Rose was just letting herself being lead away by Jack, completely trusting him. She still wondered however what had really happened between him and that woman.

She could however feel his arms around her, trying to protect her from everything. She was still shivering, now also from the cold.

Jack sensed that it wouldn't be very good to walk the whole way, not in her state.

"Here", he said handing her his jacket. "It's better for you."

Rose gratefully took it.

"Thank you."

"I think it's better if we summoned up a taxi", he said, but before he could do so, Rose felt pain shooting through her abdomen again. She put her hands on it, grimacing from pain. Before she would've fallen, Jack was there to catch her.

"It's better if we take you to the hospital before doing anything else. Come on", he said helping her inside a waiting taxi.

Even the taxi driver had been noticing that Rose was gravely ill, telling Jack that he hoped everything would be alright with his wife. Jack of course didn't bother to correct him, just thanking him for his sympathy.

In the hospital Jack quickly scooped up the shaking Rose into his arms carrying her over to the reception, where he sat her down again.

Rose was glad to have him here.

"What can I do for you, Sir?" the nurse there asked him.

"It's my wife, she's been beaten and raped…she's…she's pregnant", he choked out.

"Oh my god", the nurse said clapping one hand on her mouth. "Just wait a few second. I'm calling a doctor."

The nurse knew that it was better to call a female doctor for what lay ahead of this woman.

One minute later, the doctor, a middle aged woman was standing before Jack and Rose, who was still leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Madam, I'm Doctor Harrington. I would like to examine you. What's your name?" she asked trying not to shock her.

"It's Dawson, Mrs. Dawson", Rose answered.

"So Mrs. Dawson, you don't have to fear anything. We two are just going to see if everything is alright with you and your baby."

"And Jack?"

"I'm sorry but your husband has to wait here."

The doctor knew better than letting the worrying Jack inside there too. Jack knew that she was just doing it to help Rose.

"Hey my dear, the doctor will just examine you, nothing is doing to happen to you. Everything is going to be fine", he tried to reassure her.

"If you think so", Rose said.

The doctor took her hand, telling a nurse who stood nearby to come with them.

Jack meanwhile sat down on a bench, waiting.

…..

The physical examination was quickly over; however the doctor knew very well that this wasn't the real problem here.

"Is my baby alright?" Rose asked with fear in her voice.

"Don't worry everything is fine, with your baby."

"Thank god." Rose was relieved to hear this.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Dawson, I don't to upset you, but…do you know who did this to you? I mean do you know who raped you?"

Rose looked down on the floor. She was still so ashamed. If she had only been stronger to fight him away.

"I…it was my fault…"

The doctor wasn't surprised by this reaction. Most victims of a rape thought that it was their fault. The culprits normally very successfully talked them into believing this by telling them that they dressed up like whores or something like that.

The doctor chose not to comment this and just asked further.

"Did this happen only once?"

By examining Rose she already knew the truth. This woman wasn't just beaten and raped once, but on a regular basis, maybe already for years. Rose didn't answer her and the doctor knew that she wouldn't get anything out of her. She was too scared and too ashamed.

"You know Mrs. Dawson you should report this person to the police, if you know who you did this."

Rose was not the right person to tell her what she needed to know.

"Mrs. Dawson, you can dress now. I will talk to your husband in the meantime. Alright? Don't worry nurse Anne will remain here and help you", she said. The doctor knew better than to leave this woman alone now.

….

Finding Jack outside the doctor quickly came up to him.

"Is she alright?"

"Yes, she and the baby are fine."

Jack signed in relieve.

"However her physical wounds are not what's worrying me, Mr. Dawson. I didn't get anything out of your wife simply because she's still too shocked to think straight it. She believes that it was her fault."

Jack just nodded.

"Yes I know, she told me the same thing."

"So you know serious this is? I don't want to lie to you, Mr. Dawson. I don't believe however that this was the first time something like that happened to her. From seeing her wounds and everything I would say that she was raped on a regular basis. Isn't that right?"

"Yes, that's true."

"I had thought so. Do you know who did this?"

Jack nodded.

"You know you should tell your wife, to report him to the police. Someone like that has to be stopped."

Jack decided to tell her the truth, he had to, if he really wanted her to help them.

"I've to tell you something doctor, however I trust that you won't tell anyone else."

"Of course not, everything a patient or a relative tells me falls under the medical confidentiality."

"I'm not her real husband. It's a long story. She's married to another man. He's the one who did this to her. It's a long and complicated story. The short version of it is however that he tricked her into marrying him by telling her that he would kill our daughter if she didn't do so. This was almost eighteen years ago. Both of us thought the other one dead, so she did marry him. A few months ago my daughter and I found out the truth. Rose did leave him then, but he kidnapped our daughter again and Rose thought she could only stop this by going back to him. There's a pretty could chance that he's the father of the child she's carrying. I told her of course that this isn't important for me."

The doctor couldn't believe what she had just heard.

"Almost eighteen years you say?"

Jack nodded.

"I would like to say that I've never heard a story like that before, however you wouldn't believe Mr. Dawson what sick and mentally ill perverts are running out around there freely. That's why it's gravely important that your wife reports him to the police."

"Do you really think that this will help? I mean he's rich and powerful. He'll surely turn it up against her."

The doctor nodded.

"I'm sure he will. It doesn't matter if they're rich or poor, there're all the same, wretched little cowards. Also don't expect the judge to be on your side. These perverts know very well how to get them on their side. I've a friend who's working in a prison as a psychologist with these people. You wouldn't believe the stories she told me. One told her that he couldn't control himself, because his daughter was wearing – yes this daughter, she was eight then – was wearing a green skirt. He claimed that he had heard voices in his head telling him that every woman with a green skirt needed to be fucked", the doctor explained to him disgusted. "However even if your chances are low, you still have to try, it'll also do your wife good, she needs satisfaction."

"If you think so…"

"Yes, I'm perfectly sure. Your wife hasn't been the only victims of rape in my carrier. You should also try to get to a psychologist. She needs to talk about this."

She handed him a card.

"And here, I've documented everything I found here in this formulary. It's important when she decides to go to the police. Also if your wife should think to take him to court, I'll be gratefully testifing for her. Oh and I don't think that I've to tell you but no sexual activity with her…its even a wonder she seems to trust you…she may be acting strange in front of other men however…"

Jack just nodded: "I know doctor. I promise you, I won't do anything to scare her."

"I know you won't", the doctor smiled at him.

"Thank you so much doctor", Jack said.

"No need to thank me. I just hope will get over it soon."

Rose was coming out of the room.

"Hey, my dear, is everything alright?" Jack asked her taking her hand.

"Yes, can we please go home, Jack? I only want to sleep now."

"Sure, come on."

They quickly made it outside the building.