My Heart's Already Broken
Ok, the ending of the last chapter sounded unbelievable, but just keep reading, and it will seem less so- honest!
-RetardedFish97
Scarlet and Leila sat side by side on the bed.
"I did get my arm treated, but we told them that I dropped something on it. I don't think they believed me, but…"
"It worked," Leila completed her sentence.
The superintendent had returned as soon as Nick had called her, and was sat listening and writing everything in a little black notebook.
"And how did he threaten to kill you?"
"Well, he sort of implied it. He grabbed Scarlet round the neck, and told her that next time, he wouldn't let go," Leila explained, as Scarlet hung her head. She remembered how she had allowed the officer to make the same threat to a fifteen year old girl, before forcing one of those evil pills down her throat. She was so ashamed.
Lloyd looked angry, and stood protectively behind Scarlet.
Zoe and Tess moved round to comfort them, sitting closer and looking up at the Superintendent.
"Scarlet, do you have any evidence of the attack?" Yvonne asked, looking pointedly at the young woman's neck. Scarlet moved her hair and Leila murmured something to Zoe, who passed her a wipe. Gently, Leila wiped what appeared to be concealer from Scarlet's neck, revealing three, fingerprint shaped purple marks.
Lloyd wrapped his arms around Scarlet, pulling her into a fiercely protective embrace. The superintendent looked concerned, and paused for a moment, before saying:
"I'll need to take photos, but if the DNA comes back positive on the baby, then we'll make this investigation official, and it will get into the papers. Prepare yourself for a bumpy ride…" she sighed, looking at each person in turn, before leaving. Nick followed her from the room.
"Yvonne, are you sure you should be staying on your own tonight- I mean, is it safe?"
"Yes, Nick- I'm fine. But, if you're offering me my first decent cooked meal in what feels like months, then…" she grinned, and the two left the ED together.
Meanwhile, Scarlet, Lloyd, Zoe and Tess were all sat by Leila.
"This is silly," Tess sighed, standing up, "We can't all be in here!"
"Why not? Scarlet ad and I aren't working, so technically there are only two members of staff in here, one nurse, one doctor- which is perfectly okay," Lloyd smiled.
"I guess so," Tess bit her lip, still standing and looking towards the door.
Zoe pulled her back into sitting down again.
"Come on, Tess! It's not exactly busy- is it?" she smiled.
Tess nodded, "I suppose it is quite quiet."
It was as if she'd jinxed it. For, moments later, there was a commotion from outside the door.
Zoe hurried from the room- Nick had left, so whatever was happening was her problem. She saw Noel and Big Mac struggling with a strong, muscular bloke, who was shouting demands.
"I wanna see a doctor!" He yelled. Zoe marched up to him.
"Well, so does everyone else, so wait your turn!"
He tilted his head, cockily, and stepped close, so he towered above her.
"Or what, what you gonna do about it?"
Zoe stepped back, and looked the man straight in the eye.
"Hopefully nothing, now can you just SIT DOWN please?"
He moved closer again. Big Mac pushed him in the chest, forcing him away.
"Either you start showing Dr Hanna some respect, or you can get lost!" he growled.
"If she's a doctor, why can't she help me?" the man scowled.
"Because, and I know this is a difficult concept for people like you- I have important things to do." Zoe argued.
The man drew to his full height, enraged. Moving closer and closer to Zoe, he tilted hishead to one side and grinned menacingly.
"What did you just say?" he asked.
"I think you heard me, sir. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my more gracious patients…"
"You need to watch your mouth," he shouted.
Then, without warning, he swung his fist forward in a powerful punch, smashing it into Zoe's face. Big Mac caught Dr Hanna, and reached out to grab the attacker, but someone had beaten him to it.
For Leila had left her room, despite the pleas of Tess, Lloyd and Scarlet, and had twisted the man's wrist painfully behind his back, and had somehow reached up and grabbed his head, pulling it back so her mouth was level with his ear. She whispered menacingly.
"Listen, mate- I spent two months inside for something I didn't do- and the woman you just hit is the one that saved me. Mess with her, or anyone here again, and you will regret it. Oh, and if you claim a fifteen year old girl beat you in a fight, then threatened you, you won't last one day inside- which is exactly where you're going."
She pushed his head away with immense force, and the security that had finally arrived pulled him away. Zoe had sat up, blood streaming from her nose, and Leila crouched down next to her.
"How did you not see that coming?" she whispered to her, helping her to the nearest cubicle and sitting her on the bed.
"How did you?" Zoe snapped back, hissing in pain as Tess, who had rushed over to join them, cleaned the blood.
"He tensed his fists and relaxed his other muscles- which he'd tensed before."
"Meaning?"
"Tensing your whole body softens any impact- he was expecting you or that other bloke to make the first move. When you didn't, by relaxing he can put more strength behind the punch, and he tensed his fists ready. If you were just clenching your fists in anger, you'd put your thumbs inside, but to punch, you put them outside. I was inside for two months- I saw enough fights to learn what happens."
Zoe nodded.
"And I guess you've been in enough fights to know how to restrain a grown man?"
"No- I've just ended up saving people a few times."
"Like?"
"Like Scarlet, when someone tried to duff her up on her first day… never good!" she smiled.
But the smile was soon wiped from her face, for the man had returned… with a knife.