Chapter 3

Stella honestly didn't think that the clock in the waiting room could be any louder or more annoying if it tried. Each second was like a sledgehammer and it only got more agonizing as time went on. Sylvie had been in surgery for five hours, forty-three minutes and approximately twenty-six seconds and there had yet to be any word. The entire firehouse was waiting in the waiting room along with Cindy Hermann, Donna Robbins, Trudy Platt, and all of Sergeant Hank Voight's team. Gabby was resting against Casey, Chilli was sitting next to Jimmy, Otis and Cruz, Mouch and Hermann were dutifully following their wives' orders and trying to force everyone to eat or drink something. Stella herself was switching between sitting next to Severide, with Shay on his other side, and pacing. Boden was talking with Voight; the final to give a statement. Stella was really the only one who could provide any information and even that wasn't much.

As if on cue, Dr. Manning and Dr. Halstead came through the doors and everyone was standing moments later.

"She's okay." Natalie answered before anyone could ask. "Physically, there was a fare bit of damage, both internally and externally, but we managed to stop the bleeding. Her eye-socket and five ribs were broken, and she has fractures to her jaw, collarbone, wrist and pelvis. We also had to put her shoulder back in place and she had some minor bruising on the brain which we've managed to stabilize for now. She required a lot of stitches and majority of her body is bruised." Natalie paused, trying to decide if she should continue. She didn't want to break Sylvie's trust but she knew that they were her family and that they suspected the worst already. "She was also sexually assaulted."

It wasn't a shock but majority of them looked like they wanted to throw up or punch something. Severide was the only one who did something, punching a hole in the closest wall. Casey, Shay and Jimmy pulled him back quickly and Stella stepped over to calm him down, taking his hand in hers. She placed her other hand against his cheek but couldn't bring herself to be angry at him.

"Let's get that checked out."

Dr. Halstead stepped forward and lead Kelly away with only minimal hesitation after a kiss from Stella and reassurance from Shay.

"When can we see her?"

It was Chilli who found her voice first and she asked the question they were all wondering.

Natalie looked around the group, hesitating before answering. "She's still unconscious at the moment. She probably won't be awake for another few hours and she'll be kept in the ICU so only family and the police will be allowed in. I'll do my best to work something out but no promises."

They all looked angry but Gabby was fuming. "We ARE her family!"

Matt held her back and Natalie nodded. "I understand that. Like I said, I'll try my best…" She paused. "Sylvie doesn't have anyone listed as her next-of-kin. Does anyone know how to reach her family?"

That took almost everyone by surprise. Sure, Brett didn't talk much about her family but she had mentioned them in passing. It didn't seem like the blonde to not have listed anyone.

"I'll, uh, I'll make a call. Check with Connie if she has anyone listed back at the station."

Natalie nodded, thanking Boden. Natalie turned to leave but Voight spoke up before she could.

"Dr. Manning? Did you do a rape kit?"

Natalie shook her head. "Due to the urgency, we weren't able to perform one before the surgery but we were able to collect some samples. We'll need to complete a full kit if she allows it once she wakes up."

Vought nodded and Stella couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. She noticed Gabby do the same and they exchanged a knowing glance, Shay noticing the exchange. They were all thinking the same thing. As Natalie left and the others went to sit down, Shay pulled both of the brunettes aside. It was only when they were in the corner that they noticed Chilli had followed. It wasn't that they wanted to deliberately exclude her; it was simply because it was Gabby's secret and neither Shay's nor Stella's to tell. After a moment of contemplation, Gabby nodded that it was okay. After all, Chilli would likely find out one day anyway.

"She can't do the rape kit alone."

Shay said what they were all thinking, placing a comforting hand on Dawson's elbow but ignoring the instinctive flinch.

Gabby drew in a breath and closed her eyes, pinching the top of her nose. "I know." She nodded. "She won't have to."

"You don't have to-"

Gabby cut Stella off. "We'll see what Brett wants first."

"Dawson…"

Chilli, whom had been listening, spoke up quietly and hesitantly. "Am I missing something?"

