Essay Credentials
by: Liv-x-Case-Benson & dcmasters
Ch. 7: Terrifying Correction
When the next week started, Sara wasn't in Catherine's class. In fact, she wasn't even in any class.
Rumors circulated around school about a freshman who had been jumped and attacked the Sunday before, late at night. Everyone said it was because of an inappropriate relationship. A forbidden relationship. That in being "attacked" she was corrected of her sinful ways.
Sara, meanwhile, laid curled up in bed. She'd been checked over by the campus nurse, but the nurse, for some reason, highly discouraged her talking to the authorities.
No one would stop the captain of the wrestling team. He was holding the school on his shoulders. Sara didn't answer calls or texts from harassment.
She was afraid to go to Catherine for fear of what it might look like.
Sara's absence made Catherine increasingly concerned. Sara never missed one of her classes. When she'd discovered Sara had been absent all day, Catherine pulled out here phone as she walked from campus at the end of the day. 'You weren't in class today. Are you ok, baby? x'
'Hurts.'
'I hurt you?! x'
'No. Wrestler. Corrected me... I even told the nurse, but she said she wouldn't do anything. Told me not to go to the police...'
'Come down, I'll pick you up.' She pressed send, drove to Sara's. She felt shocked, numb, at what had happened to the brunette, but she was sure it was nothing like Sara felt.
Sara bundled up so she wasn't recognizable, shouldering a bag, waiting by the door. Everything hurt. She was black and blue in places she didn't know she could be. But, most of all, she was terrified of telling anyone else. What if they didn't believe her or thought she deserved it?
'Outside x'
Sara walked out, but tripped over her baggy attire, crashing to the cement.
"Shit," Catherine swore, stepping out help bundle to brunette into her car, "Are you ok?"
Sara snuggled into her, whimpering.
"Let me get you out of here, ok?"
"Ok..." Sara whispered.
Catherine kissed her forehead, then moving round to the driver's side. "We should get you checked over sweetheart," she said softly, pulling away from the curb.
"They already did!"
"Who?" Catherine frowned.
"C-campus nurse..."
"Sara, we need to get you checked by a doctor. Please? For me?"
Sara nodded.
Catherine resting a hand in Sara's, driving them to the nearest hospital. She helped Sara inside, sitting her down as she booked her in. "Can someone look her over please? She... she's been assaulted."
Sara pulled the jacket tighter around her. Why did people have to know?
Catherine smiled when the nurse said someone would be along soon, kneeling in front of Sara. "Whatever happens, I'll be here."
Sara nodded. leaning into her. "It hurts!"
"I know. But it's going to be ok. I won't let anyone hurt you again."
"Y-you couldn't stop it..."
"What do you mean?"
"What makes you think you can help next time?" she whispered.
"There won't be a next time."
Sara shook her head. "All of them are after me."
"Then stay with me."
"How?"
"We'll run. Together."
Sara smiled.
"Somewhere nobody knows us, ok?" she said softly, as the doctor walked out, "Sara Sidle?"
Sara stood. "Yes?"
"If you'd like to follow me," she smiled.
She nodded, following her.
Catherine followed them through then sat outside Sara's room. "Do you want to tell me why you're here?"
"Last night...I was attacked and raped on campus. I was checked over by the nurse who heavily advised me from telling the police."
The doctor frowned. "That's not something campus nurses are supposed to advise. With your consent, I'd like to call them and do a rape kit."
"I think they said it because the person who raped me holds up the school with grants and scholarships..."
"That doesn't make it right, Sara."
Sara nodded. "I know that, so, yes. You have my permission to do a kit and call them, but..." she bit her lip. How was she supposed to explain this?
"But?"
She blushed brightly. "Well, I...you won't just find his as foreign DNA..."
The doctor nodded. "You'll need to give the police details of anyone you've had consensual sex with in the past 72 hours. For elimination purposes."
Sara nodded. "Ok."
"I'll be right back," she smiled, leaving the room, returning with the police twenty minutes later. "Sara, this is Kate. She's with the crime lab."
"Hi."
"Hi Sara," Kate smiled. "Would it be ok to ask you a few questions before the doctor examines you?"
"I guess so."
"The doctor tells me you were sexually assaulted... Did you know the person who did this to you?"
"Not directly. I just know he's the captain of the school's wrestling team."
Kate nodded. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"There was a party. It wasn't anything I wasn't used to. I was walking home from visiting a friend. He said something to taunt me. I-I don't remember what. His group surrounded me, gagging me and binding my hands, tearing my clothes to shreds..."
"Do you know their names? Or could you describe them?"
"I don't know their names. The school would."
"Ok. I also have to ask... have you had consensual sex with anyone else, just so we can rule them out?"
"Actually, there is one person..."
"If I could have their details, I'll call 'round and get a sample."
"No need, Cath!" she called.
"Everything ok?" Catherine asked, quickly walking in.
Sara blushed. "It's her."
Kate nodded. "If you could follow me outside whilst the doctor examines Sara..."
Catherine nodded with a frown, going back out to her seat.
Sara looked away.
"I'll try and make this as comfortable as possible," the doctor said softly, pulling the curtain.
"I need a swab for comparison... Cath, was it?"
"Catherine Willows," she corrected.
Kate nodded. "Open your mouth for me..."
She nodded, opening her mouth.
Kate quickly swabbed her cheek. "All done, thank you. Can I ask you some questions?"
"Sure."
"What is the nature of your relationship with Miss Sidle?"
"Nature? Like what? If you're asking if we've slept together, the answer is yes, but we're both consenting. I would never force anything on her."
"I'm not implying anything. Sara's already told me it's consensual. Can I ask where you two met?"
