First things first: I'm not an expert on hospitals and police departments, so don't tell me if something's off, because I know. Just to let you know; I personally think it's a pretty crappy chapter, since there are a lot of people involved. I still hope you'll enjoy it, so here we go!
XXX
Diana woke up rather peacefully the next morning, which had her frowning. She unlocked the door, silence meeting her in the hallway.
Carefully, she went to Michael's room, seeing his bed was empty. She went to her mother's room, which she found empty also.
She went down the stairs.
'Mom?' she asked.
No answer. She slowly and hesitantly walked into the living-room. She found no one. She swallowed thickly.
'M-Mom?' she called again.
She went into the kitchen. A scream escaped her throat at seeing her mother lie on the ground, lifeless. Her heart dropped, and tears began to fill her eyes. She got to her knees next to mother, and noticed the half empty bottle of alcohol next to her.
'Mom? Mom, wake up!' she cried out as she shook her mother's shoulder.
No response. More tears filled her eyes. She knew her mother was a bad person, but she would rather live with a violent mother than without a mother at all.
'Mom, wake up! I need you! You can't leave me!' she cried out.
She soon realized her mother wasn't waking up. In a desperate attempt, she picked up her mom's hand to check her pulse.
Nothing.
She shook her head in disbelief, unable to believe she was dead. She kissed her mother's hand carefully.
'I love you, mom. Please come back to me. You can't leave me like dad did' she begged.
She looked at her mother's lifeless frame. She began to cry.
'Mom, please. I have no one left without you. Please come back. Please! I don't want to be alone!' she pleaded.
She shot up in shock, and headed back to her room. She buried her face into her pillows, her body shaking with sobs. What was she supposed to do? She had nowhere to turn now. Adam wouldn't mind if she came to live with him, but she felt like such a burden to him and his parents if she tried to ask them.
She carefully picked up the card from her nightstand; the card Crane had given her. He doubted whether to call him or not. What would Adam think?
She shook those thoughts off her, knowing it was her choice to call him. With trembling fingers, she took her cell-phone, and dialed the number.
She waited nervously, and felt her heart hammer hard in her chest at hearing him pick up the phone.
'Gotham University, this is Jonathan Crane speaking'
She exhaled deeply.
'P-professor Crane?' she shakily asked.
'Diana? What's wrong?'
Tears spilled from her eyes. She choked back a sob.
'Take deep breaths, Diana. Try to calm down'
'My m-mom…she's…she's dead' she cried.
'I'll call the police, and I'll be there as soon as I can'
'T-thank you' she hiccupped softly.
She heard him hang up the phone, and wiped her tears. More kept coming. She had never felt so sad and messed up before. Not even during the times Michael had abused her, had she felt so much pain and loneliness. She was all alone now.
XXX
Crane heaved a very deep sigh after hanging up the phone. How bad he felt for Diana, it was necessary for her to be alone. Only that way, would she open up to him.
He quickly phoned the police, and waited for them to pick up the phone.
'Gotham Police Department, this is James Gordon'
'Hello, Mr. Gordon. My name's Jonathan Crane. I'm a teacher at Gotham University, and just moments ago, one of my students called, and told me she found her mother dead in her home' he explained.
'Why wouldn't she just call herself?'
Crane clenched his teeth at the stupid question.
'Let's just say her relationship with her mother wasn't that good' he explained.
'If you give me the address, me and a couple of other officers will head down there right away'
Crane muttered the address, before hanging up. He got up, and grabbed his coat. Once he had started his car, his thoughts lingered to Diana, his precious Diana. How scared and lonely she had to be.
He just hoped he was able to help.
XXX
Diana jumped at hearing the doorbell ring. She got up from the living-room, and went to the door. When she opened it, she found Crane standing there. He breathed a sigh of relief.
'Thank goodness you're alright' he spoke.
'I'm so sorry I called…I didn't know what to do and-' 'No need to apologize. You were right to call' he cut her off.
He guided her back to the living-room, and took a seat next to her when she sat down.
'I called Adam and his family too. They should be here soon' she explained softly.
'I understand. They're all you have left, aren't they?' he asked.
Tears filled her eyes.
'I don't know why she did this. She always told me she wanted to get rid of me, maybe she did this because she couldn't take me anymore' she suggested quietly.
'Diana'
She looked up at his strong voice. His blue eyes found her own green ones.
'None of this is your fault' he assured her.
She shrieked at hearing the door break open. Multiple police officers walked into the apartment. Out of fear for them, she curled up against Crane's side, burying her face into his coat. She felt slightly relieved at his hand on the middle of her back.
'It's okay. They won't hurt you' he said.
She dared to meet the eyes of one of the officers, whom had thick rimmed glasses, and a mustache.
'Hi Diana, I'm Jim Gordon. I'm here to help you' he spoke kindly.
She nodded faintly, never loosening her grip on Crane's coat. At that moment, she was too scared and too confused to remember how Crane had cornered her in class. She needed to hold onto someone.
Gordon looked at Crane next to her.
'You must be Mr. Crane' he spoke.
'Doctor, actually' Crane corrected him.
Another officer walked over to Gordon.
'We found the victim in the kitchen. She clearly drank herself to death' he spoke.
