"Hey Bella, can you take a look at this one?" Dixie gave Bella a meaningful look. And Bella knew what that meant, she had developed a reputation for being able to deal with battered and sensitive girls. And although it did occasionally bring up some uncomfortable memories Bella cherished the opportunity to make a difference. She nodded, stepping aside to let Jeff and Dixie through, pulling a trolley with a slightly battered young girl on board. Dixie smiled, "Thanks Bells. This is Jade, she's got a badly twisted ankle, no obvious fracture but she's not baring any weight, no information on the fall, didn't have a peep out of her in the ambulance."

They pushed through the doors to CDU. Scarlett let them past, "Oh hello again?"

"Do you know her? Bed 3 please Dix-"

Scarlett replied to Bella question, following the group across resus, "She was at Mr Jordan's talk this morning." Nick had given a talk at a local secondary school in relation to the recent shooting involving the little boy Jacob. Bella nodded, taking the assumption from the uniform that Jade was wearing that she was a student not a teacher and therefore would need parental supervision. They transferred Jade over onto the bed. "Scarlett can you get the frat-pac off for me so I can take a look?" She slid the mobile out of the girls hand, "Can I borrow this to call home?"

The girl, Jade, remained unmoving. Bella noted the thumb shaped bruises on her wrist. She handed the phone to Tess, "Can you call home for me?"

"I just want to have a little look-" Jade was crying slightly and flinched whenever Bella touched her. She looked at the ankle as quickly as she could, "Nope, it's not broken."

Tess and Scarlet helped her roll her so Bella could have a look at the back. She had a slight P.V bleed. "Is there anything else you would like to tell us about what happened today, it's fine, you can talk to us? Only it looks to me like you've been assaulted. Is that what happened Jade?"

Jade just trembled. Tess continued in the same concerned tone that Bella had been using, "Jade, I know it's difficult, but if that is what's happened we have a rape referral centre attached to the hospital that we can take you to. The people there are specially trained to help anyone who has been sexually assaulted or raped. It's important to have a proper examination as soon as possible so they can get evidence. Can we contact them for you?"

Jade's voice wasn't much louder than a whisper. "No. Cause I just fell over."

Tess met Bella's eyes, and Bella nodded, both knowing there was nothing else they could do. Bella tried not to sigh, "It's okay Jade."

.

Bella frowned, she was struggling with Jade's case. It wasn't like she didn't deal with cases of rape, abuse or assault on a daily basis, just Jade really didn't seem to have anyone. She was alone and needing something to believe in. And Bella knew how that felt all too well. "Bella?"

It was Nick. Bella frowned, "What is it?"

"You, are you okay?"

Bella blinked quickly, making her face neutral, "Me? I'm fine."

"Really? Or do you not come to me any more now you've got Dylan to talk to?"

Bella raised her eyebrows, her fathers tone wasn't that she recognised, "Nick?!" It was almost as if he was jealous, Bella knew that he had never really liked Dylan, but still, "Are you jealous or something?"

Nick sighed, "Bella, I was joking, I just meant that- What I meant was that you can still talk to me."

Bella frowned, she had been neglecting Nick lately, they spent more time arguing about whether she should be working than they actually spent talking, "Sorry, it's just this girl, Jade, you might have seen her earlier at the school. She's been raped and she's completely terrified and- she's got no one."

Nick touched Bella lightly on the arm, "It's okay Bells. Can I try talking to her?"

Bella shrugged nonchalantly, "Good luck."

But Nick made no progress either, in fact his presence seemed to only make Jade more jumpy. He shrugged and left Bella and Tess to deal with her.

.

Bella was checking up on Jade as she was still quite nervy. And then there was a shout, "JADE!" A guy came rushing into the cubicle, with the female police office, DCI Rippon?, and Noel chasing after him. He collided with Scarlett causing her to shriek and Jade immediately looked more panicked. Bella stepped outside the cubicle and joined Lloyd and Mac in persuading Stevie to leave Jade alone. Nick was at the door instantly. "What is going on?"

Lloyd had grabbed Stevie, "Come on mate, this isn't helping." He pulled Stevie out. "Scarlett can you chase up Jade's mother please?" Bella followed Lloyd and Stevie leaving Tess to console Jade. Nick frowned at her, and hissed under his breath, "Bella you are 7 months pregnant, I've told you to stay away from confrontations with patients too many times. I will put you on paperwork."
Bella rolled her eyes, Lloyd was still trying to console Stevie, "What's wrong with her?"

Bella, ignoring Nick, "It's just a sprained ankle, Lloyd could you take him to reception and make sure he stays there please?"
She left Nick with S.I Rippon and went back to Jade. She managed to get the poor girl to slow her breathing, "That's better, are you feeling a bit better?"

Jade's eyes were still wide, Bella knew that look, "I kept telling them no, but-"

Bella nodded, "I know. Jade I really think you should reconsider talking to a counsellor at the centre, I know you're scared, I've been there, but even if you don't want the examination, it helps to talk-"

The mother came bustling into the cubicle. Bella could tell at once she was either drunk or high or both. She shot Tess a concerned look. "We'll leave you two to talk?"

The mother looked suddenly nervous, "No, you're all right, I don't do hospital's eh, do I JJ, have a sweetie?" And the woman shoved the bag of sweets right under her daughters nose. Jade looked at Bella, silently pleading for help.

The mother turned to Bella and Tess. "I'll pop back later, bring her a nightie, you'll look after her, won't you?"

Bella tried not to get annoyed, "Um, I really think it would be better if you-"

But the mother had danced off, Jade's anxious cries falling on death ears. Tess could see that Bella was struggling so she took over, "Jade, I'm going to get a nurse to come and sit with you, is that okay?"

