Title: The Life & Times of Sara Sidle

Rating: T

Summary: (You all know by now)

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters!

A/N: Here's a new chapter for you guys. I hope you enjoy it!

July 21, 1986- 12:24 pm

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?"

"I'm here with my friend at 456 West Hill Park Way, please send help!"

"Calm down and tell me what happened."

"My friend...she...she's been raped!"

Ten minutes after the phone call, ambulances and police cars had surrounded the house. EMTs ran inside the house looking for Sara and Josh as police officers ran in to clear the house. They found Sara wrapped in a blanket in the living room lying on the couch with Josh by her side.

They pushed Josh out of the way as they checked her pulse.

"She's got a strong pulse," one of the EMTs said.

Another nodded and a female EMT kneeled down beside her. "Sweetheart, we need to take you to the hospital."

Sara nodded slowly and the EMTs slowly lifted her up and laid her on a stretcher. They got rid of the blanket Josh had wrapped around her, making her shiver as they wrapped a white hospital issue blanket around her which made her feel rather uncomfortable. Josh jumped into the back of the ambulance as they started off. Sara stared up at him the entire time he got inside. He held her hand tightly as they drove to the hospital.

"It's okay, Sar," Josh whispered.

Sara was shaking. Her hair was sticking to the sides of her face. Everything was a blur. She didn't know if this was really happening. She couldn't even tell who the people were who were by her.

"Josh, where are you?" she whispered.

"I'm right here, Sara," Josh said taking both her hands in his. "I'm right here."

"Don't leave," she whispered again.

"I'm not going to, Sara. I'm never going to leave you."

Sara nodded. The EMTs threw open the doors as they arrived at the hospital. They grabbed the stetcher Sara was lying on and rushed her into the hospital. Josh was right by Sara's side, holding her hand as they ran through the doors leading to the emergency room.

"You're going to have to go in the waiting room," one of the nurses said.

"No, don't leave me," Sara said quickly.

"Sara...I'm just going to be outside. It's going to be okay, I'm going to come and see you in a minute, okay?"

"He's going to come back, Josh!"

"Shh...shh...no he's not, it's okay. These people won't let anything happen to you, okay?"

He gently squeezed her hand as she nodded. "Okay..."

"Okay, I'll see you soon," he said and kissed her forehead as they wheeled her through the doors.

Josh wiped a tear from his face as he went and sat in the waiting room. He couldn't believe that this happened. He couldn't convince her that Matthew was dangerous. If only he was there, if only he had been able to stop what happened to her...she wouldn't be in this mess.

Josh buried his face in his hands crying. Sara was a nice, sweet, caring person. She never did anything to hurt anyone. She had been through hell as it was...and...now...this person...this monster who came to live with her...had taken her away from Josh. This guy...was supposed to be her foster brother. Someone she could trust. Someone who was supposed to look out for her.

And he raped her.

Josh couldn't even begin to imagine how Sara must feel right now. Her innocence had been taken away, something had been stolen from her. This monster had killed a part of Sara today, and Josh wasn't sure he would ever be able to bring it back to life.

A female doctor walked through the doors holding a clipboard. She fixed her glasses on her face and cleared her throat as she read the name on the clipboard. "Sara Sidle?"

Josh stood up. "That's my friend."

The woman nodded and motioned for him to come with her. Josh stood up and went with her.

"You can see your friend now. We gave her something to help her sleep."

"God knows she needs it..." Josh sighed.

The woman led him to her room and cracked the door open. Josh walked inside and took a seat in the chair next to Sara's bed. He grabbed her hand and looked at her frail form.

She was dressed in a thin white hospital gown and her eyes were closed. She still had a look of total fear and confusion on her face, even with her eyes closed. She was twitching a bit in her sleep. Her arms were to her sides laying gingerly on the bed. Purple and black bruises were visible on her wrists. Josh grimaced. He looked up at the rest of her arms. There were more bruises.

Josh's hand was balling into a fist. How dare someone to do this her.

