Hey I'm so sorry for the late update, things have just been crazy at the moment. I've also had trouble updating. The part in italics is a flashback. Hope you enjoy and please continue to review, I love you feedback! thank yo
Joe watched her disappear through the bathroom door. Ever since the attack he'd been terrified of leaving her out of his sight for even a moment. She was recovering well physically but Joe knew that the emotional recovery was going to be a steep upward climb. She refused to talk about it, changing the subject as soon as someone brought it up. The police had come in to get a statement from her a few days after the stabbing and Joe clenched his fists in frustration every time he thought about it…
"Ok now Lauren, if you could tell us whatever you can remember about the day of the attack. Often people find it easier to remember things more clearly if they begin with what they were doing before the assault, so if that helps feel free to do so."
Joe felt her hand tighten in his as she looked nervously at the female police officer who sat at the base of the bad holding a voice recorder and a notepad. Lauren had tried to hold off the police visit for as long as she could. She hadn't even wanted to report the attack at first but thankfully Julia had talked her around. Even still, Joe sensed she was uneasy.
Lauren took a deep breath and began, her voice surprisingly steady. She didn't say anything about the fight between him and Darren the morning of the attack, which Joe was privately thankful for. Instead she launched straight into arriving at her apartment and finding the door ajar.
"I heard a crash from the sitting room, but I just presumed it was the neighbour's cat again. Except when I opened the door, it wasn't the cat but there was a man crouched down in front of the TV. He was wearing dark clothes and his face was hidden."
She stopped and Joe smiled at her encouragingly, urging her to go on. Her voice was now beginning to falter.
"I saw the knife in his hand and panicked. I thought that maybe I could make a run for the door… he still hadn't noticed me at this point. But as soon as I moved he was after me. I didn't turn to look, but I could hear him getting closer. I reached the door but he was too fast and … and then… then I felt a his arms wrap around me and a searing pain pierce my stomach."
"Did you see his face at any point?" the police officer interrupted gently.
Lauren hesitated before responding quietly, "No, his hood covered it and by the time I even got the chance to look up I was dizzy from the pain. His back was to me the whole time as he was ran out the door."
"And you've no idea who might have called the ambulance? We've been informed that it was a man."
Lauren shook her head and whispered an inaudible "no". Joe could see the tears in her eyes and he could tell she was trying her hardest to hold them in.
"Thank you Lauren. I know it's difficult but we now stand a better chance of catching this guy. If you remember anything else don't hesitate to call. I wish you the very best with your recovery. Mr Walker, if I could have a quick word with you outside for a moment?"
Joe looked up in shock, while he rubbed Lauren's back soothingly. Lauren too looked confused and slightly suspicious.
"It's just proto-call that we speak to the friends and family in circumstances like this. It helps build a bigger picture for us to analyse," the police officer explained, standing up to leave.
Joe agreed and followed her out of the room. Julia and Darren were outside the door and as he passed he asked them to go in and make sure Lauren was ok. However the police officer stopped suddenly and spun around to face them,
"Actually, I think it's better if ye heard this as well," she said, looking at Darren and Julia. "The thing is I don't think Lauren is being completely honest with me."
Darren opened his mouth to interrupt but she continued on with a determined look in her eye, "I've seen hundreds of these cases and it's not unusual for the victim to feel afraid of giving the full details. Sometimes they even feel guilty and convince themselves that it's their fault."
She looked around at them pityingly and Joe got the feeling that despite her years of service, this part of her job never got any easier.
"You are the best chance we have of getting the truth out of her. Don't make it too obvious, just coax her gently. She's obviously very fragile at the moment and one wrong turn could result in her withdrawing her statement completely."
Darren, Joe and Julia looked at her and nodded. "We'll try," Darren stated, "but as it is it's difficult tp get anything out of her."
"I know, unfortunately that is often the case," she responded sympathetically.
Since then, Joe had tried to bring it up with her every day, but she always found a way to back out of the conversation. He found himself getting more and more frustrated as the days went by, not directly at Lauren but at himself, at the scumbag who caused all this… at everything. He'd been getting little to no sleep over the past two weeks and he hoped that finally bringing Lauren back home might improve things.
Following her constant pleading, Dr Everett had eventually agreed to discharge Lauren, on the condition that she took her medication and took things easy. He'd also taken Joe aside and warned him to keep an eye on her. Even though Dr Everett had only known Lauren for the course of her stay in the hospital, Joe had to admit he had judged Lauren's character pretty accurately and seemed to sense that Lauren could be a reckless sort of person, who would want to be bounding around the place as soon as she could.
In addition to this, Joe had been given an appointment card for Lauren to go see a therapist at a local clinic, twice a week for as long as was needed and it had been a relief to Joe that she had agreed to attend these appointments without any fuss.
They'd decided that Lauren would move in with Joe for the meanwhile, especially considering the horrific memories her own apartment might resurface. Plus Darren would be crashing there for the duration of his stay, which left Joe feeling even more assured. He'd long gotten over him and Darren's dispute and in all honestly Darren had been the only one to keep him sane with everything that had been going on. He could rest easier knowing that at least there would always be someone with her.