'Was it just you and your mother, Diana?' Gordon asked.
'N-no…I had a…a stepfather' Diana dared to say.
Fresh tears brimmed in her eyes, showing Gordon what had gone on at this house rather quickly. He swallowed.
'Our medical team is here as well. They'll need to examine you-' 'No!' she cried out.
She buried her face back into Crane's shoulder, her body trembling. She didn't want anyone to touch her.
'It's for the best, Diana. You need to get better' Crane spoke to her.
'No…I don't want men to touch me like that again!' she cried.
'Very well, I'll arrange that a staff of all-female doctors and nurses look after you' Gordon's voice urged her to look up.
'Is that okay?' he asked kindly.
She didn't answer.
'I think so' Crane answered instead.
He helped her up, and brought her allong with Gordon. Outside, there was an ambulance waiting. From a distance, she saw Adam and his parents. Adam immediately pushed past all the people, but got stopped by the police-officers.
'Let me through! That's my best friend out there!' he yelled and protested.
Adam's father pulled him back. All they could do was watch as Diana got into the ambulance. A nurse looked at Crane.
'Who are you?' she asked.
'I'm her teacher. She'll need all the support she can get right now' he spoke.
'Very well, please sit down' the nurse instructed.
Diana panicky looked up to Crane, fear in her eyes. He rubbed her back comfortingly.
'They won't hurt you' he told her.
She lowered her eyes, tears flowing down her cheeks. She felt scared. What was going to happen to her?
XXX
After arriving in the hospital, Crane watched with a heavy heart as a couple of nurses took Diana with them, as he was forced to wait outside the room they had taken her. He had been told they had to perform a rape kit on her. Just the thought of it made him shudder in disgust. She was terrified of pretty much everyone around her, how did they expect her to remain quiet and composed if they were going to expose her like that?
He turned around at hearing his name being called. He saw Adam, and his parents walk over to him.
'What are you doing here?' Adam snarled.
'She called me this morning, after she found her mother' Crane explained.
'Why would she call you?' Adam snapped at him.
'Enough!' his dad cut in.
'We're all just really concerned. We had no idea this was going on. We were suspicious about the bruises, but to think she went through all that abuse all alone' his mother said.
At that moment, a nurse opened the door, and closed it behind her.
'How is she?' Adam asked.
The nurse sighed deeply.
'I'm afraid we're unable to help her. She's so terrified she won't even allow us to come near her' she explained.
Crane suppressed a scoff that escaped him. Of course she would panic. She had been exposed enough. To be forced to undress, and expose herself to complete strangers would only terrify her more.
'Is there anyone she has a close link to? Someone whom would be able to calm her down?' the nurse asked.
'Is this investigation really necessary?' Crane asked.
'I'm afraid so, sir. We need to make sure she didn't catch anything during the time she was sexually abused' the nurse explained.
Adam's mother stepped forward.
'I'll come with you' she said.
The nurse nodded in approval, before guiding the woman into the room with her. Crane caught a brief glimpse of Diana, dressed in a hospital gown, an obvious look of fear and distress on her face. Her eyes were red and puffy.
He sighed deeply.
'Poor girl. I just hope she'll recover'
'Are you sure you recovered from the fact she clung to you for her life?'
Crane cleared his throat. He had to admit, he had been startled, and slightly aroused by the fact she had held onto him when the cops entered. The way she had buried her face into his chest, it had felt perfect. She was perfect in his arms.
'I never felt so complete before' he commented quietly.
Scarecrow agreed with him too much to argue. Both knew they had to make it happen again. To hold her again, to have her so close.
Crane knew that from now on, she'd need her time to recover, which meant he wouldn't see her at school as much as he liked. He guessed she would start living at Adam's house. Just the thought had him angry.
The simple thought of her living with him, it revolted him. What if Adam accidently walked in on her in the shower? The boy had a crush on her; seeing her like that would only fuel his feelings.
'We need to get rid of him. Fast!'
'I couldn't agree more'
Crane became determined to get rid of Adam, as soon as possible. Once he was out of the way, she would only rely on him. And him alone.
XXX
Adam's mother, Sylvia, tightly held Diana's hand. The poor girl looked up to her every now and then, tears in her eyes.
'We're almost done, Diana. You're doing great' the nurse told her.
The girl sobbed softly, and was more than glad when she was told she could -finally- get dressed again. The nurse left to give them some space.
Sylvia helped the young girl sit up. She looked up to her, her green eyes big, and full of fresh tears.
'Are you okay?'
She knew it was the wrong thing to ask. Of course she wasn't alright. She had suffered by herself all this time, and had been too terrified to ask for help.
She gasped when Diana wrapped her arms around her, and hugged her tightly.
'I just want to go to sleep and forget all this. It's too much!' she cried out.
Sylvia placed a hand to the girl's head, and held her tightly against her.
'You're coming to live with us. We'll pack your stuff, and move you into our home' she said.
Diana didn't respond; she kept crying. Sylvia sighed. This girl had been through enough. She hoped she would be able to sleep tonight.
XXX
Short chapters are short! Sorry! I'll come up with more as soon as I can! Anyways, please comment, and let me know what you think.
Have a nice day!
~TheOneWithTooManyInterests