Chapter 2 : Blind

She came to, feeling groggy. She tried to open her eyes but couldn' t see anything. It took her a while to realize that her eyes were infact open, she just didn't see anything. Her memory slowly came back and she started to panic, thinking that the men who took her were still keeping her locked up.

She heard someone moving near her and violently jerked away from the sound. "Don't touch me! Get away!" She yelled at the darkness, almost falling from wherever she was laying on.

She felt two strong hands taking her wrists and keeping her immobile. "Calm down, Sonya. You are in a hospital. Everything is okay, you're safe." The voice was low and soothing and somehow it made her relax against her better judgement.

"Who are you? Why am I in a hospital?" As she stopped struggling the hands holding her wrists let go. She missed the touch instantly.

"You were kidnapped and while I was trying to get you to safety you were hit by a flash grenade. My name is John Reese and even though you don't know me, I'm here to keep you safe." Nothing made sense to her, she had started thinking that the kidnapping had been a weirdly vivid dream. But something in the man's voice was making her believe him. "Why can't I see anything?" She asked, not really sure she wanted to hear the answer.

"The doctor thinks the flash of the grenade might be responsible for your loss of sight. He doesn't think it will be permanent, but he wants to run some tests now that you're awake. I'll go tell the nurses you're up." He squeezed her hand softly and she could hear him exiting the room.

She could faintly remember a cloud of dist, gunfire and a man in a suit walking towards her. Someone was trying to help me but how can I be sure it was this man? What if he's one of the kidnappers? Should she say something to the doctor when they came back? She couldn't make up her mind and before she knew it she heard people entering the room.

"I see you are up and awake Ms Cross. You were very lucky that the detective found you and brought you here. I'm going to run some tests and then you can be discharged." The doctor came close to her and gently put his hand on her face.

"I'll give you some privacy. I'll be right outside, Sonya, if you need me." The man who had been in the room - his name was John something - said and exited the room. The doctor continued his exam, talking in a soft and gentle voice.

"Mr Reese? " He could hear Finch's voice in his earpiece the moment he stepped outside Sonya's room.

" Yeah, Finch. What is it? " He hadn't really wanted to leave Sonya's side, there was no telling what was going through her head and how she would react. But he trusted his friend to have ears on what was going on and that he would alert him if anything was wrong.

" I've managed to find information on Sophie Devereaux, though it wasn't easy. It appears that our ms. Cross is in fact Ms. Devereaux. Or at least she was before she turned five years old. Her family were victims of a violent home invasion and she was the only survivor. She was placed in a foster family a few states over and to ensure her safety she was given a new identity. She probably doesn't even remember what has happened to her. Both her foster parents are deceased, and I would venture a guess they didn't tell her the truth. "

John was listening intently, his heart going out to the woman in the next room. She had this whole other life she knew nothing about and it was threatening her life now. " Any idea why they'd be after her? Maybe they think she saw something? "

He could hear his friend sighing before he answered. " The police report doesn't even mention her name, I had to hack my way through several databases to find her identity change information. Her parents were high school teachers with nothing unusual in their backgrounds. The police investigation was halted because no witnesses were found and they had no suspects. Also, there was nothing suspicious at the professional front, it's all clean. For this not to be random someone must be after her because of something aboit her parents murder. I'll keep looking but for the time being I think it best if you bring her to the library."

"She might not welcome the idea, Finch,
She seemed quite shaken. But don't worry, I won't let her out of my sight." John cut the connection just as the doctor exited Sonya's room. "Will she be alright, doctor?" He asked, looking at the doctor expectantly.

"She's in good health and I am positive her eyesight will return in a few days time. There was no structural damage to her eyes or optic nerves. You can take her home now. The papers are all set." The doctor smiled at John and continued on his way. John put his hand on the doorhandle, sighed and stepped inside.

She heard the door close and sensed that it was the detective that had entered the room.

"The doctor said I'm free to go. But where should I go? Am I safe?" She asked, taking a deep breath and shaking her head abjectedly.

"I will take you to a safehouse until this thing has been sorted out. I will keep you safe. You just have to trust me." His voice was deep and steady. Oddly, she was comforted by his words though she didn't know who this detective might be.

"Shouldn't I be going to a police station first? And how exactly did you know where to find me?" She had suddenly realized that it was really unusual for police to respond so quickly and that it would have taken hours for them to find her.

The detective sighed patiently and she could feel him coming toward her bed. Her hand was covered with two soft and strong ones and her heartbeat picked up and she inhaled sharply. "I promise I'll explain everything. Just trust me for now. Please." She could hear the sincerity in his voice and the added plea made her decide to take his word that he would keep her safe. Somehow it made sense to trust this stranger.

"All right. Against my better judgement I will come with you. " she said, getting out of the hospital bed. She tried to take it slow, but still ended up faltering only to be caught in a steely embrace. "I've got you." He helped her steady herself and then put his other hand on her back while the other held her left hand in a gentle grip. She could feel the warmth radiate from the hand on her lower back and it was really hard to concentrate on walking without seeing anything. Her breathing was getting unsteady and it wasn't from the effort of walking.

Who is this man and why do I feel like this when he touches me? I'm probably still in shock and can't really tell what I'm feeling. She was deep in her thoughts as the detective was heloing and guiding her along. It wasn't long when she could feel fresh air filling her lungs. "The car is right around the corner." He said and soon he was helping her get seated in the passenger seat. As he was getting around the car she took a deep breath and sincerely wished she had made the right choice in trusting this stranger.