Jade nodded and Bella recovered enough to say that she would come back and check on her in 10 minutes.

.

Bella was sat in Tess's office trying to do some paperwork. Tess looked at her, concerned, "Are you okay Bella?"

"I- I'm just pondering human nature, the usual. That girl, she has no one. And that hit's a little too close to home for me. Silly, after all these years."

"It's never silly to feel that way Bella, I can get someone else to take over the case if you don't think you can-"

"Oh no, I couldn't go now, she's got to have continuity of care in at least one respect, right?"

There was a knock on the door, Nick came in and got something from the printer, "I've decided to report it to super-intendant Rippon, and then afterwards I will phone the police doctor myself."

Bella stood up instantly, "Nick, are you talking about Jade here, you know you can't do that-"

"Don't excite yourself Bella."

Bella's mouth dropped slightly ajar. "You know, you're lucky you're my dad, I could quite easily get you for sexual-"

Tess was quick to intervene, "Sit down Bella. And Nick, you know she's right. She's 16, you cannot tell the police without her permission."

Nick had his sulky face on, "Which she won't give because she is too traumatised."

"That's bull-"

Tess shot Bella a look so she fell silent.

Nick continued. "As if little Jacob's not bad enough."

Bella spoke, still annoyed, but determined to keep her cool. "We're all frustrated, but if you do that you could alienate her, she's got a fragile enough trust for us anyway."

The phone rang, Nick slammed it down."What she needs, is for someone to stand up and do something."

Bella was still annoyed, "And how are you supposed to know what she needs, you spoke to her, for what, about 5 minutes earlier."

Nick raised an eyebrow, "Are you getting too involved-"

Bella's eyes flashed, "Isn't about me, it's about you making a stupid mistake. We need to be professional-"

The phone rang again, Nick picked it up this time. "What!" He waved his finger to shut Bella up. "Right, right, we'll be straight round." He put the phone down,

"It's Jade, she wants to leave."

Bella was furious. "Let me have one more go with her, please."

.

Bella shut the cubicle behind her, Jade was still looking distressed, "Can I have a crutch, I need to go?"

Bella sat on the edge of the bed, "I don't think that's a very good idea Jade, realistically I can't let you discharge yourself."

"I need to go-"

"Jade. Please just listen to me for a moment, If you talk to the people from the referral unit and let them take evidence then it won't have to go any further if you don't want them to. It's still completely up to you. But if you don't go, then you'll never have that opportunity, I understand that you're scared and confused, but without that evidence you won't have the same choice."

"How do you know how I feel?"

Bella sighed, "I didn't have the greatest of upbringings, I ended up with my uncle, and he was very abusive towards me. But I didn't go anyone, or get any help, and I've spent the rest of my life reliving those moments. But my experience is irrelevant, my opinion is irrelevant, this is about you taking control and making the right decision for your future."

Jade broke eye contact, "Only if you come with me."

Bella nodded, "Okay." She could hear Nick and Tess, leaving. She squeezed Jade's hand, "Well done."

.

Jade had finished with the rape referral unit. Bella had found some tracksuit bottoms and a scrub top for her to wear. "Jade, I wish you'd reconsider talking to the police about this?"

Jade changed the subject, "I don't want to go back to that bed."

Bella nodded, "That's okay, I can find you a bed in CDU until there's room upstairs."

"Can I just stay with you?"

"Well, okay- I can't be with you 24/7, but you can sit in my office if you want, it's nice and quiet."

Jade shivered, "I kept screaming, for them to stop, but nothing came out. It was like it wasn't even happening to me, when I close my eyes, I can still see them. They didn't say anything, they just kept laughing. Every time. I'm never going to feel nice again, am I?"

Bella could feel the girls pain, it was something very familiar to her, and there was only one thing she could say with confidence. "You will."

She helped Jade out of the shower, helped her get dressed and dry her hair. She wrapped her up in Bella's maternity size hoodie and led her to her office.

"Could you get Stevie for me?"

"Are you absolutely sure about that?"

Jade nodded, looking more confident as she said it, "Yes. It wasn't him Bella."

Bella sighed and nodded slowly.

.

As Bella led Stevie in, Jade brightened.

"Bella, I need to talk to him alone?"

Bella's answer was automatic, "No."

"Please, I'll be fine."

Bella nodded, "I'll wait outside. Call if you need me, yeah?" She got back to work, keeping an ear out for Jade.

.

"Bella, what is it?"

Bella held up a note pad, showing Tess the message that had made her heart plumet, thanks for everything Bella xox Jade and Stevie

Tess sighed, "Oh no... We have to find them."

"I know, I'm on it."

Tess frowned, "Aren't you supposed to go home in a minute-"

"I'm not leaving until we find her. Call Nick, get someone to look at the CCTV, we haven't got much time. What if we missed something, what if she's been over-compensating- she's a healthy teenager- Lloyd, Scarlett, can you go looking around the grounds, the bustop, quickly-"

Lloyd and Scarlett nodded and jogged out of the E.D.

Bella clenched and re-clenched her fists, she wouldn't let this get to her.

Hey guuys, if you like this enough to follow/favourite or even just read every chapter then I would really appreciate hearing about it in a review. Even if you hate it, I love feedback.

Speaking of feedback, a few of you have been asking for Nick/Zoe in this story. As you can probably tell I've introduced Yvonne to the story and I already have her written into most of the fic, so I really don't know what to do. I'll think about it, promise, I already have to do some rewriting and I love Nick and Zoe to death but I did plan to keep to the main storyline apart from the addition of Bella. It basically depends on where my mood takes me, any ideas would be appreciated to give me somewhere to start, idk