Chapter 7

Steve was sure that the past three days had been the longest of his life. They had hoped the kidnappers would get in touch with him when he arrived back. But nothing, they had begun to assume that they had already got what they wanted. Why seemed to echo around his scull all day. They had check through files trying to find out who would have a grudge against her, but nothing. The mornings were the worst time, still half asleep he would reach for her only to come into contact with empty air, then it all would come rushing back and he would break down each time it happened. Mark had offered what comfort he could. Steve was grateful to his father; he had managed to keep him fairly sane, though the longer it went on the more the pressure was getting to him as well. He also knew what Cheryl and a lot of his colleagues were starting to think as well. They had begun to think that she was dead, Steve felt his heart constrict at this thought, she was alive somewhere he knew it, but where?

Mark sat at his desk in his office. He had come into work with the hope of taking his mind off what was happening. But all he done since getting here was sit, he knew that he should be checking up on some of his patients but felt little like it. With a sigh he moved over to his window evening was coming on. The end of another day, another day with no new leads and no new hope.

Jesse made some pretence at eating his lunch but really felt little like it, but he knew that it wouldn't help either Steve or Rachel to let his self get ill. Back on duty he could at least take his mind off it if only for a short time. He stood filling out a report on a patient when the doors of the ER burst open.

"We need some help here;" A cop shouted and held open the door for his partner to carry someone in. Jesse moved forward.

"Get a trolley," He told one of the nurses quickly, and when the trolley was brought they lifted the patient on to it. First all Jesse heard was a gasp from the nurse who had brought the trolley. Looking down Jesse too gasp in shock.

"Oh god, somebody page Mark now," Another nurse scooted off to carry out his instruction. "Rachel?" He asked. "Can you hear me?" He turn to grab a needle to take some blood samples for the lab, but as soon as he got near her she screamed aloud and tired to get up, one nurse jumped up and held her down.

"I think we'll have to restrain her Dr Travis," Jesse nodded. He hated it but he also knew that at the moment at least she could do herself and others an injury. Mark arrived just as they had placed the restraints on, though during the process she had managed to give Jesse a black eye. Mark looked at the bed with Rachel straining against the restraints that where on her. Turning off his emotions at that point he went forward.

"What have we got Jess?" He asked.

"I wish we knew," Jesse said sadly looking at her. "But every time I get close to her with a needle she goes mad," Mark put his arm around the young man for a minute then walked forward and began to brush Rachel's hair away from her face.

"Rachel honey," He said softly. "Its Mark, your in hospital your safe now, but you have got to let Jesse take a blood sample, we have to know what you have been given," Her eyes half focused on him.

"Please don't let them give me any more," She pleaded. Marks eyes filled with tears.

"Don't worry," He told her. "Nobody but me will give you anything," he promised. He took the needle of Jesse and turned back to her "See nothing in it," He carefully inserted the needle and took out a sample of blood. He couldn't help but see the needle marks in her arm and also a piece of frayed rope still attached to her arm, speaking louder that words that she had managed to free herself somehow.

"Jesse, can you go outside and stop Steve from coming straight in here?" Mark asked. Jesse nodded though how exactly he was going to do that he didn't know and left the room.

After a few minutes Mark turned away from Rachel and began to fill notes on her. A nurse had come in and was about to set an IV for fluids, when Rachel's cry filled the air. Mark turned quickly back.

"No !" He shouted quickly. "I'll do it," The nurse looked shocked at him.

Steve had arrived outside and met with Jesse,

"Where is she?" He asked him. Jesse drew in a deep breath.

"Mark's with her at the moment," He told him.

"I want to see her," Steve wasn't feeling rational at the moment all he wanted to do was to see her.

" Not yet Steve,"

"What's wrong with her?" Jesse sighed and got Steve to sit down on one of the benches.

"She's been drugged," Steve's face paled. "At the moment she doesn't even know where she is. Your dad got her to calm down a little, but!" He was cut off by the sound of Rachel's scream. Steve stood in a flash, as did Jesse, he tired to block his friend.

"Jesse get out of my way," He ground it out between his teeth. "I'm going in there, even if I have to go through you," Jesse held his ground.

"Steve right now you may do more harm than good," He said.

"Jesse if it was your wife in there what would you do?" He asked him. Jesse swore he hated it when his own ideals where brought into play. He moved over and followed him as he entered the room. What he saw made him feel sick, the nurse had backed off and his father was trying to calm Rachel down again. Taking a deep breath he moved forward and stood on the other side of the bed to his father.

"Rachel?" He said softly. Her head turned towards him.

"Steve?" She whispered back. "Make it stop please," She pleaded. Steve felt his heart wrench inside of him.

"Soon honey," He told her softly. "You'll be fine soon;" Steve felt tears on his cheeks and his father's arm around him, softly stroking her face she finally fell asleep. "What did they do to her dad?" He asked in anguish.

"At the moment we don't know," Mark told him. "We've taken samples but until we get the results,"

"They haven't?" Steve started to ask.

"No," Mark told him. "There's no evidence of rape," Steve looked down at his sleeping wife's face, clearly showing the torment of whatever drugs they had given her. Someone was going to pay dearly for doing this to her, Steve swore.