Another update today, I must warn you that I am going to put a trigger warning for sensitive issues in this because it goes quite far as it reveals what happened when Carla was away nonetheless I hope you enjoy x
"Where is she?" Peter panics asking the receptionist at the hospital "Carla Barlow, my wife"
"Sir, you need to calm down" the receptionist laments
"Right, sorry, I just need to see her" Peter sighs as the receptionist nods looking through her files on the computer
"If you go right at the end of this corridor you will find another desk at ward 13, your wife should be there" the receptionist smiles as Peter mumbles a quick thank you ready to carry on his search for Carla, approaching the reception of ward 13
"My names Peter Barlow, my wife was brought here?" Peter questions the receptionist at the ward desk, who nods
"Ok if you take a seat a doctor will be with you shortly to explain everything" the receptionist nods as Peter sighs taking a seat in the waiting room fiddling with an unlit cigarette
"Peter Barlow?" a doctor appears with a clipboard full of Carla's notes as Peter smiles getting up to follow him
"That's me, is Carla alright?" Peter questions as the doctor smiles leading him into a consultation room
"Please take a seat Mr Barlow" the doctor smiles as Peter hesitantly takes a seat at the desk with the doctor
"Is there something wrong?" Peter panics as the doctor sighs in response
"Carla was brought into us with a lowered kidney function due to her not taking her medication for a month as a result of her kidnapping, the current results show that her kidney function is improving rapidly which is really positive for the situation she was succumbed to"
"But?" Peter questions
"But, she is currently being interviewed by a psychiatrist, we also think she was a victim of a sexual assault as when she came in her clothes were ripped, but we can't seem to get her to do a rape kit"
"Oh god…that might be because she was raped before, she didn't get justice before so that could be why" Peter groans in response as the tears pooled in his eyes wondering the thoughts Carla was experiencing in her mind
"Alright, thank you for that information" the doctor smiles taking notes "I must stress before you see her she's very jumpy, we have someone in there with her as it's the only way which makes her feel safe right now, she hasn't really said a word to us about what happened so it's important not to enforce physical contact with her"
"Ok," Peter gulps nervously "Can I see her?"
"Of course, if you would like to follow me…" The doctor smiles as Peter nods, both of them walking to the private room Carla was in, entering very slowly in case they were to spook Carla
"Carla, it's Doctor Andrews, I have Peter if you want to see him" The doctor questions as Peter waits for a response but Carla just stares into thin air with tears trailing down her face rubbing her wrists
"Ok" she glances quickly to them both before returning to look straight ahead
"Hey, love" Peter whispers sitting on the seat which was provided which caused Carla to jump "Sorry I should've asked"
"It's fine" Carla whispers as Peter smiles knowing not to touch her until she was ready "Evie"
"She's fine, she's chilling with my dad today, he's spoiling her rotten" Peter laughs slightly as a small smile flickers over Carla's face before it drops again into the sullen look it was prior to the information Peter just gave her
"Picture?" Carla questions glancing quickly to Peter then returning her gaze to the wall straight ahead then down to where her hands were fiddling with each other in her lap
"Here" Peter offers her his phone as she glances to him again smiling and taking it off him, Peter seeing the marks from the restraints she was in, his heart internally breaking for his wife before Carla pulls them away and pulling frantically at the sleeves of her hospital gown
"Carla it's ok, you're safe here" the psychiatrist reinforces the situation as Carla sighs, tears welling in her crystal green eyes before glancing down to Peter's phone and finding the album which was named 'Evie' and heading straight for the most recent pictures
"She's big now" Carla whispers as Peter nods with a smile on his face "I'm sorry"
"You don't need to apologise, sweetheart, this isn't your fault" Peter sighs as Carla shakes her head gently handing the phone back to him before letting out a shaky breath
"C-Can I s-speak to Peter on my own?" Carla questions glancing to the psychiatrist quickly who nods getting up to leave the room leaving Carla and Peter to speak
"Are you ok? I know it seems like a silly question but-"
"I'm fine" Carla confirms
"Ok, do you want to talk about any of this?" Peter questions gesturing to the surroundings as Carla shakes her head
"No" she starts "Where's Michelle?"
"I don't know darlin' I know Kates with her now, Robert as well" Peter smiles as Carla nods rubbing her wrists and scratching at them
"Try not to do that darlin'-"
"Don't tell me how to cope with this" Carla snaps glaring at Peter who just holds his hands up in defence, Carla's face crumpling into a sobbing state causing Peter to sigh
"Sorry" she mumbles through her hands as Peter smiles gently at her
"It's ok, I'm here for you if you want to have a go at me, vent your anger out on me, I'm here...I always will be" Peter smiles as Carla nods shuffling over on the bed and tapping the space beside her
"Please?"
