On Her Own
Chapter 15
They were both quiet for a few minutes, lost in their own thoughts.
"Whose was it?"
It really shouldn't have, but the question surprised him.
Rachel wasn't sure if he'd get angry or would even answer, but she couldn't keep from asking.
He reached forward and pulled her back to lay on his chest while he leaned on the headboard. Other than Bruce no one knew the story, or why he hadn't taken that simple, silver chain off since the day it was given to him. And he though it was time that Rachel was allowed to know another one of his secrets.
"My mother gave this to my father a long time ago, it was an anniversary gift. He never took it off. When they died, Bruce took me in and other than a single picture and some clothes I wasn't allowed to bring anything with me. Bruce was good friends with the commissioner. A few days later Commissioner Gordan showed up, he'd pulled some strings so I could have this back."
She sat up and her hands immediately went to her neck, working the clasp. "I can't take this from you, it's-"
His hands stopped her own as he kissed her, gently shushing her. "Rachel," He murmured against her lips.
She pulled away from him, once again trying to take the necklace off. "No, it was your parents. I-I-" He could see a slight panic in her eyes.
He put a finger against her lips, silencing her again. "No, Rachel." He kept his voice quiet as he continued, "You aren't taking it from me. I'm giving it to you."
He moved his hands to cup her face, giving her a small smile. "I want you to have it."
She put a hand over his as she nuzzled her cheek against his palm. He moved his hands to her waist pulling her to lay back against his chest again. She couldn't help playing with the chain around her neck.
"Richie?" His thumbs were rubbing soothing circles on the backs of her hands.
She reached up and placed a kiss on his jaw. "I love you." He looked down at her and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I know, and I love you too."
Making herself comfortable, Rachel let out a soft yawn. Curling up in his arms, she closed her eyes and let herself drift off to sleep while Richard texted someone on his phone.
Barely an hour later Richard had laid down on his pillows with Rachel still in his arms and just as he was getting comfortable someone decided to knock on his door.
"Really?" He huffed softly, shifting Rachels head off his chest and onto a pillow. The knocking came again as Richard pulled the blankets up around her shoulders.
He growled softly as he made his was to the door. Opening it up he found his roommate on the other side. "Uh, ever thought of using your key?" Victor looked distraught, almost wasted and that disturbed Richard. He'd never seen Victor drunk before.
Richard watched his friend shuffle over to his computer chair and collapse into it, turning the light on as he did and put head in his hands. "Vic, what's up?" He asked as he instantly turned the light off again, looking to see if it had woken Rachel.
"I told the dean." Looking up he nodded over at Rachel. "About her."
Victor held up a hand to stop Richard before he could even start. "I should have put a stop to this before it ever really started. If I had said something to you or to the dean sooner then maybe Roy wouldn't have been able to rape her."
"Stop, stop, stop." Richard glanced at Rachel who was tossing, murmuring softly in her sleep. "What do you mean you should have put a stop to it before it started?"
Victor sighed, he should have known Rachel wouldn't have said anything to him about it. "I stopped Roy that first time, after the halloween party."
Victor watched Richard take a deep controlled breath. "I'm going to ignore that for now and go to go to bed, before I do something that I'll regret in the morning."
The sentence had barely left his mouth when Rachel sat bolt upright in bed yelling, "Roy!"
Richard moved and sat on the edge of the bed, grabbing her hands. "Rachel. It's all right Rachel." He whispered as he moved closer and wrapped his arms around her. "It was just a dream, you're here with me. You're safe."
He could feel Victor watching him. He felt like beating his friend to a pulp at the moment but pushed his anger at his roommate aside.
"You're safe." He repeated quietly. Nudging her to lay down he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
Getting off the bed he pulled the blankets up from where they had been kicked to the foot of the bed. Victor came up behind him and whispered, "If we can get her to talk to the dean in the morning then the police can get involved before Roy leaves." With that being said Victor went and got into his bed.
Richard sighed and climbed into bed, wrapping an arm around Rachel.
"Roy, he…" Her voice was barely a whisper. He silenced her with a soft kiss.
"You're safe Rach." It would all be over soon, he was going to make sure of it.
She curled up against him, heart pounding and tried to breath evenly. He watched her eyes close slowly, and he knew this had to end. Whether Rachel like it or not they would be paying a visit to the dean first thing in the morning and telling him everything. She was a survivor, he knew how strong she was emotionally and physically. This was the one thing he wasn't sure she could make it out of on her own though.
