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Part III:

Carter shifted so he could lay Abby down on the couch. The movement startled her awake. He helped her lie back and he bent down on his knees so he could be eye level with her. "How are you feeling?"

Abby pulled the blanket tighter against her, "Embarrassed."

John knew Abby well enough to not give her a pep talk. He had asked how she was feeling and wanted an honest answer from her. Knowing her, he was sure that was exactly how she was feeling. "What can I do?"

Abby looked into Carter's eyes, her instinct was to start building up her defenses. She trusted John, but she couldn't count on him. He was interested in Wendall, and even if he helped her through the night, she was going to have a lot of nights on her own. "No, I just want to change and go home."

He didn't even try to hide the hurt in his eyes. "Abby, I know you want to be strong, but let me help you. Susan is bringing my Jeep around and you can stay in one of the guest bedrooms tonight."

"What, and stay there until I feel safe," Abby started to cry as she realized just how scared of being alone she was.

"You can stay with me as long as you need to." He answered sincerely.

"I don't know if I will ever feel safe again." She admitted.

John took her hand, "That's ok, I could use a roommate."

She laughed as she wiped her eyes, "I think that may hinder your social life."

"Ok, I could use a new maid." He knew when she smiled that he won this round. "Do you need help changing?"

Abby tried to push herself up, but found her arms could not support any weight. John supported her back, and helped her sit up. "Take it slow. You have four stress fractures." She stared at him, and he soon realized they had never talked to her about her injuries. He just assumed that she had over heard them. "We'll talk about it once you get settled."

Abby felt helpless as she let John slip the shirt over her head and gently lift her arms through the sleeves. He looked in her eyes, silently asking if she was ready to stand, she nodded, and Carter wrapped his arm around her waste and pulled her up with ease. She tested her balance by gently pushing away. When they were both sure she was standing on her own, he moved back to give her room. Abby searched for the draw string and started to untie her pants. 'Drop 'em and go'. She stiffened, and dropped the material as if it burned her. The helplessness and embarrassment she was feeling soon turned to humiliation as she flashed back to the forest reserve.

John sensed the change but was unsure what caused it. "Abby?" Her head was down and he leaned back trying to look into her eyes. He brought his hands up to the draw string, but Abby backed quickly away. Her head shot up and looked at John, but quickly lowered her eyes. "Abby, tell me what's wrong." He was sure she was remembering something, but he was afraid to find out what it was.

"It's nothing." She hated how humiliated they had made her feel, not to mention the fact that she was sure taking her pants off in an isolated area was only going to encourage them to act.

John took a step closer with his hands out, palms up, trying to be as non-threatening as possible. She was avoiding his eyes, but was not trying to get away from him. He cupped her chin with his hand gently lifting her head, trying to get eye contact. Once he got it, the tears that she was holding back started to fall. "Come here," he drew into a hug, and let her cry.

"I tried to get away," she admitted as she turned her head to the side, resting it on his chest.

He prepared himself for the worst, and brought his hand up to stroke her hair while the other held her tightly against him.

"I saw a gas station, and told them I had to go to the bathroom. I figured if there were people around they wouldn't chase me if I ran, but they didn't stop at the gas station. They pulled into one of the forest reserves. It was so dark, and deserted…" She paused, and John wished he could see her face. "When he opened the door, and I saw the gun, I tried to convince them I was ok, and I didn't have to go… he made me get out and go in front of him. I thought… I thought…"

"Shh, it's ok, it's over now, and he didn't touch you." She was silent, and he needed to know. "Did he touch you?"

"No! No, I was…it was so humiliating, and I was so scared." It felt good to finally start talking, but at the same time she was ashamed. John continued to hug her, letting her know she was safe.

Susan pulled the Jeep into the ambulance bay, and kept it running as she got out to give it time to warm up. Neela met her at the sliding doors. "Carter is taking her to our apartment?"

Susan shook her head, "No, to his house. It has security, and he thinks she'll feel safer there."

"How is she?" Neela was concerned, but at the same time had no idea how to help her friend.

Susan shrugged as she knocked on the break room door, "Not good. I'm concerned there are more injuries than we found. There is definitely a lot more to the story." She looked to the guards, "Can you move to the ambulance bay and make sure it's safe?" They nodded seriously and moved purposefully. Susan opened the door a crack but did not look in, "John?"

He called out, "Come in."

Susan walked in with Neela behind her. Carter was still hugging Abby, she had a new scrub top on, but the pants were still stained with blood. "The jeep is running, and waiting…"

He reluctantly released Abby so he could grab his coat and wrap it around her. "Ready?" He asked as he zipped the coat up, and supported her at her waist from the side so they could walk out. Abby instinctive drew herself closer, she was not ready to face the concerned faces that would greet her once she left the sanctuary of the break room, but she was ready to put the day behind her.

Susan and Neela cleared the way as John protected her with his body. Abby hid her face in his shirt, and only knew they were outside once she felt the cold air. She looked up, and realized where she was. Her feet stopped, causing John to almost loose his grip on her. He faced her. He was learning her reactions, and soon realized something had caused her to have another flashback. He looked around, and then it dawned on him, "Damn it." He picked her up and moved her quickly to the car, "This is where they took her." He explained to Susan and Neela. She wasn't talking, but she was shaking violently. "We're leaving, Abby, just hang on." He gently placed her in the back seat, and wrapped a blanket around her. Once he closed the door he turned to Susan.

"I've already rearranged the schedule, so you take as much time off as you need to be with Abby." Susan told him as looked over at Abby through the windshield. "Call me if there is anything you need at all."

Neela added, "If she wants anything from home, give me a call and I will bring it over."

John thanked them both and ran to the Jeep. He needed to get her out of the ambulance bay as quickly as he could.

TBC…