AN: This chapter will hint towards abuse from the past.
Also, for some reason, reviews aren't being posted to my fanfics. They show up in my email, but not on the site. I'm hoping to figure out why this is here in the next few days.
Connor leaned against his chair, watching the steady rise and fall of the unconscious child. Something drew him to this child, something that he couldn't explain. Maybe it was his rough past trying to protect an innocent soul.
"Hey," a voice brought Connor out of his thoughts.
"Hey Ethan," Connor stood up, rubbing away the sleep from his eyes.
"It's been four days man, you should take a break. You haven't even gone home since the child was brought in." The Child was what the staff started calling the kid. Saying, Jane Doe just didn't fit a lost girl. "If you want, I can watch over her while you go home and get yourself cleaned up," Ethan said, softly.
"What if she wakes up? She'll be terrified, she may even try to make a run for it." Connor glanced over the child again, her face had been badly cut from the rocks. Her right arm was in a cast due to a broken arm. "How did she make it through the river without more injuries?"
"She's lucky," Ethan put a hand on the bed. "Sh..." His voice trailed off, by a low groan coming from the child. "Did you hear that? Or was that me?"
"I heard it too," Connor shot to his feet.
"Sa...sha," the child mumbled, weakly.
"It's okay," Connor said, softly. "I'm Dr. Rhodes, can you hear me?"
"Wh...what..." Her eyelids flew open, showing off her crystal blue eyes.
Connor gave a small smile to Ethen, then turned his attention back to the girl. "You're at Chicago Med, do you remember what happened?"
"My head," she groaned in pain.
"I see The Child is awake," Will said, walking into the room.
"We've been waiting a while to see those pretty eyes," April said, kindly.
The girl's eyes darted wildly at the room full of strangers. "Pl...please..." She stumbled over her words.
"Hey, it's okay," Connor's voice was soft. "You're safe in the hospital."
"NOOOOOOOOO!" The girl let out a blood-curdling scream, causing Ethan and Connor to jump back in surprise.
"What's going on?" Natalie asked, running into the room followed by Daniel.
"GET AWAY!" The girl reached for her IV's, trying to rip them out of her arm.
"April, 2 CC's of Ativan," Connor ordered. "Kid, it's okay. No one is going to hurt you." He said, trying to hold the girl's arms down, to prevent her from hurting herself.
"Meds in," April noted. The staff held their breaths, waiting for the meds to take effect. Once the girl's tensed muscles loosened, it was like a weight was lifted.
"I think we should let her sleep," Will whispered. The child's eyes closed, sending her into a dreamless sleep.
"I want to stay," Connor said, stubbornly.
"You need to get some sleep, you haven't had a day off since before she came in here," Ethan stated, giving his friend a pointed look. "It might be better if she wakes up without the stress of having others around."
"Having at least one person in here may do her good. However," Charles held his hand up, preventing Connor from saying anything. "It might be better for one of our ladies to stay in here, rather a guy. We don't know what she went through, most likely it was a guy that hurt her. Connor, you said her body is filled with scars?"
"Yes, she has scars on 70% of her body. Some looks like cuts from a sharp object, she has burn scars, and a couple of scars that no one can figure out what caused them." Connor shook his head, "how could anyone do this to a child?"
"Whoever did this deserves to rot in hell," Will's voice dripped with anger.
Charles nodded his head, all of them felt the same hatred for whoever laid their hand on an innocent child. "Natalie why don't you stay with The Child for while until she settles down. I have a feeling she's going to be waking up again here in a few hours."
Natalie glanced over at Connor, "I'll keep an eye on her. If anything happens, I'll text you."
Connor's eyes glanced over at the sleeping child. Her chest slowly rose and fell in a peaceful rhythm. "If anything happens, please let me know." With one last glance, Connor reluctantly left the room followed by the others.
Frightening images flashed like lightning through the girl's dreams. No matter how hard she fought, she couldn't get herself to get out of the dark foggy field; it was as if her bare feet were glued to the grass. She tried to let out a scream when something flew at her, but no sound came out. "HELP ME!" She tried to shout but nothing. Heavy gray foggy floated around her, carrying an eerie sound of something or someone crying.