Shay and Stella exchanged a glance but it was Dawson who eventually spoke up, making sure to whisper. Not even Matt knew. "The rape kit… It's like being raped all over again."

"You?" It caught Chilli by surprise. Surely not Dawson.

Gabby nodded and felt Stella squeeze her shoulder whilst Shay put a comforting hand on her back. "A couple of years ago. Just some guy I met on a blind date. He didn't hurt me… I mean, not like Brett."

"But he took advantage."

Shay finished for Dawson, knowing her partner and best friend couldn't say the words.

"Had it not been for Shay, I would have never even gone to the hospital, let alone had a rape kit done." She smiled gratefully at Shay then turned to face Kidd. "I told Stella a year or so ago when one of her old training officers was harassing her."

Chilli didn't know what to say so all she could do was apologize. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be." Gabby forced a small smile, reaching out to squeeze Chilli's hand. "Let's just focus on Brett now, okay?"

With that, the four made their way back over to the others- Chilli and Stella both accepting a coffee from Cindy, and Dawson sitting in the corner with only Shay by her side, the blonde making sure to keep a comforting grip on her best friend's hand.

xxxxxxxx

Sylvie didn't even get a chance to properly become aware of her surroundings as her stomach reacted. She coughed, vomiting all over her bedding and gown. Her entire body was in pain and she honestly didn't understand why. A nurse she recognized as April was by her side almost instantly, wiping her mouth and chin gently as she pressed the call button. April was grateful a few minutes later when Natalie and Maggie came into the room, knowing one of them had made sure to note that no males were allowed in the room. It had been just over thirteen hours since Sylvie had been moved from surgery to recovery but Sylvie couldn't even tell the day let alone the time.

"Hey, Sylvie. It's Dr. Manning. Can you hear me?"

Sylvie nodded but instantly regretted it, throwing up again. The only difference this time was that April was prepared with a bucket. After emptying her stomach and dry heaving for a few minutes, Brett slowly lowered her head back down on the pillow.

"Do you remember what happened?"

Sylvie began to shake her head but stopped and paled even more than she already was. They all took that as a sign and Maggie was the first to reassure her. "It's alright. You're safe here."

Sylvie began to cry and shake, trying to curl up only to cry out more from pain. April and Natalie gently put a hand on each of her shoulders, trying to calm her.

"Try not to move, sweetie. You've got a lot of injuries. I'm going to give you some morphine for the pain and some diazepam to help you calm down, okay?"

Sylvie didn't say anything but watched as best she could out of the only eye she could open as Natalie pushed the pain meds into her IV. They waited a few moments for the medication to kick in before April and Maggie began to remove the vomit-covered blankets from Sylvie and wipe her face.

"We're going to get you changed into a fresh gown and change your bedding, and then Dr. Manning is going to check you over, okay?"

Sylvie simply nodded, allowing them to do what they said. No matter how hard she tried though, she couldn't stop herself from crying or shaking. April and Maggie worked quickly and Sylvie was actually thankful that her hair had been pulled back by a bandage wrapped around her head. Once they had finished, Maggie left the room and April began to take Sylvie's OBs.

"BP's 98/52, pulse rate's 106, sats are at 95%."

Natalie nodded, jotting down the notes. She put down the notepad and pulled out a penlight. "Sylvie, can you followed the light with your eyes?"

Sylvie did as she was told but knew it wasn't much. Natalie didn't care, nodding and smiling.

"Good, good. Now can you squeeze my fingers for me?" Again Sylvie complied. "Great. Now push against my hands with your feet."

The paramedic in Sylvie knew that she wasn't doing too well with the tests but Natalie seemed okay with them for now.

"Do you have any pain anywhere?"

It was a stupid question and they all knew it, but Natalie had to ask nonetheless. Sylvie tried to shrug, feeling her eyes fill with tears again. Her voice was hoarse and barely a whisper when she finally found it. "Everywhere."

Natalie nodded sympathetically, going to place a comforting hand on the blonde's knee but stopping herself when she saw Sylvie flinch. "Okay, I'm going to give you something more for the pain. Is there anything I can do for you? Anyone I can call?"