Morning came all too quickly for Richards liking. When he looked over at Rachel she was laying on her back, staring at the ceiling. He glanced at his alarm clock before looking back over at his girlfriend. "This is a change, I usually have to wake you up."
Getting up he began getting dressed for the day, throwing his pajamas in his duffle bag. He looked over at Rachel who was just sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at Victor who was still out cold. "When is he leaving?" Blinking she looked over at him.
Pulling his shirt over his head Richard replied, "Later today, he has some stuff he needs to turn in I think. Come get dressed,"
He heard her sigh as she slid off the bed and started pulling on clean clothes. As soon as she was dressed Richard grabbed her hand and led her out of his room.
He led her across campus, constantly watching her. He'd never say it but she looked like crap, he assumed she didn't end up falling asleep again. Letting go of her hand he instead wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
Rachel had a feeling she knew where he was taking her. She had known for a while now that it would only be a matter of time. And she was proven right when they walked up to one of the main buildings.
She sighed, knowing that she had to tell the dean. "I really don't know about this,"
He stopped and looked back at her. "You can do this, and I'll be right there with you."
She sighed and began walking again.
They pushed through the double doors together, only for Rachel to slow her paced once she saw the secretaries desk. Richard gave her a last quick squeeze before moving to speak with the secretary. She watched him for a moment before going and sitting in one of the available chairs along the wall.
Sitting down she put her head in her hands. Sitting was the last thing she wanted to do, but she couldn't exactly start pacing on her hands like she did in Richards room. Instead she put her head in her hands and tried not think about why she was there.
Richard came and sat next to her, placing a comforting hand on her knee. She looked up at the touch.
"Want to go to the gym after this for a bit?" He offered, knowing how uncomfortable she must be feeling at the moment. He figured the gym would give her something to look forward to and hopefully encourage her to talk.
It was then that the dean stepped out of his office. "Ah, Rachel, why don't you come in and the two of us will have a little chat."
Rachel looked up when he spoke. She's seen the dean in passing but had never had an actual conversation with the man. He was a tall, fit, middle aged man. He seemed nice enough as he stepped out of the doorway, gesturing for her to enter the office. That still didn't make her want to talk to him about this though.
Slowly she got to her feet and walked towards the dean.
Richard stood as well and took a few steps behind her.
"Why don't you wait out here Richard, it's probably for the best." Rachel had just stepped through the doorway when she heard this. Looking over her shoulder at her boyfriend, she had been planning on having him with her for moral support. Taking deep breath she put on a smile to show him she would be fine.
"I'll be right out here if you need me, all right Rach?" He said as he closed the distance between them, leaning down and placing a soft kiss on the top of her head before going and taking a seat once again.
Swallowing hard she moved further into the office followed by the dean as he pulled the door shut behind him.
He moved swiftly passed her and took a seat behind his desk, motioning for her to sit as well. Hesitantly, Rachel took a seat across from him, her fingers nervously tugging on her necklace.
"Have you taken the last of your exams yet?" He asked, trying to start a conversation.
"Yes, my last one was yesterday." She wouldn't look up from her lap, one of her hands still playing with the chain.
"Do you think you did well?" She shrugged, just wishing he would ask what he wanted to ask so she could leave. She heard him sigh.
"Would you like to tell me something, Rachel?"
Again she shrugged, not trying to be difficult. She just wasn't use to telling people about her problems, she'd always handled everything on her own. That is, until Richard entered the picture.
She turned around in her chair and looked at the door to the office. She knew he was just on the other side of the door, but she wished he was in here with her.
She didn't know how to explain what had happened between her and Roy. She could barely explain it to her boyfriend, let alone the dean who she'd never even spoken too before.
"Rachel, Rachel?" She looked back to the dean, he was leaning over his desk looking at her concerned.
"Are you all right? You look a little on the pale side."
She blinked and nodded her head.
She had always been alone, she couldn't just tell this complete stranger that Roy had cornered her in her room and raped her. Twice.
"Do you want to take a minute?" It wasn't until then that she felt the tear falling against her cheek.
Pushing on the armrests she stood up slowly, and turned to the door. She opened it to find Richard standing in front of a window talking to someone on his phone. Walking up to him she wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"I gotta go, I'll text you later." Hanging up his phone he turned around and slid it in his pocket before wrapping his arms around her.
"I couldn't do it…" She whispered resting her forehead against his chest.