken with her phone of the contents inside Captain Delany's manila folder. Seemingly Savannah's missing father, Captain Victor Bruno had been under some kind of investigation for a considerable amount of time.
'None of this is official though, no police reports or mentions of just who has been keeping the captain under surveillance.' Casey's inner voice points out as the councillor continues to examine each photo she had taken looking for any kind of useful information.
The questions of just what Captain Victor Bruno was under investigation for and by who were not going to be answered by these documents that was obvious. However just the fact that a fellow NYPD Captain had been in possession of the folder containing this seeming unofficial documentation meant there was something underhanded going on and quite possibly was trying to be swept under the carpet.
It was a sad fact that you learnt when involved with the so called 'Justice System', the corruption located within it was often more vibrant than anywhere else. Now that isn't to say that there aren't still good, hard working people doing their jobs properly and for the right reasons because of course there are. Unfortunately though working against them were the ones who would slaughter their own mother just to save their own ass and keep their dirty secrets buried.
Bringing the plastic lid of the vending machine coffee to her plump lips to take a sip, Casey's hazel eyes look out over at the remaining NYPD presence still lingering. The majority were either glorified pen pushers, someone who worked at the precinct Captain Bruno was a part of or a rather dishevelled and nervous looking NYPD officer either of the same ranking as Victor or above him. Something about this entire situation was causing Casey to become uneasy and her instinct was screaming for the strawberry blonde to be on high alert.
Casey was struggling to figure out what the best course of action was for her to take next. Obviously there were going to be people around this investigation that she would be unable to trust but without a doubt if there was going to be any hope of actually getting any answers then this new information was going to have to be investigated and revealed at some point. The question was just who could the strawberry blonde trust with such sensitive information when there was so little to go on but also a cover up was already beginning to take place?
'Olivia, she is the definition of a good cop and as honest as they come. If I can't trust her with this then I can't trust anyone.' Casey answers her own question silently as her hazel eyes continue to observe the lingering NYPD presence still in the waiting area.
There were far too many whispers and not so discreet looks being shared around the higher ups for Casey not to worry. Just whatever Alex had stumbled upon when she found Savannah the younger ADA wasn't sure but whatever it was, it now had a lot of people truly rumbled and that was never a good sign.
The first ultra distressing thing noticed as Doctor Jennings and her nurse began to document Savannah's injuries was the fact the eleven year old had been wearing no underwear. It was noted between Alex and Doctor Jennings just through a worried and partly defeated glance shared across the hospital bed. Both women knew what this piece of the puzzle was pointing towards and it only made their hearts sink that much lower.
It had been silently decided that neither of them would question Savannah about her injuries or anything that is found during the examination so they instead were left swallowing their concerns and soldiering through. Unfortunately for Olivia and whatever detective she would bring with her later, they would be tasked with the unimaginable heartbreak of having to ask an eleven year old why she was without underwear, not to mention everything else.
Savannah's injuries were numerous so getting them all documented as well as photographed, so many pictures, took time and by the end the young girl was struggling to keep herself sitting up. Doctor Jennings did her best to move quickly but so many of the poor child's injuries had to be cleaned and dressed in some way so that made everything take just that much longer.
Alex could tell the small brunette was on the verge of tilting over and so delicately uses the front of her body for Savannah to lean back against in the final few moments, as she stands beside her and still holds her small hand.
"Okay Savannah, I am sorry that took so long but you were fantastic. The photographs are all done now and we have cleaned up and bandaged some areas to hopefully help with that soreness you must have been feeling. The good news is now you can slip this gown on if you like and lie back properly on the bed and get comfortable." The raven haired doctor announces into the otherwise quiet room.
Throughout everything Savannah had been completely silent, not so much as a whimper leaving her young lungs. How someone so young, fragile and exhausted had been able to contain what must be excruciating pain caused from her injuries was terrifying to think about. In fact the only instance when it seemed Savannah was going to voice anything, was when the nurse had asked Alex to let go of the eleven year olds hand.
