CHAPTER 8
It was a journey that seemed to never end, but eventually they drew into the hospital car park. Jack helped Rose out of the car, but grew increasing concerned as she swayed unsteadily on her feet and looked at Jack in terror her despair evident.
"Jack what... what if she is already dead?" cried Rose, heartbroken. "What if my baby has already gone, I'm terrified... of what they're going to tell us,"
Jack held her for a moment trying to comfort her somewhat, before stepping back and taking her by the shoulders.
"We have to be strong for Elizabeth. We have to go in there, find out what is happening and if...... if she has gone we will deal with it together."
As she looked up at him, Jack noted that although still fearful, he could also see a face, full of determination and strength, the same look he had often seen reflected in her daughters face.
Rose replied "Elizabeth is stubborn she won't give in without a fight, so why should we."
On entering the hospital, Jack asked the receptionist where they could find Elizabeth, and were directed to the intensive care unit.
Jack noted the police swarming round as they entered the unit, knowing instinctively it concerned Elizabeth.
He heard a sob from Rose, who had obviously come to the same conclusion. Reaching out, Jack put a comforting hand on her arm. "Rose why don't you take a seat while I go and enquire about Elizabeth."
After making sure Rose was sitting comfortably, Jack went to enquire after Elizabeth, anxious to know what was happening. One of the nurses, who was obviously in charge, informed Jack that the doctors were operating on Elizabeth at present. She told Jack the doctors would come and speak to them, when they had news on Dr Weir's condition.
On hearing the mention of Elizabeth's name, one of the policemen looked up and came over to speak to Jack.
The policeman introduced himself as Sergeant Black and told Jack that he had been the first to attend to Elizabeth when they arrived at her house.
Jack introduced himself as General Jack O'Neill and that the elderly lady in the chair was Elizabeth's mother He said they desperately needed to find out how Elizabeth was and what had happened.
The policeman placed a comforting hand on Jack's shoulder and said the doctors were working to stabilise her.
The Sergeant said "as far as we could tell, Simon had been entertaining about seven of his mates and things had got a bit volatile." According to one of the men, Dr Weir had asked them to keep the noise down a bit; because she was afraid they would be disturbing the neighbours. Simon having taken offense at this slapped her. One of the men had made a remark that she needed to be shown who was boss."
The sergeant stopped when he realised how this would be affecting Jack, but Jack although seething, wanted to hear the rest.
"I'm okay please... just get on with it," Jack said grimly.
The sergeant continued although still looking at Jack in concern "They all started jostling her; one of the men grabbed Dr Weir and forced her on to the table. She was then held down, while they took turns raping her."
Jack was shocked; whatever he had suspected had befallen Elizabeth his heart cried out as he thought of what she had gone through. It was bad enough for her to be battered physically but for her to suffer in this manner. He was beside his self with rage; all he wanted was to get hold of the animals responsible, to make them suffer as Elizabeth had suffered.
"Where are the bastards responsible?" Jack asked furiously. "Wait... as horrific as it is, raping her wouldn't have left her fighting for her life; they did something else to her didn't they. They must have..."
"Your right unfortunately," replied Sergeant Black. "When they had finished with Dr Weir she was left sobbing hysterically. Simon cruelly then shouted at her, telling her to shut up, but when Dr Weir couldn't stop, he started viciously laying in to her. One of the men, who hadn't been involved in raping Dr Weir, had tried to get him to stop. This however just seemed to fuel his rage, resulting in Dr Weir suffering a horrific beating." Sergeant Black stopped briefly, to allow Jack time to deal with everything, before continuing.
"When we arrived the men had cleared out, leaving the one person who had tried to stop them, cradling Dr Weir in his arms. He was the one that called us, but by this time Elizabeth was barely conscious and terribly injured."
Jack was shocked and disgusted, at what he had just been told; he also felt a sense of shame and guilt. He had never realised things were this bad, for he surely would have insisted that Elizabeth left, even if it had meant sending her back to Atlantis. A few people ignoring her, would have been nothing, compared to what she was suffering now; at least Sam would have been there to look out for her.
"So have you caught the men responsible or are they still walking around thinking they have escaped justice," asked Jack bitterly.
"No with the help of the individual who stayed with Dr Weir, we were able to identify and arrest them. He is also going to give evidence at their trial. They will not be walking free from this one, l can assure you," Sergeant Black informed him.
Jack looked across to Rose, who was anxiously waiting for news of her daughter. How could he explain her, that her beautiful gentle Elizabeth, had not only been beaten within an inch of her life, but also gang raped by a bunch of animals, not fit to be classed as human beings.
"I need to tell Elizabeth's mum what has happened, l just pray she is strong enough to deal with all of this."
"Do you want some help when you tell her?" Sergeant Black asked sympathetically.
"No l think l can handle it," replied Jack. "Thanks anyway."
Well if you need anything, remember you only need ask," said Sergeant Black. We will be hanging around for a while yet."
The Sergeant looked at Jack his genuine concern obvious. "I really do hope Dr Weir pulls through."
Jack nodded his thanks, but thinking if by some miracle, Elizabeth did survive, how she would deal with the devastation of what had been done to her.
He felt sick to his stomach thinking of the absolute fear and repulsion Elizabeth must have felt whilst the held her down and raped her. The terror she must have felt in her heart, his heart wept for her. No one should have to endure what Elizabeth was subjected to, yet she was forced to endure it over and over again.
Jack now had to face the terrible task of telling Rose. He thought about sparing her some of the details, telling her about the beatings, but keeping the fact that they had also raped Elizabeth from her.
However he realised, that as horribly as it was Rose had a right to know, after all if Elizabeth did survive, she would need Rose by her side, to help her somehow come to terms with the rape, as well as the other horrific injuries she has sustained.
Rose was devastated, after Jack explained to her what had happened to poor Elizabeth. She couldn't believe anyone could do that, to someone as kind and gentle as Elizabeth.
She cried softly, praying that Elizabeth would live, but also terrified that if she did, the daughter she knew and loved would still be lost to her, unable to recover from the horrific trauma of her ordeal. She knew if Elizabeth somehow survived, she would do her hardest to help Elizabeth overcome this, to allow her loving daughter to come back to her.
The doctors had finally finished with Elizabeth, she was still holding her own, and they were quietly optimistic, although her injuries were extensive.
Her head injury which had given them cause for concern, was not as severe as first thought, thankfully they didn't expect Elizabeth to suffer any long term brain damage.
She did however have numerous broken bones, as well as internal bleeding, caused not only by the savage beating but also by the horrific rape.
They felt that the damage to her legs however, was going to be the biggest long term concern, tragically it was highly probable Elizabeth may never walk again.
For the moment though, they were keeping her in a medical induced coma, to allow her body to heal .Their other concern was Elizabeth's apparent poor physical state, prior to the attack, they were concerned as she was extremely under weight, bordering on malnutrition. The doctors were concerned, about the effect it would have on her body's natural healing abilities, possibly making the healing process longer and more complicated.
The doctors also said that a large degree of Elizabeth recovery would depend on her state of mind when she regained consciousness. They warned them it would be a very traumatic uphill struggle for Elizabeth.
Rose and Jack were shocked at the extent of her injuries and the realization that Elizabeth may never walk again. However they both agreed that at least she was still with them. That at present was their biggest concern, but at least for the moment Elizabeth was holding her own.
