Sylvie was sitting in the waiting room after waving Foster off and ordering her to do a restock. Natalie was over by the nurses' station, chatting with April. April laughed and waved Natalie away, stepping off towards a room. After April wandered off Natalie turned to Sylvie, tablet in her hands, and smiled at the sight of her.
"Sylvie!" she walked over, "Everything ok?"
Sylvie turned her head to reveal a large bruise forming near her right cheekbone, she winced as she touched it. She turned back to Natalie, "I told them it was just a bruise but Casey ordered me to get checked out. You know how he is about his team."
Natalie rolled her eyes. Ya I'm sure that's it. She thought. Luckily Sylvie was looking down at her lap and didn't notice Natalie's reaction. It had become increasingly obvious to everyone around them that something was lingering between the PIC and Captain.
"Ok, well it's a pretty nasty bruise, I'd like to check you for a concussion before I can clear you to return." Natalie gestured for Sylvie to follow her into a bed, shutting the curtain closed behind her.
When all the tests were finished Natalie came back into the room, Dr. Halstead at her heels.
"Sylvie, nice to see you." Will smiled and pulled up a stool.
Sylvie kept quiet and only nodded in his direction. He pulled up her charts and adjusted the chair, Natalie standing closely behind him.
"So Sylvie, as much as it pains me to say, Casey was right to get you checked out." he sighed. "You have a mild concussion, should be able to get back to work after a few shifts off."
Sylvie wasn't too shocked at hearing this, it was just her dumb luck. She nodded her head along as Will kept talking but her gaze was on her sweaty palms. She tuned out the noise from the room and focused her head down.
Will was finished talking and she barely noticed as he walked out, leaving only Sylvie and Natalie. Natalie smiled at her and gestured up towards the door. Sylvie wiped her hands on her uniform pants and tried to stand up.
She grinded her teeth in pain when she bent over, her ribs and torso aching. She fell back, sitting on the cot and took a deep breath, hoping Natalie would just walk out.
Quite the contrary.
Natalie furrowed her brow at Sylvie, "Hey, anything else bothering you?"
Sylvie shook her head but as she leaned over another round of shooting pains were sent up her stomach and back. She winced and Natalie was not convinced.
"Here, lie down, let me just check to make sure nothing else is bothering you."
Sylvie tried to fight her on it and attempted to get up and leave but as her emotions came bubbling to the surface she found it harder to stay down.
Natalie carefully lifted up Sylvie's shirt to reveal her stomach littered with dark black and blue bruises. Natalie stepped back and gasped slightly.
She knew she was being unprofessional but it was hard to see her friend covered in bruises, in obvious pain. "Sylvie, what happened?" she inspected her body "Did someone do this to you?"
Sylvie choked down tears and turned away from her, grimacing as she twisted her waist. This time she couldn't stop the tears from slipping down her face. She didn't care about Natalie seeing her cry, she didn't care that her sobs probably carried down the hall, and she didn't care that she might appear weak.
She turned back to Natalie. Tears slid down her face and her eyes were red and puffy. She swallowed harshly and choked out a quiet reply. "I- I was raped."