"..Actually, she's one of my students and, yes, I know how bad that sounds. We...really have no explantion other than it just happened one day. And I'm not worried about my job. I plan to quit anyway."
Kate nodded, considering her next question carefully. "You know how it could be perceived though? If it came out."
"That she's with me because I threatened her grades? Yes. But I didn't. I would never do that," Catherine said.
"It's ok, I believe you. I may need your help naming some of the suspects."
"I'll do all I can. When this comes to light, I doubt I'll have much standing in the school. Though," she thought carefully, "if I'm honest, unfortunately, our relationship could have been the cause. The wrestling team always opposes any different "veiw" like this. I just never thought they would do this."
"Try not to blame yourself, Miss Willows," Kate said, giving a small smile as she stood, walking back into Sara's room.
Catherine nodded, going to stand outside Sara's door.
"What happens now is we take you in to make a statement, is that ok?" Kate asked, giving her a change of clothes from her bag.
"Can Catherine come with me?"
"If that would make you feel more comfortable, though she won't be able to join you in interview."
Sara nodded.
"Ok. Would you like to see her before we leave?"
"Please."
Kate nodded, moving outside to speak to the doctor as Catherine walked in. "Hey," she said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Sara moved closer, sitting in her lap. Without the baggy clothing, almost all of her ivory skin was purple. "Hi."
Catherine held her close, though her grip was gentle. No matter how shocked she was, Catherine was determined not to show it. She felt so guilty. "I love you, beautiful," she whispered, placing a light kiss against her cheek.
"I love you too. And you didn't do this to me."
"I know, but I caused it, and I'm so sorry," she managed.
Sara looked up at her. "No, you didn't cause it. Loving someone isn't a crime."
Catherine nodded. "Whatever you want or need, I'm here, through everything I promise."
Sara nodded. "Thank you."
Catherine smiled, letting out a shaky breath.
Sara moved a bit. "It's ok..if you don't want to do this."
"No, I do..."
"But if it's hard for you..."
Catherine shook her head. "I just need to get out of here."
"Don't like hosp-" Then it hit her. This must be horrible for Catherine because of what had happened when she'd lost that child. Sara snuggled into her. "I can tell her I'm ready to go?"
"Only if you really are ready..."
Sara took a shaky breath. "Yes."
Catherine wrapped an arm around Sara as they left.
They spent the next four hours at the police station going over and over Sara's statement as Catherine helped with IDs off CCTV. "Can I take her home now?" the redhead asked when Sara finally emerged.
Kate smiled. "Yes, you're more than free to. And we'll be checking into all those men. But, you are right, once this gets out, your reputation will..." she sighed. "Well, you already know. My suggestion: beat people to the accusations. Do it before they do."
Sara leaned into Catherine, exhausted.
"Thanks," Catherine nodded, leading Sara out to the car.
She drove carefully back to her house, helping Sara inside. "Bed, sofa or spare room?"
"A hot bath?" Sara asked.
"Sure. Want me to stay in the room?"
"Please?"
Catherine nodded, grabbing the softest towels she owned, then ran Sara a bath with soothing oils. "Ready?"
Sara nodded. "Yes."
Catherine helped Sara shed her clothes, running her eyes over the cuts and bruises, helping her in the bath, sitting on the edge. "If you want to be alone at any point, just say, ok?"
"I know," she said, lying back. "I was smart and didn't shower after though." Sara held her hand gently.
Catherine kissed the back of Sara's hand as she held on firmly. "I... I was thinking we could head into Vegas. Around where we went away, though we don't have to. We can go wherever you want."
Sara smiled. "Can we have a big tub with jets? I've always wanted to try one of those."
"Sure. Anything for you."
"Anything you want in the house?"
"You?"
"Besides me?"
"Some of those lights from the hotel in the bedroom ceiling?"
"That'd be nice. Any pets?"
"Yeah, maybe. Anything else you'd like?"
"A nice, fluffy down comforter set?"
Catherine nodded. "Sounds lovely. We can stay in a hotel until we find somewhere, if you wanted?"
"But...can you afford it?"
"Yes," Catherine nodded.
Sara smiled, relaxing.
Catherine allowed Sara to take her time, getting her a pair of her warm pajamas before curling up in bed with her. "Cuddle?"
"Please, but be careful."
"Always," Catherine smiled, opening an arm for her.
Slowly, Sara moved into her arms.
Catherine placed a gentle arm around her. "Sleep baby."
Sara nodded, cuddling into her as she fell into a restless sleep. She knew she'd succumbed to unconsciousness during the attack sometime, but now the pain was hitting her. "No...stop!"
"Shh... I've got you..." Catherine whispered.
Sara relaxed a little to her voice, hugging her. "It hurt!"
"I know, but it's ok now. I love you."
"Love you too..."
"Nobody can hurt you anymore."
Sara nodded, kissing her softly.
Catherine smiled, stroking Sara's hair. 'I need your help. Got to run. Cath.' she text her father once Sara was settled.
'Why? What happened?'
'I got into some trouble.'
'Specifically?'
'I got involved with a student. She got attacked because of me. We need to go. Tomorrow.'
'Where are you planning on going?'
'Center of Vegas. Need a house ASAP.'
'Number of bedrooms? Anything specific?'
'Hot tub with jets. Small lights in the bedroom ceiling, like stars. Fluffy down comforter set. Three bedrooms.'
'Two days, max. I'll let you know.'
'Thanks, Sam.' she quickly replied, finally able to relax.
Sara slept soundly the rest of the night.
Catherine stayed close all night, finally managing to sleep just before 3am.
Reviews: helly1bradleywyatt & Gardenia2
