Chapter 16 –

As he walked into the room he could tell immediately that some strong pain relief was needed. Placing the bag at the end of the bed he coughed loudly, ensuring that the noise was loud enough to rouse her.

"Roll your sleeve up Rachel."

His quiet monotone voice sent shivers up her spine, sitting up she closed her eyes as she pulled up the sleeve of her jumper and felt his cold touch on her skin. The prick of the needle was faint and soon she began to feel woozy, the horrible sickly feeling hitting her stomach and Rachel knew that she had to lie back down again.

"That should help her for today, I'll be back this evening but I've got to be careful."

"Do they know about you?"

"No but with the detective in the hospital I don't want to take any chances."

"If you are found out doctor then you know what you have to do."

He nodded his head as he picked up his bag and quickly walked out, he knew that he was trapped but it was all his own selfish fault.

Matt knocked on the door to the staff room before he walked in, closing the door behind him as the figure sat up and looked sternly at him.

"Doctor Nicholls?"

Sam nodded her head as the man reached for his pocket but to her relief he only brought out his identification, holding it up for her to see.

"Detective Sergeant Emmerson, Matt."

"What do you want detective?"

The frustration was clearly evident in Sam's voice as Matt sat down close to her, a warm smile adorning his face.

"We checked out the address Rachel left you but it was an empty house, there was no sign of her there, did she ever mention any other places that she might go to?"

No she had nobody, she had been kept in that house for five years."

"I want to assure you Doctor Nicholls that we are still out there looking for Rachel."

Sam nodded her head as she took a deep breath.

"Thank you, sorry I can't help you more. Are you any closer to finding out who the members of the group are?"

"We have a number of people currently under surveillance."

"Including a doctor from this hospital?"

"I..."

Matt hesitated before he checked around the room and looked at Sam again, nodding his head he remembered what Alice had said that morning about needing Sam's help when they found Rachel.

"Yes we are keeping tabs on a male consultant from Holby hospital as well as a Police Inspector and a social worker."

"Thank you."

"DI Parker, Alice, she'd like to see you Doctor Nicholls."

Sam nodded her head as she watched Matt stand up.

"I'm going up now to see her, to fill her in on how the investigation is progressing, shall I tell her that you will be up shortly?"

"I don't know."

"Nobody blames you Doctor Nicholls."

"I'll go up after my shift."

"Thank you Doctor Nicholls we really do appreciate all the help you have given us."

Matt reached out and shook Sam's hand before he left her alone, the truth was that her shift had ended two hours ago, she just couldn't bring herself to go home and face the solitude it would bring.

Rachel opened her eyes and quickly noticed that she was in a different room to before but the only feeling she had at the moment was a queasy one.

"Here."

The familiar female voice came out of nowhere but luckily for Rachel she placed a bowl in front of her which she promptly vomited into.

"Drink this."

Rachel accepted the glass and drunk the water, looking at the woman who smiled at her, Rachel felt sick again but this time it was mainly due to the false niceness the woman was portraying towards her. All this woman had ever caused Rachel was pain and fear but here she was trying to look after her but Rachel knew that there had only been one person who had truly looked after her and Rachel had turned and run away from her.

"Take your clothes off Rachel."

Rachel sighed as she started to remove the garments, guessing what was coming next she prepared herself for the pain.

"Wow we really did hurt you didn't we?"

She smiled as she traced a lone finger across Rachel's scars and cuts, watching as Rachel closed her eyes as the tears trickled down her cheeks.

"It's ok Rachel we'll take care of you now, he wants to see you tonight."

The woman pulled Rachel closer to her, gently holding her before she started tracing her finger around Rachel's barely formed breasts, allowing a gasp to leave her mouth as she brought her finger up to her mouth and licked it longingly which only caused Rachel's sobs to increase in intensity and volume.

Sam stood up and mentally prepared herself to go up and see Alice, she knew that despite what anybody said that the detective would blame her for Rachel disappearing which was fine by Sam as she too blamed herself. But then her eyes caught sight of the male figure walking past the staff room door, heading out of the ED and towards the car park. An involuntary shiver ran down her spine as she remembered the sketch Rachel had done with 'Doc' scrawled underneath it, it was definitely him and he was heading out. Sam couldn't stop herself as she walked out after him, watching as he got in his car, fortunately she had her car still in the car park left from before she had gone to the safe house with Rachel, fumbling for her keys Sam quickly started the engine and followed him out of the car park. Instantly she knew that he wasn't heading home and if he was involved then maybe he would lead her to Rachel, Sam pursed her lips as she drove, determined to find Rachel, wherever she was.