Disclaimer: I do not own Private Practice or the characters within, they are creations of Shonda Rhimes and I am simply borrowing them for my own entertainment.

This story starts off after Season 4 episode 2, therefore my version of episode 3 and after.

Chapter 9

Straight after the attack, Cooper immediately attended to Charlotte's face and did his own brief examination before taking her up to St Ambrose for a proper one. From the time they left the house until they got to the hospital, Charlotte said nothing. She was quiet, and Charlotte is never a quiet person so Cooper knew it had severely affected her. But he decided to not say anything. Cooper got out of the car, and helped Charlotte out like the perfect concerned man he is. They were greeted walking into the hospital by the medical team and Dr Harris who Charlotte only approves on.

ST AMBROSE HOSPITAL – EMERGENCY ROOM

Reception: Hello Dr King (stops talking as she notices Charlotte looking a mess)

Cooper: Hi Sally, You need to page Dr Harris.

Reception: Does he know you are here to seem?

Cooper: Of course he does! I called him like ten times just getting here.

Reception: Take a seat and he will be down soon I'm sure

Cooper: Tell him to hurry! She's pregnant for god's sake!

Reception: (on the speaker phone) Dr Harris, please come to the emergency room. I repeat Dr Harris please come to the emergency room.

Cooper is looking agitated and can't stop shaking with worry. Charlotte is still silent and is in complete shock. Cooper tries to comfort her as best as he can.

Cooper: Come here Char

Cooper gestures for her to come into his arms for a cuddle and she takes it.

Dr Harris walks in and walks directly to Cooper and Charlotte.

Cooper stands up and gives Charlotte a hand.

Dr Harris: Come this way you two.

DR HARRIS'S EXAM ROOM

Dr Harris leads Charlotte and Cooper into his examination room. He gestured for Cooper to sit on the Chair and charlotte towards the bed.

Dr Harris: Charlotte, I'm going to have to ask you to put this gown on and then lie down on the bed so I can examine you.

Charlotte finally speaks.

Charlotte: (depressed) Okay.

Dr Harris leaves the room while Charlotte is getting into the gown. 5 minutes later he re-enters the exam room to find Charlotte lying on the bed.

Charlotte looks at Cooper scared, and he can see that she is too.

Dr Harris: So Charlotte how far along in the pregnancy are you?

Charlotte looks at Cooper in concern.

Charlotte: almost 5months now.

Dr Harris examines her to see how the babies are doing. He feels her swollen stomach and then wheels out the ultrasound machine.

Dr Harris: I can see that. Okay the babies appear to be active which is a good sign so I will just confirm my findings with an ultrasound.

Cooper and Charlotte look at each other and give a vague smile at each other. Dr Harris places the cold gel on her stomach and rolls the camera up and down it.

Dr Harris: They appear to be as I thought.

Charlotte: And what's that?

Dr Harris: Perfectly normal and show no signs of distress. They are the right weight for 5months and seem to be very active too. I think you are going to have trouble keeping up with them later.

Cooper and Charlotte look at each other in relief. Cooper bends over and kisses Charlotte's forehead in joy.

Cooper: (sad) That's great news! I'm glad they aren't hurt. I wouldn't forgive myself if they were.

Charlotte tries to reassure him.

Charlotte: It wasn't your fault Coop.

Awkward silence

Cooper: (concerned) Now that we know the babies are fine. What about Charlotte?

Dr Harris: For me to help you Charlotte, I am going to have to ask you what exactly happened. Would you prefer it, if Cooper was here or not here?

Charlotte looks at Cooper with panic in her eyes. Charlotte's body started to tense at the thought of being alone with a man that wasn't Cooper. Cooper grabs her hand and kisses it gently.

Cooper: Char, I promised you I would never leave you alone again and I am keeping it.

Charlotte: He can stay.

Dr Harris: Okay so what happened?

Charlotte: Well I was reading my book on the couch waiting for Cooper to get home. It wasn't very late, maybe like 9pm, so I decided to stay up a bit longer to wait for him to come home. That was when I heard a knock on the door. I thought it was Cooper and he had forgotten his house key again, but it wasn't.

Charlotte tries to hold back the tears she can feel building up in her eyes, but unfortunately she can't. Cooper gives her a cuddles and then rubs her shoulders to try and comfort her as best as he could.

Cooper: (crying) I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you Char.

Charlotte: Anyway, it wasn't Cooper, it was my ex husband Joe. He wouldn't go away and he was trying to hurt me physically because of something I confessed to the police about him a few years ago.

Dr Harris: Can I ask what did he do to you when you made your confession?

Charlotte froze up and didn't think she could tell the doctor about it, until cooper squeezed her hand. It made Charlotte feel a little bit better knowing that Cooper was next to her and that he was going to love her no matter what. She remembers the promise she made about telling Cooper everything, even if it's hard to do.

Cooper: I'm here for Char. It's okay to let us know. No one else has to know but us okay?

Charlotte: (sighs) I know. (Pause) Well I was 19 years old I got married to Joe. I thought we were the dream couple and we would be in love forever. However, things started to change. He started to go out with his college friends and go out late partying with them. I would always be home alone at night and no one else wanted to see me because they thought I was too wife-like, meaning boring.

Cooper: You're never boring Char. Not to me anyway.

Charlotte: There was only one other person beside Joe that enjoyed to see me and that was Joe's friend Jake. Anyway one night when Joe was out partying, I was very depressed and I decided to open a bottle of wine. I drank it alone while watching TV, until I heard a knock on the door to find Jack standing there. Without thinking Jake started to kiss me and I was too drunk to stop it at first. As I was about too, Joe walks in and sees it happening.

Cooper: What did he do Char?

Charlotte: When Jake left in a hurry, Joe started to get really angry. I mean I had never seen him so angry before.

Cooper: Did he hurt you?

Charlotte: He grabbed me by the neck and started to choke me while yelling 'You cheating bitch! I'm going to make you suffer and regret you ever lived' Then Joe... (Stops talking as she starts to cry)

Cooper: What did he do Char?

Charlotte: He slammed me against the wall, and ripped off my top. He unzipped his pants and took off his belt. Then he pulled down my jeans... (Stops talking again)

Cooper's face looks horrified.

Cooper: he didn't, did he?

Charlotte: that was when Big Daddy came over and saw what was happening. He saved me Coop just like you did.

Dr Harris: I'm sorry Charlotte, that you had to re-live it again but now we have everything to know about this guy so now I can look after you.

Cooper: I think that's my job Dr Harris.

Dr Harris looks over Charlotte to fins she is physically fine with minimal damage, however emotionally he think she needs professional help.

Dr Harris: Now Charlotte, you are physically fine and there is no permanent damage to your face, but I really think you need to seek professional help.

Charlotte: You want me to see some shrink you mean?

Cooper: (concerned) I think he is right Char. I mean look at you, you're an emotional wreck, as am I. Maybe when you have recovered you could talk to Violet?

Charlotte: No!

Cooper: What do you mean no?

Charlotte: I'm not talking to her. She's your best friend Coop and every time I see her it will remind me of what happened to me yesterday as she was attacked too remember.

Cooper: Okay Char, Sheldon it is.