Before the drained, hurting and still trembling brunette was able to make a sound though, Alex had quickly taken over. In full control of the situation and everyone in the room, the tall blonde had moved herself around the bed and taken Savannah's free hand without breaking her previous grip until the new one was formed. The young brunette didn't react in any way, not even looking up. Instead, once her fingers were again intertwined with the ADA's Savannah just softly brushed her thumb over the older woman's thumb bone. A silent message that she appreciated what Alex had done and that she was indeed okay to continue.
With the camera now put away and the information she was allowed to put on some clothing and return to laying down on the bed, Savannah's head lifts, just slightly and only enough so she can turn to glance at Alex. The child's multicoloured skin was pimpled you would think from the relatively cold temperature of the hospital room but anyone could tell her trembles weren't from the chill but instead from terror.
Sensing that she was being called upon for some form of help, Alex bends down, slightly forward as she is still supporting the eleven year old as she sits on the bed. With her ear now level with Savannah's mouth, the prosecutor is hopeful that perhaps the small brunette had something she wanted to tell her.
'Oh please say something Savannah, no child should be quiet like this for so long.' Alex mentally pleads her desperation to try and help the young girl feel better only growing with each second.
Savannah nervously twitches as her long, brown locks fall in front of her face like a curtain. Feeling somewhat contained the eleven year old breathes out a shaky breath and ever so slightly turns more into the tall woman both holding her hand and keeping her up right.
"Will… you… help… me… please?" Savannah's sweet but strained voice whispers, every ounce of terror she must be feeling echoing throughout her shaky words but at least she had said something.
Alex's face breaks out into a genuine smile from hearing Savannah's young voice, despite its fear. An odd sensation of relief and happiness mix together within the ADA along with a gut wrenching pain knowing this poor girl had been through so much and was unfortunately continuing to suffer in some form.
"Of course I can sweetheart. I'll ask doctor Jennings and Nurse Rogers to go outside the curtain and wait while I help you with the gown and we get you comfortable on the bed okay?" Alex instantly answers, her words instructing the raven haired doctor and her nurse what to do while at the same time hopefully assuring Savannah.
Savannah faintly nods in agreement but doesn't move in any other way until the tall blonde's actions are carried out and the hospital curtain is pulled fully around the bed cubical once both the doctor and nurse have exited.
Now just the two of them behind the thin material, Alex gives a smile to the exhausted child and moves so she is now stood fully in front of Savannah who was still sat on the edge of the bed. With their hands still connected the tired attorney crouches down a little more and looks directly into the young girl's eyes to let her know it was in fact just them.
"You were so brave Savannah, I hope that you know that." Alex praises Savannah with a smile as she reaches for the gown which was resting beside the young brunette on the bed.
Savannah's eyes were swimming with tears but her cheeks were somehow dry, how she had stopped herself from crying another mystery that Alex was sure she would never want to know the answer to. The eleven year old glances from crystal blue eyes to the hospital gown and then back to the woman who had become her saviour, almost asking permission.
'She wants to put this on but thinks she needs me to tell her she can? Can't blame her for wanting to cover herself up after what she has just endured.' The long time attorney mentally comments as she enthusiastically nods her head and gives her best smile to hopefully ease some of Savannah's nervousness.
Feeling the naturally olive skinned girl relax her grip and tentatively release her small hand from Alex's, the taller blonde feels a surge of emotion crash into her heart. It was such a small thing and yet here Alex was finding herself wanting to almost instantly react and take back the precious, little hand back into the safety of her own.
Resisting the intense instinct however, Alex just smiles and watches as Savannah's face grimaces from pain as she raises her arms in order to put them through the large arm holes of the gown. Yet again, the brunette remains completely silent, the only indicator of the agony she is in being the way every muscle on her face contorts and the little jolt that runs through her like an electric shock.
Holding her breath at seeing the small brunette in such pain, Alex makes quick work of easing the hospital gown around Savannah's mismatched and trembling body. The gown was miles too big but with a tight knot of the strings at the back Alex manages to make it work.
Now covered up, at least for the most part, Savannah's shoulders slowly fall down from their more hunched position. A breath escapes her lungs and for a split second she almost seems relieved but of course it was only relatively.
"There you go darling, here lets lay you back and get you comfortable okay?" Alex suggests, her voice trying to keep it's cheerfulness but it was a struggle to say the least.
