Chapter 3

"Oh my…" Sara could only stare at the young girl. "He raped you? Oh my god, Linds, why didn't you tell me right away?"

"I was too scared to tell you!" Lindsey cried. "Please, Sara, I really didn't want this to happen!"

"God, honey, I understand, I just… Why didn't you say something sooner?"

"I feel so bad, Sara, I feel so dirty! Why did he do that to me?"

"You probably know better than me, honey. Why don't you tell me everything that really happened? And I promise: I won't tell your mom!"

Lindsey sat up, wiping her tears away once again. It was a useless action anyway, as the tears kept coming back.

"I was home alone when this guy came over. He's in my class and he flirted with me a few times, but I never really paid attention to him. Now, he came over, saying we could watch a movie together. I said it was okay and that we could watch it downstairs, but he wanted to watch it upstairs, in my room. 'That way I can protect you when you feel scared,' he said. I was a bit surprised, why wouldn't he be able to do that downstairs? But I took him upstairs anyway, god, Sara, I was so stupid! I should have known!"

Sara hugged the girl. "Listen to me, Lindsey, you are not stupid, you did the right thing, coming to me right away. And there was no way you could have known he wanted to… Well, you know. Go on, tell me more, I want to know everything!"

Lindsey started talking again, but often interrupting her story by closing her eyes and breaking down in tears again: "We went upstairs and as soon as we got there, he started kissing me. I pushed him away, because I didn't want him to kiss me, but then… Then… He started shouting at me that I was challenging him to do this, that it was all my fault. And then… Sara, he tried to rip the clothes of my body! He ripped my skirt and tried to do the same to my shirt and he threw me on the bed."

Sara stared at Lindsey's jeans and at the rip in the left sleeve of the shirt. Why hadn't she noticed earlier? Catherine had said a million times that Lindsey only wore skirts and that it drove her crazy sometimes.

"Honey, it's okay, I understand what happened next. But just remember that you're safe here, I won't hurt you. Come on, you have to take a bath, honey, I'll see if I have some clothes of mine that you can borrow for tonight. And, Lindsey… We'll have to report this."

"No, Sara, no!" Lindsey shouted in fear. "No, you promised! What if my mom finds out?"

"She won't, honey, and I promised not to tell her. I'm not going to tell her, I'm going to call Greg, he can handle the case."

"What if Grissom questions him about the case, he'll find out it's me and tell my mom!" Lindsey cried. "Please, Sara, no!"

"Listen to me, Lindsey," Sara said, trying to act strict. "We need to report this. What if you don't and he's going after another girl?" This made the young girl silent. "Honey, you know who did this to you, right?" A small nod. "Good, then we'll get him without a problem. Now, get into the bathroom and undress yourself. Take a long bath, maybe that will help. Go." She pushed the girl into the bathroom, only quickly turning on the hot water before calling Greg.

"Greg? Hi, it's me. Are you still at work? Good. Look, you have to do something without asking questions, okay? Good. Listen, I want you to come over to my apartment and bring a sexual assault kit. I said no questions, Greg, just do it! Thanks." She hung up the phone and went back into the bathroom to check on Lindsey. But what she saw shocked her.

"Oh my god, Lindsey!"

The young girl's arms and legs were covered in bruises! There were even bruises on her back and stomach!

"My… Linds, did he do this to you?"

Lindsey nodded, the tears starting to roll down her face again. Sara wrapped her in her arms, not caring about the little girl being naked. "Honey, I'm so sorry this happened to you! My, no wonder you were so scared! Honey, ssh!"

Of course, this didn't help, the girl was too scared. Sara took her back with her to the bedroom. "Put on your own underwear again, I'll get you one of my shirts to wear."

"Please throw away that shirt and those jeans, Sara."

"Not yet, Linds, we first need to find the guy who did this to you. Go on, grab your underwear, I'll find a shirt for you."

Lindsey was only just dressed when someone rang the doorbell. Sara opened the door. "Hi, Greg, thanks for coming over. Come on in."

"I don't understand you, okay?" Greg said while entering. "What's going on? Lindsey? What are you doing here? Wait a minute, Sara, is this what I think it is?"

"Greg, whatever you do, don't tell Catherine… yet. And yes, it is what you think it is, a guy raped Lindsey. Just… do what you have to do and get this over with. It's horrible enough for her already."

Greg didn't ask any questions anymore, he just did his work. "What was his name? Or can't you remember anymore?" Sara asked.

"Jason. Jason Matthews, he's in my class," Lindsey whispered. "Greg, please don't tell my mom!"

"I won't, sweetie, but I'm not sure if I can keep your identity a secret for Grissom," Greg honestly said. "Or for Brass."

"Get O'Riley to do this then," Sara said. "And just tell Grissom you can't tell him who the girl is."

"Yeah, right, Sar, as if I can!" Greg said, shaking his head. "But I'll try. Am I done?"

"Did you take pictures of her bruises?"

"Which bruises? Oh my god, Lindsey!" He stared at the many bruises on her arms and legs. The look on Lindsey's face made him go quiet again. "Okay, I'll just take those pictures." He took a few shots from her legs and arms. Sara took off Lindsey's shirt. "Don't forget these as well." Greg photographed her back and then turned to her stomach. He stopped for a second to take a look at one bruise closer. "Sar, did you see this? It looks like an impression from some sort of ring!"

Sara looked at and had to agree with him. "Was he wearing a ring, Linds?" She nodded. "A big, ugly one with his initial." Sara studied the bruise. "This could definitely be a J. Get a close-up, Greg."

Greg did as she asked, then he put away his camera. "Okay, I'll get this to the lab plus your clothes, Linds. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone it's you. I'll just work solo for a change."

"You can always call me, Greg, if you need help," Sara offered. He smiled at her. "It's okay, Sar, you make sure she's alright."

Greg left, Sara took Lindsey back to the bedroom to tuck her in. "Try and get some sleep, honey." As Lindsey closed her eyes, Sara still kept wondering why she didn't tell Catherine. Catherine would have definitely believed her after seeing those bruises! Unless there was something else going on Sara didn't know of. She shook the thought out of her head. None of that now, she had to get some sleep too! She'd worry about it in the morning.