He looked up as he heard the bathroom door open and Lauren emerged slowly with a slight grimace in her face. Joe's face creased in concern, although he knew that the pain wasn't a reason to worry and it was part of the healing process. Still, he hated seeing her in any discomfort.
"Lo are you sure you're ready to go home?"
Lauren eyed him disbelievingly, "Joe if I have to lie in that bed one more minute I am going to go crazy."
"Well I'm sure we could get you a different bed," Joe grinned cheekily.
Lauren's mouth twitched up into a smile, "Oh you know what I mean." She hit him playfully across the arm as he bent to pick up her bag but he hardly felt it and as they walked out, he couldn't help but notice how small she looked. She'd lost a fair bit of weight over the last two weeks and it wasn't as if she'd been that big before. Her stomach was still quite sensitive and food wasn't exactly her best friend at the moment, which for someone like Lauren, could be justified as a national state of emergency.
Joe stopped and waited patiently while Lauren gave her nurse Harry a hug and thanked him for everything. Joe still wasn't a big fan of the guy, but he had to admit Harry had treated Lauren amazingly and he was thankful for that.
The drive back to the apartment was short and Joe could sense Lauren's excitement at finally going back to somewhere familiar.
It took a while for Lauren to climb the stairs, as she was still very weak, but she refused any help from Joe and he couldn't help but shake his head at her stubbornness. He made her sit down on the sofa the minute they got in the door and Darren, who had been waiting for them, immediately drowned her in blankets.
"Darren seriously, I'm not after returning from the Antarctic," Lauren's muffled voice came from beneath the thick layers of material.
Darren laughed, "I know but you look kinda funny. Like a giant sausage roll or something."
Lauren huffed before looking thoughtful, "Actually a sausage roll doesn't sound half bad."
Joe turned around and looked at her pityingly, "Sorry Lo, the doctor gave me a specific diet plan that you have to follow for a few weeks while your stomach recovers. I don't think sausage rolls mad the cut."
Lauren pouted and turned to Darren, "Dar, will you get me a sausage roll, the doctor didn't tell you anything."
Darren shook his head and chuckled. Lauren's face fell and Joe immediately changed the topic by suggesting they watch West Side Story, knowing it was one of her all-time favourites. Some of the others would be calling around later but for now it was just the three of them.
Joe sat down on the couch, careful not to jostle her too much, while Darren went to get them drinks. He put his arm around her and felt her settle in to his side. He took his opportunity and once again tried to bring up the subject of the attack.
"Lo, do ever think about who might have made that call to the ambulance, I mean I'd really like to know. They saved your life and I don't think anyone could ever understand how grateful I am for that."
Lauren froze, as Joe had expected. He knew he was pushing it but he was getting desperate. She shook her head slowly and Joe felt something snap inside him. He couldn't wait any longer, knowing that the guy who stabbed his girlfriend was outside walking the streets, a free man. He leaned forward in the chair.
"Lo, stop this. I know you know more than you're letting on. Just tell me," he hissed irritated.
He regretted it immediately. Lauren was still frozen on the sofa, staring straight ahead. Joe knelt down in front of her.
"Lolo look at me. Talk to me."
Lauren didn't move and Joe found all his emotions from the past two weeks merge together.
"LAUREN! Look at me!... WHY WON'T YOU TALK TO ME?!" he cried out, now on the verge of tears.
Lauren's eyes finally flickered into focus and she stared at Joe, frightened. Darren bounded into the room on hearing Joe shout. He rushed over and tried to pull Joe back, while at the same time debating whether he should go to comfort Lauren.
"Joe stop, she's not ready," he whispered desperately.
"He didn't mean to do it."
Both Darren and Joe faced Lauren astonished. She herself appeared shocked by her words. Joe swallowed and approached her slowly.
"Lo, what do you mean he didn't mean to do it? Who? Did you see him?" Joe asked tentatively, taking her clenched hand in his and feeling it slowly relax.
"It was an accident. He grabbed me, but I kicked out at him so he used his other arm to get a better hold on me. The knife was in that hand but he forgot and it went in to me…He looked so scared when he realised what he'd done. He was the one who called the ambulance and he stayed with me until the paramedics arrived."
She spoke softly in a monotone but Joe and Darren both knew it was a huge progression. At the same time it was not what they had expected to hear.
"What did he look like Lo?" Darren chanced.
Lauren looked up, but it seemed as though she hadn't heard Darren's question, "He doesn't deserve to go to jail."
Joe sighed as he came to the conclusion that Lauren came under the category of "guilt-ridden" victims. Somehow things now seemed even more complicated. Darren glanced at Joe, and Joe saw that he too had reached the same understanding.
"I'll go ring Julia," Darren mumbled.
Joe sat back up beside Lauren and gently lifted her onto his lap. He rested his head on hers and wrapped both his arms around her careful not to put pressure on her middle. Her silent tears stained his red spiderman t-shirt.
"I love you Lolo. You're safe now." he whispered, kissing the top of her head.
Things were certaintly going to be difficult, but together it would be alright.
Thanks sweetie If you've any questions about anything message me and I promise things will get better soo x