Josh jumped when he noticed a movement coming from the bed. She was moving her arms and her hands a bit as her legs were kicking. Her face was now looking even more frightened. She whimpered as she tossed and turned, thrashing at an unseen attacker. Sweat was beading down her face. She was tangled in the sheets as she started whispering.

"No...please no...stop, please..."

Josh was scared. He had never seen her so vulnerable. He didn't know what to do.

"Please...stop...please..."

Josh shook her slightly and she pushed his hand away, obviously not knowing that it was him.

"Please! Stop!"

"Sara, you're having a nightmare! Wake up!" Josh said grabbing ahold of her shoulders and shaking her gently. Sara's eyes fluttered open as her breathing quickened. Her eyes scanned the room until they locked themselves on Josh.

"Josh..."

"Sara, it's okay, it was a dream. I'm here with you."

"Josh...he...he was here, Josh...he...he did it again..."

"No, Sara, you've been asleep. It was just a nightmare."

"But...Josh...I...I could feel him...he was...he was here, he was! I...I could see him...I could smell him...I...I could feel him!"

"Sara, shh...shh...it's okay, he's not here. I promise you he's not going to hurt you."

Sara just nodded slowly as she sat up and buried herself in Josh's arms. Tears ran down her face as she held onto him tightly. "He's on me, Josh...I can still feel him..."

"I know..."

"I want him off...I want him off of me!"

"I know, Sara...just wait a little bit longer."

Sara's breathing slowed down until it became regular again. Josh rubbed her back as she lay against him, silent tears running down her face.

"It was so horrible," she whispered.

Josh rubbed the small of her back as she continued.

"He slammed me against the wall...and then, he...he slammed me onto his bed...and...he put a hand over my mouth...he...he held my wrists and...took off his pants..."

Josh nodded. "It's okay, Sara. Take as long as you need, I'm not going anywhere."

Sara nodded slowly as she continued. "He...he tore off my pants and...he ripped my shirt...and then...he...tore off my underwear and...he...raped me."

Josh pulled her closer as she began to sob again. "It's okay, Sara. You did a good job. It took a lot for you to tell me what you just did."

Sara nodded as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Don't let go of me," she whispered.

"I won't," he said.

The doors opened and a female nurse walked in with a bag. She set it down on a small table by the foot of the bed. "Sara, we need to do a sexual assault kit."

More tears ran down Sara's face as she heard those words. She clung to Josh tightly. "Please Josh, I don't want to."

Josh looked at her face. "I know Sar," he said. "But you need to. Please...do this."

She shook her head. "I can't."

"Yes you can, Sara. You told me what happened. That's harder than this is, you can do this. Please, Sara."

Sara looked up at him and slowly nodded as she wiped fresh tears from her eyes. "Okay."

The nurse looked at Josh. "Could you step outside for a minute?"

Josh nodded. "I'll be right back, Sar. Remember, I'm always with you," he said holding onto the bracelet positioned on her wrist as he slowly let go of her. She whimpered a bit as he let go of her but she finally let him go and he walked out of the room as the nurse closed the door.

Josh stood outside of the room by the door, pacing back-and-forth with his hands in his pockets.

Come on Sara, you can do this, he thought. I know you can.

After a few minutes of awkward silence and pacing back-and-forth, the door opened. The nurse walked out of the room and looked at Josh.

"You can come in now," she told him and he nodded as he practically ran back into the room, catching Sara in a hug. More tears were running down her face.

"It's okay, Sara," Josh whispered. "You did good. Thank you."

Sara nodded as he hugged her. Her breathing soon slowed and Josh noticed she had fallen asleep. He smiled and slowly set her back on her bed. He fixed her pillows and wrapped her in the sheets and the blanket on the bed, tucking her in tightly. He leaned over her and planted another kiss on her forehead. He looked over at the bag on the small table at the foot of the bed. It contained a small box that read 'SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAM KIT'. Josh had to turn away when he looked at it for even a second. He looked down at Sara lying, sound asleep on the bed. He grabbed her hand with both of his.

"I'm going to get him, Sar. I promise," he whispered.