Sylvie wanted to answer but was too embarrassed to do so. Natalie noticed this so continued, hoping that she had the right answer. "Everyone is out in the waiting room. I can probably sneak Stella and the other medics in if you want?"

Sylvie hesitated but nodded, looking away as if she was ashamed. Natalie smiled sadly before looking up at April. "Okay. I'll go get them for you. April will be right outside so just ring the bell if you need anything, and I'll be back to check on you soon."

Both Natalie and April left the room, making sure to leave the lights on and close the door behind them. Sylvie couldn't hold it in any longer and allowed the sobs to rack her body. It hurt everywhere, but the emotional pain hurt more than the physical.

After a few moments, there was a knock at the door and Sylvie looked up to see Shay first, closely followed by Gabby, Stella and Chilli. She knew they must have literally run up seeing as the waiting room was on the first floor and she was on the fourth but had somehow managed to arrive after only a few minutes.

They opened the door but hesitated in the entrance, silently asking for permission to enter. Sylvie simply wiped her eyes as best she could, ashamed.

"Hey, sweetheart."

Gabby lead the way into the room, pasting on a smile at her bruised and battered friend. The blonde looked so tiny and fragile in the hospital bed. Gabby pulled up a seat on one side with Shay sitting on the bed on the same side. Stella and Chilli did the same on the other side only in reverse. No one said anything. No one really knew what to say.

"I'm sorry."

It was Sylvie who broke the silence, lifting her hand to cover her mouth as she began to cry. The other four women exchanged a glance as Sylvie tried her best to bury her face.

"Hey…" Stella broke the silence, cupping the side of Sylvie's face. "Don't you dare apologize, okay? You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for."

Sylvie didn't stop crying but she did manage to nod her head slightly and allowed Stella to wrap her up in her arms. After a while, Sylvie's sobs started to settle and Stella pulled back, smiling reassuringly.

"It's okay." Stella whispered, only loud enough for Sylvie to hear.

After a few moments of silence, Shay spoke up. "How're you feeling, girl?"

"Sore." It took Sylvie a while to answer and they all knew that she was playing it down but they went along with it anyway.

The next half hour was filled with pointless chit-chat- anything to distract Sylvie. It all seemed useless considering the position they were in but it seemed to help enough to wear Sylvie down. She tried to keep awake but between the physical and emotional exhaustion combined with the medication and pain, she started to drift off.

Gabby noticed first, nodding to the others.

"We'll let you get some sleep." Chilli smiled at her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

Shay and Gabby followed, each kissing Sylvie's cheek. "Call us if you need anything, okay? Day or night."

"We'll be back tomorrow."

Sylvie nodded and tried to force a smile but it barely worked. She did, however, manage to squeeze Stella's hand, hinting for the brunette to stay behind. The others noticed and with one final goodbye, they left the two women alone.

Sylvie looked up at Stella and didn't know what to feel when she saw Stella smiling sadly back at her. After a few moments, Stella tried to ease the blonde and reached for the remote before shuffling over on the bed so that she was laying next to Sylvie. "Scoot over."

Sylvie internally smiled and tried to shift over as much as possible. Stella flipped through the channels for a while before coming to a stop when she saw '30 Rock' was on. She wasn't really a fan herself but she knew that Sylvie loved it. After a few moments, Stella noticed that Sylvie was struggling to keep her eyes open and she patted her shoulder, placing a kiss to the top of Sylvie's head when the blonde rested it against Stella's shoulder. Sylvie drifted off minutes later and Stella begged her stomach to keep from rumbling. She was starving but there was no way she was going to move. She would do anything to make sure Sylvie was safe.

A/N: Next chapter- Rape kit and police interviews plus obviously some more bonding. Let me know who'd you like to see bonding through either friendships or relationships, and if there's anything else you want included. Oh, and don't worry, you'll find out who the attacker is soon enough! (hint: it's someone we've met). I'll try to update as much as possible but please, please review!