A whooshing sound shot past her, followed by severe pain on her left arm. Blood raced down her arm, pooling around the girl's feet. The girl stared at the ground in shock, she was standing in a puddle of sticky blood. "HEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLP!" She screamed again, tears fell down her face; no one was going to help.
"Brat," a voice drifted through the fog.
"Ungrateful." Another voice shouted out.
"Freak, just another useless freak."
"SHUT UP, SHUT UP, shut up..." The girl fell to her knees, sobbing. "Please, don't hurt me. Please don't hurt me."
"Freaks like you deserve to be beaten."
"I've raised you ever since your good for nothing mother died." The voice boomed throughout the foggy field, followed by the sound of breaking glass.
"Wake up," a soft voice broke through the fog. "It's okay, wake up. No one is going to hurt you, just open your eyes. You're safe now, you're safe."
"Where are you?" The girl called out.
"I'm all around you, I'm with you. I'll keep you safe on your journey." The voice replied, "just open your eyes, everything is going to be okay now. You're in a safe place, no one will ever hurt you again."
The girl slowly opened her eyes, the bright light burned her eyes, causing her to shut them again.
"Mrs. Raccoon took Chester by the hand and nuzzled him on the ear." Natalie read aloud to her unborn child and to the one who laid beaten and broken. "Sometimes we all have to do things we don't want to do, she told him gently. Even if they seem strange and scary at first. But you will love school once you start." Natalie paused a second, then continued to read. "Mommy loves you. Mommy loves you."
The girl opened her eyes again, it was the same voice she heard when she was in the field. "Mom?"
"Hey sweetheart," Natalie moved to stand next to the girl's bed. "You're in the hospital," she said, softly.
The girl blinked at the lady as if she didn't register what Natalie had said.
"W...Why am I here?" The girl's voice was choppy, she hadn't used her voice in a while.
"You went through some white water and hurt yourself. You were taken to another hospital, once they had you stable they sent you here." Natalie explained.
"I'm safe," the girl gave a small smile.
"Yes, you're in a safe place now. No one is going to hurt you..."Natalie's voice trailed off, by the sound of the room door opening. To her dismay, Connor walked into the room. What is that idiot thinking?! She thought to herself.
"I'm glad to see you awake," Connor slowly made his way to the bed. "I was worried you wouldn't wake up." His voice was filled with concern.
The girl stared at him, confused. "Do...Do I know you?" She asked, shyly.
"No, not really." Connor chuckled. "I'm Dr. Connor Rhodes, I've been taking care of you since you came to this hospital." He glanced over at Natalie, then back to the child. "What's your name?"
"My name?" The girl searched her brain, trying to remember what her name was. Who am I? She thought to herself. Why can't I remember anything? Tears of frustration streamed down her face. No matter how hard she thought, she couldn't remember anything.
"Hey, hey, hey. You don't need to cry." Connor sat on the edge of her bed, " I didn't mean to upset you."
The child shook her head, "I don't know." She whispered, "I don't know who I am. I don't remember anything," she sobbed.
Without thinking what he was doing, he pulled the child into a hug. He could feel the child tense in her arms. "It's okay," his voice was warm with kindness. "It will come to you, eventually."
"M' sorry, m' sorry." The girl clung tightly to his scrubs.
"You have nothing to be sorry about," Connor rubbed soothing circles on the child's back.
"Freaks aren't allowed to cry." She mumbled.
Connor stared wide-eyed at Natalie, hoping he misheard what the child had said. From the look on the ladies face confirmed his fears. "Who said you were a freak?"
"I don't...remember," she said between a yawn. She laid her head against Connor's chest, taking in his sweet calming scent. "Lexa...My name is.. Lexa."
"Lexa, that's a pretty name." Connor glanced down at Lexa, then over to Natalie. "I think she's asleep," he mouthed, not wanting to wake her up. He carefully put the girl back on the bed, then tucked her in. He didn't know why, but something deep down was stirred. Making a silent vow, he promised he'd protect the child, no matter what.