"If it's what you want" Peter smiles moving very slowly to sit on the bed beside Carla who just jumps pushing him away and retreating into the corner of the room Peter removing himself and sitting on the chair so she could get back into bed
"Sorry"
"Stop saying sorry, it was too soon" Peter says as Carla nods in agreement pulling the covers over legs "Do you want me to go home and get you some spare clothes? Something comfortable?"
"Yes please," Carla starts glancing to him then returning her gaze to her lap "Something baggy, maybe one of your hoodies?"
"I can do that if that's what you want, how about some leggings or tracksuit bottoms?" Peter questions as Carla nods
"Something like that" she mumbles looking up at him briefly before returning her gaze, yet again to her lap
"Alright, I'll leave you with the psychiatrist. Is that ok?" Peter questions as Carla nods not making any effort to speak as Peter gets up to leave the room allowing the psychiatrist to enter again, the doctor approaching him
"It's not as bad as it looks" the doctor replies sympathetically as Peter sighs "It's just her mental wellbeing as well as her kidney function"
"I know, it took her a long time to come back from it the last time it happened, I just worry"
"That's understandable" the doctor smiles "Is there anything else you want to know?"
"She was asking for Michelle, she was the lady which was brought in with her, she's her cousin. I think it would give her some relief to know she was alright and that I've seen her"
"Of course, follow me" the doctor nods leading him to another room where Michelle was "She's in this room here"
"Ok thank you" Peter smiles knocking on the door and entering "I can come back…"
"It's fine Peter" Michelle smiles gesturing for him to take a seat "How's Carla?"
"What? You were there, weren't you? The state she's in is unreal" Peter frowns as Michelle narrows her eyes wondering how much she was told
"What do you mean the state she is in?" Michelle chuckles slightly as Peter raises an eyebrow in confusion "What's happened, Peter?"
"You need to tell me what happened when you were in that squat with Rob" Peter states as Michelle nods slowly shuffling up in the bed
"Well, Rob took me when Carla said she wanted me to get out of Weatherfield, then he took me to the squat as punishment for helping Carla frame him for murder, he was completely crazy so I fought against him, he tied me to a pole and gagged me, left me in a dark room"
"Ok, then what happened?"
"Well, Carla was then brought in, at first it was weird, she was all happy and playing into Rob's hands giving him everything he wanted so he let Carla and I have a private conversation, well I say private…anyway he left the room and we thought of a plan to escape but he overheard but we didn't know that until a while later, that was when he separated us, we haven't seen each other since then"
"Oh…"
"Is everything ok Peter? Is Carla ok?"
"No, not exactly…um she was raped" Peter mutters as Michelle gasps in response
"Sorry I didn't know…I didn't exactly hear screaming when I was in there, I guess Carla was upstairs and I was downstairs or she was gagged or something" Michelle glances down to her wrists which were a blue/purple colour from the rope which was used to tie her to the pole, as Peter nods rubbing his forehead exasperatedly
"She won't even let me touch her, this is worse than Frank, Michelle, ten times worse. She can't be left alone, no eye contact, no nothing" Peter sighs as Michelle puts a hand up to her mouth, Kate and Robert entering the room
"Hi, Peter" Kate smiles as Peter smiles back at her as well as nodding towards Robert "How's Carla?"
"She's not good. Kate, could I have a word?" Peter questions as Kate nods both of them stepping outside "I need your help"
"Ok? What with?"
"I may need you to have Evie for a bit over the coming weeks, just to relieve some of the strain," Peter asks desperately as Kate nods frantically
"Peter, just relax, you'll be fine but sure I don't mind having her" Kate smiles as Peter nods letting out a shaky breath Kate rubbing his back sympathetically
"Ok thank you-"
"I know you may not think it's my place but is she ok?" Kate questions as Peter sighs shaking his head leaning against the wall of the hospital corridor
"She was raped" Peter whispers as Kate sighs in response knowing it was the second time it happened
"Oh, Peter…can I see her?"
"I can ask but I don't think she would want to see you, she doesn't even let me touch her or go near her" Peter informs Kate as she nods in understanding
"Do you need me to go home and get anything for you both if you want to stay here? I can check on Evie as well if you'd like?"
