XashXdawnX - Here's a new chapter, so for the long delay in a new one. Enjoy! I own nothing, except the ideas, all rights to respective owners.
The next morning, as Gary and Leaf entered the kitchen they found Professor Oak waiting for them.
"Is everything okay?" Gary asked, as he instinctively wrapped an arm around Leaf.
"Well I figured we would need to go ahead and get the plan into motion. We need to get photographs and tests done of what happened. Are you okay with that, Leaf?"
Tests...that meant a kit...The test to prove that she had been assaulted.
"I've showered though. Those results are gone. I won't ever have the evidence again unless I went back-"
"NO!" Gary cried loudly and Leaf jumped.
"Sorry, but no. I'm not going to let you go back there just to get that proof. You won't ever go through that again. There has to be another way."
"The physical injuries can suffice. Leaf, would you be willing to go with me to get these done? I've reached out to a friend of mine, who will set aside some time to help."
Leaf gripped Gary's hand that rested on her waist.
"I'll be there with you, Leafy. Every step of the way," he said, kissing her temple.
She took a shuddering breath.
"Okay."
"Let's eat and get ready. Then we'll head there." Professor Oak said.
After breakfast as Leaf was in the bathroom changing, she went to grab her makeup, but stopped. She looked at her reflection. Her swollen eye that was bruising. It was still black and blue. Her busted lip. It was healing and was mainly a scab now. Her cheek bruised slightly. Normally, she would cover all of these. But with going to the police today, she couldn't. She glanced down at her body which was hidden under her clothes. Bruises were there as well. Hell she even had scars from those nights. Whenever she wore revealing outfits she always made sure she was covered in makeup. That the damages were hidden. She brought high end, makeup in order to hide everything.
She pulled her hair out of the bun and brushed through it. She styled it to hide her eye. She was ashamed and she hated to show these. Even if it was Gary and Professor Oak. It was still going to take time for her to heal and allow herself to recover.
Sighing, she squared her shoulders and walked out of the bathroom and into Gary's room. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared at Gary. He had been in the middle of changing shirts and she was seeing his torso. She had known he worked out, but damn. She didn't know he had a six pack. Her eyes traveled up and down and she snapped out of it as the shirt covered his body. She looked up at Gary's face and he was smirking.
"See something you like?" he asked, raising a brow.
She just laughed. "Shut up,"
She walked over to him and he took her hand gently.
"You okay?" he asked, looking at her with concern.
"I will be. This is the first step of many. It has to be done."
"I'll be here every step of the way."
"I know. Thank you," she said, kissing him lightly.
The two walked downstairs and found Professor Oak waiting in the kitchen.
"Ready?" he asked.
Leaf nodded her head.
After a short drive, the three were walking into the hospital. Once inside, they were met by an older male police officer. His badge said Silver.
"Hello, Silver." Professor Oak greeted.
"Samuel,"
"Thank you again for helping with this, Silver."
Silver's eyes looked over at Gary and Leaf.
"Well Gary certainly has grown." he stated.
"I'm sorry, but I don't remember you." Gary replied.
"You were very young the last time I saw you."
"Follow me,"
The four walked through the halls of the hospital and once they stopped in front of the lab, there was a young female doctor waiting for them.
"Dr. Sellars, thank you for helping."
"Hello, I'm Francesca Sellars. You must be Miss Green?"
"Yes..."
"I am sorry that you've had to endure all of this. But we are going to work on getting him put where he belongs. Are you ready to get started?"
Leaf nodded her head. She hugged Gary and he held her tightly.
"It's going to be okay." he whispered and kissed her hair.
Leaf took and breath and turned to Dr. Sellars.
"Ready?" she asked, gently.
Leaf nodded her head.
Leaf walked back out of the room and towards the waiting room. She had had to strip for photos to be taken of all the marks and bruises. X-rays to see damages done that had either healed improperly or were still healing. A test to see if any DNA to be collected, although that was unlikely since she had showered. Then she had had to go and talk to Officer Silver about everything that had happened in a conference room with it one recording.
She walked over to Gary and he hugged her close.
"You okay?" he asked.
She remained quiet and just pressed her head against his chest and breathed deeply, trying to remain calm.
"Shh...you're safe." he whispered, feeling her body tremble.
It was hard for her to reflect and relive all those horrible moments. To remember that deep down she was broken and not the girl she once was. The girl who was afraid of being vulnerable. The girl who had to become tough in order to survive, in order to protect herself. Yet, here she was with her darkest secret known and trying to have a relationship with her childhood best friend whom she had recently reconnected with.
The whole car ride was silent as they drove back to the Oak's residence. Leaf leaned against Gary the whole way back. She felt drained both mentally and physically.
When Professor Oak pulled the car to a stop, she hopped out quickly and went inside and straight to Gary's room. She grabbed a change of clothes and went into the bathroom, needing to rid herself of the stench of the hospital, everything that had happened there, and try to rid herself of the memories. Some of the memories that she had buried for so long.
As she started running the water for her shower, she heard the bedroom door close. Gary was in his room, waiting for her. He knew she needed comfort and he would be there. A small smile graced her lips. He was always so caring. And here he was, staying by her side even after learning about everything that had happened to her.
She let the water run over her and closed her eyes. Tears fell from her tightly squeezed eyes, no matter how hard she tried to keep them from falling. She bit her knuckles to keep herself quiet. She didn't want Gary to hear the sobs that were trying to escape.
She hurried and washed her body and hair before turning off the water. She grabbed her robe and pulled it on her body and sat down on the tiled floor.
"Just breathe..." she muttered to herself.
A soft knock on the door made her look up at it.
"Leafy?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I come in?"
Leaf got up and unlocked the door before going back to sitting on the floor.
"Oh, Leafy..."
Gary knelt down carefully and pulled her to him.
"It's okay. You're okay."
He rubbed her back and held her as the tears fell.
"It's just...all the memories...They came back."
"Shh...how about we get you to bed?"
She nodded her head.
"Okay, just change and I'll get you a cup of tea made."
"Thank you,"
He kissed her forehead then her lips before he released her.
"I'll be here every step, Leafy. You're safe, I won't let anything happen to you."
"Thank you, Gary."
He left the bathroom and with the soft click of the door, Leaf pulled herself up. She changed into her clothes and walked out to Gary's bedroom.
As she settled under the covers, Gary came back into the room with a cup of tea.
"Thank you," she said as she took the cup, letting the warmth warm her hands.
Gary climbed on his bed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she settled against his side.
"Are you okay?" he asked, softly.
"I will be. Today just brought up memories of when it first started. Ones that I've kept buried for a while."
"Do you need to talk? Do you want to talk?"
"Not right this second. But eventually, I'll tell you."
"There's no rush, Leaf. You tell me when you're ready."
"Thank you, Gary."
The two sat in silence as Leaf sipped her tea. She was taking comfort in Gary being there for her. She still wasn't used to having someone there for her, but she liked the feeling. She knew he would keep her safe and help her in every way he could.
Please R&R