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Chapter Twelve

6:30am

After another ten minutes of trying to calm her down, Sara's eyes finally fluttered open.

"Hey, honey." Catherine smiled. "It's about time you woke."

Sara's eyes went from confusion to sheer panic when she realized that she couldn't speak because of the tube in her throat.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. Dr. Walker's already on her way back here so we can get this tube out. Just stay calm. You're okay." Catherine explained.

"Miss Sidle!" Dr. Walker walked back into the room. "I know you must want that tube out, huh? Okay, on the count of three, I want you to blow really hard. Ready? 1…2…3…good." She swiftly pulled the tube out and stepped aside so they nurse could help Sara drink some water.

"Catherine?" Sara's grip on Catherine's hand loosened slightly but she was still holding on tightly.

"Oh, Sara, I'm so glad you're okay."

"What…happened?"

"You don't remember?"

"I remember going for a run but after that, it's all a little fuzzy."

"Do you remember seeing Hank, honey?"

"He…" Sara paused, trying to remember. "He was at my apartment… in the parking lot. I heard the brakes… something hit me and… an alley. I woke up in an alley… in a car."

"Good, good." Catherine nodded. If she couldn't remember then there was no way they would be able to nail Hank. "What else, sweetie?"

"I tried to get out but my arm…" Sara looked down at the hot pink cast of her left arm.

"Your wrist was fractured." Dr. Walker explained. "We had to set it while you were sedated."

"Pink?" Sara questioned.

"Sorry, I wasn't here to fend them off with a stick for that one." Catherine smirked, remembering a conversation from a few days ago. They were looking at Catherine's old photo albums when Sara stated that she would beat them off with a stick if they tried to stick a pink one on her. "Do you remember what happened after you woke up?"

"Uh…the door opened…" Sara's brown furrowed for a second before her eyes widened as she remembered everything. "Hank. He pulled me out of the car. I… I hit the wall, my head. I tried to scream but he, he wouldn't let me. He… ripped my shirt." Sara shook her head as the tears began pouring down her face.

"I'm sorry. Can you give us a minute?" Catherine asked Dr. Walker.

"Sure, just call me when you want the exam done."

Once Dr. Walker and the nurse had left the room, Catherine had turned her attention back to the girl in the hospital bed.

"Shh, Sara. It's okay, you don't have to tell me."

"I, I need to. If I can't tell you, how will I be able to tell anyone? I need to. Otherwise, he'll go free." Sara told her. She took a deep breath before continuing. "He ripped my shirt off and…pulled my pants off. Th-then, he dropped, dropped his pants. He kept touching me. I tried to get away but he just hit me every time. I didn't want… to give up but he was too strong and I hurt… I should've kept fighting."

"Honey, this isn't your fault." Catherine tried to comfort her.

"He… he raped me, Catherine. Twice." Sara hung her head, too ashamed to look at her co-worker. "We're trained to prevent this. I should've fought harder. I should've tried -."

"Sara." Catherine cut her off. "Sara, listen to me. You didn't do anything wrong. He did. He was wrong. This is not your fault."

"I -."

"No." Catherine used her free hand and lifted Sara's chin to look her in the eye. "Promise me, Sara. Do not every think this is your fault."

Sara didn't respond at first but nodded slightly. "Okay."

"Good." Catherine smiled. "You're going to be okay, Sara. We'll get you through this. Everyone's waiting at the lab for you. Greg already tried to attack Hank when he was brought in for interrogation."

Sara had to smile at that.

"Honey…" Catherine paused. "Dr. Walker is going to come in do an exam. Is that okay?"

Sara opened her mouth but snapped it shut and nodded instead.

"Okay, she's going to fill you in on the rest of your injuries and that kind of stuff, too. Then, you're going to have to give your statement to Detective Vega, okay?"

Sara nodded again as there was a knock at the door and Dr. Walker stuck her head in.

"Ready?"

"Yeah." Catherine replied. "I'm going to go call the lab, okay?"

"Nick?" She asked hopefully.

"I'll call him." Catherine smiled. Everyone at the lab knew how Sara and Nick felt about each other, even if they, themselves, didn't see it.

"Okay, Sara, I need you to lift your knees as much as you can. Don't over do it." Dr. Walker told her, sitting on a stool at the end of the bed.

"Honey?" Catherine looked down at Sara. "I need my hand back."

Sara looked confused for a minute before realizing that she was still holding onto Catherine's hand. "Sorry." She whispered and let go.

"It's all right. I'll be back in a little while." Catherine kissed her forehead and headed out of the room.