"If you wouldn't mind? I would go myself but I think I need to be here"
"Ok, I'll head back for you and pick up some stuff for her, is there anything of comfort she would want?" Kate questions as Peter bites his lip
"She wanted something comfy, leggings, tracksuit bottoms, baggy jumpers and stuff like that, maybe bring in one of Evie's stuffed animals?" Peter questions as Kate nods making a list in the notes app on her phone, before placing it back in her pocket
"Ok I'll go and get this for her, I'm going to Michelle's as well to pick her up some stuff for her, I may as well check in on Evie whilst I'm there"
"Thank you Kate, I owe you one"
"No problem, now go and be with Carla" Kate waves before leaving the ward allowing Peter to go and be with Carla again, knocking gently on the door to her room
"Hey, love," Peter says quietly noticing she was asleep as the psychiatrist glances to him
"She's just getting some well-needed rest" the psychiatrist informs him as Peter nods understandingly sitting down on the chair next to her
"Any improvement?" Peter whispers as the psychiatrist shakes her head
"Still won't speak to me, if she does it has to be a yes or no question"
"Alright-"
"Get off of me" Carla mumbles tossing and turning on her bed "Don't touch me, don't come near me!"
"Ok Carla, time to wake up," the psychiatrist says as Carla's eyes jump open as she stares around the room glancing to Peter
"It was black everything was black… I couldn't tell where or who was there, they were going to do it again" Carla rambles on as the psychiatrist nods in understanding
"It's ok Carla" Peter reassures her as she pulls at her hair, tears falling down her face "Oh baby, don't cry eh?"
"It's too much Peter" Carla cries turning to face him, letting her defences fall down Peter leaning forward to smile reassuringly at her
"I know it is, right now it will be. You have me though, Kate…Michelle"
"Michelle? Have you seen her, I want to see her" Carla confirms as Peter nods slowly
"I've seen her, she's ok, you don't need to worry, she's really worried about you though," Peter says as Carla's eyes light up at this new piece of information
"Really?"
"Yes really, I went to see her. She has Kate and Robert running around after her so you don't need to worry" Peter reassures her as Carla nods chewing her lip anxiously, her eyes darting around the room
"Where is she?"
"Umm" Peter glances to the psychiatrist not knowing if he should let her have this information
"Let's focus on you for a bit Carla" the psychiatrist smiles as Carla nods slowly in defeat, a knock on the door startling her
"Get them away!" Carla cries as the psychiatrist reassures her, Peter going to see who it was, seeing Michelle with Carla's bag
"Can I? Kate gave it to me" Michelle gestures to go in the room as Peter nods, stepping in and seeing Carla having to be reassured by what she was assumed was a doctor
"What's with all the tears?" Michelle questions as Carla narrows her eyes in suspicion at Michelle placing the bag down on the end of Carla's bed
"They were there 'Chelle, those men" Carla rambles on as Michelle sighs in response taking a seat on the chair which was available
"I know they were sweetheart," Michelle says as Carla nods glancing to the bag before glancing back to Michelle "Do you want to get changed? There are some comfy clothes in there for you"
"Ok" Carla whispers rummaging through the bag and pulling out a dark grey hoodie and a pair of leggings as well as new underwear, sliding off the bed and going into the bathroom "Can you come with me, Peter?"
"Of course sweetheart, whatever you need" Peter smiles as they both head into the bathroom, Peter watching Carla undress from the scrunchy hospital robe, bruises marking her skin causing Peter's eyes to fill with tears, he had to be strong for both Carla and Evie, not let them see his weakness
"Here" Peter smiles gesturing for her to turn around, taking the brush and brushing her hair gently allowing her to get use to his contact again, her skin flinching every now and then "Do you want me to stop?"
"Yes" Carla sighs as Peter places the brush down where she could see it "Can I try and have a hug?"
"If you want. How about you walk into me, I'll try not to be too quick?" Peter offers opening his arms up and allowing Carla to walk into them, her arms clinging onto him weakly, Peter wrapped his arms around her as gently as he could
"Thank you" she whispers as Peter smiles resisting the urge to kiss her on the head in case it spooked her, but she releases herself from his embrace anyway
"It's ok like I said whatever you need," Peter says as Carla nods biting her nails before heading out into her room, glancing around her surroundings jumping slightly at the sudden movement, Michelle looking apologetically at her
"Do you feel more human now?" Michelle questions as Carla nods slowly climbing back onto the bed rummaging through the bag of clothes smiling at the sight of one of Evie's stuffed animals, pulling it out and breathing in the scent
"It smells like her" Carla smiles as Peter nods
"That's one of her favourites"
"Can I see her?" Carla questions as Peter sighs wondering if it was a good idea
"If you want, I'm just worried because you're quite jumpy and if she cries" Peter replies honestly as Carla nods slowly biting her lip, the stuffed animal still pressed to her face
"Please?" she pouts her lips
"I'll see what I can do ok?" Peter smiles as Carla nods happily "I need to head off darlin' and see to Evie, is it ok if I leave you?"
"Yeah, I'm just going to sleep"
"Ok, as long as you're sure"
"I'm sure, go and see our daughter"
"I'll see you tomorrow, love. Get some rest" Peter smiles slightly watching her shuffle down under the covers "I love you"
