Do not own General Hospital or any of the characters.

The Flame of Franco

The Statement...

Lucky took a deep breath as he stood outside of Sam's room. His hand was clenched into a fist at his side. He didn't have the nerve to knock. He knew from visiting Sam earlier that she wasn't ready to speak of what happened to her. It was too fresh in her mind still. He knew that this was a mistake, him coming here. But he had no other choice. Mac wanted to get Sam's statement. Even no they already knew what had happened to her.

Sighing, Lucky looked over to the young CSI who stood a few feet away from him. Her brown eyes stared back at him. She held her kit with both hands, waiting for him. She didn't understand his hesitation. She didn't know about the history between him and the victim. She was new to Port Charles.

Figuring that the longer he waited, the harder it would be, Lucky raised his fist in the air and knocked twice against the door before reaching out with his other and turning the door knob.

Jason glanced over his shoulder at the detective and the CSI as they entered the room. His eyes drifted between both of them before meeting Lucky's eye and shooting him a puzzled expression.

"We're here to take Sam's statement," spoke Lucky slowly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"She just fell asleep," stated Jason, as if that would change things. His attention then turned back onto Sam, who had just fallen asleep a few moments ago.

"We also need to document her injuries and perform a Sexual Assault Kit," continued on Lucky as if he had not heard Jason speak. He spoke in a very monotone voice. His detective voice. He did not want to be there anymore than Jason wanted him too.

"Lucky please, can't this all wait," begged Jason as he looked back with to the officer, his voice strained with emotion. It was the same broken man that Lucky had seen at the crime scene. The rare side of Jason that only a few got to see. "She just fell asleep," he stated again, hoping that somehow this would change things. Jason didn't have the heart to awake Sam.

Lucky stared long and hard at Jason. "The sooner we get this over with, the sooner Sam can recover Jason. We won't be that long, I promise," spoke the officer. He didn't want to be here anymore then Jason wanted him too. But it was a job that had to be done.

Jason held Lucky's eye for a second longer before sighing. He knew he had no choice as he turned and glanced sadly down at Sam. He leaned down towards her, placing a hand on her shoulder. He gently shook her awake. "Sam," he whispered softly, hoping not to startle her.

Sam's eyes fluttered opened suddenly and looked up at Jason with panic before registering that it was his blue eyes she was staring into and not Franco's dark brown ones. Her eyes looked back at him with confusion. "What?" she whispered towards him.

"Lucky is here to take your statement," whispered Jason down towards her as he reached out and took her hand.

Sam then followed his glaze to where Lucky and the CSI stood, waiting.

"Hi Sam, this is Sandy," spoke Lucky, gesturing to the CSI beside him. "She is going to take some pictures of your wounds and then do a sexual assault kit. And then I'm going to take your statement, okay?" he asked. He spoke to her like he was speaking to Cam or Jake. He was explaining everything that was going to happen to her, so she could be prepared. He tried to read the expression on Sam's face as she stared back at him but found he could not. She was masking her emotions as she processed what he had just told her. She did not look angry or upset by this news. Her eyes were as dark as coal as she looked into his face and slowly nodded her head.

This was the last thing that Sam wanted but she knew she really had no choice. Either way she would have to retell her story of what had happened. She just didn't think it would be so soon. Sitting up against the pillows of the bed, Sam rubbed her left eye, sighing. Her heart drummed loudly against her chest as a wave of fear washed over her.

Her eyes then gazed over towards where the young CSI, Sandy as she placed her kit on the bed table. She smiled a kind smile at Sam as she pulled out her camera and began to move towards her. "I will make this quick," stated Sandy before she raised the digital SLR to eye level and focused the lens on the wounds of Sam's face.

Sam blinked as the harsh light of the flash of the camera went off. She breathed in slowly. She could feel Jason's eyes on her but she dared not to look into them. She kept her attention on the ceiling the whole time as Sandy moved around her taking photos of her body. She took photos of the varsities cuts and bruises and burns that covered her arms and legs. She unwrapped the cotton bandage that covers the 3rd degree on her calf and took a picture of that as well.

It was then with help from a nurse, that Sam's robe and hospital gown were removed from her body, so that more photographs of her body could be taken. Tears slid down her cheeks as her cheeks grew red with embarrassment as she lay there naked and exposed for everyone to see her sham. Jason reached out to take her hand but she pulled away. This was not how she wanted him to see her.

A wave of hurt flashed through his eyes at this but he did not let it last. He knew not to take it personality. But there was one emotion he could not hold back from showing and that was anger. Anger towards Franco. This was the first time he was seeing the damage done to Sam's beautiful body by that sicko. His breathing was deep and heavy as his eyes took in the sight of the ugly purple burn that wrapped itself around Sam's back and hip.

Lucky stood at the back of the room, staring down at his feet. He could hear Sam crying at the sound of the camera going off at every other moment. He wished he had not come and asked Mac to get someone else to do this. It pained him deeply to stand there, not doing anything to try and comfort his friend who was clearly in distress. But he also knew that Sam would not want his comfort. She would be more humiliated for him to see her like this. And if she had the choice, she would ask him to leave.

Soon it was all over as Sandy snapped the last of the photos before putting her camera away as the nurse and Jason helped Sam redress. Sandy then took samples from underneath each of Sam's fingernails. Each going into a separate evidence bag and labeled. It was then time for the tough part. A Sample and a look from inside of Sam's vagina would need to be collected.

The nurse then helped Sam place her legs into the stirrups of the bed. "I would ask if you gentlemen would leave for the moment, giving the patient some privacy," spoke the nurse addressing both Lucky and Jason. Looking up from the floor, Lucky nodded his head and quickly left the room. It was Jason however, who hesitated from leaving. His blue eyes appeared down at Sam, looking on at her with concern. He would stay if she wanted him too.

Sam slowly turned her head and looked up at him. Her eyes were filled with tears. She didn't want to go through this part alone.

"Jason," she whispered, holding out her hand for him.

Jason took a step towards the bed and took her hand and kissed it. He wasn't going to leave her. "I'm here for you," he whispered in reply. His blue eyes locking with hers.

She clung to his hand as she felt the CSI's hand the muscle of her calf, pulling the blanket that covered her legs up so it now was seated just on her knees. Her toes curled and pressed into the stirrups of the bed as her back arched and she moaned out in discomfort as Sandy slide the speculum into her. Silent tears slid down her cheeks. Her eyes closed as she turned her head to the wall. She bit down on her lower lip from preventing herself to cry out as the coldness of the speculum began to stretch her open. Her body lay there tense and ridge for those few minutes as Sandy took a sample. It felt like forever to her.

Okay so there is more to come very soon. I know it's been a while since I last updated this story but I have been busy with school and work. But luckily I am done school for the summer! Giving me more time to hopefully write! :D

Thanks so much for reading and please, please review!

Julie