Catherine sighed and nodded slowly 'Ok' she said quietly after a moment 'Ok, it's gonna be alright…' She slowly approached Sara and knelt down in front of her. 'We can talk later…' Catherine paused 'I think I should do a tox screen…'

Sara nodded 'ok' she managed to whisper

'I…' Catherine started, her voice unsure, she didn't know how to say what needed to be said

'I see you've got scratches and bruises… I need to take photographs of all of your injuries…do I need to do an SAE kit?'

Sara pulled her legs even tighter to her chest, her eyes tightly closed and she didn't respond.

'Sar?' Catherine said quietly 'Look, if she hurt you…if it was an accident…'

'I don't remember, ok, I don't remember' Sara spat out, fresh tears running down her cheek.

'I know…' Catherine said as gently as she could 'Look.. I think I should check you, check everything over. Will you let me?' Sara nodded her head slightly. 'Do you want me to do an SAE?' Sara nodded again but couldn't bring herself to look at Catherine. 'Ok' the older women whispered 'Ok, I'll do that last, ok.'

Sara nodded again, wiped her eyes with the back of her hands and then stood up without saying a word. She held her hand out to Catherine silently giving her consent to the older women to start processing her and taking samples.

Catherine paused briefly and then pulled on a pair of gloves, and then gently took Sara's hand in her own and started taking scrapings from underneath Sara's fingernails.

Catherine worked quietly and methodically, taking everything she could, and then picked up her camera.

'I need to take photos now…' Sara nodded her consent again and held her arms up so the photos could be taken. Catherine continued to work in silence, but when she noticed some scratch marks that went under Sara's top she sighed and took a moment before speaking

'Sara..I'm gonna have to take photos without your clothes on…'

'I know' Sara said quietly.

Catherine placed her camera down, and picked up an evidence bag so Sara could place her top inside it, and then she started taking more photos of Sara who had once again closed her eyes, trying to block out the older women's eyes all over her body.

Catherine started with Sara's back, and then moved around to take photos of Sara's front and she gasped, her mouth open, shocked at what she saw in front of her. She knew that there would be scratches on Sara's body, had expected to see a love bite or two, but she hadn't expected to see the deep and purple bruise on Sara's stomach, or the many scars on the women's abdomen and stomach. Scars that Catherine knew instantly were years old, and most likely self-inflicted.

'Sar…' Catherine said her voice in a whisper

'Don't!' Sara snapped 'Just don't' she knew why Catherine had gasped, why she was whispering, and right now she really didn't need it 'There not relevant, so just don't'

'Ok…Ok..' Catherine said and took another breath 'Look… I need to get two more photos…'

'I know' Sara said, biting her lip 'Make it quick, please' Sara moved her hand behind her back, and undid her bra, letting it fall away. Catherine snapped the photos quickly, but said nothing. She looked at Sara's chest for a moment, taking in the nipple piercing on Sara's left breast, and the bite mark on her right one and then turned away. Sara made to put her bra back on but paused.

'I guess you need this too?' She said flatly 'Yeah…' Catherine said quietly, her back still to Sara. She took a few steps away and walked to the wardrobe, and pulled out her own dressing gown.

'Here… put this on..' She passed the silk dressing gown to Sara who took it gratefully, and wrapped it around her body.

'I… I still need to photograph the rest of you…and …'

'I know' Sara said dejectedly, placing her Bra in another evidence bag before sliding her trousers off quietly.

Catherine continued to work in silence, and Sara thumbed the fabric of the dressing gown that was draped around her body. She was trying to keep her mind occupied, knowing the worst part of the examination was yet to come. Catherine had processed, photographed, and taken a blood sample, but had yet to do the SAE kit.

'Sar… I …' Catherine said nervously

'I know' Sara said again, sliding of her knickers, looking anywhere other than Catherine, and feeling grateful that she had the robe. Catherine snapped the photos quickly.

'I need you to lie down…' Catherine said quietly.

'Where?' Sara managed to say

'The bed's fine' Catherine managed 'Unless you want me to get someone else?'

Sara shook her head 'No, it's fine, you can do it'

Sara slowly walked towards the bed, and sat on the edge before allowing her body to fall back on the bed, and spreading her legs wide to allow Catherine to do what she needed to do.

She turned her head away to the side, heard the click of the camera a few times, and then felt a hand on her legs, and she flinched.

'It's ok Sar…I'm not going to hurt you…I'll be as gentle as I can ok…' Catherine whispered.

Sara bit her lip but didn't answer, and as Catherine performed the exam, more tears escaped her eyes. She was scared to find out what had happened to her.

Catherine's phone rang, and looking at the caller ID she saw it was Nick, although she wasn't expecting him to phone for another 20 minutes.

'Hey' she answered quietly, stepping out of the room. After she had finished processing and examining Sara she had thought it best to let the woman sleep, and she had suggested that she made herself as comfortable as possible in the bed. She hadn't been sure that Sara would agree, and had been pleasantly surprised when she did, and even more so when after just five minutes Sara's breathing had evened out and it was evident that the women was asleep.

'Hey Cath' Nick said, his voice even 'How is she?'

'Sleeping…' Catherine said, she knew it was probably wrong, but she had seen how scared Sara had been and hadn't wanted to treat her as a criminal until she knew exactly what was going on.

'Oh… Well, that's not surprising…' Nick said

'How so?' Catherine interrupted

'Well… there is evidence of heavy drinking, sex, weed… needles…drug activity, poppers for one… roofies too.' Nick said sighing

'Shit' Catherine said

'Yeah… ' Nick replied

'There's something else…' he said after a pause

'What?' Catherine asked quickly

'I found a photo in Roses purse, amongst some notes. Think is, it's a photo of Sara…'

'They knew each other before tonight?' Catherine asked, rubbing her head

'I don't know… I don't think so… it's an old photo, looks like Sara's… 14? 15? Maybe, a teenager anyways, and she's holding a baby…'

'Nick…' Catherine interrupted 'How old?'

'What?'

'The baby… how old is the baby…' Catherine spat out

Nick sighed ' I dunno… about a week maybe… why?'

Catherine sighed and hung up the phone. She rubbed her head again, a tear escaped her eye, and small pieces of the puzzle she found herself in the middle of started to fall into place.