Chapter 25- Fall Apart Today
The ambulance ride to the hospital was completely silent, minus a few attempts from the paramedics to get Lux to speak, and Cate's quiet reassurances to Lux that she was okay.
Lux sat still in Cate's lap, blankly starring off into the distance as Cate held her tightly. Baze had reluctantly agreed to drive behind them to the hospital, only after Lux had refused to let him touch her. They had even had to call another female paramedic as Lux began to panic whenever the original male one was in her presence.
"We're here." One of the paramedics smiled at the two of them sympathetically as they pulled to a stop in the ambulance bay at the local hospital.
Cate nodded, gently kissing Lux's head as she stood up with her daughter cradled in her arms, holding her as close to herself as possible.
The ambulance doors were opened Cate and Lux were hit with a wave of doctors and nurses, cameras flashing and reporters calling out from a distance. They knew from the AMBER Alert that Lux's kidnapping would be in the media, but they had no idea it would be this big.
Lux flinched and gripped on to Cate desperately, her arms almost choking Cate as they wrapped around her neck. Cate didn't care though and she held onto Lux just as tightly.
"Cate!" Cate turned around as Baze came running towards them. He placed a hand on Cate's back, standing in front of the media's view of them protectively as he led them inside, pushing back the doctors and nurses.
The second they were inside the emergency room, Lux was torn from Cate's grasp. Lux began to scream and cry, kicking furiously as the doctors carried her away.
Cate and Baze raced after them, trying to reach out for Lux. The doctors laid Lux down on an exam bed and she instantly stilled, surprising everyone around her.
"I'm right here, baby." Cate whispered, moving to sit beside Lux. She took the still girl into her arms, kissing Lux's forehead. Lux didn't move or speak, continuing to stare ahead. "Mommy's right here. You're okay."
After a few minutes, Lux relaxed slightly and curled up in Cate's arms, resting her head on Cate's chest. Baze moved to stroke back Lux's hair but she flinched away from his touch, and Baze stood back, hurt.
"Hi, Lux." One of the female doctors smiled at Lux reassuringly. "My name is Dr. Callaghan. Do you think it would be okay if I did some tests to make sure you're okay?" Lux looked hesitant, gripping to Cate's top tightly. "Your mom can stay with you the whole time if you'd like."
Lux slowly nodded, though she flinched and froze again when Baze tried to reach out to her. "Maybe it'd be best if you waited outside." Dr. Callaghan looked at Baze sympathetically.
Baze was about to protest and looked over at Cate, only to find her frowning back at him sympathetically. Baze looked back at them hurt, but allowed himself to be led out of the room by a nurse, leaving only Cate, Lux, Dr. Callaghan and another female nurse in there.
Dr. Callaghan pulled up a chair and sat in front of Cate and Lux, chart in hand. "Lux, can you tell me where it hurts?" She smiled reassuringly.
Lux hesitated before pointing to her back and upper thighs. Dr. Callaghan nodded before writing the information down and smiling at Lux kindly. "Lux, Nurse Olivia and I are going to leave the room for a moment. Do you think you could get changed into this special gown here?"
Lux slowly nodded, watching as the nurse placed the gown on the bed and the two of them left the room. Lux sat in Cate's arms for a few moments, neither wanting to let go. Eventually Cate kissed her head and pulled back, smiling reassuringly as she stood in front of Lux.
Cate slowly peeled off the dress Lux had been made to wear, and placed it in the bag Dr. Callaghan had left to collect Lux's clothing. When they were still at the house waiting for the ambulance, Cate had reluctantly re-dressed Lux in the only clothing she could find; the dress; upon Lux's request.
Cate's eyes filled with tears as she looked at her daughter's bruised body, watching as Lux instinctively tried to shield as much of herself as she could with her arms. Cate picked up the hospital gown and Lux obediently raised her arms, allowing the thin material to fall over her tiny body.
Cate's brow furrowed and she struggled not to cry as she picked Lux up off the bed and placed her on the ground, squatting down in front of her. She held up the clean underwear, and Lux knew what she was saying so she bent down and pulled her underwear off, reaching up to place it in the bag. Cate felt herself begin to cry, realizing Lux had been through this before.
Lux pulled on the fresh underwear before leaning against Cate and wrapping her arms around her mom's shoulders tiredly. Cate gripped her back, standing up and placing Lux back on her lap as she sat back on the bed.
Dr. Callaghan and the nurse came back into the room a few minutes later, and Cate felt her heart break upon seeing a rape kit in the nurse's hand. "Lux, if it's okay with you, I'd like to check you over and make sure you're okay now."
It was more of a statement than a question but Lux nodded slowly, shifting off of Cate to sit on the bed. Cate climbed off and stood beside her, stroking back her hair reassuringly as the doctor began to look her over, checking her more superficial injuries first.
Cate didn't try to stop the tears streaming down her face as she watched Dr. Callaghan begin to vaginal exam, Lux squeezing her eyes closed tightly. Cate let out a shaky breath and continued to brush back Lux's hair, reassuring both Lux and herself.
The exam seemed to take forever and by the end, Lux was completely exhausted. Cate picked her up, cradling her against herself as she began to rock her to sleep.
"Multiple abrasions adjacent to the external genitalia. Five lacerations to the labia. Complete unhealed transection of the hymen. Evidence of deep scarring..." Cate listened to what Dr. Callaghan was relaying to the nurse, though she didn't really understand what she was saying.
"So what does that mean?" Cate whispered, trying to keep a restless Lux from waking. "Is she going to be okay?"
Dr. Callaghan frowned at her sadly. "Lux has a lot of injuries consistent with sexual abuse. Physically, she has some scarring, but most of it should heal over time. It's the emotional factor you should be worried about. Does Lux have a psychologist already?"
Cate nodded, her eyes filling with tears once again as she cupped the back of Lux's head. "I suggest you talk to Lux and make an appointment sometime within the next couple of weeks."
Cate nodded, pausing. "That's it? I mean, can we take her home?"
"There's no reason why Lux can't go home tonight. Honestly, I think being in a familiar, safe environment will help the healing process." Dr. Callaghan nodded, smiling kindly.
Cate smiled through her tears, kissing Lux's head. She honestly didn't think she would be strong enough to handle having Lux in the hospital for the night, not on top of everything else.
"I'll get a nurse to bring some hospital issue sweats in for Lux to change, and organize for the discharge papers if you'll just sign out at the front desk." Cate nodded thanks, and Dr. Callaghan smiled sympathetically once more before leaving the room.
As expected, the nurse brought in Lux a change of clothes and Cate very carefully worked to keep her asleep while she changed her. She carried Lux out to where Baze was waiting anxiously, pacing back and forth near the front desk.
He rushed over to them the second he saw them and Cate had to use all of her strength to keep herself from breaking down. "How is she?" Baze whispered, noticing Lux sleeping restlessly on Cate's shoulder.
Cate didn't give a proper answer, instead shaking her head, her tears spilling over. Baze kissed her head comfortingly, holding the position as Cate tried to gather herself. "Uh, the doctor said we can take her home."
Baze smiled slightly, relieved. He walked over to the desk and began to sign the papers, before coming back a few minutes later. He placed a hand on Cate's back and began to lead them to the car; wanting nothing more than to wrap his arms around both of his girls, but knowing he had to make Lux feel as comfortable as possible, even if that meant keeping his distance.