The older woman cautiously ghosts her hands either side of Savannah's fragile body as the eleven year old scoots herself back on the bed and swings her legs back around so they are once again on the mattress. The pain which rips through Savannah from the movements is silent but the single tear that travels down her tanned cheek is not missed by Alex's crystal eyes.
Watching as the warm liquid makes its escape, Alex feels the dams she had built within her eyes threaten to crumble. Somehow though, through the lenses of her glasses the long serving attorney just observes the bravery of this little girl and withholds her own strangling emotions.
Melting back into the pillows Alex quickly puffs up, Savannah audibly lets out a sigh of relief. The exhaustion wasn't so much sneaking up on the eleven year old now as hitting her head on.
"Okay, are we all comfortable now?" Alex asks sweetly as she retakes her position beside Savannah's bed and grips the cold metal railing to pull the child sides back up.
Savannah lifts her hand which was containing the IV of fluids to rehydrate her body and wipes away the remains of her single shed tear which by now had dropped off of her chin. The young girl nods to answer the attorney but was understandably still on edge knowing there was more to this examination to come.
A heaviness enters Alex's heart as she watches this child fight her emotions along with the repercussions of the ordeal she has suffered through. Deciding to try and be of some comfort the blonde attorney reaches out with her delicate hand and offers it to Savannah again with a soft smile gracing her lips.
"I'm still here Savannah and you still only have to squeeze my hand and this will end." Alex reminds the drained brunette as Doctor Jennings and her nurse take the indication from the conversation that they could renter the small cubical.
Locking her chocolate brown orbs with Alex's blue counterparts once more, Savannah blindly reaches for the lawyer's hand and easily slips her small digits in between Alex's in a now familiar and comforting grip.
"Savannah, you have done very well so far but there is just a few more things that we need to do. Now, I want you to know that at any time if you feel uncomfortable, in pain or you've just had enough then all you have to do is let us know and we will stop." Doctor Jennings explains cautiously, her eyes for a split second glancing to Alex who knew all too well what the things left to do actually were.
'Just focus on Savannah and being here for her. That is all you can do right now Alex.' Alex informs herself silently as a weak attempt to stop the crippling urge to stop this from going any further.
Once more Savannah avoids looking in the direction of Doctor Jennings or her nurse and instead uses her long hair as a shield from the world. Cautiously though the brunette turns her head just enough so through the curtain of her hair she can make out the beautiful blonde still holding her hand.
Bending slightly so she is eye level with the brave eleven year old now about to go through something no one, let alone a child should have to, Alex feels a strength overcome her. Savannah was brave enough to go through all of this without so much as a whimper than a grown woman was more than capable of at least holding her hand and reminding this poor child that she is not alone.
With a soft nod of her head, the long time ADA locks eyes with Savannah and stares deeply into the child's emotion filled eyes. Gently with her free hand Alex reaches up cautiously and to her surprise Savannah doesn't tense or flinch at the movement. Taking this is a good sign the tall blonde delicately uses her fingertips to stroke across Savannah's forehead and eases the terrified child' head to relax a little further into the puffed up pillows underneath her head.
"Just one squeeze and it will stop, I promise." Alex breathes out softly as Savannah's eyelids flutter and eventually but cautiously close shut.
Alex holds back a sudden rush of tears that invade her eyes and just continues to stroke ever so softly over the eleven year olds forehead before nodding towards Doctor Jennings that the next part of this examination could begin.
Now, I have left it there for a reason in this chapter. Although I could go into the detail of what happens during Savannah's pelvic exam, my heart just doesn't have the strength. Also I wouldn't want to upset anyone by going into too much detail and knowing me I would. I am hoping I can achieve the same outcome with what happens in the next chapter.
Now in the next chapter as a little tease I can tell you all that Alex and Casey share a rather important moment... their first of something and that is all I will say. hehehe.
So once again thank you all so much for reading this story and to those of you who take the time to let me know what you're thinking, feeling, expecting, sensing and anything else in between (if any of you do) then you have my biggest thanks imaginable. You make this story continue by giving me such priceless information in your reviews and believe me I read each one and take everything that is said in them on board, so thank you!
Until next time stay safe